...and she's BACK!

As promised, here I am! I know it has been rough for the 3 of you to be kept waiting, so I apologize. I just needed a mental health week after the last 10 months....and I have enjoyed every... last... lazy... minute!

So to recap for you, just in case my being away this last week made my whining a forgotten memory, here it goes: Emet moved to Tbilisi, Georgia in August of 2009. He still works for Chemonics, but is now a USAID contractor. USAID is a US government organization (part of the state department) based in Washington D.C. When people ask me why we are moving to Georgia my response is, "my husband is engaged in some really cool stuff to help make Georgian schools better."

If you are interested in a more technical response please see below. However, if you think my answer cuts the mustard, you can skip all the red text!

USAID’s Georgia Education Management Project is a three-year activity that aims at better management capacity and improved policy in the education sector by establishing an education management program for administrators supported by necessary financial and administrative policy reforms.

Objectives:

• Improve the long-term capacity of Georgian institutions to better manage the education system and lead its transformation; and

• Ensure the effectiveness of education policies on management, finance, and accreditation by supporting the Ministry of Education and Science (MoES), MoES educational agencies, and Education Resource Centers (ERCs).

So, we made the flight thanks to my friend Sarah who so calmly jammed all 14 suitcases into her car. She then stood in 3 different lines with us to check our bags while my kids wrestled on the floor. In anticipation of the L-O-N-G flight, I let them wrestle. Right there in line. At one point, I did ask Sarah if she thought it was OK....but really what is she going to say? I was teetering on the edge of a breakdown. She did great holding me together! I have to say checking our luggage was the most stressful part of the whole trip. Once we boarded the plane, we hung out, drew some pictures, used some paint (oops, the tray tables may have gotten a smidge of paint on them!) and then AL went to sleep. I can never sleep on flights, but since the kids were asleep the world was a happy place. I had to wake them up to land. We met the nicest man while traveling and he kind of adopted us. He told my kids when to walk faster, directed us where to go to get our boarding pass in Munich, and carried some of our luggage up and down the stairs. I was very happy to meet him! He claims to be a Georgian celebrity of sorts, so I look forward to seeing him on TV. Anyway, we only had 1 hour before our next plane boarded and then just a 3 1/2 hour flight before landing in Tbilisi! Where was this flight in March???!!!???

All in all, I am thrilled to be a family in one place again. Seeing my 3 men smiling because we are all together made the last 10 months seem a little farther in the distance...

Silence, Please!

There is something to be said for understanding how to work with 4 year olds. I am not saying I could do it...for even 20 minutes (in a row, that is). However, if you sign up to coach, it might be nice if one of the questions they ask is, "have you ever been in contact with anyone under the age of 7?"

Today at T ball, there was a substitute coach. I give him a lot of credit. 10 four year olds can be rough. He quickly realized that he would be wasting a lot of time by waiting for kids to move to their places in the "field" (aka: gym) So instead he took matters into his own hands. He just began picking the kids up and moving them to exactly where he wanted them!

In 45 minutes, he taught them how to throw the ball and hit the ball. He also taught them important ball player qualities such as: how to stay silent for most of the 45 minutes and how to run laps as "punishment". For instance, the coach asked if the kids wanted to attempt batting one more time. About half of the kids said no. That answer cost every kid 2 laps. But like all good coaches, when his players outplayed him, he dropped and gave them 10. The hysterical part was that his challenge was so above their heads, most of them dropped and tried to do push ups with him.

Really, it was kind of funny. I am not sure he thought it was funny though. I imagine he went home and had a few shots of tequila.

My Life in a Nutshell

Today was a typical day in my life. It was the first day of T-ball for AL. I had gotten them each a pair of baseball pants at my last consignment sale, and had gone out yesterday to buy them baseball gloves. After one of my parents at school gave me the lesson on how to buy a baseball glove (which I had no idea!), I headed to the store. I stood in the aisle forever. There were so many of them! Some of them were SO expensive! Would they even like baseball? Finally, I picked out two that I thought would fit. I had no idea there were so many sizes.

Of course they did not fit. So this morning we had to the go the store once again to try and find gloves that worked. However, leaving the house was not so easy. A only wanted to watch TV and L's shirt was "too crunchy" and his socks "tickeled" (which means massive melt down). We finally got out of the house (with L wearing the same shirt and socks, by the way) and rushed to the store. We tried on various gloves, all of which were "uncomfortable" and I paid way too much money for each one. We had 10 minutes to get to a place that was 18 minutes away. Oh well.

We pulled up to the school and I parked near the baseball field. There was one other mom there with her little girl. No one else. So we chatted and our kids ran around the bases, but it was so disappointing. After 20 minutes or so, we headed over to the playground. A gentleman saw our gloves and asked us if we are here for t-ball....if so, it is in the gym.

Now I ask you--who in their right mind plays t-ball in a gym? It is a beautiful day and they want to be in the gym? By the time we get there, we have about 6 minutes left in class. AL didn't get to bat this time, but they fielded. Well, I should say they tried to field. No matter where the ball was hit, they ran towards it. As L got closer to the ball, he would dive for it. If he was alone this might be perceived as athletic. However, the five other 4 year olds did not anticipate that he would be diving each time he came within 10 feet of the ball, so they usually tripped over him. It usually ended in a big pile of kids.

By the last few minutes of class, both AL wised up. Since they would be on the floor once the ball was hit anyway, why not get closer to start. Really, it is much less work!

