one. Tiffany, Liz and I set out with high hopes and excitement to try cross country skiing in the Kabaty Forest on Monday. I remember loving the sport when we tried it in high school and looked forward to a fun workout! Well, we walked around for about 30 minutes before finding the correct building and then realized it was closed. This is part of the expat adventure - the website said it was open, the group of people that we passed didn't offer to help, nor could we ask them about the rental office being closed because we don't speak Polish, and the signs on the side of the rental office did not indicate closure (thanks to Google Translate), so we walked around for a bit longer and headed back to Liz's for coffee. It was still a great morning checking out a new park. I look forward to returning this summer with the kids!
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| Liz, Tiffany & I |
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| Tiffany & I all bundled up! |
two. February 14th has always been a big day in our family ever since my first nephew was born on 2.14.06! This was the first year that I was not with him on his birthday and I wasn't sure how my emotions would be that day. Luckily we were able to FaceTime with him while he was at his birthday breakfast and the kids sang to him when they woke up from nap. I have a silly tradition every year that I cradle him in my arms, like a baby, and tell him stories about me meeting him. As I started to tell him that I would hold him that way this summer, he was so sweet and remembered that I did that every year. Gah! I cannot wait to see them! Those kids are going to be sick of all the hugs and kisses they get from us this summer!
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| Nathan opening up his present from us! Nerf obsessed! |
We did have a family Valentine's Day celebration that night with flowers, cards and cupcakes of course! The kids don't celebrate Valentine's Day at their montessori, which was a little sad for me as I am all about celebrations, but they didn't seem to mind.
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| Our little loves! |
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| Daddy's cards from the kids! |
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| Cupcakes from la Vanille! |
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| Sharing is caring! ;) |
three. A group of us headed out for a food shop tour on Wednesday morning in downtown Warsaw. Due to traffic and parking, most of us do not venture downtown very often, so when we do, we hit up all of the shops! There are some great food shops that offer more American food options that we cannot find in local stores. We headed to Polna Bazaar (similar to a market), Cukier Lukier (candy shop), The British Shop, Cos Slodkiego (American Candy Shop) and Marks & Spencer. I got the kids some fun cereals, a bag of Doritos, some frozen pastries, pastas and a pie, and some baking items (baking powder, vanilla and fajita mix) - all healthy stuff of course! :)
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| We started at Polna Bazaar. |
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We ran into a cute Polish Pottery shop at the Polna Bazaar
and of course had to get a couple things! |
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| The British Shop of Warsaw |
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| The American Candy Shop |
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| I didn't buy much at this store, but it was still fun to see some treats from home! |
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| Inside Marks & Spencer |
four. When your babysitter shows up at your house at 5:45pm and you aren't sure why she is there, you run - yes, RUN - upstairs to put on a bra, change out of your pajamas and quickly slap on some makeup for an impromptu date night! After some discussion, I remembered booking this night with her and blame it on the alcohol that I didn't remember or put it in my phone. He he! Once Andy got home, we headed out to our fav Mexican restaurant, Ye Ye's, and then hit up the grocery store. There was no way we were returning before the kids were in bed! :)
five. Andy had a work event Friday night into Saturday morning, so I had the kids all day and night. This wasn't as big of a deal in the States, and still really isn't here, but I feel like there is less to do here with kids (unless we are eating at a restaurant with a kids' play area) and I am less comfortable venturing out with them to new places by myself due to the language barrier and limited parking. So on days when I know that we will be at home all day, I try to plan fun activities - cue a treasure hunt. And like any fun activity that is planned for toddlers, it never quite goes as planned, but it was still fun - tears, screaming, pushing and competition aside.
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| Thank you Pinterest for the multiple printable treasure hunts! |
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| There was some love shared! |
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| Oh, the tears! |
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| Treasure found! And then I quickly said no to doing it again! |
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| Reunited with Daddy on Saturday! |
six. We have had warmer temps these last couple of days, which means one thing when I have the kids home with me - outside play! We bundled up in the rain/winter gear and headed out each day - Thursday through Sunday! There was a lot of splashing, exploring and energy burning!
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| Splashing in our neighborhood |
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| Just so sweet! |
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| This morning at Park Zdrojowy in Konstancin. |
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| I LOVE when my kids find so much joy in such simple things! |
We have winter break this next week and head out on a mini trip on Thursday! Wish us luck and send all your positive thoughts our way that we will survive the week without school! I kid! Not really!
