BEST MORNING EVER

No pictures with this blog, it's been a quiet day and not much going on. Except for our morning.
After yesterdays trip into London everyone was pooped.  We all got to bed late after having dinner at 8:30 so the kids slept in until almost 8 this morning.  Ger and I are sleeping on the wonderfully comfortable blow up beds in the parlor and we don't hear a thing. We woke up at 9:30 to find the house quiet rest with the kids doing their chores and homework. By the time G and I pulled ourselves together the kids were ready to do something.  Then Roman realized he had more work to do so Abby and I dug out a book I had brought to her. It is called "GRANDMA AND ME" and is filled with activities and quizzes for the 2 of us to do together. On Saturday Abby and I sat and did a page that was a list of questons about her dad. WE had to answer questions like, "What is dad's favorite ice cream flavor?", or "What song does dad like to sing?". (Would you believe "Who let the Dogs Out"?  Then we gave dad the same blank page of questions and dad had to fill in his answers. Abby and I were RIGHT ON all the way!
Today while we were waiting for Roman we sat down again and continued through the book. It was full of giggles and laughs and it was the best time we have had in a long time.  Just the 2 girls being silly and having fun together. At one point I started thinking how special this was and I  could have broken into full out sobbing but contained myself so as to not scare poor Abby.
Once Roman finished his chores we left Bridget home and the rest of us went to Slough to get Roman a tennis racket so he can play tennis with his dad. The boy does well at sports that have constant movement. He is like Kyle so if you put him in the outfield at a baseball game he will end up sitting on the grass and filling his baseball glove with weeds. Tennis is a great game for him so hopefully he can now go play when ever he wants.

And thus ends the birthday weekend!  It was a bank holiday so Kyle was off and the kids schools were closed. Tomorrow it is back to normal for everyone. Kyle will be flying to Italy for 2 days and then on to Ireland for an overnight.  We will see him again on Thursday night. I wonder what trouble we can get into while he is gone.

PICTURES . . . MAYBE

Yesterday we all went into London to see Lion King . . ..  All part of the celebration for Roman's and grandma's birthday.

No pictures today

Grandmas back is aching so I am not going to sit too long to blog tonight.
We just skyped with Keri and Finn and got to see Finn's new hair cut. He looks adorable even though all those wonderful curls are gone. I don't know where the Cavanaugh kids get their beautiful curls but they look great on Kaelin.
We got to tell Aunt Keri all about our day today and the celebration of Roman's birthday, even though his birthday is actually until tomorrow.  Roman had to get up and go to church lessons for getting ready for his first communion in 2 weeks. Bridget went with him and Abby, Kyle and us went into town to get Abby a new pair of school shoes. While we were shopping grandpa and I were entertained by a street show. Then we walked down to a street market and home for some lunch.  This afternoon Roman and his parents and 2 of his friends went to drive go carts for his birthday party. The boys had to watch a video about the rules of go carts and then they got to drive for 30 minutes. It was apparently a huge track full of twists and turns and the boys had a ball. Everyone  came back to the house for pizza and cake. It was a good birthday and we all had lots of fun. Now it's time for bed so we can be up early tomorrow for church and a trip into London to see the show  LION KING  !  Hopefully after the weekend I'll find some time to put some pictures on this blog but for now this is all you get for today.

HATS HATS HATS

Today we took a walk into Windsor to revisit our favorite little city. Bridget walked in with us and we stayed nice and warm with the brisk pace Ger set for us. (The man has never been able to slow down. His NYC up bringing always comes through. Rush rush rush)
We got into town and Grandma needed to sit! I talked the group into a lovely hot chocolate at the train station coffee shop and we sat for a few and watched the people go by. Windsor isn't very crowded yet but with the Queen' diamond Jubilee coming up in June and the Olympics in August I'm sure sure the crowds are not far away.
After the hot chocolate we wandered into a few of the department stores so grandma could look for some warm HIGH socks. These little Florida socks that I brought just aren't keeping my toes warm enough. (I really did a lousy job of packing. I guess I will just have to shop and leave a winter wardrobe here.) As we entered Daniels, one of the biggest and nicest department stores in Windsor the entire front of the store is filled with hats. I am talking H*A*T*S.  HUGE HATS, the sort that you see the ladies wearing at the Kentucky Derby or to the races at Ascot. And that is why the hat selection is so extensive.

