tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79279747926784379272024-03-12T20:59:59.968-05:00A Little Bit CrazyMerebearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08407439250521272551noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7927974792678437927.post-86493733224280463112018-08-04T19:28:00.001-05:002018-08-04T19:28:49.303-05:00GoalsOkay, it's been a verrrrrrrry long time since I made any sort of effort blogging. Once we left England and I stopped having amazing European adventures I kind of gave up. But just because I don't cavort across a different continent doesn't mean I'm not having fun adventures here, right? Although, today's topic was not exactly an exciting adventure.<br />
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Today I ran for the first time in a very long time. I am not a competitive person by nature and in the gym I lift just enough weight to feel some resistance and as soon as the timer goes off on my cardio I am out of there! I hate the gym. However, when I run outside I tend to wildly overestimate my athletic ability. Should you push yourself? Yes! Should you set big goals and really strive for them? Absolutely! But should you take a year off running and then set out to beat your 5k PR? Maybe not. So this probably hurt more than it needed to, but I'm not sorry I did it.<br />
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I purposely picked the hardest trail with a wickedly steep hill knowing that I literally COULD NOT run up it.<br />
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But I will.<br />
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I wanted to do the hardest thing I could so that when I conquer it I can look back to remember and appreciate how far I've come.<br />
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Also, really REALLY looking forward to fall!<br />
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Since the girls just started school again I decided to make some "new year" goals for myself:<br />
1. Exercise in some way every week day. Even if that just means taking a walk around the neighborhood.<br />
2. Keep the fridge cleaned out and stocked with healthy snacks for the girls and myself...this will be harder than running the dumb hill.<br />
3. Run a race, 5k or longer.<br />
4. Finish my 2018 reading goal of 57 books and start working on at least that many for next year.<br />
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If anyone actually reads this, I'd love to hear some of your goals or how you've crushed some huge goals in the past. I tend to get really excited about one thing and then find something else to get excited about and bail. How do you keep your motivation?Merebearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08407439250521272551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7927974792678437927.post-30536305181956862882018-08-04T18:23:00.000-05:002018-08-04T18:24:07.723-05:00Sweden 2010<div>
It's been 8 1/2 years since I updated this blog and I didn't even realize that I hadn't posted these pictures. But they're super cute so here they are...a few long ago memories from an amazing trip to Sweden :)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_5G3TetyCWL0CmHjhRvH1QY2dyEh5KwxKOQW2KaG6v6pbsdyUBWHuo1e8zhVdr1AI1EfzU57gJyRsd-H8THQjWmMI-PqIGwl5KYxVXWRQHT6zbqKd-DZj5s86BzIgl4z5ItQDYwNG4tQ/s1600/P1010813.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480838496396213554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_5G3TetyCWL0CmHjhRvH1QY2dyEh5KwxKOQW2KaG6v6pbsdyUBWHuo1e8zhVdr1AI1EfzU57gJyRsd-H8THQjWmMI-PqIGwl5KYxVXWRQHT6zbqKd-DZj5s86BzIgl4z5ItQDYwNG4tQ/s320/P1010813.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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Merebearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08407439250521272551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7927974792678437927.post-7399466473649003382010-02-17T11:58:00.016-06:002010-03-12T03:05:07.228-06:00ThanksgivingTo spice up an otherwise non-exsistant holiday in the UK, my fabulous parents came to visit for Thanksgiving! So once again, I got to be a tourist in my own town (and parts of Wales). And the funny thing is, I saw almost all different things than I did the last time I played tour guide. There's just so much to see here!<br />When we first moved here someone gave me a guidebook with a picture of Llangollen (pronounced Thlan-go-thlen... I think... Welsh is a strange language) and I've wanted to go there ever since. So we drove out to the hills of Wales to visit this little village. November isn't exactly tourist season so we were pretty much on our own =)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK-KevRRXTmbpcMoJD5MxWeqUmxFgj52ffE7K0BJ3YQfR2mKHURSk-vB1umrGoV-ZR2u_W3VhuvHUWoBEuY1AvctlPu-hd1LD6qj5IWHabDGsBW_0oBBg4BY0TyRVi18dSAPeUhMY1ipc/s1600-h/england+2009+093.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441026857166589618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK-KevRRXTmbpcMoJD5MxWeqUmxFgj52ffE7K0BJ3YQfR2mKHURSk-vB1umrGoV-ZR2u_W3VhuvHUWoBEuY1AvctlPu-hd1LD6qj5IWHabDGsBW_0oBBg4BY0TyRVi18dSAPeUhMY1ipc/s320/england+2009+093.jpg" /></a> Just down the road from the town center is the Llangollen Canal. In the spring and summer you can take a ride in the long boats, some of which are horse-drawn.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtdhVHfiDTWGTJSbXicD3SMIbt-cLkYTiSP8xU86PunFyE4jqvlm5rrE4dZe-fopsxGGWyfw6zI57gVoJZ10nskfNQqDUDiEotaE8C_FG0mrmZ_mfZtLdTBG4w_bTOLsAKoU_7DlBbsJk/s1600-h/england+2009+092.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441026850846391122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtdhVHfiDTWGTJSbXicD3SMIbt-cLkYTiSP8xU86PunFyE4jqvlm5rrE4dZe-fopsxGGWyfw6zI57gVoJZ10nskfNQqDUDiEotaE8C_FG0mrmZ_mfZtLdTBG4w_bTOLsAKoU_7DlBbsJk/s320/england+2009+092.jpg" /></a> This is the Pontcysyllte Aquaduct. It spans the Dee River Valley at a height of 126 feet and is over 200 years old, 1,000 feet long, 11 feet wide and 5 feet deep. You can also take a boat across it in the warm season which I will definitely do! It is the longest, highest aquaduct in Britain and was inscribed to the World Heritage List in 2009. If you would like to read more and see more pictures, click <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontcysyllte_Aqueduct">here</a>.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigc7Ln142LM1N_T1mT96h-YeCpjI7gQ73sas29x2-Vxt2ZPjHL1gwFmZ6tAkaqIB5u6t9xfha9K-KAyISKVg4f5vVEVlIjuqS3U4Mx4YdyTOzeA0pF2W6cVCK_LjdPw4Tv_Vsx9B-k-2s/s1600-h/P1010631.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441026311127311202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigc7Ln142LM1N_T1mT96h-YeCpjI7gQ73sas29x2-Vxt2ZPjHL1gwFmZ6tAkaqIB5u6t9xfha9K-KAyISKVg4f5vVEVlIjuqS3U4Mx4YdyTOzeA0pF2W6cVCK_LjdPw4Tv_Vsx9B-k-2s/s320/P1010631.JPG" /></a>Closer to home are the extensive grounds of Tatton Park. There are over 1,000 acres of open land where you can see the Queen's deer pretty much year-round. Although the town of Tatton has disappeared, you can still visit Tatton Hall, built in the early 15th century and formerly the home of Sir Thomas Egerton, Lord Chancellor of England. Currently it is home to shops selling hand-made cheeses, baked goods, jams, garden stuff and the usual souvenier items and huge gardens that you can roam around during the spring and summer. The Old Hall has been featured on Britain's Most Haunted and they do period reinactments during tourist season.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn6zVbZ0fGpVdOGXmmDulX2Jp2gxEZ2YNKU-rHhd9FA23t9qCvDs742Tc7xq7r5VhlSbvwb0rugRWxz0mifP2UJ_aA-YazB6LWiWm89rZlJ7A8W-Hu-cc8BRAuPOR6yRTNqcVpNl31Njw/s1600-h/P1010635.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441025956185555362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn6zVbZ0fGpVdOGXmmDulX2Jp2gxEZ2YNKU-rHhd9FA23t9qCvDs742Tc7xq7r5VhlSbvwb0rugRWxz0mifP2UJ_aA-YazB6LWiWm89rZlJ7A8W-Hu-cc8BRAuPOR6yRTNqcVpNl31Njw/s320/P1010635.JPG" /></a>We let the girls play hooky one day and headed out to the Welsh coast to visit Conwy Castle. I liked it so much in September with CH & MH I thought I'd bring my parents here as well. And I will bring any of you who come visit.<br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl6xCRfyOc-hl2UKpTFhzReDW40WvhwevevAnuR0ZTvm5phj6UxnlCGYNwq1XDiJSSplI-enoYfJAE_B4MDd12jl4dpsviXgnto6P-jZ1tYpK3VQB3AcWSinXG_4arbO9NqWQL_ILKr2Q/s1600-h/P1010619.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440085251477107810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl6xCRfyOc-hl2UKpTFhzReDW40WvhwevevAnuR0ZTvm5phj6UxnlCGYNwq1XDiJSSplI-enoYfJAE_B4MDd12jl4dpsviXgnto6P-jZ1tYpK3VQB3AcWSinXG_4arbO9NqWQL_ILKr2Q/s320/P1010619.JPG" /></a>It was crazy windy but we had a great time. They have a mystery-solving adventure for kids and the girls had so much fun collecting clues and figuring out how the seige of Conwy happened. Peanut even wrote a report for her class to make up for skipping =)</div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsatW7FhrPq_BJscM1mCq9FQrkghqX_JO7ebao4LXgzvgvaGJaKsgX51N7lhCoCzS-KJ_YLh2lYrpKREHCpjga7zk8-dYOxoUZ98DjcQnTDA9-uJIO5mE_1BLUDe4qlyyE-QcNhlVJ-C8/s1600-h/P1010621.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439306470387222546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsatW7FhrPq_BJscM1mCq9FQrkghqX_JO7ebao4LXgzvgvaGJaKsgX51N7lhCoCzS-KJ_YLh2lYrpKREHCpjga7zk8-dYOxoUZ98DjcQnTDA9-uJIO5mE_1BLUDe4qlyyE-QcNhlVJ-C8/s320/P1010621.JPG" /></a>This year Peanut's class did a play about the 1st Thanksgiving. I'm so glad my parents were here to see some of the fun things that the school does. Peanut was a narrator and did a fantastic job, if I do say so myself!