So.  Here we are, just south of Stuttgart, Germany.  The scenery's beautiful, the weather's almost always nice, and the cars are fast (not so much ours, though).  But finding a home has been particularly stressful.  Lots to talk about being here, however please let me play catch up, first.  A few photos are posted here, but you can find quite a few more on Picasa (let me know if you need the link).

Travel Ready

Upon the end of school, Jake and I started off with a trip to Iowa to visit family.  In particular to give Grandpa and Grandma T a fix before the big trip.  In contrast to Christmas, when Grandpa was king, Jake really enjoyed his time with Grandma this trip, too. I guess the regular skype sessions paid off, since he was happy to be with her from the time we got off the plane until we left for Colorado.  She even taught him his first two-syllable word:  hotshot.  He loves it!

We also got several visits in to Great Grandpa Tibboel.  This relationship took a little warming up, but Jake eventually decided that Grandpa's lap was just fine; and that his wheelchair made for good climbing.  Several strolls around the pond across from the nursing home made for good QT, but Jake far preferred eating the stale bread over throwing it to the ducks.










There was only one brief visit with Aunt Catherine, and Jake wasn't much in the mood for sitting still.  So he helped sweep the hallway and otherwise ran amock.  Tanta was, of course, understanding.  But saying goodbye was more difficult than usual, and as I write this Greg and my Dad's brother, Keith, are back in Iowa paying visits.  Likely the last for each of us.  Tanta will be dearly missed when the time comes.  The other day our future landlord was commenting on how nice it is that so much of her family is close together (in the same town we'll be moving to) - there is no doubt that we miss out on that as we move all over.

 Fortunately, we do still find ways to connect.  Our next stop was in Colorado to enjoy the outdoors and visit with Greg and Twyla - their second chance to meet Jake.  We had a nice time, as always, in Frasier, and Greg, Twyla and I did a short backpacking trip just outside of Rocky Mountain National Park - absolutely beautiful.  Meanwhile, Jake wore Laurie out back in Frasier and was generally irritable (good thing Greg hiked out early with a big red toe).  So we stopped by Montgomery for a couple "comfort nights" in the crib before heading to the Cape.


While there was some on-going irritability on the Cape, he loved his cousins (and their toys), his Nana and Papa Lyle, and especially the beach.  Especially the beach.  He maintains a total disregard for personal well being when it comes to rushing into crashing waves, but the freedom of a big expanse of sand is great.  Even his Mom will let him run free.  He did not, however, take to seafood.  Few kids do, as I understand.

A big first on the Cape:  Jake's first night without us.  Nana took care of JT while we had a nice dinner with friends and watched Boston fireworks, and Laurie sent me packing for Germany.  Laurie barely survived, but Jake and Nana had a fine time.  She even took on the prized moniker of "Baba" for awhile.  Laurie quickly reclaimed her title, but betrayed the trust a few days later:  we finally broke down and medicated Jake for a flight.  Absolutely the best decision.  He slept from Newark to Stuttgart (close to 8 hours), and got off to a great start here.  Getting over jet lag still took him the better part of a week, but the big sleep was  a big bonus.

The Butts cousins took good care of Jake.

So now about Germany.  But I think I've written enough here, so that will be a separate blog.  Soon, I promise!  One closer, though:  a huge thank you to the grandparents and everyone else for not spoiling Jake with too much stuff during our travels.  Spoiling him with love seems to have been sufficient - he's a really great (if ornery at times) little kid!