Diary: 3/31/2002

Dear friends and family:

A wonderful, stable, quiet week was had by all, with no major breakthroughs but also no great complications.

Getting back into the groove with shopping, Debbie and the kids ventured to the Disney store. While we didn't really need much, it was fun to look. They did make one great discovery. Do you know "Peeps", those marshmallow sugar-coated chick-shaped things? Well, Debbie found marshmallow "Poohps" - same stuff, but in the shape of Winnie the Pooh. OK, ok, so it's not a discovery to rival cold fusion, but it brightened our day.

Cleveland weather welcomed us back. We've seen days bounce between 50 and nearly 60 degrees and then drop down below freezing, only to get 20 inches of snow dumped on us. Before you make any assumptions, we thought it was great. It's nice to be back in a place where you might have to use your heater and air conditioner on the same day.

Wednesday night marked the beginning of Passover, and we spent the first two nights surrounded by friends and familiar faces. For the last several years we have hosted the meal, but we figured we've had our own Exodus and it was enough.

Our house hunting continues. We have toyed with the idea of building a new house, or buying a home that needs significant renovations. What we finally have decided (at this moment) is that the market will pick up this week and next, as we believe people have been holding off listing their house until after Easter and spring break. The houses we have seen have mostly been on the market for months which means that they are, for one reason or another, not the greatest picks. We keep reminding ourselves that we have time.

Of course, this means that the girls will have to go to Twinsburg schools for the remainder of this year, and then we'll get them into Solon schools next year. While this was not our first choice, Twinsburg schools are not bad and will provide the girls with a daily dose of math, reading, and social interaction. We are sure the social interaction will be a welcome change. It will be a 3 week break by the time next Monday rolls around, which is quite long enough to spend chained to Mom and Dad and Joram! They have both had chances to play with friends, but nothing beats a daily recess to get the "utzies" out.

Coming up this week, we will celebrate Leon's birthday (but only after the end of Passover - no matzah birthday cakes for him!), and continue our hunt for the home of our dreams.

Leon leaves to return to Switzerland on Saturday, and the countdown clock will start ticking toward June 3, which is his estimated last day there.

We hope that your holiday week (whether Easter or Passover or your own personal celebration of choice).

Love,
Debbie, Leon, Heather, Isabelle, and Joram