*Christmas 2010*

This week was Christmas vacation, which means PLENTY of time with the girls in my last couple weeks. I must say it is a change of pace from the usual week, never a dull moment that’s for sure.

All week we just hung out around the house because there was tons of snow and the roads were bad so we couldn’t venture out much. Monday we played out in the snow for what seemed forever and I had the brilliant idea of making an igloo with Beth. Why I even suggested it is beyond me, but it took way longer than expected and still isn’t finished. We were looking at Beth's atlas and she too wants to travel the world. In her own words (because I wrote it down after she said it) "When I grow up I'm going to travel the world. And the first place I'm going to stop is to see you in Ohio." I don't know if Ohio would be #1 on many people's lists, but I hope it's true for hers. Later on we went to look at Christmas lights around the town.

The girls with Milly and Joe 

Tuesday we played around the house and finally got our package from home full of Christmas presents I’m sure the girls will be excited to open. They decided we would have a sleepover in my room so we set up their massive bed of blankets on the floor, Abbie got the couch this time, and watched movies on my computer. They picked Elf and Where the Wild Things Are, then quickly fell asleep since it was 10:30pm and WAY past their bed itme. But don’t worry, they were still up plenty early to watch The Grinch, the new favorite. 

Wednesday I finished my wrapping and had another fun-filled and exhausting day. In the words of Beth, “We have more energy than you” yes, yes you do.

I’m completely drawing a blank for the rest of the week since it seems like forever ago after Christmas.

Christmas eve we went to a little church in Marsworth and watched the nativity put on by some of the children. It wasn’t really a mass so that was a little different for Christmas, but with kids that might have been better. Afterwards, we went to Pitstone hall and had a party with all of their friends before heading home and setting out Santa’s mince pies and milk. The girls went to sleep and we ate lots of finger foods until it was present time. It was kind of cool to be on the other side of things, but will definitely appreciate the “kid side” until I’m forced to be “Santa.”

Beth Christmas

Abbie Christmas

Kate Christmas

And NO, I did not tell her to say this! She is actually this cute...

These presents have been sitting under my bed for weeks. It is so tempting...

Making their reindeer dust

Sprinkling their dust

Beth with her angel ornament from Cindy and Brian

 Sometime during the night I woke up to Kate staring at me next to my bed and somehow ended up with both Abbie and Kate in there the next morning. Needless to say I was up at the crack of dawn because I had no room and couldn’t sleep. I waited for them to get up and we headed downstairs where we did presents. I got pajamas, a diary, digital picture frame, lotions, German phrase book and dictionary(my favorite) and some really nice perfume from Gordon, Lisa and the girls. My parents sent me some jewelry, pajamas and a nice chunk of change. Thank you all for the gifts J


Lemonade Fanta

Beth is always asking me to get Lemon Fanta for her because they aren't usually allowed that much pop. Her favorite gifts were iPad, Fanta and chocolates...how do you even compare the 3?

Half asleep but ready to see if Santa came!

Stockings first

Lisa was worried they didn't have enough until it was all out!

We set up email and skype so she can talk to me in all the time...I wake up to messages, go to sleep with messages and calls throughout the day. 

Abbie on her new ipod

My present for Gordon and Lisa

Christmas morning toast

Kate in her new outfit. Dress from santa, leggings and boots from me :)

Beth wearing her new bling. "Thanks Cindy"

Gordon made us some bacon sandwiches for breakfast, while the girls played with their new toys (an iPad and iPod touch were among their favorites) Gordon and Lisa prepared an AMAZING Christmas dinner, goose and all!

The table set for dinner. 

First course. Mmmm.

Unreal how much food there was. Sooo good! And yes, the goose was great!

Abbie in heaven. 

We all watched a movie till it was a bit darker out and went to light the Chinese lanterns, sending up a wish for the coming year. They were huge lanterns so they took forever to light and everyone was freezing by the time we were finished, but it was the perfect way to end Christmas day. Let’s not forget dessert though, a chocolate bell with chocolate moose and raspberry filling….Mmm Mmm Mmm.

