First Full Day of Spring Break

We kicked off Spring Break with some jellybean butterfly crafts and an outdoor picnic followed by loots of Easter decorating.  We have two weeks of fun ahead of us.

The Bi-Annual Blonde to Brunette

So about every two years, I decide to ditch the blonde in favor of a brunette hairstyle.  Here's the latest look for those of you who don't have a facebook account.

Red Nose Day, Multiplication March Madness, and the Big Ride On

Sierra has a had some interesting school events lately.  Here they are in random order:

Red Nose Day:  

This is a charity day designed by an organization known as Comic Relief.  Similar to a breast cancer awareness day where everyone wears pink only here everyone wears red, clown noses, or other charity released shirts. The slogan is "Make your face funny for money."  They raised nearly 78 million British Pounds to be given to folks in both the UK and Africa.   The kids participated by dressing up, doing funny art projects to make their faces funny, and raising money.  Here's more info about the charity if your are interested: Comic Relief website & Red Nose Day

Multiplication March Madness: 

The school standards recently changed so that students have to know their multiplication by the end of year 3.  To start preparing the kids every grade level assigned a set of multiplication tables for that grade level to memorize during the month of March.  Year 1 had to memorize their 1s, 2s, 5s, and 10s. On the Friday before break, any child who memorized their list got a certificate and was entered in a drawing.  Sierra did a great job and got entered in the drawing. They are doing a great job reviewing at school because she told me multiplication tables were "easy peasy."

The Great Ride On: 
The school wanted to promote active, healthy lifestyles so they decided to let all kids ride a bike or scooter to school.  I didn't get any pictures, but you can imagine the excitement of 250 kids riding their scooter or bike to school.  They had a ball, but it was very chaotic.  They apparently got to ride during recess too.  The school even organized a bike/scooter parking lot so that no bikes/scooters were stolen or taken.  It really worked because even the siblings of school aged children wanted to ride their bikes/scooters to school too.

March Sleet?

We had a huge sleet storm for about an hour while we were all home recuperating yesterday.  Sierra is wearing a giant blanket because she is cold from her fever.  She really wanted to go out and make snowballs, but I wouldn't let her because she was feeling sick. Our compromise?  I brought the snowball to her.

The Infamous Leather Couches

As much as we have gone on and on about these couches, I feel like we at least owe you a picture or two.  We have some decorating work to do.  So picture these couches with a large square coffee table, rug,  two small side tables for each couch, and a large mirror over the mantle.   Next month will mark 6 months abroad and I am hoping to have both the den and conservatory finished.  

Doctor's Visit

We were on Day 5 of high fevers for all our kids. We took them all to the doctor today.  It is sooo much different than back home.  You do not go to a pediatrician.  You are immediately put in a queue for a minor ailments clinic that is equivalent to Doctor's Care.  You do not see a general practitioner, but a nurse practitioner instead.  He or she will not do a full examination unless you ask for it.  I had to ask to have the nurse practitioner check all of the kids' lungs.  Sierra was shedding tears because she was so hot from fever, and they didn't swab for flu or strep just stated that her symptoms indicated she had a virus which did not equate to antibiotics.  Zach and I are both silently thinking, "Yes, but what virus?"

Here's what we did learn: 

Sullivan: Double ear infection and virus
Desmond: Beginings of a virus
Sierra; Virus

Interesting side note:  Flu shots aren't given to children under 16 here and they do not administer Tami-flu at all.  

We are still learning the medical system here, but mildly frustrated that there are not more answers.  We did use WebMD and feel pretty confident in saying that Sierra has the flu and Sullivan got the Roseola virus.  Desmond, we have no idea, but apparently the doctor's didn't either.

Partial Solar Eclipse 2015: Live Streaming and Funny Conversations

On Friday, March 20th, we happened to be lucky enough to be in a part of the world that got to witness a partial solar eclipse.  It started here about 8:30 a.m. and was over by about 10:00 a.m.  If you want to see much better photos of the eclipse and read a much more detailed account, click here  and here.

