School Time

"I think we should schedule a conference". I have always dreaded that note home every year. After so many years in Florida, and their less-than-stellar school system, that note in my kids' backpacks made my skin crawl. Twice a year I would find those little reminders for parent-teacher conference time and just remind myself to breath. (Remembering to breath is always good, right?) They were less of the "here are ____'s strengths and here's where they could use some improvement" and more of the "this is all the reasons your kid sucks". I would leave those meetings (every single one) feeling horrible. Like I'd become the parent I never wanted to be - the kind of parent I'm sure the school thought I really was. (Probably not such a good thing.) One of the girls' teachers actually told me once that every parent thinks their child is smart......and then just looked at me. (And I sat there thinking "so you're saying she's not??") That was pretty much the epitome of our 9 years in Florida, and pretty much why I hated living there.

Enter our move to England. From the very beginning I was amazed at how different the schools are here. It has been a total 180 from our years in Florida. (yay!!) Anyway. Today was parent-teacher conference day and I was so nervous. I had no idea what to expect. But seriously, it could not have gone better (well unless they wanted to give me a million dollars. That would have been awesome.) The kids' teachers had so many positive things to say about the kids and it was finally that "here are their strengths, and here are their weakness, and here's how we want to work on that". I was (am) totally over the moon.

Not to downplay how well Kierstin & Makenzie's conferences went but Hayden's was the best part of my day. His teachers told us how the kids in his inclusion class (the "regular" kids) love to work with him and include him in their activities. Last week he got a certificate for meeting his Reading Counts goal and they were all so excited for him - clapping and congratulating him. Hearing about all of it brought tears to my eyes. Of course he sat there listening to us talk about him with this look on his face like "yeah, I'm awesome. How could you not notice that?" LOL But the best part of his day? Showing us his very first school locker.

His first school locker.

He was so proud!

Dear Pinterest,

Dearest Pinterest,

I hate you. Well. Ok. That's really not fair to you. Hate is a really strong thing. And really negative. I don't think all that negativity is good for my stress level, or my skin, or the grey hair I'm trying to make sure no one notices. So let's back up for a minute and start over. I (hate) am really upset with you.

See, here's the thing, Pinterest. A few weeks ago I had to make some changes in my life. And I've been a good girl ever since. Promise. I've followed the rules and done 98.7 (yes, .7) percent of the things I'm supposed to do. But seriously, Pinterest, how do you expect me to keep following the rules when you keep shoving pictures of every possible kind of dessert or starchy substance known to man in my face? This is not ok, Pinterest.

Alright. Yes. I know it's really not your fault. But it's just easier (and probably more socially acceptable) to blame you. Let's be honest. But I'm sure you've now guessed that, no, I cannot in fact eat those delicious little treats. There would be most unfortunate consequences if I did. And it does seem unfair that you keep showing them to me day after day. (Tease!) So let's agree that from now on you're not going to do that. Ok? Sound good? Awesome!

Yours truly,
Desperately craving a cookie (and let's face it, some potatoes too)

 

Busy Bees

Hello hello!

So, seriously, not being on Facebook anymore feels weird. Really weird. I'm totally cool with it and still don't regret the decision but it feels strange. When you've been using something like that for so long, it's hard to get the "status thing" out of your head. (I just thought I'd share that with you.)

We had a fabulous week last week - busy but fabulous! I am no closer to figuring out how the butterflies are coming in but since we are officially hitting winter (what?!) they're going away. I guess that gives me a few months to figure it out. =) And yes, I am very jealous of you guys and your 65 degree (or whatever) weather. So jealous! The high for us today is 48. (Boo!) We have officially brought out the heavy winter coats and gloves. I am not excited about this - just so you know.

