Christmas, trip, wedding, babies and more

A lot has happened within the last week. Dan, the girls and I had a wonderful, quiet Christmas this year. We enjoyed our spiral ham and I attempted to make the traditional cornflake potatoes with tator tots (never try it) and it was edible although not that satisfying. We then went for a little drive and came home and played with all our new toys. I then had to clean up everything we usually leave out for a couple days since I was leaving early the next morning for my trip to
Medford.

I got to my parents and my mom is so beyond cheesy. It had only been six months but she was jumping up and down when she saw me. It made me feel good and once again realize how important it was for her that I be there. I literally got off the plane, we ran through the Del Taco drive through since I was hungry and then went back to see if my other sister and nephew had arrived. They hadn't so Nicole, Shannon and I went and got our nails done. I was beyond goofy since I had slept very little the past three days and got about an hour on the plane. It was fun though and I enjoyed being in an actual mall!

That night I realized how much I love my sleep. I was all off schedule and all but I was in the same room with Jackson and Christina and man, the little guy hardly slept. (He was just so excited to see his polka dot pj wearing aunt I'm sure) but made me realize how I SO DON'T miss the whole baby thing. He is absolutely like the cutest little guy ever. He does this face that seriously cracks me up.

Next day was the wedding and it was super nice. It is all really kind of a blur since I had about 2 hours of sleep the night before, 2 1/2 the previous night and so by 9:00 pm I was ready to go home. My sister looked beautiful in her gown and I tried all night to stay modest in the dress I wore. I think my family's closeness bothered Nicole's new in-laws but oh well.

Sunday Ryan woke up super sick and so that was the beginning of a whole lot of food and liquids coming out on both ends. Monday, my mom and dad and Shan got it as well as grandparent's, uncle, Nicole's new in-laws, friends, and the groom! (Nice honeymoon) Anyways...I felt left out in a weird way since I wasn't sick. By Monday night, the night I was suppose to leave, I thought I got it. I was up all night and so I switched my flight for the next day. Turned out I could have gotten on the plane since I was fine the rest of the day. I went to leave the following day but my flight was delayed which would cause me to miss my connecting flight. So I had New Years with the parents and Ryan and what an eventful evening that was. I wasn't going to say anything yet but I'M PREGNANT! Yes, not very far along but I have had this feeling I was and I took a test about a month ago and it was negative. So I try again and I buy three that night and took all three and they were all positive. You can't even imagine my shock. I had my dad laughing how he knew I wasn't done, me saying, I was suppose to be done, Shannon all excited, Ryan excited and my mom was holding back she was excited for the sake of me. Stacy was even there. So I called Christina and she laughed since I was so done and sooo over waking up in the middle of the night. Guess I should have kept my mouth quiet. I called Dan and he thought I was joking since he has been wanting another. As I keep telling him....it's his fault!

So the next morning I leave to catch my flight and nothing happens! I have a flight and I get to go home....I was starting to feel like flying just wasn't my thing. So after super long flight and a train ride I make it home! YAY! So good to be back. Dan and I tell the girls about the baby and they are super excited. Madison told me how she's going to help feed, change, and put to sleep the new baby and Hannah is telling me every minute how I have a real baby in my tummy and rubs it. Madison is also very cautious about how hard she hugs me now and although I wasn't too keen about having a third kid, I think it's going to be alright.

Traveling solo

I just need to say how weird it is traveling all alone. I have no kids, no husband...just me. I keep thinking I am forgetting something since all I have is a backpack. It's nice but super weird....that's all. One more hour and my flight from San Francisco to Medford should take off...thank goodness....it's kind of boring waiting alone.

Christmas

Madison - not too thrilled she opened a pair of jeans.

The girls opening up presents - complete chaos.

Opening up presents from Grandpa Nancy and Grandpa Gary

Wearing their new pjs

So excited about a sink caddy....I think it was more for Dan...

Dan so excited about a waffle iron!!!

Christmas Eve

This morning my girls ran into my room so excited. I usually hear a "I'm hungry mom," from Hannah but she informed me that it was Christmas Eve! They then asked if they could open up a present. I had to be the mean mom I am and say no...."maybe tonight if you are good".....now where have I heard that one before??? Now if only Dan didn't have to go into work but hopefully he will be home soon and we can start the movie watching, eating sandwiches and going out for a drive to look at lights....though it isn't like the states here in that aspect....lights are minimal here.

