Sarah's Birthday

This is out of order... I can't fix it without re-doing all the pictures since I really don't know what I am doing. Anyway, Abby is about to get eaten by a giant T Rex head. Very scary.

Birthday Breakfast

Freedom!

This is why Daddy isn't normally allowed to clean me up after lunch!

I'm kind of a big deal... I'm on the tube.

An alive T Rex.

Some kind of scary dinos that move. I am sure my nephews could name them.

Last Friday, the 24th, was my birthday and it turned out to be a great day! I was worried, as I am in the middle of a little bout of homesickeness (that I am sure will pass!), but my wonderful family and new friends helped to celebrate number 34 the whole day. Tim took the day off, which was great. I was completely ready for an additional day of dual parenting. Abby had a partial day of nursery school. She is just going for half days during her "settling in period" until she fits in and gets used to school. So the morning started off with Tim and I feeding Abby breakfast and me opening presents and cards. Tim had brought me roses the night before and I had purchased some shoes a couple of weeks ago for my birthday. I also received some giftcards for the Gap and a great store called Kath Kidston. Shortly after it was time to get Abby to school (it is close enough to walk there in 5 minutes). Tim had never been there before, so he was happy to see her room and meet teachers. Abby was excited to show her daddy around too. Then Tim, Sophie and I went to the high road to go out for breakfast. It was absolutely beautiful day so we sat at tables out on the sidewalk and had tasty fruit, croissants, tea, etc. A perfect breakfast! Then the three of us continued on the high road and I spent some of my gift cards. We let Sophie out of her stroller since she is normally held prisoner by that thing everytime we are out and so she went running through a park. After lunch at home and a nap for Sophie (where more beautiful flowers were waiting for me from the Selbitschkas!!), I went to pick up Abby and we all headed to the Natural History Museum to see the cool Dinosaur Exhibit. Tim had not been to the museum yet, so it was a nice family outing. We ended up rushing home to get back to Chiswick in time to head out to a pub to meet some friends for dinner and cake back at our house. What a great day. The only thing that would have made it better is to have our friends and family here for it! Can't wait to see you all soon! Enjoy the pictures!

We have internet!!

Abby is ready for ballet!

First day of school. I guess I should have faced her the other way.

Walking on the grounds of Chiswick House. Its under construction...

Sophie mowing the lawn.

Abby riding on the tube...

Cadbury Cream Egg on Easter.

Easter Girls.

Easter basket with Daddy.

The nature preserve near our house. Not meant for strollers!

Hi Everyone - once again it has been longer than I anticipated to get another post on here. However, almost exactly 2 months after we moved to Jolly Old England, we have broadband at home. The story is too boring and annoying to get in to, but we signed up for Sky Broadband while my mom was still here - back in March. Here we are, connected to you all again (though my lovely iPhone saved me daily from isolation!).

Lets see - some things that have happened over the last month...

1. Abby started at nursery and likes it, but hasn't made many friends yet. She only goes Mondays and Fridays - so this is a difficult schedule for her to settle in to, but it was the best available. She likes her teachers, who all seem very nice, and the building is very clean and niceley done. Unless I start working, she will only stay there until fall when the school year starts.

2. Abby has also started ballet classes at Chiswick Theatre Arts. She has only gone once so far but really liked it. She came away from the first class with ballet slippers, a leotard, ballet socks, a sticker book for her stickers she receives after each lesson and information about a recital in June where she has to wear a butterfly costume. Its a little more than we signed up for - especially Tim, but it will be another good place for Abby (and perhaps me) to meet friends.

3. We have made it around the city a bit more - both in the car and on the tube. Tim comes when he can (on weekends and bank holidays) but otherwise it is the girls and I hooving it or hopping on the Underground. I have to admit, I haven't driven the car by myself yet other than immediate places in the neighborhood like the grocery store... it is my goal to get better at this soon! Anyway, we have made it to Holland Park for a playdate where they have a giant playground and peacocks roaming around, we have gone to Hammersmith, new streets in Chiswick, Richmond (I liken this to Stillwater...), Westfield Mall a few times - which is the largest mall in Europe and just opened in December and Oxford Circus which is the main shopping area of central London to meet some other moms that have joined the American Womens Club.

4. I also am in the middle of applying for PUBLIC nurseries for Abby to attend in the fall. I am applying to five and not guaranteed to get into any of them. I am visiting the one (Southfield) that we are supposed to be able to get into because of where we live... but it has mixed reviews. Part of the problem is that Chiswick has two councils (counties) that exist within its boundries: Ealing (where we live and is not the preferred) and Hounslow. I am applying for four schools in Hounslow - one in particular because it is the closest and considered the best primary school, since we literally live on the border of the two councils. Even the school that we are supposed to attend (Southfield) because we live in the catchment area does not have to accept us. If there is no room, although we will get priority for living in the catchment areas, we may get sent somewhere else. The four schools that I have applied for in Hounslow council will only accept Abby if they have room after they have let in Hounslow kids and their siblings, etc... And this is all for public school! Maybe the process would be easier if we were paying for a private school. Hmmm...

Hope you enjoy some random pictures from the past few weeks. Look for a new post soon from my birthday. Tim took the day off and we had a great time!

National Health Care

It has been longer than I wanted since the last time I was able to post a blog. First, whoever the kind person from whom we have been innocently borrowing their wireless shut it off for about a week and the only access to the web we have had has been our phones. Second, we have had some illnesses running through the house... which brings me to my post: National Health Care in the United Kingdom.
Essentially it can be summed up by a new friend of ours who stated: "In the US, doctors seem to look for more work for themselves. You know, every little thing could be cancer. In the UK, the doctors want to make less work for themselves."
Sophie has caught a bug or two over that last two weeks as well as bopping her head pretty well, coincidentally followed by a little stomach bug and then a nasty cold. We have had a paramedic to our house, a visit to the A & E (ER), an after hours doctor phone call, visit to a Saturday clinic and a check up at our normal "surgery" with the GP. So, I feel like we have had a good feel for the range of medical care available to us in West London (in the US I have never brought our kids to the ER or, thank goodness, had an ambulance called to our home). With all this medical attention, you should know that Sophie has always been just fine through this all- just had some scary symptoms and deep sleeps that alarmed even the nurse line. The drama never ends with these girls.
So which is better: paying through the nose in premiums and medical bills or waiting a little longer than we'd like for an appointment or at the emergency room? Right now I'd take neither. I really want the comfort of a pediatrician looking after my babies instead of a general practioner but I feel sick about the amount of money we spent each month on health care in the US. I am used to much more intervention than what has happened here with Sophie so far. The three doctors have all just said "ahhh, she's fine - its just a virus". Keep in mind she has been vomiting, unable to be roused, woke up screaming, shaking and unable to catch her breath all in the span of a week and a half. While it is becoming clear that the doctors here are likely right in that she just has a nasty virus, it has been an unfortunate week to been in the hands of a brand new medical system. I have to remind myself that the life expectancy is higher here in the UK than in the US.
Hopefully this weekend will go a bit smoother than the last two and I will have some good stories and pictures to add soon! Tim, the girls and I all really appreciate all the support many of you have showed us. Thanks so much for the well wishes!