Okay, I'm trying to post from the blsckberry which is a pain and didn't work last time. Cross your fingersm. First impression was not so good but I was taken through the hood a couple of times and let'sjust say it was baaaaadm. Now the city where I live with all the rich people is NICE! I'll post photos when we get internet - hopefully next week. I've taken the kids to two amazing parks right next to our house and met some really nice people. Details soon.
We miss everyone but I think this is going to be a true adventure!
Check, check, check, ooops!
July 27, 2008
Tomorrow, 7 a.m., look up and wave goodbye. Okay, not you all on the west coast but all my friends in the south east... we'll be overhead!
So the THIRD pack-out went well. Again there were a few glitches of "ooops they didn't take" but nothing earth shattering. Today we got ALL EIGHT SUITCASES and THREE CARRY-ON bags packed, shoved some of the oopses into the storage space in the house, passed some stuff off on my mom and packed up the rest (to be mailed by my mom - thanks Mom). Oh and let's not forget my mom had an early birthday party for Max last night complete with Power Ranger cake and then took my kids ALL DAY so we could finish stuff up, she's the best huh.
So now I am exhausted, which is good because otherwise I'd be nervous as heck. The good news is our apt should be ready when we get there sooo... as soon as we get internet or I find a wi-fi coffee shop or internet cafe I will update.
Seriously, we ARE leaving.
In less than 24 hours,
Down to about 13 now,
Are YOU nervous?
Tomorrow, 7 a.m., look up and wave goodbye. Okay, not you all on the west coast but all my friends in the south east... we'll be overhead!
So the THIRD pack-out went well. Again there were a few glitches of "ooops they didn't take" but nothing earth shattering. Today we got ALL EIGHT SUITCASES and THREE CARRY-ON bags packed, shoved some of the oopses into the storage space in the house, passed some stuff off on my mom and packed up the rest (to be mailed by my mom - thanks Mom). Oh and let's not forget my mom had an early birthday party for Max last night complete with Power Ranger cake and then took my kids ALL DAY so we could finish stuff up, she's the best huh.
So now I am exhausted, which is good because otherwise I'd be nervous as heck. The good news is our apt should be ready when we get there sooo... as soon as we get internet or I find a wi-fi coffee shop or internet cafe I will update.
Seriously, we ARE leaving.
In less than 24 hours,
Down to about 13 now,
Are YOU nervous?
Round Two - CHECK!
July 22, 2008
Well we finished the pack out for round 2, the stuff going TO Colombia, Tomorrow we start round 3, stuff going into non-temporary storage. Fun, fun, fun... NOT! The upside is I have only noted 2 minor mistakes 1. the trunk that we usually store kid toys in did NOT make the truck to Bogota and 2. my clothes boxed for non-temp storage WENT to Bogota. Could be alot worse huh. Right now someone is cleaning my furniture so it will be perfect going into storage therefore easier to make claims coming out of storage should a claim be needed.
Mike is out right now buying one more suit. Not sure what happened there but he only had 2 for the new job so one more was definitely in order. I have one more physical therapy session on Friday. While I am no where near "cured" I am much better and totally functional... thank you Scott! I don't think it will be too hard to get approval for more in Colombia but the translation of my issues, well, that's a whole other story! The kids are having fun at Aunt Natalie's and are looking forward to see Auntie Lia tomorrow. Saturday we drop the car off to the storage facility and then a birthday party for Max at my mom's house. And that should be it... fingers crossed it all goes according to plan. We fly out early Monday morning! Not sure after that how long I will be incommunicado but I'll post as soon as I can.
Our new address is not to be used for security purposes but all our mail goes through the embassy. I will mass e-mail everyone tonight with that information. We also set-up a Vonage account with an 800 number so all can call free! But my cell will also ring, through vonage via the internet, in my home just as soon as I a home and internet access.
I think that's all the details for now. So far so good. I must admit though, I am getting a bit nervous. Whose idea was it to move to a country where pretty much no one speaks english?
Well we finished the pack out for round 2, the stuff going TO Colombia, Tomorrow we start round 3, stuff going into non-temporary storage. Fun, fun, fun... NOT! The upside is I have only noted 2 minor mistakes 1. the trunk that we usually store kid toys in did NOT make the truck to Bogota and 2. my clothes boxed for non-temp storage WENT to Bogota. Could be alot worse huh. Right now someone is cleaning my furniture so it will be perfect going into storage therefore easier to make claims coming out of storage should a claim be needed.
