The Perlman Update

In The Blink Of An Eye He Was Gone ... Again

2012-05-26T21:27:00.000-04:00

It may have been two years ago when I wrote this ... but I remember this day like it happened yesterday. I remember exactly how I felt when I woke up that morning. How my mind wandered as I made the drive to the airport. I even remember when I had to pull the car over because I couldn't drive through the tears that came as I pulled out of the departure area at LAX.

Today was no different. Same feelings. Same fears. Same tears as I pulled onto the freeway. Despite all the planning and the preparations for the past year, bidding adieu is never easy. In fact, having this lead time was probably WAY more difficult, with too much anticipation.

I'm just thankful that unlike Matt's last unaccompanied tour to Baghdad, this one to Afghanistan has me far more settled. I'm in my OWN house. My support system is moving into place. And our friends are already stepping in to ensure that the kids and I are well cared for. With an invitation for dinner tonight from one of my dearest. To the brave ones, who whisked the girls away for the next few days to an amusement park so they would keep their minds off of missing their daddy.

We needed these distractions. Just as we all needed to exhale and have this new chapter in our lives finally begin.

And as I waved to Matt tonight, while he slowly walked alone into the Dulles airport terminal, I didn't say, "good-bye." But rather through silent tears, I whispered the mantra those of us in the Foreign Service always recite ... "until we meet again."

Last Week Was A Doozy ...

2012-05-20T22:42:00.011-04:00

... I almost don't even know where to begin.

In an effort to maintain my composure, which is quite difficult even in blog-post form, I'm going attempt to briefly summarize what we've been up to in our neck of the woods since you last heard from me.

It all began when I got the call last Sunday, Mother's Day, that my beloved grandfather had passed away. Though not a surprise that it happened, the shock of it was not as easy to deal with as one would expect. Chaotic plans were then made for me to take all the kids to South Bend, Indiana to attend the funeral. Plans that didn't include Matt, for he was finishing up his last few days at work so he could departing for the first leg of his unaccompanied tour this weekend.

Then, Monday was not only Grady's 3rd birthday, but it was also the day that the movers came for Matt's UAB (Unaccompanied Air Baggage). Of course, in true Perlman fashion, the majority of "stuff" that he needed was purchased from Costco and Target at the very last minute (also known as, the day before the movers came). Oh yeah, on Mother's Day. The one day that SHOULD have been my day to relax and enjoy. Not schlep. Or pack. Or spend the afternoon at Riley's re-scheduled softball game ...

Grady's birthday - our friend's gave him mustaches

Matt's pack-out

Anyway ... Monday, and the pack-out, and Grady's birthday came and went, and Tuesday quickly followed with our big trip to South Bend. I pulled the kids out of school, we arrived in Chicago around 1 pm where we met my brothers and my mom at the airport, I rented a minivan, and after hitting Starbucks and McDonald's, finally hit the road for the 2.5 hour drive.

While funerals are never easy, the three days with the family were truly fantastic. My girls had an absolute blast reconnecting with their cousins, staying up until the wee hours of the night, and building new relationships with cousins and aunties. It was worth every single minute of chaos.

Left: Me and most of my 1st cousins ... Right: Many of my 1st cousin's kids!

Until we tried to fly home.

United Airlines somehow "lost" the girls reservations, and couldn't get us onto our originally scheduled 6 pm flight. I'll admit that we DID arrive at the airport with very few minutes to spare. And yeah, we DID get stuck in a long security line, and then had to sprint through the airport with 4 carry-on bags, stroller, and CAR SEAT, all while wearing a pair of high heeled shoes. But we made it to the gate in PLENTY of time to board. That is, if they had 4 seats left. Which they didn't. Because, as they told me, they always oversell these flights, and despite having 4 paid-tickets, they only had 3 seats.

So we were bumped. Hopefully onto the next flight. Which was departing at 9:15 pm.

I wouldn't have had any issues with this, except they couldn't guarantee me that we'd get on this flight, nor did they even remotely make any accommodations for THEIR screw up. Such as give me meal vouchers for dinner or ask their manager to come over and pull a few strings. But as a seasoned flyer, a few terse words made with a smile through clenched teeth, and a 3 & 7 year old who completely melted down in a very busy terminal later, got us exactly what we needed.

Assigned seats on the next flight that was now delayed until 1 am.

I won't bore you with any more details of the insane 7 hours we managed to survive farting around the O'Hare airport ... I'll just show you that this is the time we pulled into our garage on Friday morning.

The rest of the weekend ... the LAST one before Matt departs on his year-long unaccompanied tour to Afghanistan ... was action packed. Appointments on Friday throughout the day. Dinner with friends on Friday night. Softball on Saturday. Laundry, packing, organizing and more Target runs for the pesky last minute items. Ending with an amazing evening that Matt enjoyed with the girls as he escorted them to the Girl Scouts Father / Daughter Dance at the their elementary school.

Which brings us to today. Sunday. What should be a day of rest. But there's no rest for the mother who is flying solo with three kids.

And though technically Matt leaves next Saturday afternoon for Afghanistan, he had to pack everything up before he departed this morning for his week-long training outside of Indianapolis. Because he's only flying through DC on a 16-hour layover. With just enough time to grab his stuff, do another few loads of laundry, and say his "real" goodbyes.

So wish us luck as we prepare for another hectic week. Endless doctor's appointments. Make-up homework and standardized testing at school. The painters finally getting to the kids rooms and the basement. I may even get around to filling you in on the many latest home improvement projects we've had going on here. Or finally comment publicly on Nipple-Gate, the craziest Foreign Service Blogging debacle I've EVER heard.

Until then ... stick a fork in me, because I am done!

Today ... He Is

2012-05-14T08:37:00.003-04:00

His birthday will forever be overly documented ... as it took FAR too long for him to get here.

But here he is now. At age THREE. In all his cuteness and glory. Keeping us laughing with the funny things he says. Like ... "Can I have some vezert" (dessert) ... "Hug me brudda" (brother) ... and "Take it easy man."

Tonight we will celebrate with a little cake and a lot of balloons. And break bread with our dearest friends from our tour in India who are here in DC for a few days.

Happy Birthday Little Man. We love you!

Though we'd love you even more if you'd begin to consider potty training ... just sayin!

The FS BRU ... Crazy Is the New Normal

2012-05-04T09:07:00.011-04:00

Anyone who knows me in real life, or who has read this blog more than a handful of times knows that my personal catch phrase is ... "There's never a dull moment here in the Perlman Household ... aka Casa de Chaos". I say it ALL. THE. TIME. In fact, when I looked back through my archives, I had to laugh when I realized that over 40 of my 650+ blog posts are completely focused around our family's chaos ... and more specifically, around moving, traveling with our kids, and life's little speed bumps.

I'm constantly running around, schlepping kids from here to yonder. Heading to Target or Wegmans or Costco several times each week. Someone is always melting down. There's a bottomless pit of laundry. I can't remember the last time we went on a road trip without someone barfing. And despite my best intentions, I leave WAY too many things until the last possible minute because I thrive under pressure.

At this point, I can't remember operating any differently. And frankly? I'm okay with it.

Since moving back to the States, our chaos compared to what we had overseas hasn't lessened. It's just changed. Instead of dealing with the idiosyncrasies of household staff, calculating the exchange rates on groceries and knick knacks, and packing up our UAB, HHE, and Consumables for yet another overseas location ... I'm maneuvering through community craziness, and over-committing. I'm learning my way around Northern Virginia's insane Routes and Highways. And I'm mentally preparing for Matt bidding on his next position - for the 4th year in a row!

