Lately

What have we been up to lately? Well, we've been hot! Really hot! Our bodies are not used to the heat and especially the humidity of the midwest! Jacob recently told me that he couldn't take the heat, followed by "bring on winter." Spoken like a true Brit!

Let's back up six weeks...We landed in Michigan a bit overwhelmed to be home. We were greeted by both sides of the family at the airport, which was so nice! But, whenever someone asked if it was good to be home, I felt the tears coming.

It's different here. For some reason, I've forgotten how big things are and how busy it is! Even the American accent has taken me off guard. Listening to the boys play with their cousins, it struck me how different the accent really is. And the boys seem to have lost theirs, although many have commented on Aiden's, which I don't hear at all (One little boy asked me if Aiden was Australian).

Aiden has asked the best questions about America:
1. Why are there so many American flags in America?
2. Why are there so many farms in America and no sheep?
3. What is that picture on the side of the road? (Answer: A billboard)
4. Do they sell flowers at that place that looks like a church playground without a church? (That was a cemetary and the answer was no!)

On to the cottage. After sending the kids off to various family members for a week so that we could house hunt, we went back up to Michigan for a week at my parent's cottage. It was great. The kids swam, tubed and even skied on the EZ ski. Even Jeb did it! You should have seen people look up when we pasted with our two year old waving with his royal wave. The rest of the week was spent going to the swamp to catch frogs and ended with a Fourth of July celebration.

Back to Chicago. Now we are back in Oakbrook at our little apartment, awaiting our closing on the house. It hasn't been pretty. While the pool has been a great distraction, even that is getting old. Besides the odd doctors appointment here and there, we've just been getting on each others nerves. It's time for a house with a yard and neighbors, who hopefully have kids!

It's all feeling real and that is ok. It's hard to move on and I think about England almost every day. But, good things await us in Elmhurst. I should enjoy my last care free moments of not owning a house. Now to focus on my biggest issue just may be: what do I rename this blog?! The name just doesn't apply anymore...

All ready for the Fourth of July Boat Parade!

Jeb "skiing"

Jump!

Back together with Andy and Matt - American best friends

Last Photos and Last Post of England. (Sniff, sniff)

Today marks one full month of being in the states and away from England. Funny, it's been rainy and humid here, while sunny and beautiful in the UK. Ironic! Anyway, I forgot to post some pics of the boys going away party with their classes. We rented a bouncy castle and ate ice lollies (popsicles). It was great!

But before that, here is a slideshow of our family photoshoot at Cliveden in May. Liezl Croft (www.liezlcroft.com) spent the day with us capturing the boys at their best and worst moments! I'm so glad we did it and that the background is one of our favorite places in England!

Aiden's class party

Jacob's class party. Somehow the 7 year olds don't listen like the 5 year olds. They just wouldn't sit!!

Jeb's last Tumble Tots class - with his best mate Health.



And our last shots in Beaconsfield...we'll miss you!

10 years on...

Wednesday was our first full day for me and the boys to be here in Chicago alone. It also happened to be my birthday and our 10th anniversary. It also happened to be 90 degrees with 90% humidity. Oh, and the boys were tired - code for "let's fight so much that mom goes nuts." You can see where this is going.

Ok, so we made it through the morning, just barely. We all took some quiet time before Tom came home early for, not what you think, but instead for Jeb's first appointment with the CF team at Children's Memorial. The appointment went well (check out his blog in the next few days), but it was 3 hours long. We were exhausted, but all the boys were troopers.

After it was time to celebrate the big 10 year marriage marker! Oh, but we don't have a babysitter! So, we decided to treat the boys to pizza. Except we don't know where a pizza place is, so we rely on the satnav. We ended up in a fancy restaurant that didn't have pizza on the menu. But, they made it for us anyway. Bless them! I always imagined Tom and I at a fancy restaurant on our 10th, but not in this scenario.

But, you know what? Isn't that what we should do to celebrate our 10 years together? It's where we are in our lives and in hindsight, I'm glad that the day went the way it did. It is pretty unforgettable and I'm thankful for every piece of pizza stuffed into Aiden's already full mouth, each doctor appointment that helps Jeb, each antagonizing act provoked by Jacob and each time the satnav brings us to a dead end road. This is our life. I'm not sure that I would have imagined it this way when I stood in front of Tom 10 years ago. But, I wouldn't want it any other way...