Wednesday, October 14
Day 8: Rita
One thing about being here (and on the company's dime or nickel) is that we have been blessed to have Rita come every Wednesday to our house. Rita is from Lithuania - she is studying to do graphic design (and English) but in the meantime she cleans houses. I didn't think I'd like having someone in my house with me all day to help me clean it (remember I have 8 bathrooms), but I really like it. She is wonderful and she has a little boy about Lucas' age and her husband is an electrician - she is also quite beautiful, when she comes it always makes me humm the Beatles song... Lovely Rita (meter maid)........I'm going to be in big trouble when we move back to California!
Tuesday, October 13
Day 7: Choir Concert
Tuesday was a Mini-Concert for 8th grade choir and orchestra. Tyler joined the choir this year since a few of her friends had joined. The music teachers here are a hoot - I think they may both be American - one is for certain, the other may be Canadian. But they are so boisterous and energetic - the band teacher specifically is one of those teachers all the kids say, "Ms. Chilton just picks up anyone's instrument and blows in it - she doesn't even care about the germs....." Such fond memories...
There are 12 kids in this year's choir and the teacher is soooo excited. You can imagine - they only have about 90-100 max 8th graders so you can see why teachers get so excited to fill spots. In the orchestra (which is silly they do it by grade and not skill level) for the 8th grade there are 3 flutes, 2 clarinets, 7 saxophones, 2 violins, one percussion, and some brass in there someplace. But they have a weird class rotation for middle school and high school - we have 8 school days - even & odd days - so on each day they go to 4 classes - 95 mins each or something. But not only like college do they have classes only every-other day - each of the 8 days the class times are rotated... so on day 1 they'll have math first, but on day 3 it will be in the mid-day, and on day 5 it will be after lunch - you get the picture - so it makes rotating when extras take place a logistical nightmare. But the kids get it - I never know where they are during the day.
Tyler, Jessica, Jessica & Jenny
Tristy-Lu playing with the camera listening to the concert - except when she dropped the camera she had a solo during the concert - one LONG LOUD yelp!
There are 12 kids in this year's choir and the teacher is soooo excited. You can imagine - they only have about 90-100 max 8th graders so you can see why teachers get so excited to fill spots. In the orchestra (which is silly they do it by grade and not skill level) for the 8th grade there are 3 flutes, 2 clarinets, 7 saxophones, 2 violins, one percussion, and some brass in there someplace. But they have a weird class rotation for middle school and high school - we have 8 school days - even & odd days - so on each day they go to 4 classes - 95 mins each or something. But not only like college do they have classes only every-other day - each of the 8 days the class times are rotated... so on day 1 they'll have math first, but on day 3 it will be in the mid-day, and on day 5 it will be after lunch - you get the picture - so it makes rotating when extras take place a logistical nightmare. But the kids get it - I never know where they are during the day.
Tyler, Jessica, Jessica & Jenny
Tristy-Lu playing with the camera listening to the concert - except when she dropped the camera she had a solo during the concert - one LONG LOUD yelp!
Monday, October 12
Day 6: Mom's Day - Milestone
Mondays are hectic but nice - I get a baby sitter almost every Monday since I have pilates. Well, actually I get "the best" babysitter. Next week I'll have to be sure to take a picture of her - Pauline is our Mary Poppins. She is Tristan's babysitter and they love each other! Pauline takes Tristan to the local historical grounds for walks to feed the ducks and play - and people ooh and ahh over Tristan she says. They say they all know Tristan is an American baby because of the bow on her head!!!
But I also made an appointment for myself today for a facial... my cyclops eye traveled over to the left side this AM - worse by far since my ingesting the mystery food on Saturday night. It's the date that keeps on giving apparently. Those date nights seem to take me a week to recover - so no scary pictures of my eye - I tried to take a couple, but it was WAY TOO scary! My face is still slightly swollen and numb on the left side. But in another couple days I should be back to just my average self!
But in the meantime - here's a good one for you - Tristan standing on her own for the first time... my days are numbered!!!
But I also made an appointment for myself today for a facial... my cyclops eye traveled over to the left side this AM - worse by far since my ingesting the mystery food on Saturday night. It's the date that keeps on giving apparently. Those date nights seem to take me a week to recover - so no scary pictures of my eye - I tried to take a couple, but it was WAY TOO scary! My face is still slightly swollen and numb on the left side. But in another couple days I should be back to just my average self!
But in the meantime - here's a good one for you - Tristan standing on her own for the first time... my days are numbered!!!
Sunday, October 11
Day 5: Sunday
It was a busy Sunday as it was Ward Conference - I should have had no responsibilities on this day - but instead my sweet husband was teaching Sunday School and recruited my help. Actually I also had to go to the 8AM Ward Council meeting - but Saturday night Mike & I went for a date night (gasp, shock, surprise, yes all of that) and we went to a yummy Spanish Tapas Bar - we had some really yummy things - but alas - mystery ingredient was in there and I felt the allergic reaction creeping into my right eye - so I loaded up on my good pink friend - Benedryl... I was out like a light by 10pm.
