I've been a little lax in my posting abilities - it seems after snow week everything got pushed to the last two weeks so lots of school info meetings - or "coffees" they like to call them, and rescheduled appointments and everything - it's been a little crazy
I tend to like to stay home a couple of days a week but lately I've had to dash out every day for one thing or another. We are now even starting to plan our next round of trips!!! Crazy. The kids have two days off in two weeks, and then about a month after that it is spring break for 2 weeks. I''m convinced they never go to school.....
Admittedly I've also been Facebooking - it's fast, quick and dirty - but I do love my blog friends so I need to catch up!!
I'll post pictures this week - we went into London last week - this weekend is Blue & Gold and baseball tryouts so we'll see what quality of pictures I can take!
The newest noteworthy thing is - last night we tried to go to the movies with our friends - got tickets, the men came home early, Tyler was babysitting - we took the baby and they kicked us out - rating "15" here you aren't allowed to take anyone who is 15, including infants who don't understand a lick of what is going on...so no Slumdog for us!!! They have different rating systems here so we don't really know how they equate to the states. Seems like more levels. So sad - someone had to have reported a baby going in and complained because no one had stopped us when they checked our tickets! So sad - a date night almost wasted....but we came home told the kids we were still on a date and watch Battlestar Gallactica on TV - probably last seasons but hey, you take what you can get out here!!!
Oh and I even was off by a week - my parents arrive on Wednesday for two weeks - yikes I'd better start hiding our messy things :)
Saturday, February 28
Thursday, February 19
Everyday Livin'
I've had several friends ask me what it's like living out here in Jolly Ol' England.... I thought I would post a few of my own observations even just for my own sake before they become rote.
They say nothing is bad, just 'different'......
1. Driving has been an experience - the most obvious change of course - being on the wrong, uh I mean 'other' side of the road. I notice I tend to favor the left so while on the highway I tend to hit the little bumpy road things. Round-a-bouts are our friends - have you ever thought about how long you sit at stop lights just waiting? Well Round-a-bouts are helpful - during rush hour it's a little aggravating because it feels like you are sitting there forever - but generally you flow pretty well - the rule is - the person on the right has the right of way.
You must leave 30-60 mins early to go ANYWHERE - because there are no straight routes - all circles. You must always have coinage with you - there are very few free places to park.
Generally drivers are also more considerate here - since the roads are so narrow people are very kind about making room, waiting, flashing to let people go ahead of them, merge in...generally of course...
2. Health Care - well very different - the largest thing for me to swallow was they don't use gloves to draw blood or put in IV's. A few people do it - but 8 out of 10 times they didn't. The private drs are very forgiving when you are late (because you are driving in circles). There is free National Health Care - today I got free ointment for Tristan - no co-pay!
3. English isn't english - to name a few:
Boot - Car Trunk
Bonnet - Car Hood
Bin - Trash Can
Rubbish - Trash
Sort it out
Ring you up
Post
4. Everything closes early and isn't open on Sundays - No late night target runs - most of the stores close about 6 or 7pm each night and most are closed on Sunday -which is refreshing - so there really is lots of shopping to be done on Saturdays.
The stores all remind me of going to Vegas or SLC - they all seem to have grocery stores within them - like the super Walmarts & Targets - unfortunately I can't find everything at them like we do in Vegas. It's a wild goose chase for many items. There are 4-5 different kinds of Sugars and Flours so you have to be specific on which type you are cooking with - I've yet to find a large bottle of vanilla!
Oh - and you must bring your own recyclable shopping bags - some stores charge you - and you have to BAG your own stuff EVERYWHERE - kinda sucks.
5. But we're at the gateway to Europe for certain! All of friends go to great places for vacations - Egypt, Austria, Paris, Spain, Italy, Croatia, Greece - back to the states NY, Florida - it's very fun.
Well that's it for this installment - fun little tidbits to be remembered....
They say nothing is bad, just 'different'......
1. Driving has been an experience - the most obvious change of course - being on the wrong, uh I mean 'other' side of the road. I notice I tend to favor the left so while on the highway I tend to hit the little bumpy road things. Round-a-bouts are our friends - have you ever thought about how long you sit at stop lights just waiting? Well Round-a-bouts are helpful - during rush hour it's a little aggravating because it feels like you are sitting there forever - but generally you flow pretty well - the rule is - the person on the right has the right of way.
You must leave 30-60 mins early to go ANYWHERE - because there are no straight routes - all circles. You must always have coinage with you - there are very few free places to park.
