Fall (actually Spring) 2010

Oh, what a summer! It's always bitter-sweet to get on that plane to return to Luanda.

Almost every day of the 2 1/2 months that we were at home for summer break we smashed in as much fun as possible. Whether it was hanging out or eating out with our good friends and family, it felt like we were always on the go. With all that smashing, intertwined with a couple mini-vacations, a full week of overnight camp for both Zach and Colby,

Colby and Zach all packed up and ready for an awesome week at Camp Cho-Yeh!

and of course lots of shopping trips to get ready to come back here, it made for a busy, chaotic, awesome summer.
I had tears in my eyes as we all waved at our house and said, "See you in 10 months!", but I was also super excited to come back here and see our friends, meet the new families that have moved into the compound, and most importantly, see Will (who was not able to make it home at all this summer.) So, although it's hard to say goodbye, at the same time, it's just as exciting to come back, and it's nice to have a break from all the running around!



Having fun together at the Magic House in Kirkwood, Mo.

Slippin' and Slidin' in our backyard to beat the Houston heat!

And with the end of summer vacation brings the start of a new school year. For the first time in 8 1/2 years I have a home with no kids in it during the school day. I thought I would love the quiet house and time to myself, but so far I have found I'm just not quite getting the hang of it! (But now I have no excuse not to update this blog more often!) Here are the kids on their first day of school. It is Nolan's first day of school ever! Zach (Year 4, 3rd grade), Colby (Year 2, 1st grade) and Nolan (PP3, 3 year old preschool).





All smiles for the first day of school!