Yes, an amazing moment...

of 5 of us in a picture at the same time! Thank you Mr. Stranger who so kindly offered to take our picture.

2nd trimester!

I can't believe it. We found out and told a few family and friends at 4 weeks...told everyone else at 10...and now I'm done with the 1st stage....EXCITING! And in less than 3 weeks I get to see the peanut again....woohoo. How exciting would it be if they were able to tell at 16 weeks....maybe...but I'm sure I'll just have to go back at 20 and find out.

A picnic

The girls had been so helpful this morning...we've been "adjusting" to the summer schedule. I still have very tired girls who stay up in bed and then are up at 6 am so that makes some irritable, moody girls who play so nicely all of a sudden to burst into these sudden fights. I've been making them do chores when they misbehave...kind of nice not having to unload the dishwasher or put up clothes....and I have a new rule, I don't want to hear about it if you're not physically hurt...no blood...I don't want to hear about it. I know kind of harsh...but I'm pretty tired of, "mum, so and so did this..." It's been working and they really haven't been doing things to irritate each other since they know I won't listen to it or do anything about it...they need to sort it out...and so we headed to Subway, grabbed lunch and took it just to a park on base. The girls had fun minus the wasps that were trying to enjoy our lunch as well.

Madison was so good to take Bells down all the slides....

Hannah was Hannah

And Bells loved the swing...and she has 2 teeth! She loves trying to chew with them...it's one of the cutest things ever.

Magic, entertainment and smiles

We went to the toy store the other day and I gave each of the girls a 10 to spend. Hannah chose this wand....it makes the most annoying sounds and she's waving it around all the time casting "spells." Yesterday at 6:15 am, I was woken up by the sound of the wand...I thought maybe I was just dreaming and I had heard it so much the day before I was now having dreams with it... then I hear the words, "Make mummy get up and make me some cream of wheat," followed by another magic wand sound. How could I not get up...and so I did...at an hour I should not be getting up at during summer break.

Who needs toys when you have a front load washer....

And Madison....I think she's looking so much older....

Time?

I have been trying to organise my photos....oh it's annoying. But besides that and seeing the pictures from when we first arrived in England...it's hard to believe my kids are so much bigger....I think what brought this on was shoe shopping and trying on shoes and picking out shoe sizes that were too small for my girls and in denial when they told me what size they really needed. Madison is a size 2...Hannah a 12...(US sizes) when did they grow so much? Then as I'm looking at their pictures I'm getting all teary eyed thinking about it. Madison is soon going to be 7....in 10 days actually....and it's crazy to think I am going to have a 7 year old. I was just 21, living in Virginia Beach and Dan was in Intel school and my water broke during some Sci-fi movie Dan said I HAD to watch...20,00 Leagues Under the Sea...I think Madison was saving me in a way from having to watch it....and we rushed to the hospital that took 45 minutes because of traffic and I'm leaking all over in the Jeep thinking that was the grossest thing ever...the water part....24 hours of labor....emergency C-section I for the first time experienced "love at first sight." And now she's in school going into Year 3 and reading like crazy, doing multiplication and division problems and asking questions and having conversations that are intellectual for a 6 year old. Hannah has been the same...she grew up so fast and yet she's still my baby girl if that makes any sense. Bells is going to be 1 year old in a month and I can't believe she's trying to walk, talk and likes to pretend she's on the phone jabbing away to whoever. In about 6 months we're going to welcome our new one and I'm sure it's just going to go by even faster. Sometimes I find myself thinking about things....what if I had just stayed at BYU and finished up and not been retarded and left....what if I had tried a little harder at going to school in Medford and not worked so much instead...I LOVED my job though....I would have had been done with school....but I never would have met Dan....wouldn't have my Madison, Hannah, Bells and our other peanut and experiencing the things I am now and be happy most importantly with Dan and our growing family. Yes, it might not have been the easiest route....but I'm glad I took it...and some day I will finish up that degree.....now I'm hoping to have it done by 35....that gives me 7 years....I might just have to move next to my parents so I can just get it done and have a sitter I trust....my mom.

