While we love catching up with friends and family in Virginia, there were some other places we wanted to go while we were in the U.S.. First stop was Florida to visit the Goerss grandparents. I had to reassure Elena that this flight was MUCH shorter than the last one.
Saturday, July 30, 2022
Adventures in Florida
Tuesday, July 19, 2022
Happy 14th Birthday Vivi!
I know that every year I say I can't believe how old Vivi is, but really, 14 is getting ridiculous. Thank goodness though, she still remains our sweet and lovable Vivian. Yes, there are flashes of teenage angst and moodiness, but most of the time she's happy and good natured, and I recognize what a gift that is.
Summer birthdays are always a challenge, because friends are scattered around. Plus, this year we didn't have Jeff, so I tried my best to make it feel fun, starting with presents for breakfast!
Elena was also trying to make Vivi's birthday as special as possible, and so she had made some extra decorations.
Thor and the Natural History Museum
My original plan for the week of 4th of July was to send Elena to a chess camp, but she went for one day and calmly told me at pick up that she was never going back. I know how to pick my battles, so I agreed, but that meant I had to find things for the girls to do for the rest of the week. Elena also told me that the one thing she was sad about from not doing the chess club was that she was supposed to get her own chess set as part of the camp. I figured that at least I could remedy, so I got her the kind that folds and holds the pieces inside. I guess she'd never seen one of those before, because when she saw it, at first she was disappointed and said it was too small. When I told her to open it up, the look on her face was priceless.
Fourth of July and Baltimore
For the fourth of July, we had some friends over to my parents' house, and my dad grilled up hamburgers and hot dogs. My mom also made her first attempt at a peach cobbler. It was yummy.
Welcome to Amman!
Our new home is Amman, Jordan. While Jeff and I have both been to the Middle East before, this was our first time in Jordan. Unfortunately, ...
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I've learned how to drive a golf cart! The one I got us is relatively tame, which I think is best for now. Apparently, you can get t...
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Our house is all packed up. They finished last week, and it all left on a truck. The girls seem okay with the camp out vibe though. I...
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We had a lovely visit with the Goerss grandparents in October, so we planned a repeat visit for April and the school spring break. Unfortun...