Happy Birthday Mike!

The fall is a busy time for our household - we have lots of celebrations between now and through January. Today is a special one - It's Mike's big 4-0 birthday. I can't believe how fast time flies. We had a very fun surprise party for him in California before we left and tonight our new friends the Hamberlins came over for dinner (we missed you Smiths!).

Mike is definitely my soul mate - I'm so glad he found me - he is the most patient person - and he loves adventure. He has taken me on most of mine - we've known each other now for almost 19 years - yikes that sounds so old. We've been to obviously England, France, Australia, Indonesia, Spain & Italy. I'm sure I missed some place - doesn't count all the domestic travel of course - but it is quite a feat with life and kids in between them all.

We used to do lots of biking and hiking and other outdoor stuff - he'd still prefer to go dancing with me than sit on the couch and watch a movie.

I love him with all of my heart and I am so proud of the person he is. He never shirks responsibility, he is so intelligent and yet so naive in the same breath - sounds silly doesn't it? He has accomplished so much in life and work which I don't talk about too much - but I would imagine many of his goals in this life he's met (or at least I hope so). He is so generous and always tries to think of the sunny-side. He is my other half - he makes me into a nicer person - and he is very supportive.

The things we have done together have filled my memory books - I love to be with and just plainly - I love this man.

Happy Birthday to my one and only, the father of my sweet babies, my companion forever....

Happy Birthday Mom & Linda!

Oh - 2 of my favorite people share the same birthday! It's hard being so far away from them - but at least I'll be the first to wish them a happy birthday since we're so ahead of time!!

My mom since moving to Las Vegas 10 years ago has become this major craft lady - it is so funny - I of course love to craft - all things - she has always sewn - then one day I told her I was taking a quilting class - and she was like - I think I'll do that - well - now the lady doesn't go anywhere without looking for the local quilt shop in town - she's coming here to visit me when the baby arrives - she's already looked up where the quilt shop is!

My mom makes all the matching PJ's for the kids for Christmas, makes all the Halloween costumes (she stole that from me a few years ago) She uses all my chinese food ingredients when she comes to make Chandler and my brother their favorite foods (so deprived in Vegas) She's also the secretary for the Quilt Guild - it's pretty cute for a grandma under 60 (I have to do the math I think she is finally over 55). My mom was born the year of the Dragon and a Scorpio so she's a spitfire. One of my great-friend's husband is older than my mom. Yes my mom is pretty young for a grandma of 4 1/2 (and I didn't start that early!) but she loves doing the craft thing with Tyler and the boys love to play video games with their Pau Pau - I can't stand to play video games - but I think my mom really loved Tetris when my brothers were growing up and I was in college so she can handle a joy stick - but a computer mouse she is still working on - but now that we're here we're forcing her to learn more about her high technology since it's so easy because we are far away!


Not the best picture I have of my mom, but she's camera shy - she's usually the one always taking the picture (along with a covered flash or a finger) We love you mom - hope you have a great day!

Today is Linda's Birthday too! Mike's is Sunday so every year for the last 12 years we've had a "Birthday Dinner" - Chris and I seem to get left out on this celebration - however it is a very fun tradition I'm very disheartened to miss this year. We kinda had it early this year - but it was really was the guise for my surprise par-tay for Mike.

What can I say about Linda - we've grown so much in the last 10-12 years - luckily not just in the waist! She is the sister I've never had, my BFF & one of my closest friends and it is so much fun to have someone your own age (although she is older - wink wink - by a month) and with husbands the same age and kids the same age - we always have fun. She's super fun, she loves to shop and she teaches me about make-up, clothes, and the latest celebrity or TV happenings! I miss our shopping excursions and our lunch dates and just our regular conversations - even the mundane - you know - "what's for dinner??".

I have a ton of pictures of Linda - but she'd kill me if I posted some of them- you know, camping trips, vacations, cooking, just having a baby pix, getting her brows plucked..... I'll have to save a few for bargaining chips...It's so sad to be so far away - and for their impending move - I always expected them to be there when we got back (if the market stays the same for a while maybe I'll get my wish!) - that's one place I won't follow to move to....

