Ben goes to Lithuania

Ben and Greta had been planning on seeing each other ever since he decided to go to Spain.  He went to see her for 4 days.  I think he was a bit shocked at the cold after being in Madrid!!!!!

He says he's a fan of the "pink soup"!!!!

Ben got to meet Greta's mum

Ben and Greta

Greta makes it back home....

We got a message from Greta this morning-she has made it back home and everyone was very excited to see her.  American Councils had posted this pictures of all the Lithuanian exchange students taken at the reception at the Embassy in DC on Monday.  With stopping in DC, it took her 3 days to get back home so I am sure she is exhausted but happy to be back with her family.

Greta's last weekend

Well, it finally arrived, time for Greta to go home.  She tried to cram everything she loves about America into one weekend.  Sam made her hamburgers on Friday night.  She was in heaven.

We went to breakfast with Arline, and Jan and Julie, on Saturday morning-combination of birthdays and goodbye breakfasts.  Greta wanted to have Cici's pizza for dinner.  We have really ruined her diet while she has been here.

Ben, Maggie and I were doing the Graffiti Run on Sunday morning, we had registered to do it before they changed Greta's departure date.  Greta wanted Sam to take her to McDonalds and Starbucks, that pretty much rounds out her favourite eating places. 
We said goodbye to Greta before we left for the run because there was no way we'd make it to the airport in time.  Happily, her flight was delayed and we managed to get there just in time to say another goodbye.

The kids are missing her already.  Ben went from "3 days to go...., 2 days to go...." to "she said she'd text me when she got there, why haven't I heard from her?"

The end is near......

One of the local coordinators had a get together for the exchange students. It was a great opportunity for them to see each other one more time before they all start to go home.  There was a small lake on the property and the kids had a great time in the canoe.....

until Maggie tipped it over!!!!

The kids had a great time, they really enjoy being with each other.  Of course, the host brothers and sisters had to get in the middle of it.....

Maggie's ship came in because Laura's mother made macaroni and cheese.  She ate two enormous plates of it.  We had to cut her off after that....

The girls lazed around in the nice weather.  Ben and Maggie spent a lot of time giving them back massages.

Poor Vaiva-her hot dog fell apart

Before everyone had to go, the students did their usual photo ops

Group Hug

They always like to take a picture of them jumping in the air.  We took loads of pictures trying to get them all jumping at the same time.  We almost did it!!

Graduation weekend

We had a huge graduation weekend.  Friday morning was Janhavi's graduation at SLU.  She graduated with all the medical students and the ceremony was very nice.  I don't have any photos, hopefully I will get some later.  After her graduation, we went to lunch at Fritanga and then I immediately had to leave to go to Greta's graduation at night.  I took a couple of pictures of her before we left.

Managed to get someone to take a family photo.  We haven't had one since Richard's birthday back in September

Greta with two of the other exchange students-Mikkel and Anais

Greta got a certificate for completing the Exchange Program-very cool!

On Saturday we went to a party for the residents in the Pathology program.  It's hard to believe that Prerna has spent 4 years in residency and will now be doing a fellowship in Florida.  Wow, I managed to get rid of a lot of students this weekend!!!

A week as a single parent

Sam was in San Diego for a week, so I got to experience life as a single parent (which I don't do very well).  The kids were great and tried really hard to help me out when they could.  Maggie and I got our fair share of exercise.  I had to take her to the orthodontists on the day Sam left and so I took her with me to do the SLU 5K at night.

We did the Girls on the Run on the Saturday Sam was gone.  We left Ben at home with Greta (and his friend Jalen who stayed overnight).  After GOTR, we went to breakfast at First Watch with some of the other girls and parents.

Friday night was the school picnic.  I had decided that we weren't going to go because I really didn't have time and it was the night before GOTR.  However, they put me down to work at the registration table and so I decided to go for my 30 minute shift.  The kids had other plans and we ended up being there for almost 3 hours!!!

Mother's Day was on the Sunday.  I bought myself this azalea from Trader Joe's.

