LAST WEEK IN THE UK!

I wanted to put some pics. on from the last week. Last Tues. I had my "going away dinner" with the other ISE (international service employee) wives at "The Black Horse". This is my favorite pub here. They gave me a Radley purse. They don't sell Radley bags in the U.S. so it is fun to have one going home. Thank you so much!! Everyone was so generous. We also went out to eat with the Howe family. They are our English friends. They started out our neighbors then moved a few miles away but still remained our friends and we have LOVED getting together with them. They have two adorable children, Jacob and Jessica, who my kids just love. Jacob was actually my first friend in England. We will miss them a ton but look forward to them visiting us in the U.S., hopefully next spring. Knowing them has definitely been a highlight of our time here. The next pic. is of Sawyer with his best buddy, Tom. Tom lives a few houses away and is sometimes like a 5th child. He has spend A LOT of time at our house. They have loved playing together. Next is a pic. of my kids in front of the "Select and Save". This is our village store that is walking distance from our house. Holli asked them the other day what they will miss the most and all three of them said "The Select and Save." They have loved taking their allowance money and buying candy, magazines and trading cards. It is a Saturday highlight for them. Lastly, here is the newest picture of our house in the U.S. under construction. That is my update for now. I have more good-byes today. I never want to move again. The good-byes are just too emotional. I have loved my friends here and will miss them so much. There definitely have been some good times! Sorry my pictures aren't in order-still not very good at all the computer stuff.

Our flight leaves tomorrow back to the states. We ask for your prayers for a safe journey.

MOVERS!

As I had said in an earlier blog, we had our air freight packed up on Mon. and now they are starting to pack the house today. They are just doing the loft today. We have a converted loft in our house here. It consists of two rooms. One we have used as a play room and the other has been Kyle's "man room". There are little doors along all the walls that have room for storage which have been packed with all our "stuff" we shouldn't have brought over here. Last night, Kyle went through and pulled everything out of them for the movers today. It looks like a bomb went off up there. As I type, the movers are working away, constantly going up and down two flights of stairs. One guys has to be close to 70 and I am so impressed by the great shape he is in. I huff and puff going up one flight of stairs. They have been very nice but were wondering if our container coming over was full and I told them that it was 7/8 full. I said that we really hadn't accumulated that much stuff since we've been here and one of the guys politely said "except for a baby". Okay, Beckett probably has too much stuff. I hope everything fits because if not then we will be charged for it. Here is a picture of the moving truck I took just a couple of minutes ago. The movers won't be back until Kyle returns from the states to finish up. It will probably take them another 3 days or so. I have been doing my best to get the kids and I packed up. I finally realized that Faith and Eden won't be able to share a suitcase-too much stuff-they are girls you know. I think Sawyer and Beckett will though. We could have 12 suitcases on our flight back but I am hoping to have 1/2 of that. I am spending way too much time blogging when I should be doing other stuff.

I have also added a picture of Eden. She went on a field trip Wed. with her class to Pizza Express to learn about food hygiene and to make her own pizza. She had a wonderful time and talked about it non-stop before and after. She was nervous about trying to make her own pizza. She and I shared it for lunch yesterday and it was delicious. I am hoping to add a lot more on my blog within the next couple of days.

BECKETT IS 4 MONTHS!!

Beckett is 4 months old today. Of course we are still enjoying him immensely and can't get enough of his smiles and noises. He still loves bath time and is very smiley and talkative in the mornings. He loves his swing and is ever so close to being able to grab onto things. He loves sucking on his fingers and hands and anything he can manage to get into his mouth. He is also grabbing his toes. He hasn't rolled over yet (probably held too much) but goes to his side so it will probably be soon. I took him in this morning for immunizations. The kids are still as attentive to him as ever. I am looking forward to getting back to the states to show him off.

Happy Anniversary and Happy Mother's Day

Kyle and I celebrated 11 years of marital bliss on Sat. It truly has been mostly blissful. We have known each other for 20 years. The last 11 years have flown by and we have been extremely blessed. I have the best husband and I appreciate all he does for me. I don't express often enough how much he means to me so I am doing it on my blog for anyone/everyone to read. Also, I want to publicly thank him for agreeing to 4 children!!! They are such a huge joy and add so much to our lives.

They celebrate Mother's Day in the U.K. in March so we celebrated then but I want to wish our mother's a Happy Mother's Day and express our appreciation for all they do for us. We love you! I told my kids yesterday that Mother's Day is my favorite holiday. I am so grateful to be a mom.

Alright enough mushiness for one entry. The movers came today and packed our air freight for us. I just included the kids' bikes, the baby swing and bouncy seat, Sawyer's X-box, Faith's American Girl stuff, board games, DVD's and all my spices. They won't pack any food whatsoever for the sea freight. I am glad he agreed to the spices. They are expensive and it has taken me years to gather all the ones I have. Beckett spends a lot of time in the swing and I can't live without it-for even one day! My dear friend, Corrina, has lent me hers until we leave.

Princess Eden

This is a photo of Eden in her tiara. Her friend/boyfriend, Ian, picked it out for her as a "going away gift". She was very shy when he gave it to her but she loves it and was very anxious to model it for her daddy last night when he got home from work. Ian is American and his home is only about 20 min. from ours in the states. We hope to see a lot of Ian-okay, his mom too, when we all move back and on visits.

Spring Uniforms

I just wanted to post a picture of the kids before school this morning in their spring uniforms. They had to officially start wearing them yesterday. What is really sad is that I think they are cute. Upon moving here, I would have looked at them and thought that the girls needed to be holding a feather duster and folding their employers laundry. Sawyers is a drastic improvement over his fall/winter uniform. However, I don't know why they want to put white shirts on little boys. They are easy and each and every day I have been thinking about how I will miss them.

I have really been slacking on my emails to friends lately but I hope you all understand that with our move in 13 days things are a bit crazy. I want to make sure I spend time with my friends here and get in my last minute shopping. I won't start packing until next week. We have been having AMAZING weather here the last few days that we are trying to enjoy as well. I am talking mid-seventies and no wind or rain-just glorious sun!!!