Did I hear that right?!

This one I just need to write out so I don't forget...not that I ever will. My mouth is still hanging open.

Last Saturday, Jacob and I walked to town to grab a few items at the grocery store. We were walking back and I asked Jacob to switch sides with me on the sidewalk. My words exactly: "Jacob, you need to walk close to the hedge so that if something happens, the car will hit me and not you." (Sounds pretty morbid now that I'm writing it!) His response: "Oh no! If a car hits you we won't have any milk!" Ummm...ok. So much for mom.

Raspberries vs. LegoLand

Last weekend we decided to take a trip to the local farm, since they had advertised a pumpkin grotto. We were a bit leery considering they don't do much for pumpkins in England, but it was a beautiful day, so off we went. When we got to the farm we realized we could pick raspberries and apples - the kids were so excited! We then went to the "grotto" and they picked out their pumpkins. We drove home with such happy boys. Jacob and Aiden kept thanking us for such a great time. So, I asked them if they liked it better than going to Disney or Legoland. The answer - "About the same." Hmmm, a £20 trip to the farm vs. Disney...obviously we've been spending our money in the wrong place!!!

So, this Friday we decided to test the theory and we went to Legoland. We had an inset day at school, so we figured no one would be there. It was packed - we went on 5 rides the whole day plus I ran into at least 5 people I knew! Tom and I were a bit miserable, but the boys loved it. Of course a trip to Legoland always ends in the shop. It's more Tom's desire than the boys, but you don't often get to Legoland I guess. Funny, not as much thankfulness on the way home as the pumpkin grotto!

But, Tom and I did get our reward the next morning at 6:20 am. Both boys at our bed with Jacob announcing that Aiden had a lego stuck up his nose. You'd think he would have learned from the last time he shoved a lego up there, but I guess there was the curiousity of seeing if this one would go up further. 6:23 -Tom is up with his huge Maglite and the sharpest tweezers in the house, not to mention he is on a really short fuse. It scared me a bit, so I can only imagine the horror that Aiden was feeling. Tom would say to blow out and Aiden would suck in. 6:28 - lego still stuck. Tom, so frustrated, has walked out of the room. I'm imagining the laughter of the staff at the ER when I bring Aiden in and tell them what happened. I can't do it. 6:29 I hold one nostril and tell him to blow it out. 6:30 - Lego out after a few good blows. I don't think we'll be visiting Legoland anytime soon.

Jacob at the Lego Driving School

Jeb picking apples (he ate quite a few too!)

Girlfriends, Already?

The last person that I expect to be talking about a girlfriend is Aiden, but two weeks ago, the truth came out. I was at coffee with a friend whose little girl is in Aiden's class and she said that Ruby told her Aiden was her boyfriend. Shocked, I hurried home and told Aiden that I heard that he had a girlfriend. He turned red and wouldn't look at me. Then, I heard a quiet whisper..."Ruby." Wow. The boy who can't remember anyone's name has a girlfriend.

Fast forward to Friday of last week. Aiden gets in the car. "Can we pleeeaaase have Ruby over?" So, plans were made and it all happened today. Pick up was easy. Ruby followed us with her mum home. On the way, Tracy and I both learned of the kiss that happened at school. I'm hoping this was as innocent as I am imagining it! But the real news was in watching them. Ruby took Aiden's hand and pulled him where ever she wanted him to go! My stubborn, independent boy was being led like a dog! Hmmm... Cute today, but I'm not so sure that it will be cute in 10 years.

I'll be thinking this one over for awhile. I'm just not ready for the girl thing. Maybe girls will soon return to being stinking. I can only hope!

A Day Away Without the Kiddos!

"Two ships passing in the night." Seems that has been the story for Tom and I lately. We both needed a day to catch up and relax. And if you are a parent, you know that this cannot be done with children tagging along. So, today we got our babysitter to come early and we headed out to London for the day.

Yes, I was feeling guilty as we headed into the Tower of London. "Jacob would love to see the Crown Jewels, " I thought to myself. Really? Does a 6 year old yearn to see some stones on a crown? Nope, it's simply a mother's guilt. The guilt faded fast as we walked the cobblestone roads and through the jewels, the bloody tower, prison, etc. We would have never been able to stay as long as we did with kids. Tom got to read everything there was to read so he was happy (oh, was I bored! Seriously - he reads everything!!). And we even had time to go to Covent Garden for a wander around and a leisurely pub lunch.