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5eBPevbPQ_NQmsICptwgVzMv-cp_5pr1PTRHdpA2y5IzQjABA4qDqyr0c2RbI8FJsHZQVVKQ5buyyFzhej7aMQEHLud8rOTfWarY4UmFbGLKfcp4KGNcsui6NopQy8ZXYb5X0QSbhhaw/s1600-h/P1010643.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441042163291421698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5eBPevbPQ_NQmsICptwgVzMv-cp_5pr1PTRHdpA2y5IzQjABA4qDqyr0c2RbI8FJsHZQVVKQ5buyyFzhej7aMQEHLud8rOTfWarY4UmFbGLKfcp4KGNcsui6NopQy8ZXYb5X0QSbhhaw/s320/P1010643.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwkmFkxqx8DXeXxdfn2OvNB2x6VGs2Oq2nb_CddUEVB8Hz1ybAwxWKyMr5RTpdmcFiS8NPfi2fTnFu5Ve7OwdZh69UB3sLB9tElov4gMrKTTsCEpwoANBMVFnzlyYOsxKyq-tNZEhF-rw/s1600-h/P1010641.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441042460984170850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwkmFkxqx8DXeXxdfn2OvNB2x6VGs2Oq2nb_CddUEVB8Hz1ybAwxWKyMr5RTpdmcFiS8NPfi2fTnFu5Ve7OwdZh69UB3sLB9tElov4gMrKTTsCEpwoANBMVFnzlyYOsxKyq-tNZEhF-rw/s320/P1010641.JPG" /></a></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>We also took a tour on the Chester Old Bus. It's a double-decker bus that goes all around the city with a tour guide pointing out important sites, buildings and symbolic meanings. I learned so much about the things I see everyday and usually don't think twice about.</p><p>Our traditional Thanksgiving dinner was postponed until Saturday because MDH was in London all week. While the turkey and mashed potatoes were pretty much exactly the same as I would have made at home, some substitutions had to be made for the rest of the dinner. No condensed cream of mushroom soup for the green bean casserole, no pre-made pie crusts (and no way was I making my own!) and no canned pumpkin. But I think everything turned out well in the end.</p><p>This year I was thankful for so many things and I'm so glad my parents were here to start the holiday season with us.</p>Merebearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08407439250521272551noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7927974792678437927.post-79049234027433809392009-11-06T04:17:00.008-06:002009-11-06T05:08:07.874-06:00School AssembliesThe girls' school holds assemblies every Friday (or when something important happens) and this week both of the girls received awards. Each time a student is especially kind or helpful they are awarded a smile and Princess was the smile winner of the week.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB2fG2dqkl6vVUud3SJ0_F3whGd_QazmEicU0gDCdj9-ONTqZSZGFXoY-SCBdG3j70r4SZShz1Y0udW7aaruyxNm5nEwAiecT0eVfKjz-jII5WuB_GZYXXc35VCMc-txbi6s8iShkNFEk/s1600-h/P1010606.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400934608935887122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB2fG2dqkl6vVUud3SJ0_F3whGd_QazmEicU0gDCdj9-ONTqZSZGFXoY-SCBdG3j70r4SZShz1Y0udW7aaruyxNm5nEwAiecT0eVfKjz-jII5WuB_GZYXXc35VCMc-txbi6s8iShkNFEk/s320/P1010606.JPG" /></a> And Peanut earned a merit badge this week for academic achievement.<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZewj_XKr_tvr9RdTjs35KYsNS_6Ko1d_Fo57152CLrBR5vrZxrlqcbCQalOgEfeg4xxx2kvZa3iEtdTE1ttn7VZbZL4DPoSsZgXQktWsDchZoSso9pwDkL6VWuoOLBk8nSTR-eYMtcVo/s1600-h/P1010610.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400934951182662306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZewj_XKr_tvr9RdTjs35KYsNS_6Ko1d_Fo57152CLrBR5vrZxrlqcbCQalOgEfeg4xxx2kvZa3iEtdTE1ttn7VZbZL4DPoSsZgXQktWsDchZoSso9pwDkL6VWuoOLBk8nSTR-eYMtcVo/s320/P1010610.JPG" /></a>Also this week, Form 1 put on a special assembly for Guy Fawkes day, 5th November. In case you're not familiar with the story, Guy Fawkes was a Catholic who was fed up with the Protestant king and became part of a plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605. He was caught before the plan could be carried out and now Britian celebrates the Houses NOT being blown up every year with a big bonfire and fireworks. If you would like to read the whole story, click <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_fawkes">here</a>.</p><p align="center">Princess's class made bonfire pictures.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_MDRsbPPdUQmcT6rRkcFSoOVwtf3qfQRSmeunuhc3zee8wnEipHEWQ2WB6EN5SHQz2KtISE870q3mVjas8SJixTCV3FU3P6uwLulpTmtw1dWA2FNhbf1VTCzJxKK82Rhm1XOY13dqVw/s1600-h/P1010613.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400945429091501538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_MDRsbPPdUQmcT6rRkcFSoOVwtf3qfQRSmeunuhc3zee8wnEipHEWQ2WB6EN5SHQz2KtISE870q3mVjas8SJixTCV3FU3P6uwLulpTmtw1dWA2FNhbf1VTCzJxKK82Rhm1XOY13dqVw/s320/P1010613.JPG" /></a> This is a poem the class learned for the assembly...I missed the first part but I will post the whole thing below.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxWd1_NTOeHaDeY2-IWCMM-rOvDmHeVO4vgzktKDSaEXrUrdIg9YdoDUMXPQXUq2fhqbaGnWNjDJBd5kmWy8Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><p align="center"><strong>Gunpowder Treason & Plot</strong></p><p align="center">Remember remember the 5th of November<br />the gunpowder treason and plot.<br />I see no reason why gunpowder treason<br />should ever be forgot.</p><p align="center">Guy Fawkes guy was his intent<br />to blow up king and parliament.<br />Three score barrels were laid below<br />to prove old England's overthrow.<br /><br />By God's mercy he was catched<br />with a dark lantern and lighted match.<br />Holler boys! Holler boys! Let the bells ring!<br />Holler boys! Holler boys! God save the king!</p>Merebearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08407439250521272551noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7927974792678437927.post-85957782241326738742009-11-03T06:16:00.041-06:002009-11-03T12:21:11.029-06:00Half-Term<div align="center">The last week of October marks the half-term for all English students and they get a week-long break. Of course this strikes fear into the hearts of all mums and dads who have to find entertainment for their children. Here is what we found to do during our week of "rest and relaxation"...</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br />Before MDH headed to London for month-end closing, we carved pumpkins that the girls designed. MDH had NEVER carved a pumpkin before! I think these are my favorite pumpkins ever =)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAMkx5Lvqg4H4p0II23LBkpQv3JuWcP2jAcjmB937nGtVhiDostQ5Row0nMn4uuasDmYVmk1VbJOpHsKDDKIWkJI9lIWeP7ybXI-u2om6xv3oXIX6t4F1Rdkb18QcepD7b6AQTN-rz_MY/s1600-h/P1010558.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399941661932178066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAMkx5Lvqg4H4p0II23LBkpQv3JuWcP2jAcjmB937nGtVhiDostQ5Row0nMn4uuasDmYVmk1VbJOpHsKDDKIWkJI9lIWeP7ybXI-u2om6xv3oXIX6t4F1Rdkb18QcepD7b6AQTN-rz_MY/s320/P1010558.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGe5vbxyCrApWMLegVgQ_YuDC_G0IN-p3gkz-EpzdpDW_uUAw3vX9LXFRYXTbRCbhPQMt7p4qcID_wbvVOLXFv4zEn07m4vFAqp1t8MGT6DdWIp-BUt-csCIrse1FHONmpKYbT6NKn0Bs/s1600-h/P1010560.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399941453385308818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGe5vbxyCrApWMLegVgQ_YuDC_G0IN-p3gkz-EpzdpDW_uUAw3vX9LXFRYXTbRCbhPQMt7p4qcID_wbvVOLXFv4zEn07m4vFAqp1t8MGT6DdWIp-BUt-csCIrse1FHONmpKYbT6NKn0Bs/s320/P1010560.JPG" /></a><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3f0C5lWbkRNYJSGGifDGiDfZkHYB572DKnWE1zm8o8NBiKIdwExU_BkwqRWaIFf1evSsLzfc0N10slDHQzXJGzqJC4tPAn85Ggb2XzD-gM75h17dc5M19eLnSvXPCMbanVjCJsgsPdbY/s1600-h/P1010559.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399941183835854370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3f0C5lWbkRNYJSGGifDGiDfZkHYB572DKnWE1zm8o8NBiKIdwExU_BkwqRWaIFf1evSsLzfc0N10slDHQzXJGzqJC4tPAn85Ggb2XzD-gM75h17dc5M19eLnSvXPCMbanVjCJsgsPdbY/s320/P1010559.JPG" /></a> On Monday we went out to Red House Farm up near Manchester. It was a nice drive and pretty country scenery. <div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center">At the farm they have pumpkins and other autumn veggies for sale, plus fresh cheeses, meats and all kinds of homemade sweets. This is an enormous turkey we met called Trevor.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifBmrOvtBjAylKst15ONPX8XewRhwNFH_n9FL5boZQOYyCZUqOhL6FJI1_sRO-y1TKiHJQhq1Iul7attyFnlB1A3TIgaT6-SUTlF9FPLF46o0jzVItW41y1wMWExmOnruGdscsihdRfog/s1600-h/P1010562.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399939637341196418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifBmrOvtBjAylKst15ONPX8XewRhwNFH_n9FL5boZQOYyCZUqOhL6FJI1_sRO-y1TKiHJQhq1Iul7attyFnlB1A3TIgaT6-SUTlF9FPLF46o0jzVItW41y1wMWExmOnruGdscsihdRfog/s320/P1010562.JPG" /></a> <div>We had lots of fun going in the bounce houses, going on a spook hunt and riding the tractor train.</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZr6BQAJZF0Cw9cfXjyQqUpUdcHZed4pp7539rSrxBXDQI04oh21sfUOQcb69qT0eRA-Cb5Cfc7uMUDTRuyE4u7dyL0009szxP0b22dZx5uVeiv9Cy36BSA2r2tV9zC5wIeltrSWAMnmk/s1600-h/P1010564.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399939106647522098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZr6BQAJZF0Cw9cfXjyQqUpUdcHZed4pp7539rSrxBXDQI04oh21sfUOQcb69qT0eRA-Cb5Cfc7uMUDTRuyE4u7dyL0009szxP0b22dZx5uVeiv9Cy36BSA2r2tV9zC5wIeltrSWAMnmk/s320/P1010564.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOQapB-CKao2lNFi0ml_Bp3bZk1R6mguMJjop1DJMQas3iV_7ggqL3s9muxfMD3zEszDolTU42nvWkGxDpj94hSBaAISWkqNz56wKe2tLOa6ARQsUXyZZ5c2qE3nVJrmrDY4BFVplElfM/s1600-h/P1010566.