City day with Friends

Had Friday off from school as an in service day so several moms and kids met in the city for a day out. L was on a separate fun outing with DA, so it was just B and I that got to go. It was crazy. Lunch at the Original Hard Rock Cafe was good, except I ordered a delicious salad that had blue cheese on it. Had to scrape all that disgusting stinky stuff off! Hard Rock is a favorite of many because they serve REAL Ranch dressing. That may not mean much to you readers, but for the average Expat suffering from Ranch withdrawals (not me or my family) - getting Ranch in a restaurant is a major treat. It just strikes me as funny that this London restaurant is famous for it's American food. Afterwards we took a stroll over to Harrod's to hit the last day of the January clearance sale. I am happy to report that I bought a couple of things that cost 3 pounds and a tin of loose leaf tea for 4 pounds. I think that has to be an absolute record for spending the least at a Harrod's sale. B was so pumped about looking for something for her birthday gift, but she turned up empty handed.

As we were traveling across the city on the tube at rush hour, I couldn't help but laugh - at just the crammed, sardine, cattle car, pack 'em in like dirt tube cars. It's a little nerve wracking traveling with kids at that time. Worrying if you will both get on or get off without getting separated. Not my favorite thing to do at 5:30. My respect to DA for putting up with that every day. B and her friends basically had to stand with their faces tilted straight up to the ceilings so that they could breathe. They were so crowded that their little faces were crammed into the back of some ladies bag and another's coat.

We made our way to a few other places and ended up in Leicester Sq to try to find a movie to watch with the kids. Too bad. I guess English kids don't get to watch movies at the theater on Friday nights. Every single movie for kids only played during daylight hours. The kids were bummed, but a little dinner helped perk them up. We arrived home at 11:30 after an exhausting, but fun day in the city.

Orchestra Concert

B at her orchestra concert last week. She's in the first year orchestra and they all did a great job.

2 year anniversary

woo hoo! This week we celebrated our 2 year anniversary of our arrival in Great Britain. Honestly, I never thought we'd make it this long. I remember those cold first nights when I told (or maybe shouted) DA I thought we had made the biggest mistake ever, how could we ever have "done this" to our kids, and why on earth did we ever think it was a good idea to move here. All of these things you must read with lots of drama and hysterics to get the full effect!
Yet here we are 2 years later with smiles on our faces eating a little congratulatory cake to ourselves with our "Old Glory" and Union Jack flags.
I drove 45 min to the local Costco that day, and as I was walking by the bakery section looking for bagels, I realized that a good old American style white cake with REAL white sugar icing would be the perfect way to celebrate. Costco is the only place I've seen that sells American style bakery cakes. All the English bakeries that I've seen use a disgusting fondant icing that tastes horrible on cakes that you have to order 10 days in advance. No quick run to the Collin's Street bakery for a cake or cupcakes here!
This is a photo right before my kids had a piece of cake - they soon went into a sugar crazed frenzy - the Perfect way to celebrate our American memories.
Yes, you've seen these props before in other photos. Those 4th of July goodies the Barnes sent us those first months have certainly come in handy. I carefully clean them off and store them away after every holiday.

My American moments

I go home for only 2 weeks, and what do I do, pull an American moment yesterday. First, let me say, I had gone to the gym to work out. On the radio the announcers kept saying that it was THE most depressing day of the year - by mathematical calculations, so I was feeling proud that I overcame and had the motivation to get to the gym. After the workout, I decide to run by the grocery on the way home - because you know I have to go to the grocers almost every day! I was still wearing my capri yoga pants and white trainers (tennis shoes for the American readers :-) I get out of the car and have to walk down the high street to the stationers to buy folders, and you would have thought I was a 3 headed monster!!! I was stared at from EVERY single person I passed. My white trainers were so offensive, "tourist" their eyes screamed, "a tourist is loose in the village". I just wanted to yell, "I LIVE here!" I was very self conscious and felt like a freak, just for wearing white trainers (and they're not all that white). On my way out of the grocery store, I decided that maybe it was a little freakish to have white shoes AND white legs. So for my grocery trip today, I will have on my grey trainers, long pants and black coat. THAT will assure all my neighbors that I do live here and will wear the accepted daily uniform of dirt colored clothes so that I can walk on slimy, wet streets and not look dirty.

Oh, to end that wonderful trip to the village, I walked through the parking lot and almost fainted. There, in all it's shining glory, looking like a giant amongst peasants, was a gleaming Cadillac Escalade taking up 2 parking spots. I had to laugh at my thought, "what a monster. who would ever drive something that big?" ... hello... me....for years.... and Suburbans may even be bigger than an Escalade. Funny how we can flip our brains right back and forth between old American habits and new European ideas.

Ice Skating at Hampton Court Palace

Around the holidays, a very popular thing to do in London is to go ice skating at these outdoor rinks they set up around the city. Your skating session is for 1 hour and primo weekend slots sell out weeks, if not months before. We bought our 1 hour session in September. That is the CRAZY English system of prebooking everything. Anyway, Hampton Court Palace is nearby and we went with a few other American families. It was lots of fun. Very difficult to get these pictures because cameras are not allowed on the ice, but we stole a few shots when the guards werent' looking. I'm sure the young King Henry VIII would have been doing triple Salchow on the ice, but here in the 21st century, we just did good to get around without falling.

