Overheard...

Toby talking to Rosie: Just get Mommy to do it. She's our servant.

Busy, busy, busy

This week is going to be a big one. We close on the house on Tuesday which means that it's finally ours and we get the keys and everything! I'm sure we'll spend the afternoon there exploring every nook and cranny and making plans. On Wednesday the builders start. I assume they'll begin by knocking down the kitchen wall. It's going to be a messy job and I'm so glad we don't have to live there at the same time.

One of the things I've missed about homes in Texas is the open-ness. English homes are built to be easy to heat with each room separated from the other with four walls and a door. Some modern homes are built in what they call "American style" but we've always liked living in old houses. It can be cosy with lots of small rooms but I'm looking forward to our big open plan living/dining/kitchen ground floor in the new house. The house itself is about a hundred years old so it'll still have all of the character details that I love (including 5 fireplaces!) but it'll have a lovely flow of space too.

On Thursday Toby starts Year 2. I can't believe my baby boy is going to be in the second grade already. I still remember being in the second grade! It should be an easy transition back because he has Mr Wilson again this year. Year 2 is a big year though because the children take their first SATs. It will be nice to get back into a routine and to see all of Toby's school friends. I'm planning lots of coffee mornings at the new house.

I still need to find a decorator and sort out a carpet runner for the stairs. That's something else Jason and I have always wanted - stripped wood stairs with a stripey carpet runner and proper stair rods. I think it'll look really nice when it's all done.

We hope to move in at the end of September. Then Jason is running the Chicago marathon in October. We had planned for all of us to go but I think it'll just be too stressful to try and take the children so close to the move. Tobes is going back to school, Rosie is potty training and starting a new playgroup and we're moving house... they're little heads might explode with all the upheaval. Even if they were OK I think my head might explode!

Once we move we've got Halloween to look forward to, which is a big deal in the new neighborhood. Then Rosie's birthday party which looks like it will be a ballerina or princess themed bash. Whatever the theme there will undoubtedly be lots of pink. Then Bonfire Night and Thanksgiving with our neighbors. Very wierdly the Dad and I were at UT at the same time and he grew up in Fort Worth. Now we'll live three doors apart. What are the odds!

Back from the beach

Jason just rang and he's on his way home from Heathrow. His trip went well and now he's home for a week before flying off again. I think it's Monte Carlo next time, though I could be wrong.

The children and I got back from Skegness Wednesday night and we're still recovering. Rosie slept 13 hours last night. She and Tobes were worn out. We had a great time. We went to the beach every day, went to the nature centre to see the seals and other animals, played arcade games on the pier, walked around the pleasure beach, ate a lot of ice cream and had a lot of fun. On Tuesday Barry had to go up to Sawtry to see Nana, who wasn't very well. He stayed overnight and then came back Wednesday morning and brought Nana with him. Nana is 93 now. It was good to see her and I was glad she got to see the children. They change so quickly.

While we were away the children both stayed up later than usual. They were so excited to be on holiday and staying in a hotel. One night we ordered hot chocolates and chocolate cake on room service which didn't really help them get to sleep but it was a nice treat. They loved seeing Barry and Brenda and would wake up every morning asking when we were going round to their house. We'll have to go back soon and next time we'll take Jason along.

Now we're back in London and it's hit me that Toby starts school in less than two weeks. At the same time we close on the house and start the renovations. I have a feeling September is going to be a busy, stressful month. I'm meeting with the builders this afternoon at the house to discuss the changes we want made and to get a schedule of works together so we can give our notice on this house and so I can book the removal company. I also need to hire a skip and have a big clear-out here before we move. I do not want to move rubbish from one house to the other.

In the meantime I've ordered Toby's school uniforms and some new name tapes. I decided to order the tapes with just our surname this time and hopefully Tobes can hand down some of his uniforms to Rosie. I won't hold my breath though. He tends to wear them out!

When Toby starts school Rosie starts ballet and a new playgroup. I need to get some ballet shoes and really focus on the potty training (which has been slow to say the least). Ho hum, I can feel the gears of life starting to turn again after a pretty laid back summer break. Walking back from the village today I could feel autumn on the air. In a few more weeks we'll be wearing sweaters and thinking about Christmas. Another cycle starts again...

