I actually cried...

I was laughing over this....

and then Dan ripped his favorite pj pants while bending down to pick something up. In his defnese....he's had these thin cotton pants since we were first married. They were wearing pretty thin....but it still made me laugh so hard (no snort but a cackle was going on as well as tears from laughing so hard.) R.I.P. plaid green pj pants.

Ginerbread houses

We made them (before Christmas)....check out the pictures. (Can you tell I'm so not in the mood to blog about it but I need to get these pictures posted or I never will!)
And then I remembered how I need to jot down how I look over at Madison's box and there is Dan, sorting the colors of jelly gum things (I so just blanked the name) and laughed. Going as far as making a pattern with the candy things. Then there is Hannah and me, putting together our gingerbread house with no plan, just using, according to Dan, ALL the frosting and Hannah sticking gum drops (is that the name?) things anywhere and everywhere.

Of course, Isabella was so amused with the activity as you can see.....

Cinderella

The girls and I went with some friends and saw our very first pantomime. We had a blast. We had a little McD's before we left so we wouldn't have starving girls and then headed out to Milton Keynes theater. We found it no problem and got there with plenty time to spare. It's amazing since Milton Keynes is the land of many round abouts and you are bound to get lost there. It had comedy for both the kids and us grown ups. The girls got into by shouting when we were suppose to and watched the whole thing without any complaints. We had a little break and had some ice cream and then continued watching it. Mickey Rooney was the baron in it and so cute. He did great! He sang and did a little dance and he's 89! Amazing! The girls and I (okay so mostly me) are excited about Chitty Chitty Bang Bang that's coming in February. We are so there!

We were hoping to hit up Costco on the way home but being in the land of many round abouts couldn't find it. It didn't help being dark either. So we headed home and I had two very tired girls.

Rice cereal is scrumptious

Can I say...I'm such a nerd.



And then we have Hannah with her new Santa bike....

Bargain shopper Bobbie

Okay so not really. I'm way too impatient. But when I'm looking at flowers on a market stand and they tell me £5 for the whole bucket full of roses....I'll jump on that!



I also had a good laugh when I walked in and saw this:

Not only is Dan pointing out to Billy Ray Cyrus....but the fact Isabella is on the couch in her chair so "she will have a better view of the show."


So need to write about our fabulous day yesterday....but I want to clean my house....the last thing I need to do to unwind from this issue I've been having. Note to self....if I feel like I shouldn't do it....DON'T DO IT!

They are buds

Madison, Hannah and I went to a pantomime today...Cinderella....which so fun! They girls and I loved it. We went with some friends...5 girls and us 2 moms. So...Dan and Isabella had a "daddy-daughter day" which included 2 times of emptying the entire contents of her stomach onto herself and Dan. But lots of smiles and giggles happened. Dan and her love dancing in front of the mirror...it makes her smile the biggest smile.

Love and giggles

The best medicine for an ill baby girl.

Service

I have a hard time accepting help. I think a lot has to do me being the eldest...I think I have always had this independence thing along with the fact we move around and at first I don't know anybody and sometimes Dan gets deployed right away and so I figure things out on my own and just make things happen. Today I finally took Isabella into the ER in Lakenheath. She was completely miserable and has had this fever for the past 3 days and our regular clinic wouldn't give me an appointment...just a phone consult in which they told me to give her benedryl and Motrin. So I get on base and my girls are hungry. Dan is sleeping so I had to take them and he had to work tonight so he needed to stay asleep. Taco Bell sounds good to them and they eat....Isabella was bawling so I was holding her and got a few bites in. As we are heading outside we recognize a family....and it was someone I had tried calling last night to tell her I may not be in on Sunday due to an ill baby. So I tell her this and they automatically offer to take Madison and Hannah to see The Princess and the Frog. Madison and Hannah hear this and are jumping up and down since they want to go and I feel terrible just dumping my kids on them on their family outing. But they are insistent and we meet up at the theater and the girls go off with them and I head to the ER with Bells. We are seen right away in the triage....and the super nice Air Force captain tells me he'll get us right in. Well, that doesn't happen since people are walking in super injured and kids that need stitches...so he keeps coming out to apologize and tell us he keeps trying to fit us in. I understand....they have a protocol for who gets priority and Isabella has a low fever so we aren't in a high category. So we wait and we got there at 3:15 and it's now 5:30 so I call the family with my girls and ask if they can just bring them down to the hospital. They come on in, the girls had a great time and then she offers to just stay with me to help out. I tell her it's okay....we'll manage. So she leaves saying that we'll probably see her again since her husband will send her back in.