Stonehenge

We drove down...it took a little...okay a lot longer than we thought....M25 was like bumper to bumper traffic going 2 mph. We stopped in a super cute village....Marlow was the name and ate some lunch. We finished up our drive and got there after 6 hours...that's right 6 hours. Luckily our drive home was only 2 hours. The girls did excellent though...no complaints at all from them. And like Hannah said, "This was a really fun day mum." I love that kid.

These mounds are actually tombs.
I'm totally adding this since it was late when I posted this and I was not all there. I think the most fascinating thing was to think about how when Stonehenge was used for whatever it was used for, it's still a mystery...it was in a woodland area. There is not a tree around the place at all or around the mounds. I had no idea! I love learning all these cool tidbits over here.

Girls

First day of summer holiday...we've been having a lazy day. I let the girls watch TV this morning...we're still in pjs (I have showered at least) and we ordered pizza since I don't feel like making a mess in the kitchen. Yes, Bells is covering her ear since the girls are yelling.

Oh and someone loves getting into the cabinets now....

So last night we attempted to get into the Secret Garden Party....after waiting forever to get to the parking....then we saw the line to change our tickets for wrist bands....about a 2 hour wait...a man comes and asks us for a £20 donation to park our car....funny how he didn't ask the cars around us....is it because we have a new Volvo?...that crossed my mind...we gave him £5 and left with kids crying even more so since we were leaving. I told Dan we should get the tickets after he got off work early....he didn't listen...I was so right. Kids were tired and hungry...we headed home....I told Dan he owed me dinner and so we hit the local pub and had a scrumptious dinner and the kids went to bed. We will attempt the crazy madness of the party another day....perhaps I'll send Dan to get the wrist bands tonight. People warned us about the kind of people this party attract...I think people forget we're from Oregon.

Just one more day

School is out tomorrow! YAY! I'm sure I'll be pulling my hair out in about 2 weeks but it'll be nice not to have to do the school run for 6 weeks. We're still trying to figure out what we're going to do. This weekend we have the Secret Garden Party. We figured we'd go this year since we don't know what or where we will be next July. It's crazy to think that we only have about a year left...Dan starts negotiating next month for his orders....I know of some possibilities and I'm pretty excited about all of them. I'm getting kind of antsy to know what we will be doing a year from now....besides that fact we're going to have 4 kids!

Old?

M - "What date were you born in?"

Me - "November 14."

M- "No the year. I know when your birthday is."

Me - "1981."

M - "Oh my gosh that was a long time ago."

Me - "Thanks."

M - "Well maybe it wasn't that long ago...you did have me at 21. That is kind of still young."

Me - "Thanks."

M - "And my teacher is one year older than you...and she doesn't even have any kids. You just sometimes look older. Maybe because you have almost 4 kids."

Me - "Yeah....that really doesn't help the fact you just called me old Madison.

Oh kids....

Hula Hoops

I forget as an adult sometimes that the simplest things make kids so happy. Yesterday while Hannah was at a friend's house for a play date...Madison and I went to the store to buy some hula hoops. I didn't realize how good my girls were at it. It surprised me...here's my bragging moment...but they do catch onto things super quick...They were both riding 2 wheel bikes at 3 and 4...they are pro roller skaters and they are just pretty amazing girls. It just cracks me up how Hannah catches onto things just as quick as Madison...she wants to be able to do everything she does. Anyway...it's carzy how a hula hoop can create hours of fun.

My favorite Madison phrase, "I just can't be bothered!"
My favorite Hannah bit....how she is just all over the place while she hulas....especially at the end of the video clip.
And then there is Bells talking away....she knows she has to talk loud to get heard in this family.

I leave

and this happens in a matter of seconds! Bells is into everything....I love how she even got the fireplace gas thing cover out.

And don't you just love my dead plant in the corner? I tend to kill plants. My mom even tried to save it....too bad I didn't water it after she left.

Costco = Love

I just am always in such a good mood when I leave that place. Perhaps since I always find something to buy in there. I hadn't been in awhile...it was a much needed visit with lots of finds.

