We're back.

June 30, 2010

HM: I already got sunburn! And I hate it hate it hate it! I am going to soccer camp this week at a high school near my house. That’s how I got sunburn. But the best part is that we get to go up to the wrestling room after lunch I’m there until 4:00 and it starts @ 9:00, so I’m there all day. And the other best part is my best friend is there with me her name is Erin. I love being with her. Well here comes summer!!!!!

EM: I love summer. I’m happy that summer is here. I like my new floors. Maggie slips and slides. It’s very funny. I got a new DS game – Petz Nursery. I can’t wait until I go on my trip.

VM: OK, finding time to write is already proving to be a challenge. Our last week has been spent moving back into our home, cleaning, unpacking, cleaning, unpacking, cleaning! It’s actually quite cathartic as we feel like we’re getting a fresh start in a new home. I have used the opportunity to minimize “stuff.” HM & I suffer from developing emotional attachments to things. EM and dad not so much.

Girls got excellent report cards. Each got to choose a treat for their effort. Fashion plate HM went for a duo of hats. She’s even figured out how to bring them on the trip -- wear one, pack the smooshy one -- although mom has made it PAINFULLY clear that she will not be responsible for, track down or hold onto any wayward hats. EM picked a new DS game to play on the plane. Ever practical.

Starting to map out our routes on freetrip.com. Will also ask Grandpa Bob for some ideas as he’s brilliant with navigation. And, as a final help, we invested in a small GPS. We’ve been testing it out around our hometown. I have HM do all the programming so she’ll be able to manage it when we are in New England. We have Australian Lee telling us where to turn. Now if I could just learn to stop arguing with Lee, we'd be in good shape…

25 Days & Counting...

Day 1

This is the beginning.

HM: 25 days ‘til the trip! I got new floors and LOVE them. I am SO excited. I got books all about the states I’m going to @ the library. I got into these books, the Ramona books, again, I got them @ the library. I’m going to dance camp this week and then soccer camp J. I'm having a great summer! I hate how we have the schoolwork.

VM: We have survived the first week of summer and it has been wonderful. Girls loved Humane Society camp and our only regret is that we can’t adopt all the doggies & kitties there.

We also survived the first half of our floor renovation. Thank goodness for Titi’s house. It allowed us to move out, reestablish our home office and transition smoothly, with no work interruptions. Now we have to complete detail work so we can move back in. We anticipate doing that at the end of the week.

We’re all getting excited about our New England journey. We wish papa could come along, but he says someone has to hold down the fort and he’s a bit overloaded with work. Girls and I are counting the days and having fun reading Hannah's state books….