Stonehenge ~ Happy Birthday to Me!

Stonehenge has intreged me ever since I bought Larry Norman's 1972 album, Only Visiting This Planet. On the back cover, he's pictured standing in front of one of the stones. The mystery behind these ancient stones is captivating.

Dave took us all to Stonehenge for my birthday and it was awesome! If it wasn't so stinkin' cold, I would have sat and pondered it for hours.

All my hopes came true for my first visit to Stonehenge; the weather was clear vs. rainy, the sun was shining through the clouds long enough to catch some great pics, and viewing it was set up well enough that it wasn't blocked by onlookers. I shot some great pics as I circled the stones, loving every single second of my time there. We ended our journey with hot cocoa and muffins.Wally says one man could build Stonehenge:


Yipee! Another reason to celebrate at Nando's ~ It's my birthday week! Dave captured this pic of my loves giving me hugs. You don't think this is a conspiracy to take my chicken livers do you? They all know better than that!
http://www.nandos.co.uk/

Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle dates back to 1066 ~ incredible! The first pic is one I took of Norman Gate in the Middle Ward. It leads to the State Apartments, Queen Mary's Dolls' House, an impressive armor collection, and so much more. The view of the moat, motte, and King Edward III Tower was gorgeous (fourth pic). I noticed so many buds and tried to imagine what it must look like in the Spring, but I didn't have time. There was too much else to see!

One of the most captivating sites was St. George's Chapel. Cameras are not allowed in the chapel, so I have nothing to show but this pic of my kids in front of it. C wasn't too happy to be leaving, but it was getting dark and they were closing the gates. Everywhere we go, we stay 'til closing. We need to be aware of transportation schedules because we can miss a train, bus, or trolley if we're not careful. That already happened once and we don't want to be stranded again!

This last pic is of The Changing of the Guards. This was the first event of the day, but this 'pic and copy' placement is a bit tricky on this blog site. Sorry it's not at the top where it should be. I guess you and I will just have to deal with it. : )

It's Christmas!

Celebrating Jesus' birthday was great this year! We didn't have much, so we weren't able to give much. What we couldn't give in material gifts, we made up in non-material gifts by helping our kids focus on the true meaning of Christmas. Without Jesus, there'd be no reason to celebrate; there'd be no Christmas.

Speaking of gifts, the Wise Men brought very special, intentional, symbolic gifts for Jesus. Pastor Alwyn explained the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh so well. The gifts were brought by the Wise Men, men who knew the Scriptures because of the system of teaching the Scriptures that was set up by Daniel 500 years earlier. Gold is always associated with deity and royalty; they knew Jesus was a Mighty King. Frankincense was a fragrance and spice the priests made into an oil that they used in the tabernacle and temple; a perfume that represented prayer and was a priestly function. Frankincense represented Jesus' priestly function of bringing fellowship back with God. Myrrh was a burial spice; giving myrrh would be like giving a child formaldehyde. It was a spice used for embalming and it was associated with pain and sorrow.

In helping our kids focus, we were able to focus. Christmas was a true celebration of Jesus' birth and His purpose for coming. I pray my kids always remember why we celebrate Christmas.

Headless

We were on a bus today when C yelled out, "Look! That's the bus to Nunhead."

We couldn't figure out why and explained something like it could be going anywhere, but she insisted it was the bus to Nunhead.

When we asked why, she explained, "That bus has a head on it, so it must be going to Nunhead because it has no body and Nunhead has no head."

We laughed so hard! She was looking at an ad for a movie that showed a detached head on a platter. How sweet her mind is to see humor in a decapitated head.

Mary, Did You Know?

Lyrics by Mark Lowry; Music by Buddy Green

Mary, did you know
That your baby boy
Would someday walk on water?
Mary did you know
That your baby boy
Will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know
That your baby boy
Has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered
Will soon deliver you.

Mary did you know
That your baby boy
Will give sight to a blind man?
Mary did you know
That your baby boy
Will calm the storm with his hand?
Did you know that your baby boy
Has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little baby
You've kissed the face of God.
The blind will see
The deaf will hear
The dead will live again
The lame will leap
The dumb will speak
The praises of the Lamb

Mary did you know
That your baby boy
Is Lord of all creation?
Mary did you know
That your baby boy
Will one day rule the nations?
Did you know
That your baby boy
Is heaven's perfect Lamb?
This sleeping child you're holding
Is the Great I Am

See and hear it sung by Clay Aiken in 2004:

One week 'til Christmas!

No, this isn't our house.

Keeping kids busy

I don't know why I think I need to pack things for my kids to do so they don't drive me nuts. No nuts. Just adorable kids.

Elfing

Have you seen my elves?

Figaro baby!

