MAN! I'm bad at this....

Well, of course lots has happened since my last post. Thankfully the reason I haven't been so great about keeping up with this is because we have been rather busy. I think the greatest news is that I FINALLY got my job back at the school!Yes, I am offically teaching Kindergarten now and I am so grateful to be back where I belong. I have been happily overwhelemed with work the past few weeks and I love it! Curt has also been working like crazy. I overheard him last night talking to his family that he has been at work for the past 45 consecutive days. I KNOW! I'm really proud of him and his work ethic. I really hope it takes him to all the places he wants to go to and deserves.


We just recently went to Curt's Christmas party for work and it was pretty fun! It was at St. Catherine's College in Cambridge. Yes, it was beautiful. Freezing, but beautiful. We danced a ton and ripped open Christmas crackers all night. I just love, love, LOVE dressing up. Curt is hoping that I stop buying new dresses everytime we have an event, but, I just love getting all "fancy" everytime something else rolls around....which has been a lot lately. :)

Thankfully, even with my new job in full effect we are still going to be taking a much needed trip back to the states soon. I am desperate to see my family and friends b/c it's been about a year since we were home last. PATHETIC, I know. Curt and I geot so caught up and work this past year that we lost some precious time...but rest assured that one long night with my family usually gets everyone up to speed. Thankfully I talk to them about 6 million times a week over the phone and internet. :) God Bless long distance calling. We are having our very own Christmas once we get to my parents house. We haven't opened ONE present yet this Christmas. Not One. We can't consider it Christmas until we are all together (we did the same thing last year) and my mom has this amazing way to make even the middle of June feel like Christmas day, so we are really looking forward to that. I have the most amazing family....

On a sad note, we farewelled our bestest of friends, the Madsen's. It was truly a sad day and I had to close their bedroom door because I was tearing up everytime I looked at the empty space. Our goodbye was short and sweet at the airport, mainly because if we stood there too long I would have smuggled my way into their suitcase if only to hang out with them for one more day. BUT, we are hoping to reunite with them in LESS then a year...so more to come on that.


Another fun thing that happened in the past couple weeks was that we did a photoshoot with the famous TLohse photographer. Our friend over here in England is an amazing photographer and we jumped at the opportunity to take some pictures from here. Curt and I sometimes get so caught up in work that we forget about all the wonderful places that are so close to where we live. The location of our pictures was just fabulous. Even though it did rain a little bit in the beginning we could not have had a better day...it was just so fun. I am definitely going to take advantage of her wonderful talent again in the Spring time when all those beautiful gardens in the Abby are bursting with color. As you can see, she did an amazing job. Here are a few of our fave's....



Well, I'm going to TRY to do better over the next few months. I have to promise myself not to let work take over my ENTIRE life...so we'll see how that goes. I know after our trip home we will have lots of stories and photos from all of our visits with everyone in the States. Until next time.....

First Post!

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I was introduced to this idea of a blog from a couple of friends that we have made over here in England and thought it is such a great way for everyone to see what Curt and I have been up to while we are living overseas. So much as happened since we moved here back in March of 2005! It's slowly approaching 3 years and I can't believe how quickly time has flown by since we set up our home here in Europe. Because I wouldn't want to bore you on the many details of everything we have done, I will go ahead and mention some of the bigger things! Let's see, so far we have traveled to France, Belgium, Ireland, Denmark, Scotland, Greece, Germany, Italy and Wales! There are a couple trips that we are really hoping to squeeze in here before we move back to the states but only time will tell if we can make it happen! Work keeps Curt and I pretty busy these days but thankfully, we wouldn't have it any other way. I love working in an elementary school and lord knows Curt loves flying...so we are really thankful that we have the opportunity to do what we love even though we are an ocean away from home.




While living overseas we have both found a passion in antique furniture and are slowly picking out some fantastic pieces that date all the way back to the early 1800's to furnish a guest bedroom. We do have to compromise some as Curt really likes the intricate wood carvings on the pieces and although they are unique, sometimes the gargoyle faces can be a little creepy! :) I have started a really great pottery collection of pieces from the famous Stoke-on-Trent. Lots of pieces from Burleigh (my fave!!!) and Portmerion. I am adding to my "Holly and Berry" Christmas set every couple months and hopefully we can add a couple more things before we move back to the US! Finally, we were able to get a lots of things from the famous Henry Watson collection and the neat thing about those pieces is they are made in Suffolk county where we are currently living. I'm so glad we are going to have all these amazing souvenirs to take back to the states when we move next winter!!!

Curt just finished up his second deployment in the mid-east and I couldn't be more proud of him. Although I miss him terribly when he's away, I know that he is doing an amazing thing out there and I just pray for his safe return. Thankfully technology these days let us keep in touch pretty much on a daily basis. Lots of emails over those 4 months!!! :)

Since he has been home he took part in ANOTHER half marathon and then just ran his first full Marathon in Greece--the home of the original marathon. I am so proud of him and he's so happy he got to be apart of history. I think some day I will try and run a marathon of my own....someday. :) Other than that, he is working hard in the squadron and taking life day by day...the best way to go!



We have been living in a farmhouse here in England and we absolutely love it. It's been completely renovated on the inside but everything on the outside is original. It's so cool to live in the country side in an old house....just what we were looking for when we first got here, so we had to do it! Although I love this house, I am looking forward to some of the luxuries of living in the states again. Things like american outlets, screens in the windows, and most importantly...air conditioning!!! It's the little things we miss, I guess.

My family is going to be coming out to visit me sometime next summer. We're not sure where are travels will take us but I have a feeling it will be all over England and then off to Ireland!! (How could they NOT see Ireland....it's BEAUTIFUL! So beautiful, Curt and I have been there twice!) I'm really excited to have them come out and see some of the things we have been telling them about since we have moved here.

Well, I'll attach a couple pictures just for fun! Until next time....