Day 7 - Just What I Expected

Today was what I expected my visit here in England to look like: housecleaning, folding laundry, cooking supper, doing dishes, coloring in a Spiderman coloring book, playing tic-tac-toe, holding a baby, watching TV.  The big boys spent the day at school followed by an hour at the playground running off steam, while Elasti-girl and I spent the day at home.  I did not come expecting to be entertained, I came to help.  The field trips I've enjoyed in the past week have just been icing on the cake.  Today, was equally delightful.  It was wonderful to be able to help and enjoy my daughter and new grandson all at the same time.

Baby G is growing and changing and I think he already looks bigger than when I first arrived.  He is a voracious eater right now, having hit the 6 week old growth spurt.  He was up to six and seven hours of sleep at night but the past two has been waking up every three hours to eat.  Growth spurt.  Elasti-girl is pretty pooped but has the smarts to try to sleep during the day when he does.

On the US homefront, Flyboy babysat Peanut today (as he does one Friday a month), so the grandparents had full days on both continents.  I talked to Flyboy on the phone early this evening and complained a little that Peanut has probably forgotten me.  He said that as he pulled into the driveway with her this morning she said, "Gigi?".  That made me smile.  All is right with the world.

Today was the big boys last day of school.  Their Easter holiday begins now and they will be off for two weeks.  I hear a trip to the seashore is in the works - maybe Sunday or Monday, depending on the weather.
I hear the weather  has cooled at home.  It is cooling here, too, and I don't think I'll see anything above 55 here again.  It was nice while it lasted.

Tomorrow looks like a trip for groceries, maybe to Banbury - the Incredibles live in a more rural village and can drive in any one of several directions for shopping, wherever the mood strikes.  They're advertising leg of lamb and hot cross buns in preparation for Easter.

Goodnight from England,

Gigi

Day 6 - Play, Pie, and Park

One of the things I've been looking forward to this visit happened today.  Dash and JackJack's Easter program at school was this morning and I, Gigi, was able to be here for it.  When you live in the same town as your grandchildren, you take for granted the ability to be there for the important moments in their lives.  When they live halfway around the world, it is more than an honor to be able to share one with them.  The boys' school is a public school operated by the Church of England, and while England has one of the lowest percentage of Christ-followers in any developed country in the world, it considers itself a Christian nation.  And in a Christian nation, it is totally acceptable and expected that any program on the subject of Easter would include the good news of the resurrection.  I'm happy to report that this one did.  Besides a play about a little chicken who invited his friends for Easter, asked for help but was denied, and wound up ignoring the advice of his mother who said forget them and eat the food yourself, there were poems and recitations celebrating the King who rode into Jerusalem on a donkey and rose from the dead.

The front of the program...Year R (Reception) is like K4 in the US (with a K5 curriculum) and Year 1 is like K5 (with a first grade curriculum).

 Some of the recitations.  

 JackJack and Dash were in the back row and hard to see with my little camera, but here's a shot of the Year R and Year 1 classes.

 After the program we were invited to the Year 1 classroom, where the children shared the toy museum they had put together.  The parents of the Year 1 students loaned the *ancient* toys from their childhood and the children manned different stations to explain the toys and invite the guests to observe or play.  JackJack and his classmate demonstrated  the scooter, which I suppose has been around awhile.

 Dash demonstrated an English game of tag involving a wolf and some chickens.  I believe the dad in the photo was the wolf.

 Baby G took in all the sights.

The toy museum/the boys' classroom

Next stop, Deddington.  We ate lunch at the Pudding Face, an authentic English pie restaurant.  Not like Baker's Square, mind you, English pies are filled with meat and vegetables and served with mashed potatoes and gravy or chips (fries) with vinegar.  After lunch Elasti-girl had her 6-week postpartum check-up at the Deddington clinic, and then we headed home.

 Yes, I know this is a picture of a rock wall.  I can't begin to imagine how long it took to build walls like this, but they are EVERYWHERE.  All the fields are surrounded by rock walls or sturdy hedgerows.