Mike is out right now buying one more suit. Not sure what happened there but he only had 2 for the new job so one more was definitely in order. I have one more physical therapy session on Friday. While I am no where near "cured" I am much better and totally functional... thank you Scott! I don't think it will be too hard to get approval for more in Colombia but the translation of my issues, well, that's a whole other story! The kids are having fun at Aunt Natalie's and are looking forward to see Auntie Lia tomorrow. Saturday we drop the car off to the storage facility and then a birthday party for Max at my mom's house. And that should be it... fingers crossed it all goes according to plan. We fly out early Monday morning! Not sure after that how long I will be incommunicado but I'll post as soon as I can.
Our new address is not to be used for security purposes but all our mail goes through the embassy. I will mass e-mail everyone tonight with that information. We also set-up a Vonage account with an 800 number so all can call free! But my cell will also ring, through vonage via the internet, in my home just as soon as I a home and internet access.
I think that's all the details for now. So far so good. I must admit though, I am getting a bit nervous. Whose idea was it to move to a country where pretty much no one speaks english?
Busy, busy, busy!
July 20, 2008
I have SOOOOO much to do I am overwhelmed! The movers come tomorrow and my house is a wreck. I separate toys and the kids unseparate them - ugh. Thankfully they are going to Aunt Natalie for a few days in about 1 hour. So with all this to do why, you may ask, am I blogging. Just ask LizzieFish on the two cars. Apparently she has the same affliction... too much to do and not enough time to do it in so, let's read blogs instead. Seriously, it's a bit overwhelming. Ok, just writing has made my brain a little less frantic so I'm getting back to it. That and my kids healthy lunch of soy corn dogs is ready. At least they are getting grapes too. Funny how things degrade when a big move is looming.
Oh, and happy special day to my very special someone. You know who you are and you know why, along with a select few :o)
I have SOOOOO much to do I am overwhelmed! The movers come tomorrow and my house is a wreck. I separate toys and the kids unseparate them - ugh. Thankfully they are going to Aunt Natalie for a few days in about 1 hour. So with all this to do why, you may ask, am I blogging. Just ask LizzieFish on the two cars. Apparently she has the same affliction... too much to do and not enough time to do it in so, let's read blogs instead. Seriously, it's a bit overwhelming. Ok, just writing has made my brain a little less frantic so I'm getting back to it. That and my kids healthy lunch of soy corn dogs is ready. At least they are getting grapes too. Funny how things degrade when a big move is looming.
Oh, and happy special day to my very special someone. You know who you are and you know why, along with a select few :o)
It's all in the timing
July 17, 2008
A few months ago a friend wrote about how she has already begun "brainwashing" her daughter by using the same phrases over and over to reinforce appropriate behavior. Well, the whole idea made me laugh but also it seemed like such a FANTASTIC idea. I mean really, how many "experts" have said that words have power like if you tell your child they are lazy then they will be lazy. So, the brainwashing began... Flash forward. Yesterday I went through 9, yes that's NINE, plastic bins of the kids clothes from birth to present. I pulled out a few items for nostalgia and the rest I bagged up for the Crisis Pregnancy Center. Today the kids came with me to drop the clothing off and I overheard Maggie telling a woman who works there (I think she started the mantra because of all the baby stuff she saw) "first go college, then get married, then put a baby in your tummy". Seriously, I couldn't have planned that if I tried!
A few months ago a friend wrote about how she has already begun "brainwashing" her daughter by using the same phrases over and over to reinforce appropriate behavior. Well, the whole idea made me laugh but also it seemed like such a FANTASTIC idea. I mean really, how many "experts" have said that words have power like if you tell your child they are lazy then they will be lazy. So, the brainwashing began... Flash forward. Yesterday I went through 9, yes that's NINE, plastic bins of the kids clothes from birth to present. I pulled out a few items for nostalgia and the rest I bagged up for the Crisis Pregnancy Center. Today the kids came with me to drop the clothing off and I overheard Maggie telling a woman who works there (I think she started the mantra because of all the baby stuff she saw) "first go college, then get married, then put a baby in your tummy". Seriously, I couldn't have planned that if I tried!
AHHHHHH!!!!!!!!
July16, 2008
There is a man here packing up my kitchen RIGHT NOW! This is the first of our 3 pack outs. He is packing the kitchen and a bunch of toys today. A couple other things but really that's the bulk of it. Hopefully this shipment will arrive in about a month because the rest will take 3 to 4 months - YIKES! So let's just say eating and keeping the kids entertained topped my list of things I felt I needed sooner rather than later.
