We received word last night that Corey has Accepted a Job with the:
Howard Hughes Medical Institute in Ashborn Va. as a Research Assistant in Electron Micro Graphs. You can check out the Institute at:"www.hhmi.org" It's a very impressive Medical institute where Corey will not only have the ability to study what he loves; but will also meet world renowned scientist from all over....{the best and the brightest in the field}!! Oh, another "perk" if you will, of the job is that they will pay Ten Thousand Dollars a year toward his Grad School!! Needless to say, Corey is on Cloud Nine; and we are all right there with him! He begins his new job on Monday and has promised to call and tell all- so I will keep you up to date.
We were able to Skype with Craig, Trista and the kid's Sunday evening {for us, morning for them} Their all doing fine with the new School year and Trista is doing well with the pregnancy, Reese is expected in January. I wonder if she'll be another double of Craig?.
Chris and Marissa are doing well, we are still waiting on pictures of their reconstructed living room; however last evening Rich and I received a Tex message- it was a video of Charlotte "WALKING" to her Daddy attended by a toy. Of course I only watched it about 12 times and might have shed a tear or two....she's just growing up so fast {for me anyway}.
This weekend is once again the Chestnut Festival-
With 270 stands, 35'000 visitors and 7 tons of chestnuts eaten in two days, the Fête de la Châtaigne has become, in only a few years, one of the most popular events of the autumn in Valais. It takes place every year, the week-end following the end of the famous Foire du Valais in nearby Martigny. Magic recipe A varied open air market of 270 stands, the Wine Village of Fully Grand Cru and 6 chestnut-corners to taste the famous “brisolée” (chestnuts grilled over a fire), are the basic ingredients. Spice it up with some guided visits, free excursions, concerts, entertainment for children and adults and you will have the magic recipe of this major event. In 2010, Fully will host the 16th edition of the Fête de la Châtaigne, but the love story between Fully and this tasteful fruit has lasted for about 800 years…
So, if your in the area- this Festival should be placed on your "to-do-list"
Does anyone else feel the "end of the year" picking up speed? Wow, it's almost Mid October, Halloween is almost here, Thanksgiving is just around the corner and we're only 80 days from Christmas!! In fact- we are already receiving notices of "Deadline Dates" for mailing Christmas gifts to arrive in time Stateside.
Weather wise; it's getting much cooler now. Living in Europe also means that you do not get your heat turned on until the temperature has been below 60 for 5 consecutive days. So the smell of wood fires in the evening and early mornings are becoming a welcomed aroma. One that many of us grew up with in New England. "Come on SNOW!!!"
This weekend will bring the "Official" beginning of the Holidays {at least for the Military living in Europe}, The Holiday Bazaar in Heidelberg. Rich and I attended last year and I purchased absolutely nothing, perhaps this year will be more productive. We have already decided what to get the kids...I'll tell you all about it AFTER December 25th LOL.
Our Calendar seems to be filling up quickly for the next three months. In fact I called my cousin Linda the other day and we went through "daily books" to ensure we would save time to get together. Although we're in the same part of the world- we are still "overnight" visitors...but it's like a pajama party whenever we get together!! Oh,... maybe this time we'll freeze the guys underwear! {always fun times}
It's time for me to tell you about what my husband was up to- and No...it wasn't bad!
Rich began training last Fall for the "Mountain Marathon Challenge". He had to run Three of Four Mountain Races. He chose the:
June 11th "Lichtenstein Alpine Marathon
July 9th Zermatt Mountain Marathon
Sept 10th Jungfrau Mountain Marathon
The highest altitude was, 8,480ft! For those of you who run marathons you know how difficult these runs were. He completed these runs with an average time of 6.5 While a normal flat marathon would only take him 4hrs.
