Thanksgiving 2010

Our gratitude list around the table went something like this in 2010:

Benjamin- Family

Michael- Heavenly Father and Jesus

Mary- Mom and Dad

Dad- all of the above, plus--employment

Mom- the opportunity we've had to live in England

Luke- food

We invited some English friends over to celebrate Thanksgiving with us. We added Yorkshire puddings to our dinner in their honor. The dinner was a huge success.

The pies were an even better success. Speaking of the pies, my husband deserves a huge thank you for staying up late Wednesday night peeling and slicing apples for our apple pie. I had the best intentions to start my pies early in the day on Wednesday, but in the end, I didn't start baking until 6:30 in the evening. With Todd peeling and slicing apples, I was able to finish all 4 pies and clean up by midnight. And the oven was free for lots of other delicious food all day on Thursday.

Company Christmas party

The company that my husband works for rented out the British Museum for their company Christmas party this year. It was a fantastic night. The museum, the decorations, the food, the friends, etc... but let me start from the beginning.

I don't shop for clothes in the UK very often. I usually wait and do my clothes shopping when we visit the States. However, this Christmas party called for a shopping trip. So, I loaded Luke in the car and headed to the mall. I walked to the counter at a department store and asked the lady if they had a maternity clothes section. She smiled and said, "No, but you don't need maternity clothes. You're not that big." We became instant friends :) She helped me find a darling knee length dress and footless tights that I could wear with my new red shoes. I felt cute for our party. Bonus.

When our taxi dropped us off in front of the British Museum it was spectacular. Red lights lit up the outside of the building and there were burning torches all the way up to the doors. It seemed very official at the beginning. Security guards checked our invitations at the gate, we registered at the doors and I checked my coat. Then we went into the party. We visited with some people and ate hors d'oeuvres. Then we went into our private showing of the Egyptian exhibit. I was in my element. It was incredible.
The rest of the evening was spent chatting and eating. Some of my favorites of the evening were; beef wellington, risotto and creme brulee.Not only was it an incredible way to visit the British Museum, it was a fantastic date night with my husband. As we left that evening, I was so full of gratitude for the good people my husband works with and the great experiences that his company has given to us.

Remembrance Sunday 2010

In the UK, Remembrance Sunday is held on the second Sunday in November, the Sunday nearest to 11 November, which is the anniversary of the end of the hostilities of the First World War at 11 a.m. in 1918. Remembrance Sunday commemorates the contribution of British and allied service people in the two World Wars and later conflicts.

In the days leading up to Remembrance Sunday, vetrans sell red poppy flowers in train stations and at grocery stores. It's inspiring to see the number of people who wear the poppy flower to remember service people.

The poppy became a symbol of remembering those who have died in war because of a place called Flanders. Flanders is the name of the whole western part of Belgium. It saw some of the most concentrated fighting of the First World War. There was complete devastation. Only one living thing survived - the poppy.

Poppies only blossom in rooted up soil. Their seeds can lay in the ground for years without germinating, and only grow after the ground has been disturbed.

Here are our sweeties before church today wearing their poppies: Remembrance Sunday has become a wonderful tradition for our family. We had a two minute silence at 11 a.m. in church today. It was touching that even the children recognized the importance of that silent time. We are grateful for our grandfathers on both sides of the family who fought in World War II. What a legacy of courage and bravery.

Some days are like that

Mary stayed home from school sick today with a bad cough that kept her awake last night.

I took her to the doctor this morning and when the doctor tried to listen to her lungs, she cried hysterically. Luke tried to run out of the doctor's office. As I was calming Mary down, the doctor asked Luke to please shut the door and he said, "No." Then Luke decided that he wanted to sit on my lap and started to push Mary off which made her cry harder. I had 2 screaming kids fighting over my lap as the doctor watched. Finally the doctor was able to listen to Mary's lungs through the crying and fighting. She handed me a prescription and I went on my way.