In a nutshell, same sh*t, different country.

Of course, it helps to know that I'm not alone. And after reading all of the below submissions to this week's Blog Round-Up, you too will have the comfort of knowing that we're all nutty in this crazy lifestyle together.

Becky's at Small Bits's son embraces the chaos in his every day life.

Heather in Zimbabwe "Remembers When ..." Anyone with kids knows exactly what she remembers.

While this lifestyle brings a lot of chaos, Carla in Manila reminds us that it also provides creative ways to relax as well

Anyone who's gone through a pack out with the State Department knows that IS THE definition of chaos. Sara's pictures from Costa Rica to Manila proved this was no exception!

Sometimes even the most mundane things prove to be frenetic. Just read about Heather's attempt of riding the subway in Cairo.

Things you NEVER say to a woman ... "You're Overweight!" Let's just agree that Daniela in Delhi was less than pleased.

Getting kids ready for school in the morning is often like attempting to herd cats. Or in Erica in Iceland's case, monkeys.

Kate in Brasilia always keeps me in stitches ... figuratively speaking. Of course, her recent visit to the dermatologist had her literally in them. And her little dog too. Though, if I were her, I'd totally fire his fur-stylist. With his new 'do I think he'll be staying in doors for awhile.

April Showers is a phrase that just doesn't do this family justice. From EER time to school board commitments, a knee injury to Dengue Fever ... Life Is A Zoo In The Jungle have their hands full!

Stephanie in Hyderabad went for a run and encountered heat, traffic, and a naked man walking down the street. Oh the things you see in India!

Kolbi has to look at little tushies every time she leaves the house. And walk around droppings that one would think were left by animals ... though they'd be wrong!

Natasha is a brand spanking new FS Spouse and blogger. She and her husband are in a whirlwind few months of language training, changing careers, getting married, and now preparing to move overseas. Go wish her a hearty Mazal Tov!

Alexis's definition of chaos: moving to a new house in a new country where she had to speak a new language and start a new job all the while figuring out how to keep up with a new baby. Yup ... I'd say she's pretty darn accurate.

Nothing like a little butt-show at the doctor's office to have you realize you're not in Kansas anymore. Thankfully it wasn't HER butt ... though Emily in Romania did have fun at her latest OB appointment with a little condomania.

Lydia in Manama is going and feeling a little crazy and trying to jump back on the blogging bandwagon. Doesn't it always seem that the more time passes, the more things stay the same?

Babies are chaotic, right? A Postcard From just had her first one ... go checkout her little Birdie!

Jen is keeping her eye on the prize, all while preparing for her husband's departure way too soon!

Apparently all of us love Trader Joe's and flock there the minute we land back in country. However, THIS trip proved to be slightly more expensive than most for Jessica. Nothing like leaving the parking lot with groceries AND a fender bender.

Traveling with kids always provides chaos ... and good blog fodder. And leave it to Ana at Stumble Abroad in Indonesia to tell us how she averts as much of it as she can!

Donna just came on a whirlwind trip here to DC, and in less than four hours with a realtor, found a house. Of course, she may be eating ramen noodles for the next ten years if they accept her offer ...

Sadie in Saudi went on an amazing trip to the Parrotfish Festival ... and proved that men will do just about anything to get their picture taken!

Melissa in Jerusalem has 5 kids. Need I say more about her chaos?

Lisa in Tijuana's uterus spoke to the woman at Denny's. Does it speak to you too?

Crystal in Mali is currently on "Authorized Departure" in Michigan. If that isn't utter and complete chaos, I don't know what is!

With oodles of boys in her home, Shannon in Malawi always has great stories to tell. Of course they're always infinitely crazier when her husband out of town.

Anyone who has ever moved mid-tour knows exactly how Kelly in Vienna is feeling ...

We had a lot of great submissions this edition with many new-to-me bloggers. Thanks to all who sent in their links! The next FS BRU will be out on Friday, May 25th. With the optional talking point ... Honesty.

I want you to be honest with yourself and write something that has made you think. That has, dare I say it, almost scared you to have it published. Have you had a difficult time at post? Ever posted a recap of your tour? Want to talk about anything on your mind like ... cruddy neighbors? Medical issues? Unaccompanied tours? I've been reading a lot of wonderfully raw posts recently about people's true feelings of their assignments, their daily lives, things that make them tick. And it's refreshing. You get to really "know" someone when you "hear" them pour their heart out through their writing.

As always, never a need to write anything new ... unless you want to. Make sure to send me your links with a small blurb about it to thefsroundup@me.com by Monday, May 21st.

Until then ...

A Little Tile Goes A LONG Way

2012-05-02T10:38:00.001-04:00

It only took me 8 months to decide on the tile for the kitchen backsplash. And in the end, after visiting every tile store within a 25 mile vicinity, I finally made my selection.

White.

Oh the irony ...

Before

After

Somewhere In Bickersville ...

2012-04-24T09:08:00.000-04:00

... there's a place where chaos TRULY intersects

Coming In For Landing ...

2012-04-17T15:00:00.001-04:00

I let the girls play hooky from school for most of the day today. Not that I do it very often (or at all really ... because frankly, I like my alone time). But today was for a special occasion ...

... A once in a lifetime opportunity to watch the Space Shuttle Discovery come in for its final landing here at its new home in the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum in Chantilly, Virginia.

We dropped Grady off at school at 8 am, and then high tailed it over to the Udvar-Hazy museum, (which is fantastically located at the end of the Dulles airport runway), around 8:45 am, where we were hoping to be one of the 2000 cars to park and watch the landing up close and personal. Miraculously, we made it in and got a space, and by 9 am we parked and met our friends.

The excitement in the parking lot and around the museum was contagious. Everyone was holding cameras, iTouchs, cell phones, video cameras, anxious to catch a glimpse of the Space Shuttle Discovery attached to the top of the specially-modified 747.

Docents were circling the parking lot and continually informing everyone how many miles away the Shuttle was and how many minutes before flying by. Thankfully, we didn't have to wait as long as expected, as the Shuttle did its first of two fly-by's before 10 am.

It. Was. Spectacular.

The first fly-by was directly over head and before we even saw the Shuttle, we heard the roaring from the crowd above in the watch tower at the museum. Everybody craned their necks up, grabbed their cameras, and started cheering.

We had a bit of a break before the next fly-by as the Shuttle made its way over to DC, circling the National Mall and Monuments three times, before heading back towards Dulles to land.

For the second fly-by and the landing we moved up closer to the museum, which allowed us to have a higher vantage point and see the Shuttle directly over the trees. Amazingly, we couldn't have been more than a thousand'ish feet away.

It was SO close, it felt like you could touch it!

Riley took the below shaky video of the landing. Sheridan whined in the background. And I snapped a hundred or so photos ... opting NOT to crop the top of the trees out of the photo. Just to show you how close we really were!

What a fantastic day! How lucky were we to brave the crowds and experience this little piece of history.

2 minute video of the Space Shuttle coming in for landing.

L to R: First fly-by overhead ... Second fly-by ... Coming in For Landing

The FS BRU ... A Week Overdue, But Better Late Than Never ...

2012-04-12T22:40:00.002-04:00

In the 12+ years we've been in the Foreign Service, I can say without hesitation that hands down, one of THE biggest perks is the travel. No matter where you live in the world, the opportunities to hop in your car, relax on a train, or smush yourself into a cattle-call seat on an airplane are endless!

