wwwwwwww WINDY!!

Hi everyone! Sorry for the lack of posts! You see it all happened last week. We have been almost literally blown away here!! The winds have been INSANE!!! On Thursday the girls and I got stuck in a torrential downpour! It was really weird.. we walked to the bus, no big whoop, a little rain no biggie! On the bus it was sprinkling and for the first block of our walk it was beginning to rain a bit harder. A block from Maeve's school and the rain began to pour... coupled with the 100mph winds the rain was coming UP at us!! In one block both Maeve and I were soaked through to the bone! We both had rain gear on!!!! Oh what a day!! Friday we called in sick to school. We all have sore throats, coughs and sneezes! Today (saturday) not too much excitement. We might be watching baby Finn for Erica and Chay so they can go celebrate Chay's birthday! Being this is their first child and he is only 4 months old, I'll believe we are going to babysit when I see them at the door!!!! I know how hard it is to leave your first born with someone, even for an hour!! I was talking with Neil today and he asked me what the longest time I've spent away from the girls! My reply dazzled him, "the longest I've been away from Maeve was overnight when I went in to have Madigan"!!! hahahaha I'm sure by the time they are 10 and 12 I'll be flying them out just to have some peace and quiet. They are only going to be babies for another few years and I selfishly want to enjoy every day of their babyhood!!! The pics are random cameraphone pics. I believe Maeve took the picture of Madigan. Little bugger has figured out how to use the camera phone now! My god she is amazing!

PS: They did drop Baby Finn off! Here he is with Vashti.

halfway wednesday!

So here we are halfway through the week! Maeve seems to be getting on really well at school. She comes home with pages and pages of art! She is also very fond of gluing, here they call it sticking though!! So, lets see. Every day Madigan and I head to Jephson Gardens to feed the pigeons, swans and Canadian Geese. Yes, she has been bitten before but she is so brave and wonderful! After the feeding frenzy we head up the parade. Sometimes we window shop, today I let her loose in the priors (mall) She went in every shop, listened to see what music they were playing.. if she liked it she stayed and danced. if she didn't like it she headed out. It was priceless!
So our friend Fil spent xmas in Mexico. Now let me explain about Fil. Fil is a single dude, lives by himself, isn't a spring chicken but is far from old. Fil and Michael like to have game nights. he is not fond of RISK but is fond of The history of the world. Anyhoo, I digress. Fil was away from dec 16 until jan 1. while he was away in mexico, he picked up a present for the girls. They are featured in today's photos but not the video! Fil also got the girls a poncho which may just be great for us baby backpackers! Give them a little rain coverage while they get carried into the wild er ness! It was so nice that Fil thought of the girls, let alone brough them back a very special gift. So, thank you Fil you are very kind and we are lucky to have you!

hahah Michael and I were looking at Maeve's teeth trying to determine if she has his teeth or mine. I said, "she has yours because all her molars have extra points on them.' Michael said, "Look at these fangs" Maeve says, "I'm not a monster". Mommy and Daddy doubling over laughing. No Maeve honey, you aren't. You are the cutest sweetest most adorable brilliant 3 year old we've ever met!

I was a little worried that Maeve might not want to go to school today but guess what, game on! She did great! No worries or hesitations just jumped right in! Thats my girl!! Madigan and I went to playschool today and we had a blast! Poor Madigan got rocked acouple of times by the big meany boys. Oh well, she seems to be doing ok. They rock her, take something and she stands there a bit in shock.. how rude someone taking something from her! Today I'm up for awesome Mommy of the year award. After getting Madigan down for her stroller nap around 10:30 and walking to wetherspoons for my cheapo cappucino, I look at my watch and yelp out a holy (insert not so nice word here)! Its 11:45!!! I'm late to pick up my first born!!!! I had to run 15 blocks to go pick her up!! What a walk of shame I had! Poor Maeve was the last one to leave.. she was perfectly happy and not worried one bit but boy did I feel like a giant chunk of poop! hahah look what a little independence gets me!!! hahah I"ll insert pics later! ta



Ok so its later. I went up to asda to get some groceries and came across these beauties. Now say it with me in your best Monty Python voice... I'll have the spam spam spam spam with a side of spam please... gotta love the UK

