tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-99137252024-03-13T15:10:16.179-07:00a l i c e k [i] n dAliceK[i]NDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11340506218879565675noreply@blogger.comBlogger522125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9913725.post-66522089316304919832013-12-26T23:00:00.000-07:002013-12-28T11:10:37.900-07:00Christmas Eve and Christmas Day<br />
On Christmas Eve (Tuesday) we hosted all of the DeWitt Family (Jay's parents and siblings and their families) for dinner. Everyone helped with the food and it was all fabulous. <br />
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Afterward we had a program with a few musical numbers by the grand kids and Jay sang and played the guitar performing his "Christmas Gifts" song. <br />
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Then the kids did the Nativity with some audience participation (sing along) and I introduced the DeWitts to the Nielson tradition of "The Story of the Other Wiseman." It was fun to see the children with wide eyes because they weren't familiar with the story. I could tell they were concerned and eager to find out what would happen. It was cute. <br />
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Santa (Grandpa Collin) made a visit and then everyone headed home to await the real Santa Claus.<br />
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I hoped our kids would sleep in late on Christmas morning now that they are getting older, but no such luck. We were up by 7:30.... but I guess it could have been worse.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mary got mostly "Dr. Who" related gifts</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It wouldn't be Christmas without a new Lego set!</td></tr>
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After we opened gifts I made breakfast (aebelskivers with buttermilk syrup) and we enjoyed playing with gifts and looking at the family photos Grandma Wendy scanned (thousands and thousands.... what a treasure!). Then we took the kids to see the movie "Frozen," which was cute.<br />
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Later on Christmas night we watched the "Dr. Who" Christmas special because our kid are nuts about it. I have to admit it's pretty entertaining. This was an important episode because a "new" doctor was introduced. <i>(He regenerates periodically so a new actor comes on board. Brilliant way to extend the life of a TV show.... for 50 years!)</i> <br />
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Jay was back at work today so it was pretty low-key. Mary and I went for a bike ride (the weather is gorgeous) and talked about our many blessings. And I finally finished cleaning up the Christmas Eve/Christmas morning mess. Maybe now I can relax?<br />
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<br />AliceK[i]NDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11340506218879565675noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9913725.post-30815000725471827492013-12-25T10:00:00.000-07:002014-01-07T08:15:01.734-07:00Merry Christmas!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />AliceK[i]NDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11340506218879565675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9913725.post-23564741658846826462013-12-23T00:15:00.000-07:002013-12-27T00:16:27.500-07:00Almost there!Tuesday night was Collin and Mary's school choir concert. They both did great. Mary had a solo as part of the song "Gesu Bambino." She was awesome but I can't get the video to load. <br />
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Friday night was the Thomas Family party (my mom's side of the family). It was fun but there are getting to be too many people so you end up only talking to a few. I'm thinking next year we need to do the socializing like speed dating so that everyone gets a chance to talk to everyone else. I think it's worth trying. :)<br />
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Now school is out and we scramble to get everything ready for Christmas! <br />
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On Sunday I sang a solo in sacrament meeting as part of the Christmas program. I sang the song "Weepin' Mary" which most people aren't familiar with. It's an old traditional Christmas spiritual and it's lovely. <br />
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Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and we are hosting all of Jay's family for dinner and a program. It should be fun but there is lots to do to get ready! Whew!<br />
<br />AliceK[i]NDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11340506218879565675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9913725.post-46330915181012618372013-12-16T23:30:00.000-07:002013-12-27T00:09:35.208-07:00More performances and other stuffWe finally got our tree and decorated for Christmas! <br />
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Thursday night was Mary's school dance concert and she did great. <br />
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It was also Collin's Eagle Board of Review that night. They really grilled him but he did great. It's now official! <br />
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His cousin, Tate, was having his Board of Review that night too. <br />
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We took Collin to a late dinner at Texas Roadhouse (his choice) to celebrate. Woo hoo!<br />
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Saturday was our ward party. It is a tradition for the bishopric to perform something silly, so Jay put together a "human bagpipes" skit for them. It was funny. <br />
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Later that day we took the kids to see the next installment of "The Hobbit" movie trilogy, which was good. I am the only one in our family who hasn't read the book. Someone had trucked in some snow for kids to play in outside the theater so Jack enjoyed that for a few minutes.<br />
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Sunday was Mary's violin recital. She played two songs and though she was super nervous she did great. <br />
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In other news.... for some reason Jack was feeling left out as the only child in our family who didn't need glasses so he felt the need to get some just for show <i>(with his own money).</i> He is a nut.<br />
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<br />AliceK[i]NDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11340506218879565675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9913725.post-83765762525042610092013-12-11T23:24:00.000-07:002013-12-26T23:30:21.982-07:00ConcertsDecember is off to a busy start! It's that time of year! Whew!<br />
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I don't know what's wrong with me. My kids performed in several amazing concerts this week and I took exactly ZERO photos! Ugh. <br />
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Anyway, they were part of the EVMCO performances at the Mesa Arts Center. They looked and sounded fantastic. There were 2 performances on Thursday, and two on Saturday. Collin performed in all 4 concerts, but Mary and Jack were only in 2 (one each on Thursday and Saturday). They did a great job.<br />
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We had stake conference this weekend and got a new stake presidency.... Tim Lines, Greg Slater and Tom Curtis. They will be great. Our outgoing stake president, Lothaire Bluth, was called to be a mission president. <i>(Collin and I both sang in the stake choir.)</i><br />
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Monday night was Jack's Christmas concert at school. He was one of a few who auditioned and was chosen to play the recorder and he did well. He practiced a lot and took it very seriously. <br />
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Tuesday night was our ward Relief Society Christmas dinner. I sang in a trio (with MaryAnn Wells and Chelsea Jones) as part of the program after the dinner. It was a nice evening as usual.<br />
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<br />AliceK[i]NDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11340506218879565675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9913725.post-59186944070745194022013-12-03T22:50:00.000-07:002013-12-26T22:54:14.751-07:00Thanksgiving WeekendThanksgiving weekend was busy and fun but I'm notorious for forgetting to take photos.... darn it. <br />
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My brother, Peter, and his wife and kids stayed at our house... our first house guests! It was fun to have them. <br />
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Our Thanksgiving feast was amazing, of course, with too many pies.... I didn't think that possible, but apparently I was wrong. <br />
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Afterward we changed gears and had our Christmas program/talent show.... at my mom's request, since they will be in England<i> (as missionaries)</i> for Christmas.<br />
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Friday was the Nielson Family football game at the park followed by a BBQ at our house. We also celebrated my brother, Christian's birthday. <br />
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That night my parents were set apart as missionaries for their departure the next morning. It was very emotional <i>(well, I was very emotional... I'm such a baby, but I'm really going to miss them).</i> But I'm super excited for them! They will be serving as missionaries in southern England for 12 months.<br />
