Odds and Ends

School is done and I thought I might sit for a few minutes. My back was hurting so badly last night that I had to take a muscle relaxer and it has made me groggy all day. The kids did really well in school as usual. They were all done before three today. Brittany finished before lunch because she had two tests instead of lessons. The year is progressing nicely. I have a wish list for when we get back to the states, things that will help me home school more successfully. This list keeps growing. I want a copy machine, a larger filing cabinet, and individual desks for the girls. This means I will have to have a room that is set up just for teaching, which I kind of do now, but at lunch we have to make it back into a kitchen again.

The roast is simmering on the stovetop for dinner. Thanks Hula Doula for that great skillet roast recipe on my recipe blog! If anyone else has any great recipes they would like to share with everyone, just let me know and I will make you a guest author. I still have an hour before walking time. Thank goodness because I am still groggy a little bit. I managed to get through the school day, but I have this feeling I will still sleep well tonight.

Some of our most recent art projects for school.

Brittany painted the English countryside. Those are little white sheep and stone fences.

Gabby painted flowers, a bee, a butterfly, and a caterpillar over there on the tree branch.

Kassie painted flowers and a bird.

And Bela painted what she says is "a bleeding shark with chicken pox". Interesting, isn't it?

Well Excuse Me!

Bela has been insisting that we call her by her given name, Isabela. Today she even carried it furthur and told me she wants me to call her Isabela Rose (her full name). I often tend to forget this. (We have been calling her Bela since she was born.) She has corrected me numerous times. Today she said, "Mommy I only want you to call me Isabela Rose on the days when I am pretty!" I said, "I always think you are pretty!" The answer was very clear, "Then you won't forget anymore!!"

School Time

Danijela built this in school this morning.

See how proud she is of herself???

The girls have been working so hard every day and getting their school work done very quickly. It is getting harder because the work is getting more difficult. Keeping Danijela busy with activities to do has really helped me out and it helps the girls too because she isn't climbing on them trying to distract their attention from their work.

Wisdom from the peanuts

Bela: Mommy I love lollipops! Do you know why?
Me: No why?
Bela: Well...Did you know that lollipops make your spit taste yummy?

Quiet evening?

Tonight I was lying in the chair, not feeling so well, when I heard something that would make any mother's heart stop. I heard Gabby yell "Danijela!" and then I heard thunk, thunk, thunk, thunk followed by a very loud scream from Danijela. Danijela fell down the stairs. Gabby chased her down and managed to catch her before she got all the way down. I jumped out of my chair, ran in to the hall and managed to bang my knee on the door pretty hard. Danijela was okay, shocked more than anything, I think, but my knee is going to have a right good bruise on it! A few minutes later we heard a terrible screech from Bela. I thought she was dying. She came barreling dow the stairs. All of us jumped up and ran to her only to hear this, "I heard a noise!" Yikes no wonder I have a headache. Now everyone is tucked up quietly in their beds sound asleep. Everyone but Gabby. She is having trouble sleeping and has managed to wake up almost every one of her sisters at one point or another tonight. Ahh the joys!

Someone is against us

The day was against us as we headed to church this morning. Danijela wakes up to nurse every morning at 7:30, not so this morning. We woke up at 9:30 having to have all the kids dressed and ready and to church by 10:30 for practice (praise team). I managed to get them all ready and my friend dropped off her two kids so we could take them with us. We got to church and the precious service wasn't over yet. Therefore, leaving us less time for practice. Just as the service started the microphones decided to stop working. Now we are singing with no microphones so we had to sing louder. Not only that, but sometime in the night the church hall roof fell in and the kids had to go next door to the club to have children's church. Talk about someone not wanting church to happen.

New Pastime

Danijela has a new favorite toy!

Inseparable

Someone is very happy that Daddy is home. She won't let him out of her sight. Tonight she was so tired that she could barely hold her eyes open, but she would not go to sleep. She was with her Daddy!

Rewards for Grades

This is what I have been working on for the past four hours.

They are reward charts for school. I did four of them. They will get a sticker every day for good behavior and at the end of the week, for every A they get two stickers and for every B they get one sticker. Then at the end of the month we will give them 5 cents for each sticker. After a few months we will see how it is working and reevaluate. So far, the way they are going, we are going to be broke!!