Anyway, back to our fabulous week. Halloween was amazing. Rushed and crazy at first, but the kids had a blast! The girls don't get home until 4:30 so I had one hour to give them snack, feed them dinner, and zombify Kierstin. We'd heard from our Brit neighbors that trick or treating isn't as big here in our village as it is in the States so we headed to base to partake in the American festivities (lol) and it was super fun. We went out with some friends for trick-or-treating and then back to another friend's house to hang out and have fun afterward. The kids ate like 90% of their candy before the night was done and then crashed from the excessive sugar. (My plan was complete!!) Thankfully they didn't have school the next day so they could spend the day recovering. :)

There's a few of my pictures from the evening. 

Saturday, the girls had their Girl Scout Investiture Ceremony. We got to watch the girls recite their Girl Scout Promise and Law and be welcomed into the family of overseas Girl Scouts. It was kind of an emotional day for this mama. Girl Scouts was an important part of my childhood and I am so happy that they are joining and becoming part of such a great organization.

My sweet little Girl Scouts 

So that's it for now. We actually have kind of a slow(er) week this week. (Yay!) But I'm sure there will be lots popping up soon to tell you about.


Much love!

We've Got a Hole

So I'm pretty sure there's a hole in my house somewhere. (<-- Because that's how all great conversations start right?) But I'm serious. There is a hole in my house somewhere and I have no idea where. I have searched high and low and everywhere in between and I've found nothing. But it's there - I know it.

I figured this out months and months ago, right about the time we moved into the house. Right when we had the Great Roly Poly Infestation of 2013. Forty million roly polies running around my house like crazy madmen threatening to take over! ((Translation: probably like 50 roly polies crawling at snail speed, annoying me because in the dark they kind of look like spiders.)) It was kinda gross though. But then one day they all just disappeared and I went on about my merry little way and forgot all about them.

Until we had the new problem. And what could be worse than the Great Roly Poly Infestation of 2013, you ask? Well, first, put down any liquids. I will not be responsible for any liquids ending up on your computer. That's just not kosher.

It's butterflies.

We now have a butterfly problem.

Now I love butterflies. Pretty, right? It's kind of a pain to get them out of the house - I'm always afraid we're going to hurt them and I'm pretty sure breaking a butterfly's wing is probably bad karma or something. I don't need that. But back to the problem. Hayden is terrified of butterflies. Seriously. No, really, I'm not joking. In the world o' Hayden, having a tiny little 2 inch butterfly flying around the living room, looking for an open window to escape the madness that is my house is pretty much like being chased by an 8 foot bat with 9 legs and neon green eyes. There's screaming and hiding in the bathroom. It's chaos. And this happens at least twice a week.

I must find this hole. As much as I love butterflies, they just can't keep coming in the house. This is getting ridiculous.

Berry Picking

Taking the afternoon to go berry picking in Little Thetford...

Hello From Across the Pond!

So hello and hola and all that good stuff! Welcome to our crazy! Lol

If you made it here then you know that I am (finally) taking the plunge and leaving the world of Facebook behind. A couple people have asked why so I'll give you the condensed answer - I didn't enjoy it anymore. There was a time when I really did, but in the last year or so the scales began to tip in the other direction. Lately, I realized that I was spending way too much time on something that was frustrating me more than it was making me happy. And I knew it was time when I felt better after the decision was made. Really, though, I'd rather be doing this. I've missed blogging. Like, a lot. I took a break a few years ago and never could get the timing right to get back into it. But here I am so yay!

I wanted to still have a place to keep people updated on what we're up to across the pond, pictures, random thoughts going through my head, etc. 

Anyway, know that we miss all of our family and friends, but are excited to share this journey with you. Please feel free to keep us updated on what you're doing as well. That is the #1 thing I'm going to miss about Facebook - knowing how people are doing. 

Much love guys <3

 

Are You Spartan Tough?

Let's Go Sailing

Our day sailing in Neatishead, UK...

Another Year of School

Starting 5th grade

Starting 4th grade

Starting 2nd grade

Cambridge Cineworld

The Wall O'Candy.

Clearly the Brits have a better theater snack section than America does