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On Monday night we went to pick out a Christmas tree, as is our usual tradition <i>(for FHE on the Monday after Thanksgiving),</i> but there were none to be found! Sold out? Craziness! Bummer. I guess we have to wait for the next shipment, but maybe at least this means we will get a super fresh one. AliceK[i]NDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11340506218879565675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9913725.post-91660565754968652522013-11-23T22:26:00.000-07:002013-12-26T22:33:01.308-07:00Violinists and CellistsEarlier this month I took Mary to see her violin teacher perform with a local symphony as the winner for a youth competition. It was a great concert, and we got to meet her teacher's teacher, who happens to be the concert master for the Phoenix Symphony....and I happen to be a big admirer of his. <i>(You can see him in the background over her shoulder, wearing black.)</i><br />
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And last night Jay and I took Collin (our cellist) to see Zuill Bailey in a solo concert at the Mesa Arts Center. We saw him perform with the Phoenix Symphony last year and loved him, so we couldn't resist getting tickets to his performance of the entire Bach Cello Suites... in one sitting! It was simply amazing! He is a fantastic performer.... talented, charming and witty... and a fabulous story-teller. Everyone was spell bound!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This pose is because he told the story of how his left land is MUCH larger than his right.</td></tr>
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<br />AliceK[i]NDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11340506218879565675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9913725.post-9443406377145513772013-11-15T22:23:00.000-07:002013-12-26T22:23:53.103-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm not an artist, and crafts and stuff like that really are NOT my thing, but I have a 4th grader who LOVES art, so I try. Since his teacher this year is not really into art I volunteered to help with art projects. What was I thinking??? Fortunately I have a husband who knows about art and he helped me put together a water color project. It was probably a bit too ambitious for me but it was fun.<br />
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AliceK[i]NDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11340506218879565675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9913725.post-50459129931348036362013-11-13T22:19:00.000-07:002013-12-26T22:19:53.623-07:00Handy Jay and the Back-splashI'm lucky to have such a handy husband. Jay installed this lovely back-splash in the kitchen over the weekend. I love it!<br />
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AliceK[i]NDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11340506218879565675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9913725.post-12258836566769083732013-11-12T22:16:00.000-07:002013-12-26T22:17:46.434-07:00A Decision that Took Two YearsIt only took me about 2 years to finally get up the nerve, but I finally got my hair cut short... well, short to me, after having it quite long for a lot of years. But it was time... it needed "thickening up." I think I like it.<br />
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AliceK[i]NDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11340506218879565675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9913725.post-74727440421190102842013-11-01T22:12:00.000-07:002013-12-26T22:15:32.433-07:00October in Review<br />
October was busy and fun. I made pickles for the first time ever. My parents brought home bushels of cucumbers from the ranch and I didn't know what else to do with them. They turned out great! I gave most of them away but our family enjoyed lots of them.<br />
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Collin was on a school trip the whole week of Fall Break. He want to Northern California and had a great time. They kept very busy and saw lots of stuff. When I read through the itinerary I was really wishing I had been a chaperone! <br />
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So, Mary and Jack and I try to keep from getting bored while Collin was gone. We went on bike rides and played games, and they had friends over. It was pretty low key. <br />
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I celebrated my birthday. Yippee. Another year older. You don't need to know how old.<br />
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My mom turned 70 so we planned a great surprised party and had it at our house. She was COMPLETELY surprised. It was great! <br />
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My sister, Heidi, came into town (from Georgia) for mom's birthday so we had to have a girls' lunch too, or course.<br />
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For Halloween, Jack dressed a ninja, and Mary dressed as a "Pompeii Seer" (from an episode of "Dr. Who".... she is s huge fan). <br />
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Collin was going to dress as the "10th Doctor" but then decided he didn't want to go trick-or-treating (it's hard at that age.... too old?). When some friends came by trick-or-treating he threw on half of his costume and went out to a few houses with them. Then they came back here to watch a movie. <br />
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<br />AliceK[i]NDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11340506218879565675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9913725.post-25279088239848868792013-09-30T21:58:00.000-07:002013-12-26T21:58:31.680-07:00September in ReviewI guess September was all about Scouting. <br />
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The highlight of September was that Collin finished his Eagle project! Hooray! He worked hard and did a great job. <br />
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and Jack received his Bear rank award in Cub Scouts. He still has until February before he moves to the Webelos den so he is ahead of schedule. He works hard and is dedicated to Cub Scouts.</div>
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<br />AliceK[i]NDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11340506218879565675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9913725.post-20336131099930751112013-08-31T21:05:00.000-07:002013-12-26T21:21:02.336-07:00August in ReviewAugust is back to school time. Collin started 9th grade, and Mary is in 7th grade, so they are now at the same school again (it's 7th-12th grades). <br />
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Jack started 4th grade at the same school but a new campus. <br />
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Enjoying having a "real" pool in our backyard! <i>(Extended family volleyball game for FHE.)</i><br />
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We've been busy getting settled into our new home and doing a few projects, including Jay refinishing the table and chairs we got for $50 on Craigslist! <br />
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It turned out great.... I love it!<br />
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<br />AliceK[i]NDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11340506218879565675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9913725.post-18377087504733271552013-08-01T20:59:00.000-07:002013-12-26T21:05:03.409-07:00July in ReviewWe spent the first part of July moving into our new home and unpacking. We sent our children to the cabin with family to enjoy the 4th of July festivities, and Jay and stayed home to do the dirty work. <br />
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Mary had a great time at "Time to Blossom" with her good friend, Macy.</div>
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Collin learned a new love of mowing the lawn at our new house after Grandpa gave us his old riding lawn mower.<br />
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My parents received a mission call to England, London South Mission!</div>
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Mary got braces.<br />
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I jumped into the swimming pool to save a drowning child.... with my brand new iPhone 5 in my pocket. Fortunately, the nice people at the Apple Store gave me a new one! Yay!</div>
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Mary turned 12 and had a bunch of friends over for a swimming party to celebrate.</div>
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And we finished off the month with our annual trip to our family's ranch in New Mexico for a week of fun with family.... riding horses and quads, talking, eating, swinging on the porch swings, dancing, singing, laughing, doing talent shows, singing around the camp fire, and watching fireworks. Whew!</div>
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AliceK[i]NDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11340506218879565675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9913725.post-66937608837401388742013-06-30T16:05:00.000-07:002013-12-26T19:44:05.174-07:00June in Review<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
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After our amazing trip to Europe in May, we settled back into real life and finished out the school year. Much of June was spent packing for our move, but in between we managed to keep busy with other activities.<br />
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Mary had her first violin recital. Her teacher is our amazing neighbor who is extremely talented (she is just a high school senior). Mary has only been taking lessons for a couple of months but she is doing well. <br />
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Mary went to Girls' Camp for her first time. Camp LoMia!<br />
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Collin attended EFY in Flagstaff at NAU and had a great time!
