Ok, ok, I know already....

Yes, I know it has been OVER 2 years since I last posted here but it is the first day of a new year so lets see if I can do better at "documenting" our lives. I have accepted that I am complete failure when it comes to scrapbooking and as much as I love and enjoy facebook... I think this will be a better way for me to share with those who care (that may just be two or three of you!) and remember. Years just fly by without realizing it and hopefully this way we can have something to remember it by and to keep those who are interested, informed of our adventures while living here in the UK. DSWMG, Mom and Marlina... this is pretty much for you! This is as far as I can get today - new picture and background but more to come - I promise :) Happy New Year!

Where are my keys?

Oh, here they are on my wrist.... These cute little things have become my newest obsession. You just attach your key ring on them, slip the fabric on your wrist and you will hopefully never loose your keys again! I am having so much fun making these and it turns out lots of people like using them too. I have been selling to friends and now some stores in the area are asking to carry them! According to Patrick, who was telling someone today - all I do is drink coffee, read and sew.... I wish!

here is an assortment of some I have made. I haven't been able to keep them around long enough to get a picture so I finally did it today.

a basket full of yummy fabrics.... I can't get enough....

and again, last week during my "week of projects" I was able to get 70-ish of these soccer ball key chain wristlets done to sell at tournaments and games to all the "soccer mom's" as a fundraiser for Emma's soccer team.

am I bigger than you now Mom?

Little man Jack is a little bit, hmmm how do you say this.... OBSESSED with who and what is "bigger" than someone or something else. He is trying to figure out the whole deal... like if he climbs a fence then he is "big". Or, if mom can do something that dad can't (dad would of course argue there is no such thing... ) then mom must therefore be "bigger" than dad. And the age and birthday thing is really huge for him these days as well. He is so MAD that he is still just 3 when most of his little buddies are 4 or 5. When his little friend Hailey had her birthday recently and turned 5 he about lost it. He says "it will be FOREVER to be my birfday". He loves to discover when he is "bigger" than someone -like some of his little buds at church since he is in the 2-3's class. What a goof. We recently made him even "bigger" by saying farewell (tear in eye) to the ol' crib and put up, you guessed it - a "big" boy bed. He has Patrick and Emma's old bunk bed but he isn't "big"enough for the top yet... bummer for him. We got this and many other projects crossed off the list last week while the "big" kids flew to Seattle to see Grandma Laura and Grandpa Don for the week.

Jack on his last morning waking up in the crib.

Going to bed that night officially "big"

Patrick and Emma getting off the airplane when they got back to Sacramento. There was no time for a picture when they left since I got them there in "susan" style.... meaning the plane literally left 30 seconds after they got on it! They had such and awesome time visiting grandparents and cousins in WA. They got to attend Laura and Don's church VBS program while there and they loved it. Spending such quality time together is hard when we live away from family but this will be a treasured memory for them. Thank you grandma and grandpa!!
Oh and yes, those are braces on Patrick's teeth.... he got those on last month... cha ching.

4th annual July 4th trip to Point Arena

On July 3rd we made a mad dash out to the coast to my sister Sarah's place in Point Arena to make it in time for the annual Firework show in the Cove. She and Nate decided they had too many people in town they wanted to hang out with so decided not to have their coffee shop open like they usually do that night. They had 17 people camping in their yard! So they got to sit with us on the rocks and watch the fireworks - which were amazing over the water. Our favorite ones were the ones that went a little off course and blew up just over the water! It was a fast trip but as always, a fun one.

Here is Jack holding the "prize"... the one egg the kids got out of their chicken coop

Waiting for the parade to start... This year it was back to the good old 20 minute parade. Last year, not so much.... it took forever and had all sorts of craziness but it was so funny and great. Naked hot tubbers and a sweet marching band from San Fran were the highlights last year!

Our campsite in Sarah's yard

Sarah and Emma checking out the horses on the ranch.

Charlie, Jack, Max and Nate's cousin Nicholas checking out the garden.

"Indiana" Patrick playing with some seaweed but it was really his whip.

