School Days

Little Man felt tons better and fever free this morning, so he's off to school. He's in a class with a lot of the students he was in Kindergarten and 1st grade with. He feels slightly bad that he doesn't remember names, but that's never been one of his strengths and he's confident enough to get around it. So Lady Jane and I have the day to ourselves. Furniture stores and car lots await.

The Day the Kids Almost Declared Mutiny

Yesterday was the first day stores were open since we returned on Saturday evening. Saturday, Grandma & Grandma, Uncle S, Aunt P and our nephew greeted us at the airport and helped us load the eleven suitcases and six carry ons into two vehicles and out of two vehicles when we returned home. Jet lag, ugh.

Sunday was spent resting and going to Grandma & Grandpa's for Easter dinner and egg hunt. It snowed! What's up with that? Nothing stuck but still snow on Easter? The kids and I were up at 2:30 am Sunday morning. We went down and had some cereal (the kids barely ate on Saturday, plane food isn't kid friendly). We watched a little TV then headed back upstairs to try to sleep more. That really wasn't happening so at 4 am we gave up and Phil woke up too. By 5 am we were happily seated at IHOP where someone else cooked for us. Bacon, overeasy eggs and hash browns never tasted better. Asleep by 8:30 for the whole family. Jet lag sucks.

Then came Monday. Lady Jane slept a bit later than the rest of us who woke at 5 am. We started with the school at 7:50 to register Little Man and make sure Lady Jane had a spot for Kindergarten in the fall. Phil decided to take off the morning since the only shoes he had were his running shoes which with orange stripes don't go very well with khakis. We left the school and headed to Target. We bought school supplies for Little Man, pants for Little Man, wallet for Phil, summer clothes for Lady Jane, and other essentials. From there we went across the street to Kohl's where I replaced the six towels we threw out because they didn't fit in the suitcases and Phil got shoes. Next stop lunch at Kreiger's. Mmmm, buffalo chicken. Phil and Little Man got their hair cut. We swung by the house and dropped off the packages, picked up Phil's laptop and took Phil to work. After saying bye to daddy we headed to the Sprint PCS store with a quick stop by the kids' old daycare. This is where Little Man began to fail. He was warm and not feeling well. But he persevered. Next stop YMCA for new membership and to sign up for classes. Then the bank to request new debit cards and deposit pounds. Last but not least was the grocery store where Little Man begged me to be quick. The novelty of watching someone else pack my groceries kept me amused in the checkout line. So we rushed through the grocery store and headed home at 3:50 pm. I had to pick Phil up at 5 and we both needed to go back to the Sprint store for our new cell phones. As I realized the kids were at the end of their ropes, I did something I haven't been able to do for a year. I called Grandma & Grandpa and asked if they'd watch the kids for an hour or so. The pleasure of being home. Sure it was a long day and Little Man turned out to have a fever and is staying home today from his first day of school, but we managed through it. We stayed awake until regular bed time and with the exception of Little Man waking up to be sick in the middle of the night, we slept through the night and woke at normal times. Bye bye jet lag.

America for the Squimish

I know this is my first post in America and that it should probably be more than what it is, but the kids and I have been up since 3 am and it's now 4 am and we're going back to bed for at least an hour. Little Man didn't do so well on the flight. He messed up two planes by not getting to the barf bag fast enough. Sorry American. He's better now and got some breakfast. We need to go back to bed, so I'm going to cut this short. We made it! We're home! And it smells like cat, go figure.

Saying Goodbye Is Never Easy

It's especially hard when you know that meeting again isn't in the foreseeable future. Everyone was really great and the kids really made good impressions on the school. The six year students got Lady Jane a going away present. Little Man got lots of hugs from his teacher. It's been an amazing transformation for Little Man. Exactly what we were hoping for. He's really matured and though he's still a goofball sometimes, his behavior has vastly improved. Lady Jane has grown a lot as well from an almost 4 year old to an almost 5 year old, prepared for kindergarten in the fall. We've been places that would have been pushed off for years because of expense.