He loved every minute of it... learned a lot, made some new friends,
and come home on a spiritual high. He also went to camp with the Teacher's Quorum and did lots of hiking and rock climbing. He said the food was really good too. <i>(Of course that would be the most memorable part for a teenage boy.) </i><br />
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All 3 of my kids participated in musical theater camps (Jack for the
first time) and did a great job. Collin and his cousin stole the show
performing the song "Tear Jerk." It has hilarious! </div>
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They love being in it with their cousins!<br />
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My parents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary and we put on a nice dinner and program. I wish I had some video or other photos but I'm really bad about that kind of thing.<br />
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The rest of the month looked about like this.<br />
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AliceK[i]NDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11340506218879565675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9913725.post-60764392316981547232013-06-27T09:35:00.000-07:002013-06-27T09:59:09.559-07:00The Saga of Our New Home<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">This is kind of long, but if you want to know the whole story, here it is. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">Sixteen
years ago this month, Jay and I were newly weds building a house for
our family. Sixteen years ago in October we moved into that house that
seemed so huge at the time <i>(for just the two of us).</i> Along came three
children and our family grew as our house seemed to shrink. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">About 8 years ago we felt like we had out-grown our house and decided it was time to find something larger. We started looking and planned to put our house up for sale. We live in a great area so we really wanted to find something in our same neighborhood. People are often looking to move into our area so as soon as a few people heard we were thinking of selling we had an offer without ever putting our house up for sale. </span><br />
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><br /></span>
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">So, we signed a contract to sell our house <i>(for the market value at that time)</i>, started packing, hired a real estate agent, and started looking in earnest for our new home. Really looking. A lot. Like every day. At lots of houses. Our buyers were living with family so they were able to be flexible on our closing, so we weren't super worried. But then something strange happened. Houses began selling within an hour of being listed and for much more than the asking price. There were bidding wars on houses that weren't even that great, and lotteries for new homes. Home prices skyrocketed and suddenly we were selling our house for about HALF of the current market value. <i>(Remember this craziness in 2005?) </i>We discovered that couldn't have afford something similar to the house we were selling, let alone buy something larger, even if we could manage to get in an offer before someone else. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">Since there was no contingency in our contract we really started panicking. And praying. Really hard. We were stuck, and kind of desperate. We found ourselves willing to make offers on houses we didn't even really like, in locations we didn't want, which really scared me. Suddenly our "little" house looked really desirable again and we just wanted to stay put! There ended up being some complications with the closing so we kindly returned the earnest deposit, and it ended up being best for everyone involved. </span><br />
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><br /></span>
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">So, over the next 8 years we stayed in our home and made the best use of the space we have as our children grew and their stuff and friends got bigger. We like to entertain and continued to do so even with limited space. I really do love this house, and we love our neighborhood and the whole area. </span><br />
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><br /></span>
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">But I never really stopped looking at houses and dreaming. Our "ideal" was still to find a larger house in our same neighborhood, or very close by. We always felt that if we were patient then the right house for the right price would come along at the right time. And it did.</span><br />
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><br /></span>
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">At the end of April, the week before we were to leave the country for 2 weeks, I was out jogging around the neighborhood one morning. As I ran by a house in our "ideal" part of the neighborhood which I had run/walked/biked/driven by at least a hundred times before I saw something different.... a for sale sign! I had never really given this particular house a second glance, but now it certainly caught my eye now! I didn't want to get my hopes up and assumed we probably wouldn't be able to afford it, and figured I probably wouldn't like it anyway <i>(from the outside it wasn't "my style")</i>, but I figured what-the-heck. <i>(I work hard to not get my hopes up.)</i></span><br />
<br />
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">So, I called the number on the sign and went to see it about an hour later. Investors had bought it as a short sale and had just started fixing it up in preparation to list it <i>(they had just put up a sign that day but weren't ready to list it yet).</i> I could see it was a nice house but kept telling myself it wasn't my style. But I couldn't stop thinking about it. I told Jay about it and he rolled his eyes. Then I suggested he go see it with me, which he did the next day. The next day we went to see it again.... and I liked it more. The next day I took my <a href="http://www.elizabethbryant.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">stylish sister</a> with me, asking her to point out all the things that were wrong with the house and to tell me why I shouldn't want it. Instead she told me all the wonderful things about it and I finally admitted how much I really liked it. She asked me to list the things that were most important to me in a house. That's when I realized it had everything I was looking for, and more. It was true love. </span><br />
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><br /></span>
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">The next day I took my parents to see it, wanting my dad to give his approval... or not. He has been in the home building business for 40 years so he knows what he is looking at and is very particular. I was braced for his criticism of the house so I was shocked when he only said things like, "This is a really nice house. They are doing a really nice job fixing it up." My construction-management BIL who knows a thing or two about construction came along too and gave his approval. I was sold. Now I just had to convince Jay.... or so I thought. It turns out Jay liked it too. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">By the next day the sellers had accepted our verbal offer. The timing was terrible because we were leaving for Europe in a few days, and we knew we would have to sell our house really fast! But I was surprisingly calm about the whole thing. I knew that if it was meant to be that things would fall into place. And they did.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">The next day I sent out an email to some family and friends saying, "We made an offer on a house and need to sell ours fast. Let me know if you know of anyone who might be interested." Within an hour I had people calling me. Someone came to look it that night. Another person came the next morning... and came back that afternoon saying she wanted it. The next day we signed contracts on both houses and the next day we left for Europe. It was crazy, but everything fell into place. </span><br />
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><br /></span>
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">I have mixed emotions about the whole thing since this is the only home our family has known. I'm excited about the new home we are moving to,
but feeling a little sad about all the memories we are leaving behind.
