Having one of those moments....

I tend to let my car fall pretty low on gas, well there is always enough to get Dan to the gas station on base so he can fill it, but yesterday I let it fall even lower then that. I had my doctor appointment at 4:10 and Dan needed to take the girls to ballet at 3:45 so I thought I would just go to Tesco since I needed to run by an ATM and get some cash to pay for parking at the hospital. Yes, we have to pay for parking even at the hospital! Anyways...so I get to the gas station and I lock my car since I just grab the cash and leave my wallet so I can just pump and then pay. I go to the gas lid and it won't open. I'm pulling at it and even try to use my key and it's just not working! I'm like what is going on???? So I run over to where Dan is taking the girls to dance and he's walking on the sidewalk and I tell him my dilemma. He goes over to the gas lid and it just flips right open. I was like WHAT THE HECK???!!! I then realize that my car, even though an old BMW, has features like a lock on the gas lid when all the other doors are locked. I felt retarded and ran back to the gas station otherwise I would definitely not make it home after the doctor appointment. I was so mad since it's just another little thing Dan will give me a hard time about for awhile...."remember that time you couldn't open the gas lid and then I tried and it just opened....."

Baby update

Well I went and met with the doctor who will be doing my C-section and he's super nice. I have never had a male OB but I think it's going to be ok. I wasn't able to schedule a date for my surgery but I did find out that they like to do C-sections at 38-39 weeks! YAY! I'm so excited....I told him I was so happy since September 4th just didn't work for me. He laughed and I'm sure thought I am a crazy American (I'm having the baby at the British Hospital so he's British). So sometime late August 20 something we will have our little boy or girl! Now...just 17 more days and I know what this baby is!!!!

I feel so bad as a mother this time....well not really but I remember with Madison reading my baby book every day, knowing exactly how far along I was to the day and now, when they ask I say, "hmmmmmm....I'm thinking around....." and then they calculate it for me. I know I will be counting down the days in August.

A miracle?

My girls are still sleeping and it's 7:30 am....wait I hear footsteps. But seriously...this never happens.

The tooth-fairy is coming tonight

Madison lost her first tooth this morning. She's had a couple wiggly ones but she was afraid to pull it out. I took matters into my own hands and twisted the tooth for her and after a big "ouch" and a "that hurt" she saw she could just take it out and was so excited! She kept looking at herself in the mirror. She already has her adult tooth coming up....obviously she is going to need braces....

Cinderella and a "Castle"

Today was a birthday party for one of the little girls at Hannah's school. We had two today but one was cancelled due to the birthday girl being home with a fever. I was a little bit relieved...I had taken the girls to school, Wendy came by and visited and brought over some daffodils, went to Kristine's to do some scrapbooking and then off to get Hannah at 12 to pick her and up take her to the party. A whole bunch of us from school we going so we just drove in a train to get there since only one of the moms really knew where we were going. So off we drive to the little village, knowing this house was going to be big since the name of the house was the village name and then "House" we drive through the gated driveway and see a beautiful front garden with trees so tall they hide the front of the house, go around the bend and there is it....THE MANSION. This house was HUGE! There were like 20 windows on each side of the front door with this huge front door. They are renovating it since it's hundreds of years old and has been in the family for generations. It was like an old Lords house. We walk in to this massive foyer and there is this grand staircase right there. It's one of those houses you see in movies like Pride and Prejudice where like Mr. Darcy's family lives. The ballroom is huge....my house could fit in it and the kitchen was every chef's dream I'm sure with a not so typical "breakfast nook" considering two 12 people tables fit in it. It was absolutely beautiful and I loved how they kept some of the old Tudor beams visible. Then we went into the lounge and Hannah about peed her pants...there was Cinderella dancing to Disney music....there was a DJ there too. Balloons, strobe lights, in this beautiful room with detailed crown moldings, this chandelier light that was to die for and the type of wall paper you would see in the Victorian period. Another mom and I looked outside and saw a pool, and then tennis courts, a huge tree house, monstrous 30 foot hedges with the arches...a maze and soccer field. This estate was on 7 acres but it seemed a lot bigger. It was seriously like we were in a movie...the types of things we can say...."Oh we went to a birthday party in the late Lord so and so's house."

The party was a ball! Cinderella had her magic box where she had make up, nail polish and hair clips to get the girls ready for the party. She sang Disney songs, danced with all the kids, and was American. We chatted for a bit, Hannah was impressed I talked to Cinderella for so long. The food was delicious. Most importantly, Hannah had a blast. What little girl wouldn't want to have go to a princess party with a princess and in a "castle?"