Generally drivers are also more considerate here - since the roads are so narrow people are very kind about making room, waiting, flashing to let people go ahead of them, merge in...generally of course...
2. Health Care - well very different - the largest thing for me to swallow was they don't use gloves to draw blood or put in IV's. A few people do it - but 8 out of 10 times they didn't. The private drs are very forgiving when you are late (because you are driving in circles). There is free National Health Care - today I got free ointment for Tristan - no co-pay!
3. English isn't english - to name a few:
Boot - Car Trunk
Bonnet - Car Hood
Bin - Trash Can
Rubbish - Trash
Sort it out
Ring you up
Post
4. Everything closes early and isn't open on Sundays - No late night target runs - most of the stores close about 6 or 7pm each night and most are closed on Sunday -which is refreshing - so there really is lots of shopping to be done on Saturdays.
The stores all remind me of going to Vegas or SLC - they all seem to have grocery stores within them - like the super Walmarts & Targets - unfortunately I can't find everything at them like we do in Vegas. It's a wild goose chase for many items. There are 4-5 different kinds of Sugars and Flours so you have to be specific on which type you are cooking with - I've yet to find a large bottle of vanilla!
Oh - and you must bring your own recyclable shopping bags - some stores charge you - and you have to BAG your own stuff EVERYWHERE - kinda sucks.
5. But we're at the gateway to Europe for certain! All of friends go to great places for vacations - Egypt, Austria, Paris, Spain, Italy, Croatia, Greece - back to the states NY, Florida - it's very fun.
Well that's it for this installment - fun little tidbits to be remembered....
Saturday, February 14
Davos
I will have to post our pictures in stages - most of the action ones were on Tyler's camera up in the mountains. We had a wonderful Mid-Winter Break. Mike did a great job planning our vacation and there was quite a lot to it.
We were such a sight - but we packed well so we only had 6 pieces of luggage and all the kids had backpacks. We also had the stroller so we had the Thule box on top of the car and all the kids had luggage on their laps driving to the first hotel.
We then tried to take a shuttle to the airport to make our early AM flight - but the bus was full, so we had to call a taxi. The first one only sat 7 - which included the driver - so that didn't work, so they called a second taxi!! Finally we were on our way.
Security is always a big deal when your alone - but imagine 7 of us! The kids did great though - all of them. They are becoming really great travelers. It doesn't faze them at all - the shoes off, the jackets off, go through the metal detector, put everything back on, holding hands, putting on seat belts. They were excellent on the plane and polite - we got so many compliments on our kids - mostly from little old ladies - but it is so considerate of them to let us know they thought our kids were good, well behaved. We got all kinds of comments our whole trip - I think at first people look at us because we're a spectacle - but then they watch us and luckily they were good!
It makes it all worth it when they are having a good time and not bothering other people at the same time. Tristan did really well on her first flights too - she didn't fuss at all and was really relaxed.
After the quick flight to Zurich we had to start the rest of the adventure - 3 trains!! The cool part is that you check your luggage in at the airport but we don't have to pick them up to drag them through the train stations - they send it directly to the hotel for you. I think all travel should be that way!
We got to the Arabella Sheraton in Davos - it was beautiful and the largest 2 rooms (connected even!) we've stayed in - in a long time!
The big kids all went skiing - Chandler actually went snowboarding - we had them take refresher lessons. Lucas took his first lessons. Mike, Tyler, Chandler & Ian went off by themselves for a couple of the days so it was me, Lucas & Tristan.
I should have had someone take my picture - you'll have to visualize - I had the baby in the Baby Bjorn front pack, back pack with my stuff, holding Lucas' hand, carrying his skis and boots taking him to and from his ski lessons......and it snowed every day....good times :)
Here are some great pictures of Lucas on the snow - Switzerland is beautiful country. They actually spoke more German than I thought they would - I thought there would be more Italian and French - but I knew enough of the pleasantries - it was fun for us all and the food was yummy!
From our balcony
Lucas, BoBo the Penguin & Roman his teacher
When can we get on the slopes?
I'm ready!
We were such a sight - but we packed well so we only had 6 pieces of luggage and all the kids had backpacks. We also had the stroller so we had the Thule box on top of the car and all the kids had luggage on their laps driving to the first hotel.
We then tried to take a shuttle to the airport to make our early AM flight - but the bus was full, so we had to call a taxi. The first one only sat 7 - which included the driver - so that didn't work, so they called a second taxi!! Finally we were on our way.