Needless to say the training alone was tough- but he did it and finished what he started!! This was the first time he has ever attempted running such a challenge and he did have a few..."I must be out of my mind" kind of days, I'm very proud of his determination to power through. If you were to ask him now if he'd do it again, I think he would tell you No. But I think if he had another opportunity to do something that he had never done before-- he would. "In a Heartbeat"
I went to talk with my Dr. yesterday morning, thank god he was very "up to date" on my issues. I began my new medication yesterday and he told me by the end of the week I should begin to feel "normal" again. Thank you Betti, for your wonderful letter..needless to say it made me cry....
Rich found out that his replacement here in Bern will be arriving in June which means we'll be leaving here early June 2012. Our new departure date is good since he was able to sign up for an extra class that he need's at FSI. Just another reason to believe that everything happens for a reason; two months early is a gift. Work has been busy this End of Summer- I think in October things will slow down a bit until after the Holidays.
Since Friday is the First Day of Fall, I've decided that it's time to re-decorate. Time to pack away the Summer fabrics, candles, decorations and pull out the warmer cozier fabrics and colors of Fall. It's also a great time to re-arrange wardrobes, out with the old and in with the new {again}.
September is running away from me and October is quickly approaching! I remember my Mother telling me that the older you get, the quicker time passes-- I thought she was just being dramatic; Now I agree. Oh how I wish that I could pick up the phone and talk with her again- I wish that I could remember all of the thing's she told me about life beyond raising children or perhaps I just wish that I had listened with more intensity. I wonder if there will ever be a time when I won't long for her advice........Probably not.
Wondering what brought this on???
Hormones, menopausal... "what the hell??"How old was Mom when this happened to her?
What did she do, how did she handle it, is there a short cut?? What's
life like on the other side of menopause?
I'm Hot/I'm Cold-Happy/Crying. I feel like I'm on an emotional roller-coaster that I've never rode before with a ton of twists and turns. If I didn't know any better- I'd swear I was expecting. "I just want to get off this crazy ride- I'm not good at it. I think I'll be doing a lot of research on this...
Well, enough talk on "that" subject.
As you know, Rich will be going to Afghanistan in August 2012. I've been trying to decide what to do while he's gone; I was going to stay here in Switzerland- but because of my Diplomatic Status the Swiss Government turned down that request. Now I need to decide between two options:
Move to the US for a year OR Take a job with the Department and go to Afghanistan too. Obviously it's not an easy decision and I need to do my homework; but that's what's going on in our part of the world right now.
Yesterday was a wonderful day spent with great friends. Everyone was interested about how our visit went with our Kid's; that one question made me realize that while it was so "wonderful" to see them and have them together... I didn't get to do with them what we had planned and wanted to do. "SIT and TALK" We knew it was going to be a bit crazy with 10 people in the house, six extra adults, one baby and three kids; but in my mind I had it all worked out! We would tour during the day, while I made dinner the children would have their bath- after dessert and clean-up the little ones would go to bed and we {the adults} would sit around the fire pit outside and "talk" try to catch up on the last two years in person. WOW....was that idea so "NOT" Instead the evenings were so chaotic we couldn't sit and have a conversation to save our life's! Before I knew it we were off to Scotland for a week; we were able to meet-up for dinner in the Evenings but "trying to have a conversation" sitting in loud rooms at very long and sometimes two tables was impossible.
Rich and I didn't even know that our oldest son had been accepted to the Police Academy Pre- Course until the night before they left to return home.
Now, don't get me wrong...I know we could have just grabbed them one by one and made them sit and talk to us but we wanted some of the past of "wanting" to sit and talk.....
With the "ONE EXCEPTION" of our Fisher Family Vacation every two years; and with the Families growing I think it will be best to keep the "HOME" visits on a {one Family at a time} bases.. We love our young men and their families very much and with as much traveling as we have to do, we really look forward to having a few special moments with each and every one of them!
A partly sunny day here in Switzerland, giving us great day for an end of summer BBQ. The menu is simple today with marinaded boneless/skinless chicken breast, pizza and curry brots along with baked beans and large green garden salad. Of course chips, dip, stuffed jalapenos and deserts.
I hope everyone has a great day and is able to enjoy spending time with friends/family
Goodby Summer. Now really looking forward to the Fall and Winter!!!!
