A Lady In France

On Part Two and Coming Home

This is not going to be a life-changing post for any of you, but it’s just my way of saying it was good to see friends and family, and it’s good to be home.

Well … it will be good to be home as soon as we recover from the jet lag. We were up until 2:30 last night and we woke up at 11:30 today. Oh yeah, and William threw up all over himself and the bedding and wall because I fed them chocolate chip cookies instead of dinner. #MotherOfTheYear

My mother and her husband came up from South Carolina and stayed in a hotel where my dad lived. They did this for two reasons. #1 It was much easier on us since we already had to make the drive from New York and it simplified our lives immensely to not have to drive anymore, and #2 It’s so dang hot down there we would have been holed up indoors all day with her nice furniture. Since the hotel where they stayed was really comfy and had a pool –

Part Two a04it was a win-win.

I would load this post with pictures of my adorable baby niece if I had my sister’s permission to do so, but I understandably don’t. I also didn’t get great pictures of the rest of my family because I was so busy taking pictures of my niece. But that’s okay. This is pretty much what we did all weekend.

Part Two a06Oh, we did get to go to a nearby music camp where they were rehearsing Elgar’s cello concerto

Part Two a01in an open air auditorium

Part Two a02where there were ducks.

Part Two a03And since Gabriel is starting an instrument this year (a trumpet his grandfather graciously found and offered to him), they were captivated by the music longer than I had imagined they would be.

Part Two a07

we’ll be working on that embouchure

When we said goodbye to my mother and left my dad’s two days later, we headed to Pennsylvania where we saw my uncle and cousins. And then we continued driving to New Jersey, where we stayed with our friend Rosalind’s family.

of the ice cream outing in the last post

of the ice cream outing in the last post

They were such gracious hosts and let us take over their entire downstairs for five (!) days. We were pretty much glued to their house (sorry!!!!) except for one afternoon spent at old friends of ours – my roommate Sue

Part Two a10and Betsy and Sally and their families (where our children discovered Wii dancing).

Part Two a11And then we spent another afternoon with my friend Lesley’s family

Part Two a15where my children discovered x-box.

And then we rushed onto the Lincoln Tunnel, grabbed our bags and whisked off to the airport, where we got onto a plane, watched movies, and where Juliet threw up all over the aisle of the plane. The flight attendant didn’t even interrupt her conversation as she donned a hazmat suit, popped a foil package and sprinkled foaming chemicals all over the mess. (We needed one of those packs last night).

Part Two a16And then we got home to our messy, dirty, weedy house, sank down amidst our baggage and thankfully called it “home.” The most anticipated part of the homecoming was getting our dog after three weeks. We knew he was happy at his “summer camp” because he was in the great outdoors, free to roam with eight other dogs in a 4-hecter gated property. But I don’t think he got a lot of human attention during those three weeks (he and his blanket were filthy), and everyone knows that no one loves a dog like his owner.

When Matthieu drove up to the property, all of the dogs came running up barking. But Hunter didn’t really notice and was moseying along, sniffing the roses. And then – suddenly (cue music) he saw who it was and he went crazy. He was so excited to see Matthieu, and so excited to take his place in the car. When two other dogs saw this, they got into the car too and the guy could not pull the Saint Bernard back out. Eventually Hunter came home, jumped all over the whole family (which we permitted for once), and promptly fell asleep from the excitement for the entire afternoon.

Juliet cocooned Hunter

Juliet cocooned Hunter

I know how you feel, Hunter. I know how you feel. We’re home.

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  2. Korinthia Klein says

    Oh, the Elgar is such a beautiful piece! What a treat. I’m always amazed at how well many kids can sit through a concert. We even took ours to see Carmen this last season because I figured it was a good intro-opera. The six-year-old fell asleep, but the nine-year-old was rapt.

    My dog is mopey while my kids and husband are still off enjoying vacation without me. He spins in circles when I come home from work and then looks around like, “Where is the rest of the pack?!” and then stays right on my heels lest I disappear. His fuzzy head will probably explode when the kids all reappear next week.
    Korinthia Klein recently posted…The Amzing Milwaukee Race On Bikes 2!My Profile

    • ladyjennie says

      My brother was in Carmen when he was young enough to have a high-pitched voice. And yes, Elgar is truly beautiful. I didn’t really know him before I got married, but we have a CD of his work and I love it.

  4. Laura says

    I’m glad you had a good trip and I am glad your home. No matter how good being away is, there is nothing better than coming home.

    I was wondering: How do your kids do in the English speaking homes? I know they can speak it, but they don’t prefer it, right?
    Laura recently posted…My Next BIG ThingMy Profile

    • ladyjennie says

      It’s always better at the end of the trip than the beginning. The older two have got it down pretty well – it’s the younger one who has trouble. But he did start to realize that no one knew what he was saying when he spoke and he has really started to use English more, even here at home.

    • ladyjennie says

      I know. I do love my naughty dog – even though he ripped through the container of croissants I had just bought for my family’s breakfast.

  7. Elaine A. says

    Man, you sure did have one awesome trip! Th US misses you already but i KNOW it’s good to be home. So glad I got to meet you while you were here… xoxo
    Elaine A. recently posted…School DaysMy Profile

  9. deborah l quinn says

    We too just got back from “home” to our “home,” and are experiencing the sort of out-of-body jet lag, where we’re eating weird food at weird hours, sleeping all over the place, waking up discombobulated. It was good to be in the States and see all the people we love…and yes, like Hunter, we are all happy to be here, too (mostly except that the ceiling is leaking and the AC doesn’t work very well and the bathroom has a funky smell and… )… welcome home!
    deborah l quinn recently posted…You Have Lipstick On Your Teeth!My Profile

    • ladyjennie says

      Our bathrooms have funky smells too when the pipes haven’t worked in awhile. I hope you guys get back into a rhythm soon! (PS Finally placed the Amazon order)/

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