This is a long time coming. It seems like AT LAST all of the boys are healthy (except for a runny nose here and there) and we are finally able to make some travel plans. Of course as I type this Friday morning they are all at school and chances are they’re picking up some ruthless illness that will teach me to ever speak of health again….
For real though- we are actually going on our first trip Mondays since we arrived. I have been getting the boys psyched showing them the videos of the (resort? escape?) place in France and they are pumped. My husband heard about Center Parcs from a co-worker and it sounded really interesting. We have a few of them here in the Netherlands- but had already made plans to meet some other expat friends in Switzerland next weekend. The issue- we weren’t flying to Switzerland and it’s a six-hour drive. Husband suggested we look at a Center Parc at the midway point near Strasbourg, France and give that a try to break up the trip. On the way there anyhow.
Well I simply cannot contain myself with how cool this place looks. Huge pool inside a dome, indoor market, luxe cottage– oh my! We are staying Monday-Friday and leaving for Hotel Viktoria in Switzerland Friday morning. Over a week? We haven’t been on a family vacation other than back to Michigan for that long.. ever. I’ll be doing a full review of each for Travel Mamas and cannot wait!
Photo taken from Center Parc Moselle – Domaine des Trois Forêts website.
This all said- I am taking a break for a while to enjoy all the goings on at Moselle – Domaine des Trois Forêts and Hotel Viktoria with the boys. I’ve also decided to make a few changes and step back a bit for a while from the chatter on Facebook and Twitter as well. Not sure how long I plan to be on this hiatus- but I look forward to returning rejuvenated and more clearly focused on the newer direction of my blog into the expat world. It’s time for a change- and I’m pretty sure that means a change of the circles I run in and the connections I have made. I need less white noise in my life. My time is limited and I never feel like I am keeping up very well with other blogs and what not- so I’m simply going to stop trying.
I’m an unsubscribing, unfollowing, unliking machine and I do not mean any of it personally- but this is something that I have felt a long time coming. The blogging world isn’t want I really want it to be right now- and that’s ok. So, it’s up to me to make this change because it’s best for me and the goals as well as direction of my blog. I want to write for my family and friends back home to keep up with us.. as well as explore this new world of other families living abroad, fellow travelers and learning from their experiences. True friends that I have made in this community I plan to keep. But the rest… meh. Life is too short to be tethered to people or connections that really don’t benefit either of us. And by benefit I mean benefit my life. Not my blog.
Can’t wait for the new week to begin- nor the new direction I plan to take. This makes me wonder… do I go with a blog face lift???? I’m tempted. Really, really tempted. This was my baby before my twins- so that will be a hard change to make- but I think a new face on my screen might be just what I need to start anew.
Read, don’t read- unlike or unfollow me. I’m ok with that. In the meantime I am going to focus on travel with my family and our expat journey.
Tot ziens!
{ 25 comments… read them below or add one }
About the “unsubscribing, unliking, unfollowing”. . . know what you mean. Sometimes the number of followers who obviously didn’t read your profile, just follow you because of one single word you used in one obscure Tweet. Before you know it, your Twitter page is jammed with advertisers and people who have nothing in common with you. It requires “housekeeping” to keep your Twitter page from looking like a freeway at 5:00 o’clock!
I find that with my weird time window I don’t really have it in me to spend the time scrolling through RTs and tweets of people that I don’t know why I’m following. I am sure it’s the same for them. It’s so nice to scroll through a feed and be able to see what I want to see quickly and move on! I feel a hundred pounds lighter — which is funny since I kept all of my twin tweeters lol.
Um, well…I’ll still be here!
I sure as heck hope so. I need to since you know my crazy!!
I totally understand your desire. I look forward to seeing your changes. I have enjoyed your families adventures! For me I used to blog so the family and friends could keep up but then my ex and his wife started stalking and it went private – by invite only. I feel so closed in but at the same time I don’t want them to know certain things about my family. So I consider doing an alias and such but then that seems like work….so I stay with my private blog but I hate it at times. Branching out would be nice!!! Good luck and enjoy your vacation.
Gah! That’s awful. And wow- pretty lame too. Your life must be much more interesting than theirs
I wish I had a solution for you- you could go the alias route. I know someone who did that.
Thanks for reading!
OK, that pool is awesome! Have a great trip, Far! Can’t wait to hear about your adventures.
As for blog changes, congrats! Change is good. You may appreciate this quote I read this morning:
We must always change, renew, rejuvenate ourselves, otherwise we harden. -Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
You know me too well! It’s perfect. I love blogging but feel a burnout coming on if I don’t mix things up a bit.
I never thought I’d be so excited to hit up an indoor pool!!!!
That hotel pool looks like paradise! Relax, laugh, kick back and have some fun!! You deserve a break after all you guys have gone through over the past half year.
As for your blog, you’re stuck with me! As a friend, you’re stuck with me too! xo
I sure hope so! You have been such a great friend, advisor, and more. One day we will make a meet in person happen.
And it’s never fun to take 3 littles to a pool. My hope is that they like the super shallow areas and running around the plants. I mean- they can’t get lost. Might I actually be able to sit in a chair and relax??!?!??!