Sierra was home sick from school, so we watched a lot of it through live streaming online.  As you can imagine it is hard to explain to a little kid not to look at the sun when that's where the solar eclipse is taking place.  I should have taken more pictures to show the contrast, but you can kind of tell just through the light coming through our curtains. Sierra's holding a colander in the second picture because we just watched a video about how to view the eclipse through a colander.

It did get fairly dark right around the time we took Desmond to preschool.  I had to laugh at our conversations in the car.

Me:  Do you know what a solar eclipse is Sierra?

Sierra: Yeah....that's when the moon cuts in front of the sun.  Like this!  (two flat palms, right palm passes in front of left palm)

Desmond:  Does the moon knock the sun out of the sky?

Me: Um ....no baby, it doesn't.    The sun is just hiding behind the moon.  Do you still see the sun shining a little bit?  It's peeking out at you.

Desmond:  Yessss....(tentatively because I am pretty sure he still didn't believe me and was waiting for the sun to fall out of the sky)

Sierra: Yay Desmond.  Anyways, the sun has a lot of fire.  The moon couldn't knock it out.  The sun would burn the moon.......(long pause)....... Mom, it's kind of dark like bed time.  Does that mean we have to go to bed?  

Me: Um...no, it's 9:30 in the morning you don't go to bed until 7:30 p.m.

Sierra: Good because I am not sleepy at ALL.

*******************************************
Me: Sierra, do you know that this will not happen again for another 90 years.  That means you will be 95 when the next one happens.  That's crazy isn't it?

Sierra: Yeah! And Addie will be 96?  You won't get to see it because you will be dead.

Me: Wow!  You are right Addie will be 96!  It's kind of sad when you remind me that I'll be dead, Sierra.  I guess this is my last solar eclipse.

Sierra:  Well, humans can't live to be 200 mommy!  That would be silly.

Me: Well you make a good point,...(awkward silence....my thought bubble: does she really think I am 110 now or is she just throwing out some arbitrary number?  Either way, I am having an internal debate about if I should be proud of her logic or mildly sad that she doesn't appear as though she is depressed about a world without mommy).

Sick Babies

Sierra and Sullivan started running high fevers on Friday.  We put both of them on the couch to watch movies.  We weren't able to get them into the local clinic before the weekend.  So we have spent most of Saturday and Sunday trying to get everyone feeling better.  Lots of tears, long nights, and runny noses.  Looks like we will be paying the doctor's office a visit on Monday.

  

Book Raffle Winner

Sierra came home sooo excited from school because she won her school's book raffle.  She said, but I have not been able to verify.... "That kids are supposed to read their books from school 1-3 times a week, but Ms. Preston says I read 5 times a week.  So I was the winner."  Sounded good to me...anything to keep her excited about reading.

Union Votes to Accept Agreement!!!

When Zach left us to take this job in September, he walked right into a contentious union battle at his plant site.  He has since gone through three more offers all of which the union declined.  This last offer was the final one before the workers planned to strike.  They put it to vote right before Zach left for France. The voting process takes 10 days to allow for all the folks working different shifts to submit their votes.  We found out today that it passed 7 - 6 !!!!  It was an extremely dramatic win because the union leader quit on the spot.  Prior to the final results the union members assured them that they supported the union leader's agenda and planned to strike.  In the final hour, they voted to support Zach.  We were thrilled!!!  Zach has worked so hard for this moment and put up with countless long nights and frustrating conversations to find a mutual solution.  The kids and I put together an impromptu celebration for the 4 month long struggle.

Conservatory Stage 1: Declutter

The conservatory has kind of become a dumping ground for all the things from our move that we haven't found a home for picture frames, books, kids' toys.  Zach and I have both slowly put time into finding places for everything and cleaning out the cobwebs.  We bought a chair, added a side table and....viola.....here's the finished product.  Now we hope to add a rug, a coffee table, and few more decorative items over the next month.  This is one of the most relaxing areas of the house.  Looking forward to sharing more with you soon.

Sullivan's New Wellies

Yes, of course, a 1 year old needs wellies.  Have I not shown you the pictures of the mud in this country?  He loves being outside, and he was absolutely adorable running around the field behind our house on our way home from school today.

Who's Ready for Some Basketball?

