A look back

This video was taken almost one year ago. I can't believe how much Livvy has grown up! She is such a sweet, loving little girl.

The other night I was putting her to bed and she literally could not stop talking. She was telling me about how she liked princesses and fairies. She was telling me how "Ronnie" was her friend at school and he held her hand. She was telling me about how much she loved her "squishy baby Jude". I started reading her bedtime book and she just kept talking over me. I have no idea where she gets her gift of gab ;).

I love my little Livvy girl.

London Science Museum

On Saturday we spent the day at the London Science Museum with my Uncle Jon!

Right when we got off the tube station we spotted the new Hyde Park church building and visitor center, so we stopped in for a peak. 

Jude really loved Uncle Jon immediately! 

The science museum was a blast. The kids were in heaven with all of the fun exhibits.

Livvy loved looking (and talking) to the two Livvys. 

The favorite by far was the water table. Jude went crazy and might as well not have worn an apron. By the end he was drenched from head to toe!

I love Jude's little tongue sticking out.

Livvy's favorite new friend, Clarice the reindeer went everywhere with us. 

Keeping Jude occupied for the hour train ride back was tough. I told Lincoln imagine 11 hours of this in three weeks! Let the fun begin!

Cherry on top.

As if our Christmas could get any better what with going to Arizona to see our family and being in the United States of America after 1 year of being gone, we're adding another element of awesomeness.

We have my 20 week ultrasound coming up on December 10th and rather than find out then, we're going to save it for Christmas morning!!!

So, here's the plan. We'll bring in a piece of paper and envelope and have the ultrasound technician write down girl or boy in blue or pink. Then (making sure no one can see into the envelope) we will seal it up.

Christmas morning we're going to wrap it in a box and have Livvy open it up and tell us if it's blue or pink!

....

The only thing that I'm worried about is us being able to tell on the scan (British word for ultrasound). Jude wasn't shy and both of us could tell right away. Lincoln and I are going to have to commit to not look!

I'm so excited that we get to share this fun moment with our families (mine via computer)! This Christmas is like the Christmases of all Christmases. Seriously people, the happiness is going to be out of control.

Life Lately

Life lately has been pretty relaxed. School, colds, rain, leaves, and prepping for our Christmas trip. 

Oh yeah, and we're having a baby in May. Which seems like old news, but I haven't really talked about the impending baby much. Livvy is very excited and just yesterday I told her we were going to the doctor (midwife) for the baby and she asked "Oh, is the doctor going to get the baby out?" She can't wait to meet her baby sister (yes, she is absolutely set on having a sister and if I tell her "or baby brother" she says "oh, two babies!?!? A baby sister and a baby brother!", sweet girl!)

Jude is in for a rude awakening. That baby (yes, he is still very much a baby) loves to snuggle and is so clingy! He freaks out whenever I have another kid on my lap...luckily we still have 5 more months to work on that. 

Jude (at 15 months!) is starting to walk more and more and the past two days I've been working in the kitchen and he has come walking in all by himself! Big deal for a kid that has been so terrified to let go of my hand and walk by himself! He is a sweet boy and is learning so much right now. He understands more than he can speak, but he is trying to talk all the time. 

Livvy has been home from school, because of a cold and I have loved soaking her in during Jude's naps. She loves to cook/bake with me and very dutifully stirs, grates and pours whatever I need. She has such a sweet little spirit and is always helping me with Jude. They have become the very best of friends and I have loved watching them find ways to make each other laugh and play.

We find out if we're having a boy or a girl on December 10th and the more I think about it, the more I know I will be SO happy either way. Whether I get another spirited girl like Livvy or a mild, cuddly boy like Jude, I will be so blessed to have another baby to love.

Halloween Night

After the long day of partying, we were all so tired that we didn't carve our pumpkins until about 5 pm! 

Livvy was excited to color her face and was very upset when I cut into her beautiful faces!

After we finished carving, we got ready for Lincoln to come home so we could Trick or Treat!

Jude the Hunter, with his hunting spoils

Livvy the Princess (she had a bigger more obvious princess dress, but due to an earlier accent we found a back up dress that fit her princess needs)

We went to a few houses close by (where we encountered a man who gave Livvy a pound to buy some sweets). We learned fast that only people who put pumpkins out are participating in the American-imported holiday of Halloween.  After a block, Jude was done, so I headed home.  Livvy, however, was determined to find more suckers. So thanks to an amazing Dad (who still hadn't eaten dinner yet), they walked all over our neighborhood and looked for houses with pumpkins. 

Overall, Halloween was a success. I had heard it would be so lame and I was so dreading it here. But I have to say, it felt very much like a good, candy filled Halloween in the States!

