tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10506425220162398142024-03-13T04:04:45.363+00:00A Good Scottish NameFrom the Windy City to the English Countryside....Well That's a Good Scottish Name...http://www.blogger.com/profile/15319948262039759805noreply@blogger.comBlogger297125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1050642522016239814.post-49959567961355568072013-03-12T22:43:00.001+00:002013-03-12T22:43:28.761+00:00The Dreaded Lurgy....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have gone very quiet on the blog lately. There are a variety of factors playing into that bit but it mainly stems from having a very active toddler (a full-fledged two year old!), a spouse who seems to spend most of his time on airplanes these days, no family support here, my desire to attempt to continue a career outside the house which requires a terrible commute, and general life obligations and house upkeep that seem to keep me busier than I could have ever imagined right now. </span><div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Most days I feel flat out by the time I put Crosby to bed so unfortunately the blog (among quite a few other things) have fallen out of daily or weekly activities for the moment. I hope this lapse in posting, just like my toddler's constant need of "mummy, mommy, mama, mommy," and her ever-so-repeated-and-demanding-but-others-tell-me-is-endearing-whining is short lived and will some day be a forgotten lapse because in the grand scheme of life it is a rather small time frame. One can hope. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today, however, I received an email from a work acquaintance that made me chuckle at life abroad here that I just had to pull myself together tonight to post the happening! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last week, I thought I might die. Not literally, but I got sick and I can't remember being that poorly in a long time. I got very sick very quickly and it seemed to come out of nowhere. My parents were due to arrive for a long weekend visit so timing could not have been worse. Two days prior to their arrival, I woke up and showered for work and couldn't make it past my bedroom door, I felt so miserable. A sudden raging fever hit me along with a chesty cough and aches and pains I can't remember even during childbirth. I crawled back into bed and attempted to phone in for a conference call meeting because I couldn't fathom the idea of driving to work, let alone sitting in a meeting room with others. And then that night the sickness seemed to get worse, with my fever reaching 104 degrees F (40 degrees C) and the other symptoms multiplying. I was miserable. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thankfully Scott was in town and he tended to Crosby, proving to be Super Dad, getting her dressed and taking her to nursery or getting things ready for the nanny to arrive at the house, along with re-routing my parents on their flight when they missed their connection and driving to the airport to collect them. He even managed to take some direction from me to bake a batch of bar cookies for my parents' visit. It was all a bit of a blur but two days into the illness I managed my way to the GP (doctor's office) and she said I had a chest and respiratory infection so she put me on a course of antibiotics to try to knock it out of my system. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, my parents were here and I was feeling miserable, not even wanting to surf the web or stare at the TV, just wanted to rest in the hope of feeling better. Consequently, I have fallen behind at work. An email of some immediate attention came through to me today and when I responded I began by apologizing that I had not been in touch earlier and explained that I had been unwell.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The response was the part that really made me chuckle. Frankly at first I thought it was a joke.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The email began with: "Cassie, Thanks for the note, sorry to hear about the lurgy."</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lurgy? </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I thought that was a joke of a term that I sometimes heard Scott say but I have yet to hear it by anyone here. So, when Scott came home from work tonight I asked him if he really knew of the term or if he just used it as a joke. His response was that it was an actual term and he hears people use it here, and in fact since he has caught part of my dreaded cough, he said he has been telling people to stay out of his office because he has the dreaded lurgy. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This lead me to the world wide web for research on the term. Guess this is a British term and it is an amusing one to me! When I hear this word, it makes me think of an illness when you have a lot of phlegm</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, which is strange, but it's just what comes to mind, but apparently it is more general than that. According to <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=lurgy" target="_blank">Urban Dictionary</a>: </span><div>
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<tr style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><td class="word" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">Lurgy</td><td class="tools" id="tools_4152977" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 20px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="status"><a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=lurgy#" style="color: black; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><b>125</b> up</a>, <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=lurgy#" style="color: black; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><b>48</b> down</a></span><span class="thumbs"><a class="thumbs_down" href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=lurgy#" id="thumbs_down_4152977" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://static0.urbandictionary.com/assets/embed/thumbsdown.gif); background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; color: #0e426c; display: block; float: right; height: 19px; margin-left: 4px; width: 19px;"></a><a class="thumbs_up" href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=lurgy#" id="thumbs_up_4152977" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://static0.urbandictionary.com/assets/embed/thumbsup.gif); background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; color: #0e426c; display: block; float: right; height: 19px; margin-left: 4px; width: 19px;"></a></span></td></tr>
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Approximate British equivalent of the American playground term <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=cooties" style="background-color: #6698cb; color: #fbffea; font-weight: normal; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 2px; text-decoration: none;">cooties</a>, meaning a fictitious, yet highly infectious disease. Unlike <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=cooties" style="background-color: #6698cb; color: #fbffea; font-weight: normal; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 2px; text-decoration: none;">cooties</a>, now used by adults to refer to an general undefined infectious malady.<br /><br />Normally used in the form "the dreaded lurgy".<br /><br />The term originates from an episode of the 1950s radio comedy "The Goon Show" in which an epidemic of "The Dreaded Lurgi" was said to be about to sweep across Britain. It turned out that the lurgi was in fact a ficitious disease created by brass instrument makers who had claimed that no brass band player had ever died of the lurgi (thereby increasing sales hugely).<br /><br />"The Goon Show" was an anarchic and surreal radio comedy series that starred Peter Sellers, Spike Milligan and Harry Secombe. It was written by Spike Milligan and Eric Sykes.</div>
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I think I've got the dreaded lurgy.<br /><br />He's not coming into work today, apparently he's coming down with a lurgy.<br /><br />I'm not quite sure what's wrong. Just some form of lurgy.<br /><br />Urgh. You've got the LURGY!</div>
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Well That's a Good Scottish Name...http://www.blogger.com/profile/15319948262039759805noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1050642522016239814.post-78453744090341018012013-02-16T10:37:00.001+00:002013-03-12T21:24:36.054+00:00The benefits of a traveling spouseFrankly having a spouse does not come with a lot of benefits for me when I am the one at home who is always trying to manage the child, the house and my work on my own. However Scott was in Paris the other week (I know sob it's a tough life for him), and so he was nice enough to stop by my favorite food shop there to bring me some treats straight from the source! The only thing better would have been being able to go with him in person....<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-9yLlFNTI8e8/UR9hfL6gn9I/AAAAAAAAKKk/n0mjdo_RFJ8/s640/blogger-image-1109499076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-9yLlFNTI8e8/UR9hfL6gn9I/AAAAAAAAKKk/n0mjdo_RFJ8/s640/blogger-image-1109499076.jpg" /></a></div>Well That's a Good Scottish Name...http://www.blogger.com/profile/15319948262039759805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1050642522016239814.post-72861688899471097292012-07-27T21:10:00.000+01:002012-07-27T21:10:02.543+01:00The Olympic Torch<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Olympics are about to start here in the UK. Technically they are "in London," but actually there are a few events spaced throughout the country. Some events are happening fairly close to where we live but they are no</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">t sports of great interest to us so we did not go out of our way to obtain tickets. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, one of the really cool parts leading up to the Olympics here has been the torch relay that has been taking place throughout the UK. The torch was lit in Greece and then made its way to this island and has traveled to over 1,000 towns throughout the UK and has been carried by nearly 8,000 torch bearers. It has been on tour for the past 70 days. It has traveled within 10 miles of everyone in this country which is pretty remarkable. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few weeks ago the torch was coming straight through our little town - and not only through our town, but it was being carried down the street at the end of our block! It was a very neat afternoon and much to our surprise, it seemed the entire surrounding area descending upon our town to see the torch in person just as we did too. </span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cWrLi6nCTwg/UAv6wiRxnFI/AAAAAAAAJgg/RajZHlgDiww/s1600/IMG_5799.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cWrLi6nCTwg/UAv6wiRxnFI/AAAAAAAAJgg/RajZHlgDiww/s320/IMG_5799.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We did not expect the masses of crowds for the route through our town so by the time we made it to the end of our block, we unfortunately did not have great views because of the crowd. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Crosby got a lift from Daddy and she had the best view out of the three of us....if only she were as interested in watching the torch relay as we were! </span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FVWW9N6kyL8/UAv8Aw7Nv3I/AAAAAAAAJg4/B1CsmdpkRls/s1600/IMG_1321.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FVWW9N6kyL8/UAv8Aw7Nv3I/AAAAAAAAJg4/B1CsmdpkRls/s320/IMG_1321.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was a large procession that came before the torch bearer, starting with the police squad. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then there was a torch parade with fancy buses, music, dancers, and lots of Olympic paraphernalia. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Major Olympic sponsors such as Coco-Cola took part in the torch parade. It was quite festive and lively as these big floats went past the crowds. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Crosby's attention span was of course that of a toddlers - very short. She seemed more interested in walking around and looking at the crowd of people rather than the parade for the torch. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now can you see the flame? Look carefully - it's near the left side of this photo near the Union Jack flag. It was a brief moment and it was difficult to capture on camera due to the crowd, but it was cool to see it whiz by us in person....and now tonight we will watch the opening ceremonies (from the comfort of our living room via TV) with the rest of the world where the flame will arrive and light the start of the games. </span></div>
</div>Well That's a Good Scottish Name...http://www.blogger.com/profile/15319948262039759805noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1050642522016239814.post-82993739289885483802012-07-22T23:11:00.000+01:002012-07-22T23:11:00.599+01:00American jackpot!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I went to our local ASDA the other last night (the Walmart of England, literally owned by Walmart) and as I was sauntering through the aisles (because I was by myself after dinner, and didn't have a screaming child in a shopping trolley!), I came across this new display at the store. I stopped in my tracks. All of these American goodies in one spot,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> in England, in a local grocery store, and not cost prohibitive!!!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hershey's Chocolate items - bars, kisses, cookies and cream bars, Reese's Peanut butter cups and more, Tootsie Rolls and real American Marshmallows! I do wonder how the store has chosen these specific candies and products to sell. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I only wish they were selling real graham crackers, I would have stocked up so we could be enjoying s'mores this weekend....</span></div>
</div>Well That's a Good Scottish Name...http://www.blogger.com/profile/15319948262039759805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1050642522016239814.post-61545228173923784432012-07-20T22:40:00.000+01:002012-07-22T22:41:28.842+01:00Traveling with an up-and-coming toddler<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To say traveling with a small child is challenging could be an understatement. I can see why once babies start moving around (i.e. crawling quickly, walking, etc.) parents stay close to home. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think we are in the midst of the really difficult travel stage right now. I thought it was challenging before to fly with Crosby over her first year, but actually it seems fairly easy in hindsight. (always the way right??). For goodness sake, Crosby took 20 flights in her first year of life! Although by no means were we pros at traveling with an infant, but it was manageable.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We decided to travel to Barcelona at the beginning of May over the first Bank Holiday weekend for a short break. Barcelona been on our "list" of places we have wanted to see within Europe and so we decided we would go this year. My sister Carrie came over from the US for a visit to see us in early May so we decided it would be fun for all of us to go together to Barcelona for a long weekend. Perhaps after Carrie's time with us in Barcelona she is rethinking ever vacationing with us again for now though! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The pros to the travel for this trip were: The flight was fairly short and it was direct. Plus we flew out of our local airport (20 minutes away) rather than having to drive to London first. The con of flying now is that Crosby has no desire to stay still or seated for that matter. She was 14 1/2 months old for this trip. She wanted to see everyone and everything that was going on. And she has a short attention span like most up-and-coming toddlers, so watching a DVD or ipad was not of much interest for more than about 5 minutes at a time. Additionally, she does not nap well outside of her crib so there was no nap on this travel day. This combination of such toddler-isms created one very crabby and slightly unhappy travel companion for our flight! I have known it is difficult to entertain a small child as I am with her every day, but this flight brought new challenges in hopes of occupying her. </span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GUib79bVuEE/T8kqEcgRqbI/AAAAAAAAJb4/5Ab-RHsiUjs/s1600/IMG_0821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GUib79bVuEE/T8kqEcgRqbI/AAAAAAAAJb4/5Ab-RHsiUjs/s320/IMG_0821.JPG" width="238" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Standing on Dad's lap was fun for a while, but we were trying to be mindful of those passengers seated in front of us, so we didn't let Crosby stay there very long. </span></div>
