Vilnius Last Days

fOreVeR, i kNOw

Yes, we have dropped off the face of the earth... what can one say, except, "LIFE!" And, so now it's time to catch on up, or, just start from now... we'll just start from now.

Can you believe we are heading back to the U.S. of A.? The process of moving in is motion and we are taking our last couple trips around the world before time is up.

School's out for summer, Jamus has mastered the art of Kung-Fu, Chris defended his thesis, it's still overcast in Lithuania, the kids are sad to leave their best friends from Czech and Greece (who has best friends from there?), chocolate chips and spray Pam are awaiting us in America, the amazing power of sticking a sucker in a kids mouth has been noted for the loooong plane ride ahead, and so... here we go!

First stop, Connecticut- for six months of school, and then who knows... we'll keep you updated!

Holidays

So much to enjoy and love this past holiday season. For one, it was our year of homemade favorites. And by homemade, I mean totally from scratch! Like bake the pumpkin and then skin it and then mash it up for pumpkin pie readiness. Like sit at the stove for an hour straight while slowly stirring the eggs for egg nog. Though we did enjoy it all, as you can tell from our waistlines! We also got to spend four days in Prague with another Olmsted family, where we enjoyed the castles and Christmas markets and swimming in their pool and sledding and a night out to the opera to see 'The Magic Flute'! It was fabulous. Then back to Vilnius just in time for a New Year's Eve with some of our bestest friends! Happy Holidays and New Year and all that jazz...

Marine Corp Ball

Will say first off that it's nothing to the good 'ol Submarine Ball! But, we were excited to get out of the house for some awesome food and great dancing. Laugh, please, at the photo ops we provided ourselves... First one, us with former Lithuanian President, Valdas Adamkus- who thought it necessary that the women were in the middle, right next to him. Hence the reason for my huge laughing grin. Second, Chris trying hard to be in the same vicinty as the Lithuanian Prime MInister, Andrius Kubilius. He refused to do the walk behind him act as I snap away. Hence the reason for just a big headed shot of Chris, with the Minister somewhere in the background. And, thirdly, 'just the two of us'.

again, again...

and here's the seven year old of the house now!

oUr fAvORiTe tiMe Of tHe YeAr

Happy Haunting, as they say...

Any excuse...

...and we'll grab it! We love for there to be a reason to send us back to see family. Not as much now that we're international travelers, but always happy to visit. Here's a mere taste of the adventure and the "excuse". Love to the newly wed pair!