Welcome Home Dad!

The girls are duly happy to have their Daddy back. They swamped him when he got home and he was covered in children for an hour until I MADE them go to bed. Danijela won't let him out of her sight. If she loses sight of him she will run through the house saying "Da Da" until she finds him.

Daddy put them to bed last night and I got to sleep in this morning because Danijela bugged him instead of me and David dealt with Bela's obligatory morning fit by making her laugh. It's been a wonderful morning except the weather. It is about 38 degrees out there and it is raining again and they didn't want to cancel the soccer game again so they said "It's a go". Guess who is going out today to watch the girls??? I'll give you one hint, it isn't me!

Oh joy to have the Daddy home!

Mom Junior

Last night I was exhausted from another long night with my teething baby. I fell asleep on the couch watching TV with the kids. NORMALLY when that happens, someone in the house ends up waking me up in about two minutes, but when I woke up it was two hours later and the house was quiet. I was a little bit worried so I went upstairs to see where everyone was. The whole upstairs was clean and the kids were all in bed. Apparently Brittany got them all motivated to clean their rooms and then she said all their prayers and put them to bed. WOW who needs Mom! Maybe she will fill in for me while I take a much needed vacation.

Loving again

Danijela is very opinionated. For a 17 month old child who can't say many words, she manages to make a lot of noise when it comes to something she doesn't like and to make very clear EVERYONE knows if there is something she does like. For instance, when we were in Scotland visiting my aunt and uncle, Danijela took a liking to "Papa". This is my Uncle LaVere. The first moment she laid eyes on him "Papa" was meant for her. She would follow him into his study and climb into his lap, cuddle him and then be on her independent merry way. In the morning when Dani got up and "Papa" came into the room, she climbed into his lap and cuddled him for a good 15 minutes, which for this baby, who doesn't like to sit still, is an amazing thing. She then got down and went about playing and didn't pay him much attention until Kassie and Bela came into the room and started sitting on his lap. She spotted this clear across the room, lunged herself across the room, screaming and climbed right up in between them, strategically placing herself across his chest, lying down, squirming, trying to get the other two knocked off of his lap.

There mere fact that Danijela is so opinionated, is why we showed such alarm when she took a disliking to Kassie a few months ago. I worked really hard on putting them in situations where Danijela would pay attention to Kassie. Things like putting Danijela in a chair with Kassie and letting Kassie read to her, having Kassie change a wet diaper, and having Kassie get her snacks. I threw them together every chance I got and still Danijela would just let a little screetch at Kassie every chance she got. Sometimes Kassie would be clear across the room, minding her own business, and Danijela would point a little chubby finger at Kassie and screetch at her. I didn't really want to correct Danijela for it, because I thought it would make it worse (you know something like the "you got me in trouble" thing), so I have started taking her little hand EVERY time she does and and petting Kassie's face, saying "nice Kassie, Kassie loves you." Kassie has gotten really sensitive about it. We tried to make a joke about it, but it got to the point that it wasn't even funny anymore. Even complete strangers were noticing how mean this little baby was to her 7 year old sister.

I have noticed a little improvement over the past couple of days. Danijela sat down by Kassie yesterday and didn't screetch at all, she brought her a book last night for Kassie to read to her, and today, out of the blue, she ran up to Kassie and put her arms around her and cuddled her tight. Kassie got tears in her eyes, then to lighten the moment a little she said, "Don't you lick my nose!" and Danijela leaned over and licked Kassie right on her nose.

Glad you cleared that up

Bela has decided the way to tell if a crocodile is a boy or a girl is to look to see if it has a bow. If it is wearing a bow it is definitely a girl because a boy wouldn't be caught dead in a bow.

Yum Yum

Yesterday I did all the bedding. I was caught up on laundry so I did bedding and coats (it is very cold here and they will be needing them soon) Last night when I put Kassie to bed, I noticed that there was a blanket I missed. I grabbed it and stuck it in the washer (that I thought was empty). Apparently someone (I believe it was a little Dani) felt that the pop tarts were dirty. She had gotten into the pantry and put two brand new packs of two pop tarts in the washer. I was so tired last night that when I pulled the blanket out of the washer and threw it in the drier without looking at it. This morning there were pop tart crumbs in the washer and when I pulled the blanket out of the drier they were all over in the drier and all over the kitchen floor. There were melted clump of pop tart fruit too. Breakfast anyone?

