Summer Ramblings Part 2

So in my previous post I suggested that my kids attempt to "kill" each other. I'm sure anyone who has boys knows how rough they can be with each other. Whether it's fists, toys, shoes, balls, even a letter opener, things are always flying with intent to harm each other. At 5 and 3 they have a hard time understanding their own strength let alone the consequences of their actions. Currently my 3 year old likes to hit his little sister in the head with her toys or his feet as he laughs an evil laugh and my 5 year old likes to run up to her screaming just to scare her. While thankfully no real harm has ever come to any of them amidst their fights they do come up with ways to destroy other objects. Take throwing their toys from the second story window for example or using all the postage stamps as stickers. My 3 year old is quite often in destroy mode. He took a hammer to the rear passenger door and when questioned said he was "fixing the car". My days are very busy monitoring and disciplining and it's hard work. I love my kids and would much rather spend time with them than anything else. But some days it feels as though I've spent the whole day getting after them which I'm sure any mother can understand.

On another note:

As for the month of July we enjoyed "hot" weather for England the first week during which all the British complained but we welcomed after coming back from Florida where it was MUCH hotter. No one here has air conditioning and the stores that do must not know how to use it right. 85 degrees in England is very different from 98 in Florida and I will never complain about that week since it is so rare here. It is near the end of July and feels as though summer is over with rain and temps in the 60's.

This month we've also enjoyed the nearby farms with all the fresh produce we can pick. We rarely make it home with any berries as they all get eaten on the way home! One farm has a couple of corn mazes and a bouncy castle and the boys are always asking to go.




July 2nd we walked in our annual parade at the Air Force Base representing Awana and VBS. Then saw a fantastic fireworks show in which the fireworks were timed to different songs.





Bailey turned 5 months this month and started eating solid/baby food. Devin participated in an Air Force promotion ceremony. We went to an amusement park geared to kids under 13 which the boys enjoyed because they could go on nearly every ride.





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We had a recent grad from The Air Force Academy come through town and stay with us for a week and we all took a short trip to Salisbury Cathedral and Stonehenge.

Summer Ramblings Part 1

Wow! It's been a while since I've blogged about anything. Despite my desires to post pictures, thoughts, events, etc for friends and family to see I find blogging quite time consuming. I have to run by the computer every few minutes to type or add a picture in between tending to household chores and "trying to keep 3 kids alive" as I like to say. My days are very busy feeding, changing, playing and keeping the kids from killing each other as well as laundry, dishes, cooking and cleaning. By the end of the day, not much is accomplished except the kids are still alive!



Since my last post, we were able to take a long vacation (not long enough) back to the U.S. Devin had a conference in Orlando so we took some vacation time around it. We drove out to Key West and then up the coast on the Atlantic side before getting to Orlando. It was very hot but so nice to be near the water and go to beaches and swim. I love the beach and the ocean! My parents, and my sisters and their husbands joined us in Orlando for some fun family time and we even went to Disney World. It was so great to be back in a familiar country with great shopping and restaurants too!

It was sad to leave. Saying goodbye to family and returning to England is hard. It's been my least favorite place to live and I miss being closer to family. The last 2 years have been the toughest I've ever had. But I'm thankful for the times we've been able to go back for visits or our family has come here.


Below are a few pictures from the trip. I'll post more soon.