For now though our life in DC continues and we had some fun down on The Mall the other day. First we encountered some men in TP's right in front of The Monument so it of course required some inquiry. Turns out they WALKED from CA to DC! There is a whole group behind them. They walked here to present a manifesto to Congress about the need for more Green Policies. I need to look and find the website again. It was interesting. We tried to meet up with the big group when they descended on DC and walk in the last mile or so with them but alas, other move details required out attention.
Then we headed over to the fountains. My kids LOVE to play in the fountains. Check it out!
Max trying to spray Maggie. He's not quite up to the foot spray control but he thought the idea was pretty stinkin' funny!
Then, of course, there was the karate chop!
Finally Maggie decided she was just wet enough to tackle Papa!
Who, of course, instigated the whole water fight with this move...
White chocolate layer cakewith Apricot Filling and White Chocolate Buttercream
July 15, 2008
Okay guys here is the recipe from Bon Appetite and as a bonus I found it on-line so I didn't have to retype the whole darn thing! This is the photo from the internet... mine is pretty close in appearance. I know I'm patting myself on the back but when you slave over it you'll see why! Soooo good and so worth the effort for a special event. The recipe says 12 to 14 servings. Oh, and Mike likes it extra sweet and chocolaty so I doubled the chocolate in the cake. It will still cook just fine but the layers will be thin, it will fall with that much chocolate, and it needs a little more cooking time. Really, you don't need the extra chocolate but it IS good and since when does need come into play with fancy, decadent cake.
ENJOY!
Divide batter equally between pans, smoothing tops with spatula. Bake cakes until tester inserted into centers comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Cool cakes in pans on racks 20 minutes (cakes will fall). Run small sharp knife around cake pan sides. Turn cakes out onto cardboard round or tart pan bottom; peel off parchment. Turn cakes right side up onto racks and cool completely.
Okay guys here is the recipe from Bon Appetite and as a bonus I found it on-line so I didn't have to retype the whole darn thing! This is the photo from the internet... mine is pretty close in appearance. I know I'm patting myself on the back but when you slave over it you'll see why! Soooo good and so worth the effort for a special event. The recipe says 12 to 14 servings. Oh, and Mike likes it extra sweet and chocolaty so I doubled the chocolate in the cake. It will still cook just fine but the layers will be thin, it will fall with that much chocolate, and it needs a little more cooking time. Really, you don't need the extra chocolate but it IS good and since when does need come into play with fancy, decadent cake.
ENJOY!
Ingredients:
Cake
8 ounces imported white chocolate, chopped
2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
10 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
1 1/3 cups sugar
4 large eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups whole milk
Buttercream
1 1/4 pounds imported white chocolate, chopped
1 3/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
Assembly
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 pounds apricots, pitted, thinly sliced
1 cup walnuts, finely chopped
1 cup walnuts, finely chopped
1/4 cup apricot preserves, melted
Preparation
For cake: Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour two 9-inch round cake pans with 2-inch-high sides. Butter two 9-inch parchment paper rounds and place in pans, buttered side up. Stir white chocolate in top of double boiler set over barely simmering water until melted and smooth. Leave white chocolate in pot; turn off heat. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt into medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat butter and sugar in large bowl until well blended. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Add dry ingredients alternately with milk in 3 additions, blending well after each addition. Add warm white chocolate and beat just until blended.
Divide batter equally between pans, smoothing tops with spatula. Bake cakes until tester inserted into centers comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Cool cakes in pans on racks 20 minutes (cakes will fall). Run small sharp knife around cake pan sides. Turn cakes out onto cardboard round or tart pan bottom; peel off parchment. Turn cakes right side up onto racks and cool completely.
For buttercream: Stir white chocolate in top of double boiler over barely simmering water until melted and smooth. Remove white chocolate from over water. Let stand until cool but not set, about 20 minutes. Using electric mixer, beat butter in large bowl until fluffy. Beat in white chocolate and vanilla, scraping down sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in powdered sugar. Cover and refrigerate until thick enough to spread, about 45 minutes (frosting will be very soft).
For assembly: Boil 1/2 cup water and sugar in small saucepan over medium heat, stirring to dissolve sugar. Cool syrup.
Using serrated knife, cut each cake layer horizontally in half. Place 1 layer, cut side up, on 9-inch cardboard cake round or removable bottom of 9-inch tart pan and brush with 2 tablespoons sugar syrup. Spread 6 tablespoons buttercream over cake. Cover buttercream with single layer of sliced apricots. Spread 3 tablespoons buttercream over apricots; top with second cake layer, cut side up. Brush with 2 tablespoons sugar syrup, 6 tablespoons buttercream, apricots, and 3 tablespoons buttercream. Top with third cake layer, cut side up. Brush with 2 tablespoons syrup. Spread 6 tablespoons buttercream over cake; cover with apricots. Spread 3 tablespoons buttercream over apricots. Top with fourth layer, cut side down. Spread 1 cup buttercream over top and sides of cake (layer will be thin). Chill 1 hour. Spread remaining buttercream over top and sides of cake. Press chopped walnuts onto sides of cake. Cover top with remaining sliced apricots. Brush apricots with apricot preserves. Chill cake 1 hour. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover with cake dome and keep chilled. Let stand 3 hours at room temperature before serving.)