Happy Autumn!

dewdrops kissing lashes
soft breeze tickling cheeks
light beginning, warmth
caressing skin
through the morning chill,
awakening,
living,
breathing,
brightness dawning
life moving, bustling in the woods
cool breath visible
smelling the musty damp of the ground
wet leaves blanketing the pathway
soft, untouched by the breeze
autumn morning

All my love tonight

Did I ever tell you I am proud of my kids??? No really, you can ask anyone. I never stop talking about them. Come on, ask me about my kids. Just see how long it takes me to stop talking. Maybe you better not. We dont' have all day. So you all know how proud I am of my kids and I have posted about my pride in my husband, his military service and his dedication to his family, and how very much I love him and how I couldn't live without him, but did I ever tell you about our parents? We couldn't ask for better extended family. Both David's Mom and my Mom are my best friends.

Bridget (David's Mom) talks to us every day. She buys things for the kids and not just things that they want, but she even buys every day things that they need. She always tries to be involved with the kids and even bought school supplies for us so we wouldn't have to pay British prices for things. She calls the kids once weekly and talks to me every day, just to see how I am doing. Both she and Ed (David's Dad in case you couldn't figure that out) have been wonderful Grandparents from the very beginning. They took to it very well even though they were very young. They take the time to get to know the kids individually and find out their likes and dislikes and could probably take over this family (if I didn't love my kids so much, did I mention that I love my kids?) I don't know what we would do without them and we love them so very much!!

My mother is such a comfort to me. She knows me so well and spends a whole lot of her time telling me how wonderful I am. (That is something I can't hear enough of even if I don't always believe it). My Mom and Dad are always sending little gifts to the kids just for the fun of it. Even though my mother hasn't felt well in a long time, she took her time and her money and with a little encouragement from my dad, she came and visited. I know it was very hard on her physically, but we had a wonderful time. I also love them very much and I am so thankful for that time!

I can't leave out my Grandma, who I love very much and who had a good hand in helping me grow up. I miss you so much Grandma and wish we could spend more time together. All those endless hours of Scrabble and Rummikub are always in my memories. The kids just aren't as good of opponents as you were.

One but Two Together

The night turns
and it is almost morning
I look to you
and you are gone
but you are here
I feel your heart
beating in mine
Like one but two together
far away but oh so near
over the ocean
but in my heart, my dreams
my head
my life
without you
would be empty now
now that you are with me
even though you are gone

Smooth Day

Today went so smoothly that we were all done by 2:30. Wow what a change from yesterday!! I can't believe how quickly and well they worked. Bela and Kassie finished before lunch and then Bela colored a little bit with Danijela.

Brittany is having a flute lesson. She is learning her pieces for a big test that will move her on to the next level. Gabby and Kassie have violin lessons tonight and Gabby will have soccer practice. I have managed to walk 2 1/2 to 3 miles almost every day since David left.

Good news!! He gets home on Friday night!! At least I will have a grown up to chat with in the evenings now!

A long time away!

4 year old Bela came down the stairs tonight crying her eyes out at bedtime.

Me: What's the matter honey? Are you hurt?
Bela: I don't want to leave you, I want to stay with you forever.
Me: Okay, who said you had to leave?
Bela: You did!
Me: Really? When did I say that?
Bela: You said I had to go to college!!!

Talk about dreading the future!

Bugs?

I think we found out what happened to Kassie's two front teeth!

More Gmail Invites Left

Well the first round of soccer games were canceled due to rain this morning. Gabby was supposed to have a double header this morning, but I got all the kids dressed in rain coats and carrying blankets and out the back door into the field and the coach looked at me and said, "No Game!". I have to wait until 11:30 to find out about Brittany's unless someone is nice enough to call or send an email.

In the meantime I have about 6 more gmail invites to give away. If anyone else wants one give me a shout!

I love my kids!

There are some days when you wonder why in the world you decided to have five kids and then you wonder WHY on earth, the year that your fourth would go to school and you would only have one left at home, you decided to bring them all home and home school them, and then you wonder WHY on earth you decided to start that homeschool when you are all alone and your husband is in Germany for five weeks, and then you wonder why on earth you didn't find a babysitter after yours moved away and you are stuck in the house with the kids for 24 hours a day and seven days a week and when you do go out of the house you have to take them all with you even if it is terribly inconvenient and they are fussy and cranky.