During our three overseas tours, we had the privilege of visiting fifteen different countries where we ... camped out in the Middle Eastern desert of Oman, rented a car and drove from France to Italy with our 15-month old daughter (and pregnant with our second), took the funicular railway in Budapest, went scuba diving in Thailand and Israel, shopped 'til we dropped in Singapore, hung out with friends in Dubai, and stayed in a spider-filled cottage on a coffee plantation in southern India.

Let's not forget that my kids have also had seen three of the Seven Wonders of the World: Petra, The Pyramids of Giza, and The Taj Mahal ... twice! Experiencing the stuff that most children only read about in history books.

L to R: Camping in the Omani desert ... Petra ... Venice

L to R: The funicular in Budapest ... Pyramids in Egypt ... Coorg, India

L to R: The marina in Monaco ... the Taj Mahal ... Singapore

As I read through everybody's posts, I realize that we (both personally and collectively) are / have been very fortunate to enjoy such wonderful adventures. It's probably one of the reasons we all joined this exciting lifestyle. Of course, over time I've found that friends and family back home, who have had to listen to our stories and tales and chaos, don't find it nearly as "normal" as we do when talking about our trips. I mean, who just packs their bags and hops on a plane to Singapore for a weekend because their daughter wanted to go to the zoo? Well ... about half of the families at our last overseas posting, that's who. But our non-FS friends? Not so much. Anyone else notice that it's hard at times to not sound like you're bragging about your lifestyle when you're home on your R&R's or in between posts on Home Leave? I'm sure this topic could garner quite a bit of discussion ...

I'm excited to reveal the many new submissions for this edition of the FS BRU ... which, admittedly, is a week late in publication ... due to life somewhat getting in the way. Anyone who had kids home during Spring Break understands exactly what kind of "life" I'm talking about. So, mea culpa for the delay.

But, before we get started, as a former pet owner, I would be remiss if I didn't discuss pet ownership and how it affects those of us who have taken a vacation while living overseas. From finding a pet sitter or local kennel before we travel, or to begin with, how our pets even make it to post. This topic about our furry friends has absolutely exploded within the State Department over the past few months, and I urge you to continue following along with your support.

At Post is a blog which features animals in the Foreign Service. People can email a photo of their FS pet with a back story, it will go on the blog, and it will be tweeted and sent on to United Airlines with a plea they waive their new pet shipping policies for us, as they do the military. The new FB group Fabulous FS Pets also has some links and ideas for the 'campaign'.

Sadly, Sadie Abroad found out the hard way how awful it is to lose a pet during transit, after having her beloved pup fly via cargo to her first overseas posting. Read her story and hope that this never happens to you!

Let's now get on with the show!

The Freelancing Researcher earned a nice break recently from his French class at FSI, and got the heck out of the DB bubble for a few days.

She may be pregnant now, but last year at this time, A Postcard From was hanging in Thailand. Maybe even drinking something a little more "fun" than water?

They say you can never really go back to a place you once served, for you look at it through a different set of eyes. Navigating Wonderland did just that last year on a vacation to a previous posting... and her realizations of what "was" and now what "are" really hit home.

Heather at The Wandering Drays took an amazing vacation this past January to Luxor. Can you say, jealous?

I love when I read about other people's scuba diving expeditions. I keep it in my lock box for when we start taking trips outside the US again. And this excursion by a newbie to the FS BRU, In-Flight Movie, in Belize is no exception. Hello gorgeous!

Adrian's son had the time of his life recently as he had the chance to be one of the ball boys at the last home game for the Wellington, New Zealand professional soccer team. He also spent time riding around in a helicopter with his mom. This guy is making THE most at his post!

Kids and Zoos DO go together ... which is why we try to visit them whenever we get the chance. And oddly enough, we've actually been to the zoo Like Nomads went to last year. In Budapest! It's as cool as she says ... and clicking on the picture in the post shows you all the other photos too!

A Zoo Life in Paraguay went on a cruise ... in the Caribbean. To two of my favorite places. WITH their kids. Oh what fun!!

And then there's Bali ... who wouldn't want to visit Bali? I mean ... it's BALI! With another newbie to the FS BRU, stumbleabroad tells us about a recent vacay they took. While pregnant no less. Are we seeing a theme here?

As someone who's lived there can totally agree that it's nice to get out of post ... our friend James at Hello Talalay managed to visit Kuala Lumpur to get a little world fix. Dude. It was needed!

Sometimes vacations are so amazing, that you don't really want to go back home. After visiting South Africa, Wanderings of a Cheerful Stoic, from Guinea, can definitely attest to that!

So when was the last time YOU rode an elephant? Carla Runs The World can tell you ... or moreover, show you!

Frankly, she really SHOULD be posted to Italy ... don't you agree?

Clothing is usually optional everywhere else outside America. It's not often you see it here ... as A Fisher Out Of Water recently did ...

Travel Orders, whose family is recently reunited (woo hoo) shares with us a trip they took back in December. Casa Del Papa in Ouidah, Benin is a popular weekend vacation spot for FSOs in both Cotonou and Lome.

While Melissa in Jerusalem is okay with staying put for awhile, she really wouldn't mind taking a vacation from laundry. Dude ... I'm SO there with you!

Re-reading past posts about vacations always gets the juices flowing. And of course, the Schlink Attack agrees that after visiting Austria, that they need another one of these. Oh me too lady ... me too!

You can't help but fall in love with Thailand. As Here, There and Everywhere agrees. See, I Told You!

Becky at Small Bits has way too many cool places to link up here ... so she kindly put them all in a post of her own. Oh and she added a photo of this rockin' orange rental car. Who doesn't think that's the cats meow?

It's the Most Wonderful Time Of The Year. Or Not. Really Matt... it isn't. Is it?

The last big vacation at post is always the most bittersweet. wife-mommy-woman just took hers in Costa Rica and can attest to that one!

I had to do a double-take to see what was so funny about this picture ... and then I realized exactly what it was. Nomads By Nature gave me the BEST laugh in this BRU ... holy backwards batman!

Cyberbones always takes the time to thoughtfully write about the latest topic. And today was no exception. Shannon discusses the past, present, and future vacations for this crazy spider-infested family!

While Emily may not be on vacation, staying here in DC sometimes sure does feel that way! Here they are on a recent trip to visit the Arlington Cemetery and the Tomb Of The Unknowns.

The next edition of the FS BRU will be out on Friday, May 4th, and the next Optional Talking Point Is ... Chaos!

As a mom to three kids, and a husband whose schedule is absolutely asinine, I find that I'm forever running in circles. I constantly refer to our family as Casa de Chaos ... and just KNOW that I'm not alone. So, help me feel a little better about my insanity by linking to a post where you admitted that you were just a wee bit frantic with something as well ... such as life, work, family, moving, where you live. Come on, admit to being ... normal!

Send your links to thefsroundup@me.com by Monday, April 30th.

Until then ...

Why Yes ... She IS A 'Member Of The Tribe' ...

2012-04-11T23:20:00.005-04:00

The William & Mary Tribe that is. And today was their very first game.

The girls have had several practices over the past month, and many of them even attended the softball camp offered during their Spring Break last week. But for a majority of the team, this was their first time playing softball. And frankly, they weren't quite ready for game day.

We showed up early thinking there would be time to warm up, but very few girls were there. Sure, the OTHER team was on the field. Looking slick in their matching long sleeve white t-shirts under their jerseys, their matching blue shorts and tall white socks. Practicing their pitching, their fielding, their batting.

