Oskar and My Big Adventure

This past weekend Oskar and I went up to Timber cove for the night... just the two of us. It would mark our first night of just the two of us since Alva was born and our first time traveling solo together. I would be lying if I didn’t say the weekend started off with mixed emotions, but it ended with some really big moments of love, snuggles and laughter.

The original plan was to all head up to Timber Cove on Saturday morning, spend the night and then have our new chair delivered Sunday morning.

Unfortunately Friday night Alva started showing the signs of a cranky teething toddler and didn’t get a good night’s sleep. Add to that equation the fact that she now pukes every time we drive more than 20 minutes and the two hour drive Saturday morning seemed like cruel and unusual punishment. But we had the chair scheduled for delivery and Oskar was adamant that he was going; so Oskar, with hesitation from Martin and I, decided that Oskar and I would held up alone for the night! It was going to be a mother son adventure.

Oskar, so excited for the trip, packed his own bag Friday night. And upon inspection by me Saturday morning he actually packed most of the items needed in his backpack. A pair of pajamas was all that was missing. It was the first indication that traveling with an almost four year old might be a little easier than I had originally expected and hopefully an indication of things to come when Alva gets a little older. I packed a change of clothes for me, some Mac and cheese for dinner and instant oatmeal for breakie and we were off!

We got up there around 3 and by 3:30 Oskar had the new marble set out of the box and was in the process of setting it up. For the next four hours, I spent the time between doing stuff around the house (fixing the sink, putting together our new table, installing the bedroom door handle and hanging the curtains) and playing with Oskar while Oskar primarily played with the marbles and took breaks to assist me in my tasks (such as holding the flashlight under the sink, handing me the leveler for the curtains, and trying to pick the lock on the bedroom door after I accidentally closed the door while installing the handle... locking me inside the bedroom with Oskar on the other side... in the woods, in the dark, with no one else around and with no cell service and no way out....it took 20 minutes to get out and caused me nearly a panic attack, but Oskar was calm and collected the whole time while we tried to figure out a way how to open the door without a handle).

After breaking free from the bedroom, Oskar and I enjoyed the rest of the quiet night together and snuggled in bed that night (that is, if snuggling means Oskar sleeping with his foot in my back and laying parallel with the headboard). The next day was spent playing inside with the marbles and outside with the trucks. And after a delivery Snafu from West Elm we got on the road around 11 without having the chair delivered. But leaving when we did allowed us to stop at In N Out burger on our way home for a mama son lunch date to round out the fun adventure.

It was such a fun 24 hours... Oskar is truly such a cool, genuine and thoughtful guy. And without any distractions, fighting for attention or need to share toys, he was able to cut loose and just be himself.

A Layover in Lisbon

When looking at flights home from Europe over Christmas Break, we found that our cheapest option included a layover in Lisbon.  Having never been before, we figured, sure why not.  And knowing that it would only be for one full day (two nights), we splurged on the Martinhal Hotel in Chiado, a family first hotel.  It was definitely not the cheapest of options (especially when compared to other hotels and airbnbs in the area), but it was completely worth it.

From the moment we were greeted by our driver at the airport I knew it was going to be a different experience. The hotel isn’t just a kid friendly hotel, they are kid centered. Our driver joked with the kids on the walk to the car (asking Oskar to pick out the car he wanted and asking Oskar drive from him). And the little touches continued through the two night stay. They have thought of everything: training potties, stepping stools, a toilet low enough for Oskar to pee on his own, high chairs, an in-suite washing machine with detergent, a fridge stocked with milk, orange juice and snacks, a play area downstairs with free, in-house babysitting and organized activities, stroller parking, and a kid focused cafe with real car to play in. The experience was unreal and a nice way to enjoy our two night layover in Lisbon. It also doesn’t hurt that we got upgraded to a one bedroom apartment larger than our home in San Francisco.

