Nothing really

It's always nice to ask someone what's been going on in their lives when you are catching up.  Often the answer is "oh, nothing really".  I answer that way, but when I stop to think about everything going on it makes my head spin.  So, since I know you are dying to ask I will save you the trouble and just tell you what's been going on; all good for the most part but imagine if I blurted all this out in a telephone conversation...(and there are no big announcements or anything all that exciting so please feel free to stop here if you really are one of those people who only ask what's going on to be polite but don't actually care about the answer, or hate me because I get to travel to cool places.  You really shouldn't hate me though because my house is a disorganized mess and I run late a lot, it all balances out.)

Since Christmas...
We spent six fabulous days in the Loire Valley of France followed by a wet New Year's Day in Paris.  This was the kick off to the Pneumonia marathon that ensued for much of January.  Kate was first, and it took her nearly two weeks to get through with it.  A fabulous two weeks where the poor girl spent her days on the couch and watching such awesome movies like Annie.  Yep, love that Annie and look out because Kate has Miss Hannigan down to a T, complete with drunk seductive dancing.  A little scary but pneumonia can be scary.  Pass the hat to Matthew, just about two days after I thought we'd gotten rid of the pneumonia (it was viral it turns out) which is also referred to as lasagna in our family since Kate thought that's what she had.  And I thought she liked lasagna...anyway, Matthew's turn.  Something is definitely wrong with that boy when he isn't talking or working on some project or other.  He was down for the count, as luck would (not) have it this was the week before his long-awaited field trip.  Oh just a field trip to the French Alps for a week of winter sports.  Brian was going as a chaperone too so you can imagine the excitement/stress of prepping for this trip.  It was really hit or miss but they made it...six nights staying in a chalet, Matthew with his best buds from school and Brian with a group of other cool dads.  They had the best time ever and pictures and a more detailed write up will be on it's way shortly (don't hold your breath).  Sam seems to have escaped the gunk but last Monday was down for the count...oh the thoughts that went through my head when thinking I would have to spend yet another week locked up in the house with the exception of trips to the doctor where I thought I would truly lose my mind...but crossing fingers he's fine.  What else...Sam has been playing basketball and is pretty good at it too AND likes it so we hope this keeps up as the kid is exceptionally tall and quick on his feet plus has energy to burn and this is a good outlet.  Both boys are busy with scout stuff and Matthew has taken his scout projects to a whole new level.  The boy always has something going on and lately it's whittling tools and such for his friends in his "club".  Don't know too much about this club only that it consists of Matthew and four school friends who happen to be Canadian (2), American (1) and Irish (1).  Love that.  The club is definitely into Ancient Roman and Greek mythology and seem to know more about this stuff then the experts.  Cool.  Kate loves her Irish dancing and the little lady is getting to be pretty darn good at it if you ask her mom.  Mom who is living vicariously through this one as oh I just love it.  I'm not so sure I'd look near as cute or light on my feet as Kate does so I'm not going to even try but nor will I turn into an Irish dance stage mom who spends every last penny of savings on $1000 competition dresses and obnoxious giant curly wigs.  For now though dancing with the "Shape Irish dancers" is fabulous, free performances at the PX food court people!  What else...it's been freezing here, so darn cold as in single digits in the morning, warming up to maybe the low 20s.  Our moat froze and the kids got to "play hockey" a few times.  I've learned I'm not nearly as wimpy as I thought I was because I actually like to run when it's freezing.  The sun is shining and I am so numb that it takes all the discomfort away.  Running because I (stupidly?) signed up for the Paris half-marathon in early March.  So training has been interesting between pneumonia and ice.  I'm no speedster but if I can pull this thing off by simply finishing it I will be happy as can be, because really the bottom line is it gives me another excuse to go to Paris.  So I've already been three times this year and it's only February, you can never spend enough time in Paris!  Brian and I had a dream weekend there this past weekend thanks so much to our fabulous and such fun friends Alan and Nicole, we swapped weekends of wrangling four boys plus Kate and traveling to romantic cities such as Paris and Barcelona.  What else...work work work for Brian, busy mom stuff for me, school stuff for the kids, prepping for our next round of visitors (Alison and crew!!!  Dad and Janet!!!)  and our two spring breaks.

Way more than anyone would want to hear, isn't it?  The beauty of a blog though, you can shut it off and walk away the second you've had enough.  Like me, right now...