Politically Incorrect

After dropping off CJ at school- Casey and I passed the town square where the giant fountain was filled with pink water in honor of breast cancer support. Casey of course asks, "Why is the fountain pink?"- I quickly answer because of breast cancer. Casey then replies "I love breast cancer"

Advice

Well we had a weekend full of advice. Chris got home from meeting with another team member in Switzerland and said I got some good personal advice about living abroad

1- overspend the first year-
2-even if your are tired if your wife wants to sightsee do so
3- travel whenever you get the chance (he invited us to come stay and ski in Switzerland while his family's au pair watches our kiddos- sounds good to me)

Nice it came from a 3rd party so I can safely say Chris is back on the weekend sightsee plan.
Sat headed to Costco- I felt weirdly back in Plano- spending $300 on stuff I may not need but loving every minute of it. We found a bunch of cute bday presents for casey- which we put in the basket and she would say "I really wanted an ariel pillow mom- when I get bigger can I get one" Supposedly I was blissfully unaware at 3 when my mom would do the same thing.

Then we headed to the American Club gourmet night. I was given an italian antipasto dish. Recipe pretty easy to make besides converting all the kg to US measurements and buying baking trays that fit in my oven. Due to the recent advice Chris was given- no complaints were made about hanging out with 10 strangers for the evening. The group was pretty cool- mostly 40 year olds with 7+ years of international living experience. Everyone was very sweet about helping us find sitters, dentists, and activities. Some of the couples are from London financial institutions so we discussed the bailout of AIG and the general dismal state of the economy.
It was funny because one couple kept talking about a high school for boys that would be great for CJ. I didn't want to break their hearts that there really was no possibility we would be here for high school. I think I have adapted pretty well with the frame of reference that this is a short term assignment- in truth I would be freaking out if this was permanent. But 5 courses of italian food and plenty of red vino made for a tired sunday:)

I

Abba continues

I am still smiling-finally managed to salvage an outfit (for CJ) for the schools 80th bday party.

I now know why a lot of Oscars winners come from England- I was blown away my the musical portion of the assembly. CJ kept telling me that only the really special kids get chosen for the school choir. They had all the classes each sing a song and the kids did an amazing job. The year 2 kids (1st graders)- did a selection from Les Miz- sounded like Broadway quality production. (definitely saw a few tears from the parents) The 10 years old then did Mamma Mia and it was really cute singing and dancing. The school brought out a big cake and they they had the younger kids (CJ's class) accompanied by the oldest student (17 year olds) blow out the candles.

Mamma Mia

Can you tell I'm smiling- I just got home from seeing Mamma Mia with one of my american friends. And yes we went to the sing a long screening- where we pretended to be too cool for school for a nanosecond and then sang every song after that! Talk about the perfect wed (middle of the week) pick me up! I almost forgot that I needed to come up with an outfit for CJ to wear to school for the school's 80th bday party. (oh I miss TX and our 2 year old elementary school) And yes the playground moms have plotted their kid's costumes for weeks so I will hunt for a cap and suspenders and whatever gear I can find. The only person that wants to wear a costume is Casey Jane but alas the nursery school is not included so the hated blue tracksuit will appear again on Friday. (she muttered that she doesn't feel pretty in it- (I swear I don't make this stuff up).

40 preschoolers, The Queen, My Purse at Last

Finally had some sun this weekend. We headed to CJ's first British classmate's party. I don't know what I was expecting- from all my martha stewart type friends that planned kiddo bday parties in TX - I guess I was expecting a scaled back version of a 5 year old's bday party here. Well there was a hall rented 40 children- basically all 3 classes from their school were invited. A DJ , a dancefloor, bounce house, magician, beer/wine for the adults, and general mayhem as you attempt to get 40 kids to eat dinner together. The kids and moms for that matter were decked out for the party- (most moms in dresses/heels (no worries I was in capris)- Goody bags for the kids had a cupcake, a cookie, a light up toy, a stuffed animal. (may be nicer than the gift I gave)

Finally met a very cool Mom (she's form Ireland) from the school. She is funny, krunchy (e.g she has home births (she's like a 100 pounds and does the whole drug free thing for 9 lb babies (CRAZY) and recycles everything), likes wine, likes kids going to school . She sought me out asking if I was going to the States for Christmas and if I could buy some items from babygap and seven jeans for herself. She always laughing at how our kids teacher refuses to call CJ anything other than Christopher. Anyway- she was filling me in on how everyone tries to outdo each other on bday parties and now since this was the first one of the year- things could get ridiculous.