Ok, this first one is on our bimble today. We no longer roll with a stroller so it is backpack X2! So, basically I'm packing my extra 20, Madigan's 20 and probably 20 pounds of mud on my boots! hahah These bimbles are great excercise! Michael gets to look at ruins with his friends Neil and Fil and I get to bitch and moan about how much my hips hurt because Madigan is heavy!!! We normally let the girls down to roam on these bimbles but sometimes the muck is too mucky and the wind tooooo windy! Today our bimble was out at Kenilworth Castle. Well, about an hours walk past the castle after going all the way around it! It was really nice and crisp and the girls did really well. After our bimble we hit the chinese buffet! YUM! I sure love duck pancakes! Sounds odd but really nice! The video of Maeve talking is on the bus ride into town to pick up Neil and Fil! Sorry for the crappy video yet again but what she says.. or.. how she says it rather is classic! Cheers!

Moms great "GIFT"

I'm not sure if this video has any sound but you are lucky if it doesn't! We are all great. Believe it or not I actually LIKE living here these days! Our day starts out at 7am believe THAT or not!! Michael helps with the girls while I grab a quick shower. then, its breaky, getting dressed and hair and makeup! Ok, no makeup but definately hair! I know almost all kids that go to school get head lice and if there is anything I can do to avoid it I'm going to! Soooo.. we roll outta here at 8:25 for the 8:30 bus then we hit Maeve's school for 8:55! Dropping Maeve off is a dream. She runs right it and starts doing any of the thousand things the teachers have set up! First Maeve has to find her name in a row of names, then put it up on the board under how old she is. She is good at it but there are like four other names that begin with Ma !! So, its kiss kiss get out Mommy, I need you no more! Ok, well that is what I think she is thinking. I can't very well talk for her or even begin to know what is going on in that big beautiful head of hers! So now it is 9am and Madigan and I are on our own. It costs a pound each way on the bus so we stay in LSpa since we have to be back in 2 hours 45mins anyway. Well the joy of L Spa @ 9am is fab. NOTHING is open! Not the library nothing. So, we generally kick it at a restaurant and enjoy a 69pence capuccino! The ones at starbux is 2.79!! I wander over to the priors (Mall) and nurse Madigan, get her off to snoozy land and enjoy 45 mins of peace! We pick Maeve up at 11:45 and have lunch at the "Veggie Table" which is the cafe at bath place center. www.bathplace.org Basically, we pay 1.20 for lunch and 50p for a kids lunch. After lunch we head home and play and then nap! Well, they nap not me! Ok, they have napped at the same time twice. I'm not going to get my hopes up but if it continues! yay for me!! Here are some snaps of today! Maeve ever the ballerina and Maeve who is "famoose"! Thanks to auntie sara for Madigan's cute onesie!

Eve is over

So, I should have done a poll. Tears or no Tears. Maeve is so great! First pic is Daddy's goodbye to Maeve on her first day of school. Note the clock. Yes we were up and out of the house by 8:15! Second pic is Mommy and Maeve on the bus on the way to school! Second pic is the two sisters rocking the new preschool! It was really great. Madigan wanted to stay too.. she just walked over to tables, had a look around then selected the counting bears! It was priceless! I'm going to upload a video in a bit! But now bread is a bakin!




Guess what? NO TEARS! Maeve did SO well, the teachers all commented how great she did for a first timer! No tears for Mommy either! We both did great! I might have sniffled a little but no tears were spilt! She did so fantastic, she had SO much fun! She was even invited to her first birthday party! Maeve made a friend who is a girl. The jury is still out on what her name is. Apparently they drove strollers, splashed in puddles and looked for footprints or tracks as she calls them!! Must be the indian in her!! All in all a WONDERFUL day! Madigan and I had some nice one on one time. We went to the pub and had a 60pence cappucino! What a day!

I would also like to send out a HUGE thank you to Uncle Jaycie and Auntie Barbie! They sent a package in NOVEMBER and it just got here! The books are fab, the outfit is adorable thank you both so much! The girls love the wheels with the books! What a hit! We got the package friday. Madigan is wearing the outfit in her kitchen chair jail pic featured previoiusly!

