Officially Summer

Allrighty, then!  As of Saturday, June 21st it is officially - SUMMER!

It amuses me to no end that the newscasters tell you to dust off your BBQ grills and get them ready for use now that it is officially Summer . . . . .

If you live in the South - - -  the BBQ grill has been in use since Spring Break and if you live in South Florida the grill is in use year-round!

For those of you who live in the NORTH - I feel for you!!!! By all means, DO dust off the grill and get to barbecuing!

So this is our first official repatriated Summer.  Last summer was when we actually repatriated, but it doesn't count as we spent the entire summer trying to find a place to live.  I was jet-lagged and ornery, the Engineer was jet-lagged, ornery, and trying to acclimate to a new job assignment.  The kids were just dazed and we were ALL living with my folks.  I didn't have a car or phone.  These were DARK times!!!!!

This summer is going so much better although it is weird and is taking some getting used to!!!  Usually by the end of June, I am just getting over the jet lag and emerging as a human being again.  I am usually shopping for clothes, shoes and all the items to take back overseas that either are too expensive over there or can't be found.

This summer I am getting adjusted to carpooling kids to different summer camps.  When they aren't at camp they seem to be on the computer thus, taking over MY computer time.  So I only have time to blog at 6:30 in the morning and most of the time I am not coherent at 6:30 am so THAT is why there have been a shortage of posts lately.

For our big summer plans:

The Engineer has decided we need a pool in our backyard.  WittyGirl is a mermaid so she agrees.  

A few weeks ago, they broke ground

They have been working on the plumbing and electrical stuff while they wait for the gunnite to cure.  The Engineer and I have been doing exciting stuff like picking out rocks . . . .  We also are working on choosing tile.  Once again, I will note that my husband is THE ENGINEER and a perfectionist.  To me, a rock is a rock is a rock, but not so to the Engineer.  Since I have absolutely NO IDEA of the structural soundness or working of the pool system,  I find myself just nodding in agreement to so much of what the Engineer says.  I did have a say in the tile - I hope that is the one they go with.  I'll update the pictures as new stuff is added.

The Wookie dog isn't too sure what to make of the monstrosity that has taken over his backyard.  I think he has decided he likes the stuff to explore.

I think he will like the pool when it is finished and will probably swim or sit on the first step.  He's already wandered down in the pool to where the rainwater is trapped.  

Gross - I know!  Combine that with "Eau de dead frog".  He thinks he's awesome.

He proceeded to eat "dead tree frog"  NOTE: tree frogs are toxic to dogs!!!!  I got to spend the next 48 hours cleaning up the vomit & poo caused by toxic tree frog!!!!  DUMB DOG! (where are these "responsibility" learning kids of mine - ASLEEP - it is summer!)

In exciting news, the Wookie dog graduated from obedience school!

I'm not sure who got trained?  He will perform any task for a treat!  He snorts at you and looks like "Do I HAVE to do this?"  He loves going to Petsmart though.  He'll be sad when we don't go every week now.

We had steak for supper last night.  Yum!  USDA Black Angus Ribeye steak, aged just right.  The Engineer picked the meat out for me and he has been teaching TechSavvySon the "Art of Mastering the Grill" - it is a right of manhood I think?!
In Singapore, a good steak was hard to come by without breaking the bank.

The last thing I'll mention about summer in the USA is the fruit!  While I love the tropical fruits that were abundant in Singapore - Mangosteen, mangoes, passionfruit, dragon fruit . . . 
I absolutely LOVE fresh peaches!!!!  The peaches we got in Singapore never tasted quite right and were outrageously expensive!!!

I made peach and blueberry pie to go with our steak.  Yum!  Delicious!

Here are the pictures of the process:

The Engineer wants to know why this can't be a breakfast food.  I don't know - too much sugar for that early in the morning???

DUST OFF YOUR GRILL

 DIVE INTO THE POOL

 AND MAKE A PIE

IT IS SUMMER!

Repatriation Anniversary

YES!  This week marks the year anniversary of our repatriation to the USA!

What a year it has been!  I have not been on a plane in one full year!!!!!  No jet lag to deal with.  I am sooooo thankful for that!

I may or may not have unpacked the last of the boxes.  The year anniversary of being in our house isn't until October so I have time yet.  Even so, I think you have 2 years to settle into your new place!!!!  Right??? RIGHT!!!!

This week is also the first official week of Summer for our family.  WittyGirl & TechSavvySon finished school last Thursday.  They both did well and we are pleased with how they made the adjustment from an International school to American public school.

We shall see how they make the adjustment to regular American summer life ( If there is such a thing)

Anyway, I laid out some Summer Expectations for my kids.

Here is my thinking on the matter:

I want my kids to learn a certain amount of responsibility.  As expats, one's ability to have teachable moments through common household activities is severely limited.  Most expats employ a maid, most expats live in rental property, drive rented cars, don't have yards.  As a result, you don't ask your kids to do things like cook a meal for the family, do laundry, help plant and weed the garden, paint a room, help dig trenches for a sprinkler system, change oil in the car and other odd jobs that come about!

So this is the first summer that we are in our OWN home where OUR rules apply and our house is at risk.  We aren't in a resort, or hopping from a friend's home to a relative's home.  I'm NOT being a mean mama!  I'm just asking them to learn a few skills needed for life.  So I shared these expectations with the kids and they both fairly melted to the floor with dread.  

I'm not fooled.

They even tried to say, "No one asks their kids to do this!"  My reply was that maybe no one in Singapore did, but in America that's how we do this!  I may or may not have thrown in - "It builds character" and "When I was your age …"

So WittyGirl cooked supper this week for the family and TechSavvySon learned to do laundry.  TSS also helped fix the sprinkler system and install a ceiling fan (under supervision from the Engineer Extraordinaire).  

I think by the end of Summer the kids might be begging for another expat assignment.

I'll update you on their progress.

For those of you flying around the world … prayers for your safe travel and hope for speedy recovery from jet lag.