OK, I've just discovered iTunes. Obviously I'd heard of it before but tonight I actually set up an account and two hours later I had spent more money than intended but had a lot of fun doing it.

My God, what a trip being able to think of a song, listen to it and then buy it! Genius. It started when I decided to put together a CD for our drive up to Skegness on Monday. I bought Gonna Make You Sweat and the Bond theme song for Tobes. I think he heard the first song at school and he's been singing the "everybody dance now" line for ages. Then, for a laugh, I looked up Barry Manilow. He was my first celebrity crush. The kids loved Copacabana so I bought it and then had to get Mandy, Even Now and I Write the Songs because I still love them and know all the words.

Then I moved on to a couple of Mika's songs which the children already like. After that it was the Go-Gos. We Got the Beat had us all playing air guitar. I also bought Our Lips are Sealed and Head Over Heels. The Go-Gos reminded me of singing into my Mr Microphone with Christy Pompa and how her Mom, Lynne, taught us to two-step and Cotton Eye Joe in their living room.

So... Tammy Wynette, George Strait and Randy Travis all had songs purchased as well. A little Kenny Rogers too. Some of this music I hadn't heard since I was a teenager two-stepping at Lee's Silver Fox with some cowboy or other. The memories were coming fast and hard, especially when I found You Look So Good in Love. I ended up teaching Tobes and Rosie how to two-step in the living room and danced until they both refused to dance with me anymore.

To get them moving again I went to MC Hammer and U Can't Touch This. Tobes actually blushed when I showed him my MC Hammer dance but eventually joined in. That got them going so I bought Young MC's Bust a Move too.

I know I have the cheesiest taste in music but now I can feed the addiction without embarrassing myself in some cool music store. Woo hoo!

Bleary-eyed

Last night Toby stayed up with me and Jason and watched Tomb Raider. Funny how all of my child-raising rules fly out the window as the children get older and I get more tired. Not only was Tobes up well past his betime but he was watching a fairly unsuitable movie too. Oh well, no serious damage done yet that I can tell.

Tobes went to bed with me at about 11.00 (more fuel for his future therapy) and later Jason went to sleep in Toby & Rosie's room with Rosie because it's impossible for three of us to sleep in the same bed anymore. About 1.30am I heard Rosie cry out and I ran into her room. Jason was sitting up with her and she was throwing up. He said it wasn't too bad so I headed downstairs to get some towels. On my way back up I heard her cut loose again and by the time I got there Rosie and the bed were covered in vomit.

Jason and I have been through this so many times in the past that we snap into action, even while still half asleep. Poor Jason has been training for the Chicago marathon in October and yesterday he ran over seven miles. Needless to say, he was hurting but he still jumped up with Rosie and carried her down two flights of stairs to give her a bath. My job was stripping, cleaning and remaking the bed. Once I finished that I carried the dirty linens downstairs, cleaned myself up and took clean jammies to Jason so he could redress Rosie. To an onlooker it was probably like watching a pit stop at the Indy 500. We each know our job and know that the faster we get it done the faster we can go back to bed.

Once everyone was clean and happy Jason and I switched places. He went in with Toby and I stayed with Rosie. It's amazing how traditional we've become over the years but I know J is the one getting up to go to work the following day so I almost always do night duty. I might have a demanding day ahead too but I can get away with being slow and bleary-eyed (I just blend in with all the other moms!). That's not such a good look in a business meeting.

Thankfully, the rest of the night was peaceful and Rosie was fine today. I don't know if it was something she ate or some kind of 24 hour bug but we got off fairly lightly (knock on wood).

More lists

I've been working on my moving lists tonight. One list for things we need to do before the move, another for things we need to check in the new house and one more for things we want to change in the new house. One of the good things about moving so frequently is that we've got it down pat. I just updated the lists I used from the last two moves. So many things are always the same like changing over the water, gas and electric or putting in a security system and measuring for the TV cabinet. Piece of cake.

I meet with the builders late next week to discuss time frames and to get a quote for the work we want done before we move in. Basically we want a wall knocked down and all the floors restained. If there's time we'll have the shower installed too but that can happen once we're in if necessary.

We complete on 2 September and I know it's going to come up on us quickly. The summer feels like it's starting to wind down already. We've got a full week this week with playdates and Tobes is doing Arty Party on Thursday and Friday with some friends. It's an all day arts and crafts course and I plan to use the time with just Rosie to get some things done (and hopefully sneak in a reasonably quiet coffee or two).

