Home...

I know...the blog is on vacation, but I just wanted to say that we are safely home. We spent yesterday unpacking boxes and settling in and working to make our new house feel like our new home. Jet lag had me up at 4:30 this morning and Caleb was awake at 5:30, but it gave him and I the chance to head down to the dock and grab a photo...

I can handle a whole summer of that view...

The Blog Is On Vacation...

It's time for the summer shutdown. There might be an occasional blog or two over the summer, but it's not going to be high on the priority list. This summer is all about sunshine, family, the lake, friends, good books, a little work, swimming, fishing, and boating. Relaxing.

We're almost packed and tomorrow the boys and I fly home...and Blaine will join us in about 2 weeks. We absolutely cannot wait! If our paths don't cross this summer...we hope you have a great one!

Fab 5 Whatever Day It Is...

So...we all know how crazy the last few weeks of school can be...and when you're living abroad you can add in a whole bunch of goodbye parties for friends and kids who are leaving...and then you add in packing up to head home...and, well, it can be a bit manic! So, it's Tuesday and I'm starting the Fab 5 today without knowing exactly when I'll push the "Publish" button...but, that's okay. Maybe you'll read it anyways!

I think it will be longer than 5, but let's get started and see where it goes.

1. PTO Luncheon. We had our final PTO luncheon last week. It was very nice to sit down with this great group of women and share a laugh or twelve. At times, things have not been easy at our school this year, but this group persevered and did the very best they could for our school community. Let's hope for smoother sailing next year!

2. High Tea at The Bristol Hotel. We said farewell to Belinda with a high tea at the Bristol Hotel last Friday. What a lovely way to spend the afternoon. We will miss you tons, Belinda, but I'm hopeful that since you'll be in NYC that you may want to travel upstate and visit during future summers.

 3. Grayson's Birthday Sleepover. Now, you all know Grayson quite well. He's a master negotiator. Master. People could take lessons from this kid. Anyways, he started negotiating his birthday several months ago. He wanted a new iPod and to have us pay for it, but he also wanted a party with friends here before he left. I said that both were not possible. He decided that the iPod was his true desire and settled for two boys sleeping over and dinner out at the Blue Cactus with another family party to happen in the States. (His birthday is June 19th). He then added an amendment to his birthday contract which includes me baking brownies for his class. (I somehow missed this in the fine print! He's good!) I joke, but he's a good kid with nice friends and while I felt bad about limiting him to just two boys to sleepover, it worked out well, and they all seemed to have fun.

4. FC Inter End of Season Party. Both boys celebrated the almost-end of the soccer season with a big party at Legia Stadium on Sunday. Very cool as the kids and parents spent the time playing soccer on the Legia field! Definitely an unforgettable experience!

5. Farewell to Julie. Had the pleasure to say farewell to the gorgeous Julie this week. She is off to Tunisia for her newest adventures. She has to be one of the kindest and most sincere people I have ever met...always with a smile on her face. We will miss her smile next year at ASW.

6. 4th Grade Wax Museum. Grayson's grade put together a Wax Museum this week to end their biography/autobiography unit. Grayson was Harry Houdini and he put quite a bit of practice into his speech (which he started for you when you hit the "button"). It was great to walk around and see who all the children had chosen - and there were definitely some interesting choices!

7. Caleb's Concert. Caleb had his big 5th grade concert. He did a really nice job. While he's no musician, he does enjoy singing and next year has put down choir as his first choice. Fingers crossed he gets it!

And, well...that's 7 and it's Wednesday, but I'm going to push publish because I have a full day of work planned for tomorrow and shopping in Old Town and lunch with friends planned for Friday - so no time for bloggin'. 

P.S. The countdown is officially on...Only 7 days left!! We've started packing some of our bags and gathering stuff to bring back to the States. Internet is hooked up at the house and everything should be ready for our arrival! Absolutely cannot wait! 

Madrid...

Seriously...a great few days in Madrid...just great! Would move there in a heartbeat. Love the language! Love the city! Love the people! 

We arrived Thursday around lunchtime and dropped our stuff at the hotel and headed out. Grayson's teacher had given us directions to a little plaza, so we walked over there and found an outdoor cafe to enjoy lunch - and ice cream for the boys!

Then it was a quick tour of the city via the Hop On/Hop Off bus. It was a gorgeous day and the bus was crowded, but we finally managed to grab seats on the top deck!

Then it was back to the pool for a swim on the rooftop. Just stunning!

The evening brought a tapas tour and flamenco show. Our guide was a man named Luis - and he was great. We had three stops for tapas and then the flamenco show for dessert. Some guys from CrossFit TLV were on our tour - which was funny as I had mentioned CrossFit TLV in a WODTalk story from Seoul two years ago. They were here supporting their team again. It was enjoyable talking with them.

The next day we went to Day 1 of the CrossFit Meridian Regionals. We ran into one of Sara Sigmundsdottir's coaches, John Singleton, in Starbuck's as we were heading over to Caja Magica - and introduced ourselves. (He was actually staying at our hotel, but I have no idea if Sara or any of his other athletes were as well.) He had to be thrilled with how the weekend went for Sara.

I have to say we all really enjoyed Regionals that day - even the kids. They were awesome! They asked great questions. Watched attentively. Cheered loudly. (And in then end they each scored some new Nanos because, well, because mom is a sucker!)

After Regionals we went immediately to the bullfights. I had been previously when I was here, but this was a first for Blaine and the boys. I think they enjoyed the cultural significance of it (and Luis had explained to them what they would see on the tapas tour the night before). We all wished that we spoke more Spanish so we could understand why the crowd was happy or upset when certain things happened. Caleb, my sensitive one, felt bad for the bulls, but was comforted in knowing that they were immediately butchered and sold in the local markets. (After all, he's my little carnivore!)