P.S. Sorry for the lame quality of my pictures. I really want to invest in a good camera someday! Until then...automatic flashes and blurry photos will have to satisfy the grandparents! =)

Halloween Party 2012

My wonderful American friend of mine, Rebecca, and I were moaning about the lack of Halloween in England when we decided to fix it by throwing a party. At first the party started out just being a few of our kids friends but soon it grew to a ward party, including 40ish kids.

Yikes.

It was so much work, but it all paid off and it was a blast. We started the party with crafting monster plates, Oreo spider cookies, amazing gingerbread Halloween cookies, and Halloween cut outs. Friends showed up with cookies to decorate and cupcakes to frost. It was incredible to have so much unexpected help!

After all the crafting (and eating) we split the kids up into teams and started rotating between four different games, including: Pin the Tail on the Cat, Mummy Wrap, Marshmallow Ghosts on a string, and a Ghost Hunt.

 While I was helping with the games, Jude's biggest fan at church, Hugo, swooped in a took him for me. I am so thankful that we had so many helping hands. We had to do the party on Halloween (Wednesday) so we didn't have many hubbies around to help with the kids.I later found this cute photo of apparent evidence of what the Jude Dude was up to!

The last game (which I was so excited about!) was the Witch Relay. The kids had to ride on a broom and run around a witches hat and then tag the next team mate. It was such a blast!

Because Trick or Treating is a bit shoddy here we decided to have parents go into rooms around the church and let the kids Trick or Treat. They loved it and many "mums" told me that their kids had never had the chance to do that before and they were so excited to be able to finally experience it!

We ended the party with an amazing pot luck lunch (again thanks to so many people that helped so selflessly) and a little movie time featuring Charlie Brown's Great Pumpkin.

The whole point of this extravaganza was for that little miss to get some good ol' Halloween fun with her friends. Even though I felt like I'd been hit by a truck at the end of the day, it was all worth it to see this little miss (and every kid there!) so excited to spend time together having fun!

Life with the four of us

I like to write about my life at home with the kids periodically. I think someday I'll look back and think wow that was so easy. Or wow, I'm glad that phase is over. Or please teenagers stop sassing me and be sweet babies again!

We've had quite the sick October, which presented a new challenge for me as a momma. The stomach flu is a beast that I had avoided until a few weeks ago. The kids are over it, thankfully, and we survived and now I know that I can deal with some pretty gross stuff, because I am their momma.

On to the cute stuff though.

Jude Dude: 14 months old of cuddly goodness

This little boy is such a sweet heart. He's always so cuddly and loves to have someone's lap to scoot over to.  He can walk across the room, but is still not confident enough to walk completely on his own.

This boy LOVES his dad. Every night when we here Lincoln knock on the door, he starts screaming "DA! DA!" and scooting as fast as his little bum will take him over to the door. As soon as Lincoln comes in he holds his arms up for him and once he's being held starts yelling "BALL! BALL!" because he wants Lincoln to go play ball with him. Seriously it is the cutest thing in the world.

Livvy Alice: almost 3 1/2 years old of sisterly love

Livvy LOVES school. She didn't for a few weeks and it was really hard for me to leave her so upset. Thankfully though, she has made a friend, "Ronnie" and they play house together. She is the mommy and he is the daddy and he brings her a baby...or so she says. Her teachers tell me they are inseparable and they follow each other around just gabbing away. I am so glad that she is happy and now she only cries when I come to take her home.

She is constantly making me laugh...here are a few things she has said lately.

 (While helping me shred a whole chicken)
"Mommy did this chicken die so we could eat him?"
"Yes."
 "That's so nice! He will live again, huh mommy?"

After taking a big drink of water "Gorgeous!"

"Livvy who did you play with at school?"
"Batman."
"Oh the toy batman?"
"No, this boy that looked like batman."

These two kids have become such good buddies. Livvy is always making Jude crack up and they love tackling each other.

Two little kids keeps me busy and sometimes I feel like all I do is fulfill their every need, but I have so many moments like the one I caught above, that makes me so grateful I have their little needs to fill everyday.

Summer Road Trip: Bath

And that was Bath. I can see why several Jane Austin characters went there on holiday. Gorgeous.

Family Fun Days

This summer our borough has put on  free "Family Fun Days". They usually have crafts, toys for babies and activities for toddlers. We've gone to a couple and the kids have loved them. I've loved to be doing something different than the park! 

Jude's favorite thing to play in is the tunnel. Notice the right leg, tucked under and scooting him along.

Livvy's favorite thing to do is to paint. She is very protective of her painting and space, if any kids come too close she gets very worried.

This country may be many things, but one thing is certain their government is very involved in community activities and for our little family it has helped us have a great summer.

Finally a reason to bust out the shades! So glad we've been enjoying summer sun!