Thankfully we are selling our beloved home to someone wonderful, so we
know it will be in good hands. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">It's a wonderful little house and it's been good to us! Now, on to the next chapter....</span>AliceK[i]NDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11340506218879565675noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9913725.post-13951136586152922292013-05-18T23:33:00.002-07:002013-05-18T23:33:38.440-07:00Travel Tips: What I learned from our trip to EuropeI'm no travel expert, but in preparation for our trip I did read a lot of what the experts say about travel to Europe. This was my third trip to Europe, but it was the first time I had to do any planning for it.... someone else did the planning for me in the past. So, I learned a few things I thought I might as well share what I learned. <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">G E N E R A L</span><br />
<br />
<u>HOW LONG</u>:<br />
Ideally you would spend a whole week in a major city, but that's not always possible. In a week you can see all the major sites without feeling rushed, and have time to relax and do more of the non-tourist things and get off the beaten path. I recommend doing no more than 2 "touristy" things a day, and spend some time each day doing other things, like people watching in a park, strolling, shopping, exploring, etc. If you only have a few days then just pick a few highlights; choose what most appeals to you, not necessarily what is most popular, since opinions vary on what the "must sees" are in each city. We spent 3 nights in each city and hardly scratched the surface!<br />
<br />
<u>WHERE TO STAY</u>: <br />
I highly recommend choosing an American hotel chain, such as Marriott. You will get good service and have comfortable accommodations. The staff will speak English, the beds will be normal, you will have a nice bathroom, and they sometimes have American power outlets as well <i>(or have adapters you can borrow). </i><br />
<br />
<u>GETTING AROUND</u>:<br />
Big cities usually have good public transportation. Use it! Buy 1-day unlimited passes. But also be prepared to do a lot of walking. Underground trains are very efficient, but you miss a lot. Make sure you take time to walk around so you can SEE the city you are in. Just balance your transportation between the trains and your feet. Buses can be a great option... they aren't as fast <i>(traffic can be pretty bad),</i> but you can see more as you travel. <br />
<br />
<u>WHAT TO DO</u>:<br />
<b>See the major attractions</b>... if they appeal to you. But if they don't, skip them. There is no reason to feel guilty for not visiting the most popular museum or castle or other attraction in a major city if you aren't interested in that particular kind of thing. Unless you have unlimited time, or you already saw everything else, don't waste you time seeing something just because it's popular. It's not worth it! Every city has it's major museums, but there are always lots of smaller, lesser-known museums, which are often quirky and very interesting. Find what appeals to you! The museum passes you can get in most major cities including all the main attractions plus lots of smaller ones, which is a great way to discover something unusual that might appeal to you more than a major one. <br />
<br />
<b>Get off the beaten path.</b> Find the hidden unique places. Ask the concierge at your hotel. Take time to just explore. Don't be rushed. <br />
<br />
<u>WHAT TO WEAR</u>:<br />
Dress in solids and neutral colors so you don't stand out. Wear a scarf to blend in with the Europeans, even in summer (just make it a lightweight one). Don't wear sneakers, but do wear comfy shoes... I recommend Ecco or Crocs (not the ugly original style... the cute ones!). I wore Crocs ballet flats the whole time and they were perfect! They are super light and comfortable, and they are water proof. Jay wore Ecco leather lace up shoes the whole time and said they were perfect. Jeans or black/dark pants are perfect, and always wear layers.... the weather changes quickly. Even in summer you will want a light sweater. For 2 weeks I took 1 pair black pants, 3 pairs jeans, 1 skirt, 7 shirts, 3 cardigan sweaters, 4 scarves, 1 coat, 2 pairs shoes. I took enough underwear for every day (I did not want to do laundry) but I wore shirts twice.<br />
<br />
<u>WHAT TO TAKE</u>:<br />
We each brought a wheeled carry-on suitcase, and a shoulder bag carry on. It was nice to not check any bags on the way over (a few in our group ended up having their checked bags delayed a couple of days), but we did check out suitcases on the way home... they were just full of dirty clothes by then so we didn't care of they were delayed, but we had extra stuff to bring home.... a bag of souvenirs and gifts in a reusable shopping bag I had stuffed into my purse. I highly recommend bringing on. It came in handy when we were out shopping during the day, especially if you get items from a grocery store... they usually don't provide bags, or will charge you for one. <br />
<br />
Other items I brought along in my day pack that I thought were helpful:<br />
- a small flashlight<br />
- small ziploc bags<br />
- a few rubber bands, twist ties, paper clips and safety pins (all in a zipper bag)<br />
- Tide to Go pen (you will inevitably spill something!)<br />
- lip balm<br />
- ear buds (for listening to audio tours)<br />
- credit cards (2, just in case one has a problem.... make sure they don't have fees)<br />
- debit card (for getting cash from ATM's, or for when vendor's require a PIN... see below)<br />
- copies of your passport (leave the original in the hotel safe in your room)<br />
- Advil or Tylenol or the inevitable headache<br />
- a water bottle.... a <a href="http://www.waterbobble.com/" target="_blank">Bobble</a> is great because you can fill it anywhere and it has a built in filter<br />
- small umbrella<br />
- small notebook and pen <br />
<br />
<u>PAYING FOR STUFF</u>:<br />
I recommend you only use cash when you have to.... street vendors or small shops. Otherwise you plastic. First choice is a no-fee credit card. Capital One does not charge fees, nor does the Marriott Rewards Visa, so those are the two I took. Debit Card fees depend on your bank. Make sure you check. You don't want to be withdrawing cash frequently and running up fees, so try to estimate how much you will need for your whole stay in the country... if you have a little leftover make sure you use it up the last day so you don't have to change it back to US currency..... you will lose a lot. Using a credit card gets you the best exchange rate and is the most secure, so use a card any time you can. For cash, you always get the best rate from a bank ATM (make sure it's affiliated with an actual bank). Never go to an "Exchange" place.... they charge huge fees and you don't get the best exchange rate. <br />
<br />
I was told that we wouldn't be able to use our American credit cards to buy subway tickets from machines because they don't have the chip technology, but that wasn't true. We used them just fine in all the machines (both debit and credit) in London and Paris. There were a couple of small shops that wouldn't take American credit cards, or that would only take debit cards (because you have to have a PIN if it doesn't have a chip), but most places will allow you to sign for a credit card if you don't have a PIN. It's a good idea to always ask first when you enter a shop or restaurant, "Do you take American credit cards?"... just in case. <br />
<br />
Also, before you leave home inform your bank and credit card companies that you will be traveling outside the country.... otherwise your cards will be declined because they will think it's stolen. <br />
<br />
<u>APPS</u>:<br />
You really need a smart phone while traveling. My husband only has a basic phone so he just left it at home and we relied on my iPhone. He has an iPad that he used to check his email when we were in our hotel room. <br />
<br />
If you want to <b>communicate</b> with people back home you can pay through the nose for international cell service (assuming you have a phone with the capability), OR you can do what we did.... use email and text messaging using wifi. We used "<b>WhatsApp</b>" which uses your regular cell phone number for doesn't use any data or cell service... only wifi. The app costs $1 but you have unlimited texting for free, anywhere in the world. You can also use iMessage using wifi to contact others who use iMessage. <br />