Our Tribe? Well, they all straggled towards the field. Mere minutes before the game started. Wearing a bunch of mismatched shirts and sweatshirts under their jerseys, all different types of pants, their way-too-big hats falling into their faces. Oh and the whining. Don't. Forget. The. Whining.

"It's too cold."

"Can I play with my jacket on?"

"Why don't we cancel the game on account of the windy weather."

"Can you make sure my mom is watching me. Hey MOM, you're actually not watching me."

"I'm hungry."

"Can I sit out this inning?"

The coach made a wee bit of a mistake in telling the girls that there were only three innings ... when actually there were six. Normally not a big deal, except tonight it seemed like we reverted back to winter, with the wind chill and temperature hovering around 36 degrees. It was f*&^%#^ing cold outside.

For the first few innings I would have said that our team should have been called The Bad News Bears. There were a comedy of errors that had every parent smirking and giggling under their scarves and down jackets. The swinging high in the sky at every pitch. The dandelion picking in the outfield and cartwheels around the bases. They were awful. AWFUL.

But they were having fun. And that was all the mattered.

Until the 5th inning. When something in these girls snapped. Maybe it was the realization that if they just smacked the cr*p out of the pitches that they'd get home and out of the cold faster. Who knows. And who cares. They just started making contact with the ball. And they started scoring runs.

Three of them actually. To WIN the game! It was awesome.

Cold as hell. Flask-free. But awesome.

Here's to a great season!

Riley was the first batter on her team

She was also the first pitcher

Some of the girls on our team ... taking a good sportsmanship oath before the game.

Do You Hear That?

2012-04-10T11:55:00.004-04:00

Me either! That's because the kids are FINALLY back in school after Spring Break.

I can't say that it was a bad week off. Just a LONG ten days. With Matt out of town (of course!) for most of it. Everything that I had planned on accomplishing (like last week's FS BRU) fell to the wayside ... and every free moment I had was taken up by breaking up fights between the girls or chasing my almost 3 year old toddler around.

Here's what most of our week looked like ...

Love this neighborhood!

In other news, the Afghanistan band aid has been ripped off, and we finally told the kids about Matt leaving. We had been slowly working up to this announcement over the past few months, but decided to wait as long as possible to tell them as we know their concept of time isn't the best. We also didn't want to stress them out anymore than needed. Surprisingly, they took the conversation in stride and told us that they were totally okay with it, as long as they didn't have to move for another few years ... AND that Matt's next job would have him home for dinner with the family most nights. Fair enough for us!

Happy Tuesday. I'm going to go enjoy my last few hours of silence ...

But before I do, I HAD to tell you that Stella & Dot just unveiled their new summer collection. Hello gorgeous! Need a little retail therapy? Or something fun for Mother's Day. Check this out ... Stella & Dot. My favorite is the Palamino necklace ... just sayin'!

We Met Way Back In 2005 ...

2012-03-30T09:51:00.004-04:00

... they were the first friends I made when we moved to Tel Aviv. They had both just moved from Kuwait. We bonded over hummus and living in the Middle East.

Back then there were only 5 kids between us.

Of course, LOTS more boys were born since then. Including this special one who took a heck of a long time to get here. Remember this post about his adoption? It still makes me cry!

We've been through a lot together. Babies. Miscarriages. Moves. Unaccompanied tours. Family stresses. New jobs. Depression. Late night phone calls and Skype sessions. Lots and lots of tears ... both of sorrow and joy.

They all came over for dinner last night. And in just a few months, we'll all be reunited again here in the Northern Virginia area. Gatherings like these will happen far more regularly than every 4 years.

I talk so much about community ... and finding my village. Hot darn if these aren't exactly the kinds of friends that I base it all on!

Words can't even describe how blessed I feel today...

I Really Do Wonder ...

2012-03-29T13:37:00.006-04:00

... what the &$@*#%! goes through her head?

...

I downloaded these from her iTouch today.

Damn that girl is funny!

Success!

2012-03-28T10:08:00.004-04:00

Last Saturday from 11 am - 2 pm, thirty women traipsed through my house snacking on nibbles and trying on jewelry.

Neighbors and dear friends from near and far came over to see what the buzz of Stella & Dot is all about.

I sold ... A LOT ... and I loved every minute of it. I forgot what the feeling of accomplishment felt like. Pretty. Darn. Good.

Schmoozing. Entertaining. Sparkly jewels? I think I found my calling!

The FS BRU ... With Whine AND Cheese

2012-03-23T00:01:00.006-04:00

On a cloudy Monday morning, about a month ago, I took to Facebook for a mini pity party. We had just finished a busy weekend, celebrated Riley's birthday, and yet I was still feeling "off".

I wrote ... "Struggling with my inner pity party ... and the feeling that I'm just a fish out of water. After 6 months of living here, this social butterfly is not really adjusting to having many acquaintances, but VERY few friends."

Within minutes, the comments started rolling in on Facebook. My phone didn't stop ringing. The texts and emails had my iPhone pinging with messages all day long. Some were as brief as, "I'm your friend." Many said, "it took me awhile when I moved too." But most of them were beautifully written notes from friends all over the world telling me, "I relate. I feel the same way. I'm often lonely as well."

As I sat and read all the correspondence I realized that a majority of them had one thing in common. They were written by friends in the Foreign Service. Acquaintances who I know through Facebook who've felt a common kinship. Dearest friends who've moved far away and haven't found that special someone or someone's with whom they've clicked. Bloggers alike who know exactly what to say at just the right time.

And it brings me back full circle to what I've been talking about since I rekindled this FS BRU. Community. We ARE a community. A slightly dysfunctional family of sorts. But one I wouldn't trade for the world.

Like moths to a flame, we foreign service bloggers are attracted to each others words and wisdom. We seek out writing that speaks to us because its personal, or professional, because it's witty, or well known. We build friendships. And overtime, close bonds. We "get" each other. We get "it."

Which is why, when you get to finally meet someone in real life, who you've been following and corresponding and laughing with over many, many years, you jump at the chance. When she is only in town for a few short days, but makes the time to see you, you drop everything and go. And when you see each other across the hotel lobby, you laugh and hug, and both exclaim, "you look exactly like your picture." Because they do. She does. Only you get the sound of her voice with her smile. You hear the intonation and inflection of her words. You understand the meaning behind her stories. And for the four and a half hours you're together, you're truly comfortable.

Donna is just as beautiful and skinny in real life as she is in her pictures. A seasoned DS spouse, she's lived all over the world with her family. She's a Russian speaking guru. She's wicked smaht with a witty sense of humor. She's a wealth of knowledge. Donna loves a good challenge. Remember when we packed out from Chennai almost two years ago? With an extra kid, she STILL came in with less than 500 pounds than we did on her packout from Beijing. And who can forget when Matt had the little issue with his plane ticket on his second R&R from Iraq? Donna was there to help me out when I frantically emailed her from the airport here in Virginia.

It's these kinds of bonds that we make in the foreign service which keep us energized. Excited. At home. It's why I spend the hours upon hours doing this FS BRU. Because after 12+ years in this lifestyle, I understand the importance of our community. Of staying connected, despite living here in D.C. now rather than in some exotic location. Of sharing stories and ideas, complaints and heartaches. Of being honest. And real. And a wee bit mouthy.

