Weekly Picnics

Who would have ever thought that I could be enjoying weekly picnics with my minis each week?  While I do miss my career and the adult brain stimulation that came along with it, I have to say that I've found so much happiness in enjoying the days in and days out spent with my girls.  Sometimes you just don't realize how quick the time goes and how you will never get that time back. 

I plan on soaking up every minute until my next career move! 

With that said, England has some lovely parks and places to take the kids.  While you can't always count on the weather here, one thing you can count on is that if it is sunny, everyone is outdoors!!!!!  :)

Loughborough park is the perfect spot for a picnic.  They have lots of green grass, a playground, a bird museum, an ice cream man, etc.  On that particular day, there were loads of Christian youth groups around providing free face painting and balloon animals.  It couldn't have worked out better!

Here's a few pics from our day out! 

Lottie's Last Day of Reception (Foundation Stage)

PROUD is the understated word of the year that I would use for my little Lottie!  She has truly amazed me with her ability to not only start school for the very first time, but her ability to adapt to a new country and all the things that come along with it. 

It seems like it was just yesterday I was knocking on the school's door to see if they could get her in.  As soon as our feet hit the ground in England, I knew I had exactly one month to try to get her in.  Of course with registering any child for school, there is a process and after following protocol and dealing with the counsel and waiting at their mercy to let me know whether she could get into the school of our choice, I just wasn't getting any response.  They basically said that I would have to wait until the teachers came back from their summer break (3 days before the kids would start) to let me know something.  I was freaking out to say the least!!!!  I think I did what any parent would do at that point.  I went knocking on the school's door the day I knew they would be back from their holiday.  Thankfully, everyone was so lovely and understanding.  After hearing our story, they said they would love to have her.  What a relief!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After I found out she was in, my MIL's sweet neighbor Carol drove me to collect all of Lottie's school uniform items.  I'm so grateful for her and her kindness.  My kids love her!

With just a couple of days to gather everything, we did it and off went Lottie to a new school in a new country.  After walking her to school and dropping her off that first day, I cried big, fat crocodile tears all the back to my in law's house.  I was so overcome with emotion not only because my baby was growing up, but that this was our new life.  Our new life was here in England and there was no turning back.  While exciting, it was also very frightening!  I had no idea what was in store for us! 

But here we are...................................1 year later and I couldn't be happier about our decision to move here.  We made the right decision for our family and are living a life full of wonderful adventures that we would have never experienced otherwise.

The kids are happy, the hubby is happy and I am happy! 

Here's a look back at Lottie's first day of school and her last! 

THEN......................................................

NOW..................................................................

 

 



Stella's Last Day of Preschool!

Stella wrapped up her last day of preschool on July 13th.  What a year it has been for my two little ones.  As you will recall, when we first moved to England, we lived with my in laws for three months in a semi, two bedroom house.  Steve and I slept in a double bed while the kids slept in a single bed at the end of our bed.  Each slept with one head on opposite ends of the bed.  We were living out of the suitcases we packed and brought over while all of our worldly possessions were sailing across the Atlantic.  While it wasn't ideal, it was what had to be done while Steve and I diligently searched for homes each day. 

Steve began working 2 weeks after we landed full time.  I had no car at that point and to be honest was hesitant about driving anyways.  The roads are so narrow, they drive on the left and use roundabouts vs. traffic lights.  It wasn't until September of last year that I finally got brave enough to buy a car and start driving.  With that said, I went about a month and a half walking everywhere.  Unlike the States where everything is so spread out, everything you need here is within walking distance.

Lottie started school around the first of September last year so with her getting settled in her new school, I thought it would be an ideal time to get Stella used to going back as well.  After looking online, I found a preschool that I thought would be a good fit for her.  We walked to check it out and it just felt like you would be dropping her off at grandma or granddad's house.  They were very welcoming and kind.  Stella started off going 2 days a week for 3 hours at a time.  I swear those 6 hours a week are what kept me somewhat sane during those 3 months living with my in laws.  Don't get me wrong, I love my in laws and realize that it couldn't have been easy on them either. 

By the end of the school year, Stella was going 3 days a week for 3 hours each time.  I can't say enough about the staff.  They put on Christmas productions, picnics, sports day, end of year celebrations, etc.  They also visited a nursing home every couple of weeks where the children would sing to all the elderly folks.  I can't imagine what joy that must have brought to them.  :)

It's hard to believe that at just 3, my baby will be entering into her last year of preschool before joining her sister at big school.  

Here's a few photos of Stella's last week at preschool!

Teddy Bear Picnic (that is Stella's BFF - Imogen)

 

End of Year Celebrations

 

Last Day of Preschool!

My Little Explorers

One of the many wonderful things about living in England is all of the gorgeous parks and walking trails they have.  If I haven't mentioned it before, walking is somewhat of a past time for the English. 

I have never seen so many parks before in my life.  I suppose it's because all of the towns, villages and cities are so close to one another.  With that said, we ventured over to a park I've not been to before.  It was a beautiful country park in Leicester called Watermead Country Park.  It's a nature lover's paradise.  It had a lake, wetlands, flowers, bike trails and a life sized sculpture of a mammoth inspired by the mammoth, bison and deer bones found in the gravel workings years ago. 