Today was one of those days. Everything that could go wrong did. It started last night in the eye doctor and didn't end. It culminated this afternoon with taking Brittany to the doctor with a sideache that the doctor insisted was appendicits and Gabby with fluid in her ears, that she had been complaining about for a week, but I just shrugged off hoping it would get better on it's own (don't I feel bad now????) They both ended up being okay, but I was pretty stressed and decided to go for my walk anyway. I left Brittany at home by herself as she still had a little of a stomach ache. I walked 2 1/2 miles and came home.

While I was gone Brittany had cleaned the whole downstairs and she had dinner sitting on the table. Gabby came in and changed the baby and put her jammies on her. Brittany put my favorite music on and we sat and ate a nice quiet supper with no fights and everyone joking and getting along. Then the kids helped me clear up and do the dishes. Now they are playing quietly outside and GETTING ALONG. They are very good girls and they help me so much!! I am so glad for each one of them and I thank God I have them! I enjoy teaching them and I enjoy spending all my time with them (most of the time!)

Wow what a trip

Brittany had an eye appointment after school today. It started out normal enough. Me taking five kids to the eye doctor. Let me explain a little something about England. Everything is smaller, including the waiting room at the doctor's office. So here I am cramped into this tiny room with my five kids. It is hot and there are only two toys to play with in the room. There are eight seats, seven of which are taken. I told Gabby to sit because she had homework to finish that I made her take with her. All eyes in the room are on my kids, who for the first hour were behaving beautifully, considering that they had to stand the whole time. Danijela ran back and forth between where I was standing and the two toys. After an hour past my appointment time (which was about an hour and a half past the time I got there) they finally called Brittany.

I started to notice that Dani's diaper was sagging a little and I hadn't brought extra in from the car because I know there are no changing areas in this place and I figured we wouldn't be there that long. I had diapers in the car which was too far to send Gabby. Brittany was in her appointmennt and these two teenage girls were watching Dani and laughing. That's when I noticed the Dani's diaper had fallen off. Now mind you it hadn't been that long since Dani's diaper was changed, but the combination of Gabby putting the diaper on loosely and Dani having a LOT to drink all day made for a heavy loose diaper that ended up falling off. SO...here I am with a diaperless baby, who begins to fuss. Then is when I realized that I have also forgotten to put an extra pacifier in my purse and the one she had with her seemed to be missing in action. How she lost this pacifier in this tiny room in the first place, I will never know.

Dani's cries are quickly becoming screams, Brittany is still in her exam, we are all standing for what has now been nearly two hours, all eyes are on us, Gabby tells me she needs help with her home work and Kassie all of a sudden decides she has to go to the bathroom, which is upstairs. I told Kassie to wait until we went upstairs to pick out Brittany's glasses. Brittany came out with the doctor, who told me that Brittany's eyes hadn't changed a bit, but she wasn't happy with the fit of her current glasses (couldn't someone have told me that 6 months ago when I got them?) and we would have to get some new ones.

She marches us upstairs and tells me, "Stand here and someone will be with you shortly." Mind you I am now standing with a crying baby with no diaper, a 7 year old who has to go to the bathroom and a 4 year old who can't keep her hands off of anything. I told Kassie to go to the bathroom and she proceeded to break down crying because she didn't want to go alone. Now my 7 year old and my baby are crying. I sent Gabby to the bathroom with Kassie and set Dani down (WHich is what she wanted) and she immediately pulled her skirt up over her head leaving her exposed for the whole world to see. Meanwhile, I hear Kassie screaming in the bathroom (clear across the store). I run over to see what is wrong and hear, "Gabby left me!! I can't turn the water on!" I leaned in turned the water on ran back to my naked baby, picked her up and wrapped her in Kassie's coat. NOw it has been 20 minutes since the doctor said someone will be with you. I very loudly threaten to leave and STILL nobody comes to help me. Finally a lady comes and starts helping someone who came in after me. I was so frustrated by that point. I walked over to her and said, "Excuse me, but I have been waiting in this store for two and a half hours total with five misbehaving kids and you actually choose to help the quiet lady by herself first. Do you really want me to stay in this store with all these kids for one minute longer than I have to?" Needless to say I had a little help then. They got Brittany's prescription all ordered and then had the nerve to tell me that if I had been there ten minutes earlier I could have had my glasses tonight, but now I had to come back tomorrow to pick them up. I was there ten minutes earlier. They just wouldn't serve me.

