Hi Everyone. Loren, it has been fun to hear from you on all of the different stages of your trip. It sounds like you have done a lot of amazing things. However, when I think of traveling in Europe, I always picture Jens with me and any appeal flies out the window. Ahh! We are gearing up for our big Florida trip. I am looking forward to the plane ride being OVER. I have been dreading it since the tickets were purchased, and this week I have been a big ball of tension and stress. Happily my "Pac Back" came yesterday. It holds Jens's car seat so I can wear it on my back like a back pack. Then I will have our huge diaper bag and my huge jogging stroller as well as Jens, of course. I will truly be an alpaca, as Mike sometimes calls me. All I know is that once we hit Jacksonville, I will breathe a huge sigh of relief, and then start feeling stressed about the return trip. We are excited to swim and beach and see family, though. Friday Jens and I went to "Funtastic"--the indoor play center. We met Chelan and Harrison there and Jens played happily for almost three hours. He loved watching the big (3 and 4 year olds) kids do all of the slides and stuff. He is getting big enough that Funtastic is a real thrill, as is seeing other big kids. This week our exciting thing was watching Linus for JP and Natalie while they jetted off to the Bahamas. Maybe exciting isn't quite the right word. Anyway, he is a sweet dog and was so good about being mauled by Jens. I spent most of the week trying to keep Linus from being smothered by Jens's affection. Jens thought it was especially hilarious to chase Linus around the house with his shopping cart, making tremendous amounts of noise. Linus was usually petrified and tried hiding anywhere he could think of--behind chairs, under tables, behind me. We finally had to put the shopping cart away until Linus went home. We spotted a flea on Sunday--one single, solitary, disgusting flea, which meant I sent Mike on an emergency run to Target. We ripped apart the entire house, spraying and vacuuming. Mike washed both dogs. After we were finished and laying exhausted on our bed, all of the doors and windows open, every fan we own turned on as high as possible, our house a huge disaster area--couch and chairs ripped apart, toys piled in the kitchen, I looked at Mike and said "You know there was only that one flea." And he said yes, but we decided the peace of mind was worth it. I spent all day Monday cleaning and putting everything back together. Also on Memorial day, Mike went to work, helped a friend move, and that evening we went swimming and got ice cream. Jens and I shared a cone, which is pretty disgusting, but I don't mind--a sure sign that I am his mom. I am including a picture of Jens on a post-bath nude bike ride. He is pretty funny. That's all the excitement from us. Hope all you teachers are enjoying your last week(s) of school! Love, Alison

30% off at Babies 'R' Us! Wow, I'm a good shopper! We can just attach our car seat to this stroller for inside at malls, etc. Then we'll get a jogging stroller that can be used on the gravel roads in the spring/summer.