Today was beyond beautiful.  I'm not sure why I've been so blessed two years in a row to enjoy warm and sunny weather, but I am grateful.  After picking up the boys from school, we took a walk to the village park and soaked up the rays.  They say we're in for some more seasonal chilly/wet weather over the next few days.  I got in on the good weather at home before it turned cold again, and feel doubly blessed here.

 Dash was determined to hide from me once I pulled out the camera.

 He thought he was hiding, but I stuck my arm as high as I could reach over the edge of the slide and snapped in the blind.  GOTCHA!

 Daddy and JackJack playing *football* on the basketball court.

 It was a very full day and Baby G says it's time for bed.

Nite nite, Baby G.  Nite, nite, world.

Day 5 - Home Alone

Today finds me home alone, with the big boys at school and everybody else in Oxford.  Mr. Incredible and Elasti-girl are meeting friends from the States who are visiting and will be in the area just for today.  These are folks who are from the church where our son-in-law served for nine years and who have been there throughout the years of infertility, adoption, and are right now meeting our miracle boy, Baby G.  What a joy!  I could have gone along, but opted for a self-imposed time out.  The days have been full and while there is a part of me that doesn't want to miss a second, there is the other older and wiser me who knows some down time would be a smart way to spend today.  I've not slept well since arriving and am seriously contemplating a nap.

And so here I am., on the couch with pillows and the heating pad nursing a sore back and surfing the net for recipes as life is going to take a radical turn when I get home.  Here's why...

I have described myself as "halfway to becoming a whole foods convert" for a good long while, ever since Flyboy was diagnosed with cancer the second time and I started reading more about the health benefits of whole foods.  You either eat whole foods or you don't (like you can't be halfway pregnant) and while I've toyed with the idea, I've not quite been able to take the plunge.

Three events have gotten me to the point where I am ready to make this happen.  Last fall, we met my parents and siblings in Tulsa for a long weekend and I was amazed to see the change in my sister-in-law, who has been a long time vegan, but has recently cut out fat and gone to whole foods.  She looked absolutely amazing and feels better than she has in years, even though she struggles with several complicated health issues.  She is a tremendous encouragement to me and is cheering me on.

Second, I came across "The Daniel Plan", created by three doctors and adopted by Saddleback Church for a year-long campaign of improved health, recognizing that our physical health is something we too easily ignore.  It makes a lot of sense to me, and I have long felt that we are beings with souls and spirits and BODIES and we somehow feel it is spiritual to nurture our souls and spirits but abuse our bodies, either by mistreating it or by neglect.  My body certainly needs some serious attention.  I decided I was ready to do this thing and will begin after returning home.

Finally, the weekend before I left for England, Flyboy and I went out to breakfast at the Machine Shed, ate like pigs and paid for it.  We talked about the food we had eaten (high fat, high sugar) - particularly the 9 x 9  cinnamon roll we shared.  Flyboy sat down in front of the TV to soak an infected toe.  He flipped on PBS and who should be talking but Dr. Mark Hyman, one of the consultants on The Daniel Plan project.  He has recently written a book called "The Blood Sugar Solution", and explained the science of diabetes and the fact that with a whole foods diet, it CAN be reversed. Flyboy listened to the whole thing and decided to join me on this adventure when I get home from England.  What a gift to be able to do this together - I feel very blessed.

So - besides being quiet, I am creating a collection of recipes and ultimately want to have two weeks of recipes and a shopping list before I go home.  Organization is important in any new endeavor, especially in learning a whole new way of viewing food.  Flyboy is at home trying to cut back on the processed sugar and eat better in general and I gave up dairy for lent.  We are both aware what a change this is going to be for us and how hard it will be to implement, so we're taking baby steps.

The Incredibles are home!  Time to play with some boys...

Day 4 - A *Quiet* Day at Home

Dash and JackJack coughed all night last night, and I offered to keep them home today rather than dragging them on the train and sitting in the Embassy for hours.  It was a good decision.  Mr. Incredible and Elasti-girl said the whole thing took much longer than expected, but at the end of it all, Baby G was pronounced an American citizen.  Elasti-girl asked the woman who assisted them if Baby G is also a British citizen, but she didn't seem completely sure.  So, who knows?

