Martin: “Damn, Julie. You didn’t even flinch when that deer just T-boned us out of nowhere. Sounded like a bolder bouncing off our door, but you just kept on going like it was nothing.”
Me: “Afghanistan.” Continue reading
Our Day in Cincinnati
Why am I laughing so hard? Because for about 30 seconds, I was the mayor of Cincinnati. Or at least, I sat in the mayor’s seat. When family works for city government, you get a backstage pass.
Continue readingHalloween 2018
For the first time since 2014, we went trick-or-treating with my family in the United States! My sister Jill brought over my nieces, and all four of mine went out with Grandpa.
Continue readingMiddle America
I locked myself in my Dad’s office, and completed most of my university assignments for the semester today. I only came out to take a 90-minute run in the late afternoon thru Middle America suburbia. Lots of families were setting up their Halloween decorations. Lots of basketball hoops over garages. Church, school, or political signs in the lawns.
A Morning Run and Our Day in Dayton
This morning’s through my parents’ town earned us a stop at Starbucks for some hot drinks not made in Germany. I stuck with some chai tea drink I can’t pronounce while she got the caramel apple spice. We had a two-mile run back … here’s to not puking on the way home!
A Day in Indianapolis
We are DEFINITELY back in America … both Martin and I were given a huge military/veteran discount to get ALL these kids into the Indianapolis Children’s Museum.
Continue readingTravel Day
7:24 a.m. (Germany time): It is o’dark thirty, and I’m operating on about 90 minutes of sleep. But all our bags are packed, and we are at the airport on time, just waiting for the baggage drop to open. And THEN we are on our way to America for the first time (as a family) in nearly four years.
My Last One
How many late nights have I paced the room with a baby on my shoulder? This one — my last one — is getting heavier and heavier. I’m going to miss this when I can no longer pick him up.
This is How
This is how I manage to have a full-time job with a big family, and go to school, and carve out time to take care of myself. I have a lot of help.
Martin and I would not be able to do what we do without Amanda. Miss C and the Middles also step up a lot to help.
Family
It was so lovely having Tante Mali visit with us this weekend! Also? This photo REALLY makes it obvious that three out of the four are definitely MINE. And then there’s Miss C.