Rented?
July 12, 2008
We may have found some renters for our house. Oh my goodness it is crazy here! So I listed the property on Craig's list and in about 20 seconds the requests started flowing in. It was NUTS! The next morning, I posted at about 10:30 at night, I had no less than 20 inquiries. To make my life easier I said I'd do an open house today and people could come by then. Well in true Craig's list fashion NO ONE SHOWED! So at noon I re-posted and had 6 inquiries by 2 pm so I showed the house and I know 1 group is going to apply and possibly a second. My fav was a Coast Guard JAG Capt. but they wanted a 6 month so I think that's a no go. But a group of 3 Indian, as in India, 20 somethings showed at about 5 tonight and I liked them. They took their shoes off at the door, mentioned "Johns Hopkins" and "Harvard" as their alums, LOVED my REALLY orange bedroom (duh, I did say they were Indian) and basically were really friendly kids. I know they want the place and I think they'll work out great. Fingers crossed I can check one more thing off the list.
Tomorrow Mike wants to go see a storage facility for our Honda out in Leesburg. We took the Honda today for maintenance and to ask about storage issues for a hybrid, which basically there aren't any, so we are down to one car. Soooo, tomorrow Mike will drop me, a in only me, at the outlet mall and he and the kids will head to the storage facility. Apparently the guy also has horses - who knew? So I get to outlet shop ALL BY MYSELF. This combined with my movie has me in great spirits. Plus we need stuff before we leave, like fall clothes for the kids. Wish me luck... they have a gymboree outlet and crate and barrel and... I'll stop, I don't want you all to be too jealous ;o)
Tomorrow Mike wants to go see a storage facility for our Honda out in Leesburg. We took the Honda today for maintenance and to ask about storage issues for a hybrid, which basically there aren't any, so we are down to one car. Soooo, tomorrow Mike will drop me, a in only me, at the outlet mall and he and the kids will head to the storage facility. Apparently the guy also has horses - who knew? So I get to outlet shop ALL BY MYSELF. This combined with my movie has me in great spirits. Plus we need stuff before we leave, like fall clothes for the kids. Wish me luck... they have a gymboree outlet and crate and barrel and... I'll stop, I don't want you all to be too jealous ;o)
Here are some photos from Mikes birthday back on the 1st. This cake is TO DIE FOR! It has, literally, 2 pounds of chocolate in the cake and frosting, a pound of butter, loads of sugar and fresh apricots YUM! The thing weighed like 10 pounds which is exactly the number of pounds you gain from smelling it! I'll post the recipe later if anyone is interested but first let me say this is NOT for the faint of heart. It's not hard to make just time consuming.
And this is a photo of my kids (REALLY FUNNY of Maggie) entertaining themselves with pots and pans while I baked ALL DAY LONG! If you can't see Maggie's face clearly click it and enlarge. Shes got some CRAZY hair going!
YEAH FOR BABY KELSEY!!!!
July 10, 2008
My very best friend, Nancy, had her first baby today at 2 in the afternoon. Odd time huh, aren't all babies supposed to be born in the wee hours? She was induced - mystery solved. Anywho her Papa didn't give me the TOTAL scoop but I did get an e-mail stating she was a tiny 6 pounds 5 ounces and her name, held private by the 'rents even for me - HOW RUDE!, is Kelsey Anderson. Also the pic proves she is really a Logan because she's definitely sportin' her moms red hair. Sooo pretty! Congrats Nance and David!!!!
Oh, and sorry she is sideways... anyone know how to flip a photo with blogger? I usually do it before I post but forgot this time. Ah well, you can still see she's a beauty :o)
Yeah for laptops and wi-fi!
July 10, 2008
Tomorrow I have photos and MANY stories to write but tonight I am sitting in my living room, totally wireless, typing this on my laptop - SO FUN! Guess it's not technically wi-fi but a router doing the job. Whatever - it is cool ;o) and I'm having fun testing it out.