Then as we were in the kitchen eating cookies for breakfast Hannah says, "Oh my gosh it can't be Christmas Eve....there is no snow!!! There has to be snow for Santa to come!" I tried my best to convince her that it will be ok...Santa will come if there isn't snow....I'm not quite sure she believes it can be done though...

Tesco's Madness...

So I decided that I would try Tesco at 10 pm since I pass by the parking lot during the day and see there isn't a space available in the huge parking lot and my idea to go later was pretty much just going into the madness in the dark. What are people doing shopping this late???!!! Perhaps they thought like I did that the insanity of last minute shopping would die down at this hour but I was proved wrong. I did get some scrumptious chocolate to take back to the states and my dishwasher soap after standing in line for nearly 30 minutes!

Wrapping done!

What a super fantastic feeling!

Date night and a whole lot of mud

So last night Dan and I were able to go out and see a movie (I have been two nights in a row) The Day the Earth Stood Still. I was so thinking it was a Will Smith movie.....

Dan suggested going out to eat since we had about 1 1/2 hour to kill but I had such a fabulous dinner the previous night (I say that with sarcasm) I opted to just come home and I would make something. We did just that and then I picked out some candy from the cinema that was so good and then one that was not so good. I LOVE sour candy so I saw Super Sour Gummies and they like RUINED them!!! Sour, extremely, but then they made them soda flavored!!! Why oh why they make soda flavored candy out here is a mystery to me. So Dan bought these chocolate malt balls (think Whoppers but a whole lot better since they chocolate is like milk chocolate) and I ate about half the bag. Then we go pick up the girls and Dan and I snag a few cookies the girls decorated there and brought home. So delicious!

Today Madison and I went to church. I had a reading part so I went even though I felt like I had no sleep and wanted to just stay in bed. I've had this headache all day. Anyways...then Madison and I came home and Dan really wanted to feed the ducks with the girls so we went to Hinchingbrooke Park and fed a crow, ducks, and two way to eager to attack us for bread swans. The would come right up to us and I was freaking out - quickly trying to break the bread to throw so I could get out of there. When Dan was done with his bread he held the bag out for the swans to see it was empty....my oh so cheesy husband. We then let the kids play at the play ground...it has this tension swing rope that the girls just love...I about biffed it right into the mud since it was oh so muddy and oh so slippery. We then came home and took naps...mine lasted about three hours....I guess I can finish up that wrapping that needs to be done that is sitting in my lounge under a blanket. My girls are so good...they know that presents are there and they haven't even looked. I must say...I'm super impressed since I know I would be all over looking under the blanket and looking through the bags. Now I'm off to make cookies since I said I would....I'm even making them from scratch....although I hate doing it especially since my Kitchen Aid is "American" and I have to use the transformer and I'm afraid I'm going to break it.

Sticky Chicken, banana cheese cake and Twilight

Ok...so tonight there was a group of us going out and seeing Twilight....it was opening night out here. So before hand a small group of us went out to eat at Frankie and Benny's....this restaurant by the cinema. So I tried to be adventurous and ordered "Sticky Chicken Salad." Well I will never order sticky chicken again. I ate the chicken since I was hungry...but I have learned that just because there is a FB by the name does not mean it's good. The dessert, banana cheese cake was oh so good and seriously, I could have just made that a meal and called it good. There were four Americans and one English lady who told us "crap" is a bad word out here....good to know...I don't think I say it all that much but from now on I will make sure I won't say it out in public. I also got a list of all the foods I need to bring back to America....my family will so enjoy.

As far as Twilight goes, I wasn't expecting a movie that would come up for the Oscars so it was entertaining. I did have to laugh out loud a few times...mainly when they were flying threw the trees....while I was reading the book, I pictured more of high speed running....but I enjoyed myself. When I walked in I felt like I was walking into sacrament.....a lot of people from church were there. I do like the books way better and perhaps read them yet again.

I felt bad, my uncle showed up at our house but Dan kept him entertained with computer games....and I just realized I forgot to give him their present...

A gift

Madison made this oh so cute calendar for us....so cute!