The girls and I are playing red light green light in the hallway since I'm sitting outside in the pharmacy area so Isabella wasn't around all the cooties in the waiting room. We then play some "Simon Says" and then who comes in....the whole family! They couldn't leave knowing I was there with the 3 kids. So there they sat, keeping me company, their kids playing with my kids and waiting until 6:45 until I was finally called in. They stayed out with my older girls while I found out she had an ear infection in one ear and the other ear was a little red as well, along with a concern that she could end up with bronchitis since she's been congested for so long and she's not sounding so well. So...we got the antibiotics and headed out by 7:25.

The whole way home Isabella cried. It breaks my heart hearing her especially when it's a "pain" cry. But thankfully since I had help today, I didn't have a melt down in my car since I wasn't exhausted from trying to keep 2 girls entertained for 4+ hours in a hospital. The family was such a huge help to me and I'm so grateful for the fabulous people in my life.

And so we came home, Madison and Hannah went to bed, Isabella threw up everything that was in her stomach in one huge fast projectile vomiting session. Isabella, myself, the carpet and the sofa were victims. A bath was then needed...and now I have a sleeping baby.

An early start

Last night, I was on the phone with my mom and told her how the girls were thinking they got robes from my mom and dad in one of the packages they have sent them. They are such good kids, we've had presents under the tree but they don't even try to open them. They'll shake it when I have them put it under the tree but that's the extent of them touching them. Anyway...so my mom was like, well you can just let them open it up. It is cold there and I think they would enjoy it. So I turn on the lap top and the web cam so my mom can see and they were so excited about their gift.

They are these plush Disney Princess blankets and my mom embroidered their names on them. Isabella of course got one as well. She loves it! They all do.


They had a late night talking with Grandma Nancy on the phone and then curling up in their new blankets. I let Madison and Hannah sleep in the lounge with the fireplace going and tree all lit up. They loved it. And I loved how they slept in until 7:45. Big difference from 6 am!

True love...or stupidity....

Dan is seriously the most forgetful person I know. He's so bad at losing things.....forgetting things.....it frustrates me. I think I've ordered him at least 5 replacement debit cards this year alone. I don't think he could function sometimes without me. Anyway....so I get this call at 10:30 pm. I'm thinking....seriously....who is calling me this late? I was so into watching my show....3rd season of Tudors. Anyway....so I answer and it's my lovely husband who after I say "Hello" he follows with, "it's me. I love you." I know he needs something at this point but have no clue what it could be. Coffee shop it closed so it can't be that! So he proceeds to tell me that he forgot tomorrow is Friday (he's working the night shift this string) and he needs his khaki uniform for the brief...so basically by 7:30 am. I'm thinking...are you kidding me? It's snowing! I was the nice wife who let you drive me AWD vehicle to work since the roads would be most likely icy and now I have 3 sleeping kids and a truck and a 30 minute drive to your work. So upstairs I trot to get his uniform ready (which later I had to turn around and come back home to get his white shirt and tan socks) and head out in this:

The snow was packed more on the ground...I had taken this about an hour earlier. And it's super windy. So I start the truck, get my kids buckled in and head off to his work at 10:45 pm. I got home around midnight. He so owes me. I'm thinking my cruise I want to go on in the Med....Or I'd even settle for Rome in March.