Another place I have been avoiding is Mamas and Papas....I pass it every time I'm in London and my friend tells me not to do it. I went in....bought stuff for Bells (I had a valid excuse to...she needed a new outfit since I didn't bring any extra clothes and her bottle leaked all over her. I am so excited for bottles to end next month....she is so done by 12 months...) and I am excited for these 9 weeks to pass so I can buy things for the little peanut. It's my kind of store...clean, spacious, all things neatly organized....it just calls out, "buy me. You need me." And so I did what it said. And I just ate the most scrumptious gooey danish....so tasty.

Bath time and the Bells

Sorry the girls and I are having a conversation during the video...


She LOVES the Gummybear song.

A scam

Usually I buy flowers through FTD...I never had issues with them. Then they didn't deliver them one time and so I had an email saying there was a deal through Pro Flowers. So I bought the flowers with my credit card....they were delivered and it was done. We hardly ever use the credit card....I just do with certain purchases so it's a little bit more secure I guess. So I'm paying our credit card...I hardly ever look at the thing since it's just Dan's game subscriptions on it and I never paid attention to this 14.95 charge that was taking place since I just assumed it was legit. Well...Dan has stopped a lot of his subscriptions and we were still getting this 14.95 charge....and so I investigated and it turned out it was a scam through Pro Flowers for this membership I had never agreed to. I found a complaints board for this EZSAVER company and wanted to find when this charge had originated....April 2009! So about 225.00 later....I realize I have been paying on something I never knew about. So I called...it was a lady...I told her the situation and how I was not happy. She told me I subscribed when I bought the flowers...I said, No, I never received an email confirmation saying I agreed to anything of the sort. She said she'd cancel my membership...I added the one I never signed up for and she asked me if I would be happy. I told her NO WAY....they had taken 15 payments from me and I wanted them back and to be happy I'm not asking for interest! She told me she could reimburse for 10, I said I want the 15, she put me on hold, I got my 15! We still have to wait and see when we get the money back....I still get mad about it when I think about it.

A first

Bells threw a tantrum today...if you can call it that...it really wasn't that bad but it was so cute. This kid...seriously...she's just so lovable that everything she does is just so stinking cute! We were at the store...I felt the need to do a little toy shopping since I've been slacking and she's out growing all her toys. So I was in the toy aisle with an idea of what I wanted...a push toy...and I couldn't find one at the moment so I found this cute tool box toy that made all sorts of sounds. She LOVED it. So I sat it next to her and she played. I got down to the other end and saw what I had in mind....so I put it in the cart and then picked up the tool box to put it back. She was mad! She did her low grunt and I could fully translate it to, "Why are you taking my toy! I want it back!" And so I got back to the cart and showed her the push toy. She followed with an, "ooooooooooooo." It was one of the cutest things. She also got this camera that she thought was pretty funny to drop so I would pick it up. She's all about that game. And she waves now. It's more like a hand up and smile...she definitely has her own style. My favorite though...she covers both her ears if someone is talking to her that she doesn't want to listen to. And if she's really not in the mood...she puts her head down so you can't "see" her. Probably won't be so cute if she's doing it when she's older but for now...it just makes Dan and I laugh.

And I saw Eclipse finally! It came out over here this past Thursday. Dan was a little upset I chose to see it with a friend instead of him. He's very supportive in some of the things I like and shows great interest....or he secretly likes the story.....

Anyways....by far my favorite one of the 3. I may just have to see it again with Dan...since I had to leave and pee! I never have to do that...this kid....I blame the peanut.

A Name...

Tonight I was talking to my parents on the phone...I was telling them about possible names. I told them how we kind of like "old" names. Hannah was near by and I didn't think she was really paying attention...all of a sudden I hear, "how about Jesus?"

me..."That would be kind of a weird name."

Hannah..."Mom, Jesus is really, really old....so that's like the oldest name."

Nice!

Guess who we met today....well saw....

Baby Brown along with a full bladder.

