hiking in uffington

WHITE HORSE HILL

The weather has been so beautiful for the last week, we decided to take advantage of the fact that there was sunshine, I was not watching any children, and Stephen was off work, and we headed to White Horse Hill-about 40 miles a way--near Stonehenge.

The mounds at the top are the bank and ditch that protected the castle

The horse is the oldest chalk horse in England--dating back from over 2500 years ago. There was a castle there at one point in history (300BC-43 AD), but as it was only a wooden fortress and is no longer standing. Directly down from the horse is Dragon Hill. Legend has it that Sir George slayed a dragon on that hill and where the blood was shed, nothing has grown there since.

DRAGON HILL

****Emma Shea wants you to know that the dragon is under the hill, so you are safe there!

THE GIRLS STANDING ON THE SPOT WHERE THE DRAGON WAS SLAIN

We walked about 8 miles total. The hills are incredibly steep and the the terrain rough at times, but we made and had a great time.

MICHAELA IS A SMALL DOT GOING UP THAT HILL

*click on the picture to enlarge it and see her*

About 1.5 miles from the White Horse Hill is Wayland Smithy. So of course we had to walk to that!! It is a long barrow used for burials approximately 5500 years ago. It was a nice leisurely walk with great views--and various bugs that Emma looked for to distract her from the fact that she was exhausted and her little legs were tired!!!!

THE ENTRANCE TO THE BARROW

my favorite time of year!

This is my absolute favorite time of year here in England. The countryside is coming alive with color. Because England is green all year long, the burst of colors that you see during spring are phenomenal. Any where you drive, you see the yellow fields of rape weed (used for making canola oil) contrasted against the vibrant green of the fields. It is spectacular!!!

our final few months

As you can see from the newly added countdown, we are coming back to Kentucky.

Michaela has cried. I have cried. It is happening regardless of our desires. (We are ready to be done with the Air National Guard, but love England and would gladly stay for a few more years.

But one never knows what the future may hold!!!!!!!!

On a positive note, tickets went down!!!! They were $1367.00 each! I was not looking forward to spending $4000.00 on tickets, but I knew I had to purchase them soon. I checked last night and they were $614.00.!!!!! I went online this morning to buy them and they had gone down to $572.03 (taxes included)!!!!! We are flying into Indianapolis. CVG was still over 800.00. Stephen will be flying into Cincinnati the day before us and then driving down to pick us up (the military does not search for the cheapest flight--they just buy. our tax dollars at work) So, if we have to leave here at least I am only out $1700.00--thank you Mr. Bush for the stimulus check!!!!

feliz cinco de mayo

Happy Cinco de Mayo.

OUR LITTLE SLUGGER

Today is a Bank holiday so the girls did not have school. We had planned to go to Blenheim Palace for a jousting tournament, but when we woke up it was cloudy and rainy. Of course, around 1:00pm it cleared up and was beautiful.

DADDY, THAT PITCH WAS TOO HIGH!

After 2 of the 3 children I was babysitting were dropped off, we headed to our friend's house for a Cinco de Mayo party. There were about 40 people, lots of yummy Mexican food, and loads of sunshine!

THE RELIEF PITCHER

Emma had a great time playing baseball!! She is pretty good! Our little athletic princess!

anyone need a new laptop?

If so, boy can we recommend a strong, durable brand!!!!
Friday night, we decided to take the girls (or Emma really--Michaela just went so she had something to do) to see the Veggie Tale movie at the Community Center on base. Stephen was loading somethings in the back of the van and remembered that we had a Netflix movie we needed to mail back. So he sets his laptop bag on the ground (WHY????? I do not know!) and ran inside. I grew impatient (imagine that) and backed up the drive way to see what was taking so long. I felt a bump. Didn't think too much of it. Felt another bump and said, "What was that?" As I looked over into the doorway and saw the horror on Steve's face, I knew!!!!!!! He was very calm! (I think he was in shock and close to tears.) He picked up the bag, got into the van and just sat there. I of course had to laugh because Mr. Murphy, of Murphy's Law, has had residence with us for a quite a while and this is just another incidence in what is the chaos of our lives lately. Its going to keep coming at us, so you have to laugh. ( I have grown a lot in handling crisis and confusion in the last 3 years with the Air Force!)