Today I slept in a little and did some packing, definitely going to have to buy another bag. In the afternoon Beth, Kate and I went on a walk in the woods over by the footpath and had a couple runs with the sled.

Beth decided she's coming with me.

The girls sat in my room as I was packing and there were plenty of frowns to go around. The drawers are all empty and a few things are hanging in the closet. It’s hard to believe I’ll be leaving in a week. This week it’ll be all about them. They might even be sick of me by the end of it!

Merry Christmas

It's nearly 11:30pm on Christmas Eve here, just north of London and Santa should be arriving any minute now. The girls are all tucked in their beds fast asleep awaiting the arrival of Father Christmas. The mince pies have been made, milk poured, reindeer dust scattered and stockings hung all in hopes that Santa will not forget to stop at 62 Windsor Rd. Santa, please don't disappoint. 


I sat in a tiny church tonight surrounded by people I have met in the four months I've been here in Pitstone, parents and teachers from school, classmates and friends, kids I've babysat. The usual carols were being sung and the nativity was set. I had a little girl on my lap and one on each side and thought, how lucky am I. As cliche as it may sound, I realized what I love about this place isn't the place really, but the people here who have made this my home. What I have really noticed here in this tight knit community is that friends truly are family and that I, even for a short time, was a part of it. 


To be away from friends and family during Christmas isn't easy and there have been times when I wished I'd gone home for a bit. But tonight as the girls were allowed to open one present each from me/my mom I quickly realized that I was exactly where I should be. The pure joy in opening up something as simple as an ornament or a lip gloss, quickly followed by many thank you's and kisses is something you can only get from a child. 


Tomorrow will be a different kind of Christmas, that's for sure. But I couldn't think of a better way to spend my last week with them then to share in something as special as Christmas. This will surely be a Christmas I'll never forget.


And for those of you reading this today, tomorrow or whenever, thank you for thinking of me during the holidays. To be so far away and know that people are still thinking of me is something special and I really couldn't put into writing how much I really do appreciate it. So to everybody near and far, well maybe just far, I hope you have a Merry Christmas! I'm lucky to have all of you to miss!

The First of Many "Lasts"

I keep forgetting to blog throughout the week and get to Sunday and completely draw a blank. Sometimes I’m really not in the mood to write anything at all, but I know I’ll appreciate this later on.

Monday and Wednesday I did some shopping out in Hemel, like usual. Now that all the Christmas shopping is done I feel like I should be coming home with a lot more than I do. I’m in search for another piece of luggage because I’m realizing I have way too much stuff, imagine that(mother, no comments please), and a new year’s eve dress. I’ve got the dress now and no luggage, most important things first.

Beth and I at the park after school. Notice it's already pitch black at 4pm

Tuesday was kind of crazy. I helped Lisa fill out visa application forms, not fun and takes forever. My car went into the shop to get the scratches on the side of the car fixed, not may fault it was from the last au pair, so I’ve got this cute little car for the week. I went to see The Tourist with Agne on our last cheap ticket Tuesday ever.

I started packing some things and Kate wanted to help after she
screamed bloody murder for 5 minutes when she saw my suitcase,
"DON'T LEAVE LINDSAY." After I explained I wasn't leaving just yet
she calmed down. Beth has already warned me she will be crying at
the airport, just great.

Kate excited about her new hand me down gloves I shrunk in the wash.
One man's trash is another man's treasure.

Kate and I didn’t do anything on Thursday because we were waiting around for a package that never arrived. Agne left and she was my closest friend here so that’s kind of sad if I never see her again. But, she is thinking about living in Denver, CO for the summer with an Estonian family to teach the kids Estonian. We’re already talking about traveling so I’m HOPING she can really come. If not, I’ve already planned to make her come visit me anyway.  

Kate trying on "click clops"

My first REAL Christmas tree

Friday was the last day of school before Christmas break so I’m sure the next couple weeks will be crazy. We made their favorites for the last day I'll be taking them to school :(

It snowed a bunch, kinda, so everyone is excited about that. I’ve still got my fingers crossed for a white Christmas, and looking at the forecast I think it might happen! 

It's Snowing!