<br />
The other app I used frequently (and which saved my hide plenty of times!) is <b>Pocket Earth </b>offline maps. Before you leave on your trip download the maps to the cities you will be visiting. They work offline (using GPS to track your location) so you can see exactly where you are even when you don't have wifi. It was super helpful! Google maps is helpful when you have <br />
<br />
I also downloaded <b>Rick Steves' Audio Tours</b> app. You will want to download at home the tours you plan to use and then just listen to them for your personal guided tour, usually just hitting the highlights of major attractions. These are really good. And they are totally free! <br />
<br />
The only other app I used was British Airways, since all our flights were with that airline. I was able to easily check in for all our flights as check in became available (when we had wifi). I could have done it without the app, using Safari, but it's just so much easier using the app. So, I recommend you download the app for whatever airline(s) you will be flying. If you are flying on different airlines you can use an app like TripIt to track them all in one place (and your hotels too).... you just email your confirmations to it and it puts them all in an itinerary for you. It's pretty slick. I also downloaded the Marriott app since we stayed in Marriott properties (all but one) but never ended up needing to use it. I would have come in handy though had I had to make any changes or needed info. <br />
<br />
There are a million other travel apps out there and I downloaded a whole bunch, but these are the only ones I really used. Ones I downloaded but never used include Fodor's City Guides, London Tube Map (handy, but the small cardstock version I got was handier), the London Pass App (I did use it as a general reference at one point), XE Currency (exchange rates, but needed wifi so it wasn't very handy). <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">C O P E N H A G E N</span><br />
I didn't plan this part of the trip... my parents planned it since this
was a celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary, and we were the
beneficiaries! I had never considered going to Copenhagen before, but I loved it and now I want to go back! It's a really cool city, the people are friendly, and everyone (I'm not exaggerating) speaks excellent English.... most hardly even have an accent! <br />
<br />
SLEEP: <br />
We stayed in the Copenhagen Marriott, which was beautiful, right on the canal bank, within walking distance of the Central train station and several bus stops, close to <a href="http://www.tivoli.dk/en/" target="_blank">Tivoli</a>, and had an excellent breakfast buffet. <br />
<br />
TRANSPORTATION:<br />
Get the <a href="http://www.copenhagencard.com/?ld=0&currency=eur" target="_blank">COPENHAGEN CARD</a>! Not only does it include the major museums and attractions (including Tivoli!), but transportation too! It's an excellent value. We used the trains and bus system, both of which were excellent. <br />
<br />
WHAT TO SEE:<br />
- Frederiksborg Palace (houses original Karl Bloche paintings)<br />
- Kronborg Castle ("Hamlet" castle)<br />
- Vor Frue Kirke (original "Christus" and 12 apostle statues)<br />
- Open Air Museum (like a Danish version of historic Williamsburg, VA)<br />
- Tivoli Gardens (oldest amusement park in the world, beautiful gardens)<br />
- Canal Boat Tour (fascinating and informative tour)<br />
- Nyhaven (cool area with shops and boats)<br />
- Trinitatus/Round Tower (cool church with attached tower with cool views of the city)<br />
<br />
BORNHOLM:<br />
I loved this part of the trip, but I'm not going to really give tips here because most people wouldn't even think of traveling. My family did just to visit where our ancestors came from. It was fascinating, and it's beautiful. There are lovely small towns with cools shops, beaches, forests, historic churches, etc. It's mostly a resort island for Europeans, particularly Swedes because it's so close. <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">L O N D O N</span><br />
<br />
SLEEP: <br />
If you can swing it, stay at the <a href="https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/lonch-london-marriott-hotel-county-hall/" target="_blank">London Marriott County Hall</a>. Not only is the hotel gorgeous and elegant <i>(in an historic building)</i> with excellent service, the location can't be beat! It sits in Westminster, right on the Thames, next to the London Eye, looking across the river at Big Ben and Parliament. It's right next to the Westminster Bridge where you can catch the Tube to pretty much anywhere in the city, but it's also within walking distance of many sites. Seriously, save money elsewhere and stay here! We were lucky enough to have all 3 nights covered by our Marriott Rewards points. If you are planning a trip to London in the future, I recommend getting the Marriott Rewards Visa and charge everything to it <i>(just pay it off every month)</i> to rack up the points you need <i>(lots!)</i>.<br />
<br />
EAT: <br />
Traditional English food is not particularly exciting, and food in London is pretty pricy <i>(like everything else)</i>. Indian food is extremely popular in London, and plentiful, which is a great option if you like it <i>(I love it, but my husband... not so much)</i>. Surprisingly, one of the best options we found is a local chain called "EAT." They are located all over the city and it's very affordable and quick. They have a variety of sandwiches, salads, soups, tasty desserts, and other snacks, such as yogurt with granola. You literally grab it from a shelf and pay at the counter, but they will toast your sandwich for you. We ate there several times <i>(at different locations)</i> and it was always very good.... nothing fancy or extraordinary, but fresh and tasty.<br />
<br />
DO:<br />
It is hard to say what the "must sees" are in London because it really depends on what you like. Several of the main museums are free, which is great, but other major attractions, such as the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, and St. Paul's Cathedral <i>(to climb the tower)</i> require entry fees. If you want to see those 3 then I recommend you purchase the "<b>London Pass</b>" which include entry to those... plus a lot more... but it will pay for itself even if you only see those 3. It also includes the Thames River boat tour, which is informative and fun <i>(the guides are usually very witty),</i> and a nice way to relax for a bit <i>(it's not too long)</i>. Another great thing about getting the London Pass is that it means you don't have to wait in lines to buy tickets at the major attractions, and there is sometimes a "fast pass" type entrance. Purchase your London Pass in advance <a href="http://www.londonpass.com/" target="_blank">online</a>. <br />
<br />
<b>Tower of London</b>: It's extremely popular so it's always crowded. It's also huge so it takes several hours to see it. Go first thing in the morning.... be there when it opens. If you have the London Pass you do not have to stand in line for a ticket... just go to the main entrance. <br />
<br />
<b>St. Paul's Cathedral: </b>It is amazingly gorgeous and huge. The climb to the top of the tower is really hard.... lots of steep narrow steps... but it's totally worth it. The views are amazing. However, I don't recommend it if you are claustrophobic. <br />
<br />
<b>Hop On/Hop Off Bus Tours</b>: These are big open top double-decker tourist buses (not to be confused with the double-decker city buses) that provide transportation along with recorded information along the way. It's a nice way to get an orientation of the city, however it's very time consuming because traffic is terrible, so don't use it as a means of transportation <i>(too inefficient)</i> unless you are spending more than a few days in London and don't mind spending most of a day just looking and listening rather than doing. These tours usually include a boat tour too... the same one as the London Pass, so you don't need both.<br />
<br />
<b>British Museum: </b> This is free and focuses on ancient history and culture, not art. So, if that's your thing, then go! If it's art you are interested in, skip it and go to the National Gallery instead <i>(also free). </i><br />
