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Okay I am going to BRAG not about my kids not about my husband about moi. I have just arrived home from my computer driving test with a 100% score. yes- I studyed last night like a dork and yes me and the rest of the British eighteen year olds- chugged coffee and scanned the Highway Code in the Lobby as wewaited for the test.

Just so you know- I had a vest(Jack Wills- very cute Briitish brand uni wear) , sweats (Gap), and uggs, and a ponytail to try to look teen driving test like. Now- I just have to take the road test which anyone who knows me knows will be my achilles heel. I let Chris know that I have got him on 3 standardized tests SAT,GMAT (no- I didn't go to B school but it was an option, England's driving test.(we tied on the ACT) If only standardized test taking was a profession. Yes - chris and I are so petty/competitive- we know all of these scores and we check documentation for assurance:)

Random Mysteries Solved

1. Just found out England has a completely different formula for their diet coke then the rest of Europe. May go across the channel to fill the trunk with cases of the god stuff in France:)(okay if I actually go to France I'll buy 1/2 dc & 1/2 champagne)

2.George Clooney wasn't on the red carpet- because he was meeting with Mr Obama concerning the DARFUR crisis (300,000 people have died-not a typo unfortunately)- makes him an all star and makes me feel kind bad for checking out fashion for 5 hours (btw Jessica Biel looked so bad)

3. 5 more weeks before a new term starts at school and that means Casey Jane gets to wear a dress- yes God is working miracles in our lives!!!!!

4.Taxes in ANY country are confusing and $$$$ (expensive) and yes I passed the CPA exam in 1997. (okay it took 3 times but the first time I didn't study and wished I was at the Kentucky Derby with my senior class)

5. Why I love handbags- you are never too fat or skinny for a purse- they don't need laundering- they don't stretch/tear/or have red wine spilled on it (okay not usually)

Mini Oscar Recap

It's late monday at 11:45- our viewing didn't get started until 8:30 and surpisingly although everything was prerecorded this technoology actually hindered us (we kept rewinding to check out staredowns between Angelie and Jenn and seeing who was behind who on the red carpet)- so you are getting a mini recap- (note truffles +champagne=misspellings and bad grammar)(another note- the british girls I had over really hate Eddie Murphy for what he did to scary spice)

Love

Angelina (green earrings, hair, and Brad, hello beautiful)
Natalie Portman- that pink dress if only the prom was for 35 year olds that would be my dress
Hugh Jackman- love him as a host (thought I would hate him)- love all the sing and dance numbers esp the one with Beyonce
Kate Winslet- classic- (she still talked too much )
Girl from Slumdog- she is so darn pretty
HSM gang- they are so darn cute what's not to love
Anne Hathaway- love her

Hate

Reece- that dress was so not her (black and blue unstructured)
Beyonce-first dress black and gold UGLY
Jen A- liked dress- the braid was so ""HILLS" and so 20 something (btw she so looked very excited when Brad's name was snot called for best actor)
Miley Cyrus- too much dress for too little of person
black on Black tuxes- hate the balck shirt, black tie, black jacket combo

Awards- so 2 of the biggies I lost out on. Loved the stage and the new way they announced the new categories. Will try to update with more details but need to sign off if I'm to make school run tomorrow morning:)

The Wilderness

So its a pretty bold title for the post and the camp we went to had 2 starbucks on the campground, and per se we weren't really camping (little condos), but we had no cars-bikes with headlamps or horses, and it was in the wilderness. We had a great weekend- helped that the weather was AWESOME, and the family we went with were so much fun-(outburst board games + champagne), and the kids loved the swimming, the biking under the stars, the horses, the art class, the outside play, and running in the woods. CJ kept mentioning Mom I think we should move to this Park in England.

I was sort of annoying on my birthday between taking calls on my iphone and then checking email ( did I mention how much I love bday greetings:)- I did take somebreaks to drink some bubbly in the evening and go down waterslides and wave pools during the day (I tried to ignore the fact I have day glo white skin in Feb).

