Week 24

Boy it's good to be home. We had a fabulous time in Europe but there is nothing like sleeping in your own bed. I also missed my boys and am happy to be surrounded by their love once again. I'm still going through all our pictures (so many!), but I at least have enough done to post a picture day while we were gone. I also had Justin take pictures for me of things that were happening at home, and with my mom's help he was able to get a good few. I had to fill in a some blanks with pictures of things I know happened and with receipts of stuff my mom kept for me.  This means you will see 2 pictures a day for the next couple weeks- one of John and I in Europe and one of the kids at home continuing their crazy busy schedule which I was happy to leave behind. 

Enjoy week 24:

Day 162- Sunday, 6/10/12

Welcome to the UK!  I'm here at our hotel in the pouring rain but that's how London is.  We really liked how centrally located our hotels were on most of this trip.  This one is right near the London Eye and Big Ben with the London Tower just a short boat ride away.

Back at home Justin does his nightly ready like a good little boy.  My two younger kids were less than pleased that nightly readings need to continue through summer break.

Day 163- Monday, 6/11/12 

John near the Tower Bridge in London.  Then we toured the London Tower where they keep the crowned jewels and lots of impressive armor.

Meanwhile, the boys are enjoying the start to their summer break.  They have the whole week off to spend at home before they start day camp next week.  Bella is happy for the extra attention.

Day 164- Tuesday, 6/12/12

We boarded a Eurostar train today and made our way from London to Paris traveling through the "chunnel".  Our first stop was the Eiffel Tower.  Once again our hotel was really close so we got to see this wonderful monument many times over the course of our stay.

Justin's new glasses came in today and my mother was kind enough to take him in to pick them up and even had to go back a second time to get them adjusted just right.

Day 165- Wednesday, 6/13/12

Tonight we went out and saw a dinner show.  It was fun, but I was really tired and kept falling asleep!  I'm not used to so many full days and late nights and we've just begun!

There's Tyler!  He has a really busy summer and doesn't get much of a break.  His training for his summer job started yesterday and continues through tomorrow.

Day 166- Thursday, 6/14/12

Finally some nice weather for our last day in Paris.  We really enjoyed touring the Palace of Versailles especially the gardens on such a beautiful day.  They are unreal and we barely saw a fraction of them--acres and acres!

Target called and Brandon's auto-refill prescription is ready so grandma made a quick run to the pharmacy.

Day 167- Friday, 6/15/12

After traveling all day on the party train we finally made it to Nice in the south of France and the weather is perfect here.  We have an amazing view from our room and a wonderful sea breeze coming right through the window.  Now this is a vacation!

Justin is keeping an eye on my plants for me while I'm gone.  Most of them are on an automatic drip but not a couple by the front and back doors.

Day 168- Saturday, 6/16/12

 The water is so perfect here but the beach not so much.  It's sandy right here in the water but most of the beach is pebbles that really hurt your feet and is painful to sit on.  I'm not complaining though because it's still a great place to be!  I've just never seen a beach with so many rocks.

My dad bought Tyler a water polo ball as a graduation present and they tried it out in the pool today.  He used to play in high school and was giving Tyler some pointers.  Tyler has orders to work on his dry grip.

That's it for our first week away.  Stay tuned for week 2 in Europe.

 

Week 23

We're back in the states!  What a wonderful trip we had to Europe.  I have over 1500 pictures to go through so this week's post will just be of photos where I left off with the week before we headed out and then hopefully next week I can do a double or tripple post to catch up including my 2 weeks in Europe.  What a whirlwind trip!  I'm looking forward to going through my pictures just to remember what all we saw--3 counties and 6 cities in 16 days.

Now for week 23 which was hetic and caotic enough in and of itself:

Day 155- Sunday, 6/3/12

Tyler has been given a new job at home and has learned to walk the dog so he can be the one responsible for this activity while we are gone.

Day 156- Monday, 6/4/12
The stand for our pool cover came, and John put it together and got it set up so my parents and the kids can use it while we're away.  It's supposed to make taking the cover on and off so much easier by rolling it up, but it's still a bit of a challenge that we'll all have to get used to.

Day 157- Tuesday, 6/5/12
Justin had an eye appointment today and is due for new glasses so he tried a few on before deciding on this pair.  They'll be ready for him next week.

