Week in Review: Germany Hiking, Meal Workaround-ing, and Inappropriate Flattering

JP went to Germany last weekend, which we assumed was to attend Oktoberfest, but then I got his weekly email and photos (he's such a good kid) and I was pleasantly surprised to find out he was not drinking beer at Oktoberfest all weekend!  Instead he was hiking in Berchtesgaden, Germany to Eagle's Nest (one of Hitler's secret retreats) and then the next day to the tallest waterfall in Germany.  He said this group of friends was so fun to hang out with, they all stayed in an airbnb together (4 guys in one bedroom and 4 girls in the other) and cooked and played cards and watched movies.  Man, if I could turn back time I'd go right back to this Austrian semester at Franciscan University, but instead I am so so happy hearing about JP's adventures.

Lately, we have been not eating big family dinners.  Between the three high schoolers' sports teams and Phil and I *trying* to eat lower carb than our growing kids, I find myself making a meal for the kids who are home, putting leftovers away for the big kids when they get home, and then eating a salmon burger or tuna salad or something easy after I work out.  I was feeling guilty that my little kids weren't having the big sit down family dinners that my oldest kids grew up with, but then I learned a little workaround.  When Phil and I sit down to eat around 6:30, the little kids sit down with us and eat their dessert and drink their milk, and we catch up on the day then.  We play Hi Lo and it's actually really nice to bond while they are eating something they like instead of trying to bond while yelling at them to eat their veggies ;)

On Sunday I made these Apple Cinnamon Pancakes for breakfast which were yummy!  If you are still making pancakes in a pan on the stove, might I suggest you get an electric griddle?  Maybe wait until Black Friday to score one even cheaper, but we use this alllllll the time.  You can cook 8 pancakes at a time, or fry 8 eggs at a time, or cook hot dogs AND grill the buns at the same time, or make 6 grilled cheese sandwiches in a flash.  You get it, it's great.

Registrations for Catholic Familyland opened a few months early, so we booked our camper and will be attending Family Fest 4! The kids are so excited and so am I as we have had the best family experiences here.

An introvert on Friday afternoon:

I like to buy Halloween costumes that can have more than one purpose, like the Blippi pajamas we got lots of use out of or costume character hoodies they love to wear year round. In that vein, I got Brendan a Bluey sweatshirt to wear to the school's Halloween dance, and Declan a Bingo one and Phil and I got the mum and dad sweatshirts as well.  Brendan was trying his on, and Eamon took this photo and sent it to me saying "Brendan in a Bluey costume and Bluey is in a Brendan costume".  

If you don't know who Bluey is, well I admire your state in life :)

And how about a "That's What He Said"...

Alexander (age 11): Mom, my friend D said he has a crush on you!

Me: What?  He's just being silly!

Alexander: No, he is for real.  I told him you were already married, which is why I'm here.

Phil: Wait, who has a crush on mom??

Alexander: D does.  And then I told C about what D said, and C said "Oh yeah, your mom is pretty cool."

Is it weird to be so flattered by eleven year old boys?  Ha!  I'll take what I can get :)

I hope someone pays you a nice and unexpected compliment this weekend!