Today we came home and another package was rammed in our recycling bin from Auntie Robyn and Siobhan!! Big hugs and loves to Siobhan and Auntie Robyn. They also sent a package way back in NOVEMBER and it JUST GOT HERE TODAY!@ This package was OUTRAGEOUS! Filled with hearts, which are now all over the carpet! Colouring books, books, window writer pens, crayons and all things wonderful. That was very nice of you and we LOVE everything inside!!! The canadian flags are a hit!! I'll hope to get a picture soon. Big thanks to Auntie Robyn for getting it all together and much love to Siobhan for the biggest, loveliest most wonderfully gigantic red heart made with so much love it was bursting! It is the prettiest most special heart we have ever received!

First day of school Eve

Well, tomorrow is Maeve's big day! First day of school. Ok ok, so its not kindergarten but what a HUGE step for Maeve! We've talked about lots of school related things. For example, what to do if someone is naught to you. Maeve's answer? "run". Okayyyy not what Mommy would do but I'm sure she'll figure things out quickly. I'm not totally sure how things are going to pan out, it could go either way. Today Maeve asked me if I remembered ballet in Canada. I did of couse, she said maybe I could stay and watch her at preschool like I did for ballet! haha smart cookie! I think she'll be just fine. I am prepared for tears, but hoping we don't get any! Here are some awesome pics of pantsless fun at casa mussellam!

Rub a dub dub

Ok Grammas.. this one is for you! Totally check out my face when I realize Michael is FILMING us all in the bathtub... priceless!!

The Queen of the Castle

Just wanted the world to see my beauty.

Michael

Big Switch

Ok, although not very exciting I've finally switched over to the new improved Blogger. I'm feeling crappy today so I don't have any wonderful words to dazzle you with! Sorry I haven't posted in a while. Things are rather sluggish going into the LONGEST month of the year. I don't know who it is that stretches January out but when I find him.. I'll throttle him!! hahaha! We are on the countdown for Maeve to start school. She really is hilarious! I have no prediction as to how it will all unfold. Could go either way. She could love it or hate it. Who knows! We are however, talking about it alot. Maeve has decided that if any naughty kids are naughty to her she is going to run. Now, we have never shown her Forrest Gump so we talk alot about what to say to other kids that are mean/naughty. Not sure where it all came from but I hope my girl stands her ground and refuses to be bullied. So, January 9th I may have to get her a new pair of running shoes! hahaha



]Random shot of MAdigan..




and a sweet sweet look at my ass! hahahahahahahhahaha the reason for the ass shot isn't really the ass at all. This is how the girls were today. CLingy, screamy (although you can't see or hear it), and in need of being carried ALL DAY! The good news is this must mean they love me! The bad news is, in a few years they are more than likely to tell me to piss off

Happy New Year

Happy Birthday to Auntie Erin and Great Gramma Mimi! We love you both very much and are very sad we didn't get to wish you happy birthday in person!

So, a year in review. Wow, what a whirlwind life we lead! I can't believe we have two beautiful children and we live in England! We have done so much in the last year it is crazy! Big moves, big life changes and so many caring friends and family that have been or that will be here in the new year! Looks like Grampa George will be flying in for a visit in April! We are thrilled, can't wait to see him !!!! Towards the end of april Gramma Susie and Darryl are thinking about heading our way too! The girls will be over the moon! This year we are planning on doing ALOT of travel. We are tentatively looking at a week in Egypt! Then a long weekend in Spain. They have alot of Bank holidays here so we are going to try and use some vacation days to turn a bank holiday into an even longer one! I'm trying to get Michael to take us to Tenerife! It sounds gooooorgeous! This spring we are planning on seeing as much of Europe as possible. ANNND if you come to visit you can too. Some flights cost as little as 20GBP each way! Our new year resolution is to actually do all the things we want to do! So, hopefully it works out for us!


