A Long Layover (on purpose)

Our flight from London to the states went really smooth.  Bridgette used her screen remote like a phone, Gretchen got to watch The Little Mermaid for the first time, and I taught Rooke how to play Battleship, which we played again and again and again . . . 

We are taking advantage of a long layover to spend time with Ryan's family.  Gretchen is embracing her Oklahoma roots!

A big family dinner at a Mexican restaurant was the perfect chance to introduce our kids to chips and queso.  Bridgette was a fan!

Grammy Deb educating Rooke on the ways of the sopapilla - lots of honey! 

Uncle Sean won Super Uncle award last week after he made pancakes for breakfast, set up the swimming pools, and played in the water with the kids for the morning while Ryan and I went out shopping for a car.  We haven't been in heat like this for a loooong time, so the pool is a great way to start the day!

The Last Week

We've said a lot of goodbyes this past week.  It never gets easier.  I carried my camera around with my everywhere we went, but only managed to take photos half of the time.  I was too busy hugging, or wiping tears away, or comforting my kids who are feeling the affects of our transition, or just enjoying last moments with people we've grown to really love on this side of the pond.  Life in England has been really good to us these past three years. 

The last Sunday of each month, our church had a "Bring and Share" lunch together.  It was my kids' favorite meal of the week!  Unlimited access to crisps and fruit and cold pizza and second helpings of treats if they behaved. =)  This last lunch, the kids were all especially great and sat together by themselves - even little Bridgette - while we got to chat with the adults!

Sweet preschool playmates

They asked for this photo.  We were about to walk through the village and had a few "goodbye" photos to hand out. 

The Boys on the last day of school for Rooke (everyone else still has three weeks left)

There is no lacking of noise, physical energy, smarts, or humor with this bunch!

Little sisters / Ballet friends - wanted their own jumping photo!

These two have a special brother/sister friendship.  I think it's the hair.

Gretchen's last day of preschool.  She loved her teacher, Miss Sallie.

 We spent the Fourth of July weekend with my parents.  Mom had a "special basket" full of fun activities for the kids to draw from throughout the weekend.  It made our last few days together extra special and fun.

This boy LOVES watermelon.  Always has . . .

. . .  when he was one-year-old!

Sparklers!

Bridgette wasn't so sure about her sparkler, but she was at least willing to hold it!

Turning over the keys and saying goodbye to our house.

It was chaos most of the morning!

Life in England these past three years has been wonderful.  The Lord has been so good to us.  

And now, we board the plane and move on to new adventures waiting for us in North Dakota!

June Phone Dump

A look back at the month of June from my phone . . .

Just hanging out:

A perfect BBQ with wonderful friends 

This beautiful assortment of tomatoes came in our veg box.  We did a taste test after school one day and the consensus was that we liked the "Christmas tomato" best with the "pink" ones coming in second.  The "Oregon Duck tomato" was last place because it was too sour.     

Walking home from Gretchen's ballet class

They climbed on and Gretchen said, "Bye Mom!  We're going to India to get some naan bread!"   

My mom and I got to see the Trooping of the Colours!  I am at peace with leaving England now.  I've seen the Queen.

Happy Father's Day to my amazing Dad!  We share a love for many things which include, but are not limited to Jesus and Graham Crackers.

Bridgette and I babysat our neighbor, Braxton, for a few hours.  We got an hour of happy awake time before he took a nap, and Bridgette was completely focused on him the entire time!  She loves babies!

Walking home from school

My kitchen helpers

Her poses make me laugh! 

Chocolate ice cream is soooooooooooooo yummy! 

This made the moving real for me. 

Finding a quiet spot in the midst of chaos. 

Hide and Seek!

Almost done . . .

Gretchen caught me in a moment of exasperation.  I was waiting for her to be done taking photos with my phone! =)

My husband was committed to making good salsa without a blender!

Remember that part in the Bible where "two peoples got in bed and didn't blow away"?  That's what Bridgette was reading (until she realized I was filming her).

This performance was inspired by her friend, Saisha:

Sunny Saturday

We spent last Saturday in the sunshine with some of our favorite people . . .

Kaye K and Big Daddy spent the weekend with us.  They babysat so I could join Ryan at a going away lunch with his office, and played, and cooked, and were power house cleaners in helping to get ready for the movers to come take our stuff.  And, of course, special treats are always involved when grandparents are around!  

We spent Saturday morning at Anglesey Abbey, one of the few local "sights" we'd not ventured to.  The grounds were beautifully manicured and massive.  We could have spent a day just in the children's wildlife exploratory area!  

It was a great day for a picnic!

My mom in her element.  She did a smell test to find her favorite rose!

We left Anglesey Abbey and headed to a garden party with our home group.  We've shared weekly fellowship for the past three years with this group from church and were grateful for one last time to spend together as families.  They planned the evening as a going-away for us and the Leach Family (who are also moving back to the states), preparing proper "British Tea" food, rented a bouncy castle for the kids, and had plenty of drinks and strawberries with cream to go around!  

Rooke was holding his breath to see what the gift was - our very own cricket set!

We will miss these friends and the life we've shared together.