Security is always a big deal when your alone - but imagine 7 of us! The kids did great though - all of them. They are becoming really great travelers. It doesn't faze them at all - the shoes off, the jackets off, go through the metal detector, put everything back on, holding hands, putting on seat belts. They were excellent on the plane and polite - we got so many compliments on our kids - mostly from little old ladies - but it is so considerate of them to let us know they thought our kids were good, well behaved. We got all kinds of comments our whole trip - I think at first people look at us because we're a spectacle - but then they watch us and luckily they were good!
It makes it all worth it when they are having a good time and not bothering other people at the same time. Tristan did really well on her first flights too - she didn't fuss at all and was really relaxed.
After the quick flight to Zurich we had to start the rest of the adventure - 3 trains!! The cool part is that you check your luggage in at the airport but we don't have to pick them up to drag them through the train stations - they send it directly to the hotel for you. I think all travel should be that way!
We got to the Arabella Sheraton in Davos - it was beautiful and the largest 2 rooms (connected even!) we've stayed in - in a long time!
The big kids all went skiing - Chandler actually went snowboarding - we had them take refresher lessons. Lucas took his first lessons. Mike, Tyler, Chandler & Ian went off by themselves for a couple of the days so it was me, Lucas & Tristan.
I should have had someone take my picture - you'll have to visualize - I had the baby in the Baby Bjorn front pack, back pack with my stuff, holding Lucas' hand, carrying his skis and boots taking him to and from his ski lessons......and it snowed every day....good times :)
Here are some great pictures of Lucas on the snow - Switzerland is beautiful country. They actually spoke more German than I thought they would - I thought there would be more Italian and French - but I knew enough of the pleasantries - it was fun for us all and the food was yummy!
From our balcony
Lucas, BoBo the Penguin & Roman his teacher
When can we get on the slopes?
I'm ready!
Our cute little snow bunny
Saturday, February 7
Snow Day #3 & Getting Ready
The kids got to play one more day in the snow this week. They finally went back on Thursday but of course now it is Mid-Winter break! So we are heading to Switzerland! You know how it is when you are packing for a big trip? Try 7 people, 2 strollers, 7 luggage including ski gear - Plane, Trains, & 2 hotel rooms - and 2 hotels!!! Yikes - wish us luck!
Monday, February 2
Snow Day
It was all white today - Mike measured 10 inches of snow - we've never had to stay home from school for snow before!!! I'm glad we had lessons on 72 hour kits - all the kids had friends over so my milk & bread supply is almost depleted sadly - we've already been told tomorrow is no school as well. We're totally snowed in - no cars up or down the street for quite a way - they don't have plows here because they don't normally have this much snow - they said it was the most snow we've had here in 2 decades! We don't have satellite because we have too much snow on our roof, but luckily we have phones and internet!!
The kids will be staying home tomorrow as well - we'll get ready for another stay in day!!!
The kids will be staying home tomorrow as well - we'll get ready for another stay in day!!!
Sunday, February 1
Our Weekend
Well Friday started our pretty low-key weekend. Lucas was special helper so he made this really cool hat at school. The teacher says Lucas always helps tell the teacher who is special helper every day - they have a wheel with the kids names on it and Lucas knows all of their names.
I finally made our Chinese New Year dinner - I don't actually have a calendar with holidays on it - I guess I haven't signed up for the right one for Ical....
I made beef & broccoli, steamed minced pork, & steamed minced pork & egg - all home-type specialties my grandma taught me when I was a girl. I luckily had some lop cheong (sausage), bamboo shoots and water chestnuts to make it more complete. Too bad I didn't have oyster or hoisin sauce! I have however seen a Chinese market not too far from here but haven't gone in yet... since these were the last of my special supplies I got from the US I better check it out! It is the Year of the Ox - my dad's year... should be a good year!
Friday Night was the 3rd grade American Indian Musical.......
Half way through Ian decided to put his feather right in front of his face - I thought it was classic...He played the xylophone (which he didn't tell me about!) and a song flute - he did really well and it was fun to watch.
Chandler & Tyler both got to have friends over for sleep overs this weekend so we had lots of kids.
Mike went to the car store to buy one of those Thule thingys for the top of our car - we're getting ready for Switzerland next weekend....
A good thing too - we're getting a head start - it started snowing again tonight - burrrr - I can't believe I live in a place that snows! Although they tell me it is very rare, so might as well enjoy it. The kids are hoping school is cancelled tomorrow - I'm hoping not!!
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