14 Years Later ....

Four kids on, 4 countries on - here we are celebrating our 14th wedding anniversary! With the ups and downs of life, it was great to get away to Ashville for the weekend. Just the two of us!! It is the second time in our 14 years together that we have had a weekend alone without our kiddies and it was needed, appreciated and will long be remembered as a cherished moment with my husband.

Here we are, attached by the feet, floating lazily along the French Broad River.


Forgot our suncream - so our legs are a bit frazzled - but no pain no gain!

This is where the story begins! Traditional English wedding attire. No laughing please!



To check out what my kids got up to whilst we were away - take a look at Devin and Caroline's blog in My Blog List. You can tell they really missed us!

Compromise

I have always said that Oliver's little car won't appear on my blog. Might seem a bit strange to some - but I have my reasons ;o{ Anyway, the reason we went to the car show was not only to look at some beautiful cars, but also to enter his in a competition. Apart from us having a lovely time, basking in the hot sun and getting fried, Oliver's car did actually win his class. I didn't want to put this picture on my blog because Oliver's car was on it, but Oliver came up with an ingenious way for me to show the proud moment, without me having to 'show off' his car. I guess marriage is full of compromise :o)

Confident Chap!

One of the reasons I love Oliver is because of his confidence. We went as a family to a car show on Saturday. Great day out. He remembered, just as we were getting into the car, that there would be a pinewood derby at the show - and he thought he'd enter. So this is what he came up with. Just look at it next to the other cars! But he said he would enter and enter he did!













Your car can't be more than 9 inches long - and because the tape measure is part of the car, he was able to actually extend the tape measure so that his car measured exactly 9 inches. Am I wrong in thinking that women carry too much guilt to do this kind of thing? We'd be all apologies. But not my Oliver. He'd have extended the whole length of the track if he could. Anyway Oliver - you did us proud!

Whose in Charge?!?!

Oliver is away in England this week. I know the children miss their daddy, so I always try and make this a special time for them, and I normally allow them to sleep in my room at night and we read a book together. But the last few times they've slept in my room - it has been such a mess that this time I said - 'One child each night can sleep in my room'. 'We'll still read together, but after that, the other 3 children must go!!!' So after my very firm instructions to my children - I went to the bathroom to get ready for bed. I WAS NO MORE THAN 5 MINUTES. This is what I can back to. They'd even managed to silently move a mattress into my room! WHOSE IN CHARGE HERE???

Miss My Hubby

Came home the other evening to my hubby serenading me. He thought it would be hilarious to give himself a mustache, just to add to the ambiance. He knows how much I love a mustache!!!(sorry to all those out there with mustaches - nothing personal). BUT I HATE THEM!!! Well I thought I'd have the last laugh. I went upstairs and hid all his razors. Thought I'd give him a day to sweat it out. Sadly the next day - after a bit of rooting around - he managed to find a razor and shave it off. I'll do better next time Oliver!!!!!

Anyway - now he's away again - and I miss him. Looking forward to having you back at the weekend Ol.

We're not dramatic - it really was scary!!!

We had such a great day at the Lazy 5 Ranch. Lots of screaming and drama - but we loved it! Well, most of us did!


Good catch
I just love those teeth!
Want a kiss?
I do love my kids
I love it that Emily is learning to be a little more demonstrative with Joseph. So cute.
Emily, you might be squeezing a little too hard sweetie pie!
All right - what's going on??
Emily - let go of your brother!
I blame her father!!!

Loved General Conference weekend.
Loved the inspired messages from our church leaders.
Loved being with my family.
Loved the fabulous weather.
I have so much to be grateful for. So much to live up to!




The only one that didn't have such a great time was Molly.

Fun in the Sun

Oliver and I decided to plant a Japanese Maple. Oliver!! Oliver!!!. Oh, there you are.
Some may call it jetlag from his recent trip to Berlin. There are other choice words that I could call it!
I was just teasing!! Look at him go! Now there's no stopping him.
Molly felt the whole proceedings were very immature.

Sweet Bread Recipe

I love a good recipe - and yesterday I made a sweet bread and added cranberries and blueberries. Really enjoyed it so - thought I'd share ....

3 large eggs (room temperature)
1/4 cup + 3 1/2 Tbs Water
6 Tbs sour cream
6 Tbs butter
6 Tbs granulated sugar
4 1/2 cups bread flour
1 Tbs yeast
1 cup dried cranberries
1 cup frozen blueberries
3 Tbs wheat gluten (not necessary if you don't have any - but helps make your bread light)

Place ingredients in bread machine on dough cycle. Take out and cut dough in half. Split between two bread pans that have been lightly sprayed with oil. Cook for about 35 to 40 minutes on 350 degrees.

PMS

I am 40 next year and I am noticing as the months roll into years that my PMS is getting a little more intense. I have always taken medication in the form of M&M's, but even that doesn't seem to be helping lately. So today I went online to see if there was anything I could do to help my family!!! I am not one to take over the counter medicine easily - I just don't think that pharmaceutical companies have my best interest at heart, so I wondered if there was a more natural approach to helping me with my dreaded HORMONES. For anyone out there who also 'suffers' with PMS, I thought I would share what I found.

Neptune Krill Oil, Magnesium and Iodine taken daily.

Now you have to understand that there was a book explaining all the ins and outs of these products - and my blog is not the place. But the Author of the book is Andrew P Jones MD, and the name of the book is 'The All Natural Cure For your PMS.

If it doesn't work - try M&Ms

I don't ask for much

This is Caro!

I like Caro!!!
This is how much I have left!!

You can buy it in Germany!

My beloved is in Germany this week. Apparently he may not be able to bring some back because his suitcase is full!

Well honey, ditch the shoes - and bring me back some Caro. OR THE CAR GETS IT!!!

Green Frogs

My hubby says that a person should 'swallow a green frog every morning'. For those who are as confused as I was when I first heard him say it - he means get one of your jobs done early, that you just don't want to, but should. Well, Oliver is away in Germany at the moment, and whilst the 'cat is away, the mice will play' so to speak, and I got this urge to watch Twilight. I never ever watch tv during the day. In fact, I would get rid of the TV if I could. But, this was a big urge - so I went and rented it. But my conscience, being a lot bigger than my husbands - who really wouldn't have cared if I had watched it or not, I decided that I had to swallow some green frogs before my relaxation began.

So the jobs that have been weighing on my mind were the vegetable plot, and the basement. Aaaaagghhh, does no-one pity me?!?!?!? Especially the basement. All the skirting boards (baseboards) need painting, two doors, the bathroom ceiling and a window frame. And just look at my veggie plot!!

So yesterday I donned my 'wellies' and went to work in the garden. As you can see in less than one hour, I had finished the top part of the plot. (Ooh, Oliver will probably read this - soooo...., in less than 4 hours I had finished the top part of the plot). I was very impressed. Then I went to the basement and taped all the things that need painting. Along with the usual homey things that a mum does each day - you know, the kitchen after the kids have left, the washing in, washing out, washing away, and vacuuming the living room - I sat down conscience free to watch Twilight!

So I thought I would commit myself to anyone who actually reads this stuff - that I will get some of my green frogs eaten today and will begin painting. (But honestly, I have learned that having someone chew on a frog with you is so much easier than doing it alone). Therefore, I am really missing Oliver right now.