I loaded the kids in the car and hurried off to my doctor's appointment for my visa. They drew my blood. I hate getting blood drawn.

I drove half and hour back to my town. I found a parking place and walked a few blocks to the nearest pharmacy to fill Mary's prescription. The pharmacy was out of her prescription and asked me to go to another pharmacy down the road. We walked in the rain. I was wearing my glasses. I hate it when my glasses get wet.

The next pharmacy pointed out that the doctor had prescribed swallow tablets for my 5 year old. They told me to go back to the doctor and get it changed to liquid. I asked if they could call the doctor to get it changed. They said no. I called the doctor's office on my mobile phone. They said the doctor who wrote the prescription had gone home for the day. They would have another doctor call me within half an hour to fix the prescription.

Mary said she needed to go to the bathroom. The pharmacy wouldn't let us use their bathroom. They told us to cross the street and use the bathroom at the coffee shop. As we left the bathroom at the coffee shop a waitress spilled her tray and coffee splattered on my shoes and pants.

Mary asked if we could get a sandwich. It was 2:00 in the afternoon and we hadn't had lunch. So, we grabbed a sandwich at the coffee shop. As I was paying for the sandwich, the doctor called my mobile phone and said he could verify the switch to a liquid prescription if I could pass the phone over to the pharmacist. I asked him if he could call back in 5 minutes.

At this rate we'll probably have lima beans for dinner.
I guess some days are like that.

Even in Australia.

The ball is rolling

Less than a week after the offer letter was signed, the moving ball is rolling and FAST!
Here's a few of the moving related things that happened today:
**I met with the movers to assess our shipment (It's been 2 1/2 yrs since we moved, but today as our things were being surveyed again, it felt like we just moved yesterday)
**I scheduled an exam with a certified panel doctor (because I'm pregnant) so that I can receive a visa
**I scheduled one of the kids 'going-away' play dates that we promised could happen before we leave

In addition to regular every day things that I've committed to:
**Planning the cub scout activity and snacks for tonight
**Working with the other parents at the school about the upcoming Thanksgiving class feast
**Sharing and singing time for Primary this Sunday
**Re-scheduling visiting teaching because it conflicts with the doctor's exam for my visa

In the meantime, I completely spaced the following:
**Ballet and tap class this week
**Getting a favorite pair of jammies washed in time for pajama day at school
**E-mailing the cub scout registration information to the new kid that wants to join

We'll just take one day at a time and it will all come together in the end :)

Life is an adventure...

Life is an adventure we always say
There's got to be plenty of time for play

England is the perfect place for us to be
There's always plenty to do and to see

But Todd's work has other plans for us
Far enough away that we can't take a bus

They gave us an offer we can't refuse
To a place with lots of wildlife to amuse

The offer is sweet
Think of new people we'll meet

We'll be near the beach--in our yard there'll be a pool
It's almost enough to make us drool

But wait! Leaving England will be so sad
We wanted to stay another year so bad

Despite the sadness and tears
We'll forge ahead as though we have no fears

We'll board a plane--our soon-to-be family of seven
We'll fly so long the kids will think we're flying to heaven

We'll settle in and start a new work and school
In our spare time we'll swim in the pool

Within a few weeks of our move,
After we've found our new groove,
Our baby girl will come along
And we'll break into song

We'll make a new life "down under"--g'day mate!
To kick off in January--can't hardly wait!

It's a...

We had our scan (ultrasound) today.

I took the train into London and met Todd at the train station. I love getting off the train in London and spotting my sweetheart through the crowds of people. It reminds me of an old romantic movie.

Outside the train station, Todd flagged down a black taxi and asked the driver to take us to the hospital.

At the hospital we sat in the waiting room and talked a bit about what's going on in our lives right now. I went to bed last night at 8pm just after Todd got home from work. Todd left for work early this morning, so this was our first chance since yesterday morning to catch up on the latest from home and work. I love that he makes me laugh even though we're both a little nervous.