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399938675040601954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOQapB-CKao2lNFi0ml_Bp3bZk1R6mguMJjop1DJMQas3iV_7ggqL3s9muxfMD3zEszDolTU42nvWkGxDpj94hSBaAISWkqNz56wKe2tLOa6ARQsUXyZZ5c2qE3nVJrmrDY4BFVplElfM/s320/P1010566.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMbr4GCa8lzC-7s885aCQn6LW7yeITFXLrtfPTX6k-y_CuEU9l2BUjdAikNdWTyfM26fDWh0jF7vVZP_Nq3TjMBLFn5swV-TlWaAhsIV98yurwIKoQqq2fxzUm_RU0hmu5HBaM56sJVQU/s1600-h/P1010565.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399938419618735170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMbr4GCa8lzC-7s885aCQn6LW7yeITFXLrtfPTX6k-y_CuEU9l2BUjdAikNdWTyfM26fDWh0jF7vVZP_Nq3TjMBLFn5swV-TlWaAhsIV98yurwIKoQqq2fxzUm_RU0hmu5HBaM56sJVQU/s320/P1010565.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4xF8IJTocc4TYDYA8NZVhuTlfNPcEjjihqqCc9KROK2EP2P1K5XuGILE0WrW_2ZZVPwKlf45UHh_ZlEz1VGax-WQINgK25nEfmm6z3heVQGR9cUQa3rB2lQDq4jt-AfYmSxUrg_BopzY/s1600-h/P1010567.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399940702610538546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4xF8IJTocc4TYDYA8NZVhuTlfNPcEjjihqqCc9KROK2EP2P1K5XuGILE0WrW_2ZZVPwKlf45UHh_ZlEz1VGax-WQINgK25nEfmm6z3heVQGR9cUQa3rB2lQDq4jt-AfYmSxUrg_BopzY/s320/P1010567.JPG" /></a> Peanut coughed all night after all the fresh air so Tuesday we had a quiet day inside. Board games, crafts and grocery shopping were all the excitement I felt she could handle until we got the cough under control.<br /><br /><div align="center">After a great night's sleep we made plans to go out to the Cheshire Candle and Craft Workshop. Here you can make your own candle and candle holder, design a keychain or paint a model.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGAKUAvi0y2b7pYpaQJ-8jvjjGe8kE8T28mfynn-EQM3MsTt8gWmeERTtOaWgtuIV4PlRrwijphS2GdVGOR-AEf-tnV6kEahRTUR6G_UQVbTxlsdKmZZyxbv1LebfPmKlXtORTptCvWpI/s1600-h/P1010573.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399935572329595074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGAKUAvi0y2b7pYpaQJ-8jvjjGe8kE8T28mfynn-EQM3MsTt8gWmeERTtOaWgtuIV4PlRrwijphS2GdVGOR-AEf-tnV6kEahRTUR6G_UQVbTxlsdKmZZyxbv1LebfPmKlXtORTptCvWpI/s320/P1010573.JPG" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggrEAp72PEom48wxLx9CsbIcKVWdM50vQX37WWKR9Xe9df34fmHE6aaDrUbEcNG_YXG12zsCaAJ6Zkp8MsYKOrHheWluztTL5TzKnz_wUBItp6AmZadly-ruw7ZCSz6AqRz5BWZ5Ym8MQ/s1600-h/P1010580.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399936903891064578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggrEAp72PEom48wxLx9CsbIcKVWdM50vQX37WWKR9Xe9df34fmHE6aaDrUbEcNG_YXG12zsCaAJ6Zkp8MsYKOrHheWluztTL5TzKnz_wUBItp6AmZadly-ruw7ZCSz6AqRz5BWZ5Ym8MQ/s320/P1010580.JPG" /></a><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><div><div><div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVrV30FmF9JcloPWzy1R7tylmFrDkbgw1Id2PWgP6MrfVsG-1x9ZNqreyVeIVip2M_BdiRF6MyKvaHQD5aEUSR_L90gNKDaRwEBwFzvzdybFssvtGEmit8d-nJLwhdQVDnHw1saDWITfU/s1600-h/P1010581.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399933805814331954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVrV30FmF9JcloPWzy1R7tylmFrDkbgw1Id2PWgP6MrfVsG-1x9ZNqreyVeIVip2M_BdiRF6MyKvaHQD5aEUSR_L90gNKDaRwEBwFzvzdybFssvtGEmit8d-nJLwhdQVDnHw1saDWITfU/s320/P1010581.JPG" /></a> All around these craft stations are booths where you can buy homemade soaps, sculptured candles, decorative items for the house, jewelry, etc. And there's a cute little cafe attached where you can get yummy ice cream!</div><div align="center"></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHKe7eCrA2dDccEkg_wOMQKrL8ReEP8-o1OfwgaLzu3kNSDF9ctvny_bIvSqOtv0kyOK80og8detXIWrKcaaGDA44h41m1YBMGwU1F5lM3eY_pmnzHL654ncyc7GCppMo_rF4MnoTsHR8/s1600-h/P1010582.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399932710933939650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHKe7eCrA2dDccEkg_wOMQKrL8ReEP8-o1OfwgaLzu3kNSDF9ctvny_bIvSqOtv0kyOK80og8detXIWrKcaaGDA44h41m1YBMGwU1F5lM3eY_pmnzHL654ncyc7GCppMo_rF4MnoTsHR8/s320/P1010582.JPG" /></a><br /><div align="center">It's a pretty neat place, set in some beautiful countryside and the prices are extremely reasonable. We will definitely be going back to do some Christmas shopping!</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw-XPCPVMv-rfYBM_4GIiiR3tglHw_LKhEXfFmydPCSJ5MbK0pNUlHTMnaG8ggaizKDjfyRQfSYChJ8PDn5r9huWQPNl3kwtFd696xwSJNUefd8M3x_9m5fUR6TigbUVrzuayIfgNmh6I/s1600-h/P1010583.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399931749161307954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw-XPCPVMv-rfYBM_4GIiiR3tglHw_LKhEXfFmydPCSJ5MbK0pNUlHTMnaG8ggaizKDjfyRQfSYChJ8PDn5r9huWQPNl3kwtFd696xwSJNUefd8M3x_9m5fUR6TigbUVrzuayIfgNmh6I/s320/P1010583.JPG" /></a> Peanut has been asking me for months to visit the "hole in the ground". By this she means the Roman amphitheatre ruins down the street from our house. So on Thursday we packed a picnic and walked down to the "hole".<br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center">The girls searched for Roman treasures.</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlEh44w3L4XRYMVpoApL8lM5RjyvTLLIaeH2B_jz-vfDmP80_rE9fqfPwuzF0-osP2sxZJydCii_T1sxc2rIVl1hgxGcsoTBwr-MuZbTGE8AsRoskXfZ09Qjmnf7lu_5lHBKNV4mUAQFY/s1600-h/P1010590.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399930897705431762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlEh44w3L4XRYMVpoApL8lM5RjyvTLLIaeH2B_jz-vfDmP80_rE9fqfPwuzF0-osP2sxZJydCii_T1sxc2rIVl1hgxGcsoTBwr-MuZbTGE8AsRoskXfZ09Qjmnf7lu_5lHBKNV4mUAQFY/s320/P1010590.JPG" /></a><br /><div align="center">And we had enough of our lunch leftover to feed the ducks.</div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6EEWsPRKomaFMKPM4gz58VEV9QruyHDHr5vu5AK1ioBP5oCdLGjN9qoRU9Kky77dGgwVoqGi4yIbQaQ5yEnyIfCFqIHQDcCvvKaLDhcGJSAYPNWd6LsuUtrdeFmJuY6QG_ubRyrWFLJo/s1600-h/P1010596.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399930391168364210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6EEWsPRKomaFMKPM4gz58VEV9QruyHDHr5vu5AK1ioBP5oCdLGjN9qoRU9Kky77dGgwVoqGi4yIbQaQ5yEnyIfCFqIHQDcCvvKaLDhcGJSAYPNWd6LsuUtrdeFmJuY6QG_ubRyrWFLJo/s320/P1010596.JPG" /></a><br /><div align="center">On Friday we were going to go to a giant indoor playplace but when we went to the garage I found I had a boot on my car! Apparently you need a permit to park in your own spot in a private garage. We were all disappointed (actually, I was REALLY mad), so we walked to good ole McDonald's for ice cream cones instead.</div><div></div><br /><div>The week culminated with Halloween and a party at the neighbors'. Cutest witch and astronaut EVER!</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT-f7hl6ywpiyoN-YZzJyD9p8TrBT8mncYFFp9GHU4HgUfJMrrUncUV-l7VS6iAtvBA6kVouFmjNTUhjumg2d1KBTJH5dJmabIIJJnEbF5773Z-6ahrFlA48KCrl1tv7dNul6xJaRYLd4/s1600-h/P1010601.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399928709186332018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT-f7hl6ywpiyoN-YZzJyD9p8TrBT8mncYFFp9GHU4HgUfJMrrUncUV-l7VS6iAtvBA6kVouFmjNTUhjumg2d1KBTJH5dJmabIIJJnEbF5773Z-6ahrFlA48KCrl1tv7dNul6xJaRYLd4/s320/P1010601.JPG" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div>Merebearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08407439250521272551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7927974792678437927.post-90879410748030634842009-10-13T09:32:00.010-05:002009-10-13T11:29:16.000-05:00Today I Am a TouristThe last week in September our fabulous friends CH & MH came to visit. Since there are about a million touristy things to do here we had to pick a couple. A castle was an absolute must so I chatted up some of my ex-pat friends about which one we should try and they all agreed that Conwy Castle (in Wales) was the best. So here they are headed up the top of the first tower.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfC8q9Tgtw_9Qfr-JEL4bj8xJtq7_b-KzKFVn483MEf2VUqXq6yMcNKrd_3GyjMD4mtF9n-VgFWKCK_Y0ffa_XwZTLzacs693is9pzorABlJaAe32PRIJfZyeeerMHuNSf0xvu4uAdZSI/s1600-h/new+pics+136.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392097053913286162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfC8q9Tgtw_9Qfr-JEL4bj8xJtq7_b-KzKFVn483MEf2VUqXq6yMcNKrd_3GyjMD4mtF9n-VgFWKCK_Y0ffa_XwZTLzacs693is9pzorABlJaAe32PRIJfZyeeerMHuNSf0xvu4uAdZSI/s320/new+pics+136.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQj85FiSHGVhgAXappjoDa7_rKMvzGHSHmx08LVZL-9zMznfL4OeuTtPz5IHonoWdi5hk8mpaYXmMqRK7LwgL3tfVdesJQBQb8upA9rKMpkiTry2YNJmHj0YnoWJUHdefcPT-CgzouvSI/s1600-h/new+pics+138.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392096828713569746" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQj85FiSHGVhgAXappjoDa7_rKMvzGHSHmx08LVZL-9zMznfL4OeuTtPz5IHonoWdi5hk8mpaYXmMqRK7LwgL3tfVdesJQBQb8upA9rKMpkiTry2YNJmHj0YnoWJUHdefcPT-CgzouvSI/s320/new+pics+138.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>This is the view from the top of the wall surrounding the city and heading towards the castle.</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0QswHSxogzvMciKXKgQekM4BoQplKpmIP7Ceh_fSvzp6xzdoRpDcDLNpTOQ7IeN0YRcnp3dZ5beCQyO51OpIFy4bwVjmGcA_Svehlre3bdjyrWwaZyRYzhq60mosPs2Ka_O4HVKmbgeE/s1600-h/new+pics+143.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392096465490040306" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0QswHSxogzvMciKXKgQekM4BoQplKpmIP7Ceh_fSvzp6xzdoRpDcDLNpTOQ7IeN0YRcnp3dZ5beCQyO51OpIFy4bwVjmGcA_Svehlre3bdjyrWwaZyRYzhq60mosPs2Ka_O4HVKmbgeE/s320/new+pics+143.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>From the tallest of the towers you can look down to see most of the rooms in the castle. This is by far the best-kept castle I've seen since I've been here. You can climb up most of the towers and almost all the rooms are still intact (minus the wooden beams).