This is only one small display in the store. There were at least 5 different displays like this plus all the ones lining the walls. The hats are in EVERY color of the rainbow and range from little to gigantic.  I was in my glory and would have tried on every one until I checked out the price tags. 200 pounds (That is like $400) for a HAT?  I was afraid to even breathe on them no less touch them. Luckily we went into TK Max where there were some much less expensive hats that I could try on.

Bridget and Kyle are going to the races at Ascot this June so next Friday Bridget, a friend and I are going shopping for hats for the girls to wear to the races. If you think I look silly today just wait till next week.

As for the rest of the day, we had a delish lunch in town and then got home in time for the kids to come home from school. Abby had a friend over and they spent the time up stairs playing with the American girl doll. Roman and I played with his mini skate boards until it was time for a birthday party for me. How well these guys know me . . . I received a box of chocolates AND a commemorative box of shortbread cookies with the Queens Jubilee decorations on it. Included in my BD card were tickets for the whole family to go see Lion King in London on Sunday! FANTASTIC!

Dinner was fabulous, dessert was OUTSTANDING, the movie "Puss In Boots" is a riot and now it is time for bed.

P.S.

It was a nice relaxing day in Windsor. After Abby came home she had a snack and off Bridget, Abby and I went to piano lessons. Abby rode her scooter and Bridget and  I walked . . . BRISKLY !  Piano lessons are held in an OLD church just around the corner.

I hadn't heard Abby play the piano since last October and boy has she improved! She plays with 2 hands and is actually making music. I was even serenaded with a rendition of Happy Birthday. After piano we returned home to do homework. Abby had to do reading which she also excels at. She is reading like a 5th grader.
Roman had stayed home with Ger to do his reading. As good as Abby reads Roman has taken off with his English. He knows the English alphabet now which makes reading so much easier. (Have you ever seen the Russian alphabet?) Roman reads on a second grade level which is a HUGE jump from 6 months ago. These 2 kids are doing great!
After homework and dinner Roman had scouts to go to. He ran up to his room to put on his uniform and off he went for 2 hours. Bridget has gone out to pick him up and then we will all head for bed.

Funny Face Boy Scout

CHILLY AND DAMP IS A RELATIVE TERM

For this Florida girl it is a tough description of the weather to translate. H took this to mean that it would be like going to the Antarctic in winter and he should pack his parka and boots. I took it to mean that it would be as cold as the grocery store produce department and a little drier than Florida in the rainy season. Turns out we are both wrong. Chilly and Damp English style is exactly that. The sky is grey on grey on grey. You can't see the planes that are flying over head even though they are only about 800 feet above us. (or at least it sounds that way) The air is as damp as the Florida air in August but it is not being heated up by that HOT Florida sun. It has not rained since we arrived but if you go out you get wet. In other words, it is EXACTLY what you picture when you picture England.
SO WHAT THE HECK ARE WE DOING HERE?
Last night at dinner answered that question . . . laughing with the family and having Abby and Roman sitting next to me at dinner was what it is all about.  Even with the spilled milk. The kids are getting so tall and BOTH of them are really sounding British. The accents are there and coming out more and more. Kyle and Bridget are staying true American but the kids are English.
Yesterday we walked over to pick Abby up from her sewing class. She and a dozen little girls were sitting sewing their pencil cases and acting like silly little 7 year olds. Abby has  a great group of friends this year and her school class is a wonderful mix of nice little girls. No one is being bossy and they all seem to get along great.  Roman came out of school yesterday with a bunch of boys that all seemed to be great. As we were walking home Roman walked with me a chatted up a storm.  His English is fantastic and he has a lot to talk about. Both kids are outgoing and personable and full of fun.
Even the chilly and damp wouldn't keep me away.