We went to Cici's for "dinner" and then went to Baskin Robbins for ice cream.  The only "healthy" part of it was that we walked there and back!!  Ben won this ball and then wrote "Happy Mother's Day" on it!!!

Eating was truly horrendous for us.  I made pancakes for the kids every morning.  The novelty soon wore off though and they didn't want them at all by the time Sam got back!!!

Ben did manage to eat some healthy food in amongst the other junk.  He loves lettuce and celery!!!

I sent this picture to Sam to show him how desperately we needed him back!!!!!

Greta is in the middle of awards ceremonies.  This one was for athletics.  It took for ever and Maggie was beside herself with the whole thing.  She was overtly crying by the end of it!!!!  Poor Maggs

Greta's prom

Greta's high school prom was last night. She had bought a dress a while ago and she got Viktorija to do her hair and make up yesterday morning.  She was ready to go by noon!!!  She had asked someone at school to go with her and they went with her friend Liberty and her boyfriend.  They were going over to the park to take pictures, but I took a few before they left.

Greta and Brendan

Greta and Liberty

Brendan bought Greta a corsage, beautiful.  She said "It's just like the movies"  She's right....

Greta's first baseball game

Second home game of the season.  It was a perfect night, warm and breezy.  We were sitting up in the nose bleed section, but I kind of like being up there anyway.  We took some pictures when we were a little closer to the field.  Ben made me take this one because you could see the arch so well

Ben and Maggie

......and Greta!!!!

I don't think Greta was too impressed with the game, but she loved the stadium!!!!

The Cardinals won, we saw a home run and the fireworks.  We also stayed til the end of the game, walked to the car and were home within 30 mins.  Perfect baseball game really.....

Greta's choir concert

Maggie and I went to Greta's choir concert last night.  She wanted me to take some video to show the folks back home, here they are......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkCmizbTC4g&list=UUAOWX-wOARFYsMlXtYv82vA&index=2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwzCqE2uc7A&list=UUAOWX-wOARFYsMlXtYv82vA&index=1

Glimpse into the future?????

So, I just had to post this because I think it is so funny (plus, makes me realize how much I can rely on Sam in the future)....
Greta's friend/boyfriend Beltran (another exchange student who is from Spain) was planning on coming over last night and they were going to play the Xbox with Ben and Maggie.  I don't know exactly what happened, but he ended up doing something with his host family.  Greta tried to get in touch with him, but he wasn't replying to her texts.  She spent the rest of the evening, pacing and texting on her phone/iPod (she carries both around with her and constantly texts on them at the same time). 
Later, she disappeared into her room and then came to the top of the stairs and yelled my name.
Greta:  Jane
Me: Yes?
Greta:  I'm going to go out with Paul (token American with transport) for a little bit.  Is it ok? (she's in her footie pjs at this point)
Me:  What are you going to do now?
Greta:  Maybe go to the park?  (oh, it's 27 degrees outside)
Silence
Greta:  Maybe go see a movie?
Sam:  Greta, it's 10 o'clock
Greta:  No, it's 9:44
Sam:  Greta, don't split hairs.....

Sam-the Dad from Hell (and my hero)!!!!!

Enjoying the Winter break.....

The Winter break has been great-lots of sleeping, lots of relaxing and spending time with friends.  We met friends at the Science Center last week.  We don't go there very often, the kids rarely want to go there, but every now and then, they enjoy it.  Our friends had a membership, so we met them there (actually, didn't even end up using any of the membership benefits!!)

Maggie found this astronaut helmet in the gift shop, it was hilarious!!!!

Greta and I went to Gintare's 16th birthday party in Troy, Illinois.  Gintare is another Lithuanian exchange student.  Greta was the only other exchange student at her party, so I am really glad that we went there.

When we came out from the party, it had snowed, the trees were beautiful.....

We had quite a bit of snow at home too, Maggie was very excited by it and she's been outside eating it ever since!!!!!

Yesterday, we met Megan and Anne at the City Museum.  Ben and Maggie had a great time with them, they had someone else to run around with them.  Boring old mum just sits and reads a book!!!!