These associations are our building blocks. Our foundation. And if cultivated just right, turn into meaningful relationships. Where the virtual hugs you receive from your pity party on Facebook mean more than you'd ever begin to describe. And the people who merely started as blogging buddies, turned from acquaintances to dear friends.

This week's Round Up was a wee bit light on the submissions, which I'm sure is partly due to my refusal to nag ... but hey! By now I know that people have the email address and know that all it takes is a few seconds to send me a link to thefsroundup@me.com, with a brief description of your latest posting. Easy peasy, right?

Narra at Five G's in Guadalajara, Mexico is actually a friend of a friend ... and is new to the BRU this time. She posts here about things that make her happy at her first overseas locale.

Sadie in Saudi Arabia has taken some fantastic trips and has really made the most of her current assignment. She recently went to Madain Saleh and the Hejaz Railway, one of Saudi's most treasured historic sights.

Like the other commenters on this post, I have no idea how this photo was taken. But Nomads by Nature in Maputo always has great ones like this on their blog!

Kolbi gives us a fabulous reminder.

Ever wanted to trade places with another FS family for a few weeks? Well Oh The Many Places We Will Go is doing JUST that. They're heading to Tijuana and swapping houses with another A-100 classmate. Sound fun? Heck-to-the-yeah!

They went from snow to collecting seashells and almost surfing in just two days! This is what's been cooking with Melissa in Jerusalem!

Oh the money pit of owning a dog ... especially if you're going to be flying to post with one soon. Claudia at Many Hemispheres has an upcoming surgery to pay for AND an airline ticket to Saudi in a few months. Wish her luck!

Sarah at by the where? just got their next assignment. Check out where they're going next! Holy cow ... no pun intended!

James in Chennai shows us one place you wouldn't think of dumping garbage. Unless you live in India.

Emily at Our Life is just as adorable in person as she is here...

Erica in Iceland introduces us to a local Icelandic designer, and tells us what true northern fashion is all about.

Kelly at Well, That Was Different takes us on a hike and nature walk through Austria. She even shows us what "Extra Hell" looks like.

Alex has been thinking a lot about this past posting ... and what it's like to be An American Abroad.

Jen's daughter just celebrated the BIG birthday ... you know, the one that finally puts her in double digits!

As someone who's lived in India, it's good to prepare your checklist early. Like Daniela has done! Need some ideas on what to do prior to moving ... check this out.

Digger at Life After Jerusalem reminds us about the issues pet owners in the Foreign Service are dealing with on United Airlines, and urges everyone to speak out about these inequities.

You just have to laugh out loud at Shannon in Malawi's sons and the gross bugs they play with. Or you'd cry.

And Kate, at Pulling Stakes shows us how Karma is a truly b*tch!

The next edition of the FS BRU will be out on Friday, April 6th. Just prior to Easter. And for those of us who have kids, towards the tail end of spring break. SO, the optional talking point this week is ... vacations!

Tell me about a recent trip. Link to one of your favorite vacation destinations. Make us all drool with envy. You don't need to re-write anything ... simply send me a link, with a blurb about where you went, and I'll do the rest. Pictures posts are always best. Let us all see where we should be going on our next R&R.

Send me your links to thefsroundup@me.com by Monday, April 2nd.

Until next time ...

There's Never A Dull Moment Here ...

2012-03-22T09:08:00.008-04:00

... at Casa de Chaos. Though, with my thyroid out of whack for the past few weeks, coupled with the minor stress of last Thursday's doctor's visit, I haven't quite been up to blogging about all of it.

Until now. Here's what's been happening in our neck of the woods.

Grady started swim lessons

Riley went ice skating with her Girl Scout Troop. And the girls had a "Dress Up As Your Favorite Book Character" day at school. Can you guess who they are?

We went on an excursion to the US Naval Academy in Annapolis with some friends.

Sheridan went a little crazy sending me texts from her iTouch

One of Matt's dearest college friends came to visit us while on a business trip from Mexico. The last time we saw him was 9 years ago in New York City!

Self portraits ... from the radiology office just prior to my mammogram.
And after I dyed my own hair. Look ma, no more grays!

Matt's birthday celebrations. Homemade cookie cake. And another dear friend in town who we haven't seen since Grady was just a few weeks old!

Riley started softball. Here she is at her first practice.

And Grady proved that he really does have a hard head ... especially when he bonks it with another kid in his class. Hello bruise!

Stay tuned ... there's more chaos to come now that we have Sheridan's soccer schedule, Matt's Afghanistan training schedule, the kids spring break schedule, and of course, my new job!

Are You Calling My Boob Fat?

2012-03-15T13:50:00.003-04:00

I just returned from my morning of medical appointments. You know ... the one we've all been waiting for. My mammogram. Where they smushed my boobies flat like pancakes. Or to be more 'haute cuisine', like crepes.

It was a long visit. From waiting an additional half-hour due to technician training in one exam room, to needing additional imaging.

I tried to keep Matt in the loop by texting him every so often letting him know what was going on. He was fine for the first hour, reading his magazine and people watching. But by the end of the second hour I received a message from him saying he was about to resort to violence if he had to listen to any more soft rock ballads.

The mammogram went fine. I mean, as fine as standing in a gown with your boobs exposed to a stranger wearing plastic gloves can be. The technician took two images of each breast, placing me in positions that no woman should ever have to be subjected without getting paid.

It was relatively quick and painless, albeit slightly embarrassing, and within ten minutes I was sent back to my changing room waiting for the next steps. Twenty minutes later, the doctor reviewing my films said that she did see something on the screen, and I now needed to have an ultrasound. Off to the next room we went.

The ultrasound took much longer as the doctor spent a lot of time reviewing my previous mammogram images and comparing them to the lump she saw. She poked, fondled, grabbed and inspected and in the end felt sure that she had the correct diagnosis.

I have a Lipoma ... which is a slow-growing lump made up of fat cells. They are a common, benign, non-cancerous type of slow growing tumors. Usually detected in middle age.

And there's nothing I need to do except watch it and have yearly mammograms.

But wait, there's more!

After getting the good news about my "girls" ... we THEN went to see my Endocrinologist because my Thyroid has been out of whack again due to the increased dosage, and I switched again from hypothyroid to hyperthyroid. Oye! Moreover, the symptoms of the excess Synthroid were causing me to have anxiety, heart palpitations, EXCESSIVE fatigue, and AWFUL chest pain. I. am. getting. old.

So, after waiting for an hour in HIS office, reviewing my latest blood work, and readjusting my Synthroid dosage, I am finally able to exhale a huge sigh of relief.

I'm healthy.

But since my boobs are fatty, I'm going to put them on a strict diet.

Now let the celebrations of Matt's birthday begin!

Working 9 to 5 ...

2012-03-06T10:55:00.005-05:00

So the exciting news on my front is ...

I GOT A JOB!!

A REAL job that pays REAL money (unlike the mom-gig which for the last 9 years has been paying me with gray hair, stained clothes, and peanut butter kisses).

I recently signed on to be a Stylist with Stella & Dot, and I couldn't be more excited.

I'll be selling jewelry ... funky, fun, fresh jewelry. It's so me, right? And I can work from home, making my own hours. Which is almost too good to be true!!

Stella & Dot's boutique-style jewelry and accessories are available exclusive through in-home Trunk Shows by Independent Stylists and online. When I went to my first one back in January, it was love at first sight. I walked out of there with several pieces, but I wanted the entire collection.

So over the next few weeks I spoke with the Stylist from the party to discuss the job details, emailed a few friends who I knew could help me get this new endeavor going, and signed on. Seriously, the jewelry just sells itself!