Baby Brown number 4 due February 2, 2011! Yeah...we were surprised....we found out about 6 weeks ago. I was in tears, Dan was happy....but now with me being 10 weeks and going to our first scan, we felt like we could announce it to the people who haven't heard. I tried to keep it a secret...but I had to tell some people when I first found out!!! Thanks for being so great and not saying anything and supportive through my venting of "I CAN'T DO THIS!" The girls know...they would like a boy.....Hannah was a little like, "Don't we have enough kids?"....I'm trying to wrap my head around the fact I'll have a 16 - 17 month old when this baby comes out. Yes, Dan is hoping it's a boy....I honestly am scared if it is a boy. All I can say....glad we bought the SUV we bought. I'm super excited now....a little...wait super nauseated all the time and tired....but I'm anxious to meet this baby who HAD to be in our family. Who would have thought Bobbie would have 4 kids! I find myself super emotional with this baby....perhaps since I know this will be my last, maybe because I am realizing what a blessing babies are and how fortunate I have been. I'm trying to relish in this whole pregnancy thing even though I do not like being pregnant one bit. It's crazy to think....I had been here done this last summer. And I can't believe I'm not having a summer baby. This is just a whole new experience! So 2 kids born in England...all my kids before I'm 30....even though I haven't held this baby....I now know our family is going to be complete.

And I have to also mention...we are now owners of a 2006 Toyota Tacoma! YES! I just paid off Dan's truck....what an exciting feeling!

Sports Day

Madison and Hannah their school's sports day this morning. Bells and I enjoyed cheering them on. It would have helped a little if they were in the same group or in different groups next to each other but oh well. ON the way to school, Madison said, "Mum, I'm not going to try very hard since it's just a silly old sports day and it really doesn't matter." I love kid's honesty.
They both did great...and I think they even did try...just a little bit.

Saturday

Dan found that the UK's biggest VW Bug festival was in Malvern, Worcestershire and so we took the 2 hour drive and went. First, I am reminded that we do live in the ugliest part of the UK. So, so beautiful over there...we felt like we were in a different country! The houses were even different too. So we got there and Dan was super excited at first....I went along just to support him and the girls had fun since there were rides and they were able to ride on some. Dan was not impressed....I got to go on a spinney ride with the girls and I didn't throw up...YAY....and then we headed home and stopped off for dinner along the way to make it back for the 4th of July thing going on base.

The girls rode every ride and then some there. Yes, we spent a fortune there but it was fun. The girls wanted to go in the haunted house, we told them yes, Hannah came out 3 seconds later. I told her she had to go in...I paid for myself, picked her up and we went through where she screamed at the things that popped up. It was well worth the £4 to Dan and me. Madison went through all by herself....she came out and said, "that was awesome!" The went on another fast spinney ride, Hannah loves them, she puts her hands up and everything....like me. We met up with some friends, the girls had to go on the rides with them, we talked, we ate...had loads of fun. I forgot my camera in the car and was too lazy to get it. We enjoyed our family day and it all ended with watching fire works, coming home and all passing out in bed. It was 1130....long day and night for the kids....long day and night for the parents.

A day out

The girls stayed home from school...it was so nice to not have to rush in the morning. Bells didn't wake up until 8:30...that was a miracle! We hung around the house in the morning, went and had some lunch and then headed over to Hamerton Zoo.

We had a lot of fun...it was nice walking around seeing the animals...both girls reading the signs for the different animals. Bells got excited when she saw an animal and Dan and I just enjoyed seeing the girls happy.

These turtles were fighting or something....Dan and I watched them for the longest time while the girls explored.

I had never in my life seen a Capybara...the largest rodent! Ewww! I thought it looked like an overgrown guinea pig. And to think that they use to be up to 8 times as big!

Bells giving us directions as to where to go.

After our short ice cream break, the girls and Dan played on the playground.

I loved how when we were eating dinner at the table, we asked what they're favorite part. Madison said feeding the goat...Hannah, "EATING THE ICE CREAM AND PLAYING ON THE PLAYGROUND!" That's my Hannah.

M & H