Jet Setters ...

Back again …
Paris was awesome! Our trip was off to a rocky start and full of some drama but it was awesome none the less. Tuesday night we took the 8 hour night train from Frankfurt to Paris. We were in a 6 passenger room with couchettes (bunk beds). Makayla was freaked out in the little room with the stacked beds and Mom decided she would rather just sit up in a seat because she was feeling claustrophobic. So, we found an empty cabin with seats and slept there for the night. Mom got to sit up and Makayla was happy with plenty of room for the two of us to lie across the seats. We arrived in Paris at 7am and went to a Taxi to direct them to our hotel, we had booked on hotels.com the day before, and the driver said this hotel did not exist in Paris. Fabulous. We went back into the train station and after an hour we figured out our hotel was in a suburb of Paris. Another train ride and 30 euro taxi later, we made it to our hotel. We stayed at a Marriot Resort in the Parisian countryside and we had a 2 bedroom villa, it was beautiful! The Marriot was about 40 minutes from Paris and right next to Disneyland Paris. The four of us got two day public transportation passes and mastered how to use those quickly so the distance to the hotel ended up not being a problem. After we all cleaned up we headed to the city.
On our first day we ate at a café and then toured the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Louvre. For dinner we went to the Disney Village by our hotel; it was just like Downtown Disney. On our second and last day we went to the Tour de Eiffel, Arc de Triumph, and walked the Champs de Elysse (I probably didn’t spell that right) before catching our train back. Then more drama ensued. At the train station I wanted to clean up Makayla to get her ready for the long night (wash her face, hands, and feet, change her diaper, put on her jammies) … well, the bathroom attendant wouldn’t let us past the toilet to the sink. She asked why we needed the sink and when we told her she looked disgusted and said, “No! We do not “wash” the baby in here”. She wouldn’t let us change her clothes or diaper or anything! Bitch! It was so funny too because Mom and I both had to go to the bathroom so bad but we held it until we boarded the train because we didn’t want to give that lady any of our money or service (FYI, in Europe you have to pay to use the bathroom sometimes). We showed her ;) Anyway, that was just the beginning. Sorry this is such a long post … I’m venting.
Now it was time to board the train. Dad went to the couchette and fell asleep while mom and I found an empty cabin again. Two men joined us after a few minutes and began to explain how they oversold the train and the couchettes they paid for were non existent. We got the Train Manager and arranged to give the two men our couchettes we weren’t going to use if they Train Manager would allow us to have the cabin to ourselves for the night … everything worked out fine. At about 3am the train stopped at the border and the French crew got off while the German crew took over. A German man stormed into our cabin yelling at us to wake up and get out. Apparently the cabin we were in was for the Train manager only. We explained our arrangement and after the German man screamed at the French man he came back and said he didn’t care and that the three of us couldn’t sit in his cabin. To make this long story short, Mom, Makayla, and I ended up laying the rest of the 4 hour ride on the floor of the bike storage compartment of the train while the German Train Manager came and went from his empty cabin. What an ass! People were very mad the next morning when they realized he made us ride like stowaways. We were just happy to be home. Drama aside though, Paris was awesome. I’ve enjoyed Paris and Rome much more the second time around. I have a picture of us laying on the floor but mom and I only had her phone and had to use that so it will be a while before I can post that picture. Here are some others from our trip though …

Friday we relaxed, Saturday we went to the game … and WON … woo hoo, and Sunday Mom and Dad went home L Steve, Makayla and I are just relaxing now and catching up on some much needed sleep.

Makayla says thanks Aunty Bape for the clothes but they got sent home cause they were waaaaaaay too big! So sorry no pix in those outfits!

Here are some pictures for your viewing pleasure ....

She even mastered the public transportation ...


One lucky baby ... no wonder she's so happy!

Makayla in Louis Vuitton, "Grandpa I want this one"

Self explanatory ...

Hi Everyone!

So excited to be at the Eiffel Tower

Can you see her mohawk? Too cute!

The princess with Grandma and Grandpa in the backyard ...

Backyard of our villa

Aquarium at Rainforest Cafe

Damn Paparazzi ...

The fam in Heidelberg

We lost her ...

"

Sorry for the delay ...

Okay, I’m back … but I’m gonna make this quick …
So, Steve turned 25 on the 16th and then my parents flew in two days later. We’ve been busy going around Germany and hanging out. Saturday we took a boat cruise up the Rhein River. Sunday we went to Steve’s game. Today we took the train and went to Heidelberg to tour the castle and tonight we leave on a night train to go to Paris for two days … phew.
Makayla didn’t remember mom and dad at first but has warmed up to them quickly. Our time here is going by so quickly.
Makayla stood all by herself tonight!!!!!!!!!!! She just stood up on the bed and let go of the pillow and was balancing for a while. Mom, Steve, and I were all there to witness it. She is going to walk so soon … but she still has no teeth.
It will be a few days before another post because we are busy being world travelers.

This picture is just for Noah from Uncle Veni. When we were in Rome we saw this huge Spiderman 3 poster and Uncle Veni had to take a picture for his little boy …

Here are some other pix …

too busy ...

It was Steve's birthday, then my parents came, and we're super busy ... we're heading to the game right now. I won't be able to post for a couple days ... so sorry ...

Kisses

When in Rome ...

