All work and no play...

Makes the family veerrrryyyy cranky!

So, after our hard work on Memorial Day (see post below), it was time for a little fun!

I had heard a little rumour that my sister's family had purchased a pool, AND had some stuff for a cookout! So, after all the chores were done (or at least progress was made!), we wandered over to north Newark to enjoy the rest of our day:



My nieces, Cassie and Abby

Yum! Fresh grilled burgers, chicken, and kielbasa...

Breaking in the new pool!! Perfect for 4 cousins!

Mom, watch what I can do!!!!

Memorial Day MADNESS!

Projects. Boy, do I have projects!
AND, my children were lucky enough to be left with ME for the weekend!
That's right, I put 'em to WORK!
Bathrooms, bedrooms, dishes, YOU NAME IT!!!
It may not look like much to you, but I worked on my closet (now beautifully organized and functional!) AND, may I present to you...
The clean corner of my basement!!!
Do NOT hold your applause!!!!



Two kids. Twice the projects and cleaning power!

Amazing grace! There is clean space in the basement!

Please, mark your calendars...let's see how long I can keep this up. :)

24 hours in Paris begins!

And so, we arrived at our hotel in Paris. A far cry from our stay in Barcelona BABY, but it didn't really matter, right? We were only in Paris for 24 hours before heading to our new destination!

I started this 24 hour adventure a bit on the tired side. And a bit out of the loop on the Late Game. I mean, it had been so relaxing in Barcelona! The adrenaline had slowed a bit.

This was Jenny's turn to be tour guide, and I was shocked at arriving from a country where I could get by with my South American Spanish...to a country that I didn't understand a word! It caught me a little off guard!

So, we settled our stuff into the ibis hotel room and off we went!



The famous "Blue Bag". This is what Jenny used in case our luggage was overweight. I found it humorous on numerous occasions! RyanAir was very restrictive with luggage, and we are frugal people!

Our ibis hotel in Paris!

This is what I always pictured France to be! How fun!

This was the beginning of our day in Paris! You will want to remember us this way, 24 hours later...

Nothing like celebrating your 40th at the office!

I might add that though this was all in fun, Susan just celebrated her 20th anniversary with Alliance Data! This is the company where I just started working. Isn't that something in this day and age? Surprisingly, there are a lot of people in the company with a lot of longevity. THAT is a good sign!
Congrats Susan!!!


Yep, TP'd all over!

Her tombstone taped to her chair

You guys are too much!

Little did we know she had an interview scheduled that day! she had to hurry and clean up from the reaper!

What happens in the office when you turn 40?

And on to Paris!

Well, the Late Game did not stop us.
Motion sickness tried.
I found some saltines in my bag somewhere, hung out near the restroom at the Girona airport, and prayed.
I think Jenny got to eat both Big Macs. And I didn't care!

A few weary hours later, we landed in Paris.
These were just the pictures to prove it!

PS - On this trip, Barcelona was my idea, Paris was Jenny's. She speaks French, I speak Spanish.
And on to the Eiffel Tower we go!

Just a little weary! But, safe inside the Paris airport.

Well, okay, this is a good sign!

Two happy girls, just waiting for baguette and cheese!

SURPRISE! Susan is 40!!

I recently had the privilege of arranging a surprise party for my dear older sister, Susan. She is a very concientious individual, so outwitting her for a surprise of any sort is a challenge!

However, she apparently had no idea that strangers with a tombstone cake were waiting in her house while she was at her daughter's soccer tournament at the Longaberger Homestead!

Happy 40th, Susan! The best is just beginning!

Her grave cake...

Walking in the door...("Jen, my house is a mess!" she whispered)

Friendly folks, good food, and a celebration!

That is a LOT of black candles! Surprisingly, the smoke alarm did not go off!!!

Beautiful!

I took a hint.

Europe has taken too long!

I am not giving up...but I am going to share moments as well as European adventure!

So, the next European post will be...24 hours in PARIS!!

But for now...I have learned about myself that I am one to live for the moment. I am not a planner, I love spontaneity. It's what I love most about life!

So, yesterday, after work, baseball, grocery store...with frozen stuff in the trunk...

I saw this moment. I lived for it. I had my camera, and took this.
Right along Route 79 in Heath.
And my kids lived it too.
Megan took a picture.
They realized the value of a moment, a beautiful gift from God.

And so did I.

View from the Back of the BUS

My final picture of Barcelona, BABY...from the BACK of the BUS!!!

Barcelona's LAST LOOK

You know, I think it has actually been a year since I left on my fab trip to Europe. Well, what can I say, I guess my blog is like a fine wine?

So, as I was saying...here Jenny and I were running...well, a teensy weensy bit late. The Late Game had been on hold since we were free birding in Barcelona. The harsh reality of a schedule was coming back to mind, but apparently not soon enough!

As you can see in the background, we had only crossed the street from the movie scene, and ran into these fine gentlemen, who also wanted a picture with me? They are seen here telling us to "keep it in line, girls". Little did we know that we should have listened!

We ran to pick up our bags at the hotel down the block. While Jenny waited for a taxi, I ran across the street to a McDonald's, the only fast food we bought the whole trip! And it cost $20 for 2 Big Mac meals!! But boy did it smell GREAT!

I ran down the steps to the waiting taxi, who tried to book it across town for us to the bus station. As you may or may not recall, we had to take a bus for about an hour to reach our flight on Ryan-Air.

Let's just say the Late Game kicked in BIG TIME. We had to rush down into the bus yard - and our bus was pulling out! What!! Oh my gosh! We are gonna miss the bus!!!

So, in my best Spanish speaking performance, I threw down my suitcase and ran after the bus - and pounded on the window! They almost, and I do mean almost, ran me over!! I don't know what I was thinking. My head was pounding and my heart was racing, and I was about to be run over by a BUS in BARCELONA, BABY...

To say we got yelled at was an understatement. Not only was the bus yard driver in my face, the bus driver had some choice words and expressions for us. Imagine the looks we got as we got on the bus (after being yelled at), all sweaty and late, with our carry-ons and um...yep, our big bag o' mcdonald's...

Let's just say we had to sit in the back of the bus. All the way in the back. There was no air circulating and no restroom.

You can imagine what happened next.

I hadn't been carsick, airsick, motionsick on any of these buses, trains, planes, or automobiles.

As Jenny TRIED to enjoy her Big Mac, I TRIED very hard not to blow chunks. I do believe Jenny saw me turn green. I may have made several promises to God, and she probably did too...




"I'm keepin' these girls in line!"

View as we were running to get our suitcases and Big Macs and the bus!

Interesting architecture and building