School Days, School Daze

August 23, 2005, the first day of school and the Fertal household managed to get started without too much drama, and no tears!!! I am not sure if it is because I am still jet lagged from our trip - I didn't sleep a wink last night - or because JJ is in Chicago, so the kids can't play one off the other, but at any rate, I am thankful for the smooth start to our new school year.

Narbonne-Plage was amazing. The vineyard is breathtaking and I think that we will spend many hours discovering the nooks and crannies of the property. JJ and I went on a quad ride down the trails and neither of us could speak because we are just so amazed by it all.

Our apartment has been redone and I couldn't have chosen anything better, I mean the style is totally what we would have done, as are the colors. Again, we feel that we are in a dream world and we are waiting for the "pinch" that will wake us up.

The cruise was lots of fun with amazing ports of call. JJ showed me around Marseille, where I savored a bouillabese, and Nice. Together we discovered Florence and were bowled over by Rome and disappointed in Naples. We walked miles and miles each day. We spent a lot of time talking about everything and not talking about work. We held hands a lot and cuddled. We got massaged and tanned. We spent time with the others on the cruise and got to know them a little better. We felt and feel truly blessed.

Now we are back, we got in on Saturday and JJ left for Chicago on Sunday with his parents and nephew. The kids and I went school shopping and spent time lazing around and hugging eachother, there seemed to be a general need for physical contact on Sunday. We also visited Errol and Patty's new addition. Sabrina Kovitch is totally perfect and beautiful.

JJ and crew come back this evening. My mother is also scheduled to arrive tonight, although we'll see how she does with the Northwest strike issues. We are pretty busy (wow what a surprize!) because the producers of Berthet Rayne Chateauneuf du Pape are in town and we are booked Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Then, to top it all off, my in-laws leave on Sunday. I am not even going to pretend that it will calm down, because I think that we have a crazy fall planned and I am starting to admit that we kind of like it that way.

See ya.

Seven more days to go

I must remember to breathe. I have so much to do and so little time to get things done. I have about a thousand shirts to iron (ok, maybe it's only 40, but that is almost the same thing), laundry still undone, a house to get in order, I MUST get to SAMS Club to check out what we can buy for the family reunion there and what must be purchased at Costco, spend time with my children, cook, clean, work out, weigh in, smile, work, well you get the picture.

I realize that my in-laws are arriving on Friday and I have not done any of what needed to be done before they arrive, like wash the sheets in the guest room. I am sure that I will overcome, but I can't begin to fathom how I will be ready to go on vacation next week. I should start taking vacation RIGHT NOW, just so that I am not totally exhausted by Tuesday night. That being said, packing for a trip is not that big of a deal, and it's just my man and I, so there isn't that much to pack, and whatever we forget, we buy enroute. Why can't I remain this logical all the time. When I begin to think of all the things I need to do, I start to hyperventilate. I must learn to let go, right?

So you may be asking yourself, if she has so much to do, what in the world is she doing blogging? Well, I am still at work and cannot leave just yet, but I cannot focus on work stuff either, so I thought that I would check in to my blog and vent some feelings.

The girls and I saw Penny at her shower on Sunday. She is beautiful and happy and busy. She couldn't sit still, but that is not new. I am so pleased for her because she just seems so happy. I wish I could have seen Brian as well, but you can't have everything.

No news from Patty, so I guess Sabrina has not yet decided to make her appearance. I was hoping that the Kovitch's would be three before we went to Europe. Well, there are seven days left, so all hope is not lost. Who am I kidding, Patty will go into labor when the time is right, and she is the one hoping to have this baby asap, being pregnant gets old real quick.

The family from France seems to be having a nice time with their visit here. We have had them over to our house for a BBQ. On Sunday we went to Matt and Adriennes (who conveniently live about 5 minutes from Penny!) and enjoyed their waterfront abode, complete with boats and tubing! Last night we ran around Great Lakes and had dinner at Rainforest Cafe, and tonight they are in Port Huron with my mother, so I get to go to WW and iron - oh joy, but getting somet things checked off my list.

Family reunion this weekend. The tent goes up Friday night. I am sure that it will all come together as it should and you are probably all shaking your heads at how I am over reacting right now. But now, I only have an hour left of this day and then I can go home and attack all the things that need done (not the least of which is mowing the lawn, but it's just too hot). Praise God, the cleaning people are coming on Friday, so if all else fails, at least things will be put in order before the reunion...

God bless you all and be so thankful for what you have, I know that I am overwhelmed at how wonderful He is to me and my family.