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<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-pXXFjuD_D6o/T7URkwa0EnI/AAAAAAAAJbI/s_96_B9pmgg/s640/blogger-image-1746797443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-pXXFjuD_D6o/T7URkwa0EnI/AAAAAAAAJbI/s_96_B9pmgg/s640/blogger-image-1746797443.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once up in the air, I pulled out the ipad and we tried to take self portraits with silly faces. As you can see, Crosby did not find this very amusing....</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0W4wP71VqNQ/T-dpMChN_7I/AAAAAAAAJe0/VZkrDHV81z8/s1600/IMG_0947.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0W4wP71VqNQ/T-dpMChN_7I/AAAAAAAAJe0/VZkrDHV81z8/s320/IMG_0947.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We tried x-ray vision photos for something different.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gaMBmeGnvkc/T-dpKjEzCRI/AAAAAAAAJes/qDsq_Vbgt1c/s1600/IMG_0946.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gaMBmeGnvkc/T-dpKjEzCRI/AAAAAAAAJes/qDsq_Vbgt1c/s320/IMG_0946.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And the halo effect which didn't seem to phase her.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0JMSww56HIg/T_3qW7WptOI/AAAAAAAAJfQ/Ixhu2ZzaYLA/s1600/IMG_0096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0JMSww56HIg/T_3qW7WptOI/AAAAAAAAJfQ/Ixhu2ZzaYLA/s320/IMG_0096.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Double time! Two Moms and Crosby in a strange form too.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uO6b2khrsdM/T_3qicsBaHI/AAAAAAAAJfY/llVvIstSnyQ/s1600/IMG_0092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uO6b2khrsdM/T_3qicsBaHI/AAAAAAAAJfY/llVvIstSnyQ/s320/IMG_0092.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Meanwhile across the aisle, Aunt Carrie caught up on some zz's since Crosby wouldn't stay on her lap for very long. </span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gph5nDS0WBo/T8ktWVBjxkI/AAAAAAAAJcU/CO-B-bkAgm4/s1600/IMG_0863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gph5nDS0WBo/T8ktWVBjxkI/AAAAAAAAJcU/CO-B-bkAgm4/s320/IMG_0863.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the flight home, more self portraits, this time Crosby playing peek-a-boo with my iphone cover. Anything to keep her occupied....because of course the myriad of toys I had stuffed in my carry on bag were of no interest to her...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, once we survived the flight and arrived in Barcelona we were looking forward to exploring the city. We made some changes on this trip from how we had been traveling pre-child. First, we rented an apartment. Finding multi-bedroom hotel rooms or suites with separate sleeping areas is really quite costly and since hotel rooms within Europe tend to be small to begin with, an apartment is a nice option. My only [small] complaint about an apartment or flat is that they tend to be self-catering and I end up having to fix breakfast. When on vacation, I do enjoy a break from cooking for everyone but at this point, having space to relax after Crosby goes to sleep or when she takes a nap is more important, especially for short breaks. We ended up renting a fantastic apartment in a very nice area of Barcelona so that worked out quite well. We all had space to spread out and most importantly Crosby had her space to sleep so the three of us didn't have to tip-toe around her crib for the evening after she went to bed. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The other change we made was we rather quickly abandoned public transport to and from the airport. Although we may have initially tried to take public transport, hauling our suitcases, a stroller, a tired child, and three adults did not gel with the train as the best way of transport. So, we opted for a taxi and after a bit of traffic, the nice driver dropped us right around the corner from our apartment. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Having not taken a holiday with Crosby since our trip back to the US at Christmas time, we have not traveled with her since she has been onto full solid meals three times a day. There are pros and cons to both sides of the milk only vs. food spectrum when traveling with a child but it is nice to be able to just hand her an apple slice or a cracker instead of having to stop and feed her along the way as we did before when she was not eating solid foods. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interestingly enough, we would always ask the restaurant if it were ok to bring a child in with us and they always happily welcomed Crosby into the restaurant but only a few restaurants actually had high chairs available! </span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9fQMYSqeXyk/T8krF17ABuI/AAAAAAAAJcM/fkbM31L6Q3Y/s1600/IMG_0825.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9fQMYSqeXyk/T8krF17ABuI/AAAAAAAAJcM/fkbM31L6Q3Y/s320/IMG_0825.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Luckily we packed our small collapsible high chair to bring along with us on this trip and we used it at almost every restaurant along the trip. Another item I had packed and gladly used along the way was a stash of <a href="http://www.ellaskitchen.co.uk/ellas_range/stage-1-baby-food/" target="_blank">Ella's Kitchen vegetable packets</a>. Since we were unsure about how many vegetables and fruits we might be able to find at every meal, I packed a supply of the packets for Crosby to eat daily and they were perfect. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another note about traveling with a small child in Spain. Timing was an issue. Many restaurants do not open until 8 or 9 pm for dinner and that is well past Crosby's bed time, let alone her dinner time! We could not wait that long each evening to feed her. So we went the tapas route most nights. We went to a tapas bar, had lots of small plates and then later on in the evening we had snacks if were still hungry, that we had purchased from the local grocery store and kept in our kitchen at the apartment. This type of dining was a noticeable change in how we used to do our vacations but it worked alright for this trip. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And then there was the element of sightseeing within the city. First, getting around the city was a bit of a challenge. We had a small child in a stroller and Barcelona, although modern in some ways, is old. Europe is old for that matter. Public transport is not stroller friendly. Therefore, we climbed a lot of stairs where one adult would hold the baby, and the other adult would carry the stroller. Our arms were tired after doing this multiple times each day up and down stairwells. </span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g-bgsht82xU/T8kqowr457I/AAAAAAAAJcA/e5VD7GHUT8Q/s1600/IMG_5060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g-bgsht82xU/T8kqowr457I/AAAAAAAAJcA/e5VD7GHUT8Q/s320/IMG_5060.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Scott was able to manage sometimes on his own...</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cOtPopFVtoc/UAxq01LDFtI/AAAAAAAAJhk/cwRB964toS8/s1600/IMG_5112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cOtPopFVtoc/UAxq01LDFtI/AAAAAAAAJhk/cwRB964toS8/s320/IMG_5112.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> And then sometimes Aunt Carrie was there to help too...and I carried extra bags. </span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9gAPiZa8-kg/UAxrGwHq2WI/AAAAAAAAJhs/QIL3wWnx1Ts/s1600/IMG_5262.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9gAPiZa8-kg/UAxrGwHq2WI/AAAAAAAAJhs/QIL3wWnx1Ts/s320/IMG_5262.jpg" width="212" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> But then as any time wore on, Crosby would wiggle her way out of her stroller straps, basically proclaiming she no longer wanted to sit in the stroller. Scott would carry her around the streets of Barcelona over his shoulder! </span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BrP_9gzfRFU/UAxsA79D-oI/AAAAAAAAJh8/uz424SEKh98/s1600/IMG_5319.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BrP_9gzfRFU/UAxsA79D-oI/AAAAAAAAJh8/uz424SEKh98/s320/IMG_5319.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We wanted Crosby to stay in her stroller as we walked into the main area of Parc Guell and she wanted none of it! Actually, this type of outburst happened quite a few times over the weekend....she would start to get very upset and then in true tantrum style, would yank her hair bow out of her hair and throw it out of the pram. </span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--gD3l2EVbkk/UAxrteoiUbI/AAAAAAAAJh0/tsL2Yxj701k/s1600/IMG_5317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--gD3l2EVbkk/UAxrteoiUbI/AAAAAAAAJh0/tsL2Yxj701k/s320/IMG_5317.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I would notice about 5 minutes too late that her hair bow was gone. Luckily while at Parc Guell I retraced my steps and found the bow along the dirt path! It felt like I was doing a lot of back tracking to ensure we had everything with us at all times.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, the moral of this trip was quickly realized....city breaks with an up-and-coming toddler are not going to be our cup of tea for the moment. It's a tough lesson learned since Scott & I have enjoyed a LOT of traveling since moving abroad. We suspect a pool/beach/more relaxed type holiday will be our speed for a bit. The next trip on our books will be a week in France doing just as described - a week by the pool relaxing and perhaps some very small and quick market trips in nearby towns. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We want to be able to still take advantage of having Europe on our doorstep but we know our days of exploring as we used to are gone for the moment. Perhaps when Crosby is a bit older such city breaks will be more enjoyable for all involved, but for right now they are not fun for her and consequently they are not enjoyable for us either! Travel in general just seems tough with a young one at this age so we are hopeful that with a different speed of a holiday we will still be able to get away to someplace new, relax and enjoy time together as a family. </span><br />
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</div>Well That's a Good Scottish Name...http://www.blogger.com/profile/15319948262039759805noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1050642522016239814.post-84548688370366818022012-07-19T14:03:00.000+01:002012-07-22T14:03:50.540+01:00Where the lamb goes....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Crosby goes too....</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Crosby received her beloved stuffed lamb when she was born from her grandparents in the US. In fact she received quite a few stuffed plush toys from America from various friends and family members when she was brand new, but for whatever reason the little white stuffed lamb became her security toy. She sleeps with it, she snuggles with it, she nuzzles it when she is upset, and generally it goes everywhere she goes because she feels safe with it.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Crosby & her lamb on a walk into town.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Crosby snuggling the lamb at Waitrose grocery store. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Crosby and the lamb at afternoon tea.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Swinging at the park with the lamb in hand...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even running around the yard with the lamb right next to her face! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had a small parenting failure (or miscommunication) last year when Crosby and I were traveling back to the US and the other parent (who shall remain unnamed....) did not realise the lamb was meant to go with us to the airport when he put Crosby and her belongings in the car. Regardless, the situation was able to be remedied because the lamb was born and sold in the US, so dear Gram was able to go buy another lamb before Crosby & I landed in the US and Crosby never knew the difference.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After that trip when we returned to the UK, we then had two lambs and we thought Crosby might be bothered by having two of her favourite lambs instead of just the one prized security toy, but she actually has loved having two. They have little rattles inside if them so she will sit and bang them both together to make noise, or she will carry them around - one in each hand- with great joy.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ever since acquiring the second lamb, we have been careful to travel with both in case one gets lost (keeping one with us in a carry-on bag and one in Crosby's hands) but recently we have noticed, we have been both lambs out on errands more regularly because Crosby is asserting her very strong will and opinion about always having both in hand - and this situation is on I considered to be a small battle not worth fighting, so I have gone along with it.</span><br />
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<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-zf8pLsLUfcg/UAk-J2RUxiI/AAAAAAAAJf0/W8WwFpubziY/s640/blogger-image-1791376469.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-zf8pLsLUfcg/UAk-J2RUxiI/AAAAAAAAJf0/W8WwFpubziY/s640/blogger-image-1791376469.jpg" style="cursor: move;" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Crosby looking upset because she thought Mom & Dad were leaving her at the house (but really we were just loading the car so we could all go run errands). Crosby had her two lambs in hand ready to go out on errands with us.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well unfortunately now we are paying the price of having a favorite US-born security toy because somehow on the day when the photo above was taken, we lost a lamb along the way when running errands (at Sainsbury's grocery store I suspect). We left the house with two and somehow only had one by the evening when we had returned. Despite multiple phone calls to the store, no one has turned in Crosby's favorite little lamb. So, we are now watching her one prized lamb with all of our eyes to ensure we keep track of it before our next trip back to the US where we will purchasing another lamb from the store there! Perhaps we might even acquire a third lamb and keep one of them hidden for future good measure. It is really special that Crosby loves this little lamb so much but the trials of having a transatlantic security toy that cannot be purchased on this island where we reside makes us quite nervous at times, most especially when we have long stretches of travel ahead of us with her!</span></div>
</div>Well That's a Good Scottish Name...http://www.blogger.com/profile/15319948262039759805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1050642522016239814.post-45694944106211267442012-06-08T22:25:00.000+01:002012-07-02T21:47:47.155+01:00The great British Celebration<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In honor of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebration and also the upcoming 2012 Olympics in London, British pride and Union Jack paraphernalia has been at an all time high throughout towns, decorating the high streets, and in stores everywhere. In the US, I would say that American pride with stars and stripes is always very pronounced from a merchandising angle around the 4th of July, however we have not seen such an explosion of British pride since we have arrived here in the UK. It has been so festive and fun to see right now!</span></div>
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<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-r0S_edoiMq0/T8qLS-PeEZI/AAAAAAAAJdE/nrFO5nY2hbY/s640/blogger-image-1995375892.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-r0S_edoiMq0/T8qLS-PeEZI/AAAAAAAAJdE/nrFO5nY2hbY/s640/blogger-image-1995375892.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At our local Sainsbury's grocery store, a union jack outdoor display with Pimm's as the featured product - such a great British summer drink! </span></div>