So that brings us to Oscar sunday- which I am avoiding technology on MON so I can watch them Monday night. And yes I finally have good friends who have agreed to wear pjs and drink champagne and watch them with me on Monday ( and yes we will fast forward thru all the annoying awards that no one except the nominees families care about). Chris has graciously offered to act as a minicab and drive the girls home (stolen idea from J Morris in the Heights). So please refrain from oscar comments until after 4 pm EST on Mon:)

Oscar

Quick rundown- before we head to go camping (okay it is a condos and there is a starbucks) but no cars and there are horses so I feel like it counts for camping. I will come clean on these pix I have only seen Benjamin B, Doubt, Dark Knight, and Slumdog.

Best Picture/Director- Slumdog- (I didn't think it was the BEST movie) but like all the critics have said it has all the elements of a winner- small indie movie, no name actors from a foreign land (etc)

Actor- I am not going Sean Penn - I'll take Mickey Rourke in all his neon spandex glory

Actress- Kate Winslet-I like her as an actress but would have rather see Meryl Streep win (she's still the best in my opinion)

S/Actor- Heath- similar to GG no way they won't give the dead man the golden guy. Believe PS Hoffman should win. How relaxing to be in this category these boys don't even have to write out a speech for the night.

S/Actress-Viola Davis- Doubt- Amy Adams better not steal votes from this lady

Animated- Wall E will win (btw I hated it- wanted a book light at the movie theatre so I could read a magazine, kids thought it was so so but they also thought Space Chimps was so-so)


BTW next year's Oscar falls on my birthday which I am giving Chris a year to secure tix for me. He said he is working on the BAFTA (poor man's Oscars in England)

He$*

Okay this post is being fueled by coming back from Dante's version of he$& for preschoolers. Just got back from a 5 year old birthday party at an indoor playplace (BTW there are a ton of these in England since it rains all the time). No big deal except this week is midwinter break- no mincing words that joint was pure he%&.

a) so overcrowded- especially with 11 year old boys,I am sure when I have an 11 year old I will be sympathetic but man these boys amp up the violence. Saw some kid head butting a 4 year old. (mom was no where to be found)
b) so dirty- saw people changing dirty diapers on tables by food- bathroom disgusting (need I mention that my 2 cherubs ALWAYS have to use the bathroom- the more disgusting the more they have to use it.)(all I can say is we have purelled ourselves silly)
c)gross crowd of people- here's me being a snob- some of the parents actually let their boys remove their shirts and run around topless (those 11 year olds). Our school party group looked ridiculous- some of the boys were in button down with vests on and the girls had pretty party outfits on.
d.personally having to climb up steep slides and ball pits to keep track of CJ and Casey. I was on edge the whole time as I felt this place had the makings of an awful Lifetime or afterschool special "MISSING" (etc)

The good news is my friends knew I was freaking out and suggested next time I take a valium before attending this playplace. Seriously I am not going back! Now you may ask what are we doing the rest of midwinterbreak- we are 2 passports shorts (CJ's is getting renewed and Chris's in in Wales for a drivers license application) so we are in England). We are headed with another family this weekend to an outdoor family park. Think holidome 2009 but more upscale with starbucks, horses,archery, bowling, laser tag, spas,soccer, and condos. We shall see how this works. The best is the family we are going with are on the same page as we are- the other mom and I came up with a joint shopping list and the items were

1) champagne
2) red wine
3) white wine
4) crisps (Potato chips)
5) dessert
6) water
7) diet coke

As you can see we forgot FOOD:)

8) Food

PS I will post my oscar picks on thurs night- you all can keep me honest. (will warn you I usually win every oscar pool- another item I miss from USA)
Also, my shameless blog about lack of Christmas cards has gotten me some bday cards. Whatever it takes!!!!!

Rockstar

So the keane concert was so fun- didn't hurt we were in a box that had food and drinks- but the concert pretty much rocked. I'm a fan now.(The lead singer looks like Scott M in chicago) Plus the venue The 02 in London is a sweet place to see concerts. (that's me in the entrance)

The night before Chris and I got to go to the London screening of "The International"- cool CIA type drama with Clive Owen and Naomi Watts. Next life I so want to come back as an Agent. Chris finds this hilarious since I have trouble staying home alone but i think it could work out.

Wed night was the "Mum's Night Out"- better than expected- no real cattiness and since alot of the girls looked like they needed a night out quite a few bottles of champagne were consumed.

As predicted CJ was the only kid to pass out valentine's in class- (which btw everyone loved)- he came home and said "I didn't get any valentines but that's okay because the class sang "We love you CJ". We are warming up this school slowly but surely:)