<br />
<b>National Gallery:</b> It's free and has some wonderful art. They also have free wifi in the lobby. Bonus! <br />
<br />
<b>Portobello Road Market: </b> Go early on a Saturday morning, when most vendors are out. Go hungry and grab breakfast from one of the carts and eat while you browse the amazing market. Super fun!<br />
<br />
<b>Parks:</b> Take time to enjoy the lovely parks.... walk leisurely, people watch, etc. <br />
<br />
<b>Theatre:</b> Go see a show! There are TONS of options, so everyone can find something that appeals to them. Unless you are into going to clubs at night, the theatre is where you want to be! Either order tickets online at home (and pick them up at will call) or risk it and go to the half-price ticket location (just like in NYC) on the day. <br />
<br />
<b>Other:</b> Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Tower Bridge, etc., are all cool to see, but you don't have to spend a lot of time there... just look, take photos, etc. Be prepared to do a lot of walking so you will see more! Explore!<br />
<br />
GET AROUND:<br />
The Underground ("Tube") subway system is excellent. Either get an "Oyster Card" that you refill as needed, or just buy a Travelcard (1-day to a week, depending on how long you are there) which gives you unlimited travel on the Tube and bus system. <br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">PARIS</span><br />
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SLEEP:<br />
Again, I recommend Marriott properties. Location is always important, especially in Paris because there are some scarier areas. We opted to stay in a Courtyard in Boulogne-Billancourt near the southwest edge of the city. It is a newer property (only a couple of years old) and it got rave reviews on Trip Advisor. It was affordable, clean, quiet, and the staff was excellent and spoke English well. The neighbor felt very safe... lots of families. In fact, there was a cute park right in front our hotel where we enjoyed watching the locals play with their children. There were several cute neighborhood patisseries and cafes nearby, and the Metro 10 line station was just a short walk away.... it takes you directly to the heart of the city, so even though it's out of the way it was very convenient. I would definitely stay there again. <br />
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EAT:<br />
We ate mostly in cafes, bakeries and bistros. They were all good and generally affordable. Avoid places that look like they cater to tourists... they usually aren't as good. One day we got a baguette, Nutella, and a couple of bananas from a neighborhood grocery store and enjoyed that for breakfast... it was our cheapest meal for sure, and possibly our favorite... probably partly because we ate it in the park while enjoyed views of Paris!<br />
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DO:<br />
Get the <b>Paris Museum Pass</b> which covers all the major sites with the exception of the <b>Eiffel Tower</b> and Sacre Couer. We ended up not doing either of them, mostly because they are time consuming and expensive. The Eiffel tower has great views, but frankly I prefer the view OF the Eiffel tower (especially from the Trocadero area across the river), which is free. Enjoy the view of the city from the top of the <b>Arc de Triomphe</b> instead, which is included in the Paris Museum Pass. <br />
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The <b>Musee du Louvre</b> (close Tuesdays) is huge... unless you love museums and ancient art is particular, just hit the highlights, or skip it altogether (gasp!). I know, that sounds crazy, but if you are pressed for time you might be disappointed. Most people can hit the highlights in less than 2 hours and be satisfied. The Mona Lisa is small and disappointing (covered in dark glass and heavily barricaded), but just beyond it is the best stuff. Stick to the Sully and Denon wings. If you prefer 20th century art then save your energy for the Orsay. <br />
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The <b>Musee d'Orsay</b> (closed Mondays) is fantastic.... it picks up where the Louvre leaves off; impressionists, post-impressionists, etc. You can see all of it in about 4 hours, but if you only have 2 hours you can still see a lot. I highly recommend starting from the top (the 5th floor) and work your way down. The best stuff is at the top and you get to see it while you are fresh in the beginning, rather than at the end when you are tired. Then you finish on the bottom floor and are ready to exit from there. <br />
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Don't forgot the <b>Musee de l'Orangerie</b> at the west end of the Jardin des Tuileries... it's small so you can see it all in about an hour. This is where Monet's Water Lilies are.... see that first (main floor) and then go downstairs for even more lovely stuff. <br />
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Take time to walk down the <b>Champs-Elysees</b>... this is perfect to do after leaving the Arc deTriomphe.... and walk through through the gardens (Tuileries). <br />
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<b>Notre Dame Cathedral</b> is amazing, but <b>Sainte-Chapelle</b> is gorgeous for it's stained glass windows. If you can get tickets to a concert at Sainte-Chapelle then do! <br />
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If you have an extra day (which we didn't have) go to Versailles (or another day trip outside the city) but that takes a whole day. I would also have loved to go to Giverny (Monet's home).... next time! :)<br />
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GET AROUND:<br />
The Metro is excellent, like the London Tube. Buy a "Mobilis" pass each day (unlimited use) for the best value. You just get them from the machine in any station. <br />
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COMMUNICATING: <br />
Don't worry if you don't speak French. Contrary to popular belief, Parisians are nice and willing to help... they are just a bit reserved and proud. They want you to try speaking French, but you only have to know a few basic phrases. Always be polite and a bit formal. Just begin with, "Bonjour madame/monsier. Parlez vous anglais?" They will generally reply in a very humble way indicating that they speak very little English, but it's usually more for the sake of modesty, and they are embarrassed by their accent. But they know more than enough to communicate with you. Just speak slowly, use short sentences, and avoid slang. Don't be too overly friendly or smiley. The only other phrases you need to know.....<br />
- merci (thank you)<br />
- sil vous plait (please)<br />
- pardonnez moi (excuse me)<br />
- au revoir (good bye)<br />
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So, those are my travel tips, in a nut shell. I'm sure there is lots I'm forgetting, so if there is something specific you want to ask about then feel free.<br />
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Bon voyage!<br />
<br />AliceK[i]NDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11340506218879565675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9913725.post-30029766923047932062013-05-14T23:00:00.000-07:002013-05-17T17:03:47.910-07:00Paris Day 2This morning we stopped at a market and bought a crusty baguette and a jar of Nutella for breakfast. We hopped on the Metro to the Arc de Triomphe where we sat on a bench and ate our breakfast with an amazing view of that magnificent structure.<br />
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Then we took the tour of the arc, climbing all the way to the top with amazing views of the Champs-Elysees and the whole city. Personally I think it's a better view than the Eiffel Tower, not nearly as crowded, and it's WAY cheaper (included in the Paris Museum Pass).<br />
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Next we strolled down the Champs-Elysees to the Jardin des Tuileries and then crossed the bridge to the Musee d'Orsay. We spent about 4 hours there and saw everything.... amazing! We love all the impressionist art. <i>(We actually prefer it over the Louvre.)</i><br />
