What's next

Maybe you'll be interested to know where we're going from here. We've decided to leave France sooner rather than later. We'll spend a few days on holiday in Germany (doing the whole train-ride thing so everyone gets the opportunity to run around while travelling), then I will fly home (to Colorado) with all the boys for a short visit with grandma & grandpa.

From there, we will return to Sugarland, Texas (Houston area) for six to eight months. The company wants to put us up in a 3-bedroom apartment for that time. We've told them this is unacceptable. Our plan is to rent a house in/near the neighborhood we lived before, so the boys (and I) will not have to re-learn everything all over again. (T will join us after packing up the house here).

Afterwards (sometime in the spring or summer), we'll find out where we're moving next. T will work on the next project in the office of the contractor with the winning bid. We don't know where that will be; but it is unlikely to be in the USA.

I am looking forward to living in a place I am comfortable. I will miss here a LOT. But it's been a good adventure, and I no longer have the fear of the unknown I had earlier. I have lived through an expatriation in France. If I can do it here, I can do it anywhere.

Pictures - Tunisia

Cool pottery - each piece comes out. Yes, I own one.



The meat market. What you can't see is the cow in the donkey's wagon.



Making things is cool.

E is riding his toy camel.

Top of the mountain. We really did ride a long time.

You must have a hajib to ride a camel. Apparently.

J&R.

Four different styles decorating this room in the (former) governor's palace.

Might as well jump.

The ruins at Carthage.

Pictures - London (+1 of R)

Obligatory picture of the London Bridge.




Strawberry beer!

Nirvana is a restaurant in London. It was closed.

Slept here.

8-year old with home-made dragon

I am NOT going to apologize.

I haven't written. I've done lots of blog-worthy things. But I haven't told you about any of it. And now, there is too much new stuff going on to go back & report on all the past. But I'll try to give a short recap:


September: Way too busy, doing things for the Parent-Faculty Association of the school AND starting to teach Jazzercise again. Loved one; wished I hadn't done the other. I'll leave it up to you to figure out which is which.


Early October: Took a much needed, much deserved vacation with my husband, sans children. We went to London and had a wonderful time. Stayed in a church-turned-bed&breakfast. Exceedingly cool.


Late October: Took the kids on an all-inclusive vacation to the beaches of Tunisia. This time I was sans husband. I traveled with another mom. Between us there were seven kids. Or six kids plus one teenager. I found something there I hadn't realized I'd lost (the ability to cut loose on the dance floor - wahoo!) This trip included camel-riding, a visit to Carthage & a Tunisian pottery market.


November: T's project has been cancelled. Instead of staying in France for three years, we'll leave after 18 months. Which means January. Or possibly December. We're scrambling to make arrangements & plans. Maybe I'll start posting again. I'll put up pictures in a separate post. Probably.

Two New is Too Much

T pointed out to me last night that I have started two VERY BIG projects at the same time - one being Jazzercise & the other being the Volunteer Coordinator at J & R's school. I have been overwhelmed, upset, stressed out and crazy.

Beleive it or not, starting two big things at once is MORE STRESSFUL than dividing up two households to seven different locations/categories.

It's almost over (at least the newness of it all). When it is, I'll write more.

Getting Back into Shape

It's Saturday morning. T & J are working on replacing the downstairs television. R has a friend visiting. A & E are circling around somewhere. I have committed to lifting weights some time this morning, but haven't determined when.

I don't really want to. But I would like to have more muscle definition, and that doesn't come without work.

I have finally, after all summer off, managed to heal my knee and my foot. I am, thankfully, feeling strong enough to teach Jazzercise again, and confident that I won't re-injure myself. I am so incredibly grateful for my good health.

This is something I do not wish to take for granted. I notice how strong the mind-body connection is when I have to STOP doing the physical things that make up who I am. I have had to re-define myself over the summer (again & again). I am looking forward to dancing again. And feeling strong.

If you're here in Paris, maybe you'll join me. We dance; we sweat; we laugh. And we feel GOOD!

Can I get an "Amen!"?

School starts tomorrow for little boys. (Started last week for olders). Need I say more? Bonne Rentrée!