Gold and Silver for US Gymnasts in the All-Around!!!!!!!

sweeping up the competition

olympic update

Well we lost the gold in women's gymnastics. 1 of our 3 US gymnasts (sacramone) fell on beam and the floor.(completely understand the beam but floor !) We were looking pretty good up until that point. I think its fair to say we know what China was doing in the years preparing to host- they created machines in diving and gymnastics (pretty impressive). Chris misses Russia's old uniforms with CCCP emblazoned across (we needed to google what the acronym meant). It is hard to tell which country the athletes belong to it seems everyone is in red white or blue. Still back to my old ways of screaming at the television wishing every other non US preteen gymnast to fall off the beam or bars. (Casey did point out "there all good -mom"). This just means we need to take the all around on Friday- go Shawn and Natasia!

Missing Crocs

Well we woke up monday morning with a Casey and CJ missing a croc each. Wouldn't be that big of deal if we had our stuff but our supplies are limited in the current state.

On Sunday - we were invited to a bar b que at a work colleague's house. On the trip to the house- Chris and I coached the kids about being well behaved , eating all the food that was served, etc-

1)We arrive at the house and our kids are so excited to have playmates and toys-they pretty much go berserk

2)CJ decides to chuck shoes over the fence into the neighbor yard. (at least it was his own and his sister shoes)

3)Food is served- I call the sausages hot dogs in attempt to get the kids to eat them. Casey eats one bite and spits it out saying in a crystal clear voice that "this is very bad". (never mumbles in toddler baby voice when a inappropriate comment is made)

4)CJ asks repeatedly to our hosts when will they serve the cookies we bought and don't forget guests are suppose to be served first. (classy with a k)

5)Hosts attempt to get a step ladder to scale the fence (neighbors not home) to retrieve the crocs to no avail. (seriously embarrassing)


6) One positive note-I have found a new summer beverage Pims- not sure exactly what it is but it's a great cocktail

So we are getting the crocs delivered tomorrow- CJ is in school shoes and casey is prancing around in ballet slippers as I type.

the elusive iphone

I've wanted an iphone since they came to market a year ago. Just when I thought I was going to get one this spring we decided to move to England and so we had to wait until we got here to get it. I could have bought one in Texas and switched SIM cards but as soon as they said your warranty is null and void I couldn't break the law.(I'm such a girl scout) Well- we have had obstacles to get this darn phone- need a British bank account- need the atm- need the pin for the atm- and now they tell me it can't be a brand new bank account-(it has to be some ridiculous amount like 2 weeks old in order to get one due to new restrictions with some terrorist act)- OH yes -I am terrorist material dragging 2 screaming kids to the store (in the burbs) after almost t-boning my car on a roundabout. SO yes my on hold iphone is STILL on hold!!!!!! Chris keeps pestering me on why I need the iphone- simple reason is its cool (could be getting VIP info from Frisco, Chicago, Denver,Philly, Boston, St Louis, Salt Lake City, Dallas, Michigan) and I want the pink case with the bling for it as well. So 2 more weeks until I have my phone- let the countdown begin.

On another note- Olympics start today and I am excited. I remember watching the LA Olympics with Mary Lou Retton and Ekaterina Zabo (the Romanian gymnast) on tv and then pretending to walk the balance beam in my backyard with Parker. Love the all around competition those girls are awesome. Chris and I love gymnastics (yes he actually knows more of the gymnasts than I do), track and field, swimming, soccer (rather see World Cup than Olympic). So GO USA!!!!

weekly confession

1) Let a stranger parallel park my car. I did this kind of thing all the time in Chicago and now I am resorting to this habit again. Guy did a great job!~ (the paid parking lot was full)

2)Watched a really awful Cold Case episode so scary that I made Chris carry CJ to our bed. (Casey is the room next door to us whereas is CJ on the first level) CJ of course wakes up mid transfer and asks if he still gets his planet hero point since he was sleeping in his bed. " Yes, son you still get a point."