We ended our evening by going over to Ryann's and having a tasty dinner. It was nice to just sit and chat...then came home put the girls to bed and I talked to my mom and then read. By the time Dan came home which was 9, I was ready for bed. We attempted to watch James Bond again but fell asleep fairly quickly. Saturday Dan works and so we are having a lazy day. I'm excited...it feels like I have been going all week.

Pictures

I took some of these a couple of nights ago...

My favorite sentence...not what it says but how Madison tried so hard to spell it correctly.

We baked sugar cookies tonight...why...because my house is all clean!

Busy = Grumpy sometimes

Since yesterday, I have felt like I have been going nonstop. I tend to get grumpy if I feel like I'm doing all this stuff and it's not being appreciated. Yesterday was Dan's first day on the watch schedule and I honestly don't mind him coming home at 9 pm, but I had been all over during the day. My morning started with a doctor appointment at 8:15 for Madison, then running her to school, visiting teaching, then out to Mildenhall to buy some toys and other items I've been needing, coming home, realizing my carpet is getting cleaned Thursday, not Friday like I had been thinking, cleaning up my house and dusting it because my carpet is getting cleaned and I would like it just to all get sucked up while the man is cleaning my carpet, making dinner for the girls, putting them to bed with help from my mom by reading to the girls so I can fold laundry that needs to be folded and put away and then finally sitting on the couch by 8:50. Dan walked in and I had set a garbage sack outside so he would just dump it when he got home, I checked and sure enough, it was still sitting out there. I was MAD...seriously, could he not just pick it up since he was outside and put it in the garbage? He was like, "Oh I thought I would just do it in the morning," and my reply is how it has to go in the garbage bin since there are cats and other critters outside and it does have food so really that's not too smart to leave it out. So he's in pjs and so am I but I'm the one who goes out to dump it. I'm so not liking him being home at this moment. I'm tired, my house is just about clean and he does the little things that irritate me so....leaving dishes on the counter (seriously why can't he just put them in the sink?), not picking up the lid to the hamper and just placing his clothes on the top (I know...the wicker lid is just so heavy...seriously!!!) and just being in the same room is making me mad. I'm like to the point I tell him to just go upstairs and play his game which is so unlike me to encourage such a thing. So we put in Quantum Solace that I rent since I know he wants to see it and I just fall asleep. I wake up the next morning and I finish up cleaning the things I needed to and he leaves his dish on the counter. I flip out...the dishwasher is empty!!!! I go on about how a little help would be nice...he goes on about how he does his job by going to work and I say yeah but you live here and so you have to help out and since you don't do the "manly outside things" (we have a gardener who comes every other week) you can help doing the things inside and picking up after yourself. It's one of those arguments that will occur the rest of our lives.....

So this morning I took Madison to school and decided I was just going to keep Hannah out again since I didn't feel like driving to her school and then hurrying back for the carpet cleaners who were coming at 9:30 and then going back that direction so I could make cards. The man was super nice and I was super thrilled with the job he did and the price! I was in a better mood. Then Hannah and I head to making cards and there are some really cute ones she had us making so my day was even better! Hannah I were there for awhile, went and grabbed Subway and then headed over to the BX to buy some wrapping paper and cards for the two birthday parties Hannah has tomorrow. We get home, I forgot I had put a roast in the crock pot so dinner is basically made! My carpet looks oh so nice and we go pick up Madison. We play Operation and now they are watching She-Ra. My day is going so much better. Oh and I found the perfect card for Dan while I was browsing cards....It has two crabs on it, one a boy and one a girl and says I love how you love me (on the front) and the inside says, "even when I'm a little crabby." It is the perfect card since I was crabby when he was trying to make up this morning and the last thing I wanted was a hug from him. Oh and Hannah while watching She-Ra last night came in the room I was in and asks me, "Mom, why does He-Man only wear panties?" It made me laugh...who thinks things like that? Obviously Hannah.

Tomorrow....SCRAPBOOKING! Some of us are getting together and doing some pages....boy am I behind on that so I am excited.

Laughing

Yesterday, while the girls and I were driving to church, Madison was teaching Hannah our family initials. She started with herself with M.E.B., then Hannah's and asked help with Dan's. Then Hannah shouts, "I get it, Mom would be M.O.M.B." I thought it was the cutest thing. I laughed the whole rest of the way to church.

and.....

Today as we were walking around base, Hannah saw a big "popcorn" tree. She got all excited and said, "Mom! I got to try that popcorn!" She was disappointed I would not let her eat the blossoms. So we got a pink donut instead from the coffee shop and that made every thing okay.