I forgot

So yesterday was Madison's class Christmas party. I knew they could y bring a change of "party clothes." Madison had no idea that I knew this so Wednesday when I picked her up, I had a new dress, shoes and tights in a bag waiting for her in the car. I of course got the "you're like the BEST mom EVER!" So here are some pictures of her at home doing what she does (writing on EVERY piece of paper in the house) in her snazzy dress. I know...I never bought my girls poofy dresses like this...so I caved...

Light

Ok....So I figured I would check the weather today since I'm up so early and have nothing else better to do. It also has the sunrise/sunset times....8:07 for sunrise and 3:48 for sunset!!! That is just crazy!!!

Field Trip

Today, Hannah and I went on her class field trip. We rode along with some friends, Daniel wasn't so sure at first about Hannah sitting by him, but he eventually was ok with it and they were playing. It was a super cute farm with a huge indoor playground, sand box, and then outside trampolines, a train ride, a tractor ride through the wacky forest, lamas, bunnies to feed and pet, reindeer and of course....SANTA! WE went into his little house where he chatted with all the children, took pictures, and then gave them a present. I was impressed so much I'm hoping to take Madison on Saturday with Dan. I hear it's a great place during the summer as well.

Count downs...

2 days until I see Twilight....(I have had to wait a month longer then all you back in the states)

7 days until Christmas Eve....

8 days until Christmas....

9 days until I'm on a jet plane headed for Medford.

14 days until I'm back home with my family in England!

Mend the Manger

Madison's school play was today and it was so cute! I was very impressed with the witty english humor they threw in it and how they still include Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus. I was so bummed...I had shot a video clip of Madison's speaking part and her singing but I didn't press play so I didn't...so I caught the very end. It's better then nothing I guess. She was a cook...and the cutest cook there!

Hannah

Today was Hannah's speech session....she has it once a week to help her since she has some problems blending sounds....well she is working with the "sh" sound and using it to make words. Mrs. Valentine, her speech teacher, showed Hannah a card with a ship on it. She asks Hannah what the picture is and Hannah responds with, "That is a boat." She tells Hannah that's right but that we can also call it a ship. Hannah looks up at Mrs. Valentine and tells her that she can call it that, but she will call it a boat. Then we move on to the next word..."shoes." Hannah answers the question by saying that those were high heels in the picture. Mrs. Valentine asks her if there is another word and she replies that there are boots too. She asks Hannah to say shoes and Hannah tells her that she only wears high heels and boots and so she doesn't need to say that word. She was a little feisty today so speech wasn't as productive as it usually is but it was defiantly a session that made me laugh.

Christmas Tag

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper! I love making my presents looks so pretty and coordinated. I use to make fun of my Grandma Trapp since she would just use boxes with Christmas designs and put a bow on them. I think she got so much crap from all of us she no longer does the "Grandma wrapping."

2. Real tree or Artificial? Real. Dan almost had me give in this year and buy a fake tree since I thought tree prices would be outrageous here in England. But I looked and honestly it's about the same you would pay for one back in the states. I am so against fake trees...pine scent air freshener just isn't the same as a real tree! I remember so many good family times finding a Christmas tree while growing up...it was usually an all day event for the Trapp family.

3. When do you put up the tree? We usually buy one around the first week of December.

4. When do you take the tree down? After the new year.

5. Do you like eggnog? No! I think my dad drinks enough eggnog for the both of us so I'm good.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? So many! The Tye dye bean bag, leather jacket, a boom box with CD player, my cabbage patch doll named Avery Barth....I still have him by the way.

7. Hardest person to buy for? My dad and Dan's brother perhaps because I do pretty much all the shopping myslef...we set a budget on how much we're going to spend together and I buy it all....I tend to over spend on my kids and Dan though...

8. Easiest person to buy for? My kids, Dan, and my mom and sisters. I know what my kids like, Dan will like whatever I get him since I have such excellent taste and my sisters are just easy.

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Not anymore. We had one but I really don't know where it went. We do have a little ornament my grandparents gave us from Israel that has Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I don't know. I can't remember one. My parent's were really good about teaching us to be grateful for the gifts we received.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? I have so many! Christmas Story which I haven't seen yet this year! I love the silly old cartoons like Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer that are on TV. My dad bought me the set of them last year. My kids love them too.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Usually after Thanksgiving....unless I see the perfect gift...which I do sometimes but end up just giving or telling the person because I can't keep a secret that long.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I don't think so.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Corn flake potatoes....and my dad's fudge.

