Dinner with the Elders

Last night we had the Elders over for dinner. Don't you just want to pinch their little cheeks? Elder Tomlinson is from UT and Elder Peach is from TN. These are two outstanding young men and we were lucky to be able to eat and chat with them about the work going on in our area. Both missionaries parents should be very proud of their boys for being dedicated missionaries and for the hard work they are putting into their callings. 

Elder Tomlinson and Elder Peach

I made taco's for dinner. The Elders were excited because they don't get taco's at members homes. They each had 2, which made me feel like I had succeeded as a cook.

The hubby had a ball finding out how the mission here operated. Hubby is very interested in the work the Elders are doing and how the area operates. I just sat and smiled, clueless as to what they were saying.

The Blue One adores Elder Peach. We weren't surprised when Elder Peach said that he wants to be a paediatrician, he is awesome with kids.

Franky was here when the Elders came so she joined us for a bite to eat.

I picked these peonies from my garden, aren't they gorgeous? I love that delicate pink shade and the fragrance is lovely.

We had a great time with the Elders and will be happy to feed them any time they are starving to death. It was wonderful having their sweet spirits in the home, gospel message, and the piggies were thrilled to have a couple of guests.

Priory Gardens and a Creepy Person

Saturday proved to be super busy. The Pink One was invited to ward friend Brookie's Birthday party. The Pink One had a great time zipping around the party and having her face painted with the other children.

Hubby was invited by neighbour Hugh to go golfing with he and his son Lee for his Birthday. We are lucky to have a lovely pair of neighbours who are willing to include us and invite us to family exclusive events. Hubby had a blast golfing with the fellas and even managed to win the front 9. Hugh pulled it together to polish off the back 9 and beat Hubby by only a couple strokes :)

Hugh loves to tease about how big and tall Hubby is. I haven't told Hugh that Hubby is actually quite average and that Hubby and I both have brothers that are 6'3" and not one of the fellas in our family are under 6'. Hopefully one day all of our family members will get to meet Hugh and Mary.

After the Birthday party was over and while the Hubby was still golfing I decided to take the piggies to Priory Gardens. Priory Gardens has lovely gardens, an awesome playground, and a pond with ducks and geese. We took a picnic and some bread to feed the ducks.

Contemplating as to which toy she should play on first.

Yes, he is hanging.

The Pink One showing her grace.

The Blue One showing his bravery.

The Pink One laughing as the Blue One catches himself from his attempt at standing on a spinning merry-go-round.

The Blue One loves to climb, and for a little one, he is actually quite ripped when he is shirtless.

Making friends is so simple when you are a kid.

Holy huge piece of bread!

Enjoying a chocolate pudding filled doughnut.

Pop would be proud of his interest in the birds.

Feeding the birds.

Wanting to swim with the birds.

I feel like this expression captures exactly what every kid feels like when playing at the park, sheer joy!

Spinning mom on the merry-go-round.

 Benefits of being the big sister.

Teeter tottering isn't easy while snapping pictures, but my ab's managed to not fail me :)

Taking turns.

Developing a bit of bravery. The Pink One is as cautious as the Blue One is careless. It is huge for the Pink One to attempt doing something that looks a little dangerous.

While I was sitting watching the kids a man was pushing his daughter on the merry-go-round. Apparently the Blue One wandered dangerously close to the merry-go-round, so, the father of the girl mustered his courage and dove to stop the ride before the Blue One was "killed." I watched the dramatic performance. The father then asked if the Blue One belonged to me. I took credit for the little fella as being the fruit of my loins. The man then relayed just how lucky he is to be alive and how he risked life and limb to save him. I told him thanks.

Apparently thanks is an invitation to sit next to me and launch into a lengthy chat. The man sits down and asks where I am from and repeatedly tells me that he LOVES my accent. Thanks? He then asks me to guess how old he is. 42? Right on the button, dang I'm good. He then wants to guess how old I am. 27? HA! I was flattered. When I told him my age he told me that I looked really good. AWKWARD! Apparently excluding alcohol and cigarettes has done my complexion good. At this point in the conversation it is obvious that he has his beer goggles on, and that he has a thing for American films, horror films.