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<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-8k65QGuCAjQ/T8qLRAf72qI/AAAAAAAAJc4/tgLoj2bmdhM/s640/blogger-image--1367037596.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-8k65QGuCAjQ/T8qLRAf72qI/AAAAAAAAJc4/tgLoj2bmdhM/s640/blogger-image--1367037596.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The toilet paper rolls have even gone festive....</span></div>
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<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-UztRYd6SxW8/T8qLR_ISn2I/AAAAAAAAJdA/6cgviCgSYHw/s640/blogger-image--1338929971.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-UztRYd6SxW8/T8qLR_ISn2I/AAAAAAAAJdA/6cgviCgSYHw/s640/blogger-image--1338929971.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Union Jack Wellies!</span></div>
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<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-h1CCB-PA180/T8qLQeWVkVI/AAAAAAAAJc0/2XL5dkoSDmE/s640/blogger-image-189126621.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-h1CCB-PA180/T8qLQeWVkVI/AAAAAAAAJc0/2XL5dkoSDmE/s640/blogger-image-189126621.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Instead of a Kit-Kat, you can now buy a Brit-Kat here.</span></div>
</div>Well That's a Good Scottish Name...http://www.blogger.com/profile/15319948262039759805noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1050642522016239814.post-67656481940372668232012-06-05T20:36:00.000+01:002012-07-02T20:36:53.398+01:00Jubilee street party<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our street hosted a traditional British street party this past Sunday in honor of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebration. Although it was SO soggy and VERY cold, it was really great fun to experience a local tradition for such a joyous country-wide celebratory occasion. We felt like one of the locals this weekend since we were able to participate in all of the festivities, although every time we met a new neighbor the first comments made was always something along the lines of "Well you're not from around here....." Yes, the accent is a dead giveaway!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was nice to meet more of our neighbors because even after living in our current house for over 3 years, we have not met many of our neighbors on that side of our house. </span></div>
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<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-a89NRNsYw3A/T8zv6pXhtmI/AAAAAAAAJdw/YH6tlqqCg50/s640/blogger-image--1910063036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-a89NRNsYw3A/T8zv6pXhtmI/AAAAAAAAJdw/YH6tlqqCg50/s640/blogger-image--1910063036.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The road was closed for our street party. </span><br />
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<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-atGlLim2bVc/T8zv2JbRMTI/AAAAAAAAJdY/IVvtbxbcmKk/s640/blogger-image--1581784068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-atGlLim2bVc/T8zv2JbRMTI/AAAAAAAAJdY/IVvtbxbcmKk/s640/blogger-image--1581784068.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All of the men on the street went early in the day to set up the tents for the food and dining areas since the rain was really terrible that morning. Even with the overhead cover, we still were soaked from the sideways rain!</span></div>
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<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-yua8lJJO5fc/T8zv9L8TLnI/AAAAAAAAJeE/7k5_LH1sf00/s640/blogger-image-2035695114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-yua8lJJO5fc/T8zv9L8TLnI/AAAAAAAAJeE/7k5_LH1sf00/s640/blogger-image-2035695114.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There were two food tents - one for savory side dishes and one for "puddings" (desserts). All of the attendees were asked to bring their own meats (most everyone brought British sausages) to grill, and then each family brought one savory side dish and one sweet dessert. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-d4rQ6iazk3Y/T8zv7SFGuvI/AAAAAAAAJd4/Qu9htwqrPcU/s640/blogger-image-523205295.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-d4rQ6iazk3Y/T8zv7SFGuvI/AAAAAAAAJd4/Qu9htwqrPcU/s640/blogger-image-523205295.jpg" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-G0m9r7NtrKU/T8zv3mPwX5I/AAAAAAAAJdg/K9cyf1gwjH8/s640/blogger-image--194836752.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-G0m9r7NtrKU/T8zv3mPwX5I/AAAAAAAAJdg/K9cyf1gwjH8/s640/blogger-image--194836752.jpg" /></a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For our contribution to the dessert table, I made two desserts. One was a large cookie cake with buttercream frosting. I decorated the "cake" with a crown to celebrate Queen Elizabeth's 60 year reign. I found a photo online and just tried to replicate it with the icing. It was fun to make and was a sure highlight to the dessert table! (Plus the Brits seem to go nuts over cookie cakes whenever I make them for events - they are not very common here). I also made brownie with homemade strawberry ice cream and hot fudge sauce cupcakes. Scott found me a fancy disposable union jack cake stand in anticipation of the party. </span></div>
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<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-SIMAvMIRb2U/T8zv5Kl7VYI/AAAAAAAAJdo/_lDgB__r-aE/s640/blogger-image-529403875.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-SIMAvMIRb2U/T8zv5Kl7VYI/AAAAAAAAJdo/_lDgB__r-aE/s640/blogger-image-529403875.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Crosby & Mom with the cookie cake and fancy Diamond jubilee sunglasses pre-street party.</span></div>
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<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-9AvzC4J-g0I/T8zv8dlCWuI/AAAAAAAAJd8/nXTx9N1V7xo/s640/blogger-image--1699494838.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-9AvzC4J-g0I/T8zv8dlCWuI/AAAAAAAAJd8/nXTx9N1V7xo/s640/blogger-image--1699494838.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Crosby & Dad slightly soggy but enjoying lunch at the street party. </span></div>
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OU2sFlcc1SY/T8zv98TXOFI/AAAAAAAAJeM/vqgfugEFMpw/s640/blogger-image-1613052945.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OU2sFlcc1SY/T8zv98TXOFI/AAAAAAAAJeM/vqgfugEFMpw/s640/blogger-image-1613052945.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One neighbor made jacket potatoes for everyone at the party. Such a fitting British side dish - and it was quite warming for the cold windy day outside.</span></div>
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<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-NrQW5kI9M0k/T8zv-q4BZ_I/AAAAAAAAJeU/aEoA-0YSnCs/s640/blogger-image--1865604923.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-NrQW5kI9M0k/T8zv-q4BZ_I/AAAAAAAAJeU/aEoA-0YSnCs/s640/blogger-image--1865604923.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Crosby, aka bubble baby, trying to stay warm and dry under her rain cover for the stroller. I had to turn the heat on inside our house when we got home from the party. So much for the weather being nice for summer but it's a true British Summer now! </span></div>
</div>Well That's a Good Scottish Name...http://www.blogger.com/profile/15319948262039759805noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1050642522016239814.post-30966063161326047132012-05-14T08:23:00.000+01:002012-07-02T22:06:20.214+01:00London calling<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While Carrie was here visiting, we took advantage of some sister time and spent a full day in London. It was all-too-short but really nice to get into the city for a bit of time. I have not spent any amount of time in London since Crosby has been arrived and I miss going into the city to shop and sight see. Scott was traveling again for work so Crosby had a day at home with our nanny and Carrie & I took to London. Although it was rainy (a constant theme here this April and spring), we had a great day eating and shopping.</span></div>
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<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-zblpYY3sr50/T6wvfkunolI/AAAAAAAAJak/BEFXt87_urw/s640/blogger-image--1059470573.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-zblpYY3sr50/T6wvfkunolI/AAAAAAAAJak/BEFXt87_urw/s320/blogger-image--1059470573.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the train into the city....sisters not to be missed in bright orange!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the train Marylebone train station there was a movie being filmed. There was a sign posted that anyone walking around the area could be in the future movie. I am still unsure what movie it was but I will keep my eyes peeled for our big screen debut.</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For lunch, we headed to the Notting Hill neighborhood to a pizza place called <a href="http://www.ottopizza.co.uk/" target="_blank">Otto</a>. Since Carrie is celiac, she had read in advance that Otto has a gluten free cornmeal crust pizza. Celiac or gluten consuming, this restaurant is not to be missed! We had a bbq pulled pork pizza with cheese, coleslaw and onions - a bit different but it was utterly delicious and tasty. </span></div>
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<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Wb-wrp7IIrc/T6wvY0iIPqI/AAAAAAAAJZs/uQm0WZyOMAQ/s640/blogger-image--961457429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Wb-wrp7IIrc/T6wvY0iIPqI/AAAAAAAAJZs/uQm0WZyOMAQ/s400/blogger-image--961457429.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It even felt like we were close to home with the beverage selection available from Goose Island Brewery in Chicago!</span></div>
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<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-B3MKfm8p4uc/T6wveofusnI/AAAAAAAAJac/UPE0RjtFmi0/s640/blogger-image-856456833.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-B3MKfm8p4uc/T6wveofusnI/AAAAAAAAJac/UPE0RjtFmi0/s640/blogger-image-856456833.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After lunch we wandered around Portobello Road in Notting Hill and made a stop at the Hummingbird Bakery. They even had a gluten free cupcake selection which was great.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">London was decked out for the Jubilee and the Olympics. Oxford Street was flying the Union Jack all over - and the taxis were festive too.</span></div>
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GUCOx2YbS40/T6wvcj9sv6I/AAAAAAAAJaM/8et9Cd96VRk/s640/blogger-image-1479942843.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GUCOx2YbS40/T6wvcj9sv6I/AAAAAAAAJaM/8et9Cd96VRk/s640/blogger-image-1479942843.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To continue on the theme of eating, after a bit of shopping around the city, we headed for a full proper afternoon tea at <a href="http://www.claridges.co.uk/" target="_blank">Claridge's Hotel</a>. When we arrived there was a crowd of papparazzi and also a crowd of teenage chidren standing out front. While we did not spot any celeberties, I think my online research was correct to hint that Johnie Depp was staying there that day.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The hotel offered a full afternoon tea for celiacs too so it was perfect so we could both enjoy nearly the same things. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-KsCyUgyF5OQ/T6wvbkPqS_I/AAAAAAAAJaE/YQaPVhi7glQ/s640/blogger-image--1090718398.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-KsCyUgyF5OQ/T6wvbkPqS_I/AAAAAAAAJaE/YQaPVhi7glQ/s400/blogger-image--1090718398.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tea sandwiches, scones, desserts and of course lots of tea! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was definitely one of the best splurges for a wonderful day out for these sisters who don't get together as often as we would like!</span></div>
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</div>Well That's a Good Scottish Name...http://www.blogger.com/profile/15319948262039759805noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1050642522016239814.post-70337042428612235952012-03-27T21:47:00.001+01:002012-03-29T23:20:53.360+01:00A Traveling Spouse<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">Scott has been working in a new role (still for the same company) since the start of this year. His new job is requiring a LOT of travel. In fact, I think he's only been in the UK for a two full weeks since the first week in January. It is the kind of travel that has allowed him to nearly reach gold status on TWO airline carriers within the first quarter of the year, and he is almost gaining status on a third carrier. I am not quite sure if those are status achievements he should be boasting about or not! </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">It's been an adjustment for all of us, most especially for me since during that time I have gone back to work and am trying to balance the work/mom roles while not having the daily support from my husband in a physical sense to pitch in with childcare and/or daily life tasks. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">I am learning my way as a single parent during the week and dare I even say at this point now, nearly a full 3 months into it, I can say it is sometimes easier to manage certain things when Scott is away? Not major things but there are certain things that are easier - the house stays cleaner, our bed is always made, I don't have to cook full dinners every night, Crosby knows our routine and what to expect, I can sleep in the middle of the bed, and I can watch whatever I choose at night on the tv! However, these small feats are not out-weighed by the downside of having Scott gone all the time lately. I find that although the house may be clean and I have time alone at night, I find that I am doing this all alone - and I am just purely exhausted by the end of each week when Scott comes home for one or two days before the car service comes to collect him bright and early on Monday morning for his next week of work travel. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">When Scott took this new job, we both knew there would be some travel involved. I am just not sure either of us thought there would be <i>this</i> much travel involved - and I know neither of us knew what the situation would be like with me back at work on top of it. This past weekend was a perfect example of the compression felt by both of us, by having one spouse who is not around during the week. Scott was in the office on Friday here in the UK and intended to scoot out of the office a bit early so he could catch Crosby and spend some time with us since he was due to leave early on Sunday morning. As responsibilities go, there was too much work to do in the office and he needed to finish things before leaving town so leaving work early on Friday never happened and his arrival home was after Crosby went to sleep and was even later than expected for dinner. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">So, Saturday we raced around town trying to run a few errands - Scott wanted to get a gym workout in, he needed a haircut, etc. I wanted to just have a short break myself since I had been on my own for the whole week prior with Crosby, and that never really happened because Scott had priority on his to do list since he was going to be out of the country the next day. I also wanted some quality family together, knowing that we were only going to have this one day to be together, just the three of us again for a while. Too many things to make happen in a short period of time, of course sandwiched in between Crosby's naps and her meals.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">There is a part to all of this traveling and long working hours that I have come to expect - most especially as part of the expat assignment - but there is a part of it that I did not expect and that is the difficulty of having good conversations with my spouse while he travels. Crosby & I can really manage fairly well on our own, although it is tiring. What I miss is the part of the night when even if Scott is home (very) late from work, we have a good 15 minute (minimally) catch up on our days and we have a partner with which to decompress. With Scott's international travel schedule, it has been difficult to get a good conversation in on the phone. His free time seems to come right as his work meetings are wrapping up, just before the dinners start, which is the time when Crosby is at her crabbiest and needs the most attention from me at this point in my day - so a focused call is difficult to manage. Or, Scott's schedule frees up after dinner which seems to be late and at that point I am half asleep because I am trying to get rest for my early start at work the next day. Or perhaps Scott has a free moment during the day - it always seems to coincide with the days that I am in the office and can't talk myself. And then of course there are those trips like the one this week, where there is a significant time difference in where Scott is and the UK, so managing a time to catch up is even more complicated! Couple these challenges with the fact that I find my husband not a good phone conversationalist to begin with and consequently, I feel like there are too many missed conversations during the week. The weekends become even more crammed with playing catch up and even still - the weekends never make up for everything in the same way as it would if Scott were home.