Ridiculous!!!

Last blog post was in May?  MAY???  Ridiculous.  Every day is blog-worthy living here and yet I've neglected writing for over three months.  No excuse other than the one I most like to use...we need a new computer.  In a bad way.  I will be nice to Mr. Mac '06 because right now he's letting me do this, but really, uploading pictures has become a day-long chore.  And if I do upload, I can't count on doing anything else because I have to endure the "spinning wheel of death" as a friend calls that little symbol for "umm no, not right now, I'm busy".  Frustrating.  We are in the process of getting a new computer but living overseas is not making that easy.  That's ok because I wouldn't trade living overseas for anything.  

Since May we've traveled of course, and I say of course because we'd be fools not to and we love it.  We've been to Austria, Germany, Southwest France, Venice, England, Paris of course...and some interesting places in Belgium.  Austria far exceeded my expectations and if you ever get a chance to visit, please do. We spent three days in the Salzburg area and yes we did do the Sound of Music tour thank you very much!  I joined Sam and Kate and the other twelve kids in their class, along with the great teachers and parent volunteers for a three day venture to the Rhine River Valley in Germany.  We spent two nights sleeping in a real castle!  So much fun and what an incredible experience for all.  The France trip was heavenly, a week in a lovely house in a rural and oh so real little corner of France.  We had our own pool and it was actually warm enough to swim, so the kids swam their little hearts out and thus we were able to convince them that sightseeing was GREAT! No, they still aren't big on seeing sights but someday they will thank us.  I'll post lots of pictures from these trips when I either have a new computer or a whole lot of patience one of these days.  Venice was fabulous, and we saw all the sights we could because it was just Brian and I.  Go to Venice if you ever get a chance.  Yes, it's a bit touristy but there are darn good reasons for that.  To be able to go somewhere with great restaurants, beautiful architecture, delicious wine and lovely, lively people, AND not see a car for three whole days?  What a treat.  

Our summer wasn't all travel and was just way too short.  The kids had fun just being home, and so did Brian and I.  Every day is like a vacation here.  I can't stress this enough.  Summer is beautiful in Belgium (once it stops raining, like starting in August...) and to sit outside on the patio with a Belgian beer while the kids hang out on the raft feeding ducks...just so darn wonderful.  We know there's an end in sight to all of this loveliness, although we can't say when (since we don't know) but it makes you really want to soak everything in.  So whether it's a matter of months or a few more years, we will never, ever take this all for granted.  Just soaking it all in, every minute.  Even the crazy ones, and oh there are plenty of those!

Home sweet home 

Recognize this location?  

Somewhere in the French countryside

Raiding the castle in Germany