Next week Jason is literally going around the world. He has to go to Tokyo for a few days, then California and then back to London. While he's gone I thought I would take the kids up to Skegness to see J's parents. Barry & Brenda were going to come down here and babysit so that Jason and I could go out for our anniversary on the 22nd. Now that Jason is going to be away I thought the kids and I would go up and see them instead. Tobes and Rosie are really looking forward to seeing their grandparents and it'll be nice to have a change of scene. Skegness is on the English coast so there will be donkey rides, bingo, wading in the sea (quite possibly too cold to swim), mini golf and a visit to the seal sanctuary. We're all excited about it.

Checklist

* Two potties, one upstairs and one downstairs

* A stack of potty training underpants

* A stack of Disney Princess underpants (rewards for doing well)

* 'Wee Friend' sticker that goes on bottom of potty and makes a picture when peed on

* Jar of Smarties (like M&Ms) for rewards

* Gold star stickers and potty chart with symbols for pulling pants up and down, sitting on the potty, doing a wee, doing a poo and washing hands. Since Rosie can't read I used Clipart images for everything but had to draw images of poo and wee. Who says motherhood isn't creative.

* Numerous books next to potties including 'Everybody Poops' and 'The Lift the Flap Potty Book'

* Timer to insure potty is used at least once every hour

* Pet deodorising cleaner to clean accidents off carpet and furniture

* Gin, tonic, lemons and ice which I will need for strictly medicinal purposes tonight

Getting older truly sucks

It's been a fraught morning. I spent it in the Breast Surgery Clinic at Guy's Hospital. A few weeks ago I found a lump. Even now, when I know that everything is OK, I feel slightly queasy at the thought of what it might've meant. I told Jason as soon as I found the lump and made a doctor's appointment. I was lucky to get an appointment with the really good doctor at our practice and she referred me to the specialists at Guy's.

This morning I headed off to the appointment. I think it was harder because I had to go alone. J took the morning off and stayed home with the children. I knew that having them there would make me nervous and we just don't have anyone I could leave both children with. So I had to be brave. Of course, I barely slept last night and even woke Jason up at 2am to go check that no one had broken in downstairs. You could say that I was a bit jumpy.

I got to the clinic early armed with a mocha Frappucino and the new Vanity Fair. There were a lot of older ladies in the waiting room and one girl who looked to be in her late twenties who was there with her mother. Her mom had her arm around her and the girl was crying. I heard her say "I know it's come back." At that point I was glad that I was alone because if Jason had been there I think I would've started crying too.

I saw the nurse and then the doctor and they agreed that there was some lumpiness in my right breast and sent me off across the hall for an ultrasound. The result is that I have slightly lumpy breasts due to age and changes in my hormones as I get older. Nothing sinister, just normal ageing.

I was very relieved and stopped off for a bagel and some baklava on the way home. On the train I thought about the girl crying in the waiting room and wondered what her diagnosis was today. I'll take my lumpy old boobs any day over what she's going through.

Rosie the diva

Twinkle twinkle little star


I love the bit where she tells me not to sing along.

At the doctor's yesterday...

Nurse: Have you had your ears syringed before?

Me: Once when I was about 10 years old.

Nurse: Oh! So quite a long time ago then.

Little cavepeople

Our summer topic is painting. I like to have something to fall back on when Toby is off school and I have both children at home. We did Ancient Egypt over the last half-term and this summer we're doing painting. We started with prehistoric painting.

I checked out a book from the library about cave paintings and talked to the children about how it was done. This afternoon I turned them loose with coloured chalks to decorate the sidewalk like cavemen then we started grinding up the chalks and mixing them with water to make paints. The children are out back now making a mural on the garden wall. Luckily it's all chalk so it will wash away in the rain expected tonight.

We tried making reverse handprints by blowing paint onto pieces of paper but it's surprisingly difficult to do. I have new respect for those cave painters. I've always wanted to go to Lascaux and see the paintings though the caves are closed to the public now. It must be an incredible feeling to look at something created by another person such a very long time ago.

I think we're going to jump forward a few thousand years and make our own egg tempera paints next week to make cardboard icons with gold leaf. Then we'll paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel the following week with paper taped to the underside of the dining table. Oh well, it keeps us all entertained.

