Paris with the Nierengartens

Dear Grace,


After being back home in Chicago for a week, we were fortunate enough to travel Europe over the next two weeks with the Nierengartens. The goodbyes were very difficult this time, so I was grateful for the hustle and bustle of the airport and especially thankful for getting to travel back with family. Liz Turcy from American Airlines couldn't have been kinder and more helpful while I was trying to check in. She was just a sweet woman who went above and beyond. Unfortunately, that has been rare with my experiences. There have definitely been nice and helpful people, but Liz was exceptional. We did have a bit of a fiasco. I stocked up at Target and Costco the day before we left. Fully prepared to pay a fee (everything is just so expensive in London), I was confused as to why Liz was hesitating while weighing our heavy suitcase. I had not only exceeded the free baggage weight, but I had also exceeded the weight amount the Paris airport would accept. Oops! Apparently you can only bring up to a 70 lb./bag when flying into Paris. Who knew? Good thing Grandpa Den had extra room in his carry-on for 2 BIG bags of your baby food pouches. The first of many great perks to flying with others. We started our European vacation in Paris, went back to London, and then traveled to Prague, Salzburg, Munich and Dublin with Daddy too. Enjoy the first of many posts from this holiday! Grace, in case you haven't picked up on it yet, they call vacations holidays on this side of the pond. 

Love, Mummy


We started our day walking from our hotel, past the Louvre, along the river Seine and to Notre Dame. 

Paris- the city of love.

There is a little museum inside Notre Dame Cathedral which houses relics of the Passion: a nail of the Passion, and a piece of the True Cross. The Holy Crown of Thorns is kept in Notre Dame's Treasury and is shown once a year during the services of Good Friday.  Two priests in the picture below had just flown into Paris and headed straight to Notre Dame to see it's beauty and treasures. They even had their suitcases in hand. 

This happy man sums up our first day in Paris. He claims to know a little bit of every language and while we were dining outside his restaurant he never missed a beat. He literally would call out the city (or at least the country) where he thought people were from. Then, he would just start speaking that countries primary language. What a tourist trap! It obviously worked for us. We were so entertained. We could have stayed there all night, but we were anxious to explore the charming streets of the Latin Quarter before heading back to our hotel. 

mail time

Grace, currently one of your favorite activities to do with me is to sort the mail into the different flat's mail slots. The mail gets shoved through the front door slot on to the floor in the foyer of our building.     I wonder if anyone else ever sorts our building's mail when we're gone. Or does everyone waist the same amount of time searching through the pile for their name and flat #? 

We received two very important letters in the mail last week. The first was the Spitzer's baby announcement. Welcome to the world, Quinn Bitting Spitzer! You were born into an amazingly loving family on August 8th, 2011 at 1:23 AM. 9 pounds 5 ounces and 20 inches! I hear you are having a blast with your big brother, Brock and bigger sister, Audrey. We can't wait to meet you in person once we move back to the states. Skype just isn't the same. xoxo

Our second piece of important mail was a wedding invitation addressed to the entire family. Grace, the first wedding you were invited to and will attend is the wedding for your Aunt Libbie and future-Uncle Matt. It was a simple and elegant wedding invitation. Ripping it open and reading it aloud to you, made me even more excited to go home in November for the big event. We're counting down the days... 48 more to go! xoxo 

One of the best feelings is seeing a piece of mail with Nierengarten written across it. Since it isn't a frequent event, I even get excited when it's an advertisement. It's amazing the small amount of junk mail you receive when you move to a new country. 

9 months

I know we have been saying this every month, but it's time to post your 9 month pictures before you turn 10 months next week. Here's a link to your 8 months in case anyone wants to compare. You and I were home at this time for Aunt Libbie's big week #1. On the 13th we were visiting the Proffitt's new baby boy. Your personality, happiness, and warmth toward others continue to impress us everyday. Here are a few things you were up to your 9th month:

• You have the army crawl down.
• You love to clap, and even more so love hearing people cheer, "Yeeeeah Grace!" 
• You're taking steps on your own while being held up. You've starting to lead what direction you want to go. You're unsteady but are able to hold onto furniture standing. 
• While we were home several people heard you say Papa and Dada. However, you didn't know the association and it hasn't continued. 
• You love to make people smile and have learned that smiling, waving and a head tilt works like a charm. I just love how you make everyone (even the most unfriendly looking chap on the tube) smile and react to you. Your warmth and kindness is contagious. 
• While we were in Chicago you started waking up during the night. I can't remember the last time that happened prior to the big trip home. There were so many factors involved: 8 hour flight, 6 hour time difference, not sleeping in your own crib, and teething. (You cut your first tooth the day after we flew out of Chicago)

Smiling at the Proffitt's house

You being reintroduced to Gumball. Or shall I say Gumball being reintroduced to you? 

Gumball was so comfortable and maybe a bit too relaxed about you being around. He allowed you to pull on his ears, tail and fur. Sweet Gumball. 

Of course I forgot to take your actual sticker 9 months pictures. Good thing we had the perfect background about a week later. It was your 2nd time to Paris. More on the vacation with the Nierengartens in future posts.

Libbie's bachelorette party

As I said in a previous post, my weekend in Chicago ended with a bang. Libbie's bachelorette party (ok...weekend)! It went better than I could have imagined. It seems to me that everyone had a blast. Most importantly the bride-to-be, Libbie T. 

The evening started with dinner and margaritas at Mercadito and it was perfect. It was tapas style and there was extra food to go around. The wait staff was fast, efficient and friendly. They were the ones who came up with the idea to take several pictures of our group. It was spicier than I would have liked to plan for a party of 19, but that is the only negative of the evening. Yep. That's right. Libbie's bachelorette party was a group of 19 girls! 