Nativity Play

I love going to the girls' school play. It's so cute and I love how they center it around Jesus' birth. Madison was the lead angel since the girl who was suppose to do it was ill. Madison did an excellent job with her speaking part and her singing and twirls. Hannah was the cutest sheep EVER and she was so into singing the songs and the hand motions...I honestly didn't really watch the play, I was watching my girls.

And of course....Isabella was great. She's so easy going and just goes wherever whenever.

I passed!

I finally took my USAFE driver's test. Yes, I should have gotten it when I first arrived here...and to defend why I have been putting it off so long...I did take the test during orientations, I failed it by 1 question, Dan was deployed and it was a pain to get someone to watch my kids when I am new to the area. So the deal was before we purchased the car, that I would get my UK license. Well time passed quickly and I didn't before my car arrived but being Dan's wife, and Dan giving in to my constant "but" I have been driving it pretty much all the time. He's concerned the car won't be covered if I get into an accident (I did wreck my last new car 216 miles, 2 1/2 hours after I drove it off the car lot) and this car is "just a little" bit more than the civic. So I tried taking it yesterday before the library closed and I failed it by 1 twice! I was so mad. I was complaining to the library people (we are regulars in there so I didn't seem totally weird) and then today I took it 3 times and finally got 5 wrong (2 less than what I could miss) and passed! I took 11 minutes, the shortest time I took it in and passed. I think I was just trying to concentrate too long on the 50 questions. So now on Thursday I go to the brief for 50 minutes and I'm "legal" to drive and finally get gas on base. Although I would sometimes just do it and have them write my name in the dreaded log book of those who didn't have their fuel card. So now that I passed the test, Dan has no problem with me driving the car, I think it was just an incentive to get the license since he was tired of having to take my car to work and fill up my tank, although now, I don't think he has a problem driving my car.


So I'm super excited we're going to watch the girl's nativity play tomorrow at school. They both had come home with paint on their faces, and Madison was so excited she was the head angel with the speaking part since the main one wasn't at school so she took over. Hannah had a white face and black nose (she's a sheep) and showed me her very best "BAAAAAAA." Amazing let me tell you.

Happy Birthday/Merry Christmas to me!

It's here and actually in my driveway! I nearly peed my pants when I drove it since I was so beyond excited....and then I remembered the new black leather seat and didn't want to ruin it so I held it. It was kind of sad seeing the old Volvo go....so many good memories. One of my favorites...my dad driving it and how I thought we were so going to go off the road since he was right on that line. Or the time my mom read the freeway signs and thought it said "Queens likely" instead of "Queues likely." And when one of Dan's friends were over and told us how someone asked why LT Brown was driving a hearse....since then I can't get that name out of my head for it. Good times. I hope it runs well for the people who bought it since it has been a good car for us. 3 cars in 1 1/2 years....I think we're good now.

My Dancing Princess

There she is....
Tonight was the disco...and my girls were beyond excited to go. After the debate as to what they were going to wear, Madison putting on a little...okay...WAY to much eye shadow...we headed to their school and as soon as Hannah put down her coat, she was on that dance floor shaking her booty and moving her arms. She cracked me up as well as many others. She was confidant. And then they had a break dancing competition...they even formed a circle so those who wanted to participate would be in the middle...guess who was right there in the middle...Hannah! I was laughing so hard....she was all over the floor and she won a prize for her non stop break dancing! She's awesome! And what cracked me up even more was she was all about being up in the front right by the speakers.

And then there was Madison....chatting with her girl friends, hanging out in the bathroom, moving just a little bit to the music....more into the talking with friends part. I asked her what she was doing in the bathroom. "Mom, we had to go in there to talk about 'private' things." I asked her what 'private' things, oh about boys and this one boy who loves me since he squeezed my shoulders. I had to laugh. I so remember going to dances, hanging out in the bathroom with my girl friends and talking about the boys and who we just danced with. She's only 6 though!

