Chocolate Face Swimmer

Katya amazed us yesterday when we went swimming. We went with her beloved Callum and Tiegan and it was like we weren't even there. She had her arm bands and she was off. Every other time we have gone she clings to us, but with those two swimming away she had to be 'like Tiegan'! She was floating on her back, her tummy, kicking her legs to move around, jumping in the pool like a maniac, doing belly flops, it was incredible. She is a real fish and her brother is close behind. Oliver kept trying to get away from whoever was holding him like a wind-up bath toy. Splashing and jumping and kicking the whole time. Smiling and loving it!

That evening we had a barbeque with Matt and Trudy and the kids and followed it with chocolate dipped ice creams for dessert. Katya was sooooo tired and her eyes were so red from a ridiculously long and active day, but still she managed to almost polished off an entire one herself. Isn't she 'sweet'.

We are mourning the end of our summer holidays, but have to report that they have been fabulous and we treasure the constant contact with the munchkins as the maddness of real life settles in over the next few weeks.

The train to Hereford!

So we woke up last Saturday and it was a beautiful sunny day and we thought its probably one of the last so lets go somewhere! We dashed from the house and made it to the train station just in time to catch the train to Hereford. The kids, especially Katya, loved the train journey. She saw lots of 'rella castles and baa-baas. So she was extremely happy. Oliver just spent most of his time flirting with every lady on the train and making them all melt! He has a way with women, it must be that inherited Sam Florence charm! These photos are us at the Selly Oak train station. ALL ABOARD!

This week we had a few days of welcome break from our lovely English summer where we actually saw the sunshine so we went to a lovely park that has an urban farm. Katya had so much fun in her "wellies" jumping in "muddles". She got really frightened by the mean goat that snorted at her every time she tried to pet it. Oliver just hung out in his normal happy manner and loved seeing all of the animals and watching Katya slide down the cool slide. We are, despite some yucky weather, having a really fun family summer.

Big Girl!

Katya has been spending alot of time with Martin's brother's girlfriend's children. Tiegan is 6 years old and Katya thinks she is possible a real princess and definitely the coolest and best person that she knows right now. Tiegan is really patient and really plays with her, hence the adoration. Tiegan likes to do cartwheels and crab walking, so Katya was trying it out and was SOOOOO excited that she could do it "like Tiegan".

Just in case anyone was wondering what the cutest baby in the world looks like lately here you go. He now has 2 teeth (yes, the are equally as crooked and British as Katya's) and he is about a week away from really tearing up the carpet. He can move quickly backwards and is up on all fours rocking and rolling.

Bye-bye Dummy!!!

I don't know who has cried more, me or Katya?

Today Katya exchanged her dummy at the new Disney Store in the Bullring for Nemo and Squirt. She has had some sad moments, but on the whole is doing very well. I keep telling her its OK to be sad and that Nemo and Squirt will keep her company. I feel very mommyish and sad that she is growing up so much and so fast. But we have to let them don't we! If I am sad I only need to look at Ollie he is little and still a baby and needs me all the time. When he gets bigger I don't know what I will do!

Camping is fun...

We were truly brave and took our little monkeys camping for 2 whole days and nights this week. We went with Matthew and his girlfriend Trudy and Trudy's children Callum and Teigan. We camped near Nottingham and Sherwood Forest. It was a lovely camp site and the weather was great until the morning we left(raining cats and dogs). I managed to step in a whole and sprain my ankle within hours of arrival, but didn't let it stop me. We cooked in true camping style and even introduced the family to s'mores a truly American camp tradition with an English twist, chocolate covered digestive biscuits in place of graham crackers and chocolate. They were yummy! Katya and Ollie love Trudy's kids and are so kind to them. Katya thinks Teigan is a real princess. Oliver seems to have made the executive decision that he wants real people food and mushed up food is for sissies. He even likes chocolate chip cookies. Funny for a little boy with no teeth! Both the kids slept well and were great the whole time. I admit I was a little concerned, but they really were good. We will be camping more in the future, cheap fun holiday!!!

More London pics...

Mommy and Katya discussing the bloody history that is the Tower of London...

Katya getting brave on the tube train!

Ollie on the Underground!

