The Yellow Walk

It was three years ago, this month, that we moved to England.  And every April, the rapeseed blooms in full, gorgeous, yellow flowers that cover the landscape.  You can't drive far and not see fields of bright yellow.  It's one of my favorite things about living here in the Spring.  And it will forever remind me of when we first arrived.  There is a path behind our village that was flanked with the flowering plant that Spring three years ago.  We enjoyed several walks through those fields, back when we were a family of four.      

We've walked that path a lot since then, but the farmers haven't planted rapeseed for the past two years.  I've been told it's good to rotate your crops.  Anyway, I was really hoping that this year - our last Spring - we would have a chance to walk among the yellow again.  I took the kids out one day last week to check and, sure enough, there it was.  We walked, and I soaked it in.  And then we walked as a family a few days later and I soaked it in some more.  As we near the end of our time in this beautiful country, I am grateful for the brightly etched memories I will have from these yellow walks.

Gretchen is really into "poses".  

Rooke is really into being goofy any time a camera is aimed in his general direction.

How quickly they grow up.

Easter Weekend

We had a wonderful Easter weekend.  Christ is risen!

The kids and I made crowns to remind us that Jesus was God's chosen King.  The activity was a spillover from breakfast.  I love those mornings when everyone is still in pajamas at ten and happy to be together!

This kid makes me smile.  The inside of his crown said "To Jesus Love Rooke".

Dying eggs.  It's a fast and furious activity in our home.

The kids will sometimes eat a hard-boiled egg, but love eating the ones that they've colored themselves!

We enjoyed a leisurely walk on Saturday.

After church, we headed down to my parents'.  Mom single-handedly made a deeelicious lunch for all of us.  It had been a long time since I'd just sat down to a super yummy home-cooked meal that I  didn't contribute to in any way!  The day brought lots of rain, so we hid eggs for the kids indoors.  Bridgette really got into it!

Rooke said his favorite part of the weekend was playing legos with Daddy.  Kaye K and Gretchen built the bridge/island while Ryan and Rooke made a detailed garage for his new police truck.  Meanwhile, Bridgette and I beat Big Daddy at Ticket to Ride! =)

Napping Beauty after a full weekend of fun.

Our First Family Race

A couple weeks ago, many people from our church took part in a sports relief race event happening in the village where our church meets.  So our family joined in.  Ryan is a runner.  I am not.  But we all had fun and I wouldn't be surprised if we did this whole "race" thing again soon.     

Ryan pushed Bridgette (through some rough terrain!) for the 3-mile track while I jogged with the gingers on the 1-mile path.

Sweet friends waiting for our turn to start

I didn't know how the kids would do, but probably shouldn't have been surprised that they ran pretty much the entire mile.  

We all got a "medal" at the end, which was super fun for the kids!  But Gretchen, the Energizer Bunny, took home the "family trophy" for her determination and for having a positive attitude with happy spunk the entire time!  I was so proud of her.

March Phone Dump

She has a style all her own.  Layers, headbands, and pretty shoes are the basic requirements. 

Mommy won the nap battle on this day.  Well, sorta.  She is sleeping, but only because I was rocking her.  But that's still a win to me because it won't be long before I can't do that anymore.

I looked up from the playground to see the guys just chillin' and chatting on the curb.

Passing time being goofy in the car during swimming lessons.

She was trying out ideas for Bridgette's birthday cake. 

A meeting of the minds with an after-school snack. 

She asked for this photo.  Beautiful girl. 

Wednesdays are her "sleep days".

The village monkeys on their way home.

I honestly don't remember what happened after I took this photo, but it can't have been good! 

Bridgette is two!

We had some strange weather this month.  In a matter of minutes, it went from sunny and us getting ready for a bike ride to hailing!

She looks haggard, but that's because she mustered up the strength to scooter around our entire loop.  This little one has some serious determination.

On most days The Hair is, well, a chore.  On this particular day, she was in an especially cooperative mood and we had some fun! 

I had the chance to chaperone my first field trip and I loved every minute!  We spent the day at the magnificent Ely Cathedral.  Then things got a little crazy on the bus ride home. =)

We met up with my parents in St. Albans and did another Treasure Trail through the beautiful town.  A late start and a few too many detours/stops prevented us from finishing the trail, but we had a nice time walking through the town and then the kids went back to my parents' for the night so Ryan and I could have an overnight date at home - yipeee!