When Your Miles & Miles From Your Nice Warm Bed

This is one of my favorite times of the year…just as the leaves are changing, the colors and smell of fall are impossible to miss. Last year at this time I would probably be grabbing a hot apple cider from the Front Room, walking back through college green, cooking up Mom’s chili for Craig and Matt(who I hope are missing it now!) and searching for the perfect Halloween costume. There is something special about Athens in the fall, but I’m getting almost the same feeling here. Fall in the country is one of those things you try to explain or document in pictures but it just doesn’t do it justice.

Lisa and the girls got home Monday afternoon and I was glad to have them back (I couldn’t take the quiet anymore). They have their midterm holiday this week so the girls and Lisa are all out of school.

Tuesday was a gross day here, cold and rainy, so Lisa worked on cleaning out the office while I entertained the little ones. I introduced some American games like mother may I, and they taught me sneak on the teacher. We played board games, puzzles, hide and seek, tag…just about everything you could think of. I was exhausted because I’ve never really had to entertain them that long since they are usually gone most of the day. The girls went to bed and I headed to the gym only to come back to Chinese Lisa ordered us…eh I guess I broke even, and it was worth it.

Wednesday was a beautiful warm and sunny day! We went to Mead Open Farm just after lunch and stayed until about 7…long day. It was Halloween week so there were a bunch of little haunted houses, corn maze, field of terror, and pumpkin carving. Of course there were the usual farm activities like feeding the goats, petting the animals, and playing with the bunnies. We finished the day with the haunted tractor ride once it got dark. Abbie and Kate were not fans of that and both were scared silly the whole time! We got home and the girls were exhausted and went straight to bed while Lisa and I ordered The Backup Plan on tv.

Getting ready for the tractor ride...wasn't this happy 2 minutes later

This one either!

We had a lazy day on Thursday and it couldn’t have been better. Woke up around 8am and lounged around all day in our sweats watching movies and playing games. It seemed so “fall” outside and Lisa picked up some Costa lattes for us that totally hit the spot. After such a hectic day on Wednesday I think we all needed a chill day to enjoy the school break. Beth starting calling me “Linds” today and now every 2 minutes I’m hearing it called out, but it’s kinda cute so I can’t complain.

Friday night we went to Disney on Ice at the O2 (hence the post title ;)). Gordon had tickets from work so we sat in his company box, which was the perfect view. We got there after about 2 hours because of the London traffic and ordered drinks and dinner. I had a beer and a cheeseburger and it was good! The show was actually really good! I think I enjoyed it as much as the girls. We got in the car and it was way past the their bedtime so it didn’t take long till I had Kate on one shoulder and Abbie on the other. I might just be the luckiest girl in the world!

The O2

Beth, Abbie and Milly

Gordon and Abbie

Beth and Lisa

Lisa’s brother came in town on Saturday with his wife, Lindsey. They live in Bournemouth, a seaside town a few hours south. We sat and watched X-factor and ordered curry for dinner, a very popular thing here. I’d never really had it so Gordon told me to order (don’t quote me on this ) jilfrezi? Whatever it was, it was good. They ordered a ton of stuff so I got to try a few different things. After the girls went to bed Gordon ordered Nightmare on Elm Street on the TV because you have to watch a scary movie around Halloween! It wasn’t all that scary so I still slept like a baby.

Sunday I kind of chilled out all day. Kate came into my room and wanted to watch TV so we turned on Bolt and she snuggled under my blanket. I can’t get enough of her.  We did each others nails and then went downstairs for dinner. Lisa and Gordon had prepared a tradition Sunday roast again with all the fixings! My new favorite thing is parsnips,  Mmm.  After dinner we played with their new favorite craft, Hama beads (perler beads) and carved pumpkins. They got dressed up and we went out trick-or-treating, which really isn’t a big deal over here. Halloween in general isn’t that popular, sadly enough.

Sunday roast

It has been two months today, hard to believe. Missing everyone at home but loving life here. Trip planned for Paris on Friday so I should have a good post next week!