</div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div>After visiting the castle we went to the town of Llandudo to have genuine fish & chips and admire the Welsh coast.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7lb_nRMkTMv5MTg41uV9boUVhkR2srBpgKMEd0qqSM6b-Z1LlWNDcJe9BFRigLl5zl6BExEI2p-UbrZcOF2ENZc6dxvm9sJR5rgTvS-e3PEuf2smA1J33xpulGthr95lXM0M6w2ZqfvQ/s1600-h/new+pics+146.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392095629693195442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7lb_nRMkTMv5MTg41uV9boUVhkR2srBpgKMEd0qqSM6b-Z1LlWNDcJe9BFRigLl5zl6BExEI2p-UbrZcOF2ENZc6dxvm9sJR5rgTvS-e3PEuf2smA1J33xpulGthr95lXM0M6w2ZqfvQ/s320/new+pics+146.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRvGOPlNrM5bFmDwQDRVBsB0puk4rI-MFrQ0Eu6lOy65Pk5JTpEZBuiQPw9LayV7bs2KhKqkw2wl7pBsibd0ZCLcuRZoVeoQmNMNQSrPeiiYTeOdN10YInNsQe-DuT0_aSk4ez7AUgDJk/s1600-h/new+pics+154.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392095195123319202" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRvGOPlNrM5bFmDwQDRVBsB0puk4rI-MFrQ0Eu6lOy65Pk5JTpEZBuiQPw9LayV7bs2KhKqkw2wl7pBsibd0ZCLcuRZoVeoQmNMNQSrPeiiYTeOdN10YInNsQe-DuT0_aSk4ez7AUgDJk/s320/new+pics+154.jpg" border="0" /></a>Chester has a beautiful cathedral that I had yet to visit even though I walk past it all the time. You get a free audio tour and it tells all about the history of the cathedral and the city of Chester. It is one of the few previously Catholic cathedrals to have survived the reign of Henry VIII and his reformation of the church. It is now a protestant church and you can still worship there at any time with full services on Sundays.<br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEsx0zow9dAFGgiUA86b2l4lPDptIyzeCKIwUV9Y85dmULayUFu8dLORdoBdZTGAXQBLtU8X4NBvOUJIV8iJICvTPv2NvJ-Hyyp-iCeQikIbytEH56W4zvndzaUEHvH4XrUiX1HDk1YAE/s1600-h/new+pics+152.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392094935428067890" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEsx0zow9dAFGgiUA86b2l4lPDptIyzeCKIwUV9Y85dmULayUFu8dLORdoBdZTGAXQBLtU8X4NBvOUJIV8iJICvTPv2NvJ-Hyyp-iCeQikIbytEH56W4zvndzaUEHvH4XrUiX1HDk1YAE/s320/new+pics+152.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>I didn't get to hear the organ being played the day we were there but you can buy recordings in the gift shop. It's a pretty magnificent structure, my picture doesn't quite do it justice.</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><br /><br /> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>This is the clock tower in the middle of town. It was erected in honor of Queen Victoria's 60th year on the throne. It is the 2nd most photographed clock in England under Big Ben.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF7zpM1_4C8oQTi-rvx-i-vuVeQwBERpflCg8scbbOhFZrOpOeOHPg9h-YcdbuyG2zVXg1L2MOralqHUrcU40iiyxElkv_ItUq3KuX0rr5vf3arfZibWVKZXCq75Q9jJJamqMNyFEwBDE/s1600-h/new+pics+157.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392094397594040786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF7zpM1_4C8oQTi-rvx-i-vuVeQwBERpflCg8scbbOhFZrOpOeOHPg9h-YcdbuyG2zVXg1L2MOralqHUrcU40iiyxElkv_ItUq3KuX0rr5vf3arfZibWVKZXCq75Q9jJJamqMNyFEwBDE/s320/new+pics+157.jpg" border="0" /></a> Foregate Street is the main street through Chester and where the majority of the shops are. Everything from quirky little boutiques to hand-crafted toys and barbershops galore. Amist the quaintness you will also find a Starbucks, a Gap and the obligatory McDonald's.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoTL77qlRAPQ2knOSiYS9ymGO3FbgJBp59J_rtcp9bEOUT7M-6jCU72bOut9yCXu2km9Duc4hrRMDW3Yhv-8dccxmzXYvNGzWXRQzQdZGJnDhKfdIFjoBvqGNJ5vcs-Vx7kmciO3Qfakw/s1600-h/new+pics+156.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392094387179254402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoTL77qlRAPQ2knOSiYS9ymGO3FbgJBp59J_rtcp9bEOUT7M-6jCU72bOut9yCXu2km9Duc4hrRMDW3Yhv-8dccxmzXYvNGzWXRQzQdZGJnDhKfdIFjoBvqGNJ5vcs-Vx7kmciO3Qfakw/s320/new+pics+156.jpg" border="0" /></a> I've seen so many wonderful things already, but there is still so much more of Chester that I have yet to see, the Roman amphitheatre and gardens, walking the wall all the way around and taking a boat tour down the River Dee. I'm excited to get to continue to explore this wonderful city and country.</div></div></div>Merebearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08407439250521272551noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7927974792678437927.post-73096855973230935402009-10-06T03:53:00.004-05:002009-10-06T04:25:34.817-05:00Birthday AdventureNow that it's been almost a month since my fabulous birthday trip, I figured I'd better get some pictures up. For my big 3-0 MDH planned a surprise trip to Monte Carlo, Monocco. One of the most beautiful places on Earth! <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_-gA8f6Qc4aCTZ1-T14Ep34SO-XzQzUpY3SkK6N13HVUjozl76Xq8oCPo8EclO0N3tsJ58nYZwQY6DOPfvdqmTCeKMeSBAmSkyScP30ymDmle64tObmwzPBDJ60tjzPPvFVx4hjbY894/s1600-h/Monocco+005.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389408811604644386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_-gA8f6Qc4aCTZ1-T14Ep34SO-XzQzUpY3SkK6N13HVUjozl76Xq8oCPo8EclO0N3tsJ58nYZwQY6DOPfvdqmTCeKMeSBAmSkyScP30ymDmle64tObmwzPBDJ60tjzPPvFVx4hjbY894/s320/Monocco+005.jpg" border="0" /></a>This is the view from our 9th floor hotel room. Because MDH has spent so much time at the hotel in London, he is a gold member with the Starwood Hotel chain and we got upgraded to a beach view suite instead of the city view room we originally booked. Woohoo!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFok6V1AqeE1OWNSbPxeUa-76Ygl0BFTJXGEqmcxw4HVWoIZiz8yo14BPYs8j6LC64Qhqi6v5rI11UYb7ZIJ2wyLvbhnQaYOCwH35GZdm0ISE-PMV9S8e_hxeo19OnZtHeePsGaC8naJ0/s1600-h/Monocco+017.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389408805256908882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFok6V1AqeE1OWNSbPxeUa-76Ygl0BFTJXGEqmcxw4HVWoIZiz8yo14BPYs8j6LC64Qhqi6v5rI11UYb7ZIJ2wyLvbhnQaYOCwH35GZdm0ISE-PMV9S8e_hxeo19OnZtHeePsGaC8naJ0/s320/Monocco+017.jpg" border="0" /></a> This is our hotel and private beach (the only one in Monocco!) from the paddle boat we rented.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMI6fbwaENblObrmCgBV1TS_Abz6thKf1uEyWKHZzw3eFN-kn27VihE9fllxLro5IJ5cGAdrQ8Rc7MqirLv02Pb_DzGSTOYq5naWKT-nGtkrI-mT2s9_KB5h84RTLOgibxa8n9-mSj2w8/s1600-h/Monocco+020.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389408797887028706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMI6fbwaENblObrmCgBV1TS_Abz6thKf1uEyWKHZzw3eFN-kn27VihE9fllxLro5IJ5cGAdrQ8Rc7MqirLv02Pb_DzGSTOYq5naWKT-nGtkrI-mT2s9_KB5h84RTLOgibxa8n9-mSj2w8/s320/Monocco+020.jpg" border="0" /></a>Peanut and Princess by a landmark written in French. My French is a little rusty since the last time I used it I was 16, so I'm not sure what it says...something in honor of Prince Albert I in 1913.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuZoEj2WpVT828Q2_PbF8jV4xfYJ7wqCCo-dS4oD0cmfmWQlyjjIgrOM9aKL36J56NqMu9tQ5fUO6JxLM-WQD0eJapj5sIFPsHe6rdqfQ6zzmy4MHThRTfobyRiP960xvMN5Qg_bHFOvk/s1600-h/Monocco+006.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389408791059579746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuZoEj2WpVT828Q2_PbF8jV4xfYJ7wqCCo-dS4oD0cmfmWQlyjjIgrOM9aKL36J56NqMu9tQ5fUO6JxLM-WQD0eJapj5sIFPsHe6rdqfQ6zzmy4MHThRTfobyRiP960xvMN5Qg_bHFOvk/s320/Monocco+006.jpg" border="0" /></a> We figured since we were so close to the ocean we should be taking advantage of the fresh seafood and ordered a seafood pizza, thinking it would be maybe shrimp, scallops, white fish and clams...out of the shell. Imagine our surprise when we opened the box and saw clams and mussels atop our pizza, shell and all! After shucking the shellfish it actually turned out to be a really delicious pizza =)<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhztlK1YH16Qn9x24qljr3W97zxJtEXl42WBUw8GiPCeyMHliVItMstywYsv85ti7P5JMK4A4NhPZ9cF7qLWS0_iOhMF71wfpwu_uJJ4DBm6KUArDpC_pg8a7vhtu4pEtTqkZRMcUkebPw/s1600-h/Monocco+022.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389408784945524546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhztlK1YH16Qn9x24qljr3W97zxJtEXl42WBUw8GiPCeyMHliVItMstywYsv85ti7P5JMK4A4NhPZ9cF7qLWS0_iOhMF71wfpwu_uJJ4DBm6KUArDpC_pg8a7vhtu4pEtTqkZRMcUkebPw/s320/Monocco+022.jpg" border="0" /></a> My fabulous hubby and me outside the Museum which had a really neat ballet exhibit with costumes from around the world dating back to the 1700's. I couldn't read every detail, but I think I got the gist.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Qus-wCT05nCbrh2PybTMa44Q8IWawpcRl0iS1OBrm_Z5uCa7SVOrPt86o17eOi95mw_EHgtwGOKWb6HysYY5rJ-ZPgU6ej-GuQk3nvReg2Z1GzKgy3kXSeH53EmoY4pvHGSb2zy8f04/s1600-h/Monocco+009.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389407967622891730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Qus-wCT05nCbrh2PybTMa44Q8IWawpcRl0iS1OBrm_Z5uCa7SVOrPt86o17eOi95mw_EHgtwGOKWb6HysYY5rJ-ZPgU6ej-GuQk3nvReg2Z1GzKgy3kXSeH53EmoY4pvHGSb2zy8f04/s320/Monocco+009.jpg" border="0" /></a>Monte Carlo was hosting a volleyball tournament with teams from Brazil, Canada, Croatia, France, Italy, Slovania, Sweden and the US. The final match was between France and the US. France won but we got to take our pictures with the US girls, Jenelle Koester and Saralyn Smith, wearing their silver medals.