Last night Ger and I actually stayed away an HOUR after the kids went to bed at 8. Then it was time to crash and crash we did!!  This trip Ger and I are camping out in the parlor down stairs so that Roman doesn't have to give up his room. K&B went out and bought HUGE blow up beds. I'm talking BEDS, not just mattresses. These beauties stand as tall as a regular bed and are entirely inflated. They have got to be queen size at least and are so freaking comfy that I didn't want to get up! (I know that is nothing new but I'm talking COMFORT!) Bridget bought beautiful new comforters in a very pretty pink rose design. The comforters are so thick and warm that I just snuggled under like a bear going into hibernation. So by 9:30 last night the house was quiet and we were snoring. Except for a pee break in the middle of the night the next thing we knew it was 10 AM! Ger was dead on his feet last night. The trip seemed to be harder on him that usual and at the moment he is snuggled up under an afghan on the couch taking a nap.  Bridget is out at Abby's school until 3:30 so I think I will take Ger's lead and also take a nap.
Chilly and Damp can be good for something.

READY TO GO !

The bags (one medium sized bag for each of us) are packed and sitting by the front door.  The bagels are wrapped in their plastic bags and stored in one of the carry-ons. (They don't have bagels in England) My back pack is loaded to the top with my new fuschia pashmina from Jeanne that I will throw over me on the plane if it gets cold, jacket, meds, snacks and puzzles. All of this will be stowed under my seat on the plane and never used because I plan on snuggling down and watching a movie and falling asleep. (That's where the meds come in!)

Husband is also ready to go.  He is showered and dressed in his finest crappy jeans and a yellow tee shirt that makes him look like he just crawled out of his refrigerator box in the woods. He had on a blue tee shirt that had stains all down the front. I asked him if he had a collared shirt he could wear. H got very snippy and asked what was wrong with the shirt he had on. I pointed out the stains so he changed into a crappy YELLOW tee.  I on the other hand look like a fool with my new hair but I am going to England where anything goes so WHAT THE HELL!

Do I look like a 67 year old trying to look like a 27 year old?  Hope so! That's the look I'm going for.
The other day I went for a pedi to make my feet happy for the trip and the girl doing my toes told me I have great feet for a tattoo. (She meant that they were FAT!) I REALLY REALLY want a tattoo before I die and I think I have found the spot . . . fat foot instep. Now I need to decide on WHAT sort of tattoo.   I should get my D-I-L Kristen to put a survey out on her blog to see what grandma should get tattooed on her foot.
I came home from the nail place after the pedi and told H about my conversation about tattoos. H looked at me with such a look of disgust or disdain, (hard to tell the difference with H) and then told me I should "GROW UP".
CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?  That is like telling Peter Pan he has to grow up. It just AIN'T gonna happen. Lately I have been seeing the quote "You have to grow OLD but you don't have to grow UP". This quote has popped up in a couple of different places over the past week so I am taking it as a direct word from God. Just about a week ago I was talking with God and telling him that I am having trouble hearing him. I know he talks to me all the time but I am just not hearing what he is telling me. Should I be doing more for my fellow man (and H)? Should I be more involved in charitable work?  What does HE want me to do with my remaining years, (months? days? whatever)? So far the only message I have taken to be from God is the previous quote about not growing up. SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN TO ME!

And so here we are waiting for Uncle Tommy to pick us up and take us to the airport to catch our flight to Atlanta and then London. I wonder if security at the airport will pull H or me aside for a security check. I'll keep you posted. And I sure do hope my bag is weighing in under 50 lbs. I'd hate to be one of those idiots who have their bag open on the sidewalk while they pull things out to try to get the bag to weigh less. Good thing they won't be weighing me!

SEE YOU IN WINDSOR !