The Start of Sophia's Long Journey

HI, this is Sophia talking. I'm having such a great time in Luxembourg! I went to dinner at a restaurant called Le Fin Gourmand. The bill came in a sardine can. The desserts were so awesome. There was an awesome ball made out of chocolate with fruit and celery inside. It sounds weird but it tastes good. My whole family shared a creme brulee. My sister got vanilla ice cream. Today I am going to a fair called Scheuberfouer. I am so super duper EXCITED!

Thank you for listening to my story.

You will hear lots more about me.

Sincerely, Sophia!

Elephant! Elephant!

Elephant #2

That has been Sabina's call whenever we take a walk around town. The Elephant Parade has come to Luxembourg, and the city is decorated with life-sized baby elephant sculptures in support of elephant conservation. These baby elephants, many designed by local artists, have traveled across the world, and there are 55 of them scattered across the capital. The girls are bent on finding them all. Jackson couldn't care less. But we still make him take a picture or two.

In October, these babies will be auctioned off to raise funds for the Asian Elephant Foundation. Sophia asked if we could buy one. Each piece will likely go for thousands of euros; we think she'll have to settle for one of the smaller knockoffs from the Elephant Parade store.

Elephant #3

Elephant #4

To learn more about the elephant parade and their work 
to help the endangered Asian elephant, 

visit http://www.elephantparade.com/index.php/home/.

xoxo,

Kristine, Dan, Jackson, Sophia, and Sabina

Coming in Hot

Well we made it. On the afternoon of Saturday, August 17th, we arrived at Luxembourg airport customs with 10 checked pieces (4 of them overweight), 5 carry ons, 2 sleep-deprived adults, 2 overstimulated big kids, and 1 crazy toddler...and they still let us in.

We are slowly settling in and exploring a little bit everyday. The biggest challenge has been the jetlag. Every night from 2am-5am is a party! Bummer for Dan who started work on Monday and is already on a business trip to Paris and London.

We are in a temporary apartment (nice but tight with only 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom) and look forward to moving into our permanent house after all the renovations are complete in mid-September.

The kids couldn't wait to get back to the "pirate ship park" that we discovered on our trip here in June. So our first excursion on Day 1 was to Park Monterey where there is a pirate ship run aground right in the middle of the city tricked out with massive slides, rope ladders, planks, tire swings, and hideouts, not to mention a water play area. And it is walking distance from both the apartment and the house! 

Having a great time. Wish you were here.

xoxo,

Kristine, Dan, Jackson, Sophia, and Sabina