Spring

Every day we are in the car, the girls get so excited to see "POPCORN TREES!" We have been doing this pretty much all this past week. We drive around....see who can spot the "popcorn" tree and then sing the popcorn song of course. Last night, I decided we should try the Greek take away place in St. Ives, so as we were driving along, it was funny that Dan was getting into the game too....and then what does he start singing....the Popcorn song! It cracked me up that he tried to sing it...I say try since he missed about 2 lines...but it was fun. We walked around, ordered our food, spotted the trees we missed or were seeing again, came home, ate our SUPER YUMMY chicken kabobs and my mom read the girls to sleep. They sure enjoy my mom reading to them to bed...my dad went even on an expedition a couple of weeks ago to find a Strawberry Shortcake book for my mom since Hannah kept requesting it. Perhaps they like it too since Grandma Nancy will read forever until they are asleep. You're the best mom!

My bragging moment...

Hannah made this for me for Mother's Day (it's this Sunday here in England)....she wrote it all by herself! Of course she didn't spell it all...but she does know how to write her name. Not bad for a 3 year old...I was impressed...I had no idea she knew how to write all those letters and freehand. I have been so pleased with her preschool she goes to...she comes home doing things I didn't think she could do....yesterday she counted to 30...she didn't miss any numbers...I was impressed.

Change of routine

Usually I give the girls a bath in the morning but tonight, I gave them one. We have to drop Dan off at work tomorrow morning since I need his truck and my car. I decided to be a nice wife and surprise him by getting his car detailed. They are going to steam the carpet and seats and all that....saves me from having to do it. He has no idea...he thinks I'm getting my car serviced.

April 17th

9:30 am...we get to find out what we are having!!! I'm so excited...it's early in the morning...the girls I'm pretty sure are out of school...that's a whole day for shopping for the baby!

Busy Busy Busy

I'm so glad it's Monday and it's sunny yet again! We had a busy week last week and this week has only one...well two things to do and so I'm pretty excited about doing a whole lot of nothing and doing the things I want to do. I'll recap really quickly and sorry....I've been so bad about taking pictures and Friday I really wish I had.

Friday was Red Nose Day here in England. It's this big fund raiser day and you're suppose to wear red and the girls had their silly red noses. Poor Madison with her little button nose couldn't get hers to stay on. Hannah inherited my "chicken beak" and had no problem with hers. Madison's school had a no uniform day and were encouraged to wear something red and ate a "red" lunch. Madison wasn't too thrilled about the pizza they made. She likes mine more she told me when she got home.

Saturday was our primary activity and although much procrastination was done, but that's how I just work, I had it prepared and ready to go by 9:00 am when some of us got together and were putting things together. There was a lack of teacher participation but luckily an extra one showed up and we were good to go. It went pretty well. The teachers added to the activities they were in charge of and I didn't hear any kids complaining but there was ice cream at the end so I think that was encouraging. Kids are kids and they are loud and get excited so really chaos at some points are going to happen. But I was there at 9 am and out by 12:30....can't complain too much. Dan let me take a nap as soon as I got home and I woke up to a dozen pink roses. My husband is too sweet sometimes. We then went to St. Ives and got some take away Chinese that was pretty tasty and discovered a take away Greek place we have to try soon. Dan loves Greek food....reminds him of Crete.

Sunday Madison had the talk in primary and Hannah the scripture and prayer. Dan came and helped Madison and I must say, she did a GREAT job! She actually spoke up and people could hear her. Lot's of the junior primary kids get up there and you can't even hear them...but both of my girls did great! Of course it was slow but Madison tried her hardest reading and Dan just had to help her with a few of the hard words. It was a chaotic Sunday in Primary though. We've moved to the back half of the chapel and it was just a mess. I had no idea what, where, and how we were doing things but oh well. It will take a few weeks and hopefully we will get it down.

We came home and it was still pretty beautiful outside. We went onto the base and went to the field and playground and played catch and kicked a soccer ball around. It had been years since Dan and I had played catch. I wasn't sure if I still had my baseball glove. Dan and I use to go play when we lived in Virginia Beach for our past time and realized we missed it. As long as the weather stays nice we plan on going many more times. The girls loved kicking the ball around and playing on the playground and it's nice to just be outside, not spend money and do something active. Now we need to find our Frisbee....wait I think Coco chewed it up so we need to but another.

And can I just say quickly how much I love waking up to the sun shining in my room....oh how I'm in a much better mood in the mornings. Just ask my kids and they'll tell you.