Day 158- Wednesday, 6/6/12
I don't usually do laundry during the week, but I need to get a few loads done for our trip so we can pack, and also I don't want to leave my mom starting off here with dirty clothes for the boys.  Seems like my to do list never ends.

Day 159- Thursday, 6/7/12
It's the last day of school and Tyler's 8th grade promotion.  I still can't beleive he'll be in high school come fall.  As the kids came in to be seated they each had to step up to the microphone to introduce themselves telling what they want to be when they grow up.  Tyler wants to be a doctor specializing in hematology.

Day 160- Friday, 6/8/12
Time to get ready for his summer job.  Tyler's working for the city at the summer camps with kids so he had to be fingerprinted and get a TB test.  It was quite an adventure going to the police station.  We came a cross some interesting folks in the waiting room.  This nice lady was kind enough to move us into another room as quickly as possible.  I think he's set now and will be starting his training next week.

Day 161- Saturday, 6/9/12
Off we go!  My parents are here caring for my kids so they saw us off (Tyler was at a swim meet) as we headed out.  First stop London, England.

That's all I have for now.  Thanks for stopping by and see you next Tuesday.

 

 

Week 22

It's the last week of school, and John and I leave for Europe Saturday!  I'm super excited and am running around like crazy trying to get everything in order.  My parents come into town Thursday, and I have one day to get them oriented to the craziness that is my life.  I don't think they know what they are getting themselves into, but I'm sure happy they agreed to do it.  OMG!! I'm going to Europe this week.  I'll probably be out of touch for the next couple weeks but will catch you up at the end of June with a triple post ;0)

Now for last week's pictures:

Day 148- Sunday, 5/27/12

I noticed today that one of the new plants I put in the side yard late last year bloomed for the first time this week.  What a nice surprise.  I love the purple and yellow on white, and I even caught a little green bug in my shot who was also enjoying the flower.

Day 149- Monday, 5/28/12

Happy Memorial Day! We are so grateful for all those who died defending or serving our country. What better way to enjoy this first holiday of summer than in our pool.  It was kind of cold and windy out, but the new cover made the water in the pool warm so the boys had a grand time.

Day 150- Tuesday, 5/29/12

I stayed home today to get things done around the house.  While I worked on cleaning closets we had a crew here to work on cleaning our windows and blinds.  What a job that was, and I'm glad I paid someone else to do it.  The closets were bad enough, but the windows and blinds were 10x worse.  So happy to have that done!  It's been on my to do list FOREVER.

Day 151- Wednesday, 5/30/12

Justin is studying hard for a states and capitols test coming up Friday.  It's been some long nights with him trying to learn them all but he's getting there.  When all was said and done he ended up with a score of 48/50.  Not too bad considering where I thought he stood after each night's cram session.

Day 152- Thursday, 5/31/12

It's science fair night.  The 6-8th graders displayed their work this evening.  Tyler did a project on buoyancy--how the shape of a boat or the salinity of the water can effect the boat's ability to float and hold weight. He did a great job, and I really like how little he needed my help.  It's great to have an older more independent child.  Now if the other two would follow his lead.

Day 153- Friday, 6/1/12

June is finally here!  Seemed like it took forever to get here probably because I just want school to end and us to be out of here.  Not long now.  As you can see it is very bright and sunny out.  We almost hit triple digits today so I think we'll be spending a lot of time in the pool again this weekend.  Bella was kind enough to pose for me out back and promised not to squint like my boys do.

Day 154- Saturday, 6/2/12

Down time at a swim meet.  My boys and many of the other boys all like to play video games, lounge, and eat in between races.  It's a lot like camping except we don't stay the night. 

That's it for now.  I'll see you in a few weeks once I make it back to the states.

 

Week 21

Only 2 more weeks of school left and just one more project due before we can relax a bit.  Did I say relax?  Yeah, right!  That is not going to happen until I'm out of here on a plane to Europe. Thankfully we just had a nice long weekend and I got a lot of stuff done but there is still sooo much to do.  At least these last couple weeks should fly by. 

Now for last week's photos before I forget and move on-

Day 141- Sunday, 5/20/12
We got a solar cover for our pool and Tyler helped John cut it down to size.  It's kind of a pain to take on and off, but it does help keep the pool warmer so maybe I'll use it more.  I'm not a fan of swimming in cold water even when it's really hot out.