Little freckle face...

Emma, Max and Jack playing in the stream down at the beach.

We went to the beach and thought the kids wouldn't last long.... we were so, so wrong. We finally dragged them out of there after like 4 hours. They had so much fun digging, exploring, building bridges and playing. It was the best day and the sun even came out for awhile. We were so not prepared and all ended up sunburned! It was great having friends along - the Bigelows came with for their 2nd annual trip - hope we can keep it up.

No more pencils, no more books....

Here is Patrick right before school got out at the Spring concert. He played in Advanced Band and despite breaking his pinky finger during Spring Break he was still able to participate. He is really good at it but of course doesn't always want to put in the "practice time". He is an 11 year old boy....

We are getting out first "traditional" summer vacation since moving here 3 years ago. The kids school moved from a "year-round" to a "modified year round" schedule so they got out June 25th and will go back on August 20th. Here are a few pic's from their last day of 5th and 3rd grade.

Here they are with Mr. O'Leary the PE teacher whom they LOVE. Because of all the budget cuts our CA schools are enduring we will be losing this wonderful man and many, many other invaluable teachers. No more music teacher, class sizes are increasing in order to make up for the loss of many other teachers. Of course the young, energetic, excited to teach - teachers were laid off as they have the least amount of years in district. So, so, so sad.....

Good buddies celebrating the last day.... from left - Andrew, Trenton, Patrick, Emma, Dustin and Jack in Hailey in front.

This year's last day of school picture with our absolute favorite crossing gaurd -
the lovable and wonderful Mr Benny!

Blink of an eye...

Seriously??? How has it gone from March to mid-May in the blink of an eye??? Here is the 30 second update to show you some of what has caused that blink....


We have been eating some ice cream...

Spending the weekend in Monterey for me to run in the Big Sur Marathon Relay with some friends and for us all to enjoy that beautiful town.

On your mark, get set.... Emma and Patrick have been running track this spring and here they are at a meet in Roseville in April.

Patrick is on the far left as if the floppy blonde hair didn't give that away...

Some of us have been discovering a love and/or obsession with all things Star Wars and Darth Vader....

During the kids 3 week long spring break we took a quick overnight trip to San Francisco and spent the day at the Exploratorium, touring Alcatraz and flying a kite in some serious wind!

The Jacobs kids, the Bigelow kids and the Odone kids in Utah where we had a little reunion. It was a memorable visit! So much fun to see our friends

The Odone and Bigelow kids all loaded up for the big road trip! My friend Melissa and I drove with the 6 kids to Utah for a week during spring break. It was a bit insane but so, so, so much fun.

In March I took a quick weekend trip to Portland where I met up with my high school friend Angela who lives outside Chicago. We spent the weekend laughing, visiting old friends, meeting new babies and catching up.

Here we are with Kelli and her daughters Vanessa (4) and new twin girls Annika and Ava or Ava and Annika - not sure which :)

We pulled the kids out of school for a week and went skiing up at Tahoe in March. It was their first time skiing and my first time in over 12 years - Jim can finally breathe easier knowing that at least 2 of his kids are now able to ski....

Thats it for now but more soon. hopefully.

Like Daughter... Like Mother...

During...

After...

After Emma's emotional 10 inches of hair donation to Lock's of Love last year, I decided that my little fling with growing out my hair would continue until I had enough to donate. I chose to send mine to Pantene (why not share the love???) and they only require 8 inches. I went last week to get my hair done with the wonderful Laurie and told her the time had come - it looked like I had enough so chop away!! After she got over the initial shock she pig-tailed it up and chop she did! We got a few not-so-flattering pic's but pic's nonetheless to document it. I am so grateful for these groups that collect hair and make wigs for women and children who have lost their hair. It can be such a humiliating experience and I am forever grateful that I lost my hair when I was so young and basically clueless. I was definitely effected by it and embarrassed but nothing compared to what it would have been like had I been in my teen years- yikes! So, I am happy to pay it forward and to give up the hair that I am so incredibly fortunate to now have...