A nap

Was so needed and I feel so much better. The activity is done! My house can be rid of activity stuff. I just need to write a talk for Madison and find a scripture for Hannah tomorrow. And I'm so in the mood for take away Chinese...weird. Oh and my baby is looking more like a baby! I'm so glad it's out of the sea horse stage!

Fears a little bit calmed

Tonight I went with a friend to Hinchingbrooke Hospital...that's where I'm suppose to have my c-section. I must say, I'm a little bit nervous....ok totally nervous. It's a British hospital to start off and the do medicine differently then us Americans...I know from experience (ER in Lakenheath) and I'm not quite sure if I'm up to sharing a room with a possible four other women just after I've had surgery. So we took a tour tonight, husbands didn't come, and some of my fears have been subsided. I didn't feel like I was walking through an abandoned hospital (that is so what I felt when I went to Suffolk and like dead zombies were going to come through a door any minute) and the midwife who gave the tour was very informative...although, a lot didn't pertain to me since I'm a scheduled C-section. I did find out that I won't be able to stay in one of the rooms with just one bed the first night I have the surgery which is too bad since that's when I would really want it...but they do let us come home after 48 hours if every thing is alright which I'm assuming it will be since I've never had any issues, but I was thinking...I may just stay 3 days since I have stairs and my showers are both upstairs and stairs I don't think is a very good idea 48 hours after surgery. The staff seems nice and even though the hospital is old, I think I feel much better and will feel even better on the 29th when I go in for my consultation. I'm so hoping that we can schedule a date by then. Lindsey and I still have two other hospitals to go but I'm more at ease which is good. Now to finish picking up my down stairs and get started on a baby present, doc appointments, preparations for an activity, talk (Madison has one on Sunday) and scripture (Hannah) and then my life will be back to being chaotic but not so chaotic after Saturday.

I so forgot pictures from 6 years ago

I just had to include this picture because I just look so ridiculous

I tend to still do this while Dan is going on about something....

And I still do

Perhaps someday we will get a family picture....perhaps....well a recent one at least.

6 years...

Dan and I had our 6th Anniversary on Sunday. I can't believe we've been married 6 years....it seems more some times. I think partly due to the fact we've lived in 6 different places since we've been married...driven across country twice...been oceans apart countless times. We started our festivities Saturday night with two other couples going to the Chilis in Cambridge. I must say, those fajitas I ate were pretty tasty. I ate like the whole thing. And it was STEAK...not chicken...I have been craving beef...weird I know. Anyways...Dan and I were able to walk around the city a little bit before hand and I must say, that was my favorite part of the evening. We enjoy just walking hand in hand window shopping, stopping by Starbucks so he can get his hazelnut latte and me, my carmel hot chocolate, and walk around. That's us.

Sunday, I was going to skip out on church but I would have felt guilty, I was conducting even though my husband gave me a guilt trip....he was just kidding but I still felt bad. It was hard to leave, the day was beautiful and sunny, not a cloud in the sky, a perfect day to go to the park and just hang out as a family but I went to church and I was glad in the end. Dan kept the kids, they wanted to stay with him and while I called on my way home in the pouring rain, he replied it's not raining here. So I get home and Dan blamed me for the rain following me home. We watched some of the episodes of House we bought off Itunes since we just finished watching the 4th season on DVD and were in total like, we need to watch the next season. We played Wii and took naps. Dan and I had no idea what to get each other....I have been wanting to get him his leather flight jacket but he keeps going back and forth on wanting it. He wants one now so that's his present and mine is some more clothes. It's funny, I couldn't think of something I really wanted...I've been feeling lately like I have a lot and pretty much every thing I need. We also have a baby coming, bigger car we should probably get (and NO not a mini van!!!) and did I mention tons of baby stuff to get? I love buying stuff though so it's all good. It was a nice relaxing weekend. And for the first time in forever...we were together on our anniversary!!! That was a present in itself.

Grumpiness

When kids wake up at 5:45 am it just tends to ruin my day. (And side note to you all who may think I put my kids bed too early at 6:30...I have tried 8 pm and they are up still at 5:45 and then exhausted by 2 pm.) I get so grumpy. Why the need to get up so early? I would think that they would know realize when waking up so early, mom gets to be super grump. I wake up to the sounds of "I'm hungry" or the toilet flushing, and then like this morning...I'm so groggy and so like this morning, I about fall down the stairs since I'm still half asleep. Luckily I caught myself on the stair and only slid down three steps. I am just not a morning person what so ever. I hate how my kids inherited the "early riser gene."