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">So here we are at the end of a 6 or 7 week solid stint of Scott having been away every week and some weekends straight in a row without a break. He is coming back just in time for his family to arrive in the UK and just in time for me to leave the UK to go on my first trip (and first nights away from Crosby) alone for a short bit. In theory, it sounded marginally like a good idea, although now that it is almost here, both of us are finding it to be a wee bit more stressful than anything else. At this point, we would both say it would just be nice to have a week away from work as a family together, or even better yet, a weekend for Scott & me away at some point too. Neither of those things are going to happen now because of other plans set forth, so we are just trying to move forward in that continuation of the "cram-everything-into-as-little-time-as-we-have-together" mode in the few hours we have as our little family of 3 before our visitors arrive. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">The good news for Scott's family who is coming to visit is that they get to spend time with him, since he has arranged his travel schedule to be here while they are. The downside for me is that as soon as they leave and just after I return, his traveling commences again. And although it will be nice for him to have some extra hands to help out with Crosby while I am away, it would have been a good experience for both he & Crosby to be on their own for a week so Scott could see how the other shoe fits (since we have a nanny who comes when I work so she comes when Scott works too!). His response to this idea was something coy, reinforcing the fact that he knows how to make these things work to his advantage. (I describe his response with all my love of course). If I had my parents over every time Scott left town, I think they would live with us permanently at this point! </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;font-size:medium;">The only other small advantage from all of these worldly travels of Scott's is that Crosby is gaining a collection of dress up clothes and shoes from around the globe that will rival many other children's play selections some day.....</span></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dKnNOoqBFEQ/T2j-VtkEucI/AAAAAAAAJXQ/87mUTs_Bl8Y/s1600/IMG_2700.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dKnNOoqBFEQ/T2j-VtkEucI/AAAAAAAAJXQ/87mUTs_Bl8Y/s400/IMG_2700.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722102975535823298" /></span></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">A vibrant skirt and top from India (Crosby needs a few years to grow into it)</span></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bpe2MTlCsOc/T2j-Ur6Hx6I/AAAAAAAAJXE/8KH-PwR9TiM/s1600/DSCF0350.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 230px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bpe2MTlCsOc/T2j-Ur6Hx6I/AAAAAAAAJXE/8KH-PwR9TiM/s400/DSCF0350.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722102957911558050" /></span></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">Turkish slippers taste yummy!</span></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EDya0Jiy8uo/T2j-S--nutI/AAAAAAAAJW4/7PM95zn27S4/s1600/DSCF0352.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 245px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EDya0Jiy8uo/T2j-S--nutI/AAAAAAAAJW4/7PM95zn27S4/s400/DSCF0352.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722102928670964434" /></span></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">The Turkish slippers are pretty cute on her little fe</span>et!</div>Well That's a Good Scottish Name...http://www.blogger.com/profile/15319948262039759805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1050642522016239814.post-21821394347931443522012-03-21T21:34:00.003+00:002012-03-26T23:17:33.802+01:00Mothering Sunday Weekend<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">Another small advantage about being an American Mom (or Mum as they say here) in England means that I can celebrate two Mother's Days because the UK's version, known as Mothering Sunday, is never on the same day as American Mother's Day. This year Mothering Sunday was March 18th and Mother's Day in the US will be Sunday May 13th. Personally I think that since I gave birth to Crosby in England, we will always want to celebrate both Mother's Days since the British one has reason to fit into our yearly celebration calendar! (we'll see if Scott reads this post and if he agrees with this sentiment once we move back to the US someday) </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">Although most of our weekends seem to be consumed with just playing catch-up on household tasks lately due to Scott's busy work travel schedule, this past weekend actually felt a bit like a nice break from the routine. </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ocA-J041OYg/T3DmHOTFZbI/AAAAAAAAJY4/j6QwBxJVog4/s1600/IMG_4517.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ocA-J041OYg/T3DmHOTFZbI/AAAAAAAAJY4/j6QwBxJVog4/s400/IMG_4517.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724328138159515058" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; ">On Saturday, we all dressed in our green attire (Crosby wore lots of green) in honor of St. Patrick's Day so we wouldn't get pinched by anyone. Although it looks like she might be doing an Irish jig here, she's really just practicing her snapping (she started mimicking Scott when he snapped in front of her and now she does it all the time, most frequently on the weekends when he is around). </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-of9yu6czLLQ/T3Dk-nvIOYI/AAAAAAAAJYs/zz0n3HdjH40/s1600/IMG_0519.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 298px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-of9yu6czLLQ/T3Dk-nvIOYI/AAAAAAAAJYs/zz0n3HdjH40/s400/IMG_0519.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724326890857576834" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; ">We took a family trip to <a href="http://bicestervillage.com/">Bicester Village</a> which is probably the nicest, most upscale outlet mall we've come across. Crosby enjoyed her time "shopping" from the comfort of her stroller. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mS_C9haDxWM/T3Dk9xgZclI/AAAAAAAAJYg/i08_ttuB79M/s1600/IMG_0521.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mS_C9haDxWM/T3Dk9xgZclI/AAAAAAAAJYg/i08_ttuB79M/s400/IMG_0521.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724326876300276306" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; ">We met our friend BJ at Bicester who journey-ed up from London for the weekend to come visit us. He has been without his lovely wife for a few too many weeks due to her busy work travel schedule, so we offered him the promise of some home cooked goodies and a night outside the city. I think Crosby was quite confused when we walked into the suit shop and saw her Dad and BJ dressed identically!</span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;color:#0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">Then on Sunday - the actual Mothering Sunday, I went to a chocolate workshop in the late afternoon with one of my friends. When I came home from the class, Crosby was nearly ready for bed, but first we had a small little Mothering Sunday card and gift exchange. </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ERuheVH2eA8/T3DcG4wc62I/AAAAAAAAJX8/9Mw-sB7hH-o/s1600/IMG_4533.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 348px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ERuheVH2eA8/T3DcG4wc62I/AAAAAAAAJX8/9Mw-sB7hH-o/s400/IMG_4533.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724317137260833634" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; ">Daddy was very clever and helped Crosby shop for a card and gift for me! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xLWToQnor40/T3DZCVz9TMI/AAAAAAAAJXw/BRBcBh2Mzjs/s1600/IMG_4539.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xLWToQnor40/T3DZCVz9TMI/AAAAAAAAJXw/BRBcBh2Mzjs/s400/IMG_4539.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724313760625937602" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; ">She gave me a new heart tea cup to add to my English china tea cup collection! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eaH67PXDaHc/T3DXa8b7VhI/AAAAAAAAJXk/XRTfSVGYIe4/s1600/IMG_4540.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 260px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eaH67PXDaHc/T3DXa8b7VhI/AAAAAAAAJXk/XRTfSVGYIe4/s400/IMG_4540.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724311984287733266" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; ">And of course, as with all things right now at this stage, as soon as she saw Mom take a sip out of the cup, Crosby wanted to try it too...</span>Well That's a Good Scottish Name...http://www.blogger.com/profile/15319948262039759805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1050642522016239814.post-988088883141599082012-03-09T08:09:00.007+00:002012-03-14T23:11:25.318+00:00Back at it<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I have been back at the work bit since January now, and it has been another learning experience I did not expect. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; ">I have learned that I like to work.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><br />I am not sure why this has surprised me so much but it has. I knew when we first moved to England that I liked working because I was pretty close to loosing my mind for the first 6 months when i didn't have a job. Once I found my (current) job and started at it, I really was much happier. It's funny because I always thought that not having to work and having all kinds of time on my hands sounded like a dream. Once I had the option of not working and just being a lady of leisure, I actually hated it. It probably didn't help that I had (and still have) a husband who works a LOT and that is part of the gig since we live abroad for his job right now.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">Being back at work has more than its fair share of challenges but it also has some advantages. Last week I was invited to the launch of the new innovation center for Kraft/Cadbury because they are now a US/UK company and I work with such companies in my job. (It's really a great fit since I fit the bill as an American living in England). Not only was it a really cool day to spend at Cadbury learning all about their chocolate (and tasting loads of it!!) but it reminded me of why I do enjoy my job - AND - how much I have grown within myself by working over here. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">As I was driving to this work event I was thinking to myself that I was not sure if I would know anyone at the event but it didn't matter whether I knew anyone there or not. I know that I have enough confidence to walk into a situation where I don't know anyone and I will be able to walk up to people, will politely introduce myself, have a conversation, and hopefully make a worthwhile connection by the end of my time at such an event. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">Thinking through these steps made me remember how I felt three years ago when I had just started my job over here. I was starting to meet stakeholders and other business people in the local area for my job. I met a local CEO of an organization and he invited me to be his guest at a business black tie gala. I accepted because it was due to be a worthwhile business event.<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">The day arrived and I was on my way driving to the event and it hit me - I realized I was about to walk into a 500 person event by myself and I knew only one person who was going to be in that room. This wasn't an event in Chicago anymore where I had gone to work functions by myself but always knew that because I knew enough people within my industry, I would walk in and would be able to recognize someone I knew - or someone with whom I at least had a connection.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">This time, I was going to an event in a new city and a new COUNTRY and I did not have any type of professional network here yet! In fact, beyond my team of employees, I really did not know anyone else within a work capacity. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">So, three years ago, I went to that black tie event and it turned out to be fine. In fact, it was more than fine. I actually walked away with a fist-full of business cards and made some connections to people I see and do business with now on a regular basis. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I am reminded of these thoughts and sentiments when I am off to events now where I am not sure if I will know anyone or not. And it doesn't bother me anymore because I know I have moved countries, made new connections, and built a new professional (and personal) network for myself since I had that first experience of getting thrown into the deep end here. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; ">It is good to remind myself about how I felt three years ago because it makes me realize how much I have grown and how proud I am to have established myself professionally within a new country, even though it was my husband's expat assignment that brought us over here. I know I would not have had the same (personal and) professional growth opportunities if we were still in the US, so for that I am grateful.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; "><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-nBMdZLXVpuw/T1m6y_Mz2XI/AAAAAAAAJWQ/8YXA1mwIlQc/s640/blogger-image-1561127524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-nBMdZLXVpuw/T1m6y_Mz2XI/AAAAAAAAJWQ/8YXA1mwIlQc/s640/blogger-image-1561127524.jpg" /></span></a></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">Cadbury's chocolate making headquarters!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-vVuwiaYiOAw/T1m60SA7mOI/AAAAAAAAJWk/MSzDHyWhRK4/s640/blogger-image-1827310320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-vVuwiaYiOAw/T1m60SA7mOI/AAAAAAAAJWk/MSzDHyWhRK4/s640/blogger-image-1827310320.jpg" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">They had the guests (only about 40 of us in total), tasting their liquid chocolate with various mix-in ingredients to see if we could create any flavor combinations that were worthwhile. Since it is their innovation center that we were touring, this type of activity takes place all of the time there. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-QW3Fmh_ObN4/T1m6yaea-sI/AAAAAAAAJWM/s0PLnQ-gHDA/s640/blogger-image-248534468.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-QW3Fmh_ObN4/T1m6yaea-sI/AAAAAAAAJWM/s0PLnQ-gHDA/s640/blogger-image-248534468.jpg" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">And then as if I didn't consume enough chocolate at the event, they sent each attendee home with a bag full of Chocolate products to sample later. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-eMZl6ci2Als/T1m6zjx5IBI/AAAAAAAAJWc/APaJ8ZC-SyM/s640/blogger-image-1392732324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-eMZl6ci2Als/T1m6zjx5IBI/AAAAAAAAJWc/APaJ8ZC-SyM/s640/blogger-image-1392732324.jpg" /></span></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">My little taste-tester was, once again, into the bag straight away, trying to get her teeth into that chocolate! (Unfortunately for her she hasn't been allowed any chocolate).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Well That's a Good Scottish Name...http://www.blogger.com/profile/15319948262039759805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1050642522016239814.post-1651397922328964802012-03-05T20:57:00.008+00:002012-03-08T23:09:11.970+00:00Oatmeal<div class="separator" style="text-align: left;clear: both; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I love oatmeal in the winter months. Sometimes I eat it all year long too. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;">My latest cooked breakfast cereal has been steel cut oatmeal. In the quest for making easy foods that can be done in advance, I found quite a few recipes for slow cooker steel cut oatmeal. I loved the concept and I enjoy steel cut oatmeal but never made it much before because I knew it took forever to cook. I knew I wanted to make the oats in the crock pot, so I began my quest to the steel cut oats in England, but could not find them here. I was perplexed - if the oats are called "Irish Oats," then I figured they must be sold in the UK which encompasses part of Ireland. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left;clear: both; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left;clear: both; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >I was incorrect. </span></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left;clear: both; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left;clear: both; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;">I cannot find these oats over here! When I started to look for "Steel Cut Oats" at the grocery store, no one seemed to know what I wanted when I asked for them. I was pointed in the direction of oatmeal but nothing on </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;">the shelves that resembled steel cut oats. After some research online, I did find out that they are not necessarily called Irish Oats or Steel Cut Oats over here but are often referred to as "Pinhead Oats."</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left;clear: both; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left;clear: both; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ">According to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steel-cut_oats">wikipedia</a>, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 19px; "><b>Steel-cut <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oat" title="Oat" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(6, 69, 173); background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">oats</a></b> are whole grain <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groats" title="Groats" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(6, 69, 173); background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">groats</a> (the inner portion of the oat <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seed" title="Seed" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(6, 69, 173); background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">kernel</a>) which have been cut into pieces. They are commonly used in Scotland and Ireland to make <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porridge" title="Porridge" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(6, 69, 173); background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">porridge</a>, whereas <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolled_oats" title="Rolled oats" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(6, 69, 173); background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">rolled oats</a> are used in England, other English-speaking countries, and Scandinavia. They are sometimes named after the grade of cut, e.g. <b>pinhead oats</b>; steel-cut oats from Ireland are sometimes called <b>Irish oats</b>.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left;clear: both; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left;clear: both; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ">Why do Scotland & Ireland use them but their neighbor England does not? It seems a bit strange to me. </span></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ">I went so far as to email a few oatmeal distributors in England who claim to have pinhead oats within their product portfolio. One company said their brand was sold at the local grocery store chain, Waitrose. I went into the Waitrose store by us and talked to a supervisor. No, unfortunately they don't carry that type of oatmeal and weren't sure where to find it but suggested calling the local farm shops in the area. So, I called three farm shops. No one remotely seemed interested in helping me to find this type of oatmeal. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><br /></span></div></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left;clear: both; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">Alas, my quest for the oatmeal here was fairly unsuccessful. I have seen it now <a href="http://www.goodnessdirect.co.uk/cgi-local/frameset/detail/133173_Goodness_Pinhead_Oatmeal__3kg.html">online</a> but I have not yet ordered from the web store. Instead I took the "import" route and brought back a few heavy tins of it in my suitcase after the holidays. Two months back in the UK, I was almost out of it already so I had Scott buy more last week when he was back in the US for work. </span></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left;clear: both; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: center;clear: both; "><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-KNAe7qtiBDs/T1kdTsCg1BI/AAAAAAAAJV8/U82yWFgF23Q/s640/blogger-image-2020556760.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-KNAe7qtiBDs/T1kdTsCg1BI/AAAAAAAAJV8/U82yWFgF23Q/s640/blogger-image-2020556760.jpg" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left;clear: both; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">I just find it terribly ironic that is marketed as "IRISH OATMEAL" but it is not even sold in the country that exports more goods to Ireland than any other country!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LvJTbAF2pQU/T1kdUvLzbCI/AAAAAAAAJWE/It5uwnRn-6c/s640/blogger-image--2015263103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LvJTbAF2pQU/T1kdUvLzbCI/AAAAAAAAJWE/It5uwnRn-6c/s640/blogger-image--2015263103.jpg" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">My new supply of Steel Cut, Pinhead, Irish, or whatever-you-want-to-call-them Oats directly from the US for my slow cooker breakfast recipes. Yet another food product that I would have thought would be available in both countries but apparently is not as readily available as I would have thought.</span></div>Well That's a Good Scottish Name...http://www.blogger.com/profile/15319948262039759805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1050642522016239814.post-19970590450617502982012-03-02T22:42:00.000+00:002012-03-05T23:22:47.484+00:00Into Everything...<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">I am not sure when it exactly happened but it seems that from the moment we returned to the UK from our extended visit to the US over the holidays, Crosby had quickly become interested in everything and suddenly she was into everything in our house. In late January, she mastered the art of crawling up the stairs to the second story (or the first floor as they say here in England) and so stair gates were quickly purchased. Also, since she is able to pull herself up and stand quite well with one hand on anything to keep her steady, all cabinets, tables, other pieces of furniture, etc. are of great interest. Everything in the kitchen is especially interesting because there is food in there for snacks! These days I feel like I blink, and once I look up, I have found my child into another pocket of the house, exploring something I didn't even know was possible. It is keeping me on my toes but it is actually a lot of fun right now. I am enjoying this stage much more than I did parts of the previous stages for sure. </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kZzm3nLh3V4/T1VGVvxEKQI/AAAAAAAAJVc/toj4neLhReU/s1600/IMG_4059.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kZzm3nLh3V4/T1VGVvxEKQI/AAAAAAAAJVc/toj4neLhReU/s400/IMG_4059.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5716552641430169858" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; ">Crosby climbing the stairs (pre-stair gate). </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vUaL0dj_Bbk/T1VGVCCdFEI/AAAAAAAAJVQ/hWwGyQuw0ZA/s1600/IMG_4082.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vUaL0dj_Bbk/T1VGVCCdFEI/AAAAAAAAJVQ/hWwGyQuw0ZA/s400/IMG_4082.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5716552629155075138" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; ">She is able to stand up and reach our "snack basket" in our kitchen island. It is a favorite activity to unpack all of the snacks in this basket while I am trying to cook dinner in the evenings. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qV03u0BuASI/T1VGUs1ZqPI/AAAAAAAAJVE/gUiQbXBTRp0/s1600/IMG_0068.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 298px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qV03u0BuASI/T1VGUs1ZqPI/AAAAAAAAJVE/gUiQbXBTRp0/s400/IMG_0068.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5716552623463180530" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; ">The stair gate went up and we now have one unhappy little girl who sits at the bottom of the stairs and tries with all of her might to move that gate out of her way!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sUHZFdhiJBA/T1VEcAxxaBI/AAAAAAAAJU4/BgqpGsYiDiU/s1600/IMG_0106.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 298px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sUHZFdhiJBA/T1VEcAxxaBI/AAAAAAAAJU4/BgqpGsYiDiU/s400/IMG_0106.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5716550550052497426" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; ">Into the baking cabinet she goes. Rooting around for some good ingredients!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z_TeHe2FUeY/T1VEbqYMitI/AAAAAAAAJUs/ROQwIEEvIIc/s1600/IMG_0112.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 298px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z_TeHe2FUeY/T1VEbqYMitI/AAAAAAAAJUs/ROQwIEEvIIc/s400/IMG_0112.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5716550544039643858" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; ">And it's not just the kitchen that's of interest - Crosby has discovered how much fun she has while playing in the curtains of the living room. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0pFF7FfRB8I/T1VEbI_7kNI/AAAAAAAAJUg/iseSzF9sTpw/s1600/IMG_0217.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 298px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0pFF7FfRB8I/T1VEbI_7kNI/AAAAAAAAJUg/iseSzF9sTpw/s400/IMG_0217.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5716550535079497938" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; ">Crosby finds the linen and ziploc bag cabinet in the kitchen. She "rearranges," aka pulls everything out on to the floor. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bu9BTKN5Gto/T1VDFvHLZZI/AAAAAAAAJUU/WMfKNJPFz9s/s1600/IMG_0218.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 298px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bu9BTKN5Gto/T1VDFvHLZZI/AAAAAAAAJUU/WMfKNJPFz9s/s400/IMG_0218.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5716549067841693074" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; ">Crosby crawled into the kitchen (very quickly I might add!) and she immediately tore into Scott's fruit and fibre cereal box. She spilled it all over the floor and then proceeded to eat it. If you saw her in action, you might think we never feed her with the way she ravages through the food! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aKHDiJIBRB8/T1VDFNSIjLI/AAAAAAAAJUI/qpUKmgVfy84/s1600/IMG_0219.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 298px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aKHDiJIBRB8/T1VDFNSIjLI/AAAAAAAAJUI/qpUKmgVfy84/s400/IMG_0219.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5716549058760838322" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; ">Even climbing into the tupperware toy storage bins is new and fun right now. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EUSprQkZMig/T1VDEpNLxwI/AAAAAAAAJT8/YQNZsb_8V2g/s1600/IMG_0232.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 298px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EUSprQkZMig/T1VDEpNLxwI/AAAAAAAAJT8/YQNZsb_8V2g/s400/IMG_0232.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5716549049076401922" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; ">After coming home from a joint birthday celebration the other weekend, Crosby somehow managed to pull apart the bag of the supplies in the dining room while we weren't looking!</span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">I have to laugh while posting these pictures because if I saw these photos from someone else, I might think they never watch their child. Some of these incidents (mostly in the kitchen) have actually taken place under my direct supervision...I will be trying to cook dinner and toys I bring to her are of no interest, so as long as she is not causing any harm to herself, the food, or the kitchen items, I will let her sometimes "rearrange" the towels, etc. while I am there. Other times, she really is just that quick that she scurries out of one room and into another before I've realized what has happened. Fool me once, but now I know (some of) her tricks, so I can pretty easily guess where she is going and what she is going to get into before she does it. However, when Dad is on duty these days, it's pretty funny to see how Crosby knows that he is not aware of how quick she is and what tricks she has up her sleeve, so those make for even more interesting situations.....</span><br /><br /></div>Well That's a Good Scottish Name...http://www.blogger.com/profile/15319948262039759805noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1050642522016239814.post-90660982915405790492012-02-16T21:05:00.012+00:002012-02-28T11:54:32.657+00:00ONE YEAR!<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">This week we celebrated our little ONE year old Crosby! I kept thinking about where I was during the week a year ago, what I was doing, etc. and really all I could think about was how incredibly happy I was to be on this side of the year rather than where I was a year ago. Specifically I was thinking about today a year ago, when I got to come home with Crosby after a long stay in that terrible hospital maternity ward in which I had no sleep and felt like a prisoner on a ward from the lack of sleep, food, and assistance I had received while there. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">Crosby let us relieve part of the whole debacle leading up to her arrival as she did last year by not letting us sleep at all on the night of the 12th/morning of the 13th. This time around though, we were awake all night and morning due to Crosby having her first real illness all year. So terribly sad that it had to happen around her birthday, but we are extremely thankful that she was so well her first year as a baby. </span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NSv-ivYTK2E/Tz15_S5MyQI/AAAAAAAAI5c/WLCvA8WkPlI/s1600/IMG_4165.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 267px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709854030886127874" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NSv-ivYTK2E/Tz15_S5MyQI/AAAAAAAAI5c/WLCvA8WkPlI/s400/IMG_4165.JPG" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">The Birthday Girl comes downstairs in her pj's and checks out her loot!</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-niZv6_bLgKs/Tz1593dmaxI/AAAAAAAAI5U/guofmaWC_zM/s1600/IMG_4190.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 252px; height: 400px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709854006342740754" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-niZv6_bLgKs/Tz1593dmaxI/AAAAAAAAI5U/guofmaWC_zM/s400/IMG_4190.JPG" /></span></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">In front of her 1st Happy Birthday Banner sign and unfortunately rubbing her nose (as she did nearly all day and night!).</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8X6u_H2tBkc/Tz159P2UlFI/AAAAAAAAI5E/V82Ivlq2jM4/s1600/photo-11.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 298px; height: 400px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709853995709011026" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8X6u_H2tBkc/Tz159P2UlFI/AAAAAAAAI5E/V82Ivlq2jM4/s400/photo-11.JPG" /></span></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">Proclaiming it's her birthday at the soft play area with Daddy supporting her.</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-265i8p6HFL8/Tz1x-6gkKbI/AAAAAAAAI4w/2enZPi1QE9k/s1600/IMG_4217.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 267px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709845228247329202" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-265i8p6HFL8/Tz1x-6gkKbI/AAAAAAAAI4w/2enZPi1QE9k/s400/IMG_4217.JPG" /></span></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">Unwrapping those birthday gifts! A Royal Wedding Happyland Play set from Mom & Dad!