The tale of two stuffed animals; {phfr} edition

My husband just got back from his business trip to Europe. Usually he enjoys them.
This time he had had enough. Enough of dealing with airlines and flights, that is.
On the way there, not only his whole flight itinerary was changed, but in meantime the luggage was lost.
It took three days for Lufthansa to find it.

The thing is that after two days, he was not sure how can he give a presentation at the conference that he was attending in Austria.

The first part of the trip he spent in Germany, and he was OK over there, but if the airlines did not deliver after three days, it would be a somewhat a waste of time.

This is what he and I were concerned about; but not the girls.

Here is the thing...

They like to pack their two favorite stuffed animals in his suitcase, and then they want "tata" to take those toys to different places and take pictures of them. One of them has already traveled to Japan. Well, I am not counting the initial trip form China to America, but to be honest, one of them was actually made in Germany! Yes, I am shocked too:) So the puppy traveled to the country of its origin.

Anyway...

As I was saying...I opposed that idea, mostly because, I think it would look really strange for a middle aged man to walk around the cities and place the toys in strange places and then photograph them. It sounded silly. But Andrzej agreed to this silliness, I guess he couldn't say no, since he knew they are going to miss him a lot, so at least this is what he could do for them.
Everything has changed when I reported to girls that the luggage and all of its insides were missing. There were cries, regrets and so on. I tried to comfort them, but I couldn't resist saying, "if you listen to your wise mother..." I know I wasn't dealing with the issue properly.

The moods have changed when Andrzej announced that the suitcase was found, and as a proof he showed the two stuffed animals through this wonderful thing called Skype!

Honestly, I would, myself, be very sad if those creatures were lost. The "Puppy" belonged to Kiki since she was two weeks old. She has received it from Andrzej's friend from Germany. Zuzia's "Ollie" was dear to her since the visit to Santa's village four years ago. They both sleep with their stuffed friends, unless the latter ones travel:)

Here is to the little tourists, as I join Like Mother, Like Daughter, for the weekly edition of {phfr} while capturing context of contentment in this case not really, every day life:)

{pretty, happy}

 

 

 

{funny, real}

 

 

 

Kinga:)



On toads and lost things

Another day, another free entertainment in the backyard, another plea for taking pictures and posting them on the blog.

There is something about the toads in our area this year. It makes my neighbor almost scream, Zuzia and Kubus very excited and me... I could not care less, except when it actually makes me happy for a little bit. Zuzia stops asking for a pet.

The toads are running or, I should rather say, hopping free in the garden.
I took a couple of pictures after being begged by Zuzia. Quality is not the best.

My Nikon is traveling. I think somewhere between North America and Europe now. Or maybe over the Pacific? Nobody really knows; and definitely not airlines. I do wonder how my husband is going to look like when he attends the conference. I think the first thing he will have to say, is: " Sorry for my appearance, but my luggage got lost!"

Well, my camera as well...
Here; to the hopping frogs and lost possessions:)

 

 

Kinga:)



Sunday afternoon {phfr}

Every Sunday afternoon, or sometimes for a whole day, we try to get away and spent family time outside.
It was unwritten plan and routine of ours.
Starting this September, we decided to do it officially. Still not written and signed, yet it was announced that we reconnect as a family while enjoying the outdoors.

Today we visited the Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuge.
So far it seemed to us that we hiked and walked through every possible nature path in Rhode Island. But it looks like we still have plenty to discover. It is definitely a good news, since we like those trips so much. Well, most of us.
As I recall this peaceful and serene walk on the beautiful Sunday afternoon, I join Like Mother, Like Daughter in capturing context of contentment in everyday life.

{pretty}

 

 

This walk was full of nature simple pleasures. As soon as we started the walk, we found ourselves in meadow, full of light green, and golden colors, surrounded by a swarm of buzzing dragonflies.The birds were tweeting around, a deer crossed our  a path, chipmunk showed up between the tree trunks,

  fish swam in the water and osprey soared above our heads. We  enjoyed the view of pond and the ocean beyond.

A pretty place indeed.

