Real life Reboot

Ok after being in Florida for just over a full year now, I feel that we have finally gotten around to some semblance of “normality”.

We closed on our new house in April, worked construction/rehabilitation on it for 2 months, and moved all our stuff in June.  The summer was spent still working on the house and as of mid-September we still have a LONG way to go!!  But time waits for no man and school started here in August.  So now we are settling into the routine of “everyday life” (and dealing with all the things that aren’t quite fixed yet!!)

Elise is attending Edgewood Jr/Sr High School this year as a freshman and at 8 weeks in, is settling in very well.  She is doing great in all her classes and has already joined the “Young Thespians”  drama troupe and is busy rehearsing for their first production (Dracula the Musical! 5 performances  Halloween weekend!).  She is loving being at school and is holding up well to the added rigors and requirements.

Erin is a Senior at Edgewood Jr/Sr High School and will be graduating in May 2012.  We are busy with college applications, interviews and visits.  Also, there are SAT tests to register for, senior awards to receive, senior project to complete, and graduation to plan for!!  She’s busy all the time and when she’s not, she’s doing homework!  I fear that when she gets her driver’s license in March that I will not see her much at all. 

With Oihane, our Spanish Exchange student this summer (2011)

Declan is still at home for the 6^th grade this year.  He is very active on the Rockledge Competitive boys Under 13 soccer league and is becoming their powerhouse goal keeper.  He is still skateboarding and doing any other sport he can find time to fit into his schedule.  He hasn’t decided if he’ll go back out for Lacrosse when the season starts, or if he’ll look to find another sport to try.

Liam is studying at home this year too.  He’s in the 7^th grade and is chomping at the bit to go to Edgewood Jr/Sr high school with the girls.  They offer grades 7-12 so he is angling to go in next year (gr.8)  He’d have gone this year if we had let him, but we figured one more year at home would be good for him.  He too is on the Rockledge Competitive boys Under 13 soccer team (with Dec) and is loving being out there 3 days a week kicking the ball around.  He and Declan are really the power behind the team.

Dan is still with GE (13 years now) and they are keeping him busy as ever.  He is headed out of country soon for a 2+ week “world tour” that will take him to Australia, China, India, Italy and England before bringing him home again.  A pretty grueling schedule, but … for now, he goes where they tell him to!

I have found that no matter where I live all I seem to do is teach and drive all day!  However, having said that I have found that being in the warmth and sunshine everyday has made it much more pleasurable.  I am ever thankful that I am no longer dealing with driving in the ice and snow for 4 months of the year.  I love being down here and now that the stinking hot days of summer are over, I look forward to being outside everyday again.  You know, working on my tan and my beautiful flower garden in all my free time!!! - J

The Final Countdown

We now only have a few days left here in Erie, PA, though they will be busy ones. Boxes are getting packed. The mover's come on Monday the 12th to pack the truck and ship all our stuff to our new home. We will fly out of Erie on the 14th of July. In the meantime, there are soccer practices and games, and swim practices and meets to keep us busy. In addition to all the little "fixes" left to do on the house here, and of course house showings to try and sell the place!!

We found a home for our beloved Teddy. Between the heat in Florida (he's mostly Malamute snow dog) and the fact that we decided on a rental home for a while, we were not able to take him with us. We did find a really great family with a horse farm (300 acres) where he can run and chase woodchucks all day long. They have 2 older girls who absolutely loved Teddy and they were thrilled to have him. We do miss his fuzzy snoot though.

We've rented a 4 bedroom Townhouse in Melbourne (FL), in a gated community with a big pool and tennis courts just a short walk from the house. It's about 25 min. to Dan's work and about 15 min. to Erin's school. We'll be settling in there on the 19th of July and will then continue our quest for the perfect "entertaining/vacationing/florida living" home. I will e-mail out a new address and contact information to everyone this week. - J

June Flys by

June started with a bang! The end of school combined with the beginning of summer soccer add in a pinch of Triathlon and of course, Elise's Birthday and you've got one busy month. AND that's all before the summer swim season started on the 21st.

The day before Elise's 13th Birthday, Elise, Liam and Declan once again (3rd year now) competed in the NorthEast Youth Triathlon and all did exceptionally well. Elise took 4th place for her age group and got a really great sweatshirt as a prize. She squeaked in the 12 year old group as race day was the day BEFORE her birthday, so she was literally the oldest in her group.


Elise's birthday came (she made an incredible white cake and raspberry filling with chocolate frosting!) and with it her decision to take a few friends to an all day trip to the Pittsburgh Carnegie Science Center and Sportsworks! 2 vans, 11 people, 6 hours driving, 12 hours of FUN! It was a really great time. Even Declan enjoyed it though he was on crutches again(nothing serious luckly, just a slice on the pad of his foot!).

The school year ended with Erin receiving Summa Cum Laude honors again from Collegiate Academy and Elise also achieving High Honors! The boys did excellent in all their classes and both finished a full year ahead in their math courses.

Summer Soccer season started early June and Declan, Liam and Elise all signed up. Dan jumped in to coach (for the early part of the season, knowing we were leaving in July) for Liam's team and before we knew it we were 3-4 days a week at soccer practice/games!! The kids love to play and as they get older the games just get more interesting!

Then Summer Swim season started!! Erin (and the others) had been chomping at the bit all month to get back in the water and were counting down the days until swim began. We struck a deal with the team (once again knowing that we'd only be here 1/2 the season) and the kids were back in business. Swim meets started the 28th and added 2 nights a week competition to our schedules.

So if you call the house and we're not in.... .... we haven't moved yet, we're just never there!!! - J