We were called back to the scan room. I was quiet as the scan began. It always brings tears to my eyes to see that little person that's been wiggling in my belly for a few weeks now. We were both relieved as we saw the 4 heart chambers. New this time, we saw the blood in different colors as it passed through each chamber of the heart. An absolute miracle. All organs were working properly. Head and brain measuring accurately. We were relieved again as all the measurements were within average on the charts. The baby weighs a healthy 12 ounces. The ultrasound technician switched over to 3D for a bit so that we could see our baby's face in greater detail. Oh, what a cutie!

But, this little cutie didn't want to show us what gender he/she was. The cord was between the legs and he/she wasn't cooperating. We've never experienced this before. It's always been clear from the very beginning of the scan for us. So, the technician did a few more measurements of the arms and legs and then we tried again... and again... and finally...




we found out that IT'S A GIRL!!!

We can hardly believe it. What a wonderful blessing! We are so pleased that Mary will have a sister. The kids all voted at breakfast this morning. Michael, Benjamin and Mary voted for a sister. Only Luke voted for another brother. We are all ecstatic to think that we'll have more dolls, bows and frills in this house.

On the taxi ride back to the train station I told Todd I was going to stop for some lunch. I told him that I really wanted a Cornish pasty and potato wedges but that I'd probably go for something with fewer calories like an egg and tomato sandwich. He told me to celebrate and go for the Cornish pasty and potato wedges. Yet another reason why I love this man! After all, the pasty was for me and the potato wedges were for the baby. I have craved potatoes of all sorts with this pregnancy-- roasted, mashed, sweet, fried, baked... with breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The kids came running off the bus after school today. They couldn't wait to hear if they were going to have a sister or a brother. It was so fun to see their excitement when I told them they are going to have a sister.

Of course we won't have a name until we see her. The kids all have ideas of their own, but that part of the story will have to wait until March.

The Nutcracker Ballet

Mary and her little friend Riley have been taking ballet together for more than a year. Riley's mom (JoAnn) and I decided to treat the girls to an evening at the Nutcracker Ballet. I was worried that Mary might be scared at the seven-headed mouseking scene, but she told me that it reminded her of Ratatouille. Her favorite part of the night was having ice cream at intermission. She told me several times during the night that she wanted to be on stage dancing too. She was intrigued with the pointe-shoes. When we got home she showed her dad some of the ballerina's moves. It was a magical evening.

Remember remember the 5th of November

Remember remember the fifth of November
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason why gunpowder, treason

Should ever be forgot...

(nursery rhyme about Guy Fawkes or Bonfire night)

Tonight we attended our third annual Bonfire night. It is an exciting night that the boys have been looking forward to for months. This was the wettest bonfire night we've been to, but it didn't dampen the fun in the least.

Notice our 'guy' going up in flames on top of the bonfire.

Here's the history behind this annual event:

On the 5th of November 1605 Guy Fawkes was caught in the cellars of the Houses of Parliament with several dozen barrels of gunpowder. Guy Fawkes was subsequently tried as a traitor with his co-conspirators for plotting against the government.

The following year in 1606 it became an annual custom for the King and Parliament to commission a sermon and a bonfire to commemorate the event. This practice, together with the nursery rhyme, ensured that this crime would never be forgotten.

In England, the 5th of November is still commemorated each year with fireworks and bonfires culminating with the burning of 'guys'.

And of course along with the bonfire and fireworks, we ate delicious food. Sausages served with love even in the pouring rain.

I love this picture of the boys watching the fireworks whilst eating their sausages.

Our dedicated firework lighting crew.

Sparkler fun by the bonfire.

Drinking hot chocolate and enjoying the last of the bonfire in the rain.

It's 10:30pm now. We're all warm and dry and the kids are asleep in their beds, but I can still hear fireworks outside. I love that the rain doesn't stop the celebrations in England.