We aren't party hardy kinda peeps so we had our friends Erica and Chay along with the adorable baby Finn over for dinner. The roast, over cooked. The carrots, undercooked. The buns, extremely crusty. The mashed potato, a little too smooth. The home made sausage rolls, not as good as the xmas eve ones. All in all this was a very rough start to the new year! Fortunately I will not let my bad cooking dictate how the rest of the year will pan out!

sorry no pics but blogger is being a beotch.. and not a first post beotch either! Here is some video instead. NOw.. a back story. Madigan has a very peculiar way of saying the name of two characters in our house. One is Pocoyo and the other is Cinderella. Madigan has never looked more "special" than when she names those two peoples! I hope you find it as amusing as we do! Having her say Cinderella usually reduces us all into fits of giggles! These vids will be shown at her wedding and will cause her much embarassment! I love my little tard! Ok, I'm so totally joking and if you don't get that you are well out of order!! hahah oh ya.. while you are at youtube do a search for little britian. I've heard it is coming to a tv near you all and its hilarous!

The Reynoldsezses

Hello my friends! Nothing new around the Mussellam Casa sooooo... here is what is happeniing with our good friends Eric, Anna, Haidyn and Athea. Grampa Ted was kind enough to fill us in on their goings ons. Michael and I have now completely turned green with envy and we wish we were there with them!

Anonymous said...
Since I don't have Anna's blog to leave comments I will leave you one. We received a E-mail from Anna on their adventures in So New Zealand. Here it is enjoy from Anna's Dad

"We camped 2 nights in Picton and drove about 2 hours West to Nelson...
Just set up camp again and will be here for 3 days...

We are playing cribbage and drinking beers and wish y'all were here soaking
up the summer sun.

It is beautiful here and the weather is a ton nicer than Wellington.. it
actually feels like SUMMER!!

So far just a little rain... but mostly sun!

I am emailing you from an internet cafe in Nelson.. Better go because the
girls are getting crazy.. lots of computers here just asking to have their
buttons pushed by 2 wee girls.

If I do not get back to this Cafe to check email for a couple days..

Happy New YEAR!!!"

6:19 PM, December 29, 2006

Christmas Part 2

Hello all of you non posters. Greedily checking and rechecking our blog and then rudely commenting how we are slow to post. Well, I have been to your blogs and I see nothing new! Harumph! YOu are lucky I am filled with good cheer! And Mimosas!!! Not to mention Bailey's and coffees!!!! so, it is the day after boxing day and we are slowly getting moving here. I thought you might like to see what our christmas dinner looked like. Politely disregard the fact that I am in my pjs! I wore them all day AND manage to pull off a mighty fine christmas dinner if you ask me! The only thing that sucked was my cranberry sauce. I think in future I will purchase it! I cant justify putting THAT much sugar in something.. but obviously they need that much or they wouldn't have tasted like extremely tart poo! Merry Hohohohohohoho and happy relaxing day!


Oh and here is a bonus one!



quite possibly the ugliest baby I have ever seen but Maeve absolutely adores it! The xmas morn video shown previously was funny because she pulled out the fork/spoon disney princess set and exclaimed, "from ASDA" which is the UK walmart! Not Santa, ASDA! hahahahahaha what a goof!

xmas morn part 1

listen closely to hear where the goods came from!

Xmas eve

Hello and Merry Christmas or Chris Ross!! Hope you have all had a wonderful xmas thus far! Here is a brief update on our xmas eve. We had our friends over Erica, Chay and baby Finn who was born Sept 25! He is so cute and HAHA I got to hold him. Only briefly mind you. Madigan screamed so loud and for so long that I had to give him over to his Mommy! I am assuming it was jealousy related screaming! Apparently there wont be a baby #3 for us!
We had lots of snacks and then ordered pizza for dinner!! Erica and co brought over some mulled wine. Michael and Chay seemed to like it.. maybe its a man thing! Erica and I had baileys and coffee! YUM! It was a really low key christmas eve but so so so wonderful! Maeve took all the pics that she wasn't in! So, the girls got to open 1 gift on xmas eve as is tradition in my family.. and... following said tradition the gift was pjs! I'm going to make Michael update for the christmas day festivities because I'm beat! So, here are is the tree after santa came but before the paper shredding!