</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BvmV7GfP96U/Tz1x9xo2m9I/AAAAAAAAI4o/-xSjlEHIQNs/s1600/IMG_4249.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 267px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709845208686304210" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BvmV7GfP96U/Tz1x9xo2m9I/AAAAAAAAI4o/-xSjlEHIQNs/s400/IMG_4249.JPG" /></span></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">Birthday cake time! We thought Crosby would be a happy camper to dig into her cake but all she was interested in was eating the fresh strawberries off the side of the cake, sadly in between sorry tears for herself for not feeling very well.</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JeWh5_IRJDg/Tz1x9F7i1EI/AAAAAAAAI4c/DIuRHJInMBU/s1600/IMG_4259.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 267px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709845196953539650" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JeWh5_IRJDg/Tz1x9F7i1EI/AAAAAAAAI4c/DIuRHJInMBU/s400/IMG_4259.JPG" /></span></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">One little unhappy birthday girl by the end of the evening as we tried to take a family photo for her baby book.. Poor thing that she wasn't a happy birthday girl. :(</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uv16nUzX7lo/Tz1x7kk_VWI/AAAAAAAAI4Q/qVIAyqreufs/s1600/photo-12.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 298px; height: 400px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709845170820699490" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uv16nUzX7lo/Tz1x7kk_VWI/AAAAAAAAI4Q/qVIAyqreufs/s400/photo-12.JPG" /></span></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">And the "after math" of the birthday day....toys and loot everywhere! (note this photo was taken at 10pm when she awoke with a fever after initially going to bed for the evening). </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Despite the cold and crabiness of our little girl surrounding her birthday, we were still thrilled to celebrate Crosby's 1st Birthday. We are so lucky to have such a darling and sweet little girl as our daughter!</span></div>Well That's a Good Scottish Name...http://www.blogger.com/profile/15319948262039759805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1050642522016239814.post-7597968891851900332012-02-06T22:48:00.006+00:002012-02-12T14:53:10.288+00:00Snow!<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">This past weekend England got snow! It was probably the best kind of snow - it was beautiful and covered everything but by Monday morning it was fairly well melted. However over the weekend it did of course cause chaos in this country with cancelled flights, closed shops, delays, and lots of traffic problems. We did not venture out anywhere too far but we did take Crosby outside to see what she thought of her first proper snow fall. </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wboo8RrB5qc/TzBcNv5bXOI/AAAAAAAAI24/Z9eskuAJsFw/s1600/IMG_4100.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wboo8RrB5qc/TzBcNv5bXOI/AAAAAAAAI24/Z9eskuAJsFw/s400/IMG_4100.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706162119143808226" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; ">Scott tried to put her feet down on the ground so she could (attempt to) walk on the snow (note the Tesco bags covering her Ugg boots!) but as soon as her feet touched the ground, cries began.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0BaATCqEEYY/TzBcNM4N9AI/AAAAAAAAI2s/HNhFlKGDBKY/s1600/IMG_4109.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0BaATCqEEYY/TzBcNM4N9AI/AAAAAAAAI2s/HNhFlKGDBKY/s400/IMG_4109.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706162109743494146" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; ">The view was much better from up on Daddy's shoulders!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sYGITBX52r4/TzBapZt9CzI/AAAAAAAAI2g/Sr1QHc2cSac/s1600/IMG_4121.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sYGITBX52r4/TzBapZt9CzI/AAAAAAAAI2g/Sr1QHc2cSac/s400/IMG_4121.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706160395203185458" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; ">Scott tried to rekindle his midwestern winter roots by building a full snowman. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0XPMbakLUAg/TzBao8xtsSI/AAAAAAAAI2U/YN4WhZnHhe0/s1600/IMG_4127.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0XPMbakLUAg/TzBao8xtsSI/AAAAAAAAI2U/YN4WhZnHhe0/s400/IMG_4127.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706160387434328354" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; ">Crosby & her baby doll were much happier watching this activity from the comfort of our living room on the inside!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aYdV33EJuPU/TzBanb10r0I/AAAAAAAAI2I/js1-71FaJDo/s1600/IMG_4129.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aYdV33EJuPU/TzBanb10r0I/AAAAAAAAI2I/js1-71FaJDo/s400/IMG_4129.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706160361413324610" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; ">Our first English snowman - the perfect place to play peek-a-boo! </span>Well That's a Good Scottish Name...http://www.blogger.com/profile/15319948262039759805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1050642522016239814.post-62373121130762966742012-01-22T06:19:00.002+00:002012-02-08T21:52:49.517+00:00How long is too long?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">How long is too long to be an expat? I realize some people and families make a career out of it and are happy to do so for a very long time. I still unsure that we could be one of those families however we have already extended our tour of expatriate life longer than we ever thought we would. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">This question of how long is too long is one we have discussed quite a bit lately because Scott has been offered and has accepted a new job (still with the same company) --- a promotion and a new position that will keep us in England a while longer. How much longer will we stay is the question? That answer is unknown. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">We know it will not be forever. Neither one of us wants that situation, as we know we want to return to the US. However, we have quickly become one of those couples who we heard about when we were first moving abroad and both thought that would never be us.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">It was the scenario we heard over and over again. "I was offered an expat assignment in X location for 2 years, and we loved it so much, it turned into 5 / 6 / 7....or whatever the greater number was." Countless tales of such assignments that extended well past their initial contract date. And now here we are ---- 3 1/2 years into an 18-24 month initial contract.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">It is the right move for Scott's career for us to continue our time here, or so we hope at this point. The new job will be a great challenge for him and will hopefully allow his career to hopefully continue to flourish with his company. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">But the more time we spend away, the more I grapple with the question of how long is too long to be away? Initially our answer was that when we were ready to start a family, we would probably return to the US. Clearly, I survived [the rather horrendous childbirth situation in the UK hospital] and we are still there. Dare I say, there is a part of me that has been glad to be in the UK with an infant because of the year-long maternity leave it has afforded me. (of course I am not sure that is outweighed by the lack of family within close proximity! or the really terrible hospital experience!) </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">Various discussions on this topic of length of time abroad now are focused on Crosby and our wants and desires for her life. Is this still the right decision for us to be abroad, now that we have a child? Is the end time for us abroad now when she is starting school? Is that primary school or secondary school? Or are we providing her with a great gift of life adaptability by being away and learning about another country/culture/lifestyle? Or will she feel unsettled because she will have not spent her entire life in one country and/or location? So many questions and concerns, and of course there is no "right" answer. People view such opportunities differently which is of course why some people accept such assignments and others do not. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">We have also said we will continue to pursue the best career paths, provided that we are all healthy and well. God willing, this will continue to be the case.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">Obviously with Scott accepting a this new job that will keep us abroad for a while longer, we have agreed that this decision is currently the best one for our family. However, with an end date unknown and time spent building a further life for ourselves in England, we really struggle with the debate of how long is too long and when is the right time to return home? We also realize that "home" will have a new meaning for us in the US because the variables will not be the same in our life / location / home / family etc from right before we moved abroad. </span></div>Well That's a Good Scottish Name...http://www.blogger.com/profile/15319948262039759805noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1050642522016239814.post-83644239206521743802012-01-20T23:08:00.000+00:002012-02-07T23:51:45.158+00:00Seasonal Candy<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">While I was home in the US for the Christmas holidays, I noticed the shift in the store shelves from the Christmas themed candy to the Valentine's Day themed candy. Shortly after January 1st all of the red, green, and santa themed candies were cleared away and the shelves at Target and the grocery stores in the US were lined with red and pink candies, with lots of hearts all around. I started to think that there is much more of a holiday/seasonal candy market in the US than I ever see in the UK. It seems for any possible holiday in the US, there is a sugary and sweet treat to match up with the theme of the holiday. </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LTIzVe5vZ8A/TzGwGMIQjpI/AAAAAAAAI3c/AWyZwHYzkD0/s1600/IMG00296-20120127-2120.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LTIzVe5vZ8A/TzGwGMIQjpI/AAAAAAAAI3c/AWyZwHYzkD0/s400/IMG00296-20120127-2120.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706535823236697746" /></a>Two of my favorite candies - Brach's cinnamon and Cherry Hearts made their way back to the UK in the nearly 200 lbs of luggage that Crosby & I flew back with. I cannot say there is anything quite like this type of candy on the shelves here in England right now...</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">However when I walked into my grocery store the other day, I noticed a sign for "SEASONAL CANDY" so I thought to myself, "Well, maybe there is more of a market here than I thought before." I went to investigate the offerings.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eGuy-JFjTxc/TzGwF0QIBAI/AAAAAAAAI3M/YswZufg6MEc/s1600/IMG00287-20120115-1515.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eGuy-JFjTxc/TzGwF0QIBAI/AAAAAAAAI3M/YswZufg6MEc/s400/IMG00287-20120115-1515.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706535816827241474" /></a>Apparently the candy market goes straight from Christmas tins of candy straight to chocolate Easter Eggs here! Funny to see Easter candy on the shelf in January but I guess when Cadbury has been the most loved sweet manufacturer in this country, the stores do everything to support their products (and I do love their mini eggs! When I think about it, the mini eggs were the only thing I had to eat last year during my 24-plus hours of labor when having Crosby, so I guess they were out on the shelves well before Easter last year too!). </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">I know conversation hearts do not exist here in England for Valentine's Day but I wonder, do small children exchange candy for Valentine's Day like we did when I was little in the US? Or is it another commercialized event only in the US??</span></div>Well That's a Good Scottish Name...http://www.blogger.com/profile/15319948262039759805noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1050642522016239814.post-82800544819594203822012-01-07T06:00:00.008+00:002012-01-08T23:36:27.439+00:00Change of Travel Plans<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">Well, Crosby & I were supposed to be back in the UK by now....and I am sure we would be having a fight with jet lag right about now but we're not! We changed our flights (of course with Scott's permission and agreement) so we could stay an extra few days with my parents. Plus, it hasn't hurt that the weather has been 65 degrees and sunny in the midwest this week! </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wkQQivo5mDE/TwfgAiYvINI/AAAAAAAAIzk/fVMxNXSOLlw/s1600/IMG_6997.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wkQQivo5mDE/TwfgAiYvINI/AAAAAAAAIzk/fVMxNXSOLlw/s400/IMG_6997.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694766553668460754" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;">We spent the morning on a walk and at the park in order to enjoy the super nice weather we are having right now.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">This always happens when I am about to leave my parents after a visit. I really don't want to leave them because I don't get to see them as often as I would like. When I think about it, I know I am a "home body" and maybe I am stranger than most in that I really love being back at home and enjoy spending time with my parents. Perhaps it's a female thing but Scott is good about encouraging me to spend time when I can with my family because he knows how important it is to me. If I take a step back and look at it, I am often amazed that I do so well with being in a completely different country from my family, but I know that my parents were always good about encouraging my sister & me to flee the nest so we could take advantage of life opportunities. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">When I was younger, I remember my father taking out a map and drawing a circle around our city, saying "Here's a 500 mile radius. You girls can go to college anywhere outside this circle." And he meant it! At a time when most parents we knew were trying to keep their children close to home, ours were telling us to go away. Their theory was that we could always come back home again, but we needed to leave first to see what else was out there. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">I feel their lessons ring true more often than not these days. My sister & I have both moved away and are making our own ways out in the world. I am sure my parents never imagined that their encouragement in fleeing the nest might lead to our current life in England, but they have been nothing but supportive of it, despite the times when the distance really is far. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Now, in time, it will be my turn with Scott to teach Crosby such lessons in life. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;">But for now --- for one more week -- Crosby & I just wanted to be home again to enjoy some more time after the busy holiday period. Jet lag can wait another week, because I am sure it will find us upon our return to England, regardless of when that is.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">Sometimes it is just really nice to be home again. </span></div>Well That's a Good Scottish Name...http://www.blogger.com/profile/15319948262039759805noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1050642522016239814.post-89936167861977258182012-01-06T14:49:00.009+00:002012-01-08T05:45:11.572+00:00"Home" for the Holidays<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">We have been "home" for the holidays. I say "home" loosely because of course we have not really been back in our actual home </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">in Chicago, but we have been traveling between various locations including time spent with Scott's family and my family in an effort to see everyone during this time of year. It has been wonderful to see everyone and Crosby has been a trooper during her various moves between hotel rooms, houses, plane rides, train rides, car rides, etc. For the most part, our time back "home" has been spent fighting jet lag, unpacking, repacking, traveling, and visiting with family (oh and eating more meat than we ever thought possible!). I think we crammed a lot into our visit this time and yet it still doesn't feel like we've spent enough time in any one location, or seen everyone we had hope to see. I know this is just often the case when traveling in from out of town, and now with a baby, time seems even more compressed.