Settling In to Life in England

Well, it's been just over three months since we stepped off the plane in Heathrow and began our new life here in England. It's hard to believe how fast time flies and how much can happen in a short three months.

Life is busy these days, but we have a pretty good routine established. Tom is getting used to working the English hours and I'm getting used to having him come home later. So, instead of having dinner as a family, we have breakfast as a family. As long as Tom wakes up on time! The boys and I have tea around 5:00/5:30 and they are often in bed by seven. Jacob is pretty tired from being in school all day. Aiden, well, he never seems to get tired. I still make him go to bed because I'm just plain exhausted some days.

Jeb is healthy at the moment. He is recovering from a chest infection, but seems good as long as we don't get more bugs brought into this house. Seems like spring is on the way, so fingers crossed we'll make it through!

The "language" barrier. The other day I found myself talking to a friend from the states and having to think about talking "american" vs. "english". Funny how we adjust to our new words and the different meanings. Jacob has pioneered this at our house by correcting me on "tidying up," the "bin," trousers (very important...pants are underpants!), etc. We also use the new words so Aiden knows what they are talking about in school...specifically going "wee in the leu". If only he would.

My highlight? I'm officially being called mummy. Yes, life is good in England.

Seriously, Jacob!

I don't even know what to say about this one.

Jacob received a Leapster for Christmas and loves it. I was in the kitchen making dinner when I heard the sound of "game music" right by. Well, Jacob is truly becoming a man and making sure he's got something to do while on the throne.

This is my life with four men in the house...

How Old Are You?

Today was our first post natal group. This is a great thing that they do here in England. Basically, it's a bunch of mums who have had babies in the past 12 weeks. We squeaked in b/c we had just moved into the area. We meet for 4 meetings and then whenever after that. It's a good way to get to know other women with kids the same age.

So, Jeb and I packed it up and walked to the meeting after dropping off the other two boys are school. There were about 15 mums there with their babes. Very noisy place! We all went around the room and traded labor stories. Some were real horror stories! I'm glad we made the choice to deliver in the US. Not to get political, but National Health Care is not what it's cracked up to be. There are some nice bits, but some definite downfalls!

Anyway, they asked how old Jeb was. I said I thought about 15 weeks. You should have seen the looks I got from the first time moms! I can't help it! I barely know what day it is! Turns out I was wrong...the health visitor looked at the calendar when Jeb got weighed. He's 16 weeks. Oops! The good thing is that he is gaining weight, but he is still on the small side (11 lbs, 4 oz; 5th percentile). He'll catch up.

So, it looks like now we'll have even more options for playdates. Glad Jeb will also have some British mates!

Aiden's First Day of Nursery School

Aiden headed off to The Kiddies Academy this morning for his first day of school. He was very excited! We got to school and the first thing he did was step in a big puddle. His shoes and pants all wet. Guess that is what wellies are for! He didn't mind though. We walked in and he left me to go play with the toys. A wave good-bye and he was fine.

I picked him up at 12:00 and he didn't even seem tired. He was busy building sand castles, playing outside and having story time. They said he did well. He has a friend there - Frasier, whose older brother goes to school with Jacob and we also go to Cheeky Monkey music class with on Tuesdays. They were buddies today.

I enjoyed a morning with just one. Groceries, followed by new sheets on the bunk beds, laundry and playing (and then feeding) Jeb. Three hours goes quick!

Jacob Turns 5!

We celebrated Jacob's 5th birthday on January 8. The day started out with a fun breakfast and then back to school, this time for a full day. Jacob didn't mind because we were going to Zoom indoor playhouse after. Too bad it was closed! Jacob was devastated, so we went home and played all his favorite games! He requested hot dogs for dinner (mom, dad, grandma and papa had steaks). He had his favorite cake (funfetti) with a new dino on top. We followed up cake with presents: a new scooter, dragon and knight (he won't have the dragon in his room at night - too scary) and a leapster cartridge. The day was fun, but I still can't believe my little boy is five! And he isn't so little anymore...

A Full Nights Sleep

We finally got a full nights sleep this weekend. It took getting a hotel room in London to finally get some sleep, but we finally got a good 8 hours. My mom and dad volunteered to watch all three boys, so we took off as fast as we could on Saturday morning. We spent the day going from Buckingham Palace to Trafagalar Square to Picadilly Circuis to Oxford Street for shopping. The shops were packed, so we sat in Green Park and just enjoyed the silence. Off to the Marble Arch next and then back to the hotel to get ready to go out. Yeah, I got to get dressed up. Out to dinner and then to see Wicked! The show was amazing! I definitely want to do this more often! A full nights sleep was the best medicine to rejuvinate the soul!

The ironic part? Jeb slept through the night for my mom and dad.

Look forward while looking back

It's 2008 and I can't help looking back at 2007 in awe of what has changed. At this point last year, we were very comfortable in our house in Byron Center, with two little boys and with both our jobs going well. We kind of chuckled at the notion of moving to England. Now look at us...another boy (a sweet, sweet one at that!), we are in England, and I am officially a stay at home mom. I must say, it was quite the roller coaster, but I really am glad that we've done what we've done. Already we have traveled and seen things that most people never see in a lifetime. Our kids are experiencing a different culture and Jacob is even teaching us a few things about the "English" language.

So, as we look forward on 2008 we wonder where it will take us. I hope that it is rather uneventful in a sense of moving and other life changes. We are meeting new friends and keeping up with family probably better than we did in Michigan due to technology. It all seems right.

So, our resolutions for 2008? Mine, as always, is to drink more water. Tom, as always, refuses to have a resolution. Our family's resolution? See as much of the UK as possible. It will be fun to look back on this next year and see.

Tomorrow? Off to London to ride on the London Eye!