Christmas Eve, Eve

Hiya gang.. sorry no post for a while we have been busy!! hhaha We have basically been under house arrest waiting for a package to arrive. To date... they are winning.. we have been homebound for 3 days! So far NOTHING! What a pain in the ass!! Oh well, what can you do! So, around here we have got the tree up, trimmed the tree, made stainglassed cookies and totally busted our the Boney M christmas. Here is a little treat for everyone... my apologies in advance for my nasally voice, my suhweet dance moves and my fat ass!! ! hahahhaha


Merry Chris Ross!!

happy

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY TO A LITTLE GIRL WE LOVE & TALK ABOUT ALL THE TIME!





sorry it is a small one, but its worth it!

Stained Glass Cookies take 2

hahaha well, the other day Maeve and I tried our hand at making stained glass cookies! Hahaha, Mommy doesn't read directions very well! Well, honestly it said, grease tray with fat. Seeing as butter is fat, I assumed it would be fine. NOPE! So, the first attempt at the treats were crappy, cracked, broken and mostly stuck to the burned on butter! Oh well.. the troopers we are, we decided to try again! We only had one cookie casualty and Maeve very helpfully destroyed the evidence!

Well yesterday we met up with our new friends Erica, Chay and their 12 week old son Finn. We went to Jephson Gardens to feed the poultry! Well, have a good look at the pictures because.. well, if you weren't giving them food they were going to take it! Poor Madigan. Look reeeeeally closely at the pictures! The movie included is our good ole ding donger! I've officially given my hat to Maeve because, it looks better on her, it fits her better and... well she has alot of fun in it! My apologies to you for the builders bum hanging out in the pic but it was all of us so i had to use it

trimmin the tree

Well, thats it.. the tree has been trimmed. All concentrated in one area and I wouldn't change it for a thing! Maeve did a great job hanging bulbs. Maeve also got to put the angel on the top. However freaky looking said angel is, please politely refrain from commenting on its freakishness! I got it for 1.99 GBP less 25%!
Our tree is tiny and was given to us by our neighbour! She also managed to snag us a set of lights for 1GBP! She sure knows how to grab a deal around here and seems to be always thinking of us. The other day amidst the vomiting and whatnot, she knocked on the door to drop off a BAG full of presents for the girls. I got her 8 GIANT chocolate bars! She weighs mayyybe 80lbs soaking wet but LOVES a good choccie bar! Some women aren't as good at putting on weight as I am.
On a side note, I may or may not have mentioned my new friend Erica from Michigan. She has a gorgeous 10 week old son named Finn. We met at the library a week or two ago. She is really nice and finds the same things about living here annoying! She is great partner in crime to vent with! Anyhoo, tonight we went out to see Happy Feet. hahaha I had zero expectations for it but it turned out quite nice and it was nice to be away from the fam for a bit! Her husband Chay that is (CH not SH) picked us up and drove me home! It was nice to not have to ride the giant pink double decker bus that may or may not pick me up for a change!
Well, its pancakes day tomorrow so I better get off to bed so I don't fall asleep in the batter! Love you all and miss you terribly. Specially my family who, with Auntie Erin, are celebrating Christmas this weekend. I would, in all honestly, give a kidney to be ther for it... but no one wants my damned kidney!!

Ok

So, I made some of you cry!!! That was totally not my intent! We are having a great time I think that maybe I'm just pregnant.


www.thepregnancytester.com





hahaha now I've made my mom cry twice! Michael is crying too because it turns out Boss Hogg is my baby Daddy

Ahhhh sisters

So we are all recovering nicely. The girls had a little down time on the dora couch yesterday! This have been ok here. I'm really beginning to feel the distance between me and all of you! I really wish we could come home from christmas. Or just come home!! Haha I don't know if it is age or what but I am a sappy crybaby these days. I feel HORRIBLE for taking the girls away from their family. It is such a great opportunity to be here but the ramifications of not being with friends and family at xmas was not expected to say the least! Every day package after package arrives for the girls. We are so lucky to have such understanding friends and family members. I keep thinking, well its just one year and they'll never know they missed one christmas with their family anyway. The only thought that makes it all tolerable is, they are just 3 and 1 so there will be lots and lots of christmases spent with their Primas and Primos! Must be the holiday season that makes me miss you all, even tho at the holidays someone usually gets their feelings hurt, someone gets too drunk, or there is some huge drama! Or more specifically some whacko in my family whips out the Dr. Ho's and affixes it in places probably not meant for it!
My College Instructors told me that at the 6month mark things were going to feel really tough and she was right! She made me promise to not quit and to really give things a chance here. So, here is to another happy and healthy 6 months at least! So hope the gear up to xmas eases up on me because I'm spending a fortune on tissue! haaha just kidding, you all know I use my sleeve!!

