Hi guys,

I realized it’s time for a little update again. I’m sorry that I didn’t manage earlier to inform you about what is going on here, but I have been extremely busy with the kids, since I was alone with them... Sharon and Kevin just came back from Colorado yesterday, and today was something like a day off for me (and I can tell you, I could really need it : ) )

Well, let’s start with Friday, Aug 4. In the morning I went to the gym with the kids, afterwards to the grocery store to buy some things for our BBQ (Elis and I had invited Chris and Caitlin for a BBQ in the evening.) Arrived back home, I started preparing the food for our BBQ; I also made Austrian potato salad! Oh yeah, and we also baked brownies : ) Well, it was really easy to bake them, since we did it the “American way” -- just put the package with the powder into a bowl, mixed it with water, oil and 2 eggs and then we put the whole thing into the oven. Unfortunately, we left the brownies a bit too long in the oven, so they were a bit hard in the end, but the kids ate them in spite of that. : )

At 6 I had to drive Conor to his football practice and got a bit lost. It took me some time to get to the place, so Conor was about 15 minutes too late and they seem to be really strict at the football practice (The kids even have to do extra exercises if they are late), so I went with Conor to his trainer and excused myself for having been late, and he fortunately didn't have any trouble.

The BBQ with Chris and Caitlin was really nice, although I was busy most of the time bringing things outside to the patio, getting brownies, juice, etc. for the kids, holding Finn, putting him to bed, etc. But it was nice to see Chris and Caitlin again and chat with them, and the kids also enjoyed the time with their cousin.

At night, I had to get up at 3.30, because Finn was crying (I was also wakened up by my ringing cell phone 2 hours before…). I took Finn to my room where he fell asleep again, and then I put him back into his crib after half an hour.

Saturday, Aug 5

-- Conor’s football practice 10 - 12.30 -- Pool at O’Connors’ with Riley and Finn -- Lunch time -- Conor back from football -- Cooked pasta asciutta for me, mashed potatoes for Conor (his tongue hurt and he couldn‘t eat everything), pizza for Riley and Finn -- Playing in the house and backyard (watching planes, etc.) -- Kids went to bed quite early, at 9.30

Sunday, Aug 6

-- Football 10 - 12.30 -- Dorbrook Park with Riley and Finn

-- Pat, Grandma, came to pick Riley and Conor up --> theater for kids “The Sound of Music” -- Finn -- long nap -- Me -- little time to relax on the patio (some time to continue reading my book) -- Sharon and Kevin back from Colorado (Beaver Creek, Vail -- where I was last year at my friend’s), I also got a little gift -- a really beautiful bracelet!

Monday, Aug 7

-- Slept long -- Gym -- burned 500 calories!!! (but: lot of chocolate chip cookies again, plus ice cream, during the day!!!) -- Went to Delicious Orchards (a deli in Colts Neck) to get something For Sharon‘s dad (unfortunately closed on Mondays! didn't know that...) -- Post office -- Grocery store -- Call from Sharon’s Dad, Stan -- Directions to Washington DC -- Cooked pasta with vegetable sauce

-- Conor: Football

I’m sorry that my Saturday to Monday entries are so short and just in key words. I’ll try to complete them in more detail when I have the time, but tonight I really got to go, since I’ll go to Washington DC tomorrow with Elis (I will drive, by the way), so I need some sleep. (--> is a 4 to 5-hour-drive). We can stay there at Sharon’s dad, Stan, who lives not far from the Pentagon in Virginia. I already spoke with him today and he really sounds nice. Elis and I are already looking forward to this trip (I just hope we won’t get lost, again : ) ) I’ll tell you everything about it, as soon as we are back…

Hope you are all doing fine!

Love, Michaela