There's not much hidden about Linda - what you see is what you get and that is a lot of fun, she's beautiful, caring and all those boys! Those boys are my kids BFF's and cousins and they love their ma-ma! We spend every holiday, birthday, Sunday dinner and event together. Such a lucky girl I am to have such a great friend - love you lots and hope you have a great day!





As for me - I'm looking forward to the weekend - the baby is coming if not on it's own than my Dr. may induce a tad early - likely within the next couple weeks - my hip from my cycling accident last year isn't doing all that well - so we need to get the little alien out. So I spend quite a bit of couch time right now - and I've been getting reaquinted with my crochet hook!

Uncle Ryan in London

Uncle Ryan is our official first visitor to our new house! He was in France about the same time we were and was able to jet through London for the weekend before heading back to NYC. We hope it is the first of many trips!

Mike and the 3 bigger kids took him into town and they got to go to the London Bridge and the Tower of London. It was raining cats and dogs but they made the most of it!

Big Ben & Parliament!

London Bridges Falling Down!

Watch where you sit!
Chandler's France project that is due tomorrow - he has been working on it for a couple weeks. We included pictures of our trip as well. Good thing I brought a bunch of craft stuff! Unfortunately I've been going through my things and I'm missing TONS!!!

Ah Paris

Louise put lots of pictures on her's too....


Tyler's favori: Chocolate Chaud, pain du (au?) Pomme, Tour Eiffle et Notre Dame
Chandler's favori: Quiche Lorraine, petit dejeuner, dejeuner et diner
Ian's favori: pain du Pomme et Tour Eiffle
Lucas' favori: baguette - TOUR EIFFLE! (avec Dora the Explorer & Sophia)
Michel's favori - crepes!
Et Moi? La France est magnifique!


Parisi's on their home land

Je t'aime

Glowing in front of the L'arc de Triomphe d'etoile on the Champs Elysees

Cruisin' in the Rain

La Seine

Notre Dame

La Louvre

Tour Eiffle

Happy Birthday Ian!!

Well my little man is 8 today - Chandler told him he wasn't 8 yet because in California it wasn't morning time yet!

Ian is a cute little bugger - there are 2 things I think of when I think of when he was born:

1. He was born with a smile on his face
2. And a book in his hand......

His BFF Juddy Buddy (on our memorable Houseboat trip)

See always smiling

Here are 8 things about Ian:

1. Always smiling or laughing
2. Loves video games (however slightly addicted!)
3. Loves his new room - he loves having his own room by himself - he also keeps it the cleanest!
4. Ian loves his friends (and misses them too!)
5. Ian can get along with ANYONE
6. He is very thoughtful and usually thinks of other people first
7. He is very smart :)
8. He loves to play football (soccer) especially with his HEAD!

We are going to wait for the baby to be born before we baptize Ian - he will be the true middle child after that - What a neat spot to be in - Sister-Brother-Ian-Brother-Sister.

We love having Ian in our home. He had to be born with a good nature because he is also my "peanut, hay fever, animal allergy, allergy shots, eczema-ridden, nose stuffy, bone breaker, prone to colds, asthmatic".... so with all that he has to deal with whining would just have sent me over the edge. Our medical insurance is worth it's weight in gold for this one child alone!

Ian always has a story - long stories - so you have to pay attention - he likes to build, but likes to read more - he has this monkey he cannot live without - and ah, his favorite color is Orange!

Tonight he had the choice - we're going to the school Trunk or Treat - he wanted to dress up as a hobo - tomorrow is the last day of the term so they have next week off. We're going to Paris for his bday :) What a lucky boy!

Tuesday Happenings

Well I've been slightly delinquent in my posts because I've been playing with my new toy. I'm converted. I love my IPhone. I always knew I "should" get one because I have my MacBook and it would be easier - well I love my new phone. Now I can get emails where ever I go!

This weekend we had soccer (football) and football....Tyler has been working on a huge Family History project for her Language arts class and Chandler has a big report due on a country - he picked France - lucky for him we're going on Saturday so he can bring back a few little things to display for it. The kids have been really busy at school. I thought I should fill you in on what they're doing.

Lucas really likes going to school all day now - I think he's gotten used to it and doesn't come home quite so exhausted any longer. He loves to talk about Carmen and Jack, and then says he wants them to come over and also to play with Hayden & Callie. He comes home and can spell his name in order to log onto the computer to play Nick Jr. and play a Dora the Explorer game.

