Ex Ex Pat Scheiners

As of this week, our house in England is no longer ours.  Of the three houses we have sold, this one has created the most emotion.  I am not sure why.  Primarily, I think it is because part of me wanted to stay in London.  The whole process of moving happened so fast, and in the middle of a pandemic.  I am not finished with enjoying England and Europe.  There are still many places on my bucket list that are unticked, and experiences we will miss.  The kids will not wear uniforms anymore; Drew won’t get to play “football,” Lauren doesn’t get to apply to the Brit school. The attachement to that house, over a century old, where we spent nearly 4 of the kids most impressionable years.  All 3 of them will remember 100% of the time we lived in that house, and this house that we are in now.  But the other two houses we had in NJ and KY don’t hold the same sentiments at 11 Havelock Road.   We made our mark on that house: we installed astroturf i...

  Yes, those are readers.  I am officially old.  I was having trouble doing the crossword puzzles that I love doing, so I mentioned it when I went to the eye doctor last week.  It makes a huge difference when trying to read when I have my contacts in.  But if I am trying to watch TV, I have to take them off to see the TV.  Now I understand why people are always taking their glasses off, they just need them to see up close.  There are most definitely bifocals in my future I am sure of it.  Thankfully, I think the kids got Brad’s eye genes, although all the online school and Xbox are probably not too beneficial for good eyesight. I did my first Peloton workout yesterday.  I feel like I have joined the world of 2020 now because so many people have one.  We never could have had one in London, not enough space.  It was pretty good, and I can see myself doing it again soon. I have worked out the past 10 days in a row.  I don’t think ...

 I have drafted a few entries about Christmas and New Years, but I need to put photos on there.  Hopefully this week sometime. It’s hard to believe that it’s ten days into the New Year already. There has been some excitement so far this year.  First, Lauren went to Florida with Nana and Papa, and stayed for the week at their house as the only member of our family.  The Carlsons were there as well, so she and Annabelle had a fantastic time.  Nana and Papa said she was a delightful houseguest, and she was able to have independence.  She and Annabelle went to lunch and she called Brad because she wasn’t sure what to do when they brought her a “leather thing.”  Life skills! She also took her first solo flight, which I did not do until I was about 20!  (I guess that is only 6 years for her....EEK!). She did great, and she was able to sit next to another unaccompanied minor which eased her mind a lot.  It was so great to see her when she got off th...

 I am completely shocked (strike that, nothing Trump and his supporters do shock me anymore), more appalled at what is going on at the capital right now.  We took Archie to the vet to get his staples from his surgery taken out, and I turned NPR and they are talking about people in the capital taking cover from people going through their desks and the police at the capital trying to gain back control from the members of the coup trying to overthrow this democratic election. It is disgusting, and I am wondering what we have come back to?  How can this be happening?  How can Trump allow this to happen?  The capital building, the central heart of “We the People” is under attack.  I feel like I am watching footage from another country.  How can he not see what he has done to this country?  This country has been broken completely down the middle, and I hope we can come back from this.   Who knew that Trump could be a greater threat to the country t...