... get engaged? Yes, he did it! It only took 8 years and a baby but Steve actually proposed. We’ve always planned on getting married and he’s asked me in the past but this was a down on one knee, big diamond ring in hand, “will you marry me” … woo hoo!
So, now I’ll tell all …
First, Steve hurt his knee in the game before last so this last game was rough and they lost … boo … then the team got home at 2am and a group of us got back on the bus at 3am to go to Rome. We flew into Rome Sunday morning and spent the day sightseeing. Our hotel had a rooftop terrace, it was beautiful, before we left Steve, Makayla and I went up there. There were flowers everywhere and gorgeous view of Rome. Steve said, “Makayla should we give Mommy her Mother’s Day present?” I was a little confused because Mother’s Day was the day before … anyway, I opened a little white box and when I started opening the ring box Steve got down on one knee. He said a little speech but I was awe struck and hysterical I really have no idea what he said … I was busy staring at my bling and already starting to plan every detail of our wedding … ha! The ring has 3 princess cut diamonds, the one in the center is the biggest, and then there are diamonds down the band and on the front and back of the prongs too …

Here is a picture of my newly engaged hand with Rome in the background. My ring is so shiny it is impossible to get a picture that doesn’t blur it out.

Steve has never been excited about traveling but he LOVED it and wants to go back. He was the biggest tourist of us all. He was the photographer and he took pictures of everything. He wants to take a photography class now just in case his football or boxing careers don’t take off. Here are some other pix of our trip …

Well, we’ve been doing absolutely nothing around here. It is raining cats and dogs … boo! So, no updates … but here are some pix …


Self portrait


The showers in are hotel are really weird because there are no doors or curtains, it’s just open. This is where Makayla insists on standing while we shower. To save your vision I cropped Steve showering out of this pic … hahahaha

Merry Christmas ...

Well, unfortunately, no pictures to post today ... but I can do one better ... a video!She is too much.


We are so bummed because we just got back from watching the game and they LOST!!!! BOO!!! But, it's okay because we are still ranked first in the league. The boys have a looooong bus ride home, poor guys. :(

I won't be able to get into the computer lab tomorrow because the team is off for the day so hopefully this video will hold you over until Tuesday. Fell free to replay it over and over until your heart's content.

Cinco de what?!?!?!?

While all of you are at home in the states drinking your tequila and celebrating cinco de mayo Makayla and I are holed up here in our hotel room alone waiting for the incoming rainstorm … boo! The team left this morning for Amsterdam and we decided to stay home and not take the 6 hour bus ride over. Hopefully we will make it over to the local sports bar tomorrow to watch the game with no problems. The genius that I am sent the stroller rain cover and my umbrella home with my grandparents, among other things, because I thought for sure we wouldn’t need it … now, the weather report predicts rain.

What a small world, another wife arrived yesterday and she is from Huntington Beach and lives practically down the street. She is really nice and the three of us spent yesterday together while the guys were at practice. It’s nice to have someone out here from the same place. She also used to go to Steve’s church for a long time … bizarre!

I’m so bummed we won’t be at the game tomorrow. The coaches told Steve last night that he has been selected team captain this week! Woot!

Makayla is so funny … I put her down for her nap and then I laid down … I heard heavy breathing and giggles coming from her bed so I looked over and this is what I saw …

… she is too short to see over the rail so she was jumping and when her little head would pop over every few seconds she was laughing because she could see me. I couldn’t help but laugh and take pictures but then I laid her back down to finish her nap (or start it should I say) and she wasn’t too happy.

She also does this kind of jumping thing when she thinks she is dancing, it is too cute. As soon as she gets a little more coordinated Mommy can teach her how to drop it like it’s hot! Hahahahaha, good times!

Enough babbling, it’s time to do a few laps around the hotel!

All by myself .....

Saturday’s game was fun but too close for comfort … a ‘W’ is a ‘W’ though. Frankfurt is the only 3-0 record so, so far, so good. It’s kind of annoying at the home games because Steve doesn’t play as much. Every team has to have a certain amount of National players (to us that would be international) and one of the German D-linemen on the team is the “STAR” because he has been on the team for something like 8 years … anyway, because he is the star his line starts at the home games and Steve isn’t on his line. So, it’s kind of like the 2nd string starts at home games because their favorite player is on that line … it makes no sense … but that is why Steve starts at away games and not at home. I hope that wasn’t too confusing. When Steve is in though, he does great as usual.
On Sunday we just relaxed and on Monday Grandpa rented a car and the five of us went to Wurzburg. There is an outlet mall there and … what a shock … Steve got a new pair of Nikes … nothing changes ;) After a little shopping we went to a nearby city and did some sightseeing and had lunch. Sunday night we went to a restaurant on the river by our hotel. They didn’t have a highchair so we used Grandpa’s belt to fasten Makayla to a chair … she loved it!
On Tuesday we went downtown to run some errands. I thought I would get some errands run while I still had help since it was Grandma and Grandpa’s last day but everything was closed. May Day is a National holiday here and when they have a holiday EVERYTHING closes. Boo! So, we didn’t do much of anything except hang out.
Grandma and Grandpa left bright and early yesterday morning *tear* and now Makayla and I are on our own. One of the other wives and I went downtown to run the errands I didn’t get done on Tuesday and we had lunch … the other wives here are really nice so I am in good company.
The team travels to Amsterdam this weekend but Makayla and I are staying behind with a few of the other girls and we’re planning a big game watching slumber party … woo hoo!!!! I have a feeling they will be sleeping in another room when they realize Makayla does anything but slumber at night.
The boys were off for 3 days so I wasn’t able to get on the internet but I’m back now! I’m not sure I’ll have much to post now that Grandpa and Grandma are gone … the excursions are on hold until Italy and then Mom and Dad will be here two days after we get back.