Recent photos

Sweltering

OK, before I start this entry I know all you Texans will be laughing but trust me, it's hot. It got up to 85F today. Now, I know that's actually quite pleasant by Texas standards but over here it's a whole different ballgame. First off, there's very little AC. Not just in homes but in cars, shops and restaurants too. Definitely no AC on public transportation. Every summer there's at least one news story about how people travelling on the underground are in conditions that wouldn't be legal for shipping livestock. Seriously.

Today I took the kids into town for the day. We've been to the cinema three times already because it's reasonably cool there so I thought it was time to do something else. We picnicked in a bit of shade on the steps in Trafalgar Square, put our feet in the fountains and walked around the galleries in the National Gallery before having ice cream in the cafe. By the time we got back on the train home we were in the beginning of commuter time. Crap.

Imagine being wedged into a packed, standing room only train with a bunch of sweaty people. BO doesn't even begin to describe it. Of course the kids were tired, hot and cranky too. I kind of hoped that Tobes would throw up so people would clear a space around us but no such luck.

Of course I'm sure you're asking why they don't just install AC. Well, it's very expensive and really bad for the environment. It's only like this for about two weeks a year so it's not cost effective and if we start using it on really hot days we'd probably start using it on slightly warm days too and then it becomes a whole AC culture and the hole in the ozone gets bigger and bigger and we all start to fry like bacon. So, no AC.

I've learned to cope this summer by eating a lot of ice lollies and repeating my new mantra over and over... "Remain calm and keep going". Nothing like some good old British stoicism to get you through. Though to be honest I'd rather be lying under an air conditioning vent drinking a Big Gulp Slurpee. Damn you global warming.

As promised

Survived

We survived Toby's birthday party. The boys seemed to all have a good time and were relatively well behaved. There was one moment when they decided to beat up their helium balloons and started shouting things like "Do that again and I'll kick you in the nuts" to try and make each other laugh. Of course, they kept upping the ante until one boy was almost standing on the table and we had one use of the F word. After I sweetly threatened them with no birthday cake they calmed back down to minor riot level.

At least it was fairly quick and painless. Two hours at the bowling alley and the mess was left for them to clean up. No chocolate crumbs smooshed into my carpet, nothing broken, no one hurt. Everyone went home smiling. Now that's a successful party.

Afterwards Jenny, Kieran and their kids came back to our place. The guys went out to talk about sports over coffee while Jenny and I talked about sex over tea in the kitchen and the children played games and watched TV in the living room. Then we ordered pizza and talked about politics, celebrities and shoes. Well, Jenny and I mostly talked about celebrities and shoes.

Tomorrow we're going to Pete and Phillipa's for a BBQ and then next week is peace and quiet. Nothing planned. Summer finally truly begins.

Praying and parties

Well, I survived Holiday Club. It was surprisingly hard work though. I ended up working in the nursery on Tuesday which was actually a lot of fun. I spent most of the time with the baby of the group who is about six months old. She is the sweetest, most beautiful child. I told her mother that if I have another baby I'm going to blame her.

This was Rosie's first time in a school-like situation and she did really well. She didn't mind at all when I went off to work with other groups. In fact, the one day I worked in the nursery she barely took any notice of me. She was too busy playing.

As expected, there were no deep theological debates though I was asked why Jesus died on the cross. Try putting that into terms a three year old can understand. Mostly it was a lot of colouring, keeping children from breaking their necks on the bouncy castle and cleaning up. I did clap my hands and sang along with "J-E-S-U-S, he's the King of me..." though when we got home the words changed to "T-O-B-I-A-S, he's the King of me..." and "R-O-S-I-E, she's the Queen of me..."

Now we have Toby's birthday party tomorrow. It's a scaled down affair this year. It started out with five boys (Toby has insisted on all boys) at home but has grown to ten boys at the bowling alley. Even so, it's much less stressful than the usual bash we've thrown for him. This year it's Rosie's turn for a blow-out. Poor little thing has never had a big party (second child syndrome) so this year we're hiring a hall, wearing costumes, having an entertainer, the works.

I do need to provide the cake for Toby's party and he and I just made an Indiana Jones extravaganza with melted chocolate, crumbled cookies, gummy snakes and icing vines. Pictures to come as soon as my camera battery recharges.