Lisa, Gordon, and I ordered curry for dinner. I never know what anything is on the menu so I just picked something that sounded good. I still don’t know what it was called but it was chicken and lentils in a hot, sweet and sour sauce(that’s what it said on the menu) and it was GOOD! I’m not so sure I’ve completely fallen in love with curry like everyone else in the country, but my thoughts about Indian food have definitely changed. We watched Taken for a bit until Lisa went to bed and Gordon passed out on the couch snoring louder than I’ve ever heard someone snore! I went to my room up three flights of stairs and still heard him.

I kind of slept in on Saturday, but it’s almost impossible once everyone else is up. Every Saturday around the same time I remember that I didn’t buy earplugs again and really wish I had. Someone knocked on my door, still don’t know who it was, but I swear they do it for shits and giggles. (I wrote this yesterday and later found out it was Abbie, she just wanted to know if I was in there. Thank you Abbie for your concerns.) I babysat for some of Lisa and Gordon’s friends, Natalie and Andy who  have Milly and Joe, two of the cutest kids ever. I watched Defiance after they went to bed, good movie if anyone is interested.

Today we just hung out most of the day and I’m super tired and trying to go to sleep early so I’m going to end this pretty quick. 

Happy Christmas shopping! 

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

I finished all my Christmas shopping this week, got all of it sent and wrapped so the girls can stop snooping around my room. Just in case they somehow get a hold of this blog page and learn how to read (Abbie &  Kate) I won’t say what I got them just yet, but pictures will be posted later. Lisa and Gordon’s gift is also finished, I love it so I hope they do too and will also post a picture of that later.

Tuesday Kate wanted to go swimming but we had to wait for a package to arrive so she went swimming in the bath, her new favorite thing. The one thing she is REALLY hoping for from Santa is a new pair of sunglasses for the beach. She came in the kitchen that night with her High School Musical bag and sunglasses on and said “Lindsay, I’m ready for California.”

Of course she got her Peppa Pig swimsuit on and her shades to get in the “pool.” 

Future Bobcat

Kate’s last ballet class was on Thursday so I got to stay and watch her show. There are 4 little girls in her class so needless to say it was pretty darn cute. It was such a nice day out, cold but sunny, so after lunch we went out for a walk over by the little hiking trail by the development. We packed hot chocolate and snacks because sometimes I forget she’s only 3 and her little legs get tired.  On our way home she had to go #2 and almost started crying because it was “nearly coming out.” I felt bad but was laughing to myself at how open little kids are about bodily functions.

Afterwards, she went to the beach aka the tub and went swimming again. We turned on some Beach Boys and Jimmy Buffet to make it feel like she was on “holiday.”

 Kate at the beach

Friday was the Beth and Abbie’s Christmas carol and nativity service for school at the church. Beth was King 1 and little Abbie was a star along with the rest of the 4 year olds. Beth had been rehearsing for weeks, got up there and delivered her lines in front of the whole crowd almost flawlessly…”a-as-ast-astonished” is a tough one. Abbie always seemed to find the one spot where she couldn’t be seen, but I managed a few videos where you can catch a glimpse. They were so cute.

Kate had to go to the doctor today and get “jags”?? I think that’s what they called them…shots. Gordon took her and she got home and was NOT happy. Believe me, I feel her pain.

Saturday I got to sleep in till 10:15! What a treat. I woke up feeling totally reenergized. It was a lazy day and we got to skype with the rents, I don’t know why I think it’s so funny the way they say “Hi, Brian.” The girls are always excited to talk to them and of course seeing Cal.

Today I went into London with Agne who will be leaving on Thursday for one last day of site seeing, shopping and a traditional English pub dinner. It never gets old.

Tons of Santas outside Westminster Abbey, all drunk and touring around London on old fashion double decker buses.

Trafalgar Square

This week Santa sent the girls some special messages.Portable North Pole

Check this website out, got it from my mom and watching the kids watch it for the first time is seriously priceless.

Kate Meets Santa

I booked my flight to Germany and I’ll officially be there January 2, 2011. What a whirlwind these next 3 weeks will be…