I'm really interested in photography lately. (Maybe it's because I feel like I'm on the set of a Jane Austen movie). Here's some recent pictures that I've taken in our yard (garden). I've always loved spring and spring in England is fantastic!
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
Keeping it real
I have a good friend who periodically blogs "keeping it real" posts to show her real life. They always make me feel better so I've decided to blog my "keeping it real" moment from last night.
It was bedtime and everyone was tired and cranky (including me). I was getting Mary ready for bed, Luke was fussy and waiting for his turn, and the older boys were supposed to be in their bathroom brushing teeth and showering. Michael came in to me in tears saying that Benjamin had hurt him. Without asking details I said, "then hurt him back." About 30 seconds later I heard a really hurt cry coming from Benjamin and I thought, Oh no! What have I done?
I ran into their bathroom to find bloody scratch marks all the way down Benjamin's back. I sent Michael to my bedroom to think about what he had done. I calmed Benjamin and then I went downstairs to call Todd. I told him the story and he started to laugh. Then he told me about how many marks he and his brothers had given each other when they were young. He said that it would be just fine.
As I walked up the stairs I saw the boys crying and telling each other they were sorry. In between sobs Michael said, "I thought about what I did, like you said, and I feel REALLY bad!" "Is his skin ever going to grow back?" "Do we need to take him to the hospital?" "Will he ever forgive me?" Then he said, "Besides, you told me to!" Benjamin looked at me in disbelief, "Mom, you told him to hurt me?" How do you answer THAT question?
We worked it out. Michael helped me put Neosporin on Benjamin's back after his shower.
In the end they were good buddies again.
Luke screamed the entire time. My efforts to give him a toy and a toothbrush in passing didn't work.
Thankfully Mary slept throughout the whole ordeal.
It was bedtime and everyone was tired and cranky (including me). I was getting Mary ready for bed, Luke was fussy and waiting for his turn, and the older boys were supposed to be in their bathroom brushing teeth and showering. Michael came in to me in tears saying that Benjamin had hurt him. Without asking details I said, "then hurt him back." About 30 seconds later I heard a really hurt cry coming from Benjamin and I thought, Oh no! What have I done?
I ran into their bathroom to find bloody scratch marks all the way down Benjamin's back. I sent Michael to my bedroom to think about what he had done. I calmed Benjamin and then I went downstairs to call Todd. I told him the story and he started to laugh. Then he told me about how many marks he and his brothers had given each other when they were young. He said that it would be just fine.
As I walked up the stairs I saw the boys crying and telling each other they were sorry. In between sobs Michael said, "I thought about what I did, like you said, and I feel REALLY bad!" "Is his skin ever going to grow back?" "Do we need to take him to the hospital?" "Will he ever forgive me?" Then he said, "Besides, you told me to!" Benjamin looked at me in disbelief, "Mom, you told him to hurt me?" How do you answer THAT question?
We worked it out. Michael helped me put Neosporin on Benjamin's back after his shower.
In the end they were good buddies again.
Luke screamed the entire time. My efforts to give him a toy and a toothbrush in passing didn't work.
Thankfully Mary slept throughout the whole ordeal.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Birthday celebration weekend
About a month ago we asked Michael what he wanted to do for his birthday. He told us he wanted to take a boat ride on the River Thames. (I know, I know... I laughed too. I didn't even know what the River Thames was when I was his age).
So, we did! And it is the best way to see London. We had a great time.
We started at Westminster (Big Ben), and we cruised past the London Eye, the London Bridge, the Tower of London, the Tower Bridge, etc... Here's our sweet baby as we went under the Tower Bridge.
Our cruise ended at Greenwich (that's pronounced 'Grenich' by the way) home of the Greenwich Mean (or Meridian) Time GMT, the prime meridian of the world (0.00'.00" longitude ). The starting point in which the world's time zones are set.
The Prime Meridian divides the Earth into the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. Here we are standing in two hemispheres at once. Pretty cool, huh?
On Friday, the boys had the day off of school and so I took the kids to a local farm. They had so much fun. I love the smiles on these boys faces as they fed the goats. Notice Mary kept her distance. She's not a big fan.
We had our picnic lunch with the sheep. The English countryside is beautiful.
So, we did! And it is the best way to see London. We had a great time.
We started at Westminster (Big Ben), and we cruised past the London Eye, the London Bridge, the Tower of London, the Tower Bridge, etc... Here's our sweet baby as we went under the Tower Bridge.
Our cruise ended at Greenwich (that's pronounced 'Grenich' by the way) home of the Greenwich Mean (or Meridian) Time GMT, the prime meridian of the world (0.00'.00" longitude ). The starting point in which the world's time zones are set.
The Prime Meridian divides the Earth into the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. Here we are standing in two hemispheres at once. Pretty cool, huh?
On Friday, the boys had the day off of school and so I took the kids to a local farm. They had so much fun. I love the smiles on these boys faces as they fed the goats. Notice Mary kept her distance. She's not a big fan.
We had our picnic lunch with the sheep. The English countryside is beautiful.
All this sightseeing meant that Luke spent a good part of the weekend in his stroller. He was a good sport about it though. As long as he's well fed and has something to chew on he's a happy baby.
Too precious for words.
Too precious for words.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
New study material
Americans are allowed to drive in this country for a year before they need to get a UK license. I'm terrified to take the driving test so I thought I'd get a head start on studying for it.
I opened the book and got through the first 7 questions on the sample test without a problem.
Then I read #8:
This one made me laugh out loud because it reminded me of the time I drove to Todd's work in downtown London:
You are approaching a busy junction. There are several lanes with road markings. At the last moment you realise that you are in the wrong lane. You should
a) continue in that lane
b) force your way across
c) stop until the area has cleared
d) use clear arm signals to cut across
I'm pretty sure the answer should be C or D, but they are saying it should be A. That's all fine and dandy until your sat nav tells you to make a U turn! Maybe it's not good that i've been driving all this time without a UK license ;-)
I opened the book and got through the first 7 questions on the sample test without a problem.
Then I read #8:
This one made me laugh out loud because it reminded me of the time I drove to Todd's work in downtown London:
You are approaching a busy junction. There are several lanes with road markings. At the last moment you realise that you are in the wrong lane. You should
a) continue in that lane
b) force your way across
c) stop until the area has cleared
d) use clear arm signals to cut across
I'm pretty sure the answer should be C or D, but they are saying it should be A. That's all fine and dandy until your sat nav tells you to make a U turn! Maybe it's not good that i've been driving all this time without a UK license ;-)
Washing hands refresher course
I gave Benjamin the "washing hands" refresher course tonight just to make sure he's following bathroom protocol at school. At the end I said, "So...what's the most important part of wiping yourself?" He responded without hesitation, "Not getting it on your shirt!"
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
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