Mary Kate's Birthday

Mary Kate celebrated her super sweet 8th birthday in Arkansas.  She was queen for the day and whatever she said went.  She requested a mega DQ ice cream cake...

She celebrated with 10 of her aunts and uncles, grandparents, great grandma, along with siblings and me.  (She celebrated with her dad before we left London).  She was showered in attention - maybe a bit too much when you are a bit shy.  Grandma made chicken and dumplings per her request.  Her Uncle Andrew, Aunt Katie and Aunt Allie made her a birthday wish in donuts...

Each passing year is bittersweet.  Later that day she sat next to me listening to her pink iPod and singing the way one does when listening to headphones.  I considered asking her to stop - she was acting too grown up. 

Mary Kate is 8!

 

8 great things about Mary Kate:

1.  You like to tell jokes.

2.  You are very thoughtful and responsible.

3.  You still look like your baby self when you sleep.

4.  You are so sweet with your brother.

5.  You love books and reading.

6.  You like to take trips. 

7.  Your curls. 

8.  Most of all: you being you!

Easter Details

I posted pictures without my commentary so at least the picies would be timely...

Easter in the UK is the period of time around Easter Day.  The girls are out of school for nearly 4 weeks for Easter.  Good Friday and Easter Monday are bank holidays.  Brent took an extra day off so he was home for 5 days.  The next day we left for the US and he for the Caribbean for work.

To decorate for Easter we have to be a creative.  Shops do sell decorations but the selection is limited:

The first photo is Easter crackers.  These are always fun - after the twist and POP we found white paper crowns, little papers with bad jokes and mechanical bunnies to race.  

The candles in egg cups did not turn out exactly as I'd envisioned - too rustic.  

The mint julep cup is holding a wrapped M&M candy nosegay I crafted by hand.  Just kidding - I picked up the finished product at a deli.  

Finally - the eggs were laid by Old Cotswold Legbar hens.  The blue eggs came to us as shown.  The green and golden eggs were dyed in a cold turmeric soak.    

Thank you to Pam for bringing the Easter outfits over to us.  And even bigger thank you for making sure George's arrived in time!  I've already used in entire stick of Crisco!

Daybook

Outside my window... a warm and sunny Spring day!

I am thinking… of what else I’d like to accomplish today. 

I am thankful ... the worst of the jet-lag is over. 

From the children’s rooms…they both went to sleep without trouble and stayed in their beds all night for the first night since we returned. 

From the kitchen... black beans but served how?  That is the question.  We made snickerdoodles last night.  I was not able to find cream of tarter here.  But we have it now. 

I am wearing... running clothes.    

I am creating ... ribbon covered balls to fill a bowl. 

I am going.... to finish unpacking my suitcase TODAY. 

I am reading... The Elegance of the Hedgehog – I am going to finish it. 

I am hoping... this post trip state of mind will never end.

I am hearing...Georgie playing in his bed after a nap. 

Around the house... we are settling in.    

One of my favorite things... summer uniforms.      

A few plans for the rest of the week... laundry, a couple of coffees, looking forward to a three day weekend.    

A picture thought...

9 Months

George at 9 months and his second trip to America...

George at 3 months and his first trip to America...

Easter Decorating

Easter

The Suite Life of Brent & Jody

We are huge Dave Matthews Band fans.  Earlier this month we attended our 8th concert.  DMB is known for their big summer concert tours - which are usually outdoors and very hot.  Lucky for us the band is not widely known in the UK so we jumped at the opportunity to sit in box seats.  It was dreamy!  There were no lines and plenty of toilet paper in the "clean" bathrooms.  No fools bumping into us and spilling drinks.  I was a little sad to see all the empty boxes - such a waste.  The concert was excellent.  And best of all...I did not sweat one drop!!!

This & That of Malta

Welcome to Hollywood...what's your dream?

Fans up...

Brent liked the national drink:  Kinnie.  (Yucky to the rest of us).

Our big girl reading on the balcony. 

They loved to sit on these around town...

My walking buddy...

Where he would have liked to stay all day...

Clever Boy

What is this? 

Oh rice cake!  I like those.  If only I could get this pincher grasp to work...

Forget it...I'll get it this way...

I'm Dreaming Tonight...

Something about Easter makes me homesick.  Thanksgiving and Christmas did not phase me.  But Easter...what is it?  Spring here is a beautiful season - loads of blooms and green.  The renewal and remembrance of Christ at Easter is the same no matter my location.  The jar of daffodils makes me think of Arkansas.  The smell of boxwoods warm in the sun takes me to my Grandma's house.   My little girls in matching pale dresses and white shoes reminds me of myself and my sisters in matching dresses.  I guess it is a combination of homesickness and nostalgia.  Two weeks from today it will not only be in my dreams.   

Several Daysbook

Outside my window... could it be Spring?

I am thinking…this daybook has been a work in progress for several weeks. 

I am thankful for... 10 years later I still really like Brent. 

From the children’s rooms…the oldest one was up, dressed and bed made when I came down to say rise and shine this morning!  What a sensible girl! 

From the kitchen... leftovers.    If the girls give me any trouble today they will have to eat the nasty 10 bean soup and I get the yummy chicken noodle soup.  (Update…they WANTED to eat the bean soup). 

I am wearing... a sweatshirt I’ve owned for 20 years! 

I am creating (ed)... see below…   

I am going.... on a walk today…if the sun holds. 

I am reading... The Master Tax Guide. 

I am hoping... the girls stay healthy and I do not receive a your-daughter-is-in-the-sick-bay call. 

I am hearing...birds chirping.  Nice now but not so much at 5 am. 

Around the house... we are Georgie-proofing. 

One of my favorite things... when Retained Earnings roll!     

A few plans for the rest of the week... applying the Master Tax Guide. 

A picture thought...

The Girls

8 Months

Georgie is on the move!  Not sure exactly how he gets around but he does not stay in the same spot for long.  His greatest and favorite accomplishment is getting his hands on a phone or remote.  He really likes food and cries when the bowl is empty.  He now has mangos, peas and dried plums on his menu.  He plays peek a boo and is trying to clap.  He still hates the stroller and restaurants.  He gives kisses and pats.  I have to be fast snapping his picture...