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Then we headed to the Rue Cler market street where we had an early dinner and did a little browsing. We walked along the Seine looking at the artists selling canvases and bought a lovely painting of Paris featuring the Eiffel Tower which we are excited to frame and put in our home.<br />
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Then we headed to the Trocadero area to view the Eiffel Tower from the other side of the river. We bought crepes with Nutella and sat on a bench in the park to watch the sun go down and the tower lights come on. It was lovely and relaxing, and a wonderful way to spend our last day in Paris.<br />
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It's been a wonderful trip but we are glad to be going home tomorrow. These 2 weeks have absolutely flown by, but we miss our children.<br />
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Goodbye Paris! Until next time!AliceK[i]NDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11340506218879565675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9913725.post-59271210004706127182013-05-13T23:00:00.000-07:002013-05-17T17:04:39.087-07:00Paris Day 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0); line-height: normal;">Today was BUSY! We did a lot and it was fun, but slightly exhausting. That's OK though. It was all good. We had a quick continental breakfast in the hotel so we could get a jump on our day. We took the Metro to Notre Dame (even though our hotel is a little outside of the center of Paris it's very convenient to the heart of Paris via the Metro; we don't even have to change lines) and walked around it for a bit. It's an amazing structure and a remarkable monument to the faithful dedication of those who built it. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0); line-height: normal;">After that we walked just up the street to Sainte-Chapelle. The stained glass is stunning! We are also excited to learn that there would be a concert in the chapel that night.... Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" which is one of our favorites. So, of course we bought tickets. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0); line-height: normal;">We walked along the Seine down to the Louvre where we spent a couple of hours, mostly spending time looking at the paintings. Then we had a traditional French lunch at Cafe le Nemours. I ordered a Croque Monsier and Jay got the Croque Madame. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0); line-height: normal;">We kept walking north up toward the L'Opera, then down through the Place Vendome, then through the beautiful Jardins des Tuileries. We sat next to the fountain to rest for a while and relax before going in to the Musee de L'Orangerie to view Monet's "Waterlilies" and many other Impressionist works. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0); line-height: normal;">Then we headed west toward the Eiffel Tower, enjoying the scenes along the way. We also stopped at the Musee L'Armee and Napoleon's Tomb. It's pretty impressive..... a massive shrine to a little man. The guy was pretty full of himself. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0); line-height: normal;">The weather was lovely so we enjoyed lying on the grass in the park next to the Eiffel Tower. And yes, we did a little smooching. It's Paris! </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0); line-height: normal;">We took the Metro back to where we started so we could catch the concert at Sainte-Chapelle. It was excellent! They chamber orchestra was excellent, and the setting was so unique and interesting. Very memorable!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0); line-height: normal;">After the concert we walked though the Latin quarter, picked a bistro at random (there is one on every corner) and had a late dinner. Then we took the Metro back to our hotel. Whew! What a day! </span></div>
AliceK[i]NDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11340506218879565675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9913725.post-55828107375119185272013-05-12T13:38:00.001-07:002013-05-17T16:06:15.150-07:00Paris via the ChunnellThis morning we said goodbye to London and travelled by train to Paris via the "Chunnell" under the English Channel. It was not quite like the scene from "Mission Impossible".... our ears were popping and we had no WiFi.... but it was pretty cool. And it's a great way to travel rather than flying.... you don't have to go all the way out to the airport (leave from the center of the city instead), you can carry aboard all the liquids you want, you don't have to wear a seatbelt, and you can walk around anytime and leave your tray table down the whole time if you want. <br />
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We checked in to our hotel which is outside the center of Paris in the suburb of Boulogne-Billancourt, but very accessible by Metro. It's a quiet neighborhood with a lovely park right across the street. We enjoyed walking up and down the main boulevard looking in shops and sat in the park for a while people watching. There were lots of families with children out enjoying the lovely spring day. It was delightful, and we could almost pretend we were French, though I only know a few phrases, and Jay knows even less. We stopped at a patisserie for paninis and pastries. Oh my.</div>
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People watching in the park. </div>
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Our cute and quiet hotel. </div>
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I think Jay is tired of having his photo taken. </div>
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It's been a nice relaxing day... very welcome after the whirl-wind days spent in London. Though we are looking forward to more of that as we explore Paris tomorrow.</div>
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<br />AliceK[i]NDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11340506218879565675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9913725.post-64211727931828306742013-05-11T15:36:00.001-07:002013-05-17T16:06:10.394-07:00Last day in London<div class="mobile-photo">
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This morning we joined the Saturday crowds at Portobello Road Market. We had fun looking around and found some great treasures. And the song was stuck in my head for hours.<br />
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Then we were off to the Tower of London. We didn't stay very long because it was packed, which was a bit disappointing. Oh well. </div>
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Next we visited St. Paul's Cathedral which is even more spectacular than you can imagine. (Rick Steve's audio tour was great.). We walked the hundreds of steps all the way to the top. I'm gonna be sore tomorrow! But it was amazing!</div>
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Then we headed to Westminster Abbey but we missed that last entry by 2 minutes. Why they won't let anyone in after 3:30 is beyond me! Bummer. I was almost in tears. I lied. I WAS in tears.<br />
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Instead we took a lovely walk through St James Park to Buckingham Palace, which was really fun. And I already starting planning our next trip to London. Now I just have to convince Jay....<br />
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Then we headed to the theatre district and randomly picked an Indian restaurant for dinner. It was not fabulous but it was pretty good. Then we went to the Palace Theatre to see "Singing in the Rain!" So amazing! It rains on stage! Twice! What a fun show! I highly recommend it. </div>
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It was another long and busy day, but super fun! We are off to Paris tomorrow!</div>
<br />AliceK[i]NDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11340506218879565675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9913725.post-42699225984475901932013-05-10T16:27:00.001-07:002013-05-17T16:06:01.714-07:00London<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Our first full day in London started out kind of chilly and drizzly but it cleared up and was quite nice later on. We started the day by taking the Hop-on/Hop-off bus your around the city to get our bearings. We also took the Thames river boat cruise which was fun. The guide was very funny.<br />
