That In-Between Place

Fun times! You'll need another week off just to catch up and get in the routine again! :) Good luck! Can't wait to see what you create!

Enjoy the in between time, as difficult as it seems to be in such flux. I worked on my book while on the trip (to madrid, barcelona, paris & pittsburgh) & just have a few things to finish up. btw, i think it's amazing that you're doing a triathlon!

I cant wait to see what you come up with, we will be going to Europe in Sept. so I could use some ideas.

I'm exhausted just form reading that but that's what life is all about! I can't wait to see your pictures and what you decide to do with them.

We are at the same place. I have one foot in vacation and one foot in routine and feel like I am going crazy trying to bring back order. I am dragging the fam back to reality kicking and scream. Good luck to us! And I did get great pics!

Oooh, good luck! I'm running a sprint tri in August myself!

Welcome back home!!
We just came back from Italy a few days ago too (we went to London the first week and then to Florence and Rome for the next)! Where in Italy did you go? I'm just today getting over the jet lag and we came home Saturday night. Last night was the first night I didn't get up at 2:30am or 3:30am!
I, too, feel in that in-between place. SO INCREDIBLY HAPPY to be HOME but not quite used to how things used to be. I also saved tons of my tickets stubs for trains, passes to museums, brochures from sites of interest, and business cards from little shoppes that I found some treasures in.... not to mention 1000+ photos!! I will likely do a hybrid sort of album with digital scrapbook pages and lots of divided page protectors with the odds and ends that I have gathered along the way. I had hardly any internet access which turned out to be such a blessing as I really needed that break from the obsession of checking email and blogs!! I did write my thoughts down so when it comes time to journal for my scrapbook pages I'll be ready!
Long live gelato. It's simply the best!
Good luck on your tri! That's my eventual goal but I'm not allowed to run at the moment (just getting over foot surgery that is taking forever and a day to heal... I'm just happy that I'm now walking without a cane). So for now I'll live vicariously through you! Keep us posted on your training and the actual event!

A picture of postcards -- cool!
Cathy's class, TAKE IT! It's awesome.

Congratulations on taking time away with little internet access. I know exactly how you feel b/c you come home energized and have all those plans and then time you get hit with mail, schedules etc and all those plans...I am impressed that you took both of your kids - that is a challenge b/t time zones!

Thanks for mentioning the in-between place because that is where I am right now and I've been feeling kind of guilty about it.

Welcome home! Missed seeing you on your blog everyday but enjoyed your guest bloggers in your absence! Excited what your create while documenting your trip!

Hi Ali, Welcome home! I am so glad you got to spend some time away as a family - and in Italy! One of my favourite places in the world. Definately fun savouring over all the experiences had while putting the album together. My challenge is that there are sooo many photos it is really hard to know where to start. Good luck!

all of the ticket stubs and train passes are some of my favorite things from the 4 months I spent in europe in college. i love the photo of the postcards. fun!

I'm happy you had the chance to visit my Country. I really love Italy and I cannot imagine to live anywhere else :)

Ali you are such a great qualitative researcher!!

I'll be waiting to see some documentations of your fabulous vacation!

I know that place very well since I visit it about 5 times a year. I usually write down journalling during the trip and take several months on deciding on which photo's to have printed for the album, just to let it sink in.

This week I found my daughter inspiring. We took her and my son to Disneyland over the 4th of July. It was her first time, and it was awesome seeing it through her eyes.

We just returned from a week of vacation at my mom's house....I was inspired by sitting with her and looking at old photos of the kids that she had sorted in boxes and talking about the occasions behind the pictures. Memories overwhelmed me and made me want to document them.

YOU are inspiring me, Ali, to tell my STORY. To get it all down on paper. I haven't been scrapping in a long while... no time, etc. But I am going to MAKE time to tell my family's story. Also - I am on vacation next week, so I am inspired to spend as much quality time with my daughter as possible, doing anything and everything her little heart desires! :)

It's so nice to see your family again. I'm sure whatever ideas you have for your new vacation pictures will be great and I can't wait to see them. We will be heading out on vacation soon and I know that first couple weeks back are kinda tough so hang in there and relax and enjoy the process of being "home" again.

Can't wait to see what you do with your Italy pics! I have so many pictures, cds and ephemera from my trip I haven't even begun to scrap them and it's been five years. EVERYWHERE you look in Italy is a photo op :-)

I am so looking forward to seeing how you bring together those photos and memorabilia from your trip. My Europe album from several years ago just used pics, and I still have the stuff left. Since we taken a couple of trips, including one to the US just this month, and each time I collect all those bits and pieces. I've been seeking inspiration for pulling it together with pics and I'm sure you'll offer just that!