Stella was a bit bummed that it was just a nature park and not an actual park with swings and slides, but she soon turned around when she saw the ice cream man in the parking lot before we left. 

Here's a few pics of a typical day out in England with my little family.  I love them whole heartily and am so very proud of my two best girls and so thankful I get to see this big world of ours with my best friend Steve. 

#familydaysout

 

Teaching Dad how to make a flower crown!

 

Stella destroyed her crown after all of Dad's hard work!  :(

Stella - Sports Day At Preschool

Here in the UK, they have something called Sports Day (I think it's fair to say that it is pretty similar to what we call Field Day).

Unfortunately, due to all the RAIN we have been having over the last 3 weeks, Lottie's Sports Day was cancelled all together and Stella's was held indoors.  Don't even get this Carolina girl started on all the rain we've been having lately.  We have had about a week of summer like weather and that's been it!!!!!!!!!!  1 week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I could obviously go on a rant about the weather here in England this year, but I'll spare you for now.  :)

Instead, I'll attach a few videos of the little relay races, etc. they completed a couple of weeks ago.  All the kiddos were super cute!  Stella rocked her Panther jersey while competing!  I think she was the only one dressed in sports attire - ha!  Apparently, I didn't get the memo that they didn't need to wear sports attire.  :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hanging WIth My Mini Coop!

Who would have ever thought that I'd be spending my days running the kids back and forth to school, working out like I've never been able to have the time for before, running to and from swimming lessons, Rainbows (girl scouts) and spending so much quality time with the kids???????? 

Not me, that's for sure.  I've always considered myself to be a career girl and retiring one day after years upon years spent in the legal profession.  While that still may very well be what my future holds, I will say that the months and pure quality time spent with the kids is something I will forever hold near and dear to my heart because at the end of the day, these kids are my life and everything Steve and I do is for THEM! 

With that said, this post is dedicated to my little mini Stella!  Stella surely is one of a kind!  Anyone who has ever met her always says the same, "She's been here before!"  She is so smart beyond her years and will always leave you in stitches!  She is clever, hilarious, most definitely mischievous and is constantly offending people!  I swear you can't take the girl anywhere! 

Here are a few examples.................

While walking through a parking lot after one of my mud races Stella yells, "HELLO" to a nice man.  He smiles and says, "HELLO" back.  She then proceeds to yell, "I wasn't talking to you, I was talking to your DOG!"

While at a soft play (bouncy house/jungle gym place) Stella proceeded to ask a woman who to be honest wasn't exactly very womanly whether or not she was a boy.  When the woman told her that no, she was in fact a lady, Stella adamantly declared that NO, she was definitely a boy! 

While at the park, a little boy ran over to play with Stella.  After repeatedly telling him that she did not want to play with him and that she didn't like boys, he continued to try to play with her.  Fed up, Stella yelled at the top of her lungs, "WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS KID?  I TOLD HIM I DIDN'T WANT TO PLAY WITH HIM!!!!!!!!!"  Yep, everyone at the park heard that!

Finally, we were at another soft play facility when a little boy with long, beautiful, blonde curly hair wanted to play with her.  She ran over to both his mom and I saying that she did NOT want to play with that little girl.  I explained that he was in fact a boy and she proceeded to argue with his mom that NO, she was a girl.  Literally went on a rant about how boys don't have long hair and that was most definitely a girl. 

Talk about embarrassing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  She is a constant people offender and while as horrifying as it is at the time, I can't help but be tickled by it.  The girl may very well be an actress or comedian one day!  Whatever she may be, she will always be my little star!!!!

Here are a few pics of our days out playing and picnicking in the park!  Man, I love this kid!

Lottie's First Rocket!

I can NOT believe that school is almost out for summer!  After saying that, I can't believe my first born has almost wrapped up her first year of school.  She truly hit the ground running in school since we moved here between her reading, writing and math skills and making so many new friends.  I'm in awe of her most days.  I honestly couldn't be more proud of the little person she is.  I often tear up thinking how proud I am of her and how I want to protect her from everything in this world and shield her little heart and soul from any future disappointments she may face in life.  She's just such a kind spirited little girl and I love her fiercely! 

With the school year getting ready to wrap up, Lottie received her first rocket.  While I'm still a little unsure about what this whole rocket thing is about, I'm so proud of Lottie.  She was so thrilled to have received it.  Basically, I think receiving a rocket is like receiving an award.  They get acknowledged for good behavior and going the extra mile while in class.  Lottie is on team Saturn and by receiving her rocket, she helped Saturn gain 30 team points. 

Fortunately, I was able to attend the assembly and watch Lottie receive her rocket.  They started off the assembly singing How Great Thou Art which is a favorite of mine.  She smiled from ear to ear the entire time and I loved watching her with her classmates.  This kid is truly the apple of my eye.

Here are a couple of pictures I was able to snap.......................

 

 

With this kid's enthusiasm and love for school, I can't wait to continue to watch her grow and learn!