He kissed me

That is what our conversation consisted of in the car ride home. Madison, has a new admirer and he's very forward. It is no longer Alex but now Darryl who kissed her today at lunch. I asked if she kissed back and she said, "No way mom! I told him ewwww after he did it." Plans of marriage have also been discussed between the two. Year 1 love....

I did it!

I set up the Wii Fit. Ok....so I had no idea how popular these things are and how hard they are to get??? Well we've had one only since my parent's got us one for Christmas and I must say, it's pretty fun...although it weighs you and that's not fair since I'm pregnant and they do not take that into consideration. The girls love it but I think they just love the Wii in general. This morning I grounded Hannah from it since she was talking back and shoving. The girl woke up at 5:45 this morning and comes in and says, "Can I play Wii?" She has addiction issues.

I had to return some movies this morning and Australia is out on DVD...so I rented it. I kind of wanted to see it but never got a chance while it was in theater so we will see. It's three hours long....I'm positive I'll fall asleep. I put in Master and Commander since I've seen the movie about five times but I always fall asleep in it, not that it's boring, I just do, and I still have not seen the movie in it's entirety. Perhaps some day.

My GAP clothes finally came in! It took like more then a month...I was a little peeved at the postal system. Still waiting on the coats I ordered for our Scotland trip for the girls. Anyways...so glad they came...I needed some clothes that can fit my expanding belly. Seriously, every kid, the sooner I show. Madison was about 22 weeks (and I never looked full term with her), Hannah about 16, and this one is seriously showing I'm sure and I'm only 14! Goodness though, not that I'm going to have any more kids, but seriously, knowing since week 4, this baby is taking FOREVER to cook.

And it just went away...

Saturday was a crazy hectic day. I had to go over to Suffolk to get my ECO done. That in itself was hectic. I forgot my letter with where exactly to go and nobody was at the reception desk. So basically I walked all over the place...went to the coronary unit...since that makes sense right?...and nobody was in there but this little old lady who told me hers was done down by the chapel. So I go to A&E (accident and emergency) and they call and tell me to go down to the chapel area. So I get to the room and it's locked! So I head back outside, use my mobile, call the coronary unit and turns out I was in the right place the first time. I head back up to the coronary unit and the little old lady who told me to go downstairs felt so bad. It really wasn't a big deal. I got a work out going up and down all those stair and walking in this maze of a hospital.

Well after my ECO, the doctor said she could see nothing wrong with my heart. I had back flow but that everyone has that and I'm pregnant so I'm going to have more. I also have my heart pumping more blood through my artery but again I'm pregnant. She looked all over for my mitro valve prolapse but didn't see anything. She even showed me what she was looking for and my valve worked just fine. So either my heart just repaired itself or it was just hiding it which I'm thinking no since I was in there for about 45 minutes. I know I had one, I've seen the valve go back further then it's suppose to so it was kind of weird to me but I'm excited...no more premeds!

Suffolk is near the other base so I decided I would go there to get my a taco bell burrito since I was really wanting one. It took me about 45 minutes to get there since I didn't go the right way and my Garmin was lying to me. It sent me one way and then another and then I didn't turn like I was suppose to so ended up going through this town and up and around. Eventually I made it, ate my lunch and then headed back to the house where 6 kids were coming over to be babysat. I was exhausted but the kids were pretty good so that helped out a lot. Light sabers, a trampoline and bikes and scooters I think saved us.

Dan and I have thrown the possibility around of possibly finding a bigger house in a smaller village. The past couple of days while the weather has been nice, I think I've changed my mind. It's so nice to be able to let my girls go out in the front and play in the big grass field and ride their bikes in our neighborhood and be able to have the window open and know they are alright. Nobody comes down here but the people who live here and every one drives so slow especially when it's nice since they know the kids are out. So I think I'm going to push to just stay here....well unless there is some remarkable house closer to Dan's work...

Dinner

Tonight we had a great time at the Bishop and his family's house. Dan was worried the Bishop would be all formal but that was so not the case. Their house was cute and so inviting and dinner and dessert was scrumptious. The girls played well with the boys and it was nice to just chat and visit without having to look after the kids and get to know some more of the families in the ward. I enjoyed the bit when we talked about possible "true English" names for the baby. Man, there are some ugly names out there. My husband has also come to a conclusion he is just like his Grandpa Norman. I never met the man but Dan said he was kind of shy but once you got him talking he wouldn't stop. That is Dan's case. I have to pull him away and tell him it's time to go...shouldn't it be the other way around? I really don't mind...but seriously....next time he says I take forever to leave I am so telling him not to even go there.

Well it's Transformer cartoon time. Dan had to watch High School Musical 3 yesterday so it was his turn to pick out the movie.