And Isabella was a champ...she slept through the LOUD music after she watched for about an hour. She's such a good sport.

Here she is in her "disco" attire:

She was loving her shirt since she could lift it up and put it in her mouth.And I had to include this one of Hannah.
We had a fun evening...and it was too funny that almost all the songs I danced to at some dance. They even played 'Cotton eye Joe' and I had to at least get up and dance a little with Madison...and then I had to head out since I had Isabella and she was roasting in the gym.

Why does that not surprise me???

Yesterday we came home from school and I lit back one of my many candles I have around the house. I'm addicted to smelly candles. It use to drive Dan nuts but now he knows not to blow out my candle...or I get angry! (Not really, I just light it again and he eventually he realized he'll never win.) So I got this variety pack of Yankee candles and one of them Hannah just loves....guess what scent it is....

Christmas cookie!

So when she walked in the house, she said, "Oh my gosh it smells so good in here. I love your candle smell. What is it called?"

So I told her and her response, "Why don't you make some real Christmas cookies? That would be a good pudding for tonight. That way the house can smell like cookies with the candle and my tummy will be full of them too."

She's Dan's kid...most definatly....there's no doubt.

And no camera....

Today was watching day at the girls' swim lesson. I so wish I had the camera....Hannah was so funny when they were doing the part of sticking their faces in the water. She would take a deep breath looking very concerned about what she was about to do, then stick her face down the water so just the tip of her nose would touch which was followed by a deep gulp and then repeat. It's too hard to explain without seeing it and Dan thinks my impression is dead on but that would look a little silly to have Dan take a video of me doing it....so you will just need to use your imagination.

Busy day today....so glad it's over. It didn't end until we were home at 7:15. Madison had practice for a Christmas song at church and I had completely forgotten about it until I was there dropping of the cake they needed.

And so I cheated tonight and we had McDonald's. We picked it up with our 45 minute break we had between the next thing to do and after swimming. And then I felt as though I needed to share it with the toilet.

Yum!

And poor Isabella....sick again but still so cute and she still is loving Nemo. She is called often called by random people who see her with her head popping out of her footsie bag in her car seat....an Anne Geddes baby.
Also, we have a buyer for my old car....I'm so relieved. I was so worried we were going to be stuck with 3 cars. It's so nice when someone calls about your car and it all works out.

Saturday...

I go from this:

to this:

Much, much better! How I have been waiting nearly 4 LONG months for this. The xenon bending lights took FOREVER to convert to UK specs. It's like the best Christmas present ever! Now....onto training my kids no drinks, no food, no feet on the seats....Perhaps I'll just have to hitch them on top so they don't get the inside dirty...

Now off to work on Christmas presents...I can't believe it's the 7th! AAGHHHH!!! Dan is off on a guys night watching a movie. I love how they just eat and run and I am here with the mess....

Oh and the girls are so excited...we're going to go see a play of Cinderella with some friends in a couple of weeks. I was going to just surprise them but I'm horrible at keeping surprises like that. And so, their very first play. I think they will enjoy it. Next will be Lion King if they do alright. I was debating to take them down to London and see The Nutcracker but I think we're going to wait until next year when they are just a little bit older.

Just another Sunday

This morning I was so not in the mood to go to church...it was pouring down rain, super windy and I was so tired! Dan was not feeling well and so I was up with Isabella alone last night and she chose to wake up every hour. Yes, EVERY hour. So I left her home along with Madison to help Dan since he still wasn't feeling very well and Hannah said she was sick...but I'm thinking she wasn't....sneaky sneaky.

So I took off since I had sharing time and it was so weird not having to collect them after it was all done.

So I came home to a nice sunny day and chose to spend my time cleaning and finish up the decorating. I am pleased. My house looks cute...not too overboard with the decorations...I think just enough.

So then I took some pictures.

This little girl melts my heart....the more she's with us...the more I know she so was suppose to be a part of our little family. She just fits right in....she makes our home complete.