I'll miss the little life we've created for us over here in England, but I'm glad we're coming home. See you on the flip side. Next blog will be from America.

Movers Are Here

Currently on a smoke break but here none the less. They are packing up all the little odds and ends we brought with us which actually amount to a lot of stuff. Last night the kids and I went over to our friends in Hathersage. We all had a lot of fun. We will miss them a lot. Lady Jane's best friend and her played the whole time. It really is amazing how things changed over one year. The friendships offered at the beginning of our time here didn't all last. The friends that developed because of common bonds (new to the school, kids are friends) are the ones that I'll miss. There are certain people, I've found, that I click with as friends. Others may be acquantances or even friends, but they don't quite reach that "this is someone I want to talk to for the rest of my life." Some people make friends with everyone they meet and try to maintain some kind of contact. I'm not that type of person. I don't know if it's genetically hardwired that way or it's from being ostrasized on playgrounds at a young age. Point to all this? I've made some friends that I will definitely miss and some that will just be a fond memory.

The friends we were with last night are the kind that I will try to stay in touch with, the best that I can which isn't always the greatest. With e-mail things are a little more easy. I need to get a few more e-mail addresses. This really is an insane week for us, but we're making it work. Phil's a bit of a worry wart (understatement of the year, folks). We just need to make it to Saturday, then everyone will be happy again.

At a Loss for Words

At least vocally. Laryngitis is no fun especially when everyone wants to talk to you. Fortunately my children understand my snap and points. The doctor instead of prescribing antibotics (because I have allergies to three and maybe he couldn't think of a fourth) gave me some topical throat spray and said to ride it out. So Thursday night I stayed up with my 103 F temperature and decided screw that. So I'm taking Sudafed and Aleve and hoping the lymphnodes in my neck keep going down with the throat spray. This all should be hopefully over by next Saturday for the flight.

Movers come on Tuesday. Kids finish school Thursday. We have all day Good Friday to finish cleaning up the apartment and drive over to Manchester to spend the night. Saturday morning we get to the airport and come home. This is the week that is hard to shop for since people have been asking us out to dinner and we don't want to over buy on groceries.

Today we have the Easter egg hunt at the kids' school and we're going to pack up the suitcases leaving out only enough clothes for the next week. Then over to a friends' house tonight. Tomorrow more getting ready for the movers since Mommy's been out of commission this week. Monday after school the kids and I are going over to our friend in Hathersage for a last play and tea. Phil's going out with the guys from work that night probably. Phil's boss wants to take us out to dinner sometime next week. It seems very unreal that in one week we'll be home in America and even more unreal that the people the kids and I have seen almost everyday for the past year, we won't see anymore if ever again.

She Gave Me Fever

It doesn't quite have the same ring to it, but it's true. So I'm hoarse and my low grade fever has changed to an actual fever. Woohoo. I called the doctor's office and they may be able to get me in tomorrow, but definitely on Friday. My eyes are so hot my tears are boiling over. Really they're just running and burning, but it's so much more of a visual when stated like that. And don't get me started on the ripping and tearing sensation every time I cough. I have to go pick up Little Man from a friend's soon. Blech!

Sorry for the whiny weepy post. I promise to have better news at some point.

And The Germs Play On

Lady Jane's temp hit 104 last night. She still has a fever, but is doing better. She passed on the lovely virus that caused all these problems to me. What can I say...she's a giver. It's unbelievable that in two weeks we'll be home. Our way of life will be in upheaval for a while. We have to readjust to living again. Hopefully we'll be able to kick the bugs before our 7 hour flight. Not much else to talk about. So I won't.