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjstuONRh4Hr-u9HeF_dHzKkCqHC74J0nhqYO6iP2IIPN_vimC-93TSAOln0ftMLOOqQN8Ug40S-aF3rbWWfZD1rr3BJgV9TFG8Y1TqSL5MX-nvlVD7B7UqJLZGsIRD-IixKmplALfGqE/s1600-h/Monocco+001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389407961099885010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjstuONRh4Hr-u9HeF_dHzKkCqHC74J0nhqYO6iP2IIPN_vimC-93TSAOln0ftMLOOqQN8Ug40S-aF3rbWWfZD1rr3BJgV9TFG8Y1TqSL5MX-nvlVD7B7UqJLZGsIRD-IixKmplALfGqE/s320/Monocco+001.jpg" border="0" /></a> After a great weekend we went back to Nice, France to catch our plane home. Monocco marks the 4th country we've visited since moving here. What an adventure!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Merebearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08407439250521272551noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7927974792678437927.post-53267957042649980012009-09-03T04:35:00.008-05:002009-10-07T13:36:50.806-05:00First Day of School<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCTmH378J17RA_sokhiZqtGbDlrXTLMchOzVhh3GcZhpKTey6DZN5uAJp7tsEMMIHDllMBJpIEoJtqJe47ORJ06f5nchvMmbhMBBdevA5yP76IP0k7IA5W9od9qTxyFCvtny9XyXG3oUo/s1600-h/Picture+132.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377172984910897122" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCTmH378J17RA_sokhiZqtGbDlrXTLMchOzVhh3GcZhpKTey6DZN5uAJp7tsEMMIHDllMBJpIEoJtqJe47ORJ06f5nchvMmbhMBBdevA5yP76IP0k7IA5W9od9qTxyFCvtny9XyXG3oUo/s320/Picture+132.jpg" border="0" /></a> Today is the girls' first day of school at Merton House. I think they are the cutest things I've ever seen in their uniforms!<br /><br />The headmaster greeted us as we walked up to the building and still remembered the girls' names from the one meeting we had when we first got here, so that was comforting...to me anyway.<br /><br />The students here didn't finish school until the first week in July so Peanut and Princess have been on vacation a lot longer than most kids. They were so ready to start!<br /><br />Both of their teachers seemed really nice, but I was a little sad that we didn't have Meet the Teacher night like we do in the states. I look forward to getting to know them better.<br /><br />Princess was a little hesitent at first and wouldn't let go of me, which of course made me choke up and want to stay with her all day long. But her teacher asked to help her with a project and she decided that maybe it would be okay. I think deep down she was excited to be with her teacher and new potential friends. <p></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDiNdEX4CK94fHN8mVGQfWg-xuEnweNuBLt-1PeJ0nKoptEc1RnehwSvq4ZtPozJZ0gYsZRPzHtq6vFMOwFl1YxkU-8xUGowEjL1LJ3Q3hSPvkDuwSU53I5iA7-6OBQbyN5oxNeXT2tPs/s1600-h/Picture+133.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377176672431888978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDiNdEX4CK94fHN8mVGQfWg-xuEnweNuBLt-1PeJ0nKoptEc1RnehwSvq4ZtPozJZ0gYsZRPzHtq6vFMOwFl1YxkU-8xUGowEjL1LJ3Q3hSPvkDuwSU53I5iA7-6OBQbyN5oxNeXT2tPs/s320/Picture+133.jpg" border="0" /></a>Peanut was off doing work in her classroom before I even knew what was happening and I had to go find her just to take this picture. She has always loved school and I'm so glad she's back.<br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvUHRSfJFxhnpDte6GLo54lC7dWXUvJJzFBlGztcNAWTyz4WDUGmn1guK06y-lsYLlCXX9JlQWCGYAKsU2zagUvBzRI3ST2hO37tv16PwGW-vcM1Rqgpjr63T8DnoNjvgyt8_EbBnQbuE/s1600-h/Picture+134.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377177986172826626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvUHRSfJFxhnpDte6GLo54lC7dWXUvJJzFBlGztcNAWTyz4WDUGmn1guK06y-lsYLlCXX9JlQWCGYAKsU2zagUvBzRI3ST2hO37tv16PwGW-vcM1Rqgpjr63T8DnoNjvgyt8_EbBnQbuE/s320/Picture+134.jpg" border="0" /></a> After school the girls told me about all the fun stuff they did. Princess is reading books like crazy (which she had NO interest in doing before) and Peanut is already calling someone her BFF and was really bummed that today is Saturday and she didn't get to go to school.</p><p>Here's a picture of day 2, which they loved just as much as the first day =)</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJy1xRl2_p-PCJPSWu9lnNQG_8j7rYtesJs6_KcLsXl-ofXE-tFu3PW0RCdhGx6RjcC84Zm4ufj5ZdkT1pgITAbFnbdam4TV-b5D5W4fGgbwkwK3xo2bg1KWia3otruHk8Ddp7u14e5Ws/s1600-h/P1010458.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377994100373850498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJy1xRl2_p-PCJPSWu9lnNQG_8j7rYtesJs6_KcLsXl-ofXE-tFu3PW0RCdhGx6RjcC84Zm4ufj5ZdkT1pgITAbFnbdam4TV-b5D5W4fGgbwkwK3xo2bg1KWia3otruHk8Ddp7u14e5Ws/s320/P1010458.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><br /><p align="center"><strong>Merton House Prayer</strong></p><p align="center">Thank you for the yellow sun, the blue sky and the green grass.<br />For the fun we have with our friends and our family.<br />For our health so we can play and for our brains so we can work.</p><p align="center">Help us to aim high and succeed where we can without being selfish.<br />Help us to be kind and caring and to help others when they need it.</p><p align="center">Thank you for all the people and love in Merton House.</p><p align="center">Amen.</p>Merebearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08407439250521272551noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7927974792678437927.post-11243220966719916012009-08-20T14:37:00.005-05:002009-08-20T15:30:42.740-05:00Our Piece of ChesterWelcome to Chester! We arrived in town after a short 4 hour drive from London. While getting out of London was one of the biggest automotive challenges we've ever faced, the rest of the drive was much like any American highway drive. Once we got to Chester we phoned our leasing agent and no one answered, we figured since it was the lunch hour that they'd taken a short break. However, when we phoned the agent appointed to us by MDH's company we were told that the owners of the leasing company had taken all the clients' money and skipped town. Not only does this mean we lost our deposit, but the keys to the apartment were also inside the leasing office. To make things even more exciting, Drew had been allowed to put all the luggage that he travelled with originally in the apartment and the owner was on vacation until August 20th. Woohoo! After everyone pulling some fast strings, the owner's mother-in-law drove the spare set of keys to a friend, who met our agent, who brought them back to us and we were finally allowed in our apartment. A huge thank you to the owner who was kind enough to let us in even without any official paperwork...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj840VMWz8mgZngv4kMPnvlRjOZYf38NrPVbAUMYPQSStinSvRVegFxY-AvIiXrO65eRRKcfVlRekszpmItLwahYgZ7FRbPznJYBDRHtSZeykhCZhAT45hFDa9dWp2G60AjBPPrqN9ebUQ/s1600-h/P1010253.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372136246539250674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj840VMWz8mgZngv4kMPnvlRjOZYf38NrPVbAUMYPQSStinSvRVegFxY-AvIiXrO65eRRKcfVlRekszpmItLwahYgZ7FRbPznJYBDRHtSZeykhCZhAT45hFDa9dWp2G60AjBPPrqN9ebUQ/s320/P1010253.JPG" border="0" /></a> The girls in our new living room...<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxu0wuYypy3z5sRLp9iu57cEL6xtpqotSwR6aA9cA8LpXNOl8MT4K_5E1S5mtTaWkmT1a6D386ohBb1xijFwCHEwjqvDDgxyZWZsx94Hm-d1rUMdkOxwE597rBtfD7htIUSYDd2fhjnBA/s1600-h/P1010254.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372136243444458594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxu0wuYypy3z5sRLp9iu57cEL6xtpqotSwR6aA9cA8LpXNOl8MT4K_5E1S5mtTaWkmT1a6D386ohBb1xijFwCHEwjqvDDgxyZWZsx94Hm-d1rUMdkOxwE597rBtfD7htIUSYDd2fhjnBA/s320/P1010254.JPG" border="0" /></a> Our kitchen...I'm sure you all recognize the oven, but what you can't see it that the next cabinet opens as a dishwasher and the one beside that is the washer/dryer =)<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgK6dqVfs6V2cS0MzEKNh16MHbpv7BOX4mtXcKmMv_dpTaLdX1YwVKh3Car7yjqbfA3miBwKy-DGKuC9AMKYY6glcej4d3pj3l7Fljjcp50qq2TPJIeQPQgJoO7BW-GUWq0H8HhXpDd3c/s1600-h/P1010255.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372135785996374210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgK6dqVfs6V2cS0MzEKNh16MHbpv7BOX4mtXcKmMv_dpTaLdX1YwVKh3Car7yjqbfA3miBwKy-DGKuC9AMKYY6glcej4d3pj3l7Fljjcp50qq2TPJIeQPQgJoO7BW-GUWq0H8HhXpDd3c/s320/P1010255.JPG" border="0" /></a> The washer/dryer as one unit with no actual words on it to direct me really scared me at first but I think I've got the hang of it now. And after standing in the laundry soap aisle at the store for 20 minutes I've found something that gets our clothes clean and doesn't irritate anyone's skin =) However, it holds about 1/4 of the amount of clothes as our American washer so I do laundry A LOT. But I can only do warm and hot load in the morning before we lose all the hot water because our hot water heater only reheats at night.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh20gkD0ALMen1R1Ibe1pvvEQhMXJ08s-JsJZmeegXSwe_OoFgJgiZR_Qz4NANq4VsmeXmMhYDBg9ZifBel6ohD9pnFfWBNC_ZWzW4EdH00_I4jiB3JWrTMu5qO7YorfnJ6xoMW3R4Xjy8/s1600-h/P1010256.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372135774304442978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh20gkD0ALMen1R1Ibe1pvvEQhMXJ08s-JsJZmeegXSwe_OoFgJgiZR_Qz4NANq4VsmeXmMhYDBg9ZifBel6ohD9pnFfWBNC_ZWzW4EdH00_I4jiB3JWrTMu5qO7YorfnJ6xoMW3R4Xjy8/s320/P1010256.JPG" border="0" /></a> This is the master bedroom before we put sheets on and before all of our stuff was delievered to cover every inch of the floor except for a path to my and MDH's sides of the bed.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0fIE_2NxG6J33xIReUipGsr7fG7csfUqtm2ajyWG9obUhA92H_LL5wvMMcLLPYp6tuMS7OhX6cVCupA9JQZ0dtHWNscj9B_W5POvxZiGYTto6yCaHH3hXhayz_Pnnpac04mqdJrybz_M/s1600-h/P1010257.