Ian started cub scouts - but because they don't do it through church here - he joined through school - but because he's in 3rd grade - he's a Bear not a Wolf (it's all Chinese to me) but he still wants his Wolf since Chandler got his - so we're going to end up doing double work for him. As long as he is enthusiastic that is fine. His birthday is Thursday - the night we have a Trunk or Treat at the school. He voted to go - and decorate the car - of course I didn't bring any Halloween decorations so I've been trying to find things - they have quite a few things but I hate to buy too much. I also hope Ian remembers we had a bday party for him before we left (especially since I can't find anything he wants in the stores here!) On Tuesdays he's also in a Computer Club after school right now - he really enjoys it - they have all new IMacs at the school - in July we saw them installing them all - it's terrific. He is doing well - his teacher is amazed how much Ian soars at reading - I told him he was born with a book in his hand.

Chandler begrudgingly joined Webelos - but of course once he is there he loves it. They only meet 2x month unlike at home. I think at home he was getting a little burned out with it every week. The bummer was it was the same time as track at home so he really wanted to do that with his friend Duncan. Last week he got to go into London for a field trip to the Natural History Museum - he talked about it for 3 days straight. Chandler's teacher love him - she lived in Lafayette so we do live in a small world! Chandler is in a chess club after school on Tuesdays - he loves it and he's getting better and better.

Tyler went to her first school dance on Friday night. She brought a friend home after school and they went to the dance. She said when they'd play slow songs the few couples would dance and everyone else would line up like wall flowers! We haven't gotten her in dance yet - part of it is me - I'm kinda tired at night - and our nights go fast here - it's getting darker much sooner - like by 5.

Mike was in Barcelona last week - he's enjoying his job - he really likes it - the economy makes it a little tougher but he's always up for a challenge. He's dying for American Sports though. Funny because I'm the baseball girl, but he's the one that checks the scores. He always tells me when Basketball is starting - my rote repsonse is, "It never ends". We used to love Basketball - but I loathe it now - it's just toooooo long and they are all thugs. Not my favorite any longer. Now that we've lived here for 5 weeks (or is it 6?) Mike has already been to Greece, Germany & Spain. Then this weekend we're going to France... he needs more pages - literally - in his passport!

I got my haircut today - they did aroma therapy first with a head massage - oh not by the stylist - another girl - then the shampoo - with 2 washings (which I wondered, is that standard or is my hair really dirty?) then the cut & style....so funny. It took a really long time - not like my normal 40 mins in & out. But it was nice. Caris always did a great job with my hair and I went regularly so I think the shape was still there for the new lady to follow so I don't think it was that hard. I went and ran some errands and tried this hole in the wall Chinese place Chandler's friend keeps telling us about - well - I will tell you - it's the best Beef Chow Fun I've had in a loooong time - better than any place in Ptown!!! And they deliver!

Church is going well - we went Sunday and got there 5 mins early it didn't look like a big turn out - but by the end there were a ton of people there! Wait till I tell you my new calling - ugh, but whew I can say it isn't in the RS for once!

Well off to do some chores before those kiddies come home!

Crabby Pattie

I stayed home all day today - kind of on purpose. I'm so irritable - I know a lot of it has to do with the pregnancy - but I also remember someone saying once that your natural disposition comes out even more as you get older - so does that mean I'm going to be an old crabby lady??????????

The kids bickering grates on my nerves. Today I stayed at home - cleaned the downstairs - then went back upstairs for a rest and read my book (it's a long book). We still don't have TV - a record for us I'm sure almost 6 weeks right? We have radio and the owners have speakers all over the house - but I didn't even turn it on today - just sat in the quiet house and read.

The packers came today to collect the rest of the empty boxes and wrapping which was nice - I didn't have to break down all the boxes myself and figure out how to toss everything out. I also cleaned the garage so we can park our car in there again. It's nice not to have "too much".

Lucas and Tyler came home first and they were tired - I have to back track - I went to Bunco last night (hooray for me!) but the house was a huge mess when I got home and the kids must have gone to bed late because it was hard for them all to get up this AM and especially my one special child - when he gets up on the wrong side of the day - it ruins MY day. So that is about how it went.