Before I took this picture, I'd never seen one of these yummy cars. I've got to drive one! I want to own one! My birthday is in a few days and this is at the top of my list. Thanks to Pat, I know it's a 1991 Nissan Fagaro. Anyone reading this can surprise me and have it waiting for me when we get back to America. I love a great surprise! Plan B is to save up for my 50th and buy one by then. I'm planning on having a mid-life crisis. Yes ~ I have plenty of time! Not plenty of money; just plenty of time. : )

Christmas Tree and Lights!

It poured rain as we walked thirty minutes to our first doctor appointment as London residents (see Dr. Visit #4). After the appointment, we walked five minutes in the pouring rain to the pharmacy. After an hour waiting for our prescription to be filled, we were told we needed to return because they didn't have what we needed. Okay. We left the pharmacy and walked ten minutes in the pouring rain to Pekham Library. We stayed in the dry Library for an hour as we listened to the howling winds sour through the buildings.

After an hour, we checked out our books, had a potty break, then the kids put on their jackets. Following the librarian's directions, we headed toward Pekham Train Station where we needed to catch a train to IKEA London to buy Christmas decorations. The map we had didn't agree with the directions we were given, so at the urging of my birthday girl, we stopped for lunch at Burger King (Sandra ~ London has a Burger King!). Twenty one pounds later ($42 USA dollars), we knew the directions were wrong.

While enjoying our lunch ~ it really was delicious, though much smaller than American sized burgers ~ we noticed several shoppers walking in the windy rain, carrying boxes with Christmas Trees inside. We followed their paths backwards and saw a store called Pound Stretchers. Pound Stretchers is similar to Pic N Save or Big Lots. Ah, our revised destination!

We quickly walked in the windy rain towards Pound Stretchers. Upon entering, we saw that all Christmas decorations were half off ~ my kind of find! We discovered a little tree with stand included for only 1.5 pounds ($3) and lights for 2.5 pounds ($5). Not only that, but I found a few surprises for my kids for Christmas. I'm SO happy!!!

We did some necessity shopping, then I sent the kids back in the windy rain to Burger King to wait for me. I bought their surprises in the dry store and piled them in one of the strollers, hidden in bags of course. I toughed it in the windy rain and met up with my kids. We shared ice cream and hot cocoa before heading back in the windy rain.

Before leaving, an older black skinned woman dressed head to toe in gorgeous shades of purple caught my eye. I chatted with her as I waited for each of my kids to finish their turn in the tiny little toilet room. She had with her a bag on wheels. Hmmm. What a great idea! I asked her where I could get something like that and she directed me down the street and around the corner ~ on our way home! Off we went in the windy, pouring rain in search of my own bag on wheels.

God totally blessed us with incorrect directions from the librarian which led us to a dry, warm, and comfy lunch together, finding a Christmas tree and lights plus surprise gifts, enjoying ice cream and hot cocoa together, and buying a great bag on wheels so I won't need to choose which child gets to walk thirty minutes home after grocery shopping while we use their stroller as a shopping cart. : )

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire

Actually, he was selling his roasted hot dogs, but I thought it was cool nonetheless and it sure smelled good!

Illness has fallen on my little ones for almost three weeks. Now, Dave has something.

We left Dave home while we ran out in the rain to catch a train to church this morning, but we missed it. Dave does the ticket purchasing, so we weren't sure exactly what to do at the ticket machine. There isn't a live person to talk to, so we had to wing it. Finally, a nice man did the button pushing for us (I think he was in a hurry) and walla - tickets. We climbed the stairs to the dock and waited. Three trains passed before another nice man told us our train wasn't coming. The trains were a bit crazy this morning with detours and matainance, so we plan ol' didn't have one to catch. The next train to Westminster wasn't arriving until after CCW was over. Darn. We walked back home in the rain.

Besides taking care of Dave today, my goal is to find a raincoat. You wouldn't think it'd be that hard, but I don't know where to begin looking. So, I'm surfing the internet. The good news is that we all have umbrellas, but it's next to impossible to push a stroller and hold an umbrella in the rain - now add wind to the rain! I have some umbrella repairs to do today too. : ) We arrived home soggy, but happy.

Sweet Sixteen!

K was totally surprised when we handed her a box full of birthday cards, email messages, and eCards. Several of you sent her birthday wishes that totally tickled her. Thank you so very much! You all made being here special for her.

To celebrate at church, we brought American Double Chocolate Chip cookies to her Youth Group. Here's a picture of her with her adorable class. Her awesome teachers are fourth from the left and first on the right:


We took K out to choose a special album to put her birthday wishes in and to remember her Sweet Sixteen, part one, for years to come. We finished her celebration with a dinner out at her "for the time being" favorite restaurant, Nando's. It's an awesome Portuguese establishment with absolutely yummy food. In our family, we have birthday weeks. Sometimes they turn into birthday months. : ) It gives us a good excuse to keep celebrating!

Do you remember your Sweet Sixteenth? I don't. For the life of me, I can't remember what I did to celebrate. Anyone out there remember?

Just yesterday I was soaking up rays at the beach while my precious baby took a nap under her sun shelter. She's just as sweet today as she was yesterday.