Day 142- Monday, 5/21/12
Time to vote absentee ballot style! It's so much easier this way than having to make the time to head to the polls.  You just have to remember to do it early so your vote gets in in time to count.

Day 143- Tuesday, 5/22/12
I just dropped the younger boys off at the community center for karate class.  Tyler will show up an hour later for the next class.  It's a beautiful day out.

Day 144- Wednesday, 5/23/12
He got the job!  What a great experience for him.  Remember the job application he filled out a couple weeks ago for a volunteer position at summer camp?  Well they called him last week for a job interview and told him there were 30 kids who applied for about 20 positions and that they would let him know this week and he just got a call saying he's in. Good for him!

Day 145- Thursday, 5/24/12
Brandon collected all his little stuffed animal dogs and made up a cozy basket for them that he carts around.  They are getting read to read stories before bed.  He's so cute and nurturing.

Day 146- Friday, 5/25/12
It's author day at the school so I cut out of work early to have lunch with my boys and listen to their stories.  Justin had to write and illustrate a 24 page chapter book this year.  That was a huge project, but he did a great job.

Day 147- Saturday, 5/26/12

It's been like two weeks since I got the new comforters for the younger boys, and I'm just now finding the time today put them on the beds.  It feels good to get all the junk out of there and set up new rules about not keeping so many toys in the bed.  Of course now it's all stuffed in their closet so I have that deal with that, but at least I can shut the door and not have to see it every time I walk into the room.

Wait!  One more--

May's Family Photo

   We took the cover off the pool so we could enjoy it for the holiday weekend, and I wanted a picture of us all in the pool but it was really too windy and cold out.  The water actually felt great but we couldn't stand to be outside for long with the weather like it was.  Go figure!


That's it!  Thanks for stopping by and see you next Tuesday.

 

Week 20

Still plugging along trying to find the time to get tons of things done before our trip.  Achieving a work/life balance is really hard sometimes, but I'm doing the best I can and just taking it one day at a time.  There really needs to be more hours in the day and more weekend days.  Thanks goodness we have a 3-day weekend coming up.  I really need that now!

Enjoy the craziness from last week:

Day 134- Sunday, 5/13/12

Happy Mother's Day!  I aways get a picture with my boys out by the roses on Mother's Day.  The only problem is it's bright out and they always squint with their light-sensitive blue eyes.  Oh well, they're still cute ;0)

Day 135- Monday, 5/14/12

My wonderful husband and beautiful boys gave me a Kindle Fire for Mother's Day.  It's the perfect thing to take on my up coming trip!  Today I tried to carve out some time to play a bit and load it with lot's of goodies.

Day 136- Tuesday, 5/15/12

We're missing someone.  There is an empty chair at the counter as my oldest son is in LA with his class for their 8th grade trip.  He left yesterday morning and returns tomorrow evening.  I miss him but am not missing all the activities I usually have to shuttle him to and from.

Day 137- Wednesday, 5/16/12

The red Day Lilies are in bloom out front.  They come into bloom every May.  I remember when we first looked at this house to consider a purchase.   It was late May and the lilies were very beautiful out front against the red brick.  I loved them then and still love them some 7 yrs later

Day 138- Thursday, 5/17/12

He's done with his state report!  Justin has been working on this since February.  He chose Oregon because his grandparents live there.  They had to do an ABC book filled with state facts, work up a travel brochure, write a letter to the state for information, work up a display poster and also bring in a state food to share with the class.  He worked so hard and is so happy to be done.  My favorite part is the animals he added around the tree--that is so him!

Day 139- Friday, 5/18/12

Umbrella Boy!  John is all about the umbrellas in the back yard and a new one came today.  I think we have 4 or 5 now.  He's prepping for Memorial Day weekend.  His thinking is you can never have enough shade.  I'm thinking we have way too many umbrellas.

Day 140- Saturday, 5/19/12

It's the Blue and White swim meet--the first meet of the season for time trials.  This is Tyler swimming the breast stroke.  All the boys did great, and I feel better today after seeing how they handled it about leaving them alone to fend for themselves at a meet while we are out of the country.  It's amazing how self sufficient they can be when they know they have too.

All done!  Thanks for stopping by. 

Now back to work for me.  Another busy and full day in the lab.  Did I mention how much I need a 3-day weekend??