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372135770373833762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0fIE_2NxG6J33xIReUipGsr7fG7csfUqtm2ajyWG9obUhA92H_LL5wvMMcLLPYp6tuMS7OhX6cVCupA9JQZ0dtHWNscj9B_W5POvxZiGYTto6yCaHH3hXhayz_Pnnpac04mqdJrybz_M/s320/P1010257.JPG" border="0" /></a> This is the park just across the street from our house. It also has a playground and lots of open space to play catch or turn cartwheels or whatever. I don't know what I would do without it, we go there everyday.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPhxCBTWmFoKgg_jVdvptHj_eDFQ4WwObAtliMBpYlSULc6NuQPsYcBblvL6VbkrUb6LnoEfGsCXr5Pe8r4X5GNOwCwqRZrxdETKajo6jEIsxAePGW777eAmYSBdw2iRnnAodUOV8-kc4/s1600-h/P1010250.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372135763275773906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPhxCBTWmFoKgg_jVdvptHj_eDFQ4WwObAtliMBpYlSULc6NuQPsYcBblvL6VbkrUb6LnoEfGsCXr5Pe8r4X5GNOwCwqRZrxdETKajo6jEIsxAePGW777eAmYSBdw2iRnnAodUOV8-kc4/s320/P1010250.JPG" border="0" /></a> This is the train that runs around the park. It only costs 75p for the kids to ride and it's actually pretty fun!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS7Iz0B8QKennwyTWOBU6uEnci2un3_ZiZ6D6F3k1s7OF-31E7-bXbKIMX85IDMvdXfV53l9U-V70bCuuzm76DR0HvThklInRpMFfLzAXhVinZXpibY-3QuiiyeDkp6spVLdSrf9OtD2M/s1600-h/P1010252.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372135755917525490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS7Iz0B8QKennwyTWOBU6uEnci2un3_ZiZ6D6F3k1s7OF-31E7-bXbKIMX85IDMvdXfV53l9U-V70bCuuzm76DR0HvThklInRpMFfLzAXhVinZXpibY-3QuiiyeDkp6spVLdSrf9OtD2M/s320/P1010252.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4daLHbBgl9US6Z0gQi1XCZmHjBCA4DBOXnvWFKHuNKEKN4U8u3nQT_BXFmXaYZWgIeDiP2Kn2ip2kjUFFWS8pdKPWXedhN-bWPFof3xMxFKWM6qE1uJv3y3MnORdtMtVzxk1H4G6aWvo/s1600-h/P1010260.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372134596093906066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4daLHbBgl9US6Z0gQi1XCZmHjBCA4DBOXnvWFKHuNKEKN4U8u3nQT_BXFmXaYZWgIeDiP2Kn2ip2kjUFFWS8pdKPWXedhN-bWPFof3xMxFKWM6qE1uJv3y3MnORdtMtVzxk1H4G6aWvo/s320/P1010260.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMi50CDYOt3uDnrYkT1Mh8T0p4eAIIEbo3Zy69YIkLyqlEYTc3ZCTMB0hSy5HzH8T6g9Uep-V6nVIwu0sZGzdN4LBwxmkIPFKGhemRlQZ7Bbo_GshHwDERsTy3WueH6bbWiWH9dijSHe0/s1600-h/P1010259.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372134581859710002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMi50CDYOt3uDnrYkT1Mh8T0p4eAIIEbo3Zy69YIkLyqlEYTc3ZCTMB0hSy5HzH8T6g9Uep-V6nVIwu0sZGzdN4LBwxmkIPFKGhemRlQZ7Bbo_GshHwDERsTy3WueH6bbWiWH9dijSHe0/s320/P1010259.JPG" border="0" /></a> Here is the teeter-totter at the playground, neither girls weighs enough to make it go so I have to help.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4UNmI4uA0FdXSYsAe-TYGEcotLJthtfc1Ksh41qRcxTVFMdKoAViaqo2FC2YbNp7aWbAhCfLfvC3Z7q4RFD8rHJw7qhG4Sego6KFUsTgqy8r9WOzvFZ4tJuTO_Vshw47WHbRLAGbN4-A/s1600-h/P1010263.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372134573666612370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4UNmI4uA0FdXSYsAe-TYGEcotLJthtfc1Ksh41qRcxTVFMdKoAViaqo2FC2YbNp7aWbAhCfLfvC3Z7q4RFD8rHJw7qhG4Sego6KFUsTgqy8r9WOzvFZ4tJuTO_Vshw47WHbRLAGbN4-A/s320/P1010263.JPG" border="0" /></a> In front of our apartment building...<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfdxkBtiD9st2O-fHRhDNQbU2XvuoQI-BG88yaMarE3nY6XSB6uzslj9NIYcF_5dpn_fYT6-ETYwBgzwzuHEr0Z0Epxcq3QskAb1Ic4NoXBeyvdhnVDu-iYJNj_y5AK1ZUxEXaCq9GL7Y/s1600-h/P1010269.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372134569344369282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfdxkBtiD9st2O-fHRhDNQbU2XvuoQI-BG88yaMarE3nY6XSB6uzslj9NIYcF_5dpn_fYT6-ETYwBgzwzuHEr0Z0Epxcq3QskAb1Ic4NoXBeyvdhnVDu-iYJNj_y5AK1ZUxEXaCq9GL7Y/s320/P1010269.JPG" border="0" /></a> Our trip to the Chester Zoo. The monkeys were the best part. We saw the biggest, hairiest ape I've ever seen. I wish I had been fast enough to get a picture of it.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6dCSMywQ9fWPma1-OvvdjqEYz3TLorQVqW5rFpNukEXsm4a14jO81wV6EN0nhml5CeIW1rT8Afz_gIsiiFRZw7MuyaRyYzUc0BG03UuVfI3O_uTnIHFlDn6rAdyCtDmZA_Y6f85ymT6o/s1600-h/P1010276.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372133374491956642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6dCSMywQ9fWPma1-OvvdjqEYz3TLorQVqW5rFpNukEXsm4a14jO81wV6EN0nhml5CeIW1rT8Afz_gIsiiFRZw7MuyaRyYzUc0BG03UuVfI3O_uTnIHFlDn6rAdyCtDmZA_Y6f85ymT6o/s320/P1010276.JPG" border="0" /></a> This is our upper balcony. It's the 4th floor of the building so it has a pretty good view of our part of the city. The weather has been so nice lately we've been able to sit up there quite a bit.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL1-4In8jTSJ2eLwyZrqSoE9ORndUeZ8ykSn58qRZcY5UXYBshY03_Et8uLEAZQemeLw_JrH9LSzs5j1L14TtuJNYdoaq1HAGdChNibFn8LGFdMCy3-NAwXyi6-AZjU8Pv9-HPd-6HSXc/s1600-h/P1010280.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372133370486862722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL1-4In8jTSJ2eLwyZrqSoE9ORndUeZ8ykSn58qRZcY5UXYBshY03_Et8uLEAZQemeLw_JrH9LSzs5j1L14TtuJNYdoaq1HAGdChNibFn8LGFdMCy3-NAwXyi6-AZjU8Pv9-HPd-6HSXc/s320/P1010280.JPG" border="0" /></a> That's our little part of Chester. The next time I go into the heart of the city I will bring my camera and show you around town. Cheers!</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Merebearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08407439250521272551noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7927974792678437927.post-14806468185874289022009-08-16T07:03:00.018-05:002009-08-16T15:04:19.110-05:00Here We AreAlright, after much anticipation here is my first blog from Jolly Old England! Our first two days we spent in London while MDH worked out of the Harlow office. Our first dinner was at a Mexican restaurant...I use the term "Mexican" very loosely.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc9EL5k6ASe1lGBUDJzwKqSY0xSae__ugdnIQp3KPyL6ih-cPCHsd-KWFZKgOgK3mjuiNQG3E6NTOUbsFWg9zBYUHeX9jLkw-UryK17O1iGDJAOG87EepZ79wiWUhp60JbucX6nW4orSc/s1600-h/P1010151.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370638424330956418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc9EL5k6ASe1lGBUDJzwKqSY0xSae__ugdnIQp3KPyL6ih-cPCHsd-KWFZKgOgK3mjuiNQG3E6NTOUbsFWg9zBYUHeX9jLkw-UryK17O1iGDJAOG87EepZ79wiWUhp60JbucX6nW4orSc/s320/P1010151.JPG" border="0" /></a>Since our hotel room was about the size of our closet in Texas, the girls and I tried to keep ourselves busy out of it, which turned out not to be too difficult. The first thing we did was buy a ticket for the tube.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsfDqU_3KgwE-UeomH2wi7QvdINxtorTeOex8HyKRkAoIuvk9jaVoKKnznUSWIgOG9vfdzUhXD9OHJ4AhlPatWWrnM89e62L5EFUfPLWOBIC_AVrgg9HZFZl0yl086NyivkBP2ET1pTv8/s1600-h/P1010155.JPG"></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370636074857794002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsfDqU_3KgwE-UeomH2wi7QvdINxtorTeOex8HyKRkAoIuvk9jaVoKKnznUSWIgOG9vfdzUhXD9OHJ4AhlPatWWrnM89e62L5EFUfPLWOBIC_AVrgg9HZFZl0yl086NyivkBP2ET1pTv8/s320/P1010155.JPG" border="0" /> Since our hotel was on the west side of London we took the train all the way to the east side to see the Tower of London and Tower Bridge. We got to see some demonstrations about the weapons they used way back when and Peanut thought these were very cool. Princess was more interested in the Crown Jewels.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWkw0mdxJyPIHmjXXn5gNLM_1A75yaMzdiIxO0TJ0Kdmyrc4PVdZgR2tHj_zmJfBFmPVPrRGzvU_ZmZu6UhaT_DC0I9r0I99WfKnX5bju7DEX-UmrMBxxXWZpFJfFz66qHPF_nFAjFYmw/s1600-h/P1010159.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370639334372927490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWkw0mdxJyPIHmjXXn5gNLM_1A75yaMzdiIxO0TJ0Kdmyrc4PVdZgR2tHj_zmJfBFmPVPrRGzvU_ZmZu6UhaT_DC0I9r0I99WfKnX5bju7DEX-UmrMBxxXWZpFJfFz66qHPF_nFAjFYmw/s320/P1010159.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHtAt_PAUzPTVLTDR7x-_hWhBDn6NSJo55PmmDZpBjbCdTYQByARovHv_tSXMKawLimoCwjOmbtJciUkpeCZ-dJppF6IXSfqmU8YfLk31Gi854SdxI6Akxl8lSmVNBnacHD9F5sFQGnrc/s1600-h/P1010158.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370639329302490898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHtAt_PAUzPTVLTDR7x-_hWhBDn6NSJo55PmmDZpBjbCdTYQByARovHv_tSXMKawLimoCwjOmbtJciUkpeCZ-dJppF6IXSfqmU8YfLk31Gi854SdxI6Akxl8lSmVNBnacHD9F5sFQGnrc/s320/P1010158.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOWDYsEXom5xLwvwTieQOHQGIKbpKiCVB8PrE03fevKqtgQZpEbFEdKU17hIifN54vDTFxZA14fDm-kvu8HC7R8nuTCS3cPWxiOyygfOiiXbEnmn_XoQixTSrhfCdq-a_Ibsy3EtFrncM/s1600-h/P1010185.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370641267994463474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOWDYsEXom5xLwvwTieQOHQGIKbpKiCVB8PrE03fevKqtgQZpEbFEdKU17hIifN54vDTFxZA14fDm-kvu8HC7R8nuTCS3cPWxiOyygfOiiXbEnmn_XoQixTSrhfCdq-a_Ibsy3EtFrncM/s320/P1010185.JPG" border="0" /></a> Then we headed over to Westminster - "look kids, Big Ben, Parliament" and this cool new farris wheel that I guess is a fancy restaurant-type thing.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHuQFWMarjh44clu7aODAMbxD19cLp2cs_2Ls-sdS0qA6rcHzMxIOal-oNcQX22bOyLhZSlDPFUCFl5PyI5An3rvDdsurwB89_y9gCCsUMXNsT-95Q4tisyCMU3s1l2bDRQ2R-D5aowXo/s1600-h/P1010187.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370645175181188994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHuQFWMarjh44clu7aODAMbxD19cLp2cs_2Ls-sdS0qA6rcHzMxIOal-oNcQX22bOyLhZSlDPFUCFl5PyI5An3rvDdsurwB89_y9gCCsUMXNsT-95Q4tisyCMU3s1l2bDRQ2R-D5aowXo/s320/P1010187.