On to Year 2...

Today was Toby's last day at school. He finished Year 1 and next year he moves up to Year 2. The fantastic news is that Toby's teacher, Mr Wilson, is moving up with the class so Tobes will have him again next year. Mr Wilson has been such a positive influence on Toby so we're all really pleased.

A bunch of us had planned to have a picnic in the park after school today to celebrate the end of the school year but the weather was not cooperating so I invited everyone back to our place. It was fantastic. Children running up and down the stairs, playing, shouting. Mums drinking tea, champagne and gossiping. Then we ordered pizza for everyone. I can't wait til we get to the new house. It's perfect for entertaining with a big open room downstairs. I'm ordering a huge dining table so we can have more than one family at a time over for Sunday lunch. Can't wait!

Now that school is finished we have a week of Holiday Club. It's 9.30 - 12.30 for one week. It's organised by St Margaret's church and the children do arts and crafts, have a bouncy castle, play sports, sing songs and have a lot of fun. I volunteered to help out this year and went to the planning meeting on Wednesday night. They learn a different Bible story each day and do activities based around the story so I've come home with a list of scripture to swot up on. As I was walking home it dawned on me that I'm basically teaching Vacation Bible School. How on earth did that happen?!

A heathen and athiest like me teaching Bible school? Oh well, I obviously don't have a problem with it or the children wouldn't be going to a church school. I have to say that Toby loves Father David and the Bible stories. Wouldn't it be funny if Tobes became a vicar. I guess it would be history coming full circle in a way with my Pawpaw Black and Uncle Ross both being preachers. Obviously, the children can decide for themselves what they believe. My job is just to make sure they have all the information. I will be studying my Bible stories for next week. I'd hate to be caught short of knowledge. I'm working with the 4-5 year olds so I don't anticipate any deep theological debates but you never know.

The one and only Rosie Rae

Have you ever seen anything cuter than this photo?! This morning was Rosie's playgroup's end of year party and all the children dressed up, many of them in costumes. Rosie wanted to wear her new dress but decided to add the hat at the last minute. She looked so precious.

Rosie has hit a really girly phase. It's all about pink toenails and swirly dresses now. Of course, she still roughhouses with the boys and by the end of the school BBQ on Friday night she was covered in mud. She's definitely in touch with both her feminine and masculine sides.

I don't know where she's picked it up but she's started spitting lately. I wonder if it was on TV because she'll spit on something then wipe it with a tissue and tell me that she's 'cleaning' it. She's also developed a penchant for the F word. Yes, that one. I do know where that came from. One of Toby's friends got Rosie to say it and then all the boys fell about laughing so Rosie said it over and over again. We tried ignoring it but that didn't work so we told her that it was a bad word and she mustn't say it anymore. This has decreased the cussing but not completely gotten rid of it. Sometimes it backfires too. This weekend Jason took Rosie to the gym for lunch and had to tell her off when she was doing something naughty. Rosie turned around and shouted across the cafe "BUT DADDY I HAVEN'T SAID FUCK ALL DAY!"

Anyone who would like an insight into my childhood should take a look at my Aunt Brenda's blog. There's a video clip of my Aunt Jean talking about me and my cousin Angela when we were little. I love the old family stories. I wish I could make a CD of them for the children told by my aunts and uncles. That Texan accent touches my heart every time I hear it.

Guess who lost his first tooth!

Tobes has had a wobbly tooth for ages and has been desperate for it to come out. Most of his friends have lost teeth already so the loss of Toby's first tooth has been a much anticipated event. Well, today was the day.

Toby was eating an apple this morning and the tooth almost came out. It was hanging by a thread but Toby wouldn't let anyone touch it. Finally, while we were eating pasta for lunch Tobes suddenly shouted and jumped up from the table. The tooth had finally come out. He is so thrilled and is planning to take in his coin from the tooth fairy for show and tell tomorrow.

It was a suprisingly moving event for me too. His tooth is so tiny and I feel a little sad seeing the signs of Toby's babyhood fall away. I need to buy some little satin bags to put their baby teeth in. I can keep them in the same drawer as Toby's umbilical cord stump. Thank goodness we didn't have him circumcised or I'm sure his little dried up foreskin would be tucked away in there too.