London is London

Early Tuesday morning, approximately 5:45AM our time, we began our long adventure to London to make Katya and Oliver officially Americans. We caught the train from Dorridge Station, near Martin's work, at 6:30 and were on our way. We made it to Marylebone station in central London around 8:15.

We walked through Westminster, the poshest most expensive area we have ever seen in a big city, to arrive at the American embassy around 9:00. Our appointments were for 10:30 and 11:00, but there was a line of people in the pouring rain, so we decided to get in it and go inside. I have to say I lost a little of my love for the old US of A. The embassy was like a fort with extra chain link fences and soldiers with machine guns all around. None of the other embassy's in the area had anything of the like. I guess not everyone doesn't love the US as much as we think they should as US citizens. After going through very strict and exhaustive security they let us into the very outdated 70's style embassy. Much to my surprise everything went VERY smoothly and every person we talked with was helpful and nice. So we finished everything we had to do and 300 US dollars later our kids have US passports, birth certificates, and social security cards.

Now the walking fun begins. We walked from the embassy to Buckingham palace in the absolute pouring rain. Oh to mention the kids were fabulous. And now were fast asleep in the double buggy of love safe under their rain cover. We were meeting our friend Dan, from our time in Russia, for lunch. He asked us to come to Kensington High Street Station for 12:15. We had to get day passes on the Underground, let me tell you it was NEVER intended for wheelchairs or strollers. We carried those monkey's up and down stairs ALL DAY. We got so tired.

We had a lovely lunch with Dan and it was nice to catch up. We can't believe it has been nearly 8 years since we say him last. Lots of fun memories of crazy times in the foreign student dorm with smelly trash chutes and disgusting shower rooms and crazy lipstick ladies giving unwanted advice at the front desk.

After left Dan I think we walked close to 10 miles before we left to go home at 8:30 that night. We saw the Tower of London, London bridge, the millennium bridge, St. Paul's cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and much much more. We walked on the Thames river walk most of the way. Katya truly has her fill of 'Rella castles! The kids were great and we made it home tired buy happy around 11:30 that night! Quite the adventure.

Super Katya!!!

We were getting ready to go swimming on Monday and this was how Katya presented herself. She has her swimming suit on, but Ollie's swimming trunks on her head! I think she looks like a special needs super hero, but she though she was the coolest thing ever! Katya and Ollie both LOVE swimming. We have been going on Monday mornings for the past few weeks. Katya is getting very confident with her water wings on and will even kick along on her own as long as a big person is close beside her. Oliver is a natural in the water and would be happy to stay all day long!

Ollie dooh dooh dooh dooh dooh

Is he a cutie or what? Getting chubbier every single day!

School's Out for the Summer!

We are finally having wonderful summer weather in England. Martin and I are off for our 6 week summer holiday and are loving it. We are spending most of our time lying in, going for long walks, playing at the park, and going swimming. Katya and Ollie love having their daddy and their mommy all to themselves for so long. We are so grateful for jobs that allow us to spend so much quality time together so often. When we are working it is often chaotic, but worth the quiet times together. We try to go on a bigger outing about once a week. We went to Gadfield Elm this past week. You Church History buffs will know that was the first LDS chapel in the world, donated by the entire congregation of the nearly 1000 United Brethren who were all baptised in central England. It was really cool and in an absolutely gorgeous part of the world. Katya is growing fast and talking even more! I am happy to announce that she is officially a "Gilda Radner" child. She sings whenever she does anything on her own and it is so entertaining. I often wonder what she would do if she didn't live in England. She prides herself on discovering at least 1 new 'Rella castle everyday. She thinks Cinderella personally owns any building (church, cathedral, old government building) that is built of stone and has any decorated turrets on it! I am surprised she doesn't demand to meet with Cinderella when she enters any such building, but she is happy to believe that 'rella is somewhere close. Oliver is a growing boy and already eats more that Katya, not difficult, but surprising. Ollie is sitting and rolling and scooting around. He enjoys blowing rasperries (Katya calls them strawberries). He is a happy cute baby Buddha boy! Martin has finally succumbed to the "balding man doo", but it actually quite suits him and will save us in hair cuts. We bought a handy dandy pair of hair clippers on Amazon! Hooray. I am happy and loving be a wife and mom.