In which looking at my calendar freaks me out

Stuff is gettin' real here, folks.

Too real.

Our time in Madrid is dwindling rapidly, and the time we do have left is filling in with all sorts of goings-on.

Fact: I like my calendar empty.
Fact: It is not empty anymore.

I shall bore you with the details:

So, we just recently got back from London, which deserves it's own blogpost, and will certainly get it. Hopefully within the year.

We'd had family photos scheduled for a few days after we returned, but we had to reschedule because the forecast called for rain all day. So we rescheduled for this past Saturday.

The kids were back to school for a shortened week following Spring Break, and Alex had a birthday party on Friday night.
The kids went to see Rio 2 in the theater followed by dinner and cake at a nearby Burger King.
Being the lame mother that I am, I made Alex say her goodbyes after the movie and we skipped the other festivities because the movie got over at 9:30. And while even the youngest of Spaniards are primed for dinner then, this old American needed to get her beauty sleep because we were having our photos done the next day.
The good news is that there was a forecast for a rain-free day.

But as we all know, forecasts can be wrong.
And it was.
It drizzled all over our picture taking outing. (It was another Photo-Tour in the city, so taking it inside wasn't really an option.)
But it was a really good deal on Groupon, so we didn't spend much and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we got a few good shots of the family despite the drips.

This week ends in the Madrid holiday "El Puente de Mayo" which means there is no school on Thursday or Friday.
Josh and Alex leave for the daddy-daughter Paris excursion on Wednesday afternoon, so it will be me and my little buddy on our own for the free days.

Once the adventurers return, we have two weeks of normal before Alex leaves on her class trip. That will be followed up by two final weeks of normal, before the movers come.
We'll move into a hotel for our last 10 days in Madrid, and then someone will have to physically drag me onto the airplane.

Somewhere in those weeks are a "International Night" at Josh's school in which I have to bring typical American food to share, and a class trip for Josh to Poland.

Someone did not get the memo that I hate cooking, and also socializing. Do Rice Krispie Treats seem American enough? ;)

Once I'm onboard the plane, I will attempt to be positive. There are, of course, lots of things to look forward to about returning to America.
They include, but are not limited to:

- Seeing our family. Pat the Bunny was the only one able to make it over for a visit, so it will have been a full year and a half since we've seen everyone else.
- A new niece! Josh's sister will be having her baby girl right around the time we arrive to Michigan, so I will get some newborn snuggles. They are totally the best when you're not the one getting up at night.
- Free drink refills.
- American food, and I don't mean Rice Krispie Treats.
- Blueberry season in Michigan (The kids and I are going to stay for a bit to visit while we wait for our household goods to arrive to Alabama)
-Being able to communicate easily.
- Friends for neighbors!!

Our friends, the Putmans, are going to be in the same course as Josh. They already live on base in Alabama and were able to sweet talk the housing office into getting us the house next door. How cool is that?!

It totally makes it worth it that we're trading in an incredible 2000+ square foot, 4 bedroom/5 bathroom apartment in the best part of Madrid, with lofted ceilings and balconies over Calle Velázquez, for a 3 bed/2 bath, < 1500 sq feet ghetto house that could easily make a "worst base housing the Air Force has to offer" list.



If you'll excuse me, I think I'm going to have to go cry now.