Neighbor Friends

 We have only officially meet our neighbors to the left, they have a 7 year old boy (Charlie) and 10 year old (Olie).  They came over and played in the front and back for a few hours.  The kids really like the boys, they are good company and really sweet.

 Olie told me he liked puzzles and putting things together so he helped me put together our little house.

Bed Pictures as Promised

Sadly Suzanna's college loft/bunk couldn't fit into our new home, we found this IKEA bed for her in the meantime.  Ella's little toddler bed is underneath and both girls seem to love the arrangement.  More pictures to come of the home, it's slowly but surely getting there!  I've organized as much as I can, Casey just made a run to IKEA (it's about 45 minutes away, we are so happy to be living near one again, it's been ages, I think the last time we lived near one was in Federal Way) for some coat hangers, book shelf, and a dining room table (yes, the packers lost our old one).  We are getting there!

Lady Bug

 We found a little friend in our Florida room.  Ella started to cry (thinking the lady bug was going to bite) but when they saw Suzanna letting it crawl on her finger everyone wanted to hold the bug.  We are slowly getting organizers here and there to make up for all the unique space of an English home.  I'll post a video soon!

Moving

We are finally an end to all the unpacking and also feeling a sense of home.  Our neighbors have two young boys (who come over often to see if the kids can play).  They welcomed us to the neighborhood with these lovely flowers (that was so kind), they are a good family.

Also (something unique about the home), we have induction heat.  You have to use special pots and pans and it heats up faster than normal.  There are so many things I need to get use to and this is one of them!

Suzanna's School Friends

 William was being followed by this little girl during the wedding.

Q and U's Wedding

Suzanna was asked to be the letter Q for the school play.  Her teacher had the beautiful dress and Suzanna just sparkled.

Casey got the first dance.

Q and U were united and they made the sound /qwa/.

Her little classmates.

She adores little Michelle (below) and Allison (above), they are like three peas in a pod.

Casey and Suzanna.

Another Place to Read

We've been staying at the AF Hotel for nearly 3 months now.  The kids found another place to read.

Mini Bunk Bed

 Everyone is excited about the new bunk bed.  Well, it's not new but Suzanna's old college loft doesn't fit in the new room so we've got some other things in mind.  It will be in the garage for now.  Here are some picture of the "in between" time of us unpacking the new home and moving out of TLF.

William, February 2011

*26 months old
*He's still the family 'buddy' and the girls' pet (they squeeze, kiss and speak sweetly to him)
*Happy-go-lucky

*Says 'hello' (to everyone) with a British accent

*Hard to upset

*Mama's boy

*Loves to splash in puddles with his wellies

*Surprises us with full sentences

*Still has his baby blue's

*Amiable

*The perfect playmate for two sisters, he quietly plays along with whatever they are doing

*Still runs with a little waddle (like when he was a baby)

*Loves when it is his turn to pray

The Letter 'Q' and Moving

We are busy moving, unpacking all our things into the new home (more to come) and also something special happened Thursday, we are sad all our family missed out on this special day.

Frodo Baggin's Home in the Shire

We are slowly but surely moving into the Brampton home.  Once all the packers dropped everything off all of a sudden it felt as if the home was the size of a home in Frodo Baggin's Shire.  It has been very difficult to find space, cupboards, closets...we now call it the Shire home.

Everyone seems to be popped out.  I can't remember the last time Ella took a nap.

2 1/2 months of suitcases

After living out of suitcases, rentals and hotel rooms for the past 2 1/2 months, the day  has finally come!  We move into our new home in Brampton.  To be honest we've been okay with all our things but now and then the girls will have a memory of some of their old toys or our old home and wish us back to Florida.  We've been so long with "stuff" that we haven't missed it.
The English version of closest and space is very different than what we are use to.  Even after downsizing and feeling we didn't have a lot of "stuff", it will be a tight squeeze.  The fourth bedroom is too small to fit a bed so we are using it as a computer room, the girls will share a room and everything we can't "fit" will be in the garage.  We are lucky the kids all have toddler beds, it helps make the room seem bigger.
I'll post more after all the mad unpacking is over with.

Cheerio!

 It's become a tradition now for to play on the school grounds after picking Suzanna up from school.  Most days the weather cooperates (I think it's only rained 2 times in the 6 weeks we've been here, that is rain during the 3pm pick up time).  The weather has been good to us.  The English days seem to brighten up as the day progresses and by 1300 it's nice and it stays sunny until about 1600.  When we loose that sunshine it's time to go home.

 Empathy (something Suzanna has large doses of).