That place looks awesome! And I won’t take it personally at all. I might pout, but I won’t be unfollowing you.
I’ve been wickedly political on Twitter lately anyway, so I’ve been dropping followers like flies. But you’re not a fly. You’d be like losing a butterfly.
And I think this post shows that you are one of the most healthy Mamas I know! Well done.
You’re my tough Jersey girl. I knew you wouldn’t take it personally! But to be honest you’re one of the few blogs I read consistently and love to pop in to read. It’s a shame others (including myself) can’t learn from your example. You are diverse and extremely talented. You’re not going anywhere except on my speed dial
Wow — that looks AMAZING! Have soooo much fun! My kids would just die of happiness if I took them to a pool like that!
As for the blog changes — do what works for you! We are in the process of tinkering ourselves. I guess we’ll figure it out together!
OOh!!! I’m excited to see your changes!!!!
Yeah- I was really stupid to show them the video so soon. I had to show B daily and he threw countless fits over why we were not leaving that second. Lesson learned.
Hey, I’m branching out too. I saw your Hiatus! piece on Google+. Heh, Heh. But seriously, when I saw Hiatus! I was like, “I’m going to miss her!!” Then I saw that pool and thought, “Good for her!” Then I read about you going in an expat direction and I thought, “I LOVE that stuff!” Then I got to the part about you un-following people and I jumped over to Twitter to check and I was like “Whew!” You have taken me on a roller coaster, girl! I’m going to go lay down. But it won’t be under a dome or in a luxe cottage or anything that cool. Look forward to your rejuvenated self!
Sooooo, for the blog redesign, are you going whole hog with a name change or just design? I have to say I find this one very classy and eye-pleasing. Ellen
Wow- leave it to Google!!!
No way would I be going anywhere. I’m a die hard Sisterhood fan. Those people that I cut are those that a) won’t notice and b) I’ve never developed a relationship with. Funny how I felt like I was in high school again- coming up upon my 20th high school anniversary (omg is that true??!) it was appropriate timing!
As for the blog I’m looking very slight changes. I want to somehow have a globe? earth? map? in the header and a little lighter. Just a ‘trim’ as they say. Love you ladies. Thanks for popping in. xoxo
Wish you the best on your trip! You certainly deserve a nice relaxing trip! Enjoy it and report back with pictures. Also looking forward to seeing your blog redesign. I’m hopefully bout to start designing and building my blog. Not me of course! I need to hire someone. Who do you use again? I remember you told me. In fact that’s how we met on twitter:) hugs!
I totally remember! I usually go with byAimeeSki as she is a LOVELY person and does just fabulous work!!
I’m just so happy the boys are sickness free right now! Every day I look at them without a runny nose and am like- THIS is normal!!!
Hi Farrah. I know you said the blogging world is not really great right now-so time for a break for sure! But wanted you to know that I found your blog 2 weeks after delivering my twins (who are now 6 months old) while trying to get through a day awake with my then 23 month old. Your blog has provided me with a window into the fun and possibilities that are to come for our family. I often read your blog at the wee hours of the morning when the babies were refusing to sleep and I was not sure if I could handle twins plus a toddler. I can barely get out of the house right now with all three (and have no idea where I can safely take them all anyhow?) but I would read your blog and realize that if you and your family could make an international move, surely the time will come when we can manage to make it to a park! It really has been that encouraging for me – so thank you and enjoy your hiatus!
Wow! Well, I really can’t tell you what an awesome thing your comment has done for me
My biggest hope is that by doing what I am doing I am seen as a real, average mom doing what we need to do to survive. As a mom of twins +1 you KNOW what it’s like. I love that we offer you even the tiniest amount of insight as to what you can do- and you should honestly celebrate even the seemingly most insignificant of outings with the kiddos by yourself. My gosh I know how huge that is! I would actually just pile everyone in the car and go to Target if I had nothing else to do.. the feeling of being trapped is not fun.
You just made my day. Thank you for telling me that I am doing something worthwhile. It means a lot to read what you have to say
Hopefully be back next week- recharged & ready to go without the distractions that were weighing me down!
I totally understand. I take hiatus often. It’s a lot to keep up. You and a few others are the ones I stay on top of. You were my first true bloggy friend and I know I’m far and not foreign (lol) but I enjoy reading about your family and journey. I’ll enjoy the new direction and look forward to it!
You’re one of my first friends too
and there’s no criteria for being my friend or reader! Basically I needed to cut ties with people that were of no consequence to me or me to them. I’d say that 2 years time would tell, and it did 
That pool looks epically awesome to quote my StinkBug! I hope you enjoy your hiatus…and how could you not with that pool? I’ve been on a bit of a hiatus myself..though not intentionally planned it was exactly what I needed. I agree 100% about feeling the burn out and wanting to use your time wisely.
Although we aren’t Siamese twins there’s no way you’ll be getting away from me!
xoxoxo- we will always be joined at the hip! Or something!!
I’ve been feeling this way A LOT lately too. For the past several months lately. I guess it’s time to make some big changes for myself too.