Sunday - woke up to Chris letting me know that Michigan State had crushed ND ( we have the college tv package)! Then headed to London. This is one of the last weekends they let you inside Buckingham Palace. Casey liked it- although she mentioned (loudly) that the queen isn't as pretty as the princesses (disney) and then stared at the chandeliers (reminded me of that cute baby einstein phase). Chris seemed moderately bored as I hung out in the banquet room and counted the glasses at each place setting 6 (water, white wine, red wine, port, pudding, and champagne.) Get rid of the pudding glass if you ask me and add another champagne flute. We did spot the mayor of London (he still needs a haircut before this city hosts the Olympics).

Then we took 2 tubes-2 buses to get to the Burberry outlet. So sad -it's in a bad part of town across the street from some projects and then myself and 1/2 of asia was running through the door scouring for purses. (side note no British people wear Burberry- its out of fashion here)
A purse was purchased - (Chris did tell me to buy whatever I wanted since we were never going to spend 2 hours getting there again). Will provide photos of myself and purse at a later date.

Sample of Today

6am- Chris wakes me up to help him pick out an outfit for his presentation and to make sure his socks and pants match. Not happy- and not sure I didn't send him out with navy pants and black socks. Seriously he spends way too long getting ready . (he is a closet metrosexual)

7 am- picture day at school put in Casey Jane's bow in her hair for which she screams

7:30- let kids pick out cereal choice (the mini kind)- they both pick the same one- CJ left unhappy.

7:45- Casey pulls out bow and spills strawberries on tracksuit.

8:45- CJ still crying at drop off- asks if I can pick him up after lunch because 3 is too long of a day . (Teacher starting to annoy me that she refuses to call him CJ and only calls him Christopher. Make a mental note that I will bring this up at a later date.)

9- drop Casey off at school she sees the photographer and literally starts shrieking. Put bow in hair again. (who am I kidding like she's going to have a bow in her hair when I get the pictures back). The school claims they will do sibling shots after individual ones (can't wait to see CJ and Casey Jane strangling each other on film)

9:30- navigate a gazillion 1 way streets for which the English treat as 2 way streets to meet 2 other Americans for coffee (and yes we went to Starbucks thankyouverymuch)

11-rant and complain for a good 1 1/2 in a very therapeutic way. ( could have been more therapeutic if we drank booze instead of coffee)

1pm- meet plumber at house to discuss why we have basically no water pressure. (so all my friends/family back home better love taking that long hot shower while water basically trickles on me)

2pm- Blog- hopefully this is making Moroney laugh after being thrown back into the fire after maternity leave:)

Mary Poppins

Well - Chris and I had our first date night since June 21- (can you tell I was counting)- we used a sitting service and the girl was great. The girl walks in the door and CJ says "You are more beautiful than our other babysitters- for anyone that knows us that's a good start after we lost a TX babysitter last year due to CJ pestering her with questions if she had a baby in her tummy (she did not).Poor girl didn't eat a thing at our house and never sat for us again.

We stayed a 1/2 hour and then we left (without guilt) for dinner and drinks. Chris and I have never lived near family so we have become quite comfortable (due to necessity with babysitter agencies). Dinner was good (appetizer awesome /main course so/so)- We came home and sitter (who of course was drinking tea) said are children were angels!

Felt bad for Chris he woke up early this morning to jump online to check college football scores- he did run up to tell me the IRISH beat Michigan. It appears our satellite package can only get us NFL so he has to find a 3rd party to get college football. He seemed sad at 7 am reading about the hi lights of the big games:(

Casey Jane started ballet on Friday and loved it. She is the youngest in the class but loves the fact she gets to pretend to be a princess. We had a tough time removing the leotard and skirt Friday night!

tearful dropoffs, overscheduled, and Mom's isn't a disney princess

Well I have already become "that Mom" - you know the on that contacts the school on day 3. Long story short- CJ has been sobbing at dropoff- picture Pouring rain standing on a playground and a little guy ( in basically a suit) waiting to line up to enter school sobbing "I want to go home". I myself don't even put mascara on in the morning. He then is not sobbing when I pick him up but he looks wiped out and sad. I ask him about his day and he does the whole drama that at "this school he has to ask for hugs they don't just hug you like at his other school". So I talk to Chris who thinks I am making a mountain out of a molehill. I then go to the headmistress to ask if he can go part time instead of 5 full days a week- (he can't)- they assure me by week 2 he will be loving it. We shall see- I figure if I am already "that mom" - I am going to do some random surveillance.

On another note with this school day wiping him out- we are going to drop out of some activities. I had him signed up for soccer, swim lesson, and religion class. I ask him the other day which activity do you want to give up. Direct quote " Mom- would god be mad at me if I didn't go to church school" 4 1/2 is too young for catholic guilt-so we are going to have to make a call on one of these activities.


Casey on the other hand (still hates the uniform- dad's job on MWF)- but basically could care less that I am leaving her at school and is now letting me know my hair isn't pretty like Cinderella. This little lady needs to learn whose the Queen of the house.