Of course after I picked the other 2 up from Scouts - the bickering began. I can't stand it - it drives me bonkers. Then little things bug me - like - here in Britian - why does every stupid business call your mobile phone first? And if it isn't on, why don't they leave a message? OR TRY YOUR HOUSE?????? I noticed that the first couple weeks here - they just automatically call your mobile - well you know what I don't answer my mobile when I'm driving - it's AGAINST the law here and I don't have my bluetooth set up. And when I am home all day - I don't turn it on. If they do call your house - they don't leave a message (we only have one phone right now, and I don't exactly 'RUN' to answer it) so I usually miss it.

The banking - I want to run home and kiss my local Wells Fargo Bank teller - I hate the banking system here - online stinks especially - they have about 50 passwords you have to memorize then they say things like, what is the 2nd digit of your thrid password, what is the 9th digit of your eighth password..... and EVERY time you log in - THEY CHANGE THE SEQUENCE.....hellooooooo???? So it's so much safer here because I have to have all 10 passwords written down so I can count the digits every single time.... nice

Did I mention my stove? I know back in our house selection period I mentioned this as one of the negatives to selecting this house - at the time I thought it was more of a minor negative - well aparently not - I LOVE my Thermdor GAS RANGE at home.... here I have one of those stupid glass top sleek (hard to clean) stupid range things that is stupid ELECTRIC - (sorry I thought it was more interesting with more stupids) yes, back to the dark ages - I hate it - it take me - and I am sooo NOT exaggerating - 30 minutes, yes THIRTY minutes to..... wait for it......... BOIL WATER. I am so not kidding. I hate it. Mike says I say hate too much - well you know what - when you're 8 months pregnant trying to cook for a family of 6 you would say hate too..... I suppose if you are not a cook - it doesn't matter much - but when you love to cook - Electric sucks.

Well the whining continues - Mike is in London at a dinner meeting - lucky him...sorry for the ranting - hopefully you covered your eyes with all the stupids & hates....... I'm going to get the rambunctious ones ready for bed... and back to my book!

Stonehenge & Longleat & Bath oh my!

The kids had parent teacher conferences Thursday - Monday so they didn't have school. I'm happy to report they are all doing well and their teachers seem to like them - whew! Lucas' speech teacher is worried about his comprehension - meaning if they tell all the kids, "It's reading time, get a book" he doesn't always follow along and they need to "guide" him. Personally I think it is more than not - he just doesn't want to do what they are doing! Luckily we had them all scheduled on Thursday so we got a free pass on the weekend.

So Friday we drove in our little family car and here was our first stop: Stonehenge - it's over 5000 years old. It's a little strange when you drive up to it - it's right off the highway - but look at the sky - it was beautiful! It was very open and windy - but I guess there used to be a great forest around it. They have all of these "great theories" of why they were built and how they were used - wouldn't it just be funny if it were just a group of friends that said, let's have a building contest!




On Saturday we met up with our new friends The Hamberlins and went to Longleat - I think you can google it - Basically in the 60's the Marquess of this place had all this land, brought in some Safari Animals and opened up his family estate up for tour to help pay for the maintainence - and wow - if you had as much land as this guy and didn't have the feudal system in place anymore - smart idea!!

You drive your car through the Safari Park - it's so funny at some places where it says - "keep your windows up!" Well - you can see why - like here in the Monkey area - you have to be careful not to run them over - The monkeys enjoyed the treats that fell into our car from the tree at our house - we had about 5 monkeys climbing on our car!!

Sally the Camel has...... 2 humps!

You got to buy feed here - some deer actually stuck their heads right into your car!

This is the Marquess' house - he lives in the West Wing - see what I mean - kinda a lot to maintain! He even has a lake - which we took a boat on - with a small island in the middle with a silver haired gorilla! They also had a bunch of fun things for the kids - rides, a giant hedge maze the kids got lost in - the kids asked if this was going to be the zoo we always go to - umm, no I don't think so - it's about 4X if not more larger than the Oakland Zoo!