Wake up, Mommy....We Need to Get Our Shoes On!

This is how I woke up last Sunday morning, two days after traveling around the globe. Jetlagged and not really sure what time it was (5:48 am I quickly realized), I glanced at L and was trying to imagine why we needed to get our shoes on.

"The Easter bunny always hides eggs. We have to find them!" How in the world did he remember that from last year? I mean really, he can't remember to hang up his coat, but he can remember that one year ago the Easter bunny hid plastic eggs for him to find? Oh, to be 4 again.

I had to explain to AL that the Easter bunny had to deliver many baskets, all over the world so he did not have time to hide our eggs yet. In reality, we were waiting for Kim to have our egg hunt! When she arrived, we ate chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast and she took them outside to play while I did "wash" (aka hid the eggs).

Here is the letter the Easter bunny left for AL

AL and Charlotte, Kim's new puppy, resting in the grass. I am not sure why Charlotte is so tired...she didn't even find any eggs!

Everyone Needs a "Kim" in their Lives

After 27 hours of traveling, and A losing his mind in the customs line because he had to have milk, we were greeted by our good friend, Kim! She drove from Alexandria, stopped at my house to get our car seats (but really. do we even need these anymore?), and waited at the airport for us. Grabbing the luggage cart from L before he crashed once again into an unsuspecting traveler, she found a corner to chat with my boys while I searched for milk. I was so relieved to finally have another adult who could be responsible for my kids, even if for just two minutes.

We walked outside, stripped off a few layers (man, was it HOT!) and loaded the zillion bags into her jeep. AL were in a trance-like state and were not saying much at all. When we pulled into our driveway, Kim quietly whispered that the Easter bunny had paid a visit to our house. THE EASTER BUNNY! In all my worry about traveling and leaving Emet, I had completly forgotten!

On the kitchen table were two baskets, filled with chocolate and toys. My kids were thrilled! They couldn't believe the Easter bunny had come to our house while we were away. As they munched on chocolate Easter eggs, Kim showed me the bag she left for the next day. It was filled with Easter eggs chocked full of jelly beans. The mismatched eggs even had money in them. Oh, does she know my kids!

As much as Emet travels, Kim has been a part of so many firsts for AL. I probably couldn't name them all. She drives to my house in the middle of the night when I have to take one of them to the ER, she didn't say a word the first year (ok, maybe longer) when my house was a complete disaster, she understands when I just need time to get things done and she goes with Emet and AL to museums in DC, she knows my kitchen better than I do, and she ALWAYS just makes life a little easier.

I am so happy that it was Kim I cut in front of while waiting to move into our freshman dorm at GWU.

Uh Oh.

We walked into the bathroom at the amusement park and Lucas said, "Mommy, we need to find you another bathroom. Girls can't pee in here." I reassured him and then made Emet come in to the woman's bathroom and explain to me the best way to handle this. Really, there was no good way. So I locked myself in the stall and took off my pants and underwear. I slung them over the door and prayed that no one would come in....another example of a silly American! This post is embarrasing enough...I won't tell you how it turned out. I will tell you, though, that 4 year olds are extremly smart.

It's Better Than Disney World!

No lines whatsoever! Very inexpensive! Bumper cars for 4 year olds....what more can you ask for in an amusement park?

Those are not all clouds in the background....they are snow covered mountains! This was from the overlook of the amusement park--the whole city of Tbilisi is below.

This is what happens when Emet doesn't put his socks in the hamper. Needless to say, I have had to have one of these installed in our house. He spends many hours in here.

Aidan's first driving experience!



Lucas was so happy to ride even these dinky little rides!

Walking, Climbing, Walking....

It seems like everywhere you look in Georgia there are stairs. I loved walking everywhere--it was so much better than having to get into a car! When we first arrived, Aidan hated walking...he complained with each step he took. Lucas loved it! He took every single step he could find and climbed each big rock he encountered. By the time we left, Aidan had changed his mind and was tackling all of the stairs as well!

*This picture was taken when we were walking back from Vake park on our way to dinner.

Nice People All Around...

I have learned SO many things in the past two weeks. One notion I will carry back with me is that Georgians are REALLY NICE people. Plainly put, but true. They go out of their way to help carry your luggage, come to your rescue when in dire need of plastic forks, and help you practice a Georgian last name numerous times prior to an interview!

The most amazing thing to me is this....they love all kids, not just the ones they know. Complete strangers stare at AL. They reach over and tousle their hair. At first, we all pulled back in shock, but now we realize that kids are held in high regard (especially boys!). Today, we were walking through a bodega and a man reached over and tousled Lucas' hair and then grinned at Aidan. I think my kids will be spoiled when we return to the states!

Since we have been here we have hosted a party for all of the people that work with Emet, had an all day brunch with 2 American families that have lived in Tbilisi for many years, and spent a great deal of time with Misha, Emet's driver from work. Leaving here tomorrow, I am excited to return in July!

These are all of the people from Emet's work (plus their kids and AL).

Emet's Work

The wonderful thing about living in Tbilisi is Emet can walk to work. No more commuting to D.C.! We walked with him to work yesterday and it took about 12 minutes. Keep in mind, we had AL with us, so it is probably faster alone!

Here is Emet in his office, behind his desk!

This is the view from one of the many balconies in Emet's office! What a great city view!

Every office has a picture and title of the person working in the office. How great is that? I think I am going to do that for the teachers at my school! Wouldn't that be cool!?

When you first walk into Emet's building, the USAID sign is right there!