Christmas In Sept

Well our move went well- all things considered. It rained the first day (shocker) and the movers said there was no way they would be able to fit our Queen bed up the staircase (glad we left our king at home) but they did. The kids played in the the playroom with their toys from 3 months ago that are now new toys. Seriously, CJ mentioned a zillion times how did we get so many toys we are so lucky. So we are almost unpacked and have even hung some of our pictures. Seriously - Chris and I have the moving thing down -we literally walked room to room and pretty much knew where we were going to put up stuff. It helps that we only have 1/3 of our stuff as well. Since its a rental no need to pull out the Benjamin Moore paint book and pick a Charleston sage for the third time. (still a little bitter about moving ). Neighbors - chris and I have bet on how long it will take to meet them. I say 3 weeks he says 3 months. It seems British folks aren't the most outgoing.

Casey had her first day of school- it went well! We persuaded her to put on the blue tracksuit with a bribe of mommy painting her toes this weekend. yes - she is not even 3 and she wants her toes painted. We have resorted to bribes to get that tracksuit on 3 days a week.

Quick little answers to questions readers (all 4 of you) have posed-

1- No we do not get the current Hills or Gossip Girl and yes I am jealous ! No- I can't watch it on my computer because of some dumb Law .

2-CJ and Casey attend the same school the difference in uniform is casey is in nursery school and CJ is in their form of kindergarten.

3- I miss BIG parking lots- Target, Malls, Chain restaurants ( never thought I would say that but any American restaurant kicks England hiney for food and service). Bot most of all family and friends!

4- I like the fact that people make do with less here. Kids are disciplined and very well behaved (not mine -yet). Its green/hilly and not brown and flat. Feels like we have to sight see whenever we get the opportunity. Chris helps me out more that in the States. CJ and Casey finally have been playing well together!

First Day of School for CJ

Well, we we had a tough day yesterday. CJ was worried about school starting- will I have any friends- where is the bathroom at the school- the teacher won't know my name-no one will sit by me at lunch- if we were in TX the triplets would help me find my class if I got lost-(add another 100 worries and you get the picture)

Then the mail came-CJ's teacher sent him a welcome to my class letter which made his night.

Then we woke up -extra 10 minutes to put the uniform gear- CJ freaking out that we would be late for school. Casey Jane crying that she wants to go to school (little does she know it starts Monday!)

We arrive at the classroom and his sweet teacher says "Hi Christopher- who is your favorite planet hero" (they had the parents fill in cheat sheets a month ago on kiddo's likes and dislikes).

From there they were off and running. The school seems great but very formal- I think CJ got corrected a couple times for not handshaking properly to parents (he tried to high five) and trying to call the teacher Miss Tanya instead of Miss. McGrath. He seemed to be having fun and excited about going to school tomorrow all by himself. Let's see how we do with the battle royale with Casey and the blue tracksuit- should be an interesting blog

Hair Dye, Moving Boxes, and Biting

Well my first UK salon experience was a success. Let me say- my planning paid off! After we found out we were moving to England- I switched salons in Texas to Toni and Guy (since they are international). I then made an appointment here and had my colorist call the Plano salon to get my haircolor. Seriously I don't mess around when it comes to my hair color. So anyways- the colorist Mark scares me at first by saying- "I know how to do Texas hair". (I am envisioning Dallas tv show circa 1982). He stuck to the color and now my gray hair is gone! The best part was it wasn't ridiculously expensive (hair is $$$$ no matter where you live)

Spent the rest of the weekend packing- seems to be a quarterly thing for our family. Come Friday we will be in our house-Thank God. Dragged the kids to the electronic store with Chris- who spent hours picking out the TV. He's already bummed that college football is on and we are out of the loop. One of my high school friends posted that MSU and U of M lost and I had to inform him. (sad times for Chris- makes me know we will be coming back to TX!)

On another note- I found an American Women's Club in my area. (yes, friends I am joining another club). The women who is the president is in her 60s- she was so sweet. She is a LSU grad and was all concerned why Notre Dame doesn't have sororities because I sound like a Kappa something girl. (sounded like a compliment but I have no clue) She invited me to the first event and he club looks pretty cool- Book clubs, Gourmet Clubs, and just women that can relate to bad washing machines, crazy driving experiences, and bland food. The first gourmet night is TX foods- hopefully we get some spicy food.

Finally had my first day at the gym that has a daycare. Assumed since Casey Jane was pottytrained there is no way I get called on the loud speaker while running (was a running (no pun intended) joke in TX that I never made it past 2.5 miles without a call for a diaper, etc). Well it appears our little Princess bit another child- so we had to fill out an accident report. So as I type- CJ is watching berenstein bears and Casey is in timeout. I am destined to not run 3 miles until middle school with these rug rats