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">I am not sure if it is better to have both families in one city or if it's better to have them in different locations? I am aware that either situation has its own set of benefits and challenges. For us this year, it felt like neither side of our family got a fair bit and of course we felt like we were a bit sandwiched in the middle. We were rushed on Christmas Eve to pack up all of our belongings and get everything ready for our travel on Christmas Day, and then we didn't get to stay long on Christmas Day with my family because we had to fly twice, transfer planes, etc. and drive another hour to get to Scott's family once we landed at our final destination. So, we ended up eating Christmas dinner back at O'Hare airport where we had to transfer flights. Then once we got to Scott's family's house, it was late and so we did Christmas gifts, etc. the next day. So much pressure around one day and it just goes by in a blink of an eye! I am not sure what the answer to the splitting of the holiday is - it would be a challenge even if we were just in Chicago, still but of course the international aspect makes it even more complicated. Despite the headaches of travel, we did enjoy our visit as much as we could and were very glad we decided to spend the holidays back in the US. Crosby of course probably enjoyed it the most because she had everyone's attention! </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lr18CcL3fxI/TwYXjJRx3oI/AAAAAAAAIzU/pX_W5deeAoQ/s1600/IMG_3537.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lr18CcL3fxI/TwYXjJRx3oI/AAAAAAAAIzU/pX_W5deeAoQ/s400/IMG_3537.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694264671409921666" /></span></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">Crosby at the train station in the suburbs of Chicago. Crosby & I took a train from the suburbs of Chicago while Scott stayed on to do some work for a few days at the start of our time back in the US. </span></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tYag5r_jsZE/TwYXiQ8jEBI/AAAAAAAAIzI/AQ8TOU19e58/s1600/IMG_6799.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tYag5r_jsZE/TwYXiQ8jEBI/AAAAAAAAIzI/AQ8TOU19e58/s400/IMG_6799.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694264656288485394" /></span></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">Having dinner in the city with some extended family. Crosby loved being out in public and eating at the table in a proper high chair.</span></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R6BFZRxW498/TwYXiMxvTfI/AAAAAAAAIy8/kYQBKtrwX10/s1600/IMG_6830.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R6BFZRxW498/TwYXiMxvTfI/AAAAAAAAIy8/kYQBKtrwX10/s400/IMG_6830.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694264655169408498" /></span></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">Bundled up in her snow suit for the cold Chicago weather. Thankfully no snow, but it was cold!</span></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RUewsVlojJg/TwYVvvLlnkI/AAAAAAAAIy0/HKG5Y1qp1as/s1600/IMG_6841.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RUewsVlojJg/TwYVvvLlnkI/AAAAAAAAIy0/HKG5Y1qp1as/s400/IMG_6841.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694262688719674946" /></span></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">Enjoying a dinner out at one of Dad & Mom's favorite old restaurants. </span></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fQb4UHwKI5g/TwYVvfAqhNI/AAAAAAAAIyg/sRmuPCV8YI4/s1600/IMG_6845.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fQb4UHwKI5g/TwYVvfAqhNI/AAAAAAAAIyg/sRmuPCV8YI4/s400/IMG_6845.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694262684378891474" /></span></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">On the plane again....leaving Chicago and off to see my family. </span></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tJXYJ1UmNVo/TwYVvA-2gZI/AAAAAAAAIyY/Xyqn7abAAbc/s1600/IMG_6847.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tJXYJ1UmNVo/TwYVvA-2gZI/AAAAAAAAIyY/Xyqn7abAAbc/s400/IMG_6847.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694262676318224786" /></span></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">Crosby's ride through the airport (she will have seen the inside of O'Hare airport 5 separate times during this trip back to the US alone!!). </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;color:#0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">We spent some time with my family and then flew out to see Scott's family on Christmas Day. </span></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5DctnLzUdnM/TwX1HfSW7_I/AAAAAAAAIyA/GanaOByFIlI/s1600/IMG_3737.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 374px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5DctnLzUdnM/TwX1HfSW7_I/AAAAAAAAIyA/GanaOByFIlI/s400/IMG_3737.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694226812886249458" /></span></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">The three of us on Christmas.</span></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PTgqWR63FTc/TwX1G1Xc92I/AAAAAAAAIx0/HrZ-9PgAA64/s1600/IMG_6921.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PTgqWR63FTc/TwX1G1Xc92I/AAAAAAAAIx0/HrZ-9PgAA64/s400/IMG_6921.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694226801633326946" /></span></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">Crosby loved playing and being with her Aunt Carrie again!</span></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m57lTixx1As/TwXyTNTjf4I/AAAAAAAAIxk/_2Ffm6QTNdY/s1600/IMG_3698.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m57lTixx1As/TwXyTNTjf4I/AAAAAAAAIxk/_2Ffm6QTNdY/s400/IMG_3698.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694223715682975618" /></span></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">Playing with her nativity set on Christmas morning. </span></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lTCxdZ3ZG8Y/TwXySgECm3I/AAAAAAAAIxY/0IS9pgSgbss/s1600/IMG_3728.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lTCxdZ3ZG8Y/TwXySgECm3I/AAAAAAAAIxY/0IS9pgSgbss/s400/IMG_3728.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694223703538310002" /></span></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">A brand new baby doll for Miss Crosby! She was so happy and loves giving the baby doll kisses.</span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vGtg996nvKM/TwXySenMoSI/AAAAAAAAIxM/UI-ZQyXwTnc/s1600/IMG_3761.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vGtg996nvKM/TwXySenMoSI/AAAAAAAAIxM/UI-ZQyXwTnc/s400/IMG_3761.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694223703148896546" /></span></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">Hanging with Grandpa Craig at his house. </span></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n76zbNvRVWU/TwXIgBkaUGI/AAAAAAAAIw8/rq8GJv42D00/s1600/IMG_3770.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n76zbNvRVWU/TwXIgBkaUGI/AAAAAAAAIw8/rq8GJv42D00/s400/IMG_3770.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694177756382384226" /></span></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">Crosby has really become attached to her little stuffed lamb. The lamb even had to join her at breakfast a few mornings while we were with Scott's family. She would not let it go! </span></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1EoC8f3H_0Y/TwXIfadYZkI/AAAAAAAAIw0/j5h29bXM4Cs/s1600/IMG_3773.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1EoC8f3H_0Y/TwXIfadYZkI/AAAAAAAAIw0/j5h29bXM4Cs/s400/IMG_3773.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694177745883915842" /></span></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">A gift from Grandma Cris - a motorized hamster. At first Crosby was scared of this pretend pet but by the end of our week's visit, she had really warmed up to it and was chasing it around the house instead of letting the hamster chase her around. </span></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lWxXdn76CK8/TwXIfIGkxLI/AAAAAAAAIwo/hAZcyTjzIGE/s1600/IMG_3815.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lWxXdn76CK8/TwXIfIGkxLI/AAAAAAAAIwo/hAZcyTjzIGE/s400/IMG_3815.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694177740956419250" /></span></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">Spending time with Uncle Todd & Gail was fun. </span></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iXbI_iJAmR0/TwXG2r2YcSI/AAAAAAAAIwc/UMu85PcjB-U/s1600/IMG_3826.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iXbI_iJAmR0/TwXG2r2YcSI/AAAAAAAAIwc/UMu85PcjB-U/s400/IMG_3826.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694175946665914658" /></span></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">A third Christmas gift opening event for Crosby. Gifts with Great Grandma!</span></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KOtWKDpwVBM/TwXG2X0c5TI/AAAAAAAAIwQ/rakUKlN2CUQ/s1600/IMG_3850.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KOtWKDpwVBM/TwXG2X0c5TI/AAAAAAAAIwQ/rakUKlN2CUQ/s400/IMG_3850.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694175941289108786" /></span></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">Visiting with Great Grandma and practicing her wave. </span></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wv_HNQgcTPc/TwXGKa1CF3I/AAAAAAAAIwE/VLk_lKVEGI4/s1600/IMG_3883.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wv_HNQgcTPc/TwXGKa1CF3I/AAAAAAAAIwE/VLk_lKVEGI4/s400/IMG_3883.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694175186182608754" /></span></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">Watching football games with Uncle Matt. </span></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YQatslxqPsE/TwXFtyW91oI/AAAAAAAAIv4/98LTVGfDLsE/s1600/IMG_3890.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YQatslxqPsE/TwXFtyW91oI/AAAAAAAAIv4/98LTVGfDLsE/s400/IMG_3890.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694174694282745474" /></span></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">Enjoying her visit with Grandpa Craig & Grandma Cris.</span></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k0L2a0FtzVQ/TwXEs9mECzI/AAAAAAAAIvs/D36VIee-7nc/s1600/IMG_3898.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k0L2a0FtzVQ/TwXEs9mECzI/AAAAAAAAIvs/D36VIee-7nc/s400/IMG_3898.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694173580607359794" /></span></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">On the plane again....another flight, back to Gram & Pa's house on New Year's Eve. </span></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e7BnNv7bMfU/TwXEJGgcbsI/AAAAAAAAIvk/bvdw760lBdE/s1600/IMG_3912.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e7BnNv7bMfU/TwXEJGgcbsI/AAAAAAAAIvk/bvdw760lBdE/s400/IMG_3912.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694172964524420802" /></span></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">Ringing in the new year with Pa, Gram, Uncle Ray & Aunt Claire. Although Crosby didn't know it, she was the greatest entertainment ever for the evening. </span></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pzjkON0ZxGE/TwXDVQk-CuI/AAAAAAAAIvU/oJPxXxUGakw/s1600/IMG_3915.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pzjkON0ZxGE/TwXDVQk-CuI/AAAAAAAAIvU/oJPxXxUGakw/s400/IMG_3915.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694172073874557666" /></span></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">Crosby has been busy sifting through the local newspaper and clipping coupons and sale ads while we've been back. The newspapers in England don't include such sale flyers and coupons.</span></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b6NNmtfzqPc/TwW92__BSLI/AAAAAAAAIvI/NPVlE8hWxIM/s1600/IMG_3920.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b6NNmtfzqPc/TwW92__BSLI/AAAAAAAAIvI/NPVlE8hWxIM/s400/IMG_3920.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694166056466204850" /></span></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">Spending time with Pa and winky the lamb too.</span></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MOP75g2UJEA/TwW92dmATYI/AAAAAAAAIu8/RZ1coM5MfOA/s1600/IMG_3926.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MOP75g2UJEA/TwW92dmATYI/AAAAAAAAIu8/RZ1coM5MfOA/s400/IMG_3926.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694166047234477442" /></span></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">Learning new tricks - first how to use her new snack "catcher" with Gram.</span></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XIPj4V-RsZM/TwW6c9E8u1I/AAAAAAAAIuw/QzjeHV6F0hg/s1600/IMG_3983.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XIPj4V-RsZM/TwW6c9E8u1I/AAAAAAAAIuw/QzjeHV6F0hg/s400/IMG_3983.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694162310474283858" /></span></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">And then how to drink from a straw!</span></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gam0Je6o3Eo/TwW5JYpQUpI/AAAAAAAAIuk/pZ6mW48V4Ew/s1600/IMG_3960.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><img style="text-align: center;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gam0Je6o3Eo/TwW5JYpQUpI/AAAAAAAAIuk/pZ6mW48V4Ew/s400/IMG_3960.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694160874765308562" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">It's been a great visit but now it's time to start packing to go back to England....</span></div>Well That's a Good Scottish Name...http://www.blogger.com/profile/15319948262039759805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1050642522016239814.post-29542180108284588442011-12-22T00:13:00.008+00:002011-12-22T05:10:47.921+00:00Meeting Santa<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">Visiting Santa at a local mall is very much an American commercialized event. I have yet to see any type of Santa (or Father Christmas as they call him) at any main mall area in England. Shopping malls are not as common in England to begin with but then additionally, Father Christmas tends to reside and have visitors at his "Grotto." Just out of interest I looked up the history of the Grotto online and as it turns out, the Grotto actually began as a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa's_workshop">British tradition and then grew to America and Australia,</a> where visiting Santa has become more commercialized in the mall as opposed to just the Grotto area within one department store. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">So, today we took Crosby to experience the American version of visiting Santa at the local mall in the US. Since it is just days before Christmas, the lines were alive and well so my mother agreed to go early and stand in line for nearly an hour before we arrived with Crosby. Total time spent in line waiting to meet the big guy in red was nearly 2 hours so it was a good thing that we had the tag team approach. </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9t0Y--PN-EY/TvJ46C1WLrI/AAAAAAAAIuA/zYO5JANHD-c/s1600/IMG_3614.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9t0Y--PN-EY/TvJ46C1WLrI/AAAAAAAAIuA/zYO5JANHD-c/s400/IMG_3614.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688742217910726322" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; ">Upon arrival and while we waited in line, Crosby was very busy watching all of the other people in line and at the mall. She brought along her favorite stuffed animal to keep her company. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vCu2pZFzpps/TvJ455_svTI/AAAAAAAAIt0/5MuKygSqtTA/s1600/IMG_3636.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vCu2pZFzpps/TvJ455_svTI/AAAAAAAAIt0/5MuKygSqtTA/s400/IMG_3636.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688742215538228530" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; ">Almost to the front of the line with Gram, Crosby seemed to really like watching the other children go visit Santa. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J3AIaN5QYjw/TvJ36S1rF2I/AAAAAAAAIto/5jnz1w-TjJk/s1600/IMG_3639.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J3AIaN5QYjw/TvJ36S1rF2I/AAAAAAAAIto/5jnz1w-TjJk/s400/IMG_3639.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688741122695436130" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; ">All smiles in her pretty Christmas dress before meeting the big guy in red.