The classroom looks like a laundromat blew up.
Clothes are strewn hither and thither, backpacks are gaping open waiting to be stuffed with essentials for travel, and I've just started what feels like my elevety ninth load of "I TOLD YOU TO BRING ME ALL OF YOUR LAUNDRY!"
It's chaos. But it's OK, because this kind of mess only means one thing : We're 'a leaving on a jet plane!
We're westward bound to spend 10 fun filled days with my family in Utah. It's going to be amazing! Time with my parents, my brothers and sisters and all of my nieces and nephews!
Only 34 more hours to go!
Monday, August 20, 2012
Saturday, August 18, 2012
A blast from our Spanish past!
This post won't be all that interesting to anyone unless at one time your last name was Odom, you lived in Madrid and your dad was a spy. IF you meet those criteria ... read on! You won't want to miss this!
JANCINE WAS HERE! Our Jancine!
She, Raul and their younger daughter, Gabriella, took a detour from their Coast to Coast American tour to come and visit for a few days.
For those of you not in the know, Jancine was our family's Au Pair while we lived in Madrid, Spain. The summer before Caitlin was born she came to live with us and our lives were forever better for having known her.
To see her standing on my front porch Wednesday afternoon was just a little surreal. 20+ years later and I kid you not, she hasn't aged a day! She is just as sweet, bubbly and beautiful as I'd remembered and she still has her British accent. Granted, I know she's British, but I associate her with Spain and I'd forgotten she'd still have it! LOL
That first night we sat around the kitchen bar and did nothing but reminisce about our time in Spain, filled in the gaps in the stories of our lives and caught up over the delicious wine they'd brought over for us from Spain. And to spoil us even further, they came bearing gifts for the kids and I. Beautiful glass jewelry necklaces for Brooke and I, a real soccer jersey for Dom and best of all, a gorgeous black and red Flamenco dress for Diana! She twirled around the kitchen all night.
The next day we did some running around. I took them atop Panther Creek State Park to the look-out. We walked down the shops on Main Street and had lunch at the little Java Garden Cafe. And what trip to the ol' U.S. of A isn't complete with an obligatory stop into Walmart?? (OK, actually I had to pop in for bread) I don't think they were all that impressed! ;)
JANCINE WAS HERE! Our Jancine!
She, Raul and their younger daughter, Gabriella, took a detour from their Coast to Coast American tour to come and visit for a few days.
For those of you not in the know, Jancine was our family's Au Pair while we lived in Madrid, Spain. The summer before Caitlin was born she came to live with us and our lives were forever better for having known her.
To see her standing on my front porch Wednesday afternoon was just a little surreal. 20+ years later and I kid you not, she hasn't aged a day! She is just as sweet, bubbly and beautiful as I'd remembered and she still has her British accent. Granted, I know she's British, but I associate her with Spain and I'd forgotten she'd still have it! LOL
That first night we sat around the kitchen bar and did nothing but reminisce about our time in Spain, filled in the gaps in the stories of our lives and caught up over the delicious wine they'd brought over for us from Spain. And to spoil us even further, they came bearing gifts for the kids and I. Beautiful glass jewelry necklaces for Brooke and I, a real soccer jersey for Dom and best of all, a gorgeous black and red Flamenco dress for Diana! She twirled around the kitchen all night.
The next day we did some running around. I took them atop Panther Creek State Park to the look-out. We walked down the shops on Main Street and had lunch at the little Java Garden Cafe. And what trip to the ol' U.S. of A isn't complete with an obligatory stop into Walmart?? (OK, actually I had to pop in for bread) I don't think they were all that impressed! ;)
After the girls went swimming, and Diana had her ballet lesson, we met for dinner at the Sage Brush Steak House. Our waiter (who was the EPITOMY of all things Tennessee) took our drink order and without missing a beat Jancine leaned in and whispered "It looks like his Mum cut his hair with a knife and fork!"
I think my only regret from the entire visit was that I've let my Spanish get so bad. Raul and Gabriella speak very good English, but on the longer conversations Jancine still had to act as interpreter. I think I'm going to have to break out the Rosetta Stone and get my act together. ... Especially if we ever hope to repay the visit!
I keep reading over this post and I know it doesn't
even begin to convey just how much this visit meant to me.
I can't wait to tell all of you more about it next week and pass
on the love from Jancine and her family to all of you!!
___________________
I think my only regret from the entire visit was that I've let my Spanish get so bad. Raul and Gabriella speak very good English, but on the longer conversations Jancine still had to act as interpreter. I think I'm going to have to break out the Rosetta Stone and get my act together. ... Especially if we ever hope to repay the visit!
I keep reading over this post and I know it doesn't
even begin to convey just how much this visit meant to me.
I can't wait to tell all of you more about it next week and pass
on the love from Jancine and her family to all of you!!
___________________
A few of the pictures from their visit:
Friday, August 17, 2012
Happy Days are here at last!
I'm back.
And just so we're clear, I didn't entirely abandon the blog. There were many a night that I'd sit here at my computer and tap away at the keys only to delete the entire post.
While our spring was blissful contentment, our summer had a more tumultuous start. I was heartbroken, angry and spent more than a little too much time licking my wounds. I didn't want to write about the kids, the lake, the new car OR the nearly 250,000 followers I have on Pinterest. I didn't want to paint on a smile when all I really felt was the overwhelming desire to be petty. I wanted to shout and yell and vent away all of my frustrations. Thankfully for you, I didn't see that as being very good reading material, so I waited. I knew that with time* my heart would heal and the right words would come with the right feelings.
And they have. The storm has passed and the sun is shining.
Happy days are finally here at last!
*and many, many late night rant sessions and wine
And just so we're clear, I didn't entirely abandon the blog. There were many a night that I'd sit here at my computer and tap away at the keys only to delete the entire post.
While our spring was blissful contentment, our summer had a more tumultuous start. I was heartbroken, angry and spent more than a little too much time licking my wounds. I didn't want to write about the kids, the lake, the new car OR the nearly 250,000 followers I have on Pinterest. I didn't want to paint on a smile when all I really felt was the overwhelming desire to be petty. I wanted to shout and yell and vent away all of my frustrations. Thankfully for you, I didn't see that as being very good reading material, so I waited. I knew that with time* my heart would heal and the right words would come with the right feelings.
And they have. The storm has passed and the sun is shining.
Happy days are finally here at last!
*and many, many late night rant sessions and wine
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