'Birthday'

Today is E's 40th birthday. And it has been a whirlwind week! Well, if I'm really honest it has been a whirlwind couple of months but this last week has really kicked our butts. We moved into the flat less than a week ago and have worked like dogs to get the house set up and functional. E has been working like a dog at work and the kids' routine has been upset once again due to location of the new flat, new bus route, end of the year parties, a holiday weekend, and overall overload. Every day this week, someone has missed the bus and twice this week I had to have a one-on-one conversation with a teacher due to a missed communication. Amazingly tomorrow is the kids' last day of school and it has flown by. But at the same time we are clearly all due for a break - which starts in two days as the kids and I leave for a 10-day holiday to Denmark and Norway.

Sadly, E can't come with us. When we booked the tickets it was understood by all that it just wasn't the right time for him to leave - being the new guy around the office and all. But also, we have another trip to the US planned in July and hopes for South Africa in October so there are only so many trips he can accompany us on. Most of the families I know here operate the same way - the spouses and children head off on holiday when school ends and the primary employee meets up with them later. Many families return to their home countries and their actual homes and the employee just goes back and forth. But as we no longer have our home in Houston, we will be traveling most of the summer, which sounds amazing but is logistically difficult.

Now that the trip is upon us (2 days!) it feels odd to leave E behind. He has been working just as long as we have on our relocation - keeping it moving, ticking the boxes, making sure we all have what we need and now that we are in our house, unpacked, out of school, and ready for a break, only part of our family is off to celebrate. We chose Denmark and Norway because we have very close friends living there so that feels particularly cruel. In a twisted way, I am envious of his freedom - a quiet house, meals cooked, a clean house, not sharing a driver, total control of the region-free DVD player! But to him, our trip means a safe, clean environment, where one can walk and explore freely; museums, gardens, castles, viking ships (I'm told!), hanging with friends, and just being a tourist - something Lagos does not offer easily or at all. 

Two weeks ago, we had let Mothers' Day and our 12th anniversary pass with little fanfare - we just weren't able to celebrate in a large way. Today we went out to lunch and had cake with the kids at dinner. We agreed we would treat ourselves to a special get-away to make up for the missed celebrations.

South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mali, Kenya, Gabon, Madagascar - they're all on our list. We just have to find the time and make the effort - before someone else turns 40. I'm not saying who but the Turkish Riviera is high on her list!

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