I'm holding my launch show here in three weeks. And am already setting up Trunk Shows with friends all over the Northern Virginia area and beyond. Want to book one yourself to earn upwards of hundreds of dollars in free jewelry? It's EASY. And it costs nothing... I'll do most of the work!

Go take a peek. Get excited with me. And when you're thinking of that perfect piece of jewelry for your friend, your daughter, your mom, shop away. Items are wrapped and shipped in adorable orange and blue boxes that will delight even the pickiest of people!

Happy Shopping!

The FS BRU ... Don't Worry, Be Happy!

2012-03-02T00:01:00.003-05:00

“Happiness often sneaks in through a door you didn’t know you left open.” ~ John Barrymore

Happy, an adjective described in the World English Dictionary, means feeling, showing, or expressing joy; pleased. It originates from the 1520s as “good fortune,” from happy + ness.

But what does happiness REALLY mean? How do we quantify or qualify it? More importantly, how does one really know when someone else is happy? Do they need an emoticon at the end of their sentence like ... :), :0, :0) ... or goodness forbid LOL to prove it?

As we move around frequently in the Foreign Service, I find it SO easy to become bogged down in the bureaucratic quagmire and complain about unhappiness ... rather than stay positive and revel in what’s going right. Misery loves company, eh?

But as we all settle in to this new year, into new posts, or finish up a mild winter like we’re having here in DC, I thought it was time to have a little kumbaya moment. Where we stop, look around, and take stock in that which is important. Something I’m very guilty of not doing very often ...

While reading everybody’s posts below, I am reminded why we decided to join the Foreign Service so many years ago. It takes an adventurous family to be able to pack up their belongings, say goodbye to those who are near and dear, and move all over the world, with kids and animals and chaos in tow. Sometimes we move to wonderful postings ... sometimes to third world dumps with amazing personnel. Like a box of chocolates, you never quite know what you’re going to get.

The one constant you’ll see in this edition of the FS BRU, is that no matter how or what anyone thinks about their current assignment, when asked to stop and smell the roses, we all can. And DO. For we always manage to find the diamonds in the rough.

"What we see depends mainly on what we look for" ~ Sir John Lubbock

Everyone seems to enjoy living in Manila. And Carla is no exception. Take a look at her long list of likes ... and pictures of her apartment.

Erica loves the autumn in Iceland. Take a look at her beautiful volcano photos!

Becky, a local FS’er is soaking up the mild-winter sun with the rest of us. And reveling in all that NoVa has to offer. Sometimes you forget just how much there really is!

It may have taken some time, but Naoma has truly found her happiness in Kenya.

Camille discovered that chewing on a pile of penises (or is the plural peni?) will make anybody happy in Djibouti.

Kelly is happy in Vienna. But not necessarily for the reasons you’d think ...

If I could eat Chinese food every single day for the rest of my life, I’d be totally content. Chelsea in Shenyang thankfully likes it too! But there’s a whole lot more to this town to read about. Who’d want to bid out after this ringing endorsement ...

Zoe is completely in her element in Milan. Just look at all the amazing links she included here. Sure she has the occasional bad day ... but it can be negated with this type of scenery. Hello gorgeous!

Caitlin in Bogota has five ‘nice surprises’ about Bogota that everybody should know!

James is able to point out several things showing the beauty of Chennai. One of them being jasmine in the hair ... a daily ritual for most women!

Oh the things that you will see in Recife, Brazil. Ogles and Observations shows us the Frevo dancers in the city center. There’s even a video to watch it. WOW!

Crystal is able to find the good in just about anything! While people may complain that they have a shower smack dab in the middle of their bathroom, Crystal can tell you why it’s such a godsend to have in Mali.

Sadie is one well-traveled lady. Who has made the absolute most of her time in Riyadh. Thinking of a post in the Middle East? It definitely sounds like it could be for you!

Taking time for ourselves is never easy, but it’s something we should do every once in awhile! Heather in Cairo is doing just that by focusing on her goals of running more and eating less. Watch out ... she just may become The Biggest Loser.

It’s a small world after all ... and Sara loves that about Costa Rica.

Another one of my peeps here in Northern Virginia tells us why she is having a ball. Claudia is soaking it up too knowing that she’s heading out to their first overseas post later this summer.

Emily in Romania shows us one of her best delightful finds while in Bucharest. Mmmmm...

After a year at post, Lisa is able to detail what she has learned so far about Tijuana. Oh the food alone would have me there in minutes!

I read a lot of blogs. A LOT of them. And there are very few who has been this excited and positive about a posting from the very first day they landed. Life After Jerusalem is in LOVE with Tallinn, and I’m sure you can see why!

Shannon has a hell of a lot of creepy crawlies at her post, which would NOT make me happy. But when you look at her garden ... her AMAZING garden ... it almost makes up for it!

If you’ve ever wanted to travel to or live in Moscow, looking at these pictures and laundry list from Verdant Voyages about why it's so fantastic, will have you bidding on it next cycle!

Eve’s table settings and gorgeous party menu make her a woman after my own heart! She is definitely making the most of her time in Luanda ...

Like most of us, Bfiles loves the beaches in the Dominican Republic. But that’s not all that makes her happy.

David is studying French at FSI, and anxiously awaiting his upcoming tour in Togo. Here’s what keeping him busy these next few months.

Some of the nicest things about living in the Northern Virginia area are the opportunities to share where we’ve lived and what we’ve done with our new friends. Jen and her family did just that at Thinking Day.

Nothing makes me happier than reading about people loving where they live and more importantly, their neighbors. Thank goodness the Sherwood family in Azerbaijan does both!

You’ll always hear me talk about community because I feel that it is the single most important thing we bloggers can provide to each other. And as you can see from Catherine, who is dealing with a bit of a medical issue, she agrees too!

It was love at first sight for spectrummymummy and South Africa, and that feeling just keeps growing!

I miss Israel. And reading about how Melissa loves Jerusalem, makes me miss it even more!

Okay, I’ll admit that I had to look up where The Marshall Islands were. But I’m so glad I did. Because just like Jamie, I’m quite sure I'd be happy to live there too!

When you think about Brussels, what’s the first thing that comes to your mind? I would have said rain ... but that’s not what Sunny mentions. It’s the chocolates. Of COURSE it’s the chocolates ...

Safaris makes Nomads by Nature happy. FREE ones make her even happier! Just don’t call anyone stupid ... *wink*

Kolbi has been a content little bee since she arrived in Chengdu. From venturing out into the community and documenting all that's going on about town. To going back to school and actually enjoying all her classes!

"If you search the world for happiness, you may find it in the end, for the world is round and will lead you back to your door." ~ Robert Brault

Number of times I used Happy in this post: 20

Number of Synonyms I used for the word Happy: 30

Number of times I used thesaurus.com to find another word for Happy: at least 15

Number of times I re-read this posting to see how corny it sounded that I over-used the words Happy, Amazing, Enjoy and Love: too many to admit

The next FS Round Up will be published on Friday, March 16th. We're taking a break and there will be no optional talking point for the next edition. So just send me your links to any posting, with a quick blurb about what it is, by Monday, the 12th. thefsroundup@me.com.

Until then. Stay ~~fantastic~~ ~~amazing~~ ~~enjoyable~~ ~~lovely~~. Stay happy.

I Have A Lump

2012-02-29T09:09:00.003-05:00

I have a small, pebble sized lump in my right breast, that was confirmed yesterday at my way-overdue annual exam.