 I think this park is just amazing!  No one tires of it, the slides are extensive and it's nice to spend hours here with endless fun. 

Before Our Visit to the Castle

These picture were taken mid week, do you notice the sticks in hand?  Now that we've officially been to our first castle (as a family), Castle Rising, they no longer need the sticks, they've got authentic (so to speak) swords.

William watching the sword fight.

These Base play grounds are just amazing.  They are full of neat things, the kids can spend hours on them, that until their little noses are red and fingers are numb (after the sun goes down), then we know it's time to go home.

At dinner Suzanna asked me "Do you think you were our primary music teacher in Florida because you sing beautifully or because you are an amazing teacher?"  (WOW, that was awfully sweet!)

It's a count down, we have our van (oh am I ever so happy to have our nice, clean, door opening, DVD playing van!!)  and we move in Friday to our new English home!

New Friends

 We've been in the temporary living quarters (TLQ) for nearly 6 weeks now.  Friday is our last day I'll have an extra set of hands taking out my trash, washing my towels and changing out our bed sheets.  It feels we've been here long enough to say we've made a friend.  This is Liz, she is from Zimbabwe.  Might I add she is the hardest worker we've met so far.  We will miss seeing her happy face and the Sunday request of "Pray for us" as we pass her in the hallways.

Valentine Tradition

I'm not the only one who gets roses on Valentine's Day.  There are two more happy girls!

What Debt of Gratitude is Mine

I would be totally ungrateful if I didn't mention the hand of the Lord in each of our moves.  I especially wanted to take a moment to thank him for the new friends we've met in our short 6 weeks in England.  We are completely in debt to him for his never ending love and blessing he pours upon our family.  Not once in these 6 weeks have I been homesick, felt lonely or out of place.  He has buffered this move, my heart and blessed me beyond belief.
*Suzanna has made two best friends in her class (can you believe, a best friend in the short time we've been here?)
*Ella's noticing more and more the beauties of the earth, she'll stop playing and notice a beautiful sunset outside the window or thank us for the fun time exploring the English country side.
*William is the most easy baby in the world (he sleeps in a portable crib about the same size as himself), sleeps in the kitchen and never complains.
*We've been invited over for dinner to new friends in the ward and felt of their love and compassion.
*Today one of my new Korean mom's (I met waiting to pick up Suz from school) who I just talk to in passing came our hotel room with a bowl of Bulgogi and rice.  (I nearly cried)

Can I just say...the Lord is good!

A Sweet Valentine's Day

I've been trying to pace myself with blogging (for all my dear blog stalkers).  Today is going to be a double post day, mainly because it's Valentine's Day.  I've never really celebrated it much in the past but there's something special about watching little kids get excited over the whole day.  Suzanna made homemade cards for her classmates and teachers.  She puts so much care into every little detail to the card, including drawing a heart next to her signed name.  Her class had a party so I took the kids to help out.  Near the end both William and Ella were invited to make their special cookie.

Suzanna loves when we come into the classroom.  At times I am reluctant because I'm a party of three, it's all inclusive when you invite one you invite us all.  It was nice to watch her interact with her friends too, it was a great party.

Never Tire of the View

 We have a huge window in each of our adjoining rooms.  When the evening sky lights up it catches us (pleasantly) by surprise.  I'm not sure I will ever tire of such a view!

Field Trips and Puppet Shows

 I honestly don't know how to keep up with Suzanna's kindergarten teachers.  They have field trips all over Base (everything is in walking distance) twice or three times a week and they also encourage parents to come (and allow little siblings to attend).  Friday was the Pancake and Puppet Show.

 Suzanna has been sort of a guardian for Ella, who seems to be very shy in the school place.  Suz often patted her and gave her squeezes of encouragement.  The little Korean girl to the left is one of her very best friends, Michelle.  She and another girl are like three pees in a pod.  It's comforting as a parent to see your child accepted and well liked among the students. I must say I am very impressed by the empathy and sincerity of all the students in this classroom.  There are so few students at the school (most people choose to do local British schools) that it feels like a private school.  Teacher to child ratio is small, everyone is incredibly friendly, it's a good environment. 

I'm not sure if the girls remembered Buddy was not too far behind them (they were in the circle reading books) but he felt left out.  Mrs. Beltran came over to give him so words of enouragment.  Do you see his sad face?  That's how he cries, his little lip turns downward, aligator tears stream out and he softly sobs.

 The puppet show (it was also p.j. day too) was great!  I really like this teacher, she is amazing, creative, loving and constant.