What a summer! It kind of went by in a flash...I must do a better job of planning travel next summer although it's already going to be a crazy one: (Cathy graduates in April so we'll be in Ann Arbor for a few days right before Claire's birthday. Also, we're supposed to be taking a family vacation to celebrate her graduation---it looks like we'll be going to Greece and renting a crewed boat for at least part of the time. Should be VERY cool.) This summer was very chopped up as we arrived in Georgia and about 10 days later (right when the jet lag was finally wearing off) flew to Florida and spent a week at our condo on Longboat Key. Then back to Georgia. Tom left for a month in Asia and the kids and I went to Boston. I had the best visit EVER with my brother, Bg. We then flew to DC to visit with my best friend, Heather, in Virginia. We all had a GREAT time. Claire and Connor still get on really well and James was on the same wavelength as Eric this year. Probably the highlight of that visit was going on a "Pirate Adventure" in Annapolis. We then spent a week in Georgia (during which James turned 4) and then flew to San Francisco to meet Tom and his eldest brother, Peter. We went to Concourso Italiano at the Bayonet Golf Club, the Rolex Historic Races at Laguna Seca and the Concours D'Elegance at Pebble Beach. It was a car filled weekend. The kids were able to sit in the real Doc Hudson from Cars. They completely digitized it for the movie and even recorded the engine sounds from the original "Hudson Hornet". We flew back to Georgia, spend the night by the airport, picked Cathy up in the morning and then had one last week in the mountains. With seven bags (Tom was stressing), we headed to the airport on the 27th and flew out on the 28th. We arrived back on the boat at 9 pm on the 29th and both kids headed off for school the morning of the 30th!!! Have to say, though, jet lag is a lot easier when you're busy. You just get on with it!
Claire's teacher this year, Ms. Theresa, is fantastic. Claire originally had her as her Chinese teacher 4 years ago. Theresa has completed all of her Montessori training and she was working at the Elementary section last year. Now she's the lead teacher for Claire's class and I'm already impressed. There will be a lot more math and science this year (Claire is thrilled) and Theresa will run a much tighter ship. Yea!
James has a new teacher as well. Miss Jennifer seems nice although I've just chatted with her once. James is happy at the new campus and I know now how to drive there. The parking situation pretty much sucks and James took the shuttle from Claire's campus both to and from school on Friday. He likes the bus (or more accurately "the school VAN" as he corrects us) which makes my life easier. Both kids are gone by 8:10 and I don't have to meet James until 1:45 which makes my life a lot easier. I also headed back to the gym on Thursday and I am still very sore. Feels good to be back, though.
I'm looking forward to the new hockey season which starts in November. I bought a whole bunch of new gear: custom pads, glove, blocker; goalie pants (which seem ENORMOUS), suspenders, goalie bag, base clothes, practice jerseys and a water bottle. I definitely need to practice this month to just get used to all of my new equipment. I'm really looking forward to it although Claire was already whinging about my being gone one night a week. I've hit the "too bad, so sad" stage with that. James is much more relaxed about me not being with him all of the time.
There are tons of photos from the summer. I need to load them onto this computer when I have some free time and will write more about some of our summer adventures.
Whew...what a trip. A great reminder of why I hate going home for home leave. Heh.
Welcome 'home.'
Posted by: GZ Expat | September 02, 2007 at 07:43 AM