Home Sweet Home

We had an unbelievable and unforgettable trip to Samoa and we are home! Before I sort through all the pictures and video footage, I have a few notables to mention...

-Dan received more giggles and gasps from locals when they heard him speaking so fluently in Samoan. If they didn't know him, they were blown away and amazed. He also kept the local males in check when remarks (they didn't think he understood) were made about all the females in toe. Mostly, he endeared himself over and over to everyone he met.

-Most of us kept special journals while we were there and tried to write in them daily. I seemed to have logged the most pages, 32 in all. I'm so glad I did because everything we saw and did seems to be a blur now. Perhaps it's just jet lag.

-Emily took the most photos and the best ones I might add. She isn't afraid to try anything or any food. She traveled with a bad cold and didn't let it slow her down.

-Hilary had the most dramatic experience and scared us a bit when we had to take her to a local "hospital" on the last day. More on all that later. She and I talked about our longing for green vegetables throughout the trip.

-Hannah definitely wins the award for waving and smiling to the most people. I heard her say many times--"He waved to me first!" She only made one local little girl in a village cry with her smile. I'm pretty sure the girl had never seen a white person before. She also accumulated the most bug bites.

-Julia was the die hard snorkeler and swimmer. She wanted to do it almost non stop. She looked as local as any of us with her olive skin and dark hair and eyes.

More to come...

So far...

this summer we've done a lot of whatever we want to do.

I've intended the first week of summer break to be such.

Enjoy the sleeping in until lunch time,

the unmade beds,

the forgotten clothes littering the bedroom floors,

the consumption of food and drink whenever and wherever we like...

(the speckled couch cushions are proof enough that this has proliferated the house this week).

Come Monday, some semblance of a summer schedule will begin.

Oh, did you read that dear children?

In the meantime,

Dan continues his travels here, there and it seems like everywhere. In his rare spare time, he booked our 20 year anniversary trip.

I continue to put off a dreaded final at the testing center while longing for vacation. I've confirmed that my attempts at sunless tanning only result in major skin rashes. I swear I've tried every brand and I have an allergic reaction to every.single.one.

Emily continues her job search, writing of thank you notes and lots of browsing the web for shoes and such.

Hilary has plunged into work and got her first pay check. Look for the 2 cute blondes behind the tube rental counter if you head to 7 Peaks. Enjoying some summer fun with friends.

Hannah mastered the cash register at the tube rental station while squeezing in lots of fun with friends too.

Julia got her first and I hope only (minor) sunburn after 5 hours at Seven Peaks--you can stick a fork in me after two hours at that place. She is nonstop and has pretty much started her summer routine before the rest of us (piano practicing, bed making, reading and writing).

The backyard basketball hoop continues to be the center of nightly Around the World and Speed games while our garden is beginning to sprout strawberries, green beans, tomatoes and more.

I love summer!

Emily

I wish I could take credit for these photos--but I guess I can take partial credit for this child--because she is my eldest and she will be a High School Graduate very soon.

To see more of these awesome photos go here:

www.merephoto.com/blog/

Thanks Meredith!

Happy Birthday Julia!

My baby girl is in the double digits --10 years old today!

She knew she needed to come into this world a little earlier than expected--about a month early in fact. She had a few problems when she was born and had to have a full blood exchange on Mother's Day in 2000. From that day on, she has thrived!

Did I mention that she was the best baby ever?

I enjoyed every minute of her being a baby, knowing it would have to be my last.

This girl never stops...

she loves to play hard and she works hard as well.

Simply put, she loves life and...

we love her!

Happy Birthday J.J.!

xoxoxoxo