Gosh, I have been quiet this week.

Totally unintentionally. I can't even really explain why. But I've just got a whole lot of photos of my memory card, so I can share.

Here are some photos from my lovely mothers day lunch on Sunday...the last of the really good weather before it turned cool again. We've had wild thunderstorms and lots of rain this week (getting me prepared for Norway next week-the cold that is).

On Monday Remi had the 5th grade track meet with other schools from the area. The longest race was only 400m...he got a 4th in that, a 5th in the standing broad jump and a 2nd in the 400m relay. It had been quite sunny that day and klike a good mother I sent him off with sunscreen only to have him come home with a rash on his face and arms. He has your genes mum! We also went to see Oscar's spring concert which was really good. 6th, 7th and 8th grade bands and they have all improved so much since we saw them at the winter concert. Kit was watching all the drummers like a hawk and has decided that that is what he wants to play (kind of fitting with his name really)...any suggestions how to start him off without a full drum kit, Dad? (He has your genes!!!) Oscar was great...improved so much and it was a really good night. I enjoyed the music...the 8th graders even played my favourite school band piece "Pirates of the Caribbean".

Tuesday Remi stayed home with me to get over his rash and helped me put up a fence around the veggie garden then I helped him finish his map of CT homework. We had a lovely day together.

Wednesday I went and got a massage. I'd booked this a few weeks ago thinking I'd need it after all the stress of my driving test, but sometime during the week I'd actually "done something" to muscles in my back behind my left shoulder and the massage was really welcome. (hasn't fixed the problem though).

Thursday Matt took me in to the DMV early to get my license...he dropped me off there before it even opened and I still had to stand in line outside the door. Then he took the kids to school. But I got it. I was so sure they weren't going to give it to me for some reason. I caught a cab back into town and to celebrate went and got a mani/pedi. That night, Kit went to a cubscout meeting here. Remi came along too as he did cubs in Australia and LOVED it and is ready to go on to scouts. But it is very different here...so much emphasis on the flag and being American and the cubs are never left alone...parents are with them at all meetings (only twice a month) and even when the cubs were being awarded their badges the parents had to get up with them and swear an oath to help their son be a better cub etc... Remi was really put off it all. Kit is really keen to join as one of his best friends does it, so I guess, it's Kit's turn. It's a real shame for Remi. The scout programme in Aus was so right for him. I can totally understand his reluctance to do it here.

Then yesterday I was a chaperone on Remi's 5th grade field trip to Hartford. We went to the Mark Twain house (Dad, such a bummer that we didn't get to go there with you. I had no idea how wonderful it was...next time we will definitely go.) The house was just spectacular, but I would have loved to have taken my time with it all. We didn't even get up to the part of the museum that had all the Tiffany vases and lamps...ho hum. Then we went to the Capitol building (Dad, that was the one with the big gold dome). Another really interesting building, but this time I was in charge of a group which included some boys who needed to be watched like a hawk. But interestingly there was a big photo of a man named James Mars (Mars is my somewhat uncommon maiden name). Something to investigate. It was a fun, though exhausting, day. I made friends with some of the girls on the bus who were watching me knit.

The only unfortunate thing about the day was that I missed Kit's spring share where all the 2nd graders performed for their parents and the grades 1 and Kindy. Matt went though and was horrified as apparently it was all full on American Patriotic songs. He said he felt like he'd been to the Soviet Union 50 years ago. We are all very much aware of what feels like to us as "brainwashing". Even the kids, which I find fascinating. I know I'll probably offend some Americans with making this point, but the way Americans are taught to love the flag and have pride in their country goes so much against the Australian way. Matt and I had a huge discussion about it last night...trying to work out what defines Australian patriotism. Interestingly though, I was speaking to one of my American friends (who has lived in the UK) last night and she asked me what Matt had thought of the share. It was almost as if she was embarressed by it all. Anyway, here's some photos of Kit singing and flag waving taken by Matt:

...and Ella was there to watch...

Today we have an old friend of ours visiting from the UK. He used to work with Matt first in the 3 month stint Matt did in London and later in NY when we lived there. He and Matt are watching the FA cup final at present, but it's always good to catch up with old friends.

Hope you have a good weekend!