So drunken child saving man proceeds to tell me about all of the American horror films that he watches and lets his 9 and 10 yr. old children watch, and just exactly what horrible things they do in the horror films. He tells me that after child number 2 the Doctor put an extra stitch in his wife...... and now I want to puke and run and hide. I try to think hard about how to get away as the personal questions about if I am married and such keep a coming. The parking meter. YES! The parking meter was almost up, and so I excused myself, gathered the children and headed to the car. I wondered the whole way home if he could have followed me. I am sorry, but if all you watch is horror films then you are probably thinking about ways to chop off legs and drag someone into the woods. I don't want to be dragged into the woods, and believe you me there are a lot of them here.

Officially the first creepy person I have met here. Friendly enough fellow, but super creepy. I was happy to leave and head home. What a day. We returned home, and while the Pink One played with Hugh and Mary's grand daughter Frankie I took the Blue One for a walk on the scooter. Not long after, dad came home and we enjoyed some cake to finish off Hugh's 64th Birthday celebration. Busy day, but I had a nice time with the kids, minus Mr. creepy.

We Will Rock You

"We Will Rock You," is the theme of the Spring concert at Shellie's School of Dance. This week has been debatably one of my hardest. I'll spare you the sobs and tears, but I have taught at the studio for 16 years and have danced at the studio for 29. Of course this week would be hard, it is the first concert I have missed in the past 29 years. My degree is in dance and teaching dance has been my passion from the days at the studio to the days of teaching in public education. Missing dance concert feels like I am missing a little piece of my soul :) And yet I find myself feeling like there are so many things I will not take for granted again. Sort of like Scrooge when he has his great awakening. Anyway, I have it on good report that this years concert is awesome as always. 

Gucci rocking her t-shirt.

Every year the concert has a theme and this year the theme is rock. When Gucci was here for a visit we went and got rock t-shirts for all of the teachers to wear at the concert. Each of the the t-shirts is of a different rock band. We then went to Portabello Road where she bought antique charms for the teachers. Every concert Gucci gives the teachers a charm that goes along with the concert theme. Since London is one of the greatest and most historical music centres in the world......what better place to get a charm and shirt?! I was crazy in love with each of the shirts and so excited to see the teachers decked out in their skinny jeans and rock shirts looking hot and fabulous.

Gucci has students that graduate from the studio each year. This is among the hardest part for me....these graduates I have taught since they were the Pink One's age, and many of them I have taught for a lot of years. It is always so rewarding to watch them perform their swan song. I am excited to see the video of these beautiful graduates and of all the great choreography.

I have been blessed to be a part of an amazing dance family that has dedicated their talents to teaching and mentoring dance, with standards, to thousands of girls. I am blessed to have these fun and talented women in my life and I am blessed to have been a teacher of both little and big pigs. Thanks to Jamie for posting these pictures on my FB wall, I hate living vicariously, but I would rather that than nothing at all. Tonight is closing night and I wish dancers and teachers alike a best show yet! Love you my dance family and I am sweating bullets for you all. Xoxo.

This is what I saw in my back garden...

I ran to grab my camera, but missed him. I got this picture from the web, but it looks exactly like the fox in my garden. I am standing on guard with camera in hand to see if I can get a shot of my special visitor. He probably stopped by to ransack my trash like a pesky raccoon. If I catch him, you may be seeing another shopping bag project on my blog.

A Little Therapy

Let me just begin by stating I.DON'T.SEW. At all. I have followed a pattern twice in my life. That being said, I am a wee bit tired of having crappy shoppers that are thin and fall apart. I was outing and abouting the other day to keep from feeling sorry for myself that it is dance concert this week and I am not a part of it :( ......when I found some super cute oil cloth. Challenge accepted. I took my crappy shopper apart and used it for my pattern.