16. Lights on the tree? White ones...I don't like colored ones...well at least on not my tree.

17. Favorite Christmas song? Silent Night, all of them really. I like Mannheim Steamroller...my dad would always play it during Christmas so it's like a must.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? We have traveled the past couple of years and have stayed home...personally I like staying home...I like my house.

19. Any holiday traditions? Yes, new pjs on Christmas Eve, decorating the tree together, eating Sandwiches on Christmas Eve....my parents always had everyone over, well stop by like this big open house....I loved that. My mom would also make us unwrap one present at a time....I always hated it as a kid since we were opening presents like all day long but I have kept that in my family now...it's nice to see what we all get.

20. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? yes, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen and of course Rudolph.

21. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star

22. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? One present Christmas eve (Pjs) and the rest in the morning after we look at what Santa has brought us.

23. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? I can't think of anything.

24. Favorite ornament theme or color? I have green, red, white.

25. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Corn flake potatoes and spinach dip...that's pretty much all I need.

26. What do you want for Christmas this year? This dress....and I bought it so all Dan has to do it wrap it up. Really I just want my family all together and this year we get to be so YAY! No deployments during the holidays - woo hoo! And I'm excited for my girls to open their presents...I love giving gifts more then receiving them.

Santa

So I have to say, my family was very big on the belief in Santa Claus. My parents were so good at it and even though I saw my grandparents setting it up one Christmas Eve because we got home late from another grandparent's house and I knew who Santa really was, I was like 7 or 8, I still believed since I didn't want those FABULOUS presents not to come each year. There is just something magical about the whole thing that I just love to this day. I had Santa still coming when I was 21. I remember I got a snowboard and boots which were oh so cute and matched my blue jacket. It went along oh so well with my season pass to Shasta I got for my birthday.

Well the following year I had a husband and a four month old daughter and I must say, I was a little sad. My childhood vanished it seemed....I was now "Santa" and I witnessed my parents putting out presents for my siblings. I felt the magic just die! I was stuffing my own stocking now!

It has been cute to see my kids wake up in the morning and be excited about it but I felt like they just didn't get that into it like how I did. This year has been different though and I can say I have finally "felt the magic" once again. Tonight being that night. The Rotary club came by collecting donations around the neighborhood and I ran out to the car to get some change. The woman said something but honestly I didn't understand and then I heard music. So I run back outside and I see a car pulling Santa's sleigh. So I call Dan and we run up get the girls, they are in bed, and wrap them up in our jackets. Hannah is freezing and wants back inside but Madison and I decide to walk down the street to were he is and just look. So we go and he is one of the best Santa's I've seen in awhile. He asks Madison the typical questions and tells her he is so excited to be able to stop by on Christmas Eve since she has been a good girl. He even asks if I've been good and Madison tells him I'm a great mom. Her little eyes just light up while they are having this 3 minute conversation and just seeing her made me be all excited for her. She believes and I felt like I saw a little me all excited about Santa. And now once again, I am excited for Santa to be coming down our chimney! So thanks Rotary Santa Claus!

Hannah's Christmas Play

Hannah was dressed as an adorable snowman. Her preschool teacher made all the costumes! They sang a variety of Christmas songs....it was too cute for words...I caught a few moments on video. Here is one of them.

And the winner is....

Asthma is the reason why my daughter gets bronchitis every time she has a cold, which turns out she hasn't had it, she's had an asthma thing going on. My poor Madison has had it since she was a baby but I found out today that doctors don't like to diagnose it. So she will continue using the inhaler and she is on another antibiotic to hopefully clear out her lungs since she is still wheezing. So next Thursday we go in for a consultation about asthma. Her doctor told me not to worry about the information she gave me since not all of it pertains to her specific case. I'm like thinking...you obviously haven't read her whole medical file and realize why it's so big for only five years of life. She's healthy, just there have been a lot of precautionary procedures that have turned up. I'm glad though that this has been figured out and hopefully, it will just be a thing she will grow out of since you can grow out of it.

random

While I was logging onto my email...on the msn page is had a video clip of that guy who has done all this stuff to make himself look like a tiger. Weird. Anyways...so I will never forget walking through Kmart in Oak Harbor, Washington last year and seeing him! I was like "Oh my gosh! I've seen you on the discovery channel!" Click here to see. I didn't have my camera or I so would have gotten a picture with him although I was more then freaked out by it and couldn't stop staring.