And I am nervous.

I've known about this lump for a few months, having found it during one of my monthly breast exams. But with my background of breast reductions seventeen years ago, I never gave it much thought. Scar tissue was what I chalked it up to be. Maybe a cyst. Nothing more.

The reality though is that I'm at "that age." That mystical number that suddenly has you microscopically examining every nook and cranny of your body ... all while envisioning your mortality ... and contemplating Botox and Restylane to help you look the age you feel.

Unlike my past medical history, where I never mentioned anything until after I got the confirmation that all was okay, I want to talk about this.

Despite feeling, (and dare I say knowing), that in my heart of hearts all is going to be just fine. That it's probably nothing. I got spooked when the nurse told me within mere seconds of my exam, that she absolutely felt where and what I was talking about. It surely doesn't negate my anxiety of waiting to get my mammogram. It certainly won't stop the "what-if" fairy from making a daily pit-stop in my head.

So until I have my mammogram, (incidentally scheduled on Matt's birthday), when finally I take the films from my previous one and have them compared to this new one, I'll be breathing a little heavier. For patience is NOT my long suit ...

I'll also be reminding you to check your boobs. Because despite how youthful we all feel and look. I'm just 38 years young.

And I found a lump.

Filed Under "Things You Never Thought You'd Hear Yourself Say" ...

2012-02-23T18:14:00.003-05:00

... to your SON.

"Grady!" "SIT STILL and let your nails dry." "I do NOT want you getting yellow nail polish on the carpet."

Whatever. At least he didn't ask for red ...

When I Say "THAT CHILD" ...

2012-02-22T14:28:00.003-05:00

We ALL know who I'm talking about.

The spicy one. Who always provide me with gray hair and blog fodder.

The one, who as you can see below, ensures that my nails will forever stay clipped short, so when I grab her arm tightly when she throws fits like she details below ...

... will never pierce the skin.

Modern Family

2012-02-20T00:48:00.002-05:00

With a very busy Saturday planned, I decided to hop into the shower while Matt was monitoring Grady playing on my iPhone in our bed.

However, this is what I saw when I walked back into our bedroom. The rest of the clan was now there, and they were all so engrossed they DIDN'T EVEN NOTICE when I walked right by them and snapped a few photos ... or that I had been gone for twenty minutes showering!

The FS BRU ... You Ought To Be In Pictures

2012-02-17T00:15:00.004-05:00

It didn’t take but a few seconds to decide which picture I wanted to showcase in this week’s FS Round Up. It is actually our favorite photo ever taken ... with such an incredible story behind it.

Oman offers some of the most hair-raising cave exploration in the world. One of the famous caves is the Majlis al Jinn (Meeting place of the Spirits), of which Matt and four of his friends had the most exciting and challenging adventures of their lives, as they repelled down it on March 10 - 11, 2005.

This cave is difficult to negotiate and involves two drops, one of 160 meters and the second of 120 meters. To enter the cave, one must be lowered down on a free-hanging rappel. The find at the end of these drops is well worth the effort as the Majlis Al Jinn is a half-domed cave measuring 60,000 square meters -- the second largest cave in the world after the Sarawak Chamber in Malaysia's Borneo region. To get a better idea of its size, imagine that the Majlis al Jinn could easily accommodate the Great Pyramid of Giza.

Preparing for this cave trip was no easy matter. The guys had four separate training sessions before the guide would "allow" them to go. During these training sessions they learned how to strap themselves into their safety harnesses , how to change ropes, and how to ascend and descend on the ropes using technique rather than muscle. The training sessions lasted approximately 2 hours, and Matt came home each time exhausted and bruised.

Majlis al Jinn is located in a remote region of the Eastern Hajar Mountains, and is a 3 hour drive outside of Muscat, over some rough terrain. They got there by 5 pm, they set up camp, unpacked the car, and had their first glance at the cave. Looking at this small hole in the ground you wouldn't have any idea that what lies beneath is a cavern SO large that it could accommodate five 747 airplanes standing from tail to nose on top of each other, or that it goes as far down as a 50-story building.

The early sunrise and excitement of the next day had the guys up and around by 6:30 am. By 8 am they were all dressed, and by 9 am they were ready to begin their descent. Matt said that while the training classes prepared you to comfortably maneuver up and down on the ropes, it doesn't prepare you for the utter shock and awe you have once you're lowered into the cave and suddenly realize how damn high up you are. It is so high that you can't tell that the little pebbles seen below are actually large boulders. Matt's life briefly flashed before him as he realized that the only thing between life and death was the one thin rope hammered into the rocks above. It took everyone about 1/2 hour to descend into the cave. As Matt and his friend John went down at the same time, they passed the camera back and forth and took photos of each other. Matt also took several photos both above and below to show the volume and magnitude of the cave chamber.

The inside of the Majlis al Jinn is spectacular, so much so that National Geographic Magazine did a piece on it in March, 2004. Once you arrive in the cave, there's a book for everyone to sign and a place to leave a piece of memorabilia behind. The guys spent about 1 1/2 hours in the cave taking in the tranquility and admiring the scenery, and shooting lots of photos before they began their long ascent back to the top.

While it took them only 20 minutes to descend, it took each climber over an hour to ascend back to the top. Matt likened it to performing a succession of squats and pull-ups for over an hour. At times it felt like he was not making much progress. However, by 3 pm everyone was up at the top, a little bruised, bloodied, and battered, but glad to be alive. The SUV's were repacked, and the guys wound their way back to Muscat for a much needed rest .

A few additional interesting facts about the Majlis al Jinn. In the book at the bottom of the cave for everyone to sign, there are only about 100 names or so. Additionally, no Omani has ever been down in the cave as they fear the spirits (or Jinn) that are believed to haunt the chamber. The term "Genie" is derived from the Arabic word Jinn... You can check out a compilation of photos of his trip on Shutterfly at http://tinyurl.com/7jnwnxk

I chose this optional topic because those who know me in real life know I never EVER leave home without my camera. I either have my iPhone, my little point and shoot, or my Canon SLR on me at all times. I document everything. My kids. Funny signs around town. Hysterical outfits. My pictures are my life. And as you can see from the massive number of FS bloggers who submitted posts to me this week ... it looks to be their lives too!

The Saunders Family shows us that The Royal Ascot Goat Race is the biggest “who’s who” social event of the year in Kampala, Uganda. Everyone is dressed to the nines and in their most outrageous hats. It is definitely an African version of the Kentucky Derby!

Heather in Zimbabwe has some amazing animal photos ... which is obviously what happens when you do back to back tours in Africa!

There are SO many crafty people in the FS. The Committed Stitcher is a newcomer in Chisinau to the FS BRU and her blog all about Stitching.

Tabbies In Tow has some funny street signs in Colombia. Can you figure out what this is?

Denise in Dhaka is a woman after my own heart, always carrying her camera with her too! With tons of opportunities each day to snap photos ... here are a few around town.

Daniela’s recent trip to the Newseum in DC brought back floods of memories from her life back in Bulgaria ... and saw a picture that wasn’t meant to be.

Nothing like the insanity of shopping for a consumables posting to brighten up your day. Go take a look at the Sherwood Family Nonsense’s pantry in Azerbaijan. Wow!!!

Hello Talalay is in my old stomping grounds in India! Here’s a sign taken on vacation ... with clearly no explanation needed!