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vK9kTgtkOYQ/TvJ35HTL27I/AAAAAAAAItc/aS0J4YAr8h8/s1600/IMG_3641.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vK9kTgtkOYQ/TvJ35HTL27I/AAAAAAAAItc/aS0J4YAr8h8/s400/IMG_3641.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688741102418123698" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; ">Santa left his chair and walked over to us at the front of the line, to introduce himself to Crosby. She was slightly hesitant when he approached us but wasn't too shy just yet.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EPIgtt_XCvU/TvJ343VKbVI/AAAAAAAAItQ/jIdRs6kK7QA/s1600/IMG_3644.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EPIgtt_XCvU/TvJ343VKbVI/AAAAAAAAItQ/jIdRs6kK7QA/s400/IMG_3644.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688741098131451218" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; ">The plan was for Gram to place Crosby on Santa's lap, while Scott was trying to get her attention by me while I snapped the photos of her first visit with Santa. It did not go as planned......as soon as Gram set Crosby down, she immediately curled up into a ball and tried to climb as high up back onto Gram as she could!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TOciHqnA76k/TvJ3SHuhk-I/AAAAAAAAItA/LjxXVecv3OU/s1600/IMG_3649.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TOciHqnA76k/TvJ3SHuhk-I/AAAAAAAAItA/LjxXVecv3OU/s400/IMG_3649.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688740432517895138" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; ">So, then we decided to make a switch and see if Scott's presence would be a bit more reassuring to Crosby with Santa. It was not really the case. Crosby started to curl up in a ball again, this time right up against Dad.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PV_Jz3tEdPg/TvJ3RlSoxII/AAAAAAAAIs4/s56pyBx_OBo/s1600/IMG_3651.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PV_Jz3tEdPg/TvJ3RlSoxII/AAAAAAAAIs4/s56pyBx_OBo/s400/IMG_3651.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688740423274120322" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; ">And then there were screams and tears....</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yQ2jnke3nLA/TvJ3RfNMj6I/AAAAAAAAIss/UotOO7HxEC4/s1600/IMG_3653.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yQ2jnke3nLA/TvJ3RfNMj6I/AAAAAAAAIss/UotOO7HxEC4/s400/IMG_3653.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688740421640687522" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; ">And more hiding in Dad's coat. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; ">Sorry Santa, it looks like Crosby wasn't too smitten with you this year. We hope you will still visit her on Christmas Eve and hopefully next year she'll be more thrilled to sit on your lap and tell you about her year because she is a good little girl.</span></div>Well That's a Good Scottish Name...http://www.blogger.com/profile/15319948262039759805noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1050642522016239814.post-15911206907255339322011-12-19T19:48:00.001+00:002011-12-22T05:54:10.835+00:00Transatlantic Travel with an Infant<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">Since Crosby's arrival, we have kept up with some travel, although <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">admittedly</span> not nearly as much as we used to do before her arrival. With each trip we take with her, we think to ourselves, the last trip was so much easier.....</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">She is just more active, more mobile, has a more set schedule, and also eats real food now. While some of these things make it a bit easier to travel with her, they also can be a bit challenging as well. For this most recent transatlantic flight we took from the UK to the US, I wanted to make sure I had enough food and snacks prepared for her during our trip. I always find that on the flight from the UK to the US, I end up eating 4 or 5 meals that day because we gain an extra six hours due to the time change. It was a bit tricky to figure when I should feed Crosby and how often she should eat, but I wanted to be prepared with lots of healthy snacks and meals, and of course extra of everything, in case we would be delayed at any point. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ag7K2i9S8H4/TvI4yWv1hoI/AAAAAAAAIsU/u103h65ct1Q/s400/IMG_3533.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688671717073192578" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">So, I packed the following: cucumber slices, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">breadsticks</span> and spreadable cheese, a few packets of Ella's baby food for back up, "Puff" snacks (US product), dried cranberries, whole wheat <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">breadsticks</span>, an avocado, a hard boiled egg, dried strawberry snacks, string cheese, green beans, and chopped strawberries. Sounds like a lot of food for a little baby but I am glad I had it all for her. I ordered a child's meal on the plane but it was just like the adult plane food - not really anything great to eat, so it was much better that I had plenty of fresh food on hand for her. However now that I have so many extra things to pack for my child, it seems my bag never has anything for myself in it....it is just filled to the brim with the "in case we need this for the baby" stuff! I would say I feel like a pack mule when I travel now on these transatlantic flights....</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">While the flight to the US was a bit more difficult than previous flights in that Crosby really wasn't interested in staying in her seat for the full 8 plus hours (and who can blame her, it's no fun for an adult!), the most difficult part of this trip so far came after our arrival in the US. We were staying with Scott in a hotel for a few days while he went to work for some meetings. I think it was the first and last time Crosby will be invited to stay with him on a transatlantic business trip! With Crosby being just a little bit older and on more of a good sleep schedule, she had a more difficult time shifting her schedule this time around. The first night in the US, she woke up at 2:30am and was ready for breakfast and playtime since her body thought it was 8:30am UK time. When we kept trying to get her back to sleep, there were lots of screams - er, for about 3 hours - and needless to say, I am sure we were not popular guests in that hotel as a result. </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jqiz2uVy488/TvI4ynD00aI/AAAAAAAAIsc/_nqpvLuCIts/s1600/IMG_3534.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jqiz2uVy488/TvI4ynD00aI/AAAAAAAAIsc/_nqpvLuCIts/s400/IMG_3534.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688671721451999650" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;font-size:medium;">The scene at 3am in our hotel room: Crosby sitting on the chair eating cheerios off of a cutting board. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">Up until this trip back to the US, we have (very luckily) not had too many issues with Crosby adjusting onto <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">CMT</span> from GMT. Unfortunately this trip it has taken her a good 5 full days to get back on track. Lesson learned that it is much more difficult to be in a hotel room with an infant who is fighting jet lag versus being at a house where there is space to play and eat snacks, etc. It was also very nice to have grandparents or other family members available (as Scott would say they are saints) who were with us to get up in the middle of the night to entertain our jet lagged child, so we could get a little bit of rest after walking around like zombies for the first few days back home. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">Traveling back and forth on a transatlantic level is part of what we will continue to do since we live away from family but it has gotten more challenging with each trip we take. I am trying to enjoy the time we have now at home but am also dreading the return flight journey and the jet lag issues we will face once we are back in England where we will not have the extra help from family (going East seems to take even longer for Crosby to adjust back into....). </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">So I wonder, is it fair to travel like this with a child? I know there is no serious damage but it does seem to take its toll on her for about a week on either end of the trip. And at what point in the future will it get easier to travel with her? Or is that time now and I just don't realize how easy it is now compared to what it will be like in the future? I really don't know, but I guess time will tell....</span></div>Well That's a Good Scottish Name...http://www.blogger.com/profile/15319948262039759805noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1050642522016239814.post-78354419477515323402011-12-08T02:36:00.002+00:002011-12-15T02:56:06.751+00:00Baking Ingredients<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">I bake quite a bit during the weeks leading up to Christmas each year. It's become a new little tradition for us in that I bake huge trays of cookies for Scott to bring in to his office for all of his co-workers to enjoy. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: small; ">Then, I make bags filled with homemade treats for co-workers, neighbors, friends, etc. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: small; ">I used to do this before Scott & I met and then once we got married, my list of people to bake for has expanded to include his colleagues as well. I love planning the items I will make, and I do try to plan the list out in advance, so I can then go shopping to stock up on all of the baking supplies to ensure I don't run out of some important ingredient in the middle of my baking frenzy. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">This year I was contemplating making these <a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/glazed-mint-brownies/detail.aspx">chocolate mint brownies</a> as part of the assorted baked goods / cookies on the trays for Scott's office to enjoy, but I wasn't sure if I had seen peppermint extract on the grocery store shelf here before. I looked in my pantry and did not have any, so I went to the local Sainsbury's to see what I could find. </span></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qRyqA4yeKsw/TuleBO4tiHI/AAAAAAAAIsA/2MCMdhT2VtQ/s1600/IMG00271-20111130-1120.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qRyqA4yeKsw/TuleBO4tiHI/AAAAAAAAIsA/2MCMdhT2VtQ/s400/IMG00271-20111130-1120.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686179379800803442" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">I was surprised of course to see the peppermint extract labeled as "AMERICAN" peppermint extract. Why is it American and not just Peppermint Extract? I did find it amusing from my standpoint, because of course I am an American who would be using it to make an American brownie recipe! </span>Well That's a Good Scottish Name...http://www.blogger.com/profile/15319948262039759805noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1050642522016239814.post-26931221784264577702011-12-07T19:14:00.001+00:002011-12-07T19:14:00.855+00:00Waffles<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">Every time I pass the "waffle" sign at the grocery store here, I think I am going to see some frozen type of E<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">ggo</span> waffles here, but I don't (I should know better by now).</span></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w7CeEBDo3fo/Tt5-e1MgXEI/AAAAAAAAIqo/KF9COF3LcCQ/s1600/IMG00080-20110607-1416.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w7CeEBDo3fo/Tt5-e1MgXEI/AAAAAAAAIqo/KF9COF3LcCQ/s400/IMG00080-20110607-1416.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683118847928851522" /></span></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">The "waffle" sign refers to all of the potato waffles for sale in that aisle.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OOu2_GemmnM/Tt5_D9Czr4I/AAAAAAAAIq0/2FjyRdvDNYo/s400/waffle.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683119485690818434" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 313px; height: 161px; " /></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">I have no idea if these waffles are supposed to be eaten at breakfast or dinner, but I finally bought some and we had them as a side dish for dinner last night. </span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">My verdict is that these are the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">equivalent</span> to American tater tots or something quick along those lines. They claim to be made of mashed potatoes in the shape of a waffle and that is how they tasted too. I have no idea if these are sold in the US or not, but I am always surprised that frozen waffles are not sold in the UK, since they are so popular in the US. </span></div>Well That's a Good Scottish Name...http://www.blogger.com/profile/15319948262039759805noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1050642522016239814.post-19951148001212910472011-11-29T23:31:00.002+00:002011-12-01T20:37:10.416+00:00Exercising<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">This post really has nothing to do with living abroad or being a resident in a foreign country - it's more of a general life observation. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">I am finally getting back into an exercise routine after not keeping as fit as I probably should have during my entire time of being pregnant. Looking back on it now, I realize how much I did not enjoy being pregnant. I think a large part of it was because of the extra weight I was carrying and of course the terrible sickness at the start. Uggh, i am still ill just thinking about how awful I felt. I know it was a short lived time frame and the extra weight I gained did have a purpose in that it brought me Crosby, but I have come to realize how awful it feels to be carrying around extra weight every day. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">I started to exercise again probably about 5- 6 months post delivery of the baby. Some people just jump right back into their exercise program, as if the delivery of their baby is almost like a blip on their radar and then they are back into again, but that was not the case for me. I am sure a large part of it had to do with my c-section and then the other part was just pure exhaustion. Yes, I did walk a lot with the baby - it was a way to get out of the house, get fresh air, and get a bit of exercise, but it wasn't really the rigor of which I was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">accustomed</span>. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Finally getting back into an exercise routine has been paramount. I feel better and I think I am a better mother and wife because of it. Someone just described exercising to me as " it's body maintenance, just like brushing your teeth every day. You just have to do it to keep up from getting cavities." Sounds very true to me! After all, w</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;">e are given only one body in this lifetime and it is our own job to keep it healthy and well. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">I am still not back to my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">pre</span>-pregnancy weight yet - or so I don't think I am.....I actually rarely weigh myself and I was lucky enough that the doctors and midwives never weighed me during my pregnancy (still not sure if that's a good or bad thing!). For me I always judge how my clothes fit and how I feel as the indicators of if I am carrying extra weight or not. So I am back into my pre-pregnancy clothes but they do not all fit quite the same as they did before. I am not in a rush, they will fit better in a while.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;">And I do not diet. I don't believe in it and I am not sure I ever will. I love sweets too much and I think dieting is a quick fix to the wrong overall approach. I subscribe to the idea that weight loss comes from an approach to eating better and taking care of your body with good, regular exercise. Everything within moderation is ok. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;">I am just very happy to be back into the swing of a gym routine and exercising more regularly again. </span></span></div>Well That's a Good Scottish Name...http://www.blogger.com/profile/15319948262039759805noreply@blogger.com2