Back to our regularly scheduled program...touring

Hard to see, but this is L all wrapped up to stay warm.

Last Saturday was COLD, but none the less, our fearless leader, DA, decided it was time to take a trip to Runnymede to visit the site of the signing of the Magna Carta. Quick, raise your hand if you remember what the Magna Carta was----- ok, some of you listened in history class, but in short it was the English document that greatly influenced the contents of the US Constitution and Bill of Rights. It was signed in the English countryside at Runnymede in 1215. It just so happens that that particular spot of countryside is just a few minutes drive from our house, so on a day that was -2 degrees we set out for Runnymede. I asked DA why we should go on this particular day and his reasoning was, "on a sunny day we'd want to go somewhere else." So that explains why we froze our little noses off visiting a meadow!!!!!!!!!!!!
The American Bar Association (ABA) has built and dedicated a memorial to the Magna Carta to honor it's place in world history and especially American history. There is also a legitimate acre of American soil next to it. It's a little confusing because the memorial built by the ABA is not the American soil part, the British decided to build a memorial to JFK in the same field and THAT is the American soil. Kinda mixes up the point of the 2 events. Marker says: This acre of English ground was given to the United States of America by the people of Britain in memory of JFK, President of US 1961-63 Killed by an assassins hand 22 November 1963. It goes on to quote a line from a JFK speech.
L is curious if a lady had a baby there, what passport would the child get?????There were a handful of other tourist out there that day, those dedicated souls. They were probably in England for 1 weekend and had to go rain or shine or snow, but not us, we have years to visit and chose that frigid day. Anyway, I'm glad we went. Had a chance to discuss a historical event with the kids that I KNOW they will hear about in school. Here are a couple of highlights of this exciting event. ha.
These are the 50 steps leading up to the JFK memorial - each representing a state in the USA.


The history part - according to Bridget (feel free to disagree).
Signing the Magna Carta (the Great Charter) was forced on the English King John by his barons in 1215. In my words, it was a document that put everyone in the land, even the king, under the laws of the land and made provisions that people would not be imprisoned or prosecuted except by the laws of the land. There were many clauses that addressed the many issues they had with the king at the time. I believe it also ended the feudal system. It is said here that the Magna Carta became the first constitutional document in the world.

Back in the Old Country

Over Christmas we were so excited to have had the opportunity to visit HOME in Texas (and Tennessee). Our first visit Stateside in a year so lots of people to see and a long to-do list that barely has a scratch on it. So pleased to have a choice to make - visit family and friends - or shop, but hey, I can shop in England. Had to visit with everyone!
Just to give myself a little credit - I only had 1.5 hours TOTAL at Northpark mall and about 30 min at the Galleria. Was able to get into Target 3 times, but since we only had 1 car for the trip, DA was with me everytime and was drumming his fingers so I could only go to the exact department we were heading to. I mean, come on, Target is for browsing. You never know what good things you'll find there - especially when you haven't been in a whole year!! Oh, on my one trip to Walmart to buy some American candy, B was with me and she said, "what kind of stuff do they sell at Walmart?" ha. I know we've been gone a while, but it just makes me proud she didn't know what was inside a Walmart. Maybe the only American kid ever to ask that question.
It was a great time at home. L was mad he didn't get to spend more time with his friends, B was happy she got to play with lots of her friends, but she was still begging for us to leave her behind. She claims that 6 months isn't so long - she could start school there, live with friends and see us in the summer. What an independent girl. DA and I were so lucky to have had to chance to see so many friends. Didn't get to Prestoncrest, but would love to have visited there too.
We've adjusted well this week. Sleeping on schedule again. All Christmas stuff is put away. Amazingly found room for all the gifts. We've had snow, ice and freezing temps this week so I've tried to stay warm in my cold house. Crazy to come back from 83 degrees in Dallas to -2 in England. I'm afraid of my electric bill though. Every time I turn the furnaces on, I wonder if I should just leave the house instead of trying to heat it.
The one thing DA and I are really missing right now is the taste of the food in Texas. As great as it is, it could also be considered a mistake to reintroduce our taste buds to good food from home. Every single meal at home tasted exactly like it should have! no weird substitutions or ingredients that were a little wonky. The chips and salsa at Mi Cocina-----so good. Houston's---so good. Iced tea---so good. Even Taco Bell tasted good. On our taco night this week, DA and I could hardly eat the tortillas. They are real Dorito brand chips, but are so pitifully made with ingredients from England.
Last January I had such a hard time coming back, had to buy into the whole English experience again, but this year is a little different. I had my happy little Mini to come back to. It's my absolute favorite thing about living here.
Now we are back to real life in England, orchestra concerts, basketball games, work, and my little activities (ha). The days are getting longer -yeah, and I can already tell that the sun stays up a little longer each afternoon.
Our 2 year arrival anniversary is coming up in a few days so we will have to have a little Uncle Sam celebration. So begins 2009...Happy New Year.