Other good news... we got our apartment address in Bogota - YEAH! It is a 4 bedroom with 4.5 baths! Also was said to have 2 balconies - sweeeet. The interesting part was the gross square footage versus the net square footage. What? Mike looked it up and apparently the gross is a simple measurement of the width X length whereas the net measures room by room totals. Anyway, the gross is 2500 and the net is about 1900 so no matter how it works out it should be nice. And it's near a pretty great park Mike saw when he visited. Pics of that tomorrow too. And also 2 blocks from shops and restaurants etc. Sounds pretty cool. Can you believe we are leaving in SEVENTEEN DAYS! I am SO not ready!!! What I really need is a babysitter for a couple days but I'm all out of friends and the family is already book for the week of packing.
Speaking of babysitters, or lack there of, Mike and I decided that since there are sooo many great movies to see, no sitters, and a ticking clock of American time, that we would take turns going to the theater. He went last night and I went tonight. SUCH A GREAT IDEA! I sat in the theater in MY choice of seats, and the movie of MY choice, eating MY popcorn and drinking MY soda... it was FABULOUS! And, wait for it, when I got home THE KIDS WERE ALREADY IN BED! Why did we not think of this before? No matter, we still have next week to trade off and get in a couple more movies. I saw the new Indiana Jones and LOVED it. It delivered as expected with the same ol' Indie fun. Ending a bit far fetched but who goes to a movie like that for reality anyway.
Okay, I will stop my random blather for the evening with a cute story of the day:
We went to the coffee shop and Max was chatting up some 20 something gals outside. When we left the girls said, "He is sooooo cute. We asked if he had a girlfriend and he smiled, held up 2 fingers, and said 'TWO'" The only time you can get away with a line like that is when your three!
Tomorrow I have photos and MANY stories to write but tonight I am sitting in my living room, totally wireless, typing this on my laptop - SO FUN! Guess it's not technically wi-fi but a router doing the job. Whatever - it is cool ;o) and I'm having fun testing it out.
Other good news... we got our apartment address in Bogota - YEAH! It is a 4 bedroom with 4.5 baths! Also was said to have 2 balconies - sweeeet. The interesting part was the gross square footage versus the net square footage. What? Mike looked it up and apparently the gross is a simple measurement of the width X length whereas the net measures room by room totals. Anyway, the gross is 2500 and the net is about 1900 so no matter how it works out it should be nice. And it's near a pretty great park Mike saw when he visited. Pics of that tomorrow too. And also 2 blocks from shops and restaurants etc. Sounds pretty cool. Can you believe we are leaving in SEVENTEEN DAYS! I am SO not ready!!! What I really need is a babysitter for a couple days but I'm all out of friends and the family is already book for the week of packing.
Speaking of babysitters, or lack there of, Mike and I decided that since there are sooo many great movies to see, no sitters, and a ticking clock of American time, that we would take turns going to the theater. He went last night and I went tonight. SUCH A GREAT IDEA! I sat in the theater in MY choice of seats, and the movie of MY choice, eating MY popcorn and drinking MY soda... it was FABULOUS! And, wait for it, when I got home THE KIDS WERE ALREADY IN BED! Why did we not think of this before? No matter, we still have next week to trade off and get in a couple more movies. I saw the new Indiana Jones and LOVED it. It delivered as expected with the same ol' Indie fun. Ending a bit far fetched but who goes to a movie like that for reality anyway.
Okay, I will stop my random blather for the evening with a cute story of the day:
We went to the coffee shop and Max was chatting up some 20 something gals outside. When we left the girls said, "He is sooooo cute. We asked if he had a girlfriend and he smiled, held up 2 fingers, and said 'TWO'" The only time you can get away with a line like that is when your three!
Spiderman!
July 7, 2008
Sorry I've been gone so long. Bum arms are NO FUN! I can type now and it feels much better. I have decided it would definitely be better to lose a leg than an arm! But enough complaining...
Tia Lia bought Max a Spiderman slip 'n slide for his birthday last year. We pulled it out last week and slipped and slided (is that a real word? probably should it be sled but it's not as fun) in the front yard.
Sorry I've been gone so long. Bum arms are NO FUN! I can type now and it feels much better. I have decided it would definitely be better to lose a leg than an arm! But enough complaining...
Tia Lia bought Max a Spiderman slip 'n slide for his birthday last year. We pulled it out last week and slipped and slided (is that a real word? probably should it be sled but it's not as fun) in the front yard.
Maggie liked it at first...
then she really slipped and hit her foot on something and she was D.O.N.E.
But she did like it when Papa dragged her through the sprinklers.
Max LOVED the whole idea!
Even cold...
And tired...
Then we tried again in the backyard with a little help from our friend the slide!
Soooo fun!
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