My little model....she was so proud she was so coordinated...she makes me laugh with our little photo shoots.

Oh my Madison....she's a little bit of Dan and me both....and she so has our photo taking capabilities....

My love

Then we had one of Dan's friends stop by and fed him and chatted. It's always nice having him over....we always get on such random topics and some good laughs.

He left and Dan and I made up Santa videos for some family members....and then we made up some more JibJabs....and we some more good laughs.

And now Dan is upstairs playing his game....I don't know how he stays awake playing it, and I'm going to attempt to watch Four Christmas' since it's long over due. It's hard to...I love sitting and reading in my lounge...the fireplace is going, the tree is lit and the smell of cinnamon fills the room. It's so cozy in my over sized chair. I debate getting a TV for that room but I think that's why I like it so much in there....there isn't a TV and even though we aren't a TV watching family....I think it would be distracting.

Oh...and we watched Charlie Brown's Christmas this evening...I love how my kids LOVED it. They would have sat there all night replaying it. And then I got super excited while I was shopping online since it's GAP's last day for 25% off and I HAD to buy a few more things...I checked out Old Navy just to see and they had Charlie Brown shirts for the girls....so I HAD to get them. As well as this Tweety Bird shirt for Hannah that so fits her personality. My promise not to spend too much on the girls....it's so hard to keep.

It stinks...and the school fair

making a car payment and paying for car insurance for a car you do not have. *sigh*

Perhaps some day soon I will have my new car....

Do you know what also stinks....

Isabella's diaper champ when you lift it open to change the bag out. I don't change it as often as I should since it doesn't get full very quickly...her diapers are still so small. But holy moly cow...when you lift it out...it's pretty rancid. I need to work on that.

Totally random...I will never understand how people will have the tops down in their convertibles when it's 5 degrees celsius outside. Just because it's sunny doesn't mean it's top down weather.

Now on to the school fair....

I am now a broke woman since spending 2 hours at a school fair. My kids and their spending...seriously where do they get that?

They had a blast...I was a little tired but it was fun to see them have fun minus the constant whining from Hannah. She's really got to stop that or she's off on a plane to see Grandma Nancy. (Just kidding! I would never send my kids on a plane alone...I'm way too paranoid.) Anyway...so they went into Santa's Grotto and here's the picture we got:
Then they decorated cookies...and then right after they ate them. I think we need to be off sugar for the next week with all the sweeties and cookies and cakes they ate.
(I know Hannah is looking all sweet and innocent in this picture but she seriously was a booger!)

We came home, ate the roast I had in the crock pot (I was so thinking ahead I amaze myself sometimes) and then my husband gave me the bestest of the best back rubs. And then what does he do to totally ruin my moment of relaxation...stick his hands in my arm pits so I go crazy insane since I'm so ticklish and the worst part...he was sitting on me so all I could do was squirm and kick the marble on the fireplace. Oh how I hate to be tickled! Madison and Hannah come in the lounge and what do they do....encourage Dan to keep tickling me since they all think my laugh is oh so funny and that it's funny to see me squirm. Not so funny to me!

We are pretty sure Isabella has inherited my ticklish all over gene...that's 3 for 3 then.

And sometimes my husband is so clever....he came up with a funny. I was reading the paper and it was talking about Tiger Woods. Dan said he wanted a shirt that said, "Tiger woods really isn't a tiger...he's a cheetah..."

HAHAHA! It made me laugh.

Craziness in the Brown house

Today there were many "moments" in the brown house....here are a few

*Madison was going crazy since Hannah wore pants to school today. Who knew that Hannah wearing pants would get Madison so wound up. Perhaps since she thought she was wearing hers...


*I had a moment of panic...Aunt Flow is a little late coming and I had a crazy dream last night. This had me running (actually driving) to the store to buy a pregnancy test. The whole way home I was freaking out my kids would be 11 months apart....the test was negative. God does love me and knows I will seriously go CA-RAY-ZY if I have another baby. I have been faithful to the pill....but we all know how well that works for me, exhibit A - Hannah.