So in the morning my eye was slightly cyclops-ish - only a little scary - but I was so doped up still I was sooooooo tired in the AM. But we made this really neat thing on the computer - Mike's lesson was on the Prophets of the church - so he found on YouTube a bunch of videos of all of the prophets of the church since Joseph Smith - with either their words being read - or real recordings in their own voices and of course as the more modern ones came down their own video clips - we montaged them all together to create a continuous video of them. I'll try to download it - but it was 20 mins long so not sure if it will go. It was wonderful though - and Mike asked me to play a couple hymns on my flute so it's always nice to brush the cobwebs off to do that.
Our night was very restful as I was still in a drug induced stupor - the kids - all 4 older ones played "House" together - I love it - they made up their own "rooms" in Lucas & Cman's actual room and were selling goods to one another - it was very cute...I love that they play like this still even though Tyler is almost 14! (shush - don't tell her!)
Tyler's room
Cman's room - I was told he had the 'grocery' store so he made the most money...one smart cookie!
Monkey's bed
And the Pets (scary!)
So in the morning my eye was slightly cyclops-ish - only a little scary - but I was so doped up still I was sooooooo tired in the AM. But we made this really neat thing on the computer - Mike's lesson was on the Prophets of the church - so he found on YouTube a bunch of videos of all of the prophets of the church since Joseph Smith - with either their words being read - or real recordings in their own voices and of course as the more modern ones came down their own video clips - we montaged them all together to create a continuous video of them. I'll try to download it - but it was 20 mins long so not sure if it will go. It was wonderful though - and Mike asked me to play a couple hymns on my flute so it's always nice to brush the cobwebs off to do that.
Our night was very restful as I was still in a drug induced stupor - the kids - all 4 older ones played "House" together - I love it - they made up their own "rooms" in Lucas & Cman's actual room and were selling goods to one another - it was very cute...I love that they play like this still even though Tyler is almost 14! (shush - don't tell her!)
Lucas' room
Tyler's room
Ian's room
Cman's room - I was told he had the 'grocery' store so he made the most money...one smart cookie!
Monkey's bed
And the Pets (scary!)
Saturday, October 10
Day 4: Super Soccer/Football Day
Saturdays are all about Football & Football in our house........from 8:30AM-3PM straight, need I say more????
The in-between-events photos.....
Duck lips with pringles...
Don't you love the socks??
The in-between-events photos.....
Duck lips with pringles...
Don't you love the socks??
Day 3: Swami in the House
Chandler was playing his clarinet to lure the baby out of the basket........
We also have the beginnings of a band in our house...
We also have the beginnings of a band in our house...
Friday, October 9
Day 2: Pumpkin Patch
Thanks Rachel for checking in on me - it was a bit of a crazy weekend - so I am a little behind on my 30 day pictorial!!
Friday I got a babysitter (my regular Mary Poppins - we love her!) and she took Tristan to her usual outings - they go to the park, feed ducks, play outside - so I could take Lucas on his kindergarten class field trip to Garcon's Farm to the Pumpkin Patch. I loved going with them. We got on a bus (a nice chartered bus) and rode to the farm 10 mins away - they got on the tractor pull to ride out to the patch itself then each little kiddie got to pick out a pumpkin - and so did the grown-ups (bonus!).
It was a great field trip and it only took 2 hours so I still had time to run errands. I missed out on most of the fall things last year as I was getting ready for Tristan to arrive in this new country so I've been enjoying the fall activities this year!
Friday I got a babysitter (my regular Mary Poppins - we love her!) and she took Tristan to her usual outings - they go to the park, feed ducks, play outside - so I could take Lucas on his kindergarten class field trip to Garcon's Farm to the Pumpkin Patch. I loved going with them. We got on a bus (a nice chartered bus) and rode to the farm 10 mins away - they got on the tractor pull to ride out to the patch itself then each little kiddie got to pick out a pumpkin - and so did the grown-ups (bonus!).
It was a great field trip and it only took 2 hours so I still had time to run errands. I missed out on most of the fall things last year as I was getting ready for Tristan to arrive in this new country so I've been enjoying the fall activities this year!
Thursday, October 8
A Pictorial: Day 1 - Home "SICK"
I hope my blogging friend Rachel doesn't mind - I read her blog today and she has challenged herself to take a photo a day for 30 days....I'm not quite as disciplined but I thought I would try to do it as well - although her pictures are always so wonderful! I post pictures Lucas the cameraman took!
We didn't have school last Thurs, Fri or Monday but Lucas has stayed home all week as he had a little low grade thing where I was uncertain to send him or not - if they send you home from school with a fever you have to be fever free for 48 hours before they allow you to come back to school. And since he has a field trip to the Pumpkin Patch tomorrow I didn't want to take any chances - but today I thought he'd be ready to go back...he woke up and said he didn't feel good - his ear hurt, his throat hurt, but I think I've created a hypochondriac!
