It started while Berlin and I were in Florida. Jeremy found a crazy good deal on a flight to Milan (thank you, awesomeness that is RyanAir), so we went to Italy the week that we got back from the US, just a day or so after Jeremy finished his exams (yes, finals for the term before Christmas weren't administered until after Christmas. Less than desirable, for sure). Jeremy wanted it to be a surprise, so he waited for me to find out when we got to the airport. The classmate we carpooled with to the airport accidentally ruined it (Jeremy wanted to wait until I was boarding) but it was still a fantastic surprise. And with the few extra minutes of knowledge about our destination, I could message a friend who served his mission there and ask for recommendations. Excellent recommendations, and we didn't have enough time to even thoroughly explore the places we did get to see!
On the tarmac, ready to board.
Berlin's first experience with his own, ticketed seat. Our first experience paying for it.
Duomo di Milano. And our clear appreciation for ancient buildings.
Messi fubol jersey we found by Duomo. Mostly to torment my brother-in-law.
Exploring Citta Alta
More Citta Alta
Streets of Bergamo
Shopping in Milan. Or at least acting like we wanted to shop.
Berlin was thirsty.
Berlin making friends on the cable car ride down from Citta Alta
Berlin's method of not freezing when we finally headed home
The next weekend, we rented a car and drove to Cardiff. This plan wasn't as well thought out as some of our others. We rented a car in the middle of the day (when Jeremy was done with his early class) and just... drove. We didn't get there til it was almost dark, we found a pier and a cold, dark beach where we took one picture, got some mostly unidentifiable "Welsh dish" at a fish and chips place for dinner, and then we drove home.
We learned to plan a little better.
Somewhere between coming home from Christmas and Cardiff, Berlin turned two. It was a late school day for Jeremy, so Berlin and I spent the day wandering around town trying to find him some rain boots, which was pretty much the only thing he really wanted after his recent Christmas loot, so that he could "jump in muddy puddles." Among other treasures, we did find him some rain boots. We waited til Jeremy came home to do chocolate dinosaur cupcakes and birthday presents, which ended up perfect because it started raining while Jeremy was on his way home (okay, not so perfect for Jeremy). So we went outside, at 10PMish, so Berlin could test out his boots. He loved it.
He got to go puddle jumping with some friends a few days later. After an unfortunate incident of Berlin soaking wet and sobbing, we learned from these friends where they'd purchased their rain suits.
He was more than a little appreciative.
A few weekends after that, we went to visit the White Cliffs of Dover. This was also a quick trip, which meant we only got to see the magnificent castle from the outside, and we hiked to a lighthouse too late to hike back in daylight so we hiked back through the mud in the dark, but Jeremy got some great pictures. And hey, we saw the White Cliffs.
Valentine's Day weekend found us in Salisbury. We drove up Friday night and stayed in a fun little bed and breakfast, and the next morning we started with Salisbury Cathedral. After admiring the best-kept original of the Magna Carta and walking around that room trying to figure out each of the Bible stories depicted on the walls, we went to visit Stonehenge. Even more impressive than I imagined it, even in the rain and the mud.
Salisbury Cathedral
The Magna Carta tent?
These weird bunny/human sculptures were all over the lawn outside the cathedral.
They were... really weird.
Little piece of the city wall still intact, just outside of the cathedral.
Berlin decided that under the bed was the best place to play at our b&b.
The owner brought him the Legos, and after that, we didn't hear or see very much from him.
The wind at Stonehenge wasn't super fun.
That bump in Jeremy's jacket that has legs was Berlin's position of choice.
But it still was really cool.
We did have a few weeks in which we didn't take any adventures, but we were plenty busy with just the ordinary things, like going to the park, potty training Berlin (attempted, anyway), participating in our stake's roadshow competition, and playing at home.
The boys watching a Dude Perfect video, now part of their nightly routine.
We can go very few meals without at least this many cars. It's usually more though.
Berlin has a growing collection of dinosaurs, too. Not anything to rival his car collection, but still.
Berlin went through a phase of trying to put his collection of choice (depending on the day) in my pockets.
Any pockets that were available.
And since there was apparently enough room, a drink for good measure.
Helping make cookies for FHE
Berlin getting his own library card! (If your child has a card, even your toddler, they don't charge you late fees. A serious issue now resolved.)
Mini-golfing with Dad. In our bedroom.
Geocaching!
Berlin enjoyed roadshow practices because he always got a treat.
We had a couple of sick days, too. Not super fun, but I do love that Berlin gets snuggly when he's even a little bit sick.
We tried potty training pretty early because Berlin seemed eager and capable really early.
Turns out not as eager as we thought.
I started teaching a fitness class with some moms in our ward. Berlin really got into prepping with me.
being tourists in our hometown :)
In putting this all together, I realized that all of this was only two months. How on earth did we have time to take so many pictures?
[title from top of the world by juliana theory]
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