 

{happy}

 

 

 

As we got to the goal of our hike; the Osprey Point, I couldn't help to stop for few happy pictures. Then on the way back we stopped at a small beach, where Zuzia was happy to enjoy a pond walk and chase fish, and Kubus had a chance to play with his dump truck which he packed himself as soon as we put the swimsuit on him. This boy knows what he wants:)

 

{funny}

 

 

When we came upon this tree, the kids couldn't say no to its inviting branches. Honestly, I wanted to climb it too. I loved it as a child:)

 

{real}

 

 

The real thing is, that not every member of this family is happy with the weekly trips or getaways. Kiki is a person that would prefer to stay home and do her own things. Unfortunately it made us and her upset. But fresh air and open spaces make everything better. She calmed down and actually enjoyed the walk, as well as climbing trees. As long as she had a book to read while taking breaks, she was happy:)

 

Kinga:)



{ this moment }

"Mom, will you take a picture of that cute, little frog and post it on your blog...?

Yes Zuzia, I will :)"

 

Kinga:)

 

P.S. Joining Amanda this week.



The school and the recess

I messed up this year. I did not take a single picture of any of my children's first day in school. Not of Zuzia's in the third grade and not of Kiki's in seventh. No picture of Kubus in his very private, truck theme based, preschool.

Nevertheless school has started for them. So far Zuzia had more days off than in, and with Kiki I am getting used to to picking her up. That is my new routine, and I am glad that Kubus does not nap anymore; the picking up would be very uncomfortable for him and for me.

And because with school comes this thing call recess, I am joining today Cari, for her challenging theme Thursday photo edition - recess.

I don't think I will be able to spy what Kiki is doing during that time. Firstly, because her school is too far, secondly, because the seventh graders don't have recess.

Zuzia on the other hand has plenty of free time. She has two days off due to certain holidays that we don't celebrate, yet we enjoy the time off:)

A sneak peak here at her five minute break from having fun!

 



Kinga:)

The last long weekend of the summer:(

 

 

 

 

 

 

The end of summer is upon us; we just had enjoyed the long Labor Day weekend, the girls are back in school and the greenish pool is being drained. We kept it until this week to take the last swim but instead the nature decided to splurge us with the water from above. Who needs a pool!

Our Prudence Island visiting plans were postponed once again. And I mean year after year, not week after week. I do not think that hiking around the island in the pouring rain and flashing lighting would had been fun.

Regardless of the weather we had managed to spend quite a nice long weekend.

Zuzia had skipped half of the school day on Friday and yet again was lucky to have daddy/daughter time. They went to the Plymouth Plantation. It was a last Free Fun Friday activity.

On Sunday we decided to use all of the coupons and groupons that we have accumulated and go to Newport. I have to admit, it is the nicest city in Rhode Island, so whoever comes visiting us, ends up going there and liking it too!

We went to the Newport Winery, where the adults wined and the kids whined! OK, not all of them. Kubus was actually happy to visit few resting trucks.

I have to confess that despite living in RI for over eleven years, we have never visited the famous mansions of Newport, particularly The Breakers. I take that back; we visited The Rosecliff for Andrzej's company Christmas party, but honestly, we were not really allowed to see the whole place.

This time we took advantage of the coupons that kids received as a reward for participating in Summer Reading game. We were very nicely surprised how big, and rich that place is. Even the girls stopped complaining about the trip, and for us ( me and Andrzej ) it right away reminded of Downton Abbey. I could almost see the "lordship" and "ladyship" Grantham in that mansion. I could see Mrs Patmore in the kitchen, Carson giving orders, the footmen serving dinner, and Branson driving the car. Quite funny on one hand, on the other, I had learnt that, that was how the wealthy led their lives regardless on which side of the ocean...

Zuzia, I must say, was more impressed with the snail that was crawling on the wall, and she had a hard time leaving it behind.

Andrzej and girls finished the weekend with fishing. They managed to catch eleven fish, between all of the downpours and thundering.
I had a less pleasant job of shopping and the driving home in the downpour; and I must say, that St. Christopher truly was intervening to God on my behalf this Monday:)

Kinga.