L-O-N-G time, no blog!

So it has been over 6 months since my last blog.  I've been a little bit busy!  I planned to keep blogging upon returning to the States, but life got in the way.  We are 6+ months into our new lives: new house, new jobs, new schools, etc. and things are just finally starting to settle down.  Here's a quick(ish) recap of our last 6 months.

July- CRAZINESS.  We lived with my mom for a month.  We searched for houses.  We put in 2 offers that fell through.  Jason went back to DE for 3 weeks.  I bought a house without him and spent more than we planned.  Oops.  I had migraines so bad I ended up in the ER.  Jason came back and we moved into a ghetto temporary apartment.

August- We moved into our new house.  We had it completely painted inside. We LOVE our new house and neighborhood.  We think we may have moved to Mayberry considering how nice the neighbors are and how many came over to welcome us with baked goods!  The kids made friends near our house quickly and we are lucky to have another bunch of Spartans near by. In the midst of moving into our house (în 3 different shipments), I also had to set up my new classroom.  I went back to work full-time for the first time in 8 years.  Of course, I was assigned to a grade I had never taught before.  August is a blur of unpacking boxes to me.

September- The kids and I started school right after Labor Day.  They adjusted quickly and really like their new school.  Me, not so much.  I felt like I could barely keep my head above water.  (I still feel that way most of the time.)  I missed Europe intensely. (I still do most of the time). We went to lots of MSU football games. I don't remember anything else.  It was that kind of month.

October-Work was still kicking my butt and I was still wishing to be back in Europe.  Kids were doing great, playing on soccer teams (oh yeah, we did that in September too), making friends.  Lainey turned 6 and I took her for a girls' weekend in Chicago with Erin.  We did the American Girl thing and I started to feel more happy about being back.  We met up with the Bennetts at the Chicago Oktoberfest on Navy Pier-that was fun:).  I came down with the chicken pox and was out of work for 4 days.  I think I kind of needed that break, but who gets chicken pox twice?? We went to many more MSU football games-even met up with the Fraijs for the OSU game.  That was a FUN weekend! I got back into running after gaining weight upon returning to the US, (It is SO easy to get fat here!  I forgot.) and Jason and I ran a 10K the day before Halloween.  We thoroughly enjoyed a real Halloween and trick-or-treating this year.

November- Just as I began to stop hating working full-time, it was report card and parent teacher conference time.  Ugh.  The worst time of the year for teachers.  I muddled through and don't remember much.  Our kids' conferences were great!  Both teachers had only good things to say about them.  Lainey started ballet lessons and we met a German family!  I really enjoy practicing my waning Deutsch with Katja and Lainey practices a bit with her girls. Thanksgiving was great.  I hosted 17 people (!) for dinner and went shopping all night afterward with Erin and friends.  I did miss Black Friday while living abroad.

December- Went to Indianapolis to watch MSU lose in the Big Ten tournament.  Still a fun adults-only weekend!   Lots of Christmas hoo-ha, including a weekend in KY with the whole Barnett clan.  Had a fun afternoon visiting with the Kuhls, Morrisons, and Lowes. Took a day off work to spend at the kids' Christmas parties and worked until the 23rd.  Ugh.  Had a small doses of Christmas spread over a few days, then went to Shanty Creek skiing for 3 days.  It was our first family vacation since returning home!  How unlike the last 3 years when we went somewhere every month.  Shanty Creek was fun, but there wasn't much snow and it was small considering MI doesn't really have mountains.  Still it was fun to pop on skis and swish away.  The slopes were a great size for the kiddos, even if saftey is not much of a concern there.  We were appalled at how many adults and kids were skiing without helmets and how unsafe the lifts seemed.  We were proven correct about the lifts as Aidan fell off one on the last night and were grateful he wears a helmet as the chair smacked him in the back of the head!  Luckily, the fall was short and the helmet protected his noggin.  He was pretty shaken up, but OK.

January- We had hoped to go to Cali to see MSU play in the Rose Bowl, but no luck.  So it was back to work and school for us all.  Jason started a new job which required more hours.  He had been able to help more with the kids, especially in the mornings, but not now.  So, just as I was feeling better about work (and getting a student teacher, thank the Lord), my responsibilities at home grew.  I was back to 95% in charge of the kids...only also working.  Without having a student teacher, I think I'd have sunk.  Aidan started playing flag football, so we did that every Sunday. We had hoped to do more skiing locally, but there's been no snow this winter.  That has been the one saving grace for me-a mild winter!

February- Jason's new job got busy so we couldn't get away for ski week.  The kids wanted to go back to Switzerland.  Ummm...sorry guys.  That is out of the question!  So,we just stayed home and Aidan had a fever both days he was off, poor guy.  Jason decided to start finishing the basement, even though we had planned to wait a few years before doing so.  He missed having projects to do when we lived in rentals.  Weirdo. We did at least make plans for another trip.  Over Easter break, we're going to FL to see Missy in Panama City then we'll drive down to St. Pete's to see our friends who just moved from England to Florida.  We are all really looking forward to that.

And now, here it is March.  Time flies when you are so busy.  Jason and the kids are happy and used to being back and are in the swing of things.  I am getting there.  I still miss our ex-pat life, but I'm happy to be back with family and friends and to have my own house to paint and decorate and not have to leave.  Lainey is still adjusting to that fact; she often asks how long we'll live here.  Fortunately, (or unfortunately depending on the day) I think we're staying put.  I am really hoping to stop longing for my life in Europe and begin to enjoy being back soon.  I'm getting there, but I still almost grieve for the easiness and experiences I had there.  Here it is work and stress and rushing around and gray weather and bills.  There it was travel and friends and saving money and time with the kids.  (Only Jason had stress there, poor guy never gets a break-but he handles it better!) I know I was spoiled for 3 years and that this is reality.  It was nice to be off the hamster wheel for a while, though!

I am looking forward to summer and having time to enjoy our new house and the kids again. Hopefully, I'll get to see some friends occasionally, and that Jason won't have to work crazy hours all summer.  I am hoping to teach 3rd grade again so that I can feel better prepared next year, but everything is up in the air in my school district thanks to all the governmental and economic changes.  That is certainly adding another layer of stress.  I really wish I'd have gone back half-time, but there just aren't many of those spots available.  I'm lucky to have a job in this state, I know.  My migraines have started up again...funny how I don't remember having any in the last 3 years...so I've  got to figure out how to not let it all get to me.  I'm thinking I need to start doing yoga!  Or maybe, I'll just start blogging again since I have always found writing to be a cathartic experience.

I think that sums everything up :)