Nothing but Dates

We decided to give each of the kids a very special and focused weekend. Saturday, S and I shopped (all her picks: jewelry stores and toy stores,) had a very nice lunch and then had our nails done. S’s first time. She chose pink and had little white flowers painted on. Then we finished our time with scaring Daddy. She told him the magnetic earrings, (looking very real) were real! I got the raised eyebrow look:)



V and X went skating in Nottingham and then to lunch. In the evening V and I went out with the H’s. We had dinner at WagaMama’s and saw a local production of the play In the Family. It was a classic British farce, very John Cleese or Old Log theatre. It was a brilliant time.



Sunday, was date two day. V took S to Donnington Le Heath, an old fashion farm house with activities and then to Snibston Museum and park. X and I decided to have our date at home. We were tired. We played and ventured up to the park.

It was a good weekend, but V and I agreed two days of dates is a bit much for one weekend.

As a side note, it has not rained here since before September 4th, the day I got my outdoor coat for my Birthday. Rather funny.

Week in Progress

School, Homework, Clean, House Projects, Work, Gymnastics, Play date, Workout, Dentist, Paperwork, and …..repeat.

In the Swing of Things

S is back at school and X is in preschool 3 mornings. I think the week was good, but long for them both. X cried the first day, and struggles a bit during drop off, no tears but settling on an activity. He really loves to go though. S was voted on to school council and couldn’t be happier. She struggles with the speed she must eat her lunch. She hates to eat fast.
I have been tearing through the house cleaning and organizing. It is amazing how much junk you can collect in a year. I am planning on volunteering one morning and working out the others.
I have been biking and walking. I even started a yoga class. X and I met a friend for a long ride and trip to the park on Thursday. Tuesday we played at the park. It is suddenly summer here. Beautiful weather.
V won another golf tournament at work. He is really doing great. He even had dinner with a friend on Friday night.
Saturday, we headed to Warwick Castle. It was another great weather day. We had a picnic, went to the new princess tower, watched the falconers, walked the rose garden and briefly played in the playground. Saturday night, V and I went shopping and had dinner. Unfortunately, a headache drove us home early.
Sunday, we had an impromptu BBQ with our friends the H’s. We had burgers, beans, fruit, peas, Budweiser, and as close to smores as we can get. I don’t think the weather will hold another day. It looks like rain. It has been a great week though, how sad now that school started.

A Day at the Spa Anyone?

Rugby for coat shopping.

Good bye rubbish coat.

September 4th-6th
Friday night V and I went for dinner and a movie. We saw the Time Traveler’s Wife. It was really good. The kind of movie you are thinking about for days.
Saturday, my chariot took me back to Ragdale Spa for a relaxing day. I walked the grounds, ellipticaled, swam, and meditated. I had a facial, massage and read. Oh what a wonderful day. I realized that last year at the spa, I was a very sad person. This year I realized I was happy. A rather strange epiphany for me.
When my chariot returned it carried a lovely new pink, all weather coat, that I absolutely love. It was so nice. No tatoos for the kids this year:)
Sunday, we spent three hours biking, walking and playing at Thornton Reservoir.

Back to School

September 3rd

I have a Second Grader. Wow, ok so she would only be in 1st in the states, but it still amazes me. She did great her first day back with a new teacher. She does seem more grown up in a manner I can’t explain.

Friday a friend came for tea, X and I cleaned and wandered about missing S.

Return the Belvoir Castle

Check out June 2008-wow have the kids grown.

The best helper

X wasn't sure if they were real or not

Sir X

Huddled together

Princess S

August 29-30th
To Belvoir Castle we go.... It was our first stately home visit when we came to England, and now we've come back a year later. They were having a fair day with jugglers, story tellers and other kids activities. We had afternoon tea and played in the play room and then the playground. I only wish we had more time to walk the grounds. Our main focus was the outdoor, evening production of Cinderella. The play was set as though 6 WWII evacuee children were putting on the play for themselves to pass the time, in the north of England. It was an excellent production and really captured the children's imagination. Unfortunately, the English weather was not kind to us. It rained and blew, but the actors soldiered on and so we did too. Any hardy Minnesota can take a bit of cold. It was a great day.

It was the holiday weekend here, so 3 days off. Saturday, we spent three hours at Bradgate Park biking. Monday, we saw G-Force with the kids (a bit to old for them) and then walked around downtown. I cleaned house, V and the kids had a water fight and later we did some tax chores. All in all a good weekend.

The End of Summer

August 25-28th
So after our adventurous weekend, I decided a pajama day was in order. V had to head to work (poor guy.) But the kids were in their pj’s until their bath at 6 pm and then into a fresh pair. I did finally dress around noon. Spent the day cleaning, washing and playing with the kids. They were allowed to watch extra tv and skip quiet time.
Wednesday we were on the move again. We grocery shopped, went to a critter party (a complete bust!), home for lunch and then S had gymnastics.
Thursday we headed for Bumpi’s indoor playground and met friends. But is was closed for business, forever, as we tried to explain to the little ones. I was shocked. I have never been there that it wasn’t packed. It was expensive and had continual birthday parties in progress. We headed to a near by pub & play area. My friends little boy fell and cried and cried. It was so strange, nothing seemed wrong. She took him to A&E (ER) that afternoon and found out he had dislocated his elbow. Poor thing.
Friday S had a ridding lesson and later she and V went on a date, Borders and Pizza Hut.