Let March Madness begin!! One thing that we could not miss was the NCAA Men's Basketball tournament selection show.  Even though it was 9 p.m. here.  Zach and I found a way to stream it.  It still provided us the thrill and anticipation that it always does.  There's always so much hope at the start of the tournament.  Sadly the games seem to start about 5 p.m. here and run until about 2 a.m. We will have to get creative about watching our teams play, but we are still very excited.  Our brackets are ready.  Are yours?

Where's Zach?

He's in the den playing this.  It arrived today.  It will consume much of his waking free time from now until completion.  Men and their video games....I don't understand it, but he's happy so I am ecstatic.

Sully Is Getting Big!

I can't take it! He looks like a little boy!  He is really into his new sippy cup and just walks like a toddler instead of a baby.  Nothing prepared me for the third one to be this big already!

Fortress Fun

Lots of Sunday fun was had creating a blanket fort in the playroom.  The kids wanted their own castle and Zach delivered.  He even showed them how to go through the tunnel between Sierra's side into the fort.  All the kids got in on it.  Desmond even got into character by pretending to be a knight.

UK Mother's Day

The Brits celebrate Mother's Day a bit early.  The 2nd Sunday in March and so we decided to partake in that tradition.  I couldn't complain.  The kids have been working on Mother's Day gifts at school and they were soooooo excited about them.  They have actually been super secretive and hid them for over four days in their rooms.  Zach let me sleep in and then the kids surprised me with a great breakfast in bed and their gifts.  Zach brought home a lovely bouquet of flowers on his way back from France.  It was a lovely relaxing day.  The kids and dad made sure I didn't have to lift a finger.  If that isn't a great Mother's Day, I don't know what is.  I will be looking forward to making this a yearly tradition!

Zach Returns from France

Here are the cliff notes of Zach's trip to France:

Zach had a  great trip to France despite fighting a stomach bug during his stay. He tried a bunch of strange cuisine including rare roasted duck and strange cheeses he couldn't pronounce.  It was fun getting him to try though.  He mentioned that the French bakeries and breads were amazing compared to anything he had ever tasted before.  I asked him if he had trouble ordering considering he didn't know the language.  Apparently, there were plenty of people on the trip who could speak multiple languages, so he wasn't without an interpreter.  He stayed in a Best Western, but it had a bit of French flair to it.  Here's a pic of a room. Doesn't look like any Best Western in the States that I've ever been to. :)





He spent some time at the chemical plant site in Bethune.



He said the underground chunnel was pretty bizarre.  He was in the section of the diagram below in marked train carrying cars.  You drive your car onto the train which has two tiers for cars and remain in your car during the trip.  He said his ears popped a lot.  

Big Boy Car Seat

Sullivan's poor feet have been hanging over his rear-facing car seat.  In honor of turning a year old, we opted to put him in a front-facing car seat.  The pictures say it all.  He is happy as can be talking to his siblings and looking out the window. 

Sierra's School Uniform

So I bought this dress yesterday.  The girls at primary school wear gingham dresses once the weather warms up.   The school term extends into late July, so this is a much cooler outfit than the usually pants and cardigans  in late spring into the summer.  Apparently, it is coupled with bobby socks and black shoes.  It is is quite adorable and vintage in so many ways.  I love it! So girly and sweet!

Walk a Mile Home from School

Many of the other mothers walk to school a half a mile or more with their children.  Many families share cars and the working parent gets the car.  We have been driving most days, but we are only 1.1 miles from the school. The weather was absolutely gorgeous, so the boys and I walked to pick up Sierra and enjoyed a leisurely walk home.  Zach and I have both probably told you that we love that there is beautiful countryside right out your back door.  There is a great push to conserve natural beauty in the UK.  Here are some shots from our walk home. The first place you come to when you cross the street from the school is a footpath to an open field.

Next, there is a lovely duck pond over the hill.  The kids loved rolling down the big hill and feeding the ducks.

The next part of the path is all mud, bridges, wooden gates,  The kids were in heaven.  There were no toys involved and no electronic gadgets.  It's a reminder of how engaging with nature rivaled the entertainment of something man-made.