So the outfit is from Auntie Sara and we say from Maeve, "Merry ChristMOOSE"

All better

Well thats it. The last of us have given that tummy bug the boot! Erin et al, you will be happy to know my 7 year streak remains untouched! It was touch and go there for me for a bit but being the trooper I am.. well you get the idea! So we last left you with Maeve becoming horribly ill. Off and on all night she was sick. Tuesday was Michael's probationary review at Codemasters. Where was Michael you ask? Head in the toilet thats where! Poor Michael gets sick on his last day of probation! hahahhaha Poor guy. With Michael home I did take Madigan downtown to finish some errands. It was nice. We ate breakfast at McDonalds!!!!! I don't think we've eaten there in AGES! Just for the record it didn't taste right! It was nice to spend some one on one time with my littlest! Gave me a little prelude to what January might look like if Maeve does infact enjoy going to the preschool she is enrolled in! Today is house cleaning catchup day! Wahoooo! I've been doing nonstop laundry for the last week! Madigan is up having a nap and Maeve is playing happily with her old skook fisher price house. I love my family! Michael just called to give me the update. Turns out he had to fill in some paperwork for his sick day so with luck he may actually get paid since it was technically the last day of his probation! Nothing sucks more than being sick.. then being sick without pay! I've got a spot carved out in the living room for our xmas tree. Christmas is going to be great because of the girls but is also going to suck because everything here is so foreign!! Imagine a 3 foot fake xmas tree! how jolly,.... NOT! Oh well, the tree will certainly be eclipsed by all the prezzies under it! Stuff has been arriving almost every day! I'm so excited for the girls to open all this crap! Then find a home for it all... yee gads! Well, must start the cleanup catchup day!




Today's pic is one that Maeve took of her "octopus". It is great! She is so talented
All my love, Vashti

Feeling better

Well it turns out that Madigan is feeling better. She didn't upchuck much last night at all. Thank god. I did camp out in her room and I bet I got more bed than I would have sleeping with Maeve and Michael!!! She did chuck this morning and made me really worried. Applesauce and rice cereal to the rescue! I also tried tricking her into eating peppermint! hahah turns out I'm the sucker on that one! So this afternoon was ok, just booby juice, water and some movies. After nap turns out our little sickie sickerson was starving to death! Woke up and had dinner oh jeez.. as usual I've spoken too soon..


1 Hour later....

Maeve is up on the couch with me.. the rented couch as it were. She "burps" I knowing what is coming grab and run like hell to the kitchen.. yes.. the barf monster has gotten Maeve. She is bathed, barfed, and gravolled and now sleeping ... this is going to be another awesome night!


I forecast Michael getting it tomorrow... and me fighting it more today, tomorrow and the next day


boo!!

Sunday crappy sunday

Hello all, not a big blog today. Madigan has been barfing off and on all day. Poor thing. I was just talking to Anna this morning and she said her girls are sickie too. Who knew the sick bug could travel the world so fast. We are going to have an early night because it is going to be a long one. I think I'll camp in the girls room and Maeve and Daddy can have a nice good sleep. Poor Michael got upchucked on at the mall. Maeve seems to be doing well so that is good. Hopefully she'll get lots of good rest and she'll be able to resist this bug! On an upnote we did get to see Santa, mere moments before cookie tossing! Santa gave the girls a hedgehog stuffed animal who Madigan calls meow meow! Its cute. Well, off to scrape the barf out of my hair!! n Here is Maeve still managing to have a happy face through it all and poor sicky baby madigan snoozing in between barfing.


Lucky lucky bitches! Fil sent us the pics pre barffest! Here are the girls and good ole Father Christmas!

