Saturday

Today Kel left. I am so sad. It was a great trip. Kel is the kind of friend that can finish my sentences and we can pick up after not talking for a while. She is connected at all times to a Blackberry, I have no idea how to even text. She is Super-Mom, while I struggle to do it all even on a part time schedule. She can make any situation laughable, and I laugh. She is my best friend. We went to some sights in Germany, then headed to Paris. We decided to do a tour on a Segway. It was great...but if anyone knows Kelley...motor vehicles of any kind and she do not mix. We were traveling along the Seine and I hear 'uh oh', and look back to find my friend spinning like a top off the side walk and right into the lane of oncoming traffic! Then, in a feeble attempt to gain control of the device, she rams it right into a French woman's bike. If looks could kill! My 'Rain (Wo)Man' was hilarious. (If I heard her try to pronounce Champs Elysees once, I heard it a thousand times. Hence, Rain (Wo)Man. And she got it right on the ride to the airport today!) What great memories!! Only about 6 weeks til the Tarts are together. Watch out WNY!

OK, so the big news was Mark's offer to head up an office in England. We juggled this idea for a loooong time. I even had my principal call the school in the UK to find out about job opportunities. (50/50 chance of getting my old one back, FYI Raptors. The job wasn't where we were. If you want the geography, email me.) We decided not to. There were many factors, but we came to the conclusion that it wasn't the right choice for our family at this time. This offer really did stroke Mark's professional ego though. It's only a matter of time before the right job comes along....and he can do it. I am confident. He rocks!

So, at the end of the week, my folks fly in. How exciting. It's been too long since they last saw the boys.

Kelley's Here!

My best friend in the entire world came across the world to visit us. We've had a great time together. Later I will tell you about Segway-ing all around Paris and how Newman managed to fall off hers. I will tell you about how we ate too many crepes and ate great food in an amazing restaurant. I will tell you how we slept til 10:30. I will do all that later because this is Kel's last night here. I will miss her dearly tomorrow night.

Oh, and tomorrow I will tell you that Mark turned down a great job in England. That was our big news. Should we stay or go? Now you know the answer.

School's Out for the Summer!

Come on...sing it with Alice Cooper and me!

This year I was ready. Really ready. In the past, I felt I could have taught longer...bring it on. Not this year. I am glad it's over. It hadn't been a hard year, nor one with exceptionally challenging kids. Overall, a good year. But I am so thankful for today!

Tomorrow begins the start of Tourist Season 2008. My best friend growing up is flying in. I can not wait! Today however, the boys and I must finish a top secret Father's Day project and get it ready for Sunday.

By the way, I am still waiting for lightening to hit me and I will know the answer to our big question. We have a few more days to mull it over. I will let you know what we decide soon.

How Will I Know?

Our family has a big decision to make. While I know this is not entirely up to us; it is in God's hands. I pray, asking Him to guide us in our decision. How do I know he is guiding me in this decision? Surely, I won't hear an answer whispered in my ear, nor will a lightning bolt hit me as a 'sign'.

Mark is the level headed thinker, I am the shoot from the hip, think with the heart. We can do this. Please pray that we come to the right decision.

And, Wendy, just for you...once I figure out how to do it, an added comments section! :)

He's Hilarious!

Here are some recent pictures of the boys...


Owen is just too funny for his own good. Today, we were rearranging some furniture only to come back into the living room to find Owen with Mr. Potato Head Mickey Mouse glasses on his face, eating noodles and watching the tele. He was totally serious. He put them on himself and kept them on. Funny thing, he was adjusting them too! Mark and I looked at each other and had to laugh.

Now, Henry is a comedian in his own right. Henry has more of the one liners though. And he has the memory of an elephant! He was watching Indiana Jones (yes, I know he's only 5, we selectively let him watch) and he's coming up with all kinds of stuff. "Oh, that's Cairo." "I thought I saw the Eiffel Tower. Was this filmed in France?" What, are you kidding me? When we moved back to the States from the UK, one of the questions an adult asked me was, "That was a long drive, huh?" Yes, I am serious. Henry has more of an understanding of geography than that adult. Let me add a disclaimer, it was in Georgia...middle Georgia. 'Nuff said.

This is the last week of school (Thank you, sweet Jesus!). Mark started a new job, and we are anxiously awaiting our first house guest of the summer. Busy, busy week.

O's First Day of Kindergarten

Ah, the baby is growing up! Monday was his first day of Kindergarten. I went in with him and stayed for about an hour and a half. He was doing marvelously. The teacher suggested that I leave for about an hour or so to see how he would do (he did super!). He had lunch there, but no nap. Tuesday he went in solo with H. Today we tried a nap. Well, he is sleeping upstairs. Needless to say, he wasn't so interested. Perhaps with a special blanket, he will take a 'schlaft' tomorrow. Small steps. He is growing up. Pictures to come.

Spring Break 2008

3376 nautical miles
994 miles driving
91 tunnels (one way)
13 days
8 countries
3 continents
2 time zones

Whew! What a great trip! (Although at this point, we are back to the grind and are reminissing while looking forward to the next one.) We had a fabulous time cruising the Med. The highlights were Ephesus in Turkey, and the pyramids of Giza in Egypt. There were other places in between, but those were the ones we loved most.

We left out of Savona, Italy and headed toward Greece. We stopped at Athens. Funny thing, last year, I remember thinking, ah, this will be the last time in this city. We saw some sights we hadn't seen the past couple of times, and of course, stopped at our favorites. I love the Plaka, although it's tough to shop with throngs of people and kids in tow. Turkey was mah-velous! Ephesus was awe inspiring....and to think the whole thing isn't excavated. Google it. You won't regret it. I asked Mark... any chance you can get a job here? No such luck. But, crazier things have happened, right? We sailed on to Cypress, which didnt' leave much of an impression on Mark and me. Now, Egypt was quite an experience. We had to take a 3 hour bus ride to get to the pyramids. It looked as though buildings were either going up or derelict. I am not sure which. Either way, nothing seemed complete. It was a looooong drive and we saw palm trees and green. Don't get me wrong, it certainly isn't lush, but I guess I was thinking there would be this expanse of desert and the pyramids would be rising up out of the sand. Ah, no. (You would think I would know better, as Mark and I both take Niagara Falls for granted, being so close.) So, Mark spots them. And way in the distance, past the smoke, sand, smog (or combination of all 3), there they are. We pull up in a line with the other 40 buses and file out. We had such a short time to marvel at them. I thought, how lucky am I to be married to a man that can take his family on this trip? We got the guys on a camel. Henry first, and then Mark was hoisted up (unbeknownst to him!) while carrying Owen. Great pictures. If I ever figure how to post them, you can see them too. I can go on and on about this dirty, polluted, traffic crazed place. Even though it's all those adjectives, I loved it! The Egypt Starbucks mug illuded us though. (We are trying to get mugs from all the places we visit. This is actually quite a popular thing. There were a few other folks on the same mission. No one was lucky in Egypt. I think it's because they can't stop the armed guarded buses except for the itinerary. But, what do I know?) The family finished up in Rome. It is one spectacular place! I am so glad that we took the train in and saw it. We walked so much that day, and saw all of the usual sights. It was great to share them with the boys.

We are starting to think about our next Spring Break already.

Yes, I know it's almost June and this happened months ago. I really need to get back in the blogging spirit!