So now tomorrow I have to load the kids back up, drive into town, pay for an hours parking (that's the least I can pay for), just to take all five kids back into that tiny store again to pick up a pair of glasses.

I picked up Subway for dinner tonight just because I deserved it.

Eyes of Love

Bela: Mommy you have the shiniest blue eyes!
Me: So do you, you must get that from me.
Bela: I do. I get it from looking into your eyes.

All I want for Christmas

Kassie seems to be missing something important from the front of her mouth...

Oh yeah, Mommy accidentally dumped the tooth down the sink when she was clearing up the dishes tonight (it was in a glass of water). Do you think the tooth fairy will still come?

Who's on First?

Conversation heard between Brittany and Gabby during school today...

Brittany: Mommy did you know that James Watt invented the steam train?
Gabby: James What?
Brittany: Yes
Gabby: No James WHAT?
Brittany:Yes!
Gabby: WHO inveted the steam train?
Brittany: Mr. Watt!
Gabby: Mr. What?
Brittany: Yes that's what I said!
Gabby: Huh?
Brittany: What?

This went on for quite awhile before I stepped in and put and end to it.

And here it is folks...

I was over at Stuck in the City and saw a little post that sums up how I feel about things too. It's taken from a 60 minutes segment (which, by the way I never get to watch so bear with me if you have heard this)

In case you missed 60 minutes. . . . . . .

Is Andy Rooney the only sane one left? Andy Rooney (for those of you
that don't know Andy Rooney, he is an 82 year old US TV commentator) who
said on 60 minutes a few weeks back:

"I like big cars, big boats, big motorcycles, big houses and big
campfires. I believe the money I make belongs to me and my family, not
some governmental stooge with a bad comb-over who wants to give it away
to Crack addicts for squirting out babies.

"I think that if you feel homosexuality is wrong, it is not a phobia,
it is an opinion.

"I don't think being a minority makes you a victim of anything except
numbers. The only things I can think of that are truly discriminatory
are things like the United Negro College Fund, Jet Magazine, Black
Entertainment Television, and Miss Black America. Try to have things
like the United Caucasian College Fund, Cloud Magazine, White
EntertainmentTelevision, or Miss White America; and see what happens.
Jesse Jackson will be knocking down your door.

"I have the right 'NOT' to be tolerant of others because they are
different, weird, or tick me off.

"When 70% of the people who get arrested are black, in cities where 70%
of the population is black, that is not racial profiling, it is the Law
of Probability.

"I know what sex is, and there are not varying degrees of it. If I
received sex from one of my subordinates in my office, it wouldn't be a
private matter or my personal business. I would be 'FIRED' immediately!

"I believe that if you are selling me a milk shake, a pack of
cigarettes, a newspaperor a hotel room, you must do it in English! As a
matter of fact, if you want to be an American citizen, you should have
to speak English! "My father and grandfather didn't die in vain so you
can leave the countries you were born in to come over and disrespect
ours. I think the police should have every right to shoot your sorry
self if you threaten them after they tell you to stop. If you can't
understand the word 'freeze' or 'stop' in English, see the above lines.

"I feel much safer letting a machine with no political affiliation
recount votes when needed. I know what the definition of lying is.

"I don't think just because you were not born in this country, you are
qualified for any special loan programs, government sponsored bank loans
or tax breaks, etc, so you can open a hotel, coffee shop, trinket store,
or any other business.

"We did not go to the aid of certain foreign countries and risk our
lives in wars to defend their freedoms, so that decades later they
could come over here and tell us our constitution is a living document;
and open to their interpretations.

"I don't hate the rich. I don't pity the poor. I know pro wrestling is
a fake but so are movies and television. That doesn't stop you from
watching them.

"I believe a self-righteous liberal or conservative with a cause is more
dangerous than a Hell's Angel with an attitude.