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We visited the National Gallery which has many lovely paintings. The building itself is gorgeous as well. We did a lot of walking, just exploring. We had lunch at the Sherlock Holmes pub. </div>
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This afternoon we went out to the suburbs to the Dr. Who Shop and museum. It has a lot of props sand costumes from the show, including a Tardis. We took lots of photos for our kids since they are such huge Dr. Who fans!</div>
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Then we grabbed a quick dinner on our way to the theatre. We saw "As You Like It" at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. The production was excellent and we really enjoyed it. </div>
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We are beat but it was a fun day!</div>
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<br /><br />AliceK[i]NDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11340506218879565675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9913725.post-61643273508002450672013-05-09T14:44:00.001-07:002013-05-17T16:03:45.543-07:00A Travel Day<div class="mobile-photo">
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Today was mostly spent traveling. We left beautiful Bornholm this morning, taking the ferry back to Ystad, Sweden and then the train to the airport in Copenhagen. We had a couple hours just hanging out in the airport before we flew to London. We arrived in the evening and took the Tube to our hotel, which is amazing! It's the Marriott County Hall, a gorgeous historic building right on the Thames river next to the London Eye, looking out at parliament and Big Ben! It got suddenly chilly and was drizzling but we went out anyway, walking along the river. We stopped in to a little restaurant and had a delicious late dinner. We are excited to get going tomorrow morning and start seeing the sites!<br />
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<br />AliceK[i]NDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11340506218879565675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9913725.post-48517065166152803822013-05-08T14:57:00.001-07:002013-05-17T16:03:29.171-07:00Last day together<div class="mobile-photo">
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Today we spent our last together as a family on this trip. Jay and I will be traveling alone for the next week. Some of the others are traveling on their own too before going home.<br />
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This morning we visited one of the famous round churches (Ostlars, the largest). Then we drove to the cute seaside town of Guhdjem where we walked around and looked in shops. We got a couple of small souvenirs. Then it was on to Hammershus, ancient ruins which were fascinating and more extensive than I expected. The views we amazing too. </div>
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Then we split up for a while. We were in a car with my brother Peter and his wife and we drove around to find the other 3 round churches, to a hardware store to find a Danish flag, and found a wonderful "Antik & Retro" shop in Nylars where we bought a few wonderful treasures. </div>
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When we got back to the hotel we had some time before dinner so we rented bicycles and rode through the nearby forested areas and a local neighborhood. It's so beautiful! It was a lot of fun. Something I've always wanted to do. </div>
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We all had dinner together at Poul P, a small restaurant in Ronne owned by a local artist who has a gallery next door. The food was excellent and we had a private room upstairs so we were able to talk and laugh freely. </div>
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Back at the hotel we all sat in the common room and Stephen, my brother (and the best photographer among us!) plugged in his laptop to the TV and we watched a slide show of our trip. Then since we all head our separate ways in the morning, and some are leaving very early, we said our goodbyes. For now. I am SO grateful to my parents for providing us with this wonderful opportunity! It's been a fantastic trip and we have had the royal treatment! </div>
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We could have easily spent a week in Copenhagen and another on Bornholm! We saw just enough if Denmark to make us want to come back! I hope we can someday. </div>
<br />AliceK[i]NDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11340506218879565675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9913725.post-4654256513943447152013-05-07T15:07:00.001-07:002013-05-17T16:00:19.322-07:00Family Heritage<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view of the Baltic Sea from our hotel room</td></tr>
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A fantastic day on the island of Bornholm. We are staying in Ronne, the main city. The island is small with lots of quaint little towns and many farms. The view from our hotel room overlooking the Baltic Sea is stunning!<br />
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This morning we drove from our hotel on Ronne to Bodilsker (a small village) and visited the church (Bodils Kirke) where my 3rd great grandfather, Peter Nielson (1824-1894), was christened. It's a medieval church built in the 1100's and is still in use today. The bell tower was constructed later in 1610 and we got to go up in it. The caretaker gave us a little tour and explained how he rings the bell manually (so it won't crack) twice a day. There was a second bell installed in 1841 but it is only rung on special occasions, when 2 bells are needed.
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The church is small but lovely. We all sat in the pews and read aloud excerpts from Peter's diary. He immigrated to the US in 1861 with his wife and son, but up until then he had lived in Denmark (Bornholm and Copenhagen). It was fun to be where he lived.
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Then we split up into small groups in cars and drove around the island exploring for a while. It's truly lovely! I can certainly see why it's a popular vacation spot. We found a little town called Svanete (a cute fishing town) where we walked around and checked out the shops. We found a glass shop where they were demonstrating their handblown and fired glass techniques. It was so cool! We watched for a while and bought of a couple of small glass bowls as souvenirs. There were lots of other cool shops too but the glass shop as by far the most fascinating.
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Then we headed down south to the beach. The sand is very white and extremely fine and soft. We walked along the beach and even got our feet wet. The Baltic Sea is VERY cold, but it was fun.
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Then we drove back to our hotel and took a short rest before heading to Hasle and Vang Havn for dinner at Le Port, an amazing restaurant looking over the water.<br />
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The food was exceptional! There were two kinds of dense bread (one flavored with anise which was different but very good) along with 2 spreads....one like a mayo flavored with white garlic that is sweet and incredibly delicious, and the other was like a whipped butter with herbs and musli in it. Very good! Then we had smoked salmon, which I liked more than I expected I would. Then an absolutely divine soup with a lobster cake in it. I don't know what all was in it but it was unbelievably delicious!<br />
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Then we had veal with mushrooms, potatoes, parsnips, and whipped parsley root (?) which was also excellent, and then finished with a dessert of a white chocolate dessert with a rhubarb sherbet that was unexpectedly delicious. The service was fantastic and the owner, Gabriela, was so sweet and friendly and gracious. We watched the sunset during our dinner (which is very long and slow this time of year.... it stays light very late!), which was beautiful. We spent a perfect evening enjoying fabulous food and excellent company in a fantastic setting.<br />
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AliceK[i]NDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11340506218879565675noreply@blogger.com0