Again with the Random

I really can't believe it's been 2 weeks since I've written anything. And because it's been 2 weeks...and because the kids summer break is starting to suck out my sanity...we're going to go with a "random brain dump" today

~ I would love to sit here and tell you that we've been super busy doing fabulously entertaining things and that's why I haven't popped on in 2 weeks....but we haven't. What we have done is sit in front of the air conditioning unit in the living room to try to stay cool-ish.

See, we finally hit our 2 weeks of serious *summer* weather. And I know it doesn't get as hot here as it does back in the States. But believe me, when the temperature outside is 85ish, and you don't have air conditioning...but you do have a lot of windows, your house heats up really quick. ((Our house got up to a sweltering 102 about a week or so ago......))

~ I really miss air conditioning sometimes, but I'm thankful that most days we really don't need it.

~ I have found a new love in life. And much to Brian's dismay have become mildly obsessed with this new love.

That is a White Stilton Cheese with Apricots in it (on a rice cake) 

Introduced to me by our Brit friends at our "Cheese I Don't Know" Party. I am IN LOVE!!

~ We are officially halfway through our time here. And I am sad. We have made some amazing friends here - the kind that you just hit it off with instantly & that your life is so much more blessed because of  & I can't imagine not seeing them all the time. (I have super sad face and I really hope that the next year and a half goes like snail-speed slow.)

~ This is really what I've been doing for the last 2 weeks....

This is a scrapbook (sort of) of our time here in England.

Our move from FL, the food, the markets, our friends, the fun stuff we've found and places we've visited. Just everything!

And truth be told, when I started working on it, I planned on doing a little at a time. But once I started I couldn't stop. I just threw myself into it and forgot about everything else. 

~ Brian and I go back to school in 2 weeks. I'm registered and already have my books and everything I need. .....And I'm impatient. I'm ready to start now. And it's taking an immense amount of patience and self-control to not start reading now. Don't judge me. I like my classes! And I've been looking forward to my Abnormal Child Psych class for a very long time! But I'm torn between my love of school and my need to not be *that* student (the one that starts studying 2 weeks before classes start). What's a girl to do??

~ I also really really need to rearrange something! I used to rearrange our furniture every few months in Florida. And that's just not possible here. I've done a few things - we gave Kierstin her own room...we converted our dining room into an office. But other than that, our furniture fits each room the way we have it. It gives me sad face because I have an itch that needs to be scratched!

So that's that. My Random Brain Dump Wednesday. =) 

I hope you are having a wonderful week! <3

New Fruits

Kiwano

Rambutan

Mangosteen

Lychee

No idea. These grew in a neighbor's yard

Weekend Fun

So even though it's Tuesday now (which I didn't realize until about an hour ago), I hope everyone had an amazing weekend. Especially all my lovely people back in the States, celebrating the 4th. Were you safe? I hope so! I would love to show you pictures of our celebratory festivities...but, sadly, I forgot to take any. I can show you a picture of this though...

I totally stole this from my friend Amy's FB page because she did get pictures of the sparklers that night. (Thanks Amy!!!)

It was a great night. Great friends + Great food = Great fun! And I'm very happy to say that Makenzie had a super fabulous birthday. She loves that her birthday falls on the 4th of July. Partly because she gets fireworks on her birthday, and partly because she ends up getting to have pieces of her birthday on different days so (for her) it's like celebrating for days. :)

I think the best part though, at least for this year, was the presents. I really wish I had been able to get her last one on video but my camera crapped out on me. See...Brian and I got sneaky on her. (We're mean like that.) She was all excited and opening and opening. And she opened the last one and you could just see the disappointment in her eyes because the one thing she *really* wanted was no where to be found. (Lol!) And then we pointed out this little piece of paper in the gift bag that she didn't notice...one that said something like "hey go open the front door". And off she ran, giving us a look like "y'all are total weirdos". 

But! Had my camera not crapped out on me. And had the screen not gone completely white when she opened the door. I would have gotten a video (or at the very least a picture) of her squealing with delight when she saw her new bike -- the present she really wanted.

I know, Brian and I are so mean...making her think there were no more. It was awesome seeing how excited she was though!

Aside from all that...things have been pretty, well, chaotic actually. Summer weather - while usually very lovely here in the UK - means open windows. And we have already established that open windows means bugs, or butterflies, in the house. And really, some days I'm not sure which I'd rather have. 

This one refused to leave. Every time I opened a door for it to fly out, it flew somewhere else. I really thought Hayden was going to pack his bags and leave. Lol. It was him or the butterfly. Thankfully, we finally managed to trick the butterfly into leaving and all was calm again.

And to burn off the energy the kids were keeping stored up inside their tiny little bodies (thanks to the constant butterfly chaos), we took them to a nearby soccer field and let them chase after frisbees for awhile. It was amazing!

They love playing frisbee and having this huge field nearby is awesome! On a good day, when it's super windy, that thing goes really far. Translation: after 20 minutes, the kids are worn out from chasing it everywhere (& our evil plan of "drain their energy so they'll go to bed on time without whining" is complete).

But anyway...that has been our weekend. I hope yours was just as wonderful! (And less chaotic!) Until next time...Much love! <3

It's Never Boring

Sooo....

and

HAPPY MAKENZIE'S BIRTHDAY! (Lol)

And even though I've already posted something today, I thought I'd pop on really quick between prepping for our festivities to share with you the crazy that is my house. Because, really, life is never boring around here. Sometimes I wish it was, but it isn't. 

We got up and had my sweet ladybug's birthday breakfast and had her open her presents, which was totally awesome! (And I'll share pictures with you later.)

But then I made the foolish mistake of trying to take a shower. You know - hygiene and all that...crazy right?? Our shower is broken. Well, not broken so much as shooting out boiling hot water. It's an adventure. So was trying to wash my incredibly long hair under a bathtub faucet. (Did you know my hair is long now? It is. It's almost halfway down my back.)

So I come downstairs & I'm doing my thing & then there's some screaming. (((Big deep breath!))) A butterfly has come into the house. Do you remember when I told you about how Hayden is terrified of butterflies? Yeah. 

It was chaos. Utter & complete chaos that ended with me trying to shoo a butterfly out an open door and yelling at this tiny little creature that it was going the wrong way. 

This is my life - yelling at butterflies to save my son from a nervous breakdown because he thinks they're going to eat him. 

Would someone like to trade places? Because at some point today we're supposed to give the children sparklers. And with the way my day is going, I'm not thinking that's going to end well. 

But I do hope you're 4th is going well!

Much love & Happy festivities! <3