"I think Bill Gates has every right to keep every penny he made and
continue to make more. If it ticks you off, go and invent the next
operating system that's better, and put your name on the building. Ask
your buddy (Al Gore) that claims to have invented the Internet to help
you.

"It doesn't take a whole village to raise a child right, but it does
take a parent to stand up to the kid; and smack their little behinds
when necessary, and say 'NO!'

"I think tattoos and piercing are fine if you want them, but please
don't pretend they are a political statement. And, please, stay home
until that new lip ring heals. I don't want to look at your ugly
infected mouth as you serve me French fries!

"I am sick of 'Political Correctness.' I know a lot of black people,
and not a single one of them was born in Africa; so how can they be
'African-Americans'? Besides, Africa is a continent. I don't go around
saying I am a European-American because my great, great, great,great,
great, great grandfather was from Europe. I am proud to be from America
and nowhere else.

"And if you don't like my point of view, DON'T PASS IT ON!!

More word play from Gabby

Gabby: Mom do you see the water on my face? That is not really water, it is ice.
I have been "ice o lated"

Night Time Surprise

Tonight I stepped out on the front porch and almost stepped on this.

He was just standing there looking at me so I went in and got the camera and came back out. He was still there and let me take his picture and then he just waddled away. I think he was coming to find the sugar water Gabby left out last night. She left it out for an experiment to attract wasps, but it is cold now and the wasps are mostly dead. She seems to have attracted hedgehogs instead.

Too Many Blackberries

Here are some more pictures from last week. It gives me something to post when I have nothing to write about.

Back to the daily grind

Trying to get back in the swing of things. We drove 3 hours yesterday and went straight to bed when we got home. Bela was up at 1 and didn't fall back asleep till 4. That is the third night in a row, but it was even worse last night because she was crying the whole time. These days make me realize the importance of our schedule. She doesn't act that way when we are on a schedule. We are very tired this morning, but wading through school pretty quickly. I gave a few tests today. We have Tae Kwon Do and violin lessons this evening and then it's straight to bed with the lot of them.

I have to say how proud I am of Gabby. She got up this morning had breakfast and got right to work. She had two subjects done before everyone else even got dressed. She now only has two subjects left. She is really enjoying working at her own pace. I think she might even pass Brittany up if I let her.

10,000

I just wanted to let you all know that I am about to go over 10, 000. If you are the 10,000th visitor send me an email or leave a comment so I know who you are. YAY me!

Now That's a Big Fungus!

Gabby found this giant mushroom yesterday in the woods. She picked it up with a stick in case it was a poison mushroom. For more fungus pictures please click this link to go to my pholog.

Lord Swinton's Folly=Our Fun

Today we went to Lord Swinton's Folly.
It started out as a very foggy day and we weren't going to go anywhere, but we changed our minds and decided to force ourselves out the door. It ended up being a wonderful day. First a picnic in the druid temple. (No we do not believe in any way the same as the druids, but it was a really wonderful work of art)

Someone forgot to order the sunshine, but we have had such beautiful weather since my Mom came that we decided not to worry about it. It wasn't cold at all and in fact, the weather was quite nice. I ended up taking about 120 pictures. I promise I won't make you look at them all at once, but I will show them to you a little at a time.

Danijela had a very independent day. She wanted to do everything by herself and she didn't want any help with anything. If she tripped and started to fall and I reached for her to catch her, she would swat me away. I let her go by herself today.

She also found her own walking stick.

We ate blackberries along the path and then walked to a beautiful clearing where we had a view of the whole valley and reservoir. It was a bit foggy and the pictures turned out perfect.

On the walk back Dani suprised Brittany with unexpected kisses.

One last picture of the girls again.

I promise to post a lot more pictures soon, but for now I must head to bed so that I can take Mom to Scotland tomorrow to visit her sister. Wish me safe travels!

York Minster

Today was our trip to York. It was another beautiful day. We have had gorgeous weather while my mother was here. I think she brought summer with her. We got a late start and were in no hurry. We walked around the Minster. This is a beautiful cathedral built in Medeival times. The woodwork, artwork and scroll work are phenomenal and the stained glass is gorgeous.

This is one of the ceilings.

And this is the organ. I love to sit and listen when they are playing this. You wouldn't believe the sound that comes out of this thing. I could listen for hours!