Well, after rambling on this long..... Steve finally opened it--with some difficulty--turned it on AND IT WORKED!!!! There is a small dent on one side and some reader on the side is crushed. Pretty impressive for having been run over by two tires.
***This is the same computer that as Steve was putting it into the van, right after I bought it for him in July, he bumped the windscreen with the corner of the laptop bag and shattered the window!!!!

So, if you need a new laptop, we highly recommend the Fujitsu:)

spring break is over

The girls went back to school yesterday!! YEAH!!!! Two weeks off and we did nothing exciting.

Emma Shea is very excited about her new summer uniform. Steve thinks it looks like a tablecloth, but it is a dress so Emma is very happy. The only things that would make her happier would be if it was pink and it twirled!!!!

Emma is also growing her fringe out. This has been a conversation with her for months. She asked and asked and I told her she looked good with fringe. She would come up to us at least four times a day with her bangs pulled back and say, "Don't I look pretty with my hair like this?" A few weeks ago she asked me to cut her bangs up to the top of her forehead! "If I cannot have my fringe long, will you cut it to here please?" (Pointing to about 1/2 inch of fringe.) I have finally decided that there are so many other battles with Emma Shea to work through, I could let this one go. Plus, how many times can you see the look of hope in her face when she is asking if she is pretty with no fringe???

our friendly protester

Lindis Percy, famous around military bases as the 60 year old woman who despises Americans and their presence in her country. George Bush mentioned her in one of his speeches. She has snuck onto bases and turned the flags upside down. She was actually caught on Croughton, a trial was conducted, and she was released because the local MOD had not personally told her to stay off the base!! I would think the fences, barbwire, signs and the fact that she had to SNEAK on would have been a clue! She also likes to come stand as close to the base entrance as she can with an upside down flag with her message about 'the evil Americans'.

We haven't seen her for quite awhile, but she's back. Tonight, as Steve and I headed onto the base to play racquetball, she was there in orange coveralls, her face covered with a burlap sack, and a new flag talking about the shame of America.

What a life!!!!

**As a side note I would just like to mention that I FINALLY beat Steve at racquetball. I am not sure I have ever actually beat him but I took the 2ND game 16-14. YEAH!!!!!!!!!!

three days and 350 miles later....

We survived the recital.

Michaela was exhausted, but she had a great time!

Now she will have extra classes on Saturdays to get ready for her ballet exams!

She is very nervous about them, but she will feel great once they are done!

Emma Shea was sad when it was all over. She wanted to do a few more shows.

She was very excited today when I told her she gets to move up to the next class!

puttin on the ritz!

TARANTELLA

The girls' dance recital is finally here. The huge sigh of relief you hear tomorrow will be me--thankful that this year's recital is over!!! Michaela has had extra practices on every Sunday for the last few months--which makes it fun when your church is 2 hours away. We had dress rehearsal yesterday until 7:00pm and today is a juggling act of having the girls where they need to be at various times.

OUR LITTLE BUNNY

Michaela is doing all three shows so Stephen (who surprised me by getting the day off so I did not have to go crazy driving back and forth all day!!) drove her to the theatre (which is only 20 miles way, but for those of you who have never driven in this country, that is a 50 minute drive with the roundabouts and country roads). She will stay with the chaparones until the evening performance at 7:30. Emma is dancing tonight's performance. Steve and I will drive separately to the theatre. Emma will dance the beginning of the show and then I will take her home (or to the hotel on RAF Alconbury--if they have a room?) Steve is staying to watch the performance tonight. The show is sold out and we barely got a ticket for me. Because he was supposed to be working, he did not have a ticket until last week. We were very upset that he was going to miss the performance--the first one he would have missed since Michaela was three. Luckily a relative of another dancer was unable to attend so we were able to get a ticket for him. Tomorrow Steve will go to work and I will drive to church, with the girls in full theatrical make-up!!--leave at 12:00(hope the preacher is done by then:), drive the hour and forty five minutes to the theatre...AND HOPE THAT THERE IS NO TRAFFIC AS THEY HAVE TO BE THERE AT 1:45.. AAAHHHH

RAMA AND SITA

But after saying all that, they have done a great job with their dances and are having a fun!!!