*I told Dan during dinner, a friend told me she saw Madison holding hands with a boy at school. He shook his head and said loudly (not meanly) "WHAT! You don't need to be holding hands with boys! You're too young!" We will see....Madison whispered to me she liked this boy as well as this other boy likes her too. Dan needs to chill a little bit...he has 3 girls...and they are pretty cute....boys are going to be an on going issue in our house.


*Isabella loves her Nemo....I picked her up and Nemo fell....she cried as if somebody had hurt her. I layed her back down with Nemo, life was good again.

*Hannah is tired...it's the end of the week, so there are tears over everything. My super sensitive Hannah....


*I started the stockings I'm making...I so screwed up and got mad. So I stopped....who knows if I will get them done. I'm so over them now.


*I made fudge, I had to throw it away...I was eating it and making myself sick...it was tasty but I just didn't have any self control. I think it was the nostalgic part of my dad making it every Christmas season why I kept eating it....so my family didn't get to eat any since I made it during the time they were at school or sleeping. Isabella had a taste...she liked it but really....she's Dan Brown's kid....she obviously is going to have a sweet tooth.


*But I cleaned my house for my cleaners today and then they cleaned so I have a super clean house! And my house smells like cinnamon...how I love my Yankee candle.


*No pregnancy, kids sleeping, clean house, Dan's last night of work (on his 4 days string at least)...life is good.

What kind of mom do you think I am?

This morning I had Isabella on the couch ready to change her diaper and Hannah came down with a bunch of clean diapers. I had a wipe ready in my hand and as soon as Hannah came over I noticed she had a milk mustache so I wiped it with the wipe in my hand. Hannah gives me this disgusted face and says, "Mum, did you just use that Isabella wipe?" I didn't quite understand what she was asking....then I understood. My daughter thought I used it to wipe Isabella's bottom and then I used it on her face. I laughed and told her yes just to get more of a rise out of her and in between her extreme disgust I told her it really was a clean wipe.

Here's Madison doing what she does.

Decorating for Christmas

It was time to go into the garage and find all the Christmas stuff on Saturday. I bought a fake tree...I know...I said I was NEVER going to have one but I just couldn't bring myself to spending over $100 on a real tree....and it started from there....the whole decorating for Christmas thing. I got the tree up...man...they make them so easy to put together now. So after my like hour of rearranging my lounge...I was finally pleased with the arrangement of furniture. The girls and Dan decorated the tree while I took pictures and unwrapped all the tissue paper from all the decorations. We opted not to use the glass bulbs and just go with the ones my mom and I made and burned our fingers many times a few years ago. We saw these bulbs at this cute Christmas store and thought...hey we can make those! And so we did...but I have to admit...I got tired of hot glue burning my fingers so my mom did most of them.

I just love them.

Anyway...so we got the tree decorated. I then finished up the lounge with some decorations. I still need to make snow flakes with the girls and make something to dangle from the lights. Something sparkly I'm sure....and garland is all around the doorways. Dan came down and was like, whoa...it's like we live in a forest. I was also super excited finding all the gift boxes I forgot I brought back from the states to wrap clothes in since last year I couldn't find any in this country...or if I did it was so insanely overpriced I couldn't let myself spend that much on a box. So this year, our presents will be neatly wrapped in boxes which I'm soooo excited about. My life must truly be boring if I'm getting excited about boxes....seriously!

And we know where my girls get their cheesey smiles....

I love how my sister, Christina, described this picture....Madison is happy, Hannah is like I don't care, Isabella is asleep and I'm just a little too excited about the tree.

And now Madison looks like the goof....there always has to be one of us.

I also saw New Moon this weekend, finally, with a friend. I think the best part was when my friend leaned over to me after Jacob took off his shirt the first time and said, "My £8 was just well spent." Oh how that made me laugh.