We were too tired for much else after the bullfights - so the boys' wish came true! Taco Bell for dinner! We haven't seen a Taco Bell in 10 months - so I'd be lying if I didn't say we were all pretty happy for some soft tacos!

Saturday morning was all about churros y chocolate! While we could've gone to San Gines, Churreria Chocolateria 1902 was super close to the hotel, had no wait, we could watch the man making churros and was DELICIOUS! Big cups of thick chocolate and lots of yummy churros and good lattes! What more do you need?

Then it was off for a free walking tour! I tried to download just a few pictures to share, but Google is having none of it right now...so here's a link to some pix from the tour:  https://goo.gl/photos/2VCKyDXZrT5atGfMA

Santiago was our guide and he did a great job!

Lunch that day was at Botín - the oldest restaurant in the world (according to the Guinness book of World Records). It was great simple fair and excellent service! Highly recommend the roast suckling pig (which Grayson had)!

Then we got stuck in a downpour - so that necessitated a little shopping! (Yes, we brought back ham and cheese! Arrest me now!)

The evening had us heading out for our last tapas. We found a great place where we could sit outside and people watch - and there was lots to see as Real Madrid was going to be playing Atletico Madrid in Milan later that night. The streets were full of fans heading to bars to watch the game! We decided we would do tapas and head back to the hotel and watch it there...

And that was our long weekend in Madrid! Definitely a good one!!

The Day I've Been Waiting For...

JUNE 1st! JUNE 1st! June 1st! It's June 1st!

That means only 14 more days...just 14...and I can head home.

I would start counting down the hours, but that would drive you insane! And, I really like that it's June and we're in the teens...the teens are nice. Plus, I know I can do this! There will soon be trips to Target, Price Chopper, Martha's and the Harvest. There will be light beer, time on the deck, and reading by the lake. There will be afternoons on the boat, quiet mornings kayaking, and plenty of fishing. There will be visits from family and friends and lots of laughs.

14 days...just 14 days.

Oh, crap...No Fab 5 This Week...

Yeah...I suck. I said that the Fab 5 would be back for a couple of weeks, but I may have been...well, not telling the truth. This week we're off to Madrid for a long weekend - so no Fab 5 this week. Then the following two Fridays I have things planned with friends (and, there is this little thing called "work" that I must attend to!) and then it's off to 'Murica! 

Anyways...I'm going to do my best to get a blog in about Madrid next week (in between a million projects at work) and then, well, let's be honest...it's a crap shoot as to whether I'll blog between now and my return to Poland in August.

Um...so yeah! This has been a good week so far! Kids are doing great. Grayson got his retainer this week. (Does anyone want to take bets on when he'll lose it?) They are in the homestretch at school and the homework has lightened up - so we're all happy. I had my last visit to the children's hospital this morning where we did a Mother's Day project (Polish Mother's Day is Thursday). We didn't have many children on my floor (which is a good thing in my mind) and we weren't allowed to go to the other floor, but the kids we did have did a great job with the project and their flowers were very pretty. Blaine is busy at work as it is time for reviews. The weather has been gorgeous and while my attitude was crappy yesterday, it is much improved today. 

And really, that's about it. Life is good. We are happy and hanging in there...

Fab 5 Friday...

I know...it's been a while since I've done a Fab 5 - Sorry! Sometimes things just get in the way and the blog drops to the bottom of the list. Anywho...going to try and blog for the next couple of weeks before my annual summer hiatus. (Summer comes and I usually only blog a couple of times...so I just say that the blog is on vacation, too and if I manage to write something...well, it's like a bonus.)

What's been happening around here? Not much. Work. School. Sports. Same old, same old. Blaine has been in Minneapolis all week, and, most of the time, I don't find myself jealous of his travels, but this week I most definitely was green with envy. I'm dying to get back to the States. And, it just can't come soon enough. (Those who sent me messages after my "Give-A-Shitter Is Broken" post - thanks! Good to know I'm not the only one!) We are less than 4 weeks out and I know we're in the home stretch, but, mentally...I just need the calendar to say, "June." Once it's June - no problem. In the meantime, we will get through May and I'm looking forward to a long weekend in Madrid next week. So far the long-range weather forecast looks amazing...let's hope it holds out.

Okay, okay...Fab 5 here we go!

1. Family Dinner & Movie Night. So last Saturday we had family dinner and movie night. Blaine had been traveling all week (to Paris) and the kids had been really good while he was gone so we planned a nice night out. Dinner at Jeff's (for some American'ish bar food) and then off to see "Captain America: Civil War." Definitely an enjoyable evening with the boys! (Which was made even more enjoyable by a trip to Bath & Body Works to buy each of them cologne! Man...they are growing up!)

2. Soccer. Both boys had soccer on Saturday and Sunday last weekend. I have to say that I have enjoyed watching them play this year. At the start of the year, they both seemed a bit tentative, not as aggressive as the other kids. BUT, slowly this year they have really stepped it up. Sunday we really saw this as they were playing (and they both scored on Sunday - so that may have helped.) We still have a few more weeks left and it should be a good end to the season.

Coffee is a necessity for soccer

3. Grayson's Choir Concert. Definitely a highlight of the week was littlest dude's choir concert. I love that he chose to participate in choir this year (it meets after school) and he loves talking about the different pieces they are singing. I really hope he continues next year...

Grayson and the Grade 4/5 Choir

4. Pokeno Night. With Blaine away it seemed like the perfect week for Pokeno night! Lots of laughs, fun prezzies, drinks and food! Three of the women are moving at the end of the school year - which makes me sad - but it was a nice night to make some memories!

5. 26 Days. No need to say anything else!

And there you have it! Fab 5 is back - temporarily!