I could tear up if I continued looking at this picture.

Libbie's two sister-in-laws. We are so lucky to have them in our family. Megan, you have already been accepted to the club. Susan, it's to the point where I can't remember/imagine our family without you. 

The next part of the evening was Libbie's honeymoon theme shower back at her apartment. The bridesmaids made desserts. Champagne was served. And toasts were made. As the girls walked in they had to write down marriage, sex, or love advice for Libbie. Susan read these in between Libbie opening her gifts to keep everyone entertained. The advice was hilarious and Libbie did a great job guessing who wrote what. 

'Future Mrs. Weinheimer'

personalized future last name, bride and Mr. and Mrs. items are usually a hit with the bride-to-bes 

The Jamaican hats were my personal favorite. They even had bride and groom embroidered on the back. You can barely see, but Libbie's has a veil attached too. You may have guessed it...they are going to Jamaica for their honeymoon.  

Family and family friends are the cherry on top of the party cake. A special shout of to Amanda for flying in from the East coast and surprising Libbie. She will always remember your effort to be there. 

One sister to three! It doesn't get much better than that.

Screw toasting and clinking shot glasses when you have Susan's homemade bachelorette theme cookies!

Libbie opened so many personalized gifts. A group hit was a bottle of Patron with a little note saying, "Take a shot of tequila on me. Love Tequila Patti" Rachel took one for the team and captured this moment on camera.

Of course Libbie and I thought it would be a good idea to take another one together. Oh how we think we're funny sometimes. 

The evening ended with one last surprise for the bride-to-be. A trolley ride for the next 3 hours wherever she wants to go around Chicago. We went everywhere. The Adler Planetarium where she got engaged. Millennium Park where our family surprised her for dinner after the engagement. Bombay Spice, the restaurant she worked at. After riding around the streets of Chicago we had the driver make two more stops. 1/2 the girls got off and continued the evening at the Hangge-Uppe and the other 1/2 ended their evening back at the apartment. Womp...Womp...

Brecken Louis Proffitt

Welcome to the world, Brecken Louis Proffitt! He was born Thursday, September 1, 2011 weighing 7 lbs. 11 oz. and 19 in. 

Kristen and I are great friends from teaching together at Kahler Middle School. She is an amazing Mom of two beautiful boys and one of my most supportive friends.

Bodie- the proud Daddy of two boys.

The visit turned into a play date for Grace and JP.

JP kept saying. "This is Grace." He even gave his fellow red-headed friend a kiss. 

Trying to organize kids (especially babies) for a group picture is always entertaining. 

Congratulations to the Proffitt family on their newest addition to their family. It was so nice to hang out for a bit while I was back in the region. We love you and miss you all. xoxo

bridal shower

Grace,

You and I went home to Chicago to celebrate your Aunt Libbie's happiness. She is getting married to Matt Weinheimer over Thanksgiving weekend. It just can't seem to get here soon enough. The entire family is counting down the days until the big day. The start of our visit home was her bridal shower and it ended with a bang...her bachelorette weekend. Her bridal shower was thrown by all of her aunts (your Grandma Patti's sisters). Grandma Patti helped out A LOT with the planning as well and it was worth it. It was a Tiffany's theme shower and every last detail was noticed and appreciated. From the invitation to the centerpieces. It was beautifully done. Enjoy!

Love, Mummy 

Libbie with the hostesses. 

Grandma Patti kept the theme in mind when she wrapped the presents. She even wrapped our for us! You gave your Godmother a beautiful crystal vase she had registered for and I pick up a few things from London. I found an English teapot, creamer and sugar bowl from Portobello Market and stuffed it with traditional English tea. I also brought her back a framed tile 'W' from Spain, which will be her new last name initial. 

The favors were little white mints that looked like mini pearls. They reminded me of the ones from Maggianos and were placed inside cute little Tiffany's boxes. (below left)

The centerpieces were done by Monarch in Schererville. The flowers were added to the adorable boxes, which Grandma Patti bought from another bride-to-be who had the same theme. There were 4 to giveaway. They went to the person who was married the longest- Monte Novak. The winner of the he said/she said game- Cousin Jeryl Burke. And there was a birthday girl- Aunt Chris. 

Jackie Clark (previously Yerga-Congratulations again!), one of Libbie's bridesmaids found the perfect gift from Lib's childhood. The cookie jar below was a staple item in the Thompson kitchen. Grandma Patti makes the best chocolate chip cookies and she tried her best to keep this jar full of them. Aunt Libbie and I would even try to eat the raw cookie dough. We just couldn't get enough. Everyone seems to say that about their own mother's cookies--I really need to start practicing...

As guests were finishing lunch, they were handed a multiple choice he said/she said game. Matt and Libbie were asked the same questions and guests had to pick what they thought were their responses. They kept it PG and it was fun hearing the answers. Susan did a great job going through each question between Libbie opening gifts. This was a smart way to keep everyone interested and involved. Great job, Mrs. Thompson. 

The bride-to-be with her Goddaughter

Sister love

Libbie with her mother-in-law and husband-to-be

Just some of the girls in our family

Aunt Libbie felt so special because family surprised her and came in town for her shower. Grandma Neda (below center), Papa Ray, Aunt Terianne and Uncle Charlie drove down from Minnesota. Aunt Donita and Lauren (below left) drove up from Kentucky. They made the weekend that much more special and memorable. Thanks for driving all the way for Libbie's celebration. 

Libbie sandwich with a Patti on both sides

Aren't they just the cutest?