The big boys spent the better part of the day on the couch playing computer games.  You'd think I could figure out how to build a bridge, but apparently now.  Mine caved in every single time.  How embarrassing.  We also got outside for a bit - I was hanging laundry and they were having a Nerf war.  JackJack showed off his two-wheeler skills and we baked chocolate chip cookies.  So, along with some power cleaning,  it was a very productive day.

I think I'll be going to bed early.  :)

 www.coolmath-games.com is ALOT of fun!

Dash waiting for the perfect shot.  

JackJack shooting from the 2nd floor window.

Day 3 - Day Trip

Tomorrow is the big trip to the American Embassy in London to register Baby G's birth.  In preparation for that, Elasti-girl, Baby G and I took the bus into Oxford today.  Baby G had to have passport photos taken, so we made a day of it.  Any excuse to get back to Oxford works for me.

Here's the day in photos!

First, a bath for Baby G.

Next, a bus ride to Oxford.  It amazes me that roads not really wide enough for two cars will somehow accommodate two buses.  Just when I am convinced a collision is inevitable, the moment is over and the buses have somehow magically passed one another without incident.

A walk around the downtown area, with memories of having seen these amazing structures last year with Flyboy.  Missing you, honey...

Next stop, passport photos.  The nice ladies laid Baby G on a white backdrop.  One tried to keep him looking straight ahead while the other stood on a crate shooting time after time until she finally got the shot she was looking for.  Baby G was cooperative but curious, laying still but looking in all directions at the same time.  After about 25 tries, success!

A lunch break at Pieminister in the Covered Market..  My yummy bean pie was served over mashed potatoes with gravy.  Delish!

We walked some more, stopped in a few shops, and landed here at the Natural History Museum.  The structure was as amazing as the exhibits (in my opinion).

Tomorrow, London!  We're leaving at 0-dark-30 to catch the bus.  The appointment at the Embassy is at 9:30.  We take the bus in, and then will walk about a mile to our destination.  I, for one, am hitting the hay early tonight.  

Day 2: Rugby and St. Ebbs

Daytime Savings Time began here in England today, so I got to lose an hour TWICE this year, on top of the five I left in the USA yesterday.  I slept like a log last night and woke up today ready to roll.

Today started with Rugby practice (or *training* as they call it here).  Jack-Jack is in a tag rugby league, which like touch football, is non-contact.  Except for all the little boys who, while waiting for their turn during drills were wrestling one another to the ground.   

 Hydrating.

Getting equipped with tags. 

Dash watching brother train.

Playing catch with Dad.

"Puppies in a box."  This is what my boss calls middle school boys, but it is particularly true of 6 year old boys. 

Clowning around.

Later in the day we (Mr. Incredible, Dash and I) went to church in Oxford.  If Flyboy and I could find jobs in Oxford, I could totally live there.  I think it is an amazing city full of history, education and beauty.  St. Ebbes Church was vibrant and alive and...packed. There are three Sunday services and we happened to attend the one weekend service where five students and one young adult were confirmed.  We heard a sermon by the Bishop of Oxford that was inspiring and introduced me to a whole new side of the Church of England.  Mr. Incredible explained that the Church of England is a very broad organization with many different arms that go in many different directions.  I was certainly blessed.  I liked this C.S. Lewis quote: 

 I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen:

not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.

And now, on to the star of the show.  I have referred to my daughter and her family in this blog (and my previous one) for years as "The Incredibles".  There are amazing likenesses between each family member and their caricatures.  But now that miracle baby boy has shown up on the scene, I find myself in a prickly situation.  The only other family member in the movie is a girl (Violet) and while Elasti-girl says it's okay to call our boy Violet (because he may well feel invisible with two older brothers), it just doesn't feel quite right.  So what to do?  Ideas?  For the meantime, I will refer to him as Baby G.

And here he is!  Having been on the go today I was not able to get any shots of him. However, a friend of Elasti-girl's shot these last week.  Enjoy!