NOTICE THE TONGUE!!!!

Oh yeah. Emma has a birthday party to be at in 20 minutes so I guess I had better gather up her stuff and head out!!!!!

some things are universal

We arrived from our afternoon out just in time to hear the ICE CREAM TRUCK coming down the street. Of course, as if it is an inborn trait with all children, Emma came running in yelling, "Mommy, the ice cream man is here!!!" Michaela was not far behind ( a little less exuberant!)

I think Emma enjoyed her first experience with the English ice cream truck!!!

it is good to try something new!!!

Today, in order to celebrate our life being in so much chaos and uncertainty:), we headed to Frankie and Benny's for lunch. Steve ordered some calamari for his appetizer...Michaela tried it not knowing what it was, and loved it until I told her it was squid!! Emma was not phased by the word 'squid'. She ate as much as Steve I believe!!!! She also ate a good portion of my mushroom Alfredo (whole button mushrooms sauteed in a Alfredo sauce).

She was very adventurous in her cuisine today!!!

murphy's law prevails

Ever have one of those days? Well, I am having one of those days ALL WEEK LONG!!!!!!!!

It has to get better, right?

Hope everyone's week is going well, and that there is sunshine where ever you may be living!

spring break begins!!!!

This week begins Michaela and Emma's two week Spring Break--the first week consists of watching 9 extra children. AAAAHHHHH!!!! Not sure what the second week will hold (all of my extra children will be back at school), but hopefully a family activity of some sort!

Of course, Spring Break began with 4 inches of snow!!!!! We unfortunantly(??) missed it. Yesterday after the girls' dance rehearsal, we headed up to Cambridge to drop Michaela off with a family from church--she and Rebecca stayed up until 1:00am watching a Dr. Who marathon--and Emma and I headed to RAF Alconbury to stay the night with Steve. ( It was the 21st anniversary of our first date--and they said it would never last) There was no snow where we were (60 miles north of Brackley) nor any in Mildenhall where we go to church. I was very worried about what I was going to find when we arrived back home since I had left two windows open upstairs (it was mild and sunny when we left on Saturday) but by the the time we arrived home at 4:00pm, this was all that was left!!!!

I think I can handle shoveling this!!!

Gotta love that GLOBAL WARMING!

angelina ballerina

It is National Reading Month --or Library month--I can't remember!!! The students at Emma Shea's school all dressed up as their favorite character in literature. Because Emma loves all books, the difficulty was choosing ONE!! We chose Angelina Ballerina because it combines a favorite character and ballet.

She was so excited to be able to wear the costume to school and not have to put on her uniform!

there was an old lady who lived in a shoe....

What do you do when you have 9 children to entertain for the day (actually they will all be here for three weeks for Easter Break!!!!)
Jaedon (1 yr old) is taking a nap so he is not in the pic.

You bring out the bin of dress up clothes and the dollhouse. ANd of course take pictures


Emma-4 Sarah,7 Anna , 5

Nahla-2

You call your husband who is working and allow him to enjoy the fun that 9 children bring!! (and be thankful that we stopped with 2!!)

Ryan-4

Michael-7 Alex-4 Mason-3

And then when it is lunchtime, you lay a mat down in the living room, put Dora in the DVD player, pass out everyone's lunches, and you sit down with the computer and enjoy the brief moment of quiet...or at least semi-quiet!!!

Only 2 1/2 more weeks to go!!!!!! (With a few more children here and there!!)

our new friend

Our new friend Anna came over on Monday to spend a few hours with us. Anna is 5 and a big ham!!! Her Mommy and Daddy just returned from a three month process in Armenia and D.C. and are settling back into daily life. Anna speaks very little English, but is learning something new everyday. I am sure she will blossom as soon as she begins Nursery at Beachbourough after Easter break!!

