back for a minute or two

So I like to worry. Okay, maybe like isn't the word for it, but I am very skilled at worrying. I think I pretty well perfected it when it came to applying for our visas-worry, put if off, worry, mail them, worry. As could be expected, it was all for naught. The passports showed up in the mail on Friday; each with a visa to enter Viet Nam (and stay for three months). We're set.

The only major hurdle before departure, which is my own darn fault, is to get rid of our stuff. I've been packing for a while now, trying to fit it in when possible. The kids' rooms are nearly packed: everything out of the closets, off the bookshelves and most of the toyboxes weeded out and donated or stored away. My room hasn't even been touched. Too much to do and I'm quite sure it will wait for me.

S.'s digital camera came back the day we got the visas, which made for another big sigh of relief. Grandma H bought him a memory card for his birthday two weeks ago, so now there's no excuse not to take a ton of photos while we are gone. It works as well as new and with the added memory can take almost an hour of video, too. So, if I can figure out a way to bribe the kids into doing it, I will have them do weekly video blogs. We'll make our own little movie for YouTube. Sounds to me like a good "homeschool" project for S.

A. celebrated turning 9 on Sunday with lots of cash gifts, movie tickets, and (from her brother and I) an iPod shuffle. I know, I know...."what does a kid her age need one for?!" My reasoning: She needs one so I don't have listen to the Beatles all the time (yes, I like them; no, it's not all I want to hear), she can listen to audiobooks during the flight and it'll fill time when I'm teaching and the kids just have to hang out in the back of the room. So, there's a Christmas gift idea for you family members...iTunes gift cards. -smile-


So, yeah, it was a nice birthday with a slumber party of 8 little girls, birthday cake, special breakfast and gifts. Then it was over to Grandma C's house for the traditional birthday dinner. Thing is, we didn't get there unscathed. Some fellow didn't seem to think he needed to look for oncoming traffic before pulling into the lane. He wasn't terribly bright (or clean, if I might add). The end result was a banged up car, a bit of a sore neck for me and a memorable moment for the kids ("Did we just get hit?") Of course, I could only open the door about 10 inches and had to slither in and out until my mechanic (aka Dad) popped the dent a bit. Now it opens freely, but the fender still has a lovely concave curve to it. C'est la vie.

34 days. The reality is setting in and I'm trying not to panic.