On Sunday - we went to Bath - the Abbey was behind us and the Roman Bath House is on the right behind us. They had these great self-guided tour handsets - They had numbers for the kids to punch in as well so they had Kid Commentary - Lucas had to find and punch in EVERY SINGLE one - he was very cute - I think he really enjoyed it!





It made you wonder though - the water was quite green......

It was a glorious day too - here is a picture of our friends the Hamberlins (or at least the kids!) It's fun - they moved here about 2 weeks before us - and our kids match up pretty well. Mason is 12, Marina is 10, Nicko is 6 (but matches well with Ian!) and Emma is 3 - she loves all the kids :) Mark works at Cisco with Mike in a different dept - and they are also in our Ward - what are the odds? HF looking out for us again!

Today I have to get Cman a clarinet - he starts lessons on Wednesday! We're also thinking about going to Garson's Farm and picking our own fruit & veggies - it's supposed to be fun for the kids - and since we still have no TV, still making friends, and I don't want them on the electronics all day I think it is a great option!

2 weeks we meet Auntie Nu in Paris!

So bummed

I'm so disappointed! Tyler's teacher offered a trip to Rome - but they offered it to the drama club first I guess so there isn't enough room!!!! So sad!

She has been so fortunate - she is going to Normandy France in March - she can go to Switzerland for a ski Trip in February and this Rome trip was to be in January... ah the life of a 7th grader!!!

One of my children is driving me insane, it's not a hard guess to guess which one. I'm not sure if it is a constant need to be heard, a constant need to be "the best" - I said, I'm really tired today - I want to rest for 20 mins.... the other kids go upstairs, play do their homework. This one plants his butt right next to me to "do his homework" (hello we live in a larger house than the one we lived normally at home) shuffles all the papers, sighs, taps the pencil, grunts, because he cannot figure out "what do you divide by 8 to get 4?"

Then they go outside to "play" - he throws a football at the other child - in the face - he said, "we were playing catch". No - catch is between 2 willing participants - not one throwing the ball while the other is on the scooter.

Now I hear another sibling saying "no no no ________" leave me alone...... ahhhhhhhhhhhh - sometimes boarding school sounds so good......

Me & the Queen

First I have to wish my little brother - who isn't so little - a big happy birthday!!!! My brother is very sweet - he and his wife Sandra already sent us goodies at the new house too! I'm sure Sandra did it!!! Thanks Sandra!

My brother Gavin is gosh - 33 now!!!!??? Old man... and he's a giant. He is the tallest Chinese man next to Yao Ming that I know. He is at least 6'4" if not taller. I wish I had some of those cute embarrassing pictures to post of him, but I really don't know if I packed them! I'm just waiting for a decent hour to call and wish him a Happy Happy Birthday!

Not the greatest pictures - but the most recent! Brian, Me & Gavin
At my cousin's going away bbq she had for us - most of the boy cousins or cousin-in-laws - see about my bro being the Chinese Giant! Mike is 6'
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Finally I am updating - It's been a busy week - sorry this might be long so feel free to scan or read later :) but you do have to check out my Tuesday story - it's the best.....

Monday - I went on a tour to Buckingham Palace - it was the last day of the tour for the season. I went with the AWS - American Women of Surrey - very fun. Met some really nice ladies. We took the train into Victoria Station and walked to the Palace - it was an eventful ride as well. We had to take the local train and then transfer before getting to Victoria - well we had to walk briskly to catch our 2nd train - while we were trotting down the stairs we noticed the train sitting there - we had 2 mins - so someone said, run - I ran, all 7 1/2 weeks preggo of me - and I got in - well my friends didn't! The doors to these trains are NOT like BART where if you stick a limb inside they'll pop open for you - they close the trains 30 seconds before they depart - and that is it - so I was alone on the train - the other 5 girls were on the outside!!!

Luckily I had one of their mobile numbers and even more lucky we really only had one stop to go and get off. I just had to make sure I found them when they arrived. So funny. We found a great cheap place for lunch - called Noodle Noodle right by the train station so I'll have to remember where it was.

The tour was really nice - but weird - I've done lots of tours of castles or museums and such - but it was just weird to know HRH The Queen was in that day but in another part of the castle - and we were tromping around her pad like it was no big deal. This tour also had a tour of the room where they have their Royal Dinners - I forget the proper name - but like a State dinner and they have them 2x a year - they use rulers to measure exactly where each plate, spoon, glass is placed. I kept thinking umm, Barack Obama may be eating here this year or the chick from Alaska if John McCain keels over. Weird as well.

