Endings

The kiddos finished up...almost everything this week. Last Tuesday was Nicole's final soccer game - undefeated season, 14-0! Jake had his final lacrosse game today and almost scored a goal! Lisette had her final show of "Kiss Me Kate" and was offered a scholarship to a theatre camp this summer! Amazing kids. Proud parents.

I'm scraping through my list of things to do. Can't say it's been smooth sailing. My stress level is still on orange but John's starting to recognize the danger signs and has pitched in a bit! LOL

Jake is quite the eco-conscious guy sometimes. He was just discussing with John (yes, at this late hour) that they need to design boat motors that propel with air instead of gasoline. John told him that there are boat motors like that, Jake's response was immediate, "Well, they should make...(pause) more" - wise munchkin.

Official Stress Test

I just looked up some stress tests online to see what I might score. They're full of crap.

Here's my list of things to do...

1. Doctor appointments for the kids and I
2. Dentist appointments for the kids and I... (don't have a dentist!!!!!)
(#1 and #2 need to be done ASAP so we can get John's orders)
3. Eye doc appointments for Lisette and I...(don't have an eye doc!!!!!)
4. Start Lisette and Nicole in driving course
5. Prep Jake for surgery next Thursday
6. Complete kids' applications for new school - includes teacher and counselor recommendations, medical screening, report cards from last three years, immunizations
7. Prepare house for three moves - express, household goods and storage
8. Buddy's International Health Certificate within 30 days of his move (June 20thish)
9. My Spanish homework
10. Get my haircut (hasn't been done in 6 months! Can you see why?)
11. Call the garbage company for the FOURTH time to replace recycling bin that was stolen
12. Place commissary (grocery) order in June so it will arrive by the time we get there
13. Plan university-visiting trips for Lisette and Nicole
14. Plan trip to Hamilton
15. Change over kids' and my immunization cards to the yellow International cards.

Going s-l-o-w-l-y insane...

But since I haven't lost my job, the tests don't see much stress in my life. I'd like to see them tell my that to my face!

Español

I've been busy taking private Spanish lessons. My wonderful teacher Liz says I'm doing great but I feel like I have a sponge for a tongue when I'm trying to think up a sentence. Sometimes the words just do not roll off right. I'm in class four hours, four times a week. It's only been two weeks and I've missed a day a week - therefore I've only had 6 lessons, the kids' fault of course. Next week I'll miss another one because of pre-op for Jake, the following week is his surgery so I'll miss another day, maybe two. Sheesh, I'm never going to hablar. :-)

My beautiful sister is turning the big 5-0 this month and she's been stressing since last year. I happen to think Kim is a beautiful lady who absolutely everyone adores. We all think the world of her and I sure wish she'd feel better about celebrating what is just a number, and be as thankful as we are to have her in our lives. We love you to the moon Kimmy - though I'll certainly stoop down to that level and tease you ferociously in a few weeks!

As Nicole's plaque in her room says,
"I smile because you're my sister,
I laugh because there's nothing you can do about it!"

Kitchen Complete!

Ten minutes ago, I put away the final dish. It was actually a tupperware kind of thing but it was the last! A lot of work for 3 more months. Oh well!

Now on to the master bedroom. Wish me luck!

Partaay Night

We graduated from Attache School. Which means they met us, trained us and still thought we'd make a decent attache/spouse team. Weirdos! Ha!

So last night we had John's seminar (South America bound group) folk and their kids over for a wee party. Considering how upside down our house is still, I'm proud to say we pulled it off. I made a big batch of Arroz con Pollo (chicken w/yellow rice) and we kept the theme South Americanish. We kept salsa music on all night. The kids had a blast and the adults consumed an impressive amount of Sangria, so much so that I had to resort to making the "real" stuff instead of the Sangria-in-a-bottle.

Mostly slept in this morning but Nicole was up to go help clean the shores of the Potomac and Lisette had to go in to school for a play rehearsal. John went for a run while Jake and I snuck Buddy onto the couch for some cuddle time. Our excuse being that Buddy was depressed that John went running without him...shhhhh, don't tell John. :-)

There's still more running around to do today so I figured I'd get a blog written while I had the chance!

Besitos!!

My Day

It's my birthday. It was the first day in quite a few weeks where I had no one to amuse but myself. How nice!! I stayed in my PJs until three PM. I napped. I barely did any housework (although it needs it badly) but my kitchen looks pretty good. I was supposed to take Buddy for a walk but then it rained. Bummer. I heard from a bunch of family wishing me a happy birthday so I definitely feel loved. What else could you want on your birthday? :-)

John, Jake and I went out for an early dinner to a local Japanese steakhouse. It wasn't quite right without the girls but Nicole is at soccer, Lisette has play rehearsal and then SAT Prep class so it would have been tough to squeeze in dinner any other time this evening. John and Jake dropped me off at the house while they went to p/u Nicole. Jake was bugging John to take him to the pharmacy where there's a big birthday card he wants to get me. He's already told me all about it and the joke it contains but he's determined he needs to buy it for me anyway! LOL

So, I'm 44. Healthy, happily married, three awesome kids and a life full of adventure. The word of the day is "Blessed."

New Post!!

Kimmy reminded me to blog so as to keep her up to date. Funny, I noticed she hasn't blogged since BEFORE her visit down here!!!!! Phtffpht!

We're all doing great - busy as beavers but happy. We finally received 1/3 of our shipment on Friday! The rest is to be delivered on Tuesday. Unfortunately, John and I received our box spring but not our mattress. Tuesday night will be so great!!!!! The kids all are sleeping on real mattresses now. Sigh of relief!

We got our Expedition!! John had finally broken down and rented a car for the week so we actually had three vehicles at one point. From one to three...crazy!

Nicole got the starting goalie position on her JV soccer team. Lisette is in her school play and started a SAT prep class twice a week. Jake's still enjoying lacrosse and declares he just might be the smartest kid in his class (I believe it!)

I haven't been to class much this last week...no class scheduled on Monday, Jake had a doctor's appointment on Tuesday, I skipped Wednesday, attended Thursday and the movers came on Friday (found out they were coming as I drove to school - turned around and headed home.) John's got me in the line for Spanish classes, one on one, starting after this school is done. My brain will be mush...I may have to start blogging in Spanish!

Tomorrow is moving day prep. Instead of losing my mind today and screaming at my messy family, I'll just clean up tomorrow. Sounds like a good idea, right?