3)I still haven't eaten beef in England yet. I know its safe but I have been sticking to chicken.

4)kind of glad I wasn't in TX for 107 degrees. I am in a hoodie as I type


5)No pals yet- met a few cool girls at the park who of course turned out to be nannies. I then of course try to poach them to sit for me- (I may have one taker)

6) Just went online to find a church- this will be chris and I first church that is not starting a building campaign. Yippee!!!


7) No iphone yet since we have not received our British account details. I am going to stalk the mailman until we get the bank info. Baby needs to make calls and check the Internet:)

8)Started laughing when we got satellite tv and CJ and Casey wanted to watch I SPY- only to complain the characters talk funny. (oh kiddos in a very short time you will be "Talking funny" as well)

9)wish more of my friends would start blogs so I could read their confessions.

10)having a glass or 2 of vino a day

London Bridges

Well- we had a non errand seeing the sights of London Sunday- Kids did well-considering we had a train ride- 2 tube rides- and a double decker bus ride. Rained most of the time but we had fun being tourists. CJ and Casey loved playing on a giant pirate ship in the Princess Diana memorial park and seeing the peter pan statue. I had fun walking around Harrods and checking out various Burberry bags I want to get my shoulder on. Going to have to find sitters to hit the Tate Museum of Modern art and the National Gallery.

Sat spent most of the morning at the uniform shop for the kids school outfits. Let's say I have my work cut out to these kids in the uniforms- CJ- white shirt/v neck sweater/blazer/coat/and gray wool pants (dead poet society cute but a lot of gear for 4 1/2 year old)- Casey Jane-blue sweatsuit with a crest on it- (mind you Casey has not worn pants in a year and only will wear clothes with pink on it). She screamed bloody murder as we attempted to try on the outfit on.

Should be interesting this sept

Disconnected

Well-I finally have Internet. Probably good I didn't get it right away or we would have some pretty depressing posts. Not going to lie almost suggested we do the separated living conditions for 2 years then I remembered our house in TX is rented out. Agreed to give this a chance and after 6 months will reevaluate.


Here's the Bad and The Good

The Bad

1- Temp housing- not good-pretty darn depressing. We only get our air shipment so I have 1 box of toys to occupy the kids for 9 weeks. (okay 5 weeks until school starts but whose counting)

2-Driving- I was not a great driver in the US put me on the other side of the road on tiny cobblestone 1 way streets and its pretty darn scary. I am going to take driving lessons but in the meantime I am nervous wreck every time we drive 100 yards. I am making no attempt at parking and plan to pay to park my car for the next 2 years.

3-no phone and no Internet- pretty much felt isolated for 3 weekdays. (doesn't seem like a big deal but it was the first time in a long time I had no outing/friends to see with the kiddos) I get depressed without plans.

4-washing machine- awful!!! 3 hours 56 minutes to wash and dry (still damp) about 10 items of clothes.

5- TV- no sky cable yet so we are stuck watching Big Brother- they love that awful show here!

6- Grocery Store fine- weird items are missing (hard to find shredded cheese, salsa)- no paper dinner napkins.

7- Stress- we have stress in our lives and chaos and all those non tranquil -moving to another country commotion

The Good

1- pretty much walking a ton when I do drive I have to park in a lot which means I still walk a ton. Figured out why everyone has awesome strollers here- they need them.

2- Awesome weather 75 and sunny with a breeze

3-House we are renting is great can't get into until 9/20 but once we do we have nice big american size refrigerator and washer/dryer, green yard, walking distance to the downtown areas) Chris figured I may not stick it out in England if we didn't go for the better housing option.

4- The kids are pretty desperate that they are playing well together and using their imaginations (pretending to be pilots and pretending to be mommies and daddies, etc)

So please keep us in your thoughts as we struggle through all chaos of the next few months.