We have not given a weekly report in about 8 weeks. So what have we been doing? Funny how life has become normal and we go about our business of school and work. Many of the things that were so different are now part of life.
This was an usual tax season and would not end. Due to tornadoes in Oklahoma back in February, our clients were given an automatic extension to May 11. This worked out great for us because the girls were off school for three weeks around Easter and April 15th. The down side is is just prolonged crunch time.
We've enjoyed two waves of company. Jennifer and Jennetta were our first visitors. They were dream house guests. Our only complaint....we would have liked to see them more! They brought us loads of goodies. Those girls took London by storm! I was tired just from watching them. Somehow they were immune to jet lag. They hit the ground running and made the most of every minute of their trip.
We welcomed my sister Lindsey and her friend Mandy with open hands. They relaxed after tough semester in the chemistry department. Mandy and I went to see Wicked. It was a great show.
Mary Kate is 7 now. With her birthday money she bought her first camera. When we went to the horse show last week she was excited to have something exciting to take pictures. For her birthday we gave her a clip-on reading light. She is a reading maniac and we've caught her staying up too late. The girls started swim lessons. Mary Kate's teacher's technique appears to be distance oriented and he runs her up and down the lane.
Caroline is finally settling. She is happier and crying much less than when we first moved. She has amazing skill at piddling. At school she is counting by tens and picking up reading quickly. Her teacher says she is a very clever girl.
We talk about the baby a lot. He finally had the hiccups and Mary Kate got a kick out of it. They have both agreed to change pee diapers but not poo and are practicing on their animals and dolls with newborn diapers. They especially like to lay down for reading to they can feel him karate them.
It is the time of year for expats to move back to the US and we've found great deals on gently used items for next to free. So far we've picked up a crock pot, fans, blender, lamps and patio furniture. We also had a grill. I say had because it went up in flames in the Great London Fire of 2009. Apparently something happened during transport to the gas line. As our chicken every Sunday was grilling, my extra sensitive smell picked up on an odd odor. I looked out the window to see flames shooting out of the front of the grill. We run outside and the water tap does not work. A couple of buckets of water later the fire was out. The girls were watching TV and never knew anything was happening.
We found his cowboy blanket in Bath from Vintage Kit:
Finally a little Cake for myself:
Don't let this fool you. We still need a car seat, pushchair (stroller) and a variety of other small items. Everything needs to be washed and a some things given Oxyclean treatment. We need to put the crib together. I need to pack the hospital bag. Worst case scenario we can carry him and walk the two miles home. The most basic of supplies are good to go: nappies (diapers), vests (onesies) and blankets (same name) and his milk is ready made. The other gear is just extra right? 