The Best of Both Worlds

Monday started off with Petrea moving out of her house in Marsworth and into her new place in central London. This means I won’t be seeing her as much, which is a bummer, but also a place to crash when I go into the city for the night. It was a typical day so I don’t have much to write about….

Tuesday Kate and I went swimming again and we practiced our floating (she is a pro). She insisted on wearing her bikini…just look at her, how can you resist? She passed out in the back seat on the way home, such a little Craig falling asleep even on a 5 minute drive.  I let her take a shower when we got home, which was a BIG deal and the highlight of her day.

Kate getting ready to go swimming

Pate mmmm...

My favorite yogurt

 My hump day wasn’t all that exciting. I took Abbie to speech, stopped for sweeties at Aldi (such a grandma) and dropped her off at swimming. On my way back I stopped at a tiny shopping center and managed to find 2 pairs of shoes in a matter of minutes. Later, the girls went to bed and Lisa and I ordered Chinese for dinner because Gordon was gone for the night. We sat and watched Desperate Housewives and talked about crazy spring break destinations in Europe (sidenote: Ibiza is pronounced Ibitha…never knew that). The last au pair, Kayce, told me Lisa is more of a friend than anything and I’m definitely starting to feel that way more and more.

Kate after trying my yogurt

She doesn't think she has anything on her face...

Thursday I watched the girls while Lisa and Gordon went out for dinner. One by one they came knocking on my door to come sit on the couch and watch a movie. I said yes and lost track of time, so I quickly rushed them into bed before mom and dad got home and they were out in a minute.

After school on Friday was the Halloween Disco at the preschool. Beth went as a witch, Abbie as a cat, and Kate as a fairy. The “disco” was held in a big gym area with chairs all around and a big dance floor in the center completely filled with kids running everywhere. It was an absolute madhouse. Lisa and the girls left for her parent’s house in Preston so Lisa could go up to Scotland on Saturday and Gordon left for Miami so I had the house to myself on Friday night. Lisa gave me grocery money so I went to town at Tescos, came home and spent the rest of the night doing nothing but enjoying the quiet.

The fairy

Maddy, Beth & Sophie

The Cat

Abbie and her friend Amelia

Kate and Amber

Saturday morning I took the train into London to meet up with Petrea and stay at her house for the night. We went and walked around the Westminster area and it was perfect outside. After some sightseeing we went to Covent Garden, watched some street performers and looked around the market area. We headed over to China Town and Leicester square where there was a carnival going on and lot’s of cool restaurants on the square. We ended up eating at a Chinese buffet just outside of China Town where we ate WAY too much food.

London phone booth and Big Ben

Petrea at Buckingham Palace

London Eye

Leicester Square

Street performer at Covent Garden

After more walking we ended the night at a pub (can’t remember the name of it) but it was packed inside and had really cool little booths that looked like horse stalls tucked away from the main area. I could totally see myself living here because I’m obsessed with old pubs. We took the underground back to Petrea’s house, which is in a really cool neighborhood. It was a quiet, nice neighborhood but still right outside the center of London.

 Piccadilly Circus 

 

Leicester Square at night

Cider :)

 

Sunday I woke up early and went over to Camden to shop at the Camden Locke market. I got there just before 10am and it was already crowded. I grabbed a donut from a stand where all the food stalls were and walked around for a couple hours. Afterwards, I got on the tube and went for a quick stop at Primark before hopping on the train and heading home for the day. I had a Jaclyn moment while I sprinted to the train, shopping bags in hand, trying not to miss my ride. I wasn't alone though, the man next to me took off running too and we both hopped on out of breathe and falling into a seat. 

On the move early Sunday morning

Lisa and the girls decided to stay another night so they won’t be back till Monday and their uncle Ricky came in last night. He use to play football (soccer) for St. Mirren and I actually googled and he’s all over the internet (Ricky Gillies if your interested). Kinda cool. He’s having a soccer camp in Tring so he’ll be at the house all week.

That’s about it for the week. No word on Cali.