It was a great day out. Now we need to work out the next one...we will be able to sustain a monthly date day? I hope so!

First Day of School for Jeb!

Last week was the first day of "school" for Jeb. He is attending Squirrels Nursery School one morning a week. I, of course, have been a bit nervous sending him, while all my other Beaconsfield friends think I'm a bit crazy only sending him one morning a week. He's my baby!

So, the big day arrived and he was so excited to wear his Thomas the Tank Engine backpack. He slipped it on and fell over. Guess there were one too many diapers in there! We walked into Squirrels and he saw his key worker, whom had come over for a home visit the week before. She took him over to the train table and I was forgotten. I got in the very empty car and felt a bit weepy, but then I remembered it's only 3 hours. Thus begins my three hours of freedom per week! We're all lovin' it!

Jeb turns TWO!

Hard to believe that our baby is now two! I know, it sounds cliche, but it goes way too fast - especially when it's your last!

His birthday was a bit uneventful thanks to busy schedules of everyone in the house, but the following day is when the fun began! We had our usual playgroup over to our house for a little cake and a lot of fun. I think we had 10 two year olds running around, eating food, throwing balloons into the rose bushes and spilling bubbles everywhere. Sounds a bit chaotic, but it was great weather, so we hardly noticed since we were outside (Thank goodness!!). Jeb did a great job of blowing the candles out on his cupcake and proceeded to eat the frosting off two cupcakes, leaving the cake for the bin. I can't tell you how much these 10 kiddos and their moms mean to us - they are our family here in England!

Daddy came home early and the festivities began here. Jeb had his fair share of presents to open both from the morning's party and some that showed up through the post over the week. We learned something - Jeb loves to open one gift and then play with it for a bit before proceeding to another. This was killing Jacob and Aiden. They tormented Jeb, trying to convince him to forget the new toy and open another present. I hope the boys had a good time because Tom and I were exhausted by the last present from the constant reminding patience!
Jeb begins the opening

Who's present is this???

Jeb, of course, loved the gifts and the evening was quiet as all the boys played. Pizza and cake followed. Two years old...should be an interesting year. Jeb is still a sweetie, but I'm beginning to see a naughty gleam in his eyes. Stay tuned. Happy birthday baby.

Jumping out of an airplane at 13,000 ft

Yes, that is what I did on Friday. Some of you will remember that I had participated in an office fund raiser last year - skydiving for charity. Well due to our UK Visa issues and our unplanned trip back to the States last September I missed the jump. However, the charity I raised the money for was kind enough to reserve a spot for me in this year's charity jump.

So at 8:15 am Friday morning I took an extra long time saying goodbye to Joy and the boys telling each of them that loved them very much and that I'd see them after I'd jumped out of an airplane.

During the ride to the airfield I was seriously thinking if this was really a smart thing to do and maybe I should play it safe and let the charity retain my jump fees. I decided against bailing out as my pride was at stake and if one were to skydive you couldn't ask for a more beautiful day to do so in England.

I arrived at Hinton Airfield near Oxford with 7 other PwC colleagues and we proceeded to take the initial skydiving beginners course. We were all briefed on the do's and don'ts and the correct positions during the jump and we were all told the repercussions if we did do the don'ts - broken bones and possibly worse. We were all going be performing tandem jumps with veteran skydivers and we'd each have our separate videographers to record our jump - great at least if anything goes wrong on the airfield's part there will be a record of it.

It was time for the jump - we all loaded on the airplane and proceeded to fly to 13,000 feet. Our jump partners told each of us to put on our helmets and goggles and all of a sudden the side door of the plane opened and people started jumping out - I'm nuts! What was I thinking! I screamed to myself. My turn - since I was attached to the front of my jump partner I was hanging out the side of the airplane until it was clear to jump 3 2 1 .........

Words can't describe the feeling free falling at 130 mph from 13,000ft to 5,000ft in matter of 30 seconds - at first it was complete terror, then exhilaration and a surreal feeling that you've lost all perspective of what's around you. In those 30 seconds I've never felt more alive - it was truly unbelievable!

Would I do it again? Probably not but I'm glad I did it and it probably will be the biggest adrenaline rush that I'll ever experience.