Watching two little boys all day, alone, in a foreign country

without a car, without a true "schedule", without their

favorite foods, snacks, toys, TV, with random (at best)

nap schedules and more "rules" because we are borrowing

someone's home, can be somewhat of a parental challenge.

The key to marginal success seems to be:

Keep them outside as much as possible

Anticipate the meltdowns with bags of Scooby Snacks

Bribe with ice cream or a trip to the toy store

Let them RUN, RUN, RUN!

Swimming

This is why Nate spends 50% of his days with the boys

at the park. The boys LOVE this park.

Nate knows all of the regulars and

has likely heel-toed the square footage of the park

with great accuracy.

Nate's rented bike lost its flip flop (peddle) and

required some TLC from a bike shop in town
All is now well.

The Zip Line has a magical power which makes you laugh

hysterically if you are riding it or watching someone ride it.

Even though we have quite a few more rules in the flat (everyone that lives in the building appears to be retired) than at home:

no running

no crying

no screaming - obviously

no throwing off of the balcony

(Charlie dropped our house keys down to the neighbor 3 stories down the first day we got here)

That's how the building knew the BARTON'S ARE HERE!

no throwing out of the bedroom window

(Charlie kicked a soccer ball straight out the window - no screens here!

and has dropped several pairs of socks out the window)

no eating ANYWHERE except the table

no wearing Juliet's shoes (Charlie has shoe issues)

no reading Juliet's books (they are all very cerebral and they boys would no doubt "color" in them)

Nate has done an AWESOME job managing the chaos within the rule book.

He does the cleaning, the laundry, the shopping, the cooking, the dirty diapers, the baths, the cooking clean up, the first aid (oh, and there is plenty of first aid needed) all while showing more patience than I have ever seen him have. All so I can remain focused on work and happy time with the boys when I am home. Which isn't much - during the week.

More important than all of this, the kids are SO happy and having a very memorable and bonding summer with their awesome daddy.

Thank you, Nate.

They really, really love you even though it is sometimes very hard to tell.