Christmas pictures

No presents under the tree for Hannah...

sneaky sneaky...

So last night Hannah came all excited into the room Dan and I were in and yelled, "Oh my gosh, you got me a doll house!" So I have been putting presents in the dining room since the doors have been closed and we haven't been using that table. Little did I know that my sneaky sneaky daughter was looking around the house for presents since she knew the night before Dan and I had gone out on a date and so in her mind we were buying her presents (we were but what a stinker she knew!) So I was like, "Hannah, I'm so sorry but that is just an empty box." She replies back with, "Na-ah. I know it's a doll house for me."

So since I was so not sneaky with hiding the presents, I might have ruined my daughter's belief in Santa Claus since that is one of Santa's presents to her. I'm hoping that since we'll have it all out of the box and set up that she won't realize it's the same one.

Date night

So Dan and I went out tonight and went the city of Bedford. It is a cute city, bigger then Huntingdon with a fabulous Portuguese restaurant. They had the tastiest chicken and coleslaw. Anyways...we were able to walk around the town center and freeze. We are pretty much done with our Christmas shopping...woo hoo! When we went to pick up the girls, we were a little bit early and Katie was baking cookies. Dan was excited! He never passes up chocloate chip cookies. So we stayed and chatted for a bit and then came home with two tired little girls who went to bed after talking to their Shannie. Now to just sit and relax some more.

Decorating Fun!

Well the girls and I finished. I kind of had to rearrange a few things after they left. Hannah serenaded us by singing, "Santa baby," and Madison was "We Wish You a Merry Christmas." We got a Nordman Fir....yes I spelled it right. Our first "England" Christmas....so exciting! When we bought the tree, we had the truck and told them they didn't need to wrap it...but she said she still would just to make it easier to transport. Dan and I were so impressed by the device they used....it looked like a mini cement mixer with this netting hose and she would just slide the tree inside and just like magic, it was wrapped! It might have been a "you had to be there moment" to get the full intensity of the magicness (yes, I know that isn't a word but I like the way it sounds) of it.

Yippee!

We got a tree!

Oh Christmas Tree

Ok...so it's the 5th of December and we still don't have a Christmas tree! I'm really hoping we get one tonight....between all of us (minus Hannah) being sick and it raining we haven't been able to go on our quest. I protested the fake tree idea put out by Dan and he refuses to get a tree when it's sprinkling since it would be wet. I say let's just put it in the garage to let it dry but he's afraid of spiders making the tree their new home. So as I'm sitting here on the couch looking outside and there is not a cloud in the sky there is hope....although weather here changes drastically and what the morning looks like means nothing here....

I'm hoping tonight I will be able to post about our expedition to find the "perfect" tree. If not, I'm hoping Madison and I have a successful day of shopping. Yesterday the head teacher sent her home and told me it would probably be best to keep her out until Monday. She was running around the house and playing....I think she knows how to get out of school and is playing on being so sick there.

The sickly

Well after a 50 drive down to the Lakenheath ER and then a 3 1/2 hour wait and another 70 minute drive Madison has not one, but TWO ear infections and bronchitis (I think someone has been thinking she has had this all along). I'm a more then a little irritated since the first time we went to the doctor here and she saw her ear all inflamed but no puss, she didn't give her antibiotics and now Madison has two bad ones. I was wondering why the kid couldn't hear me when I talked to her in a normal voice. I have been thinking she has had bronchitis for like a week now but the doctor we saw a week ago didn't check her like the doctor today did. I really liked who we saw today minus the two nurses who told me when I told them her symptoms, "everyone is getting a cold" and while I was waiting in the examination room I heard the nurse tell the doctor, "5 year old girl with I'm sure just a cold." So as I passed by the two I made sure they knew my daughter DID have a legit reason to be there.

So now with an inhaler and antibiotics....I hope to get my girl feeling much better.

My lounge!

Wall for a future piano

My dad would be proud...

So while eating lunch on base a TV was on showing some football game. Madison made me laugh when she mentioned this (all I know it was a pro game and one team had white with red stripes and the other was in blue):

"Mom, Grandpa Gary loves watching this game."

"Oh does he?"

"Yeah, he would be wanting the blue team to win, NOT the red team. He says is always saying go blue."

"That's right Madison. Grandpa Gary would be oh so proud."