Christmas FUN

We have been having fun with this all morning. For whatever reason I can't get the link that has our pictures but I know you'll have fun playing with it too


http://www.elfyourself.com/


xo
v

if i somehow manage to get the links up you can see the Mussellam Dancing Elf Girls!

blustery day

We blew on into town today... RECORD winds for England. I heard some talk of tornadoes in London? I don't have a tv so I can't actually confirm that crazy ole lady's claims. We struck out with one stroller and one pedestrian. BAD MOVE!!! We were ok until we hit the bus stop and thats when it began to pour! All three of us huddled under the brolly and waited for the big black cloud to move so the nice blue patch of sky behind it would hit us! After the torrential rain stopped I let Maeve hold the umbrella... a giant gust of wind blew her and the umbrella over! Woops! After a good cuddle and wiping off some mud Maeve seemed to be allright. The reason it was tough with one walker and one lazing about in the stroller is that the walker complained of sore feet and wanted to be carried. You have GOT to be kidding me! Well we made it into town anyway and hit our favorite starbucks for some baby chinos and a muffin, then we were off to the ELC toy store! Fun fun fun and Madigan slept thru the whole toy fabulosity!


ok, for those of you who haven't made it out to visit us YET, michael would like me to ammend something here. The weather in England is a little bizarre. In 10 minutes will have had rain, sun, rain, sun, rain clouds, clear blue sky and then rain. The weather here moves so fast it is insane. Michael says it is because there are no mountains. I say this land is cuckoo cuckoo! (but with a posh british accent)

So they have done it,

Yes they left us. They haven't even been gone a full hour and I already miss them. Sara is a fantastic Mommy. Jacob is a fantastic baby. He is so loving and sweet and smart.. don't get me started about his gross motor skills! He isn't even 11 months yet and he walks, runs, plays soccer AND hockey... Madigan is 3 months older and he keeps right up hehe and sometimes surpasses her with his amazing skills! Anyhoo, we just sent them away in a taxi and they are on their way to London.
boohoo wahh wahh... seriously, I can't begin to thank those of you who have come all the way to London to visit us. I have adults that I talk to here and we go to stay''n'plays and fun stuff but no one can replace my family! Currently I'm trying to persuade Erin to take a 6 month leave of absence and come and live with us. She wont have to pay rent per se... heheheh lots of babysitting tho! Well, neice sitting.. actually I'd rather she didn't sit on them!
Today we are on mend and defend. We'll be kicking it at home while I try to do some of the stuff I totally neglected to do when we had guests! Sara did ALL the laundry while she was here and I"m so going to miss that... come to think of it, her and Michael did all the dishes too... hmmm what was I doing?
Yesterday, Michael took the day off and we went to Warick Castle. Yes yes, I bore you again with Castle pics! No laughing at my goofy hat, Michael says he likes it on me.



Safety first kids, here are Maeve and Madigan playing petshop friends on the fireplace with a picture of Ms Haidyn Reynoldzeses. I don't think you can see but the pic of Haidyn has allll her kitty friends and I think that is why Maeve likes to play with her petshop animals with the pic. For those of you who may be concerned. the fireplace is for decorative purposes only. If I want them to get burns I let them play with the radiator.. ha ha

Madigan's new trick

Ok, ok before I get started I know that every mother thinks their child is the smartest, funniest, most beautiful and wonderful. Michael and I are so lucky to have 2 very smart, funny, beautiful and wonderful girls! I find myself 'bragging' about how much more fantastic they are than other children we run into on the street. Michael is here to temper my bragiosity! So together you may get an accurate'ish idea of how very advanced we (I) feel our genius children are! (Michael says they are 'normal', I say brilliant). We've been trying to capture Madigan's awesome new trick on video for a few weeks and with Sara here we haven't been making any progress. The good news is with Sara and Jakers here there are more feet around for her to showcase her new talent! I wish I could video all Madigan's firsts, seconds and total funnyness but we don't always have the camera running. Because she is a very stubborn Finnerty girl, upon requesting her to repeat said funnyness the answer is no. So, we wait for the opportunity to present itself and pounce! Hope you like her trick!



***Update to all those who don't speak Madigan. The translation is, "STINKY FEET"

haha enjoy