Sweet Six Sunday

This week was full of fun events, a lot of jet lag and BEAUTIFUL weather!!!

one. Each week I tackle our meal plan for the week and often feel defeated as I am never certain on what I can find here.  I usually have to go to a couple different stores to get it all.  This week, I wanted to make Shredded Beef Enchiladas from Iowa Girl Eats - http://iowagirleats.com/2014/06/02/crock-pot-shredded-beef-enchiladas/.

Unfortunately I couldn't find corn tortillas, enchilada sauce, green chilis or chuck roast - basically all the key ingredients, SO I used shredded chicken, Mexican sauce (not sure exactly what it was) mixed with salsa, black beans and flour tortillas instead.  It was still delicious, but I cannot wait to make some meals this summer where I know that I can get ALL the ingredients at ONE place and save myself time and frustration!

two. Jet lag hit me pretty hard on Wednesday so I sat at the counter and listed to a Family Systems Webinar with Power of Moms.  It was a 24 hour only webinar on various family systems that every family should have in place to be a functional family (Discipline System, Economic System and Family Identity/Culture), but if you are looking for any parenting tips, it is a great website.

https://powerofmoms.com/

three. Friday morning we headed to the science museum in Warsaw - Copernicus Science Centre with three other families.  We packed seven people into Kristy's van and headed into the city.  We first went to the children's play area, which included a large water play area.  Thankfully I brought a second set of clothing for the kids as there were no big plastic smocks to cover their clothing.  Evie even got up on the water table and into the water! We didn't last very long, after leaving the toddler area, as the kids wanted to run in separate ways and I couldn't keep up.  Those backpacks with straps sounded amazing at the time!

Evie just hanging out in the water table!

The crew

four. We went to our first kids' birthday party - Miss Evie turned 2! As the kids ran around and played, the adults chatted, and it felt like home.  We have missed these chaotic get togethers that we frequently had back in MN, and it was nice to have that feeling return - this is now our home.

Evie turned 2!

five. We headed out on a double date with our good friends, Tiffany and Bill, at Brasserie Warszawska.  We had great conversation, lots of laughs and met Bill's good friend - aka the manager. :) Bill eats there quite often with work, so they have developed a wonderful relationship. He he! I kid! He did bring us a 1982 red wine from France that was delicious. 

six. We spent this morning exploring at the Kabaty Forest as we had beautiful weather.  I was there a couple weeks ago when we tried (and failed) to cross country ski, and knew that I wanted to return once the weather was better! Today was the day! This park has walking paths, kids' area, pool (for the summertime), little cabins to rent, amphitheater and lots of open running space! We LOVED it!

She hasn't like pics lately, so this is what we got when Andy tried to take a pic!

ONE MORE THING! We booked our tickets back to the States for the summer!!! Woot woot! We are heading back on June 12, and the kids and I will be home until August 3! Eight weeks!!! We cannot wait!

Hope you have a great week!

Sweet Six Sunday!

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!

Liz, Tiffany & I

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! 

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.

Our little loves!

Daddy's cards from the kids!

Cupcakes from la Vanille!

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! :)

We started at Polna Bazaar.

We ran into a cute Polish Pottery shop at the Polna Bazaar
and of course had to get a couple things!

The British Shop of Warsaw

The American Candy Shop

I didn't buy much at this store, but it was still fun to see some treats from home!

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. 

Thank you Pinterest for the multiple printable treasure hunts!

There was some love shared!

Oh, the tears!

Treasure found! And then I quickly said no to doing it again!

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!

Splashing in our neighborhood

Just so sweet!

This morning at Park Zdrojowy in Konstancin. 

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!