Author: sara

Well Kyle and I are finally home after spending a week in Eugene, Central Point and then Eugene again. We just posted a photo album for this Christmas. Click here to see it. The photos start with our trip to Central Point and end with Christmas in Eugene. We got to celebrate with both sides of the family this year. First we celebrated with Kyle’s family and got to see his parents’ new house for the first time. It is gorgeous. We are so happy for them. We’re happy to be home again. The gifts are all over the house. We still need to unpack but for now we’re just relaxing, watching a program on Napoleon. I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! Love, Sara

My family came to Salem for the weekend. We had a great time. The triplets all stayed at our house Saturday night and my parents went to Portland for my dad’s work party. On Sunday we had a birthday party for my dad. We got to fill up our dining room table for the first time. I only have 8 1/2 days of teaching left. Kyle studying constantly for his finals. He won’t know what to do with himself with a month off! I hope you’re enjoying this time of year. Love, Sara

We just got back from Medford this afternoon. Kyle had to say goodbye to the house he grew up in. His parents are moving the first weekend of December. We got to see the new house which is just beautiful. Back to reality. I’ve got report cards to do and Kyle’s got loads of school work as always. We’re spending Thanksgiving in Eugene and Christmas in Medford. It’s nice to home for the holidays this year. Thanksgiving last year was so depressing in France! We were so homesick we almost bought a plane ticket home that night. It’s so funny to think back on those days. It’s like I can’t believe we really lived that. I think back on the commuting, our miniscule apartment and it’s just surreal. I’m so glad to be back to the US – even with Bush being re-elected:( Although these dark days are starting to get to me. The fall leaves are beautiful but I need some sunlight!!!! I’m driving Kyle nuts! By the way he’s making a SAD light as a group project at Willamette so maybe it will solve all my problems! Well I better get back to grading. I hope everyone is doing well.

Hi there! I just wanted to let you know that I have made a website for my class. It’s www.mrsroadman.com Don’t compare it to this one. I’m just an amateur. Hope everyone is doing well. Love, Sara

Well we’re busy as ever- me with teaching and Kyle is constantly in his office reading or working on a project. I’m loving my class. I only have 12 students so it’s a dream class. I’m also teaching French to K-6 which is a blast. I’m glad you guys in New Orleans didn’t get hit by hurricane Ivan. I think my grandparents’ house in Pensacola is gone though which is really really sad. I can’t even think about it. Sorry we’ve been out of touch. I got the wedding pictures back and they’re awesome. As soon as I get a cord to hook up the scanner, I will get those on this website. I hope everyone is doing well Love, Sara

Hey Everyone. We found our way into an internet cafe. We are enjoying our honeymoon after the dream wedding we had. Thanks to everyone. See you all soon!!

I got a full time teaching position in SALEM!!!!!!!!!! It’s exactly 1.9 miles from Kyle’s school. We’re floored. I will be a classroom teacher for a 5th/6th grade class and I will also be teaching French. Basically my dream job!!!!! We’re so relieved that neither of us have to commute. I think I’m still in shock that I got the position. We celebrated my birthday last night w/ my family. The triplets made home made wrapping paper that they colored to wrap the gifts. I got a picnic basket full of kitchen things that we needed desperately. Lizzie is 2 years old today!! So we’ll have to celebrate hers today. We’re about to leave for a 50 mile yard sale that takes place in Oregon today. It goes all the way to the coast. Tonight we’re going to see Farenheit 9/11. I can’t wait. It’s already #1!

Well Kyle and I just got home from Portland. We spent our two year anniversary at the Kerry Rally:

You can see me!! – look in the back right. The rally was awesome- Kyle’s friend Jared hooked us up with the special blue tickets- which got us up in the front- not very front but very close. Thank you Jared- we owe you! Sean Astin opened up – the actor from Lord of the Rings (Frodo’s best friend) and Goonies (Betsey- I immediately thought of you when he brought that up! Goonies was filmed in Astoria, OR) Then the lead singer of Everclear played. He’s from Portland. Then Barbara Roberts, the former governor of OR, spoke along with several other speakers. Barbara gave an awesome speech. Kerry and Dean walked up and everyone went nuts. Dean and Jim Rassmann, the man Kerry saved in Vietnam and who is from Florence, OR, introduced Kerry. Kerry gave an awesome speech. He seems like such a nice, genuine man. It was really a thrill to be there today. He stayed after signing autographs and shaking hands for a long time. Thanks to Kyle we got his autograph! (Sophie was dying for his autograph so I couldn’t come home w/o it) Kyle and Jared got to shake his hand. We went to Red Robin to celebrate our anniversary. And Kyle really made my day because he got me DIDO CONCERT TICKETS FOR THURSDAY!!!!!!!!!!! I can’t wait, we’re going to see her Thursday night. I’ll be sure to take pictures. We unfortunately didn’t have the camera while at the rally today. More soon!!

Well tonight is our last night in London. We saw the Tower Bridge today, the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park and Trafalgar Square. It was a gorgeous sunny, hot day. We really lucked out with the weather. Tomorrow we fly to Geneva and then after a bunch of trains we”ll get to Les Rousses. Kyle”s parents will be able to meet my French family. We”ll visit there through Wednesday. Kyle and I will arrive back in the US one week from today!! It”s unbelievable really. We”re so happy. See you soon!

We headed over to the Chateau of Versailles about noon. The train ride took about 45 minutes. Once we got off we realized everyone else in the world was going there too. So we waited in line for over an hour. David and Linda took a tour of the palace- the King’s Bedroom, Marie-Antoinette’s Bedroom, The Hall of Mirrors and several other famous rooms. Kyle and I went to the gardens which were filled with bright yellow daffodils and purple pansies. It was wonderful to see the gardens again during spring. The last time we came was in late fall. While touring the gardens we also got to see the “Grandes Eaux Musicales” which is a beautiful show with music playing in the background of all the impressive Versailles fountains. It was really incredible being there for Easter. It was so gorgeous and touching with the classical music playing. There were many people in paddle boats on the canal of the gardens too. We even saw a couple getting married in the gardens! We headed back to our apartment for a quick break and then walked over to Notre Dame for Easter mass. We arrived 5 minutes before the mass started and surprisingly were able to get in. The church was breathtaking with the high ceilings. We really lucked out because the mass was done by Jean Marie, the Archbishop of Paris. It’s really beautiful to hear a mass given in French. It’s such a beautiful language. They had an incredible choir for the Easter mass. After mass, we went outside and walked alongside the church and saw all the beautiful flowers and cherry trees and the Rose Window. Then we went to the park in back of the church and got a beautiful view of the back of the church. For dinner, we went to the Latin Quarter and found a French restaurant and had a wonderful Fondue à la Normande which is a fondue with emmentel, comté and apple juice. There were even apple slices in the fondue. It was delicious. I’ve never tasted a fondue anything like it. With the fondue we had yummy white wine, potatoes and an “assiete de charcuterie” (a plate full of yummy ham, sausage, and cornichon). Kyle’s parents also got to taste “salade du chevre chaud” which is my favorite- salade with hot goat cheese. Kyle ordered a yummy salad with walnuts. We ate outdoors in the heart of the Latin Quarter. The ambiance was incredible- a nice night, laughter all around- that’s what I love about the Latin Quarter – it’s a real happy, lively place. For dessert, Linda and David got yummy crepes at a crepe stand nearby. It was a really special day- definitely the best so far. We have a lot of wonderful things coming up though!!!!!