Me and Madagascar 3

OK, so I've dropped the ball on blogging since arriving back to the madness in the US.  I'm going to try again as it tends to be the best way for me to keep memories.  I am not starting where I left off...that is just too big a task. 

I don't have much to write today, but it seemed that it was a good idea to start again small.

Summer vacation has begun, thank goodness!  I made it through my first year of full-time teaching since before I had kids.  It was touch and go at times.  Many of those times made me want to run away back to the easier life I led in Europe.  Other times, it was just plain tough to trudge through a day.  Other times, I could see the light at the end of the repatriation tunnel.

I feel like I'm finally out of the tunnel.

I can say that I am repatriated, for better or worse.  I love my new house and neighborhood, I feel like I am in a groove (or close to it) at work.  The kids are involved in all sorts of activities and have made friends.  Jason and I found a sitter so we can go out occasionally.  I have made my peace with relying on help to get through the drudgery of life: a twice-a-month house cleaner, hiring out house projects, asking for help from neighbors and family to cart kids around as needed, and a student teacher at school.  It takes a village to be sure :)

Even though I am settled here and happy to be somewhere setting down roots, I still miss Europe and the freedom we had there.  I miss our vacations, the lack of committments on the weekends, and not being so overscheduled.  Plus, things here aren't the same for me anymore.  I don't view the world I grew up in with the same lenses.  I got used to things in Europe that, frankly, I kind of liked better.  I find myself wishing I could combine some things here with some things from there.  Basically, I feel like the animals in Madagascar 3: I was looking forward to getting back "home" and all the greatness that was here, but once I got here, I realized how great our adventure had been. 

I can't run off and join "Circus Afro" with Marty, Alex, Gloria, and Melman.  So I am going to view my current situation as the circus it is.  Welcome to "Circus Barnett": a balancing act of two full-time careers, two elementary school children, travel soccer, ballet and tap dancing, flag football, Cub Scouts, Daisies, a crazy dog, training for a half-marathon, religious education classes, home repair projects, mini-vacations, and so on...

If you're looking for me, I'll be the one walking the tightrope juggling no fewer than 5 balls at once.