Unfortunately with such a kid friendly hotel, coaxing Oskar out of the building to go see the city was a bit challenge, however we did manage to see and try a few things including the Praca do Comercio, the Time Out Market, shopping in Chiado, and Lisbon’s famous egg custards at Alcoa in Chiado. And thanks to the organized activities and Oskar’s desire to check out the parent free room (we weren’t allowed to stay) Martin and I were able to get in a 45 minute wine date at By the Wine across the street from the hotel (never mind that we came back to both kids screaming... I would say it was still worth the moment alone and price of the hotel room).

Checking in to our flight... TAP Air has a separate counter for families.

Waiting for our flight...

Dinner at the hotel the first night.  Oskar met a new friend Sofia.  He told her "I drive fast and then crash".  

Off exploring... looking for a "snack"

The Time Out Market... Alva slept through the whole affair

An impromptu wine tasting... 

...45 minutes of adult time

A Practice in Patience and Logistics

I have recently adopted the mantra that raising kids, especially at this age, is just an exercise of logistics and patience... with a lot of love, joy and laughter thrown in. Our trip to Europe for Christmas and New Year was no exception.

The logistics began even before we left when we re-looked at the flights we had purchased six months prior.  Thanks to the super saver fares we purchased for our flight home, we realized that each checked bag would be $100 per leg (meaning $200 in total for both the flight to Lisbon and the flight to San Francisco). Trying to pack for four people for a two week winter ski holiday plus Christmas presents with only three carry-on bags was definitely my Mount Everest of packing skills. And yet, somehow we managed…at least for our luggage on the way there. Despite explaining our packing situation and making an honest plea for no, or at least small, presents, we acquired a fourth suitcase worth of toys and stuff that had to be left behind in Germany.

It took the patience of a saint in fighting the always losing battle of sleep with the two kids:  An overnight to London with only one seat for the two kids to share; four days of jet lag our first nights in Germany (we let go of all hopes of sleep and had a pajama party each night from 2:30-4:30am, but lost our cool a little bit on the third night when Oskar claimed for the third night in a row that he wanted to sleep on both beds in the room at the same time...), a 12 hour day time flight home to San Francisco, which required negotiations for two naps (made more complicated by a very vocal and frustrated passenger one row in front of us) and four more days of jet lag upon returning home in San Francisco. 

Our logistics continued right after Christmas as we began the journey down to Italy for the Breuer Family Ski Holiday… it also took some negotiations and a little marital patience. The big challenge was how to make the 10 hour journey from Iserlohn to Ridnaun in only 10 hours (when, with kids a 10 hour drive is never a 10 hour drive). I had worked out that the train was the best option, but it took a little bit of patience for me to wait until Martin’s parents explained why taking the train made the most sense (using all of the same arguments I had previously presented to no avail).

In Italy, our biggest logistical issue was trying to figure out which of the many activities we were going to do each day: sledding, skiing, swimming, playroom, Pilates, yoga, all within the confines of a two hour nap and a two hour and five course dinner each night. As a side note: Martin found the solution to one of the problems by going skiing each morning at five am before sunrise. As another side: after a five year break I found myself thoroughly enjoying the skiing; after Pilates each week in SF I still managed to have my ass kicked by the German teacher who spoke no English; and finally, going skiing after a five year break followed by German Pilates all in the same day might have been a bit aggressive.

As mentioned, the logistics and patience that comes standard with parenthood, also comes complete with a lot of joy and laughter: Laughter and joy watching Alva point out each and every dog in Lady and the Tramp on our flight to Europe (she truly squealed and said dog every time); love of having both kids fall asleep with their heads in my lap on said flight and later requesting to both sit on my lap during Christmas Eve church service; joy watching Oskar learn to ski (and asking to go all together as a family); and more love (and a little hesitation) watching Martin, Oskar and Alva race down the sledding hill a little too fast for my liking.

Below are some photos! 

Christmas Morning!

Train to Munich 

Munich Train Station, on our way to Innsbruck 

Martin splurged for our very own train compartment

We made it to Italy!

 

Heading back from our walk looking for the sledding hill

Alva got really excited about the "water fountain" just her height...

Thankfully we didn't drive as each car trip resulted in Alva puking... we resorted to diapers to help with the mess.