Three things she has definitely taken to are candy, Van Morrison's song, 'BROWN EYED GIRL', and vacuuming!!!!

happy easter

Can you make up a scenario for these Spring?????? pictures!!!!!!!

royalty in the house!!!

Today we were honored with a visit from Princess Emma Shea and Princess Nahla. We were so blessed to have such prim and proper-ness in our presence.

a girl's night out

Princess Aurora

On Monday, Michaela and I headed to London to see the Royal Ballet perform The Sleeping Beauty. The performance was incredible and Michaela was in awe--I think she has an understanding of the importance of daily practice and stretching now!!!!

i love to use scissors

Emma is becoming very 'crafty'--as in liking to do crafts, not sneaky:) Her new favorite thing to do is to draw shapes and cut them out!.

a great time with friends

Hard to believe Michaela is 9 days older!!!

Our trip to Alabama was great as it always is. We enjoyed visiting with Ms. Renea and the kids. Rachel and Michaela had a good time being goofy pre-teens together and Carley and Emma played fabulously together. It was a good visit that had to end too quickly.




Getting ready for the fashion show!!!

we are home

We made it back with little adventure--but you know with us there has to be some!!!

The flight from London to Detroit was uneventful--smooth flying the entire way. We made our connecting flight and then waited. We sat on the flight line for quite awhile, but we were finally able to take off. Halfway into the flight the pilot comes on and says we are having to turn around and fly back to Detroit (we only had 25 minutes to go until we arrived at CVG!!!) We flew back, loaded onto another plane and then headed to Cincinnati. Two hours later than expected we landed!

Michaela had planned on stopping at a restaurant once we landed. Since it was about 4am our time (UK), we headed straight to the house. The girls looked around and then crashed. Saturday we woke up late, went to BP to fill up with petrol(that was ugly!!!), ate at Skyline, and then went to Target for a few things. The next stop was Hannah's house. ***Oh yeah, I drove through the sub-division and all the way down Hicks Pike on the left side of the road and could not figure out why the idiot in the white truck would not get over--I became aware quickly!!!!!!

Hannah and Michaela squealed and hugged when they saw one another--you would think it had been 2 years since they had seen one another!!! We stayed and visited with Kim and the kids and ate Chipotle with them. Oh yeah, did I mention there was snow everywhere, so of course there was sledding. The kids stayed out for hours sledding down the hill. Emma and I left and went back to the house--Michaela of course spent the night!!

The rest of the week was filled with various activities--Bunco at the Rice's, ladies class at Debbie Curtis', lunch with Marvin and Sheila, dinner with Logan and Elizabeth, Don Pablo's with Kathy, Hayden, and Brianna, Sunday night dinner with the Spargos, McCamerons, and Beckleys, a sleep-over with Hannah and Abi Beckley, breakfast with Simona and the kids, and of course a trip to Alabama!!! The girls also ate lunch with Steve's parents on Sunday and went skating with Hannah, Lucas, and LeeAnn on Monday evening. This was in addition to the eating out and shopping the girls and I did together.

Welcome to Alabama--see the sunshine!!!

The flight home was scary--the trip from CVG to Detroit was AWFUL--thought we were plummeting to our death a few times due to the turbulence. We finally arrived in Detroit, ran to our connecting flight, made it as they were beginning to board, and then sat on the plane for TWO hours due to the snow and ice that was coming down!!! The plane was de-iced once and because of the amount of snow coming down, it had to be de-iced again before we could leave the gate. The flight was smooth once we got up, the girls slept, and we landed at Gatwick--very glad to be home.

Of course, what would a trip through Customs be without being detained!! We were only held for 20 minutes or so, given another 6 month stamp, and allowed to pick up our luggage and go see Steve!!!!

I believe we are all back on England time--Emma went to dance class last night, Michaela
went to school this morning and dance class tonight, and Nayla came this morning (her mom just started a new job and I will be babysitting her until they get at spot at the CDC). We are back to life as we know it!!!!