Sadie continues her travels in Jordan with a trip to Wadi Rum and Aqaba. After seeing these I’m so bummed we didn’t get a chance to make it there while living in Israel.

Alix shows us how amazing her daughter is at Tae Kwon Do, recently testing for her white belt. She also lets us in on a little secret ... that she kicked a** at the same age ... with a picture of herself cutting a watermelon with a sword to prove it!

Kelly in Vienna will never disappoint us with her pictures. Make us jealous ... absolutely. Here she re-visits her old haunts in Prague. Dredging up memories while snapping away!

Lisa in Tijuana has a lot of thing she wishes for ... including a pony. Doesn’t she look good sitting on a pony?

Families get to do some pretty exciting things at post. Melissa’s son at was recently baptized in the Sea of Galilee. How many of his friends can say that?

Have you ever noticed the absurdly large cameras and glamour photography culture of China? Well Danielle at Hot Pot sure has ...

Digger, at Life After Jerusalem, who authors probably THE most popular blog within the FS, with THE most expansive blogroll, shares with us just how creative she has to be with editing her lists. Can someone please send her more hats and mittens because it’s flipping freezing in Estonia right now!

Becky at Small bits is one positive chica and always manages to focus on the beauty in the experience.

She may have WANTED to do it, but since there was a sign there, Kristin from There Is Fun To Be Done!!, who was on vacation in Indonesia, decided against it ...

In honor of the upcoming presidential election, Anne, at adventures of a freckle faced girl, in Conakry, is pretty sure she knows who the Guinean people would vote for ... if only they could vote in the US.

I’m so glad I’m not the only one who loves documenting the experiences our kids have growing up in the FS lifestyle. Jackie at the Pryor Adventures in Laos sent in a photo of her daughter riding in an old boat down the Mekong River in Luang Prabang. Seriously, how many of us actually know where that is? A-ma-zing!

I’ve been an avid fan of Connie’s for years, and I’ve yet to come across anyone’s cats who are spunky as hers. So much so that she had to write a note to them!

Adrian in Wellington, New Zealand sent in a photo of the USA team and their cheerleaders for the Wellington Sevens rugby tournament. And dogs. It’s a Mardi-Gras like celebration that is quite off color. How much so? Well ... check out his latest posting!

Sarah at Verdant Voyages proves to us that we will do just about anything for our beloved pets. Including dressing them in snow gear to take him outside in the negative temps just to let him do his business.

Hats off to Melissa at V for VonHinken for sending in such a glorious photo from the Fourth of July here in DC.

You can always count on Shannon in Malawi to both WOW us with her incredible photos from her safaris ... and skeeve us out with her creepy crawly photos taken in her own back yard.

Heather in Cairo shows us one of her favorite family photos ... along with the joys of driving around Cairo. Her reminder? No matter what, you don’t have the right of way.

Crystal, of the Briden Bunch, an amazing lady who so generously schlepped my husband around Kuwait 1.5 years ago, sent in some photos that her dad took while recently visiting them in Mali.

As Jen prepares to send her husband off to Afghanistan in a few months, it brings back memories of her first attempted unaccompanied tour in Iraq... you all know the rest of the story. Jen’s favorite photo of Pete is where he's hugging her little guy in the airport. But my favorite is him kissing the iMac during a Skype session.

The B Files in the Dominican Republic is learning how to entertain in the FS. Stop on by and give her some tips for her future parties!

Nicole is packing out and leaving Brazil in a few weeks. Come check out her nifty count down calendar that she made for her son ... a useful tip for toddlers preparing for a big move!

Speaking of Brazil, my friend Kate at Pulling Stakes is really flirting with him lately. She even went so far as to pass a note to him in class and totally ask him if he’ll “go with her”. So Junior High school. So hilariously!

Kolbi, the queen of photography, left it up to me to decide which photo to post. Which gave me full authority to include my favorite. She's always so critical of herself in photos ... which, when you look at this photo can't quite understand why. I love this one of her not just because she's beautiful, but rather because she's genuinely happy.

Which leads me to the next FS Round Up to be published on Friday, March 2nd. The optional talking point is "Something that makes you happy at your CURRENT posting."

We know that it's not always peaches and cream here in the Foreign Service. Sometimes things happen that really have you shaking your fist in the air, or pulling out another box of kleenex. But there has to be something that you like. Something that makes you smile. Whether it's the ability to walk to your local coffee shop, ice cream shop, grocery store. Or having wonderful weather, the ability to go snow skiing, or to jetset to exotic locations.

Send me a posting where you can show us all a time that you and your family were truly happy. Don't bother writing a new entry unless you REALLY want to. I'm sure there's something in your archives that oozes with positivity. Of course, feel free to send me a link to just your blog if you just can't find anything happy to showcase. thefsroundup@me.com

Also, if you're an FS blogger and you're on Facebook but aren't in the FS blogger group, find me, friend me and I'll add you in. Many people post there regularly and I want to make sure that you get the notices.

Oh yeah, one last thing. If you're in DC, remember that there's an FS blogger meet-up happening Saturday evening from 4:30 pm - 7:30 pm at the Oakwood Falls Church. RSVP to Becky at smallbitsfs@yahoo.com if you can make it. I'll be there and I'm schlepping the family along ... come say hello and break bread with your fellow "family".

Until next time ... keep snapping away!

Meet Berry and Azulia ...

2012-02-15T14:36:00.005-05:00

... the newest members of the Perlman household.

They are my, ~~Matt's~~, the girls betta fish. Also known as Siamese Fighting Fish. Because apparently, we don't have enough fighting going on in our house already.

These "pets" were earned because both girls got straight A's on their latest report cards. So last Saturday we went to Petco where they each got to pick out their own bowl, fish, plant and rock color.

Of course, it would have been FAR easier, and much less expensive if we were able to get just one tank, and put both fish together. Except the kicker about owning betta fish is that they can't be put together because they're aggressive ... and you know ... will fight and possibly kill each other.

Much like the girls attempted to do when they had to share a room.

So double the price of everything later, we left the store with a laundry list of do's and don'ts for the girls to remember. Do change the water every week or two. Don't feed them more than 2 - 3 times a week. Do condition the water every time you change it. Don't put the fish together when you change the water.

Lots of things for the girls to remember. Because, you know, they ARE going to be taking care of the fish themselves since they ARE their fish. Right?

Of COURSE right. In fact, they are SO attentive that I'm actually worried that the fish aren't going to die from lack of care. They're going to meet an early demise because of either over feeding or over handling. I mean, how much can these poor fish stand to have their bowls shaken by a 7 & 9 year old to ensure that they're still alive? Or worse, from a 2.5 year old!

We've been told that the lifespan for these betta fish are 2 - 3 years. And with any luck they will be.

Just as long as I'm able to flush a floater while the girls are at school and replace it by 3pm.

L: Azulia ... named after the color blue and our favorite Lebanese restaurant

R: Berry ... named because of a mixture of the fish's raspberry, blueberry, and blackberry coloring. And not difficult at all to replicate should this fish die young ... right?

Today She Is ...

2012-02-12T21:26:00.006-05:00

... NINE!

I wanted to write something pithy. Tell a funny story or two. Show a few photos of her growing up. But I just couldn't seem to find the perfect thing to say to my beautiful baby girl on her very special day.

And though we had to postpone her birthday lunch due to a very sick girlfriend ... the rest of her day turned out perfectly! Manicures. Homemade cupcakes. Girl Scout meeting at the house. Dinner with a bestie. What more could she ask for?

Happy birthday Riley. We love you...