Doesn't he look sick to you???????
We didn't have school last Thurs, Fri or Monday but Lucas has stayed home all week as he had a little low grade thing where I was uncertain to send him or not - if they send you home from school with a fever you have to be fever free for 48 hours before they allow you to come back to school. And since he has a field trip to the Pumpkin Patch tomorrow I didn't want to take any chances - but today I thought he'd be ready to go back...he woke up and said he didn't feel good - his ear hurt, his throat hurt, but I think I've created a hypochondriac!
Doesn't he look sick to you???????
Wednesday, October 7
Things that make me laugh
When Lucas takes my camera and likes to take pictures! Here are fun ones......
Poor Lucas has been under the weather the past two days so he's had to hang at home with me and Tristy-Lu. I'm glad he can entertain himself! Hopefully tomorrow he'll be better enough to go back to school!
Poor Lucas has been under the weather the past two days so he's had to hang at home with me and Tristy-Lu. I'm glad he can entertain himself! Hopefully tomorrow he'll be better enough to go back to school!
Monday, October 5
Legoland & Chessington
The kids did not have school last Thursday, Friday or today. So like a good mom and not wanting them to all stay at home and pick at each other (or me!) we went to Legoland in Windsor on Thursday which is about 30 mins away. We have a season pass that allows you to go to this park as well as a few others that are just minutes away from our house.
The weather was fabulous and it was completely not crowded since the British schools are still in session. It was perfect! We saw friends there and one family friends came to join us as well. It was a great day. TristyLu even got to go on a few rides...this legoland is huge - and it has great rides for big kids as well as little kids. It's a great place to go - especially when there is no one else around!
This is when you first walk in - the view is wonderful - you can see just behind the kids is Windsor Castle. It was a beautiful clear day and you could see for miles!
Us & the Hickey kids (and yes, I am in the photo - the kids are all catching up in height to me!)
The next day I went to the kids' school for conferences (hence the reason for no school) They are all doing well and I feel lucky they get to go to this fabulous private school. They don't really have more than 15 kids per class - the technology each teacher has available to them is outstanding. And the cultural experience alone is priceless.
After I got back we drove 15 mins to Chessington World of Adventures which is another theme park. Our friend Chris called Lagoon in Utah a poor man's Great America - well this is on par with that, or even slightly less! But still all good fun. They have lots of rides that are quite pseudo-Disney.
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They have bigger rides so I stayed with Lucas & Tristy-Lu which is why I don't have pictures of the big kids! But it was a great weekend.
Mike was in the States all week so he got home Friday night - Tyler and I went to Hampton Court to see a play called A Little Neck about Anne Boleyn - it was the BEST play - we were divided into 4 groups and followed the characters around the castle - practically running through it all during the night. The Castle was the stage and we ran around all the different rooms to watch the play. It was amazing! You didn't sit for 1.5 hours - it's hard to explain, but hands down the most interactive and coolest thing I've done!
So there you have it - our last few days. Now I'm off to take my UK Driving Test - the written part - I had to study 963 questions to be quizzed on 50, plus this interesting periphery test - it has a 50% fail rate... cross you fingers!
The weather was fabulous and it was completely not crowded since the British schools are still in session. It was perfect! We saw friends there and one family friends came to join us as well. It was a great day. TristyLu even got to go on a few rides...this legoland is huge - and it has great rides for big kids as well as little kids. It's a great place to go - especially when there is no one else around!
This is when you first walk in - the view is wonderful - you can see just behind the kids is Windsor Castle. It was a beautiful clear day and you could see for miles!
Us & the Hickey kids (and yes, I am in the photo - the kids are all catching up in height to me!)
The next day I went to the kids' school for conferences (hence the reason for no school) They are all doing well and I feel lucky they get to go to this fabulous private school. They don't really have more than 15 kids per class - the technology each teacher has available to them is outstanding. And the cultural experience alone is priceless.
After I got back we drove 15 mins to Chessington World of Adventures which is another theme park. Our friend Chris called Lagoon in Utah a poor man's Great America - well this is on par with that, or even slightly less! But still all good fun. They have lots of rides that are quite pseudo-Disney.
\They have bigger rides so I stayed with Lucas & Tristy-Lu which is why I don't have pictures of the big kids! But it was a great weekend.
Mike was in the States all week so he got home Friday night - Tyler and I went to Hampton Court to see a play called A Little Neck about Anne Boleyn - it was the BEST play - we were divided into 4 groups and followed the characters around the castle - practically running through it all during the night. The Castle was the stage and we ran around all the different rooms to watch the play. It was amazing! You didn't sit for 1.5 hours - it's hard to explain, but hands down the most interactive and coolest thing I've done!
So there you have it - our last few days. Now I'm off to take my UK Driving Test - the written part - I had to study 963 questions to be quizzed on 50, plus this interesting periphery test - it has a 50% fail rate... cross you fingers!
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