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxwtguZrttfcKFpjxsqHhGp_t2wiB1zw2qvNzLbaHqvOqS8FOB4qyEn8qANcJyvp-spI1f79P8VEB0E4miWmRLyeP8cCzR3GWqkNc87Fb6yK85gRaD2M3oTDQg1qmZPtU4Kz4jt2JVp8g/s1600-h/P1010191.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370642587409841106" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxwtguZrttfcKFpjxsqHhGp_t2wiB1zw2qvNzLbaHqvOqS8FOB4qyEn8qANcJyvp-spI1f79P8VEB0E4miWmRLyeP8cCzR3GWqkNc87Fb6yK85gRaD2M3oTDQg1qmZPtU4Kz4jt2JVp8g/s320/P1010191.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><br /><p align="left">We also went to see Westminster Abbey which Princess was very excited about because I told her the Prince and Princess got married there. However, since I spent a ridiculous amount of money getting into the Tower I didn't have enough left over to pay for the Abbey (which, seeing as it's a church and all, I expected to be free...my mistake).</p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCO2xIGf1GvxW8s5gXmqVGVF78WYNPzDYzwt8p-OAtQxhCyyxMOzVgPKQCtsJNbyHLE6hItOYabnC-eSq73z0jLu5Ab5uwxpnGKLAPvfS-O30oo85oqd9ejk16Oiv14Y39_Qrn2AbW_qQ/s1600-h/P1010194.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370644457860421506" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCO2xIGf1GvxW8s5gXmqVGVF78WYNPzDYzwt8p-OAtQxhCyyxMOzVgPKQCtsJNbyHLE6hItOYabnC-eSq73z0jLu5Ab5uwxpnGKLAPvfS-O30oo85oqd9ejk16Oiv14Y39_Qrn2AbW_qQ/s320/P1010194.JPG" border="0" /></a></p>We then climbed on the lions at Trafalgar Square and ate the best fish and chips I've ever had.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizGhK3Tj6n5_jyFUwFyW1Le5_sVqfUPeAxahwEBJXMuK0Hi9Gcn05nqEjKX_jr_uP_vyxVFiDiIXiGTi2RNpp6-rREb5XRkTX3J5vZ_OvYw41D0L6t8I-yai6fTqLc4azainLziBVyh6c/s1600-h/P1010205.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370649363055498818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizGhK3Tj6n5_jyFUwFyW1Le5_sVqfUPeAxahwEBJXMuK0Hi9Gcn05nqEjKX_jr_uP_vyxVFiDiIXiGTi2RNpp6-rREb5XRkTX3J5vZ_OvYw41D0L6t8I-yai6fTqLc4azainLziBVyh6c/s320/P1010205.JPG" border="0" /></a> Day 2 - we are now pros at riding the tube and we're headed toward the National Gallery. I love art so I'm very excited about this. However, the girls' idea of looking at art and mine differ vastly. Whereas I like to study and ponder, they're more casual observers. The best part was that Peanut got to see the original "Sunflowers" by Van Gogh which she painted and had entered into an art show last year.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqQNDpBdd89jEnHbDZcW9DrcT0Zfm8ZogLa38gdWX5lu70vjcSqTBXL1DwtRYPBT1ar58y-V3jTXT2MnlLlOAp4A7OMXHWOJX_nMc0Pxt3-idYEXi9e3SWvo0XXgFVaIZMUaqudtNaVGw/s1600-h/P1000065.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370647133846042322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqQNDpBdd89jEnHbDZcW9DrcT0Zfm8ZogLa38gdWX5lu70vjcSqTBXL1DwtRYPBT1ar58y-V3jTXT2MnlLlOAp4A7OMXHWOJX_nMc0Pxt3-idYEXi9e3SWvo0XXgFVaIZMUaqudtNaVGw/s320/P1000065.JPG" border="0" /></a>We tried to get into Buckingham Palace at 4:30 but apparently they stop selling tickets for the current day at 3:45. So we walked down the street to Marks & Spencer and bought a delicious picnic lunch to eat in Hyde Park. We found a bunch of kids sliding down some sort of marble stucture and it looked like fun so the girls had a go.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBwmP16uQ4LgXMtAfB15bzfxOoo_XNfR4jIN-MkBcSndaNv1nBr1LQxIzgyzg4ZnKgV0NbSh77Ka0Z3kcLH1OHaqy0epeFUVzzEfbNtcYXv0O_p-uLQAnGfzVDqtM-6-6se5_r3wwh-r0/s1600-h/P1010241.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370652483139782290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBwmP16uQ4LgXMtAfB15bzfxOoo_XNfR4jIN-MkBcSndaNv1nBr1LQxIzgyzg4ZnKgV0NbSh77Ka0Z3kcLH1OHaqy0epeFUVzzEfbNtcYXv0O_p-uLQAnGfzVDqtM-6-6se5_r3wwh-r0/s320/P1010241.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik7GrSiLnYpLTWR3RTtpXG4gn8Baq3OrSYbcqYzzlX9yFbWmhdJEdEp4Rb67_C9UOXOihoA-TZdzPsoYJpCUoE2mY7bWYMiCmuYpzwD_oS1XO3a5fDoXqWwDUCKR8ySjF1FkT1HMv7FSk/s1600-h/P1010239.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370652473195932834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik7GrSiLnYpLTWR3RTtpXG4gn8Baq3OrSYbcqYzzlX9yFbWmhdJEdEp4Rb67_C9UOXOihoA-TZdzPsoYJpCUoE2mY7bWYMiCmuYpzwD_oS1XO3a5fDoXqWwDUCKR8ySjF1FkT1HMv7FSk/s320/P1010239.JPG" border="0" /></a> It wasn't until about an hour later that I saw this...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgloNfpV_vT0ItdBXzcy6uZDiLJ6idwb4MKbLFMdMZ0RE2hj7BGLL3sRHDX5kzPU3KzrZA2V-fAHp_cJ6Fd2Lno1ylTA4lq5v7b_w_ju1BWuOQvT0V0K5uch7CbfHzDhvq87K0T8N_FOq0/s1600-h/P1010246.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370653088616498370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgloNfpV_vT0ItdBXzcy6uZDiLJ6idwb4MKbLFMdMZ0RE2hj7BGLL3sRHDX5kzPU3KzrZA2V-fAHp_cJ6Fd2Lno1ylTA4lq5v7b_w_ju1BWuOQvT0V0K5uch7CbfHzDhvq87K0T8N_FOq0/s320/P1010246.JPG" border="0" /></a> My apologies to the residents of Canada.</div><div></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhviJhqyUJ7NaV1WU63K6dy01DJLEIDQthJegjMhcntVhdnCxgkcp0t1SYhJZwOy2WSA9ZA2drG4GJ1OH8gKDLJon5v9boASvPDRFeecMFy4GCn3s5WkECAeIsyNg7Z02U3j1C8zvsjB5c/s1600-h/P1010248.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370654109128465954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhviJhqyUJ7NaV1WU63K6dy01DJLEIDQthJegjMhcntVhdnCxgkcp0t1SYhJZwOy2WSA9ZA2drG4GJ1OH8gKDLJon5v9boASvPDRFeecMFy4GCn3s5WkECAeIsyNg7Z02U3j1C8zvsjB5c/s320/P1010248.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Then we were on our way to Chester...but that's a whole other blog =)</div></div>Merebearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08407439250521272551noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7927974792678437927.post-61040930562703054292008-02-01T21:12:00.000-06:002008-02-05T22:28:23.018-06:00Since I now have a job and run into funny people and read a lot more books I am hoping I will actually come up with interesting things to talk about. So I want to establish myself firmly in my blogging community…even though there are only 2 people who read it so far. But anyway, let the introductions begin.First and foremost I would like to introduce my children, since they are the center of my world. For internet purposes, they will be known to all as Peanut – 5 and Princess – 4.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhabCy9xonoB-HqH_Ps6QNAlpd6kCecJl5qsBqw3QyoqPAjkJnB6wj2kROFe8IlOvX6YzyF0XI8LjVQb_y3IT2R1pHtmJXT7IVzLxzY8tLfziw9ARqBUidMMxeANwkQtmlCuGR7AthtC68/s1600-h/Haylee.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162218270978925874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhabCy9xonoB-HqH_Ps6QNAlpd6kCecJl5qsBqw3QyoqPAjkJnB6wj2kROFe8IlOvX6YzyF0XI8LjVQb_y3IT2R1pHtmJXT7IVzLxzY8tLfziw9ARqBUidMMxeANwkQtmlCuGR7AthtC68/s320/Haylee.JPG" border="0" /></a> This is Peanut. She got that name because she is my firstborn and that’s why my dad used to call me. She will also answer to Monkey because she climbs on EVERYTHING. She’s super coordinated and has her daddy’s everything…natural athletic ability, hair, eyes, tendency to negotiate, everything. She just started soccer last fall and loved it. She can tell you exactly how many goals she scores in each game even though they’re not supposed to keep score. She is a genius (and I’m not just saying that because I’m her mother) and loves going to her private kindergarten class and bringing home homework! Who wants to bet that won’t last? She is very sensitive and a little Type A, which can be a rough combination. But all in all, she is my angel and I wouldn’t change a single thing about her.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp1vLsbHNu7vxz0L_AyqOFN0pEZ1OqTfMiUANNjepAlNPX7jbbUxfZEdH9XWim5nqgPHw22z3hB2O1DugRGEMZbCLlYcBMRzNEqqXUbRWe_A9PUZ1M7ZxiQPz3UZX_bpRVadxYBGyZnrk/s1600-h/Katelyn.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162217188647167266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp1vLsbHNu7vxz0L_AyqOFN0pEZ1OqTfMiUANNjepAlNPX7jbbUxfZEdH9XWim5nqgPHw22z3hB2O1DugRGEMZbCLlYcBMRzNEqqXUbRWe_A9PUZ1M7ZxiQPz3UZX_bpRVadxYBGyZnrk/s320/Katelyn.JPG" border="0" /></a>This is Princess. We call her that because, very simply, she is a princess. She truly believes she is a princess and she acts like one. This can be very cute, like when she comes down the stairs holding her dress so you can see her “slippers”, or very aggravating, like when I tell her to do something and she replies, “Princesses don’t do that.” She is the girliest of the girly-girls, which is fine by me because I am too. She is the spitting image of me when I was that age. She loves all things pink and sparkly and got her ears pierced for her 4th birthday. She wants to take ballet and I have high hopes that one day, we will get to watch her on a show like Dancing With the Stars. This child is beautiful (and I’m not just saying that because I’m her mother either!) but she is also beautiful inside. And even though she can be one stubborn little mule, she has a very sweet heart and cares about everyone.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjl8aaiav2ZO-y2pqadM3RXqv0inHlWIPHC8Ez9rjIb6fWVRF122v_XLIRhelTtopvrTMW6Ab6V4yr2PGKP6Edd9rOL9jEibm6k6hOKNV2Dq4O33TjOKdAbdai-c7BfjNNH_C3wLWcfUA/s1600-h/Drew,+H+&+K.