Not Exactly How I Like Being Woken Up

5:45am To a Little Man bringing Lady Jane into our room because he can't sleep because she won't stop crying. Take temperature. 103F Not good. Lay her down in our bed, send Little Man back to his. Get Ibuprofen. Dole out dosage. Worry. Draw bath. Sit girl in bath. Get her out and back in bed. Falls asleep in my bed. No worries, I'm not going back to sleep anyway because the bathroom is calling me. Little Man still can't sleep. I go downstairs to use bathroom. Vow never to eat pizza again. Little Man is up and dressed for school by the time I get out. Phil gets up around 6:30. Lady Jane comes down about 7:00. Boy goes to school with Daddy. Lady Jane and mommy stay miserable on our respective chairs.

10:50am Go to doctor's. Oh, goody. Ear infection. Go to chemist, get amoxicilian. Back home in enough time to see Big Cook Little Cook. Temperature back up to 103. Give more ibuprofen. Wait for Lady Jane to fall asleep so I can see the end of Buffy. Good episode just way too scary.

She did fall asleep right before 4 yesterday and instead of waking her up, sent Little Man to Merlin's and Phil picked him up on the way home.

You Give Me Fever

Arguing with a four-year-old teenager is like banging your head on the wall. Wait. I take that back at least with the wall you have a chance of breaking it. Lady Jane woke up hoarse this morning and complaining about her leg hurting. After dressing her for school and going downstairs, I decided to take her temperature. 101 F. So she's lying on the sofa and doing nothing or at least she's supposed to. She has difficulty staying on the sofa and refused to nap. We know how this goes. I have to pick up Little Man at 4:35, she'll fall asleep about 4:00 and I'll have to wake her up. So here's hoping she doesn't take my advice for the first time today and fall asleep until after we get back with Little Man.

Lost Theories

No this isn't going to be a post about the series Lost just an aspect. So there's this character, Ben, who is all about getting under people's skin with their insecurities. Ben would have so much toying with Phil. If you've read his post on Earphones, you saw part of the story. When Phil buys something, he has to research it fully. I realized this the first time I went shopping with him for a wallet. Now I'm the type of gal who likes to shop around, wait no...sorry. I'm actually not that type of girl. If I need something I go to a store walk in find what I need and buy it. Phil on the other hand is that type of gal...uh...guy. We went to the Galleria to shop for his wallet and spent an hour or so going from shop to shop looking for the perfect wallet and then making sure it wasn't cheaper somewhere else. I think he went back and bought the second one we looked at. Needless to say (but I will anyway) I refuse to wallet shop with him.

Okay, so he researches everything. His speakers, his TV (for months and years), and his headphones. Even after he makes his decision and buys it, he'll second guess himself for a few months afterwards. So what does all this have to do with Lost? Go back to Ben who manipulates people based on their weaknesses. Here's how Ben would get to Phil on the island after the plane wreck:

Phil: Hey, sweet only $10 for this shirt. Thanks, Sawyer.
Ben: I got mine free.
Phil: What?
Ben: I got mine for free.

Later that day.

Phil: Ben, I got a free shirt too.
Ben: Really, you bought that shirt? Sawyer paid me $10 to take this shirt.
Phil: What?!
Ben: Look, maybe you just aren't good at spotting a deal.
Phil: Noooooo!

Love ya, babe.

Happy Mother's Day!

That's right it's Mother's Day here in England which means I get two this year. Woohoo! Of course we missed it last year so this is make-up. The kids are busy making gifts with daddy in the kitchen. Yesterday we went to Meadowhall, which was almost as packed as it was at Christmas time. We had a nice late lunch at Pizza Express, something Phil and I are really going to miss. Then we walked around the mall. You can just guess what Lady Jane spent her allowance on. Shoes. We window shopped jewelry and clothes. We went through toy shops but the kids weren't allowed to spend their pocket money on anything they could get in America. We did end up buying me some books (on the area) and a new coat. I've been admiring the English style coats all winter and I finally got one. Yeah! I looked on the website of the store we got it from and realized I love their casual clothes too. I'm just not willing to spend 38 pounds ($76) on a top. Sigh. But the coat was reasonably priced and I should be able to wear it for years to come.

3 more weeks and I'll be typing this from home. :)