Not sure what to title this...

I don't know why I have been waking up at about 4:00 the past 3 mornings...maybe my list of things to do just keeps running through my head and I suddenly wake up thinking I need to get something done.

To Do:
Speak to sister-in-law Kristen on phone BEFORE trip - no more phone tag
Laundry
Pack
Bills paid before we leave
Extra keys made and given to Catherine and Sarah
Give garage door opener to someone - just feel like someone needs to have that
Pictures taken of house just in case it sells and my stuff is moved out before our return
Make lawn arrangements
Surrender checkbook and credit card to Sarah - VERY nervous about this action :)
Call bank to say, "We will be making purchases in Europe. Please allow our money to go there. Unless you see some suspicious check writing and then call Sarah."
Oh yeah - have Sarah added to account
Develop all pictures on camera, so there is room for new pictures
Probably need to purchase another little camera card thingy
And need to buy a backup battery for video camera
Buy kid's benadryl, tylenol, adult benadryl and tylenol
Also get to purchase some FABULOUS compression hose to wear on the 9 hour flight!!
Get a sonogram - look carefully and notice if the sonogram tech leaves the room and has someone else come back in, if so...it has something to do with my "advance maternal age" - just LOVE to keep hearing that phrase
Remind myself daily why in the world Matt and I signed up for this trip.
Thank all the people who have said, "Is there anything I can do for you before, during, or after your trip?" Because I may be calling or emailing you tomorrow.
Finish off SSS in style...and by that I mean - sneak into the newly deadbolted Fellowship Central, take out MoonBounce and cars (and I should save Ralph too), place items outside and hope no one asks how I got them out of there.


And about a couple of things on my list...
I guess this might be our official blog announcement: Surprise! We are having baby #3 in October - that is the ONLY reason I will be buying the FABULOUS compression hose! And the only reason I'm having a sonogram on Friday. And no...we are not the find out kind...not until the big day. And P.S. Collin and Katie will be finding out about the new arrival on Friday. Yes, we will finally tell our children.

I do realize that Matt and I are exhibiting some VERY crazy behavior. 1) Going to Europe with a 6 year old, 3 year old, one of "advanced maternal age", and 24 college kids; 2) Putting our house on the market while gone; 3) Leaving checkbook and credit card in the hands of friend...so if anyone needs to schedule an intervention...you only have 4 days.

My domestic friend...

...Jenni made this bow holder for Katie. Now she is very domestic. I don't know how to create a link to her website, but it's www.kylaskloset.com. (oooh, maybe I just created a link by typing the address...). Thanks Jenni. I love it! Now to organize the bows.

It only took 4 months...

...to ruin the new pots and pans that my parents gave me for Christmas. Well, just one pot actually. My mom has had such high hopes for me: one day I would cook and serve a meal for my family (nightly), sew clothes for my children (Momma, Amy, Sherry, Mrs. Atkins - all of you have been my sewing teachers and you know how I am), keep the house clean, laundry done, bills paid, etc. Alas...the cook and serve pudding has really been a wake up call for me. I'm really just not that domestic, but I still like to pretend I am.

One month from today...

...we will be in London, England. I can't believe our trip is this soon. Are we ready? I guess so. Maybe. Ok, maybe not. Will we be ready by May 27th? Yep. I think I should get our suitcases out and start putting things in them as I think of them. I want to update our blog daily while we are away, since that is the MAIN reason I started this blog.
Here is our schedule:
May 27-June 1: London, England
June 1- June 30: Vienna, Austria
June 9-14: free travel - probably headed to Germany
June 18-22: free travel - probably headed to Swiss Alps
July 1-6: Italy: Rome, Venice and Florence
July 6-16: free travel - think we will do Paris, France

On a side note...I'm watching Oprah today...and I'm a little freaked out about MRCA and a staff infection...oh my...got.to.wash.hands.all.the.time. And what about this swine flu? Scary...

Matt goes to Seattle

Matt has been fortunate enough to attend 3 history conferences this school year. In October he had a conference in Albuquerque and we all got to go. We had a great mini-vacation. In January, Matt had a conference in New York City and this time, Matt and I went without children. That was super fun! Now for his last conference...Seattle. Well since he had been to 2 conferences already, OC asked if maybe he could find a hotel that didn't cost quite as much as the one the conference was held at. And they suggested a nice, moderate hotel near the conference. Well, if you know Matt, you know he is NOT a spender, even with other's money, so he thought he would find the CHEAPEST hotel still within walking distance to the conference.
This is where Matt stayed. Ever heard of the Kings Inn? Nope, me neither.

Here is the scary back of the hotel. Ick. I would have NEVER stayed there. He found a SCREWDRIVER under the covers in one of the beds. What? That is just too odd and strange and gross. A SCREWDRIVER??? Who leaves a screwdriver on a bed and then places the covers over it!!! I think in his 3 nights there, it only cost OC $90, so way to save the money sweetie. SO glad you didn't do that in NYC.

Can we still talk about Spring Break?

Katie loves to go to Pops as well. Although her Spring Break pick was to go to McDonald's and play on the playground she enjoyed going to Pops with Collin for his choice.
Collin and his favorite strange drink at Pops - Leninade.

My 3 favorite people at our favorite place to eat. Yum! Although I totally wish they would bring back the Arcadia burger - that was the best.

End of Winter Party with Vivian, Ethan, Megan, Caleb, Scott, Katie and Rhys. Collin was off golfing with the dad during the party. The kids had fun playing together outside and in and eating a super yummy snowman cake. And if you have never had Catherine's cooking you are missing out. I really wish this HAD been the end of winter...wearing a sweater in April seems very wrong.

Spring Break

Well, since I was sick for the first 3 days of Spring Break, today, Thursday, we will start our festivities. On Saturday I asked everyone what they want to do. Here are the answers...Matt - play golf with Collin, Collin - go to Pops, we missed $2 burger Tuesday, but we are still going!, Katie - go to McDonald's to play on the playground, and Me - well I started and finished 4 books while I was sick, so now I will finish painting the playroom, hang curtains in kids bedroom, paint toybox, move desk to playroom, move bookshelf to kids bedroom, and hem curtains for living room. I don't think I'm getting all that done in 2 days. Plus, we will have 2 friends over for dinner (on two separate days), attend a "End of Winter" Party and still fit in the above fun stuff. Yea for Spring Break and wellness.