We discovered that Danijela has a love for art. She spent the whole time in the Minster oohing and ahhing and staring and pointing at the artwork. I think she thought it was heaven! It was worth going just to watch her.

After the Minster we walked around York window shopping and then had coffee at Starbucks. For those of you who have been asking me why we go somewhere every day...my mom is still visiting. After our trip to Scotland this weekend, things should be back to normal and we won't be going places as much. I do like to take my kids on lots of trips to give them happy memories and lots of pictures, but we won't be going as much or as often soon.

North Yorkshire Country Days

Today we went on a beautiful drive. It was sunny and warm and we just got lost on purpose. We ended up back at the cheese factory and bought some cheese, but then came back another way and got ourselves lost again. The roads were tiny and we had to pull over to let other cars pass. This is how little the roads were.

Here are some beautiful pictures of the countryside.

In the middle of the drive we pulled over and let the kids play in the water. They had so much fun. the sheep were running around and so were the kids. Every once in awhile someone would walk by. (And yes we were still out in the middle of nowhere, but it is not uncommon for people to be walking out in the middle of nowhere over here). Danijela, again loved the water so much that she stood and shivered and wouldn't let me take her out. I ended up putting a coat on her and letting her get wet in it.

Mind My Ducks

On our very long drive through North Yorkshire today, in the middle of nowhere, we came upon some ducks. They were just standing in the road and wouldn't move. In fact, I drove closer to them and they just stood and looked at me. An elderly gentleman walked up to the side of the car looked in and said, "Mind my Ducks!" He was out there feeding them with his wife. (Pictures taken by my mother since SOMEONE left the house without a camera today!)

Fall Days and Fun Play

Today was lots of fun! We took a beautiful long drive to Rievaulx Abbey again. It was definitely a fall day. It was chilly and threatening to rain on us, but it didn't and we enjoyed our day thouroughly. Here are some pictures.

The kids did a lot of climbing.

After the Abbey we drove to a little town called Helmsley and took a walk through the village. There is a really old church there with a graveyard in the front of it and lots of really neat shops that we love to window shop in.

We went to a small shop for hot chocolate and had a little mishap. Brittany was helping serve the hot cocoa on a tray and spilled the whole tray of hot cocoa on herself. The owner of the store was really nice and ran it under cold water and gave us some cream to put on it. She has some little blisters on her wrist.

On the way home we drove by the white horse that is carved in a hillside.

One Day of Summer

Well today was a really warm day here in North Yorkshire. We went to church this morning and then to a potluck after church. By the time the potluck was over it was really hot outside. When we got home we did a little cleaning trying to get ready for my mother, but it was too nice outside so we set up the pool instead and this is how we spent our afternoon. The house never got really cleaned.

When they weren't in the cold water, they were warming up on the pavement by making "water angels"

Danijela loved the water and didn't want to leave even when she was shivering so hard she couldn't even move.

She actually threw a little fit when I got her out. Then I wrapped her up in a towel and gave them all a snack and she calmed down.

After the summer afternoon, we went and got my mother at the airport. The girls were so excited to see her that I let them stay up late and watch a movie with her. They ended up dog piling on Grandma.

Did You Know?

If you want to watch TV in England you must pay a 150 pound TV tax once a year (that is nearly 300 American dollars).

When you buy a TV over here you pay a 17.5% sales tax (called VAT). Then you bring it home and before you can plug it in you must pay the 150 pound TV Tax. After all this you still have to pay for your cable service. Every month they charge you 17.5% VAT on your cable bill as well. Now that is what I call taxation! Maybe they don't want people watching TV.

Baby Braids

Added to the list of things I did this week. 66 braids. I went on a braiding spree tonight. I think they look pretty cute, not counting the ravioli on Bela's face. I let them sleep downstairs on the hide a bed so the older girls and I could get the house ready for my Mom to come tomorrow evening.

No Sleep Again

Going to bed early last night turned into imsomnia until 3 am. I guess I wasn't meant to get any sleep since Danijela was up at 7.

How sad am I?

It's Friday night and I am sitting here reading through blogs and grading papers. There is something seriously wrong with this. I watched The Emporer's New Groove and took the kids out for all you can eat seafood night and now I am just sitting here bored. Guess I'll go to bed early so I can drag myself out of bed in the morning for the soccer games. First one 10:30 tomorrow. Way better than last week.