...and they're off!

Lewis and Thomas, that is: this afternoon, they left for the UK. I am still waiting for my visa (and my passport) from the British consulate in Chicago. Iain and Anna are staying behind to keep me company and help with all the unfinished business here in Atlanta. There's always so much more to do than there appears to be when your departure date is still six weeks away. Fortunately, I will have help from friends--Iain and Anna will probably undo more than they will do to help.

We plan to follow next Sunday, provided my visa arrives in time. In the meantime, Lewis and Thomas will be exploring Durham, buying a car and numerous other items we'll need as we settle in; I will be here, sending a couple of stray boxes, packing light for travel with my two high-maintenance travelers, and cleaning the house thoroughly for our new tenant, who will rent the house from us for two years. 

I realize now that far more friends will be keeping up with us via the blog, I will have to be much more faithful in my posts--especially photos!! 

update

It has begun: our belongings are making their way across the Atlantic now. We will follow in a couple of weeks, provided all the documents are in order. The house is nearly empty, and will soon be occupied by our renter! We were lucky to find an interested (and reliable friend) who was looking for a new place, and thought ours would do. 

Perhaps the big news of the day, however, is Anna's 2nd place finish in the 50m at the Special Olympics today. I wish I had been able to cheer her on in person. (Unfortunately it happened to be one of the few days on which I had another obligation: giving the final for my class!) We hope that she continues to enjoy Special Olympics events once we get settled on the other side of the Atlantic, and that we have the opportunity to share in the fun!

We do have a new address now, which I will happily send upon request. Eventually, we'll get around to sending out an official 'we're moving' email, most likely when it is in the past tense! It's all happening pretty quickly now!

Thomas' 4-leaf clover

I doubted such things existed. But there he was at the back door, brimming with excitement. Finally, all that clover, which we think of as a lawn menace, makes good. Thomas was really pleased with himself, and we had fun with it.

As we plan the details of our move, moments like that aren't simply and straightforwardly delightful. I realize how much Atlanta has become 'home', even for a native Southern Californian who almost melts away in the heat and humidity. The children were all born here and have made their first friends here. Thomas has a best friend in pre-K he'll miss, and he's still set on marrying his 'girlfriend'. (A couple of days ago we had a conversation about what 'engaged'--to be married--meant. When I explained, Thomas said, "so it's like when I ask Ellie to marry me and she says yes." Pretty much.) Anna misses school every break, and even Iain has his friends in the toddler group at preschool. 

We do have a date: 24 May 2009 is our departure date. We have a moving company and will have a ship date within the next couple of days. We have rented a house in Durham. We have a renter for our house, committed to two years. Classes at Candler/Emory finish this Friday, and graduation is May 11. The kids' last day of school is May 22, and things for them are winding down. We have numerous going-away events planned, for us and for the kids. And yet, it is difficult to imagine leaving and making a home somewhere else.  

Of course the last several weeks have been busy, and the next several weeks promised to be equally so. I will try to get some pictures up soon, so don't give up! In June we plan to take a trip to the Lake District! There will be photos, I promise! In the meantime, we are anxious for the prayers of all our praying friends, and grateful for all the good wishes sent our way. 

40

yep, that's right: I have been around for four decades now. Anna chose a birthday card for me with a kitten on it, and insisted on writing inside. Lewis translated: "Mommy" and "Anna." Thomas offered a card that doubles as a crown, which reads "Birthday Queen." (See photo.) And Iain liked the card he scribbled in so much that he didn't really want to give it to me. I can't blame him: the little lion on the front was pretty cute. 

no news on the home-sale front. we have had a quiet week, with no lookers at all. I admit, though, that I do enjoy having the house clean and neat all the time, just in case. 

lapsed...

so much for my good intentions. although I have failed miserably to update the blog, we finally got the house on the market last weekend. We have had some interest, but no offers. 

Bigger news, however, is that Anna was recognized this week for outstanding progress by the Council for Exceptional Children. 

She was very pleased--I can't remember when she last cooperated with a photographer. And of course we were very proud of her. She has come a long way in her years of preschool, from hardly talking at all to offering descriptions and requests, and expressing feelings. 

I will endeavor to post more regularly; certainly when there is news about the house, I will make it known!

Thomas' latest thing

Thomas announced today that he has a girlfriend. So far, the main activity in which the two of them cooperate is playing during "centers" in their pre-K class. I found his declaration that she would "always" be his girlfriend amusing and a little scary: Thomas remembers everything, and holds fast once he has set his mind to something! At least I can say that I am pleased with his choice! 

 

selling a house

It's something I have never done before, and it seems a little strange. Thomas is having a difficult time getting his head around the concept of someone else buying our house. He alternates between talking about living in Durham "forever" and coming back "home" to Atlanta. Probably the most difficult moment so far was hearing him talk about going in the pool this summer. 

We won't be going in the pool this summer. Of course, I didn't say that: Thomas is still at the age of the monologue. He's happy to do all the talking as long as he's pretty sure you're listening. I was definitely listening. It is sad to think that all the fun family times we enjoyed around the pool are over, and that sense is not totally overwhelmed by the anticipation of the sorts of things we are looking forward to doing together once we are situated in England. None of this is particularly surprising--though that doesn't make it less true. 

The big news of the week is the visit: Lewis' parents are in town, and--since they won't be reading this until after the fact, I can say--we'll be taking them to Tybee Island, along with Cedric and Sara, over the long weekend. Cedric and Sara's arrival and the trip will be a surprise for Lewis' dad, who celebrates his 80th birthday this month. Anna, Thomas and Iain are rejoicing in having a set of grandparents with us, to read and play--and to listen, in Thomas' case! I went to retrieve Iain after his nap this afternoon, and was greeted with a question: "Where's Grandad?" I see how it is... 

Beach means pictures, and I will post them. So far (Cliff and Evelyn only arrived on Wednesday evening), I haven't taken any pictures--I am swamped this week with work. That will change, of course, as the weekend gets underway and I get away from the desk! I know that the photos of the kids are the main attraction here, so I will stop now, and make a mental note to keep the camera to hand tomorrow.