I thought humm, I wonder if Prince Charles likes the Napoleon Table there or if Prince William sits in this chair or that one more often? Very fun but lots of walking for me that day - I went to bed by 9.

In the back garden

Tuesday - our Sea Shipment arrived!!! So unheard of - there is a girl in my ward who came from San Diego - about 2-3 weeks before I did - her stuff left her house on JULY 27, my stuff left August 27 - and she STILL HAS NOT GOTTEN HER STUFF - they told her maybe the end of October!! Crazy! Another lady who arrived 2-3 weeks before me from Wisconsin also won't get her stuff for another 2-3 weeks. We were very blessed - HF must have known I couldn't get my stuff too late or I wouldn't get a chance to put it all away before the baby comes! So that day was again lots of work. I'm happy to report I've got most of it (with the exception of my crafts) put away nicely. Now they need to come get the rental stuff.

I have a great story - I couldn't sleep as I was worried about my mattress - I brought it, but not the bedframe - as the owners left 3 and told me the measurements, but then I started to regret with worry.

The really nice unpackers were hilarious - I had them play musical bedframes with the rooms so I could get the right one for my room. They put it up - it looked dwarfed so I worried - the plopped a mattress on it so to check the size - fits - whew, dodged the bullet. I was unpacking boxes (didn't want the men to unpack my 'delicates') then they said, "uh, Holly (with the great accent) I don't think you want it like this........ I so wish I had a picture - it was so funny - I almost peed my pants which isn't hard for a pregnant lady!

Imagine this: Bed frame off the floor about 14 inches, american box spring - about 14-15 inches - American pillow top mattress (queen size at least) 16"..... Iaughed so hard, I would have needed a ladder! I laughed for a good 10 mins. So needless to say we are box springless - easier that way - and I made them lug it away - I would never be able to get rid of it and it would sit there for 2+ years. When we come back I hope to upgrade to a king size bed! Oh it was so funny.

Wednesday: Chocolate Pumpkin Fish Pudding - or something like that - not what we ate but what she calls her club - the AWS has a lady who offers cooking demonstrations - so I was on the waiting list - it was wonderful - she makes the food, gives you the recipes, and the tips I love, and then serves you lunch - wonderful! I figured unpacking would still be there. Met up again with a few ladies from Monday.

Thursday: Poor little Lucas couldn't get up - we had a mental health day - so he hung out with mom. Worked out well though as the ladies at church set up a play group so we went and hung out for a while. There were 4 of us - it was so fun - we're all from the US all of us have grown up or lived at one time in CA - 3 of us have 4 kids and the other girl was still young so she had 2. I'm the newbie out of them all! They've lived or traveled to Paris, Spain, Austrailia (well I guess I've traveled to all those places too) but Argentina, Austria! I just love it - they all love to travel just as much as me so it's fun to talk to these girls.

Went and found a store called Asda - it's a Walmart - or owned by them - but really- they did have the "lower price" stickers sans the smiley face, George Products, Halloween costumes but not like home, but it was not Walmart - more of a glorified grocery store. So my initial excitement faded quickly. But luckily I did have Lucas with me- they have parking for moms & little ones!!!!! Nice and close up.

For dinner I made the really yummy chicken that I learned to make at Wednesdays class - it's basically a rub with cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and oregano - it was soooooo good. I made them with thighs and legs and the kids ate like 4 pieces each! A hit! I stank like cumin and paprika so I had to shower after but it was so tasty!

Today - ran out for a few errands but had to be back by 1 - the only casualty of our sea shipment was one piece of our bunk bed was missing - they sent out a carpenter to make me a new piece and he just left to buy the wood. I've got almost everything put away inside the house - there are a few things I wish I had also packed to bring- and I'm still looking for things. I have to tackle the garage next.

Next week we have parent teacher conferences so no school Thur-Mon - we're trying to think of a fun place to go. The kids also have Fall Break on the 27th for a week so we're trying to book a place in Paris with Louise - the hotels and flat rentals just laugh at us - because we're trying to travel with 9 people!