We Have Visitors :)

Craziness!!!

 

 

I'm not sure if it was for the worse or better, but we had our sea shipment arrive the same day we had our first visitors, Gigi and Fritzy, aka Mom and Fritz.

The girls were so elated to have visitors, especially ones that brought Skyline Chili, Goldfish crackers, and sunny weather (that, however, has changed to two straight days of fog and mist... Jack the Ripper-esque style).

Because our sea shipment had just arrived, our guests stepped into a house full of boxes, furniture in the wrong room, and general chaos.  Gigi and Fritz didn't mind as long as they got to see the girls. 

Nothing better than eating lunch with Gigi while watching a riveting Barbie flick!

 

The weather over the weekend was good so the girls got to share with our guests our neighbourhood...including the North Sea which is the East border of our subdivision.



I am lying about this picture as this was taken in September.  In no circumstance would the weather be warm enough for this frolicking at this time of the year- but somehow, this is how Madelyn always ends up!  We don't let them get in the cold ocean- doesn't stop Mady from finding the biggest damn puddle on the beach.  "Screw you, mom and dad.  I'll get wet, dirty, and have sand in my crotch if I want!"

 

I took the girls out of school for two days this week so we could spend time with my mom and Fritz and see a few sights.  Yesterday, we braved the mist and headed to the city of Durham (about 20 minutes from the house) to visit the Cathedral, walk around the town with its cobblestone streets and world-ranked university, and visit a pub.  When in Rome :)

 

 







Shake what your momma gave you.  Taken at the Shakespeare pub
near the university.  I felt academically obligated to take the fam there!

Mady and Gigi enjoying a lolly (sucker)
looking at the rowers on the River Wear.




As good Catholics, we went to the pub AFTER we visited the beautiful
Durham Cathedral :) The Cathedral, built in 1000s, houses the
crypts for the Venerable Bede (shout out to British Literature students!)
and Saint Cuthbert, a local favourite.

Tomorrow we are headed to York... on a train! Please pray for patience and sanity- and an endless supply of pints of Fosters :)


Love to you all!

Kelly


THINGS THAT MAKE ME GO... HMMMM :)

10 THINGS I DIDN'T KNOW I DIDN'T KNOW

THESE ITEMS ARE IN NO WAY LISTED IN THE ORDER OF PERSONAL INTEREST OR SHOCK VALUE

 

1.  The amount of rain here is not excessive as I had expected... but there is always a good chance it will rain once in a 24 hour period.  Regardless, without fail, we go for a walk/bike ride and it rains- then GD if it doesn't stop raining as soon as we hurry home!

 

2.  Pursuant to number 1, babies have the LIFE in NE England. Look at their rides in the never-certain weather:

Of course I was going to stalk a parent with child to get an action photo, but found that far too creepy.  In addition to their built-in ponchos, we have seen snap on umbrellas in case you fear your child getting too much Vitamin D from the rays and built in blankets (I have always preferred the "Fine- then freeze if you would rather keep kicking it off"- parenting method)

 

3.  I am out of shape...more so than I thought! Dan, however, has been bragging that he has been fastening his belt on a smaller notch- mostly due to his "healthy" lifestyle of baguettes and English Ale for a nighttime snack (asshole)!

 

4.  Spiders and flies are HUGE here due to the wet, moderate climate.  Not only that, but they are EVERYWHERE.  I hope this doesn't scare away any potential visitors :(

5.  Nothing can be cuter than seeing Cecelia and her classmates in proper uniforms!  The high school age girls, on the other hand, dress like sluts no, um... tramps, no um... hookers, no um... hoochies.  I wanted to maintain a family-friendly blog :)

 

6. The cheese here sucks.

 

7.  It is slightly annoying to me, but the proper way to invite someone to have a coffee or tea with you is to say, "Want to meet for a cuppa?"  A cuppa what?  A cuppa gin and juice?  A cuppa kool-aid?  I need some more direction here!

 

8.  The people in England are VERY conscientious about recycling and energy conservation. Because of this, we have our plastics/papers and yard waste picked up on the odd-numbered Mondays and the house waste/food waste and bottles and aluminium picked up on the even-numbered Mondays.  Can you imagine having so little house waste that a large outdoor trash can isn't full until 2 weeks has passed?  I've never been a recycler, but I work it here. "Go green or go..."- well, I am not sure what would be catchy.  So just "Go Green."

 

9.  I bought a Ford C-Max.  Just look at the picture and make your own judgement as there are many things about English driving/cars I didn't know I didn't know.  Is it a minivan?  No.  Is it a hatchback?  No, not really.  Is it a station wagon?  Hell no.  But what exactly is it... I just don't know.

 

 

 

10.  Scones!  These are delicious and Dan and I quite enjoy a fresh scone.  A scone is properly served with clotted cream and berry-flavoured (have to spell with the -ou) jam.  Who gives a delicious condiment a pathogen-esque name?  Clotted?  That is such a raunchy name for such a great little concoction.  Nonetheless, I have several scones a week.  Maybe soon I will start having them with tea.  New culture = baby steps. 

 

 

Who knows- maybe I will like tea.  Perhaps I will even invite someone to join me for a cuppa.  Time will tell!

 

Love to you all!

Kelly