Time to dance a jig...and I don't mean in Ireland!

It is very sad day when I have to admit that a lot of the time in Belgium...late at night when it was still light out and I just couldn't seem to fall asleep...I would plot just how many times I could get to Target during my visit and where I would go first!  What if I found a bunch of good buys with the wonderful RED clearance sticker?  Where would I put my purchases?  Would they all be able to fit in my suitcases?  Most important...how could I hide those purchases from Jason?!

I am very certain that the stock rose the day the Martin's stepped back onto American soil!  I also thought that I would be met at the airport by the Target CEO welcoming me back into the USA!  It didn't happen...the lady from the Thanksgiving commercials wasn't even there!!

Oh well, no offense taken...I still could shop, shop, shop, and my RED card saw plenty of action!  I didn't want to take any of the kids with me on the first visit so my Mom and I snuck out one night and had a grand time.  I am pitiful...I know...DON'T BE A HATER!

Off to visit Joe, Dasa, Leila and Ollie...oh, and Mitch, too!

The highlight of most of Piper's visits to Erie, aside from seeing family of course, are her visits to the Erie Zoo to visit all of her animal friends.  SHE IS OBSESSED!  Every Monkey is Joe.  Every Giraffe is Mitch.  The real Joe and Mitch actually live at the Erie Zoo.  It's so nice to have such a wonderful place to visit.  I remember my Dad taking my Sister and I almost every Sunday while Mom was working the 7 - 3:30 shift at the hospital.  It brings back so many memories that I am glad that my kids enjoy it too!

We had a big group with us this time!  Everyone wanted to see Aunt Gina talk to Joe, Dasa, Leila and Ollie.  It is too cute to see and you would never believe it unless you see it for yourself!  They get so excited that she visits that they all vie for her attention!  Joe swings from his vines and Leila comes right up to the glass so give kisses and take a look at what you have in your purse.  We could sit there all day and watch them interact with her!  

We got some great shots!

Here is Sophie letting Patches, the Polar Bear know she is IN THE HOUSE!

Anyone else want to join us?!

Pretty Leila, striking a pose...now if only Sophie could teach her the hand-on-hip pose!

Joe showing off for Aunt Gina

Pucker up, Sophie...Leila wants a kiss!

Sophie was showing nosey Leila what was in her purse

Here is a slideshow of all of the photos we snapped that day...

Erie Zoo - July 16, 2012 - picture slideshow

Congrats, Hannah Elizabeth Mong - Class of 2012

The MAIN EVENT had FINALLY arrived!!  July 14, 2012...Hannah's Graduation Party!  We were so excited to have been able to attend.  I cannot believe it!!  Hannah Mong, my youngest cousin, has graduated!  I remember attending her Kindergarten graduation like it was just yesterday.  I cannot even begin to tell everyone what a BEAUTIFUL, STRONG, SMART woman this little Kindergarten graduate has turned into!!  Hannah, you are AWESOME and I love you to the MOON and BACK!!

Hannah's Graduation Party - slideshow maker

FLAP THOSE ARMS, KIDS....IT'S TIME FOR A TRIP HOME!

When we found out that we were moving to Belgium in May, I declared that we would make a trip back for the Summer.  We had things to do (Hannah's big GRAD bash), cousins to play with, Zoo's to visit, birthday parties, etc.

Jason was planning on spending a week with us on the front end of the trip.  After that he had to fly to Florence for a week, back to Belgium for a week, and then back to the US to spend a couple more days with the family, then he flew to Chicago (to check on the house) and drove to Indy for a couple of days of work and then flew back to PA just in time to fly back with us to Belgium.

The night before our flight I was STILL packing.  I had to figure out what we first would need for our time in Buffalo, where we were flying to first for Hannah's party and then I had to remember everything else that comes along with spending 4 to 5 weeks away from home.  I told the girls that they better exercise their arms for the long flight home.  Here is the shot I took of them practicing...

Our flight was BRIGHT and EARLY so the car service picked us up at 6:15 AM (Belgium time...in EST that would be 12:15 AM--so if you are keeping a tallying...our day began VERY early, seeing as how we were not due to arrive in Buffalo until around 4 PM EST)  Here we were right as the car was arriving to pick us up.  Little tidbit of information for you...it was the same driver who brought us to our new house when we arrived here in Belgium on May 15th!

We flew from Brussels to Newark and then Newark to Buffalo.  My Mom, Dad, and Sister were meeting us in Buffalo in time for the par-tay so we would drive back to Erie with them...and ALL of our luggage.  

When we arrived in Newark (ughhhh, Newark Airport) we had to pick up our bags, re-check them, and go through security once again.  Thanks to the friendly, helpful TSA Agents there we also were randomly picked to be Agriculturally Screened...go us!!  The best part was when we got up to the screening devices and the one Agent said, "You guys?!  He randomly picked you?  A family of 6?"  It was a good thing we had a layover because we needed every minute of it!!

The kids were troopers, jet-lag and all!  Piper especially loved her new Peppa Pig backpack.  She would not put it down and insisted on carting around Sophie's as well!

We are official!!

We moved to Waterloo, Belgium.  The kids International School is located there and it makes for an easy commute for me:)  When you arrive in Belgium, much like everywhere else, there are always legalities that you must adhere to.  In Waterloo, you have to "declare" yourself to the Commune aka Town Hall.  It is quite a process and if you wait until the last minute...ahem...not saying anything further...you can run into some trouble.  

First, you must submit a bunch of paperwork that needs to be filed.  Next, at any given time...to be determined by them and not you...a Police Officer will arrive at your front door, speaking virtually no English at all, to account that all of the people you have declared are, in fact, living at the said residence.

After the Police Officer puts a check in that box, then more paperwork is filed for your Residence Cards/Drivers License, Residence Cards for the kids and various other paperwork.

Luckily...they didn't take our American Driver's Licenses...yahooooo!  So...I might not have to take a test when I return.  Seeing as how this was our 7th move and I have already had to take my test 4 times!!!  Ughhhh!  Surprisingly...I did NOT have to take it when I moved here....hahaha