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162216952423965970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjl8aaiav2ZO-y2pqadM3RXqv0inHlWIPHC8Ez9rjIb6fWVRF122v_XLIRhelTtopvrTMW6Ab6V4yr2PGKP6Edd9rOL9jEibm6k6hOKNV2Dq4O33TjOKdAbdai-c7BfjNNH_C3wLWcfUA/s320/Drew,+H+%26+K.JPG" border="0" /></a> So those are two of my babies. Baby #3 we will call MDH. He is quite a catch! He’s smart, good-looking and works very hard to provide for our family. There is nothing he loves more than his girls and they know it! He went to college on a soccer scholarship and there is no sport that he is bad at. Tennis, bowling, basketball, baseball, soccer, swimming, badminton…it doesn’t matter. If he tries it, he will be better than most. He says it makes him embarrassed when people point this out, but I think he secretly likes it =)<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtrfmn-UUKD0Tfz-Hj-s8BdOO4eyPXj9GErfyO6TqGSNvODdm4I_-4NSnnOL2MI62yzTmXb4y43dAFfRy7bsoUF1UqPK2rAfVBL4h-dY4y-dU-ku6kAHFGV-7ijYq6GxyWvc8neJF0gSY/s1600-h/Dixie+Doo"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162216780625274114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtrfmn-UUKD0Tfz-Hj-s8BdOO4eyPXj9GErfyO6TqGSNvODdm4I_-4NSnnOL2MI62yzTmXb4y43dAFfRy7bsoUF1UqPK2rAfVBL4h-dY4y-dU-ku6kAHFGV-7ijYq6GxyWvc8neJF0gSY/s320/Dixie+Doo" border="0" /></a> Last but not lease is baby Dixie. She joined our family two years ago after being abandoned on the side of the road and picked up by the local animal shelter. She was a little spastic and chewed up a lot of shoes at first, but now she can run outside and comes back when she’s called and sleeps right between MDH and I every night. She has truly become a part of our family.</div><div></div><div>So that’s all of us. I hope you enjoy reading about our adventures (and misadventures) and my random thoughts. I would love to get responses and be able to correspond with a wide variety of people, so feel free to leave me a message or two!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Merebearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08407439250521272551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7927974792678437927.post-76791304682190328192008-01-29T19:41:00.000-06:002008-01-29T19:46:45.172-06:00I'm Always Right...I ThinkLast night I was reading a book that my sister gave me for Christmas, <em>What I Know Now – Letters to My Younger Self</em>. It is a compilation of letters from strong, accomplished, powerful women to themselves at whatever age they felt they needed the most guidance. So far, I have found most of these letters very wise and insightful. However, after I read the introduction for Senator Barbara Boxer (D – California) and knowing where she’s from and what she stands for, I immediately thought that there is no shred of wisdom this crackpot can impart to me. I think God heard that thought and said, “wanna bet?” Here is what Senator Boxer had to say…<br /><br />Dear Barbara,<br /><br />You’re full of fire. You’re passionate about quality education, safe streets, the environment – all of these things. I know you feel these things in your heart and your feel them strongly, but look, you have to understand that the next person may hold their beliefs with the same amount of passion that you have. Don’t be so judgmental about other people. Don’t be so quick to dismiss another human being. Don’t jump to the conclusion that another person just doesn’t get it or isn’t wise enough just because he doesn’t agree with you.<br /><br />The name of the game in politics is to move forward an issue you deeply believe in. You’re just starting out and young enough to be impatient when people don’t see your point of view. Stop and listen to what you’re saying: I can’t believe you feel that way! And How could you possible think that way? You’ve shut off the potential to learn from that person you’re talking to and you’ll be less of a person for it. In the end, you’ll lose what matters most – the chance to advance an issue you care about.<br /><br />There’s something else you may not want to face: It’s easier to be judgmental. It’s less work to see everything in black and white. But every single person is as important as you are and has a story to tell, just like you do. Open up your mind to other points of view – and you may not have to experience how losing an election can take you down a peg or two.<br /><br />Your staunchest supporter,<br />Senator Boxer<br /><br />I have never been so quickly corrected or convicted before. I may have even blushed at my harshness when I finished reading. I generally consider myself to be extremely flexible and open-minded. It was a good reminder to me that that quality is a skill that needs to be practiced and it doesn’t come easy.Merebearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08407439250521272551noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7927974792678437927.post-40405204075890275702008-01-14T15:38:00.000-06:002008-01-14T16:07:23.473-06:00Heaven, not Harvard<div align="left">This is an artical my dad gave me to read. I absolutely love what she has to say about the way we push our children today. They only get to be wide-eyed and innocent for so long, why are we trying to take that away from them?<br /><br />The Joys of Not Competing by Betsy Hart<br />(Rocky Mountain News - Friday 11/2/07)<br /><br />I'm not sure when I lost the competitive-parent race. But make no mistake, I lost. Or rather, decided early not to compete.<br /><br />I'm not sure when it all began. But my kids didn't go to preschool because that seemed rather unnecessary to me, and I wanted them home for those years anyway.<br /><br />Later my then-second-grade daughter, along with her classmates, was tested as a matter of routine for the "gifted" program, which began in third grade at her public school. I was barely aware of the testing. So I was surprised when I received an e-mail from the teacher to all of the parents, literally begging them to stop barraging her with inquiries about the "cut-off" for the gifted program before she herself had the information.<br /><br />So, I was more than a little pleased to read "Rush, Little Baby: How the Push for Infant Academics May Actually Be a Waste of Time - or Worse" by Neil Swidey of <em></em>The Boston Globe<em></em>. Featured in the recent Sunday Magazine, it was a great profile of parents who push their littlest kids to intellectual extremes. And for what? Several studies released in recent years show that such efforts have no postitve effect on the child's cognitive development. But Swidey says that's just one part of the picture.<br /><br />Flashcards for babies "might actually be no more extreme than the increasing mania among professional parents to armor their youngsters with every educational enrichment program available...all at the expense of old-fashioned but vitally important unstructured play." I wonder: Just how many parents today would admilt to having a wonderfully average child? Maybe I'm not on that track because of how my parents raised me.<br /><br />I'm the youngest of five. Yes, there were a few horseback-riding and ballet lessons. But that was about it.<br /><br />Only, that wasn't "it". Our house was full of books, my mother read to me a lot and pursued an advanced degree and professional success, my father was busy supporting the family, and my parents' friends were interesting and our home was one where ideas were discussed and debated.<br /><br />My parents' world didn't revolve around me. They wanted their children to become whole people of character. What a difference, I think, from many of thoday's parents who are on the competitive track.<br /><br />I know that the "competitive parents" love their kids like crazy, too, and want the best for them.<br /><br />But I also know I want so much more for my kids than a Baby Einstein DVD could give them, even if it worked. When it comes to my children, my ultimate goal for them is heaven, not Harvard. If they go to the latter on their way to heaven, that's great. But if I reverse that equation, I've failed them.</div>Merebearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08407439250521272551noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7927974792678437927.post-35105840189861912452007-10-29T22:55:00.000-05:002007-10-29T23:00:25.983-05:00Um...Okay, so I don't really have a lot to say...ever. But it seems as though i have a million tracks of thought running through my head, so i thought maybe here, i could let them all out.<br /><br />i have a couple of friends who blog and they always seem to have interesting things to say...i'm hoping this fabulous quality will come with writing more often. besides that fact that i feel like i have nothing to write, i feel like anytime i do want to write something, it is not of interest to the general "blog" population. and i also feel that spilling my guts may turn out to be somewhat negative. which is funny since i always fancied myself to be a delirious optimist.<br /><br />please...tell me what you think.Merebearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08407439250521272551noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7927974792678437927.post-42023611834725346932007-10-11T08:59:00.000-05:002007-10-11T09:06:09.084-05:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTApA2sD_4wJQzBYWb8L_PUb2iyP0tDTVRpEdUw81Jk5qLoMFzzZPrd9FUXYMLh7IxZHeHVYoj5vxlNNTeKnUY-p7e7CwvOzIcVUxVI4KHxqlIbHBYHjyYUt0s6R2O7tCKloXOm0q_rKQ/s1600-h/H+&+K.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5120079396901062610" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTApA2sD_4wJQzBYWb8L_PUb2iyP0tDTVRpEdUw81Jk5qLoMFzzZPrd9FUXYMLh7IxZHeHVYoj5vxlNNTeKnUY-p7e7CwvOzIcVUxVI4KHxqlIbHBYHjyYUt0s6R2O7tCKloXOm0q_rKQ/s320/H+%26+K.jpg" border="0" /></a> Aren't they the cutest?? I would love to have this picture on my profile but I can't figure out how to do it...any tips?<br /><div></div>Merebearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08407439250521272551noreply@blogger.com0