Thanks to friends Anya and Naomi I was able to obtain a sewing machine for the day.

I have a pretty good eye for design and love working with colour, fabric, and textures. If I could be a designer and have someone else sew up all of my designs, I would be thrilled. I have debated the possibility of going to school for design when I return to the US. I will still teach dance of course. So, I grabbed my fabric and decided to have a large pocket in the front, a long strap, and a zip top. When we were at the beach the wind blew sand into our food bag, it was yucky.

This bag is thick and sturdy. When we did our whirlwind Euro tour we actually packed our clothes in these shopper totes instead of suitcases. The shoppers are better for squishing into the trunk of the car, but, with the 2 handles instead of a strap your hands become full way too quickly.

I also added pockets inside for a pen, keys, cell phone, and gum. 

I love the way the bag turned out. It is fun having a bag with all of the features you like instead of having to compromise. Hindsight, I would have added a water bottle pocket on the sides. Next time. I think it would be fun to make kids water bottle holders out of oil cloth and of course, an apron. 

Now that the project is finished it is time to head to the pool.

It wasn't dance concert, not even close, but it did help get my mind off of it. I have taught at the studio for 16  years and will be missing my first concert, it hurts. But, I am not going to let it get me down, and I am not having a pity party, I am having a sewing party......for a non-sewer :)

Ightham Mote

Ightham Mote, pronounced "item" is a Medieval Moated Manor House. Ightham Mote dates back to 1320, and is a perfect representation of how manor houses looked. This enormous National Trust treasure is pretty close to our home and a perfect sight for a family picnic, stroll, or lazy Sunday afternoon.  

The Wisteria is in bloom and looks absolutely gorgeous.

Medieval Pasties ;) Sorry, I couldn't help it.

I have this thing for windows and photographing them. Not sure what it is, but it has something to do with light and reflection.

The ceiling had been painted for the visit of Henry VIII and Catherine. They never showed. After Catherine's divorce and exile from Henry VIII the ceiling was to be painted over as it had some symbolism specific to them and her. It never was. After Henry VIII remarried Anne Boleyn the owner could have been put to death if this ceiling had been reported. But it wasn't, and the ceiling was beautiful.

Wist table.

Pianoforte next to the wist table, and yes, I was waiting for Eliza Bennett and Mr. Darcy to walk on through the door.

Shadows.

Ightham Mote.

The Pink One told me that she had found a new pet. Now this is the kind of pet I like!

Baywatch run. The wind is even blowing through his golden locks.

I just want to pinch their cute little faces. *pinch*

Hubby and I were awestruck at how old this tree must be. Look at that twisting trunk and deformed branches. We were crazy in love with this Ent.

I have no idea what kind of blossoming bush this is, but they had one with purple blossoms and one with pink. Both of the bushes were brilliant.

I tried to capture this cool spider web on this prickly plant.

Judge me as you may, but I didn't think that the Blue One was a very cute baby. The little guy was a gorgeous newborn, but then he got huge eyes, a big round face, and never really smiled. Grandma Great called him sober sides because it was like performing a 3 ring circus to get the smallest hint of a grin. But, I think that he is one of the cutest toddlers I have ever seen. I love his mischievous grin and wild eyes.

The Pink One had this great idea to pick baby brother up. Baby brother is definitely shorter than big sister, but they are pretty close when it comes to weight. The Pink One over estimated her strength and they ended up toppled on top of each other on the ground.

The Pink One differing from the Blue One was a freaky looking newborn, but a beautiful baby, toddler, and little girl.

Cartwheels.

The climbing roses were in bloom and held a nice contrast to the wall.

The first time I came to Ightham Mote was for a play group and so I didn't get to tour through the home (2 kids mauling everything? I don't think so). This time Hubby and I took turns wandering through the home and gardens. My friend Naomi and her family come here on Sunday's after church to enjoy the beauty as a family. I think this is a lovely idea.