My baby is six months

My great friend Geneva offered her photography skills to take Aynsley's picture yesterday. Aynsley was not really in a smiling mood, but the pictures turned out adorable anyhow. I just can't believe she is 6 months old. She has been a sweet addition to our family. The kids will do anything for her and she in turn will put up with almost anything with a smile. 

Pumpkin Patch

We went with friends to a pumpkin patch in St. George on a day off from school. Crazy me I forgot my camera, so Kristen Stuart saved me with a few photos. I am a bit embarassed by the condition of my kids for the group pic, but that is REAL life:) It was a lot of fun. As the kids chose their pumpkins the only thing I said was "You have to be able to carry it back." I was shocked how big of pumpkins they could carry. Wesley's was 22lbs and Jack's almost as big. So much fun!!

So far behind....

OK, so I have basically forgot I have a blog. Sorry to those who think they are going to be updated by me here. The moving/five kids thing has got me out of sorts. So a quick update...we have moved in to our home in Las Vegas. I use the word moved in loosely:) There is still quite a bit of work to do but at least it is our home, not a hotel(we were there about three), not my mom's(we were there for about 6 weeks- thank you mom) and not the TLF- thank goodness we didn't have to do that one this time. When it is presentable enough to post pictures I will do that.

The kids are settling in great. They are enjoying school..Wesley is in 5th grade, his last year in the elementary, Jaxon is in 2nd and loving his amazing teacher, Kinzie is in full day Kinder and slowly finding her place. Liam is in 2 day preschool and thinks he should be in Kinder with Kinz. My sweet angel Aynsley is 6 months two days ago. She is as wonderful as can be. She is mild tempered, has slept through the night from almost the beginning and is just yummy.

I am busy doing the mom thing and LOVING all my awesome friends here. It is so fun when I can break away from chores and go out with old friends as well as making new ones. As for Doug, he is still trying to get use to this desert place we live. He dreams often about England or anywhere green for that case. With our great friends and family close I hope he finds some reasons to like it here.

Well it's late and I need some sleep, so TTFN.

Family Pictures

Aynsley Kay White

Anysley Kay White was born April 20th. She was 8lbs 4 oz and 21 inches long.

Snow Day

Here in England a bit of snow can shut the whole country down. Apparently this is the worst storms in like 18 years, or something crazy.I think where we live it was not as bad as down in London. But for one week in February we had a "snow day", followed by a couple late days, where everyone goes in 2 hours late. The kids loved it!!


Trenchard Square covered in snow.


Jaxon Snowboarding.


Mckinzie and Brianna sledding.


Liam loving "Frosty".

A day in Germany

Last year a few friends and I did a day trip to Germany for some pottery shopping. Only to arrive and find out the store was unexpectedly closer. There was nothing we could do to get them to open the door for us:( So we tried again this last week.(I did email them ahead of time to make sure they were going to be open.) After releasing all our kids to our great hubbies, we set off at 4:30am for our flight. At the counter we were shocked to find out they wanted a note from my Dr. to fly, and in the next 15 minutes. With a quick call to some husbands, Doug found someone at the hospital who could fax a note. With only minutes to spare before they closed the flight, we were off.


Once arriving in Germany they kindly upgraded me to a 10 passenger van.(Not quite what I was thinking when he talked about a big car with lots of room.) We were safe and had plenty of room:)!! We drove two hours to the Waechtersbach outlet.


After some great shopping, we found out at the checkout that they don't take credit cards. Who doesn't take credit cards??? Some quick borrowing from each other we rounded up enough money to buy all our goods. We carefully packed the dishes into our carry on luggage and hoped it wouldn't be more than 22lbs each bag.


Next we headed back closer to the airport for some Crystal shopping. That's were the fun really began. We got great deals and gorgeous wares. The store was incredibly accomodating. Staying open for an hour after closing for us and preparing to pack and send us the crystal in the mail. Thank goodness they ship, because we were out of room in our bags.


The lady from the shop found us a great restaurant and drove us there to keep us from getting lost.


The food was incredible!!(Annette Madsen and Vicki Wilkins at dinner.)



After dinner, we headed to the airport where we figured three of us were about 14lbs over our 20lb limit. Allison bought a new handbag, while we stuffed cups in pockets and moved a bunch to Camille and Annette's bags. About 10 trips to the scales to get it just right. They finally let us through security. Where we rearranged our bags back the way they were and headed home on the midnight flight. WOW what a day!! Thanks ladies:) (Allison Stokes, Me looking HUGE and Camille Cranney.)

Elveden re-treat

After a month of Christmas rush, then me gone for a week, then Doug gone for a week. We were ready for a little family vacation, with the Davis family. Well if you can call this a vacation--We spent Monday thru Friday at a local resort that is only about 15 minutes from our home in the Elveden Forest. Doug still went into work and the kids went to school most days, but we spent the nights swimming and swimming and swimming. Then slept in the three bedroom villa in the forest. We had to wake up early to walk the 15 minute walk to the car and then drive to school. But it will be a great memory.

Liam and Zoie are crazy little buddies. They can't get enough of each other. If we could arrange a marriage this might be one because they have such great pictures together.

Mom, Amy and Patsy

My big gift for Christmas was a trip to Colorado Springs, by myself. My sister Amy lives there with her family. As well as my great friend Patsy Forester. My sweet mommy last minute was able to fly in for the week as well. It was such a great way to relax and get away. Thanks to my dear Hubby for staying home with the kids all week(and Spencer and Joseph for taking care of all the other kids:). And thanks to Patsy and Amy for taking care of me. Amy thanks for the great picture collage. It is saving me having to figure it out. My blog didn't turn out as cute as yours with all the cute font stuff. Maybe you can teach me someday.

Day at the nail salon followed by a night at the movie "Twilight". So much fun!!



Celebrating New Years. I hate how pregnant I look, but I guess it's the truth:(

Traditions

As we have lived away from extended family we have started creating traditions of our own. We have also enjoyed picking up some of the British traditions and making them ours.

Tradition #1- Ward Christmas Party and the visit from Santa. Along with that is scare your youngest child with the thought of having to sit on his lap.




Tradition #2- Decorating the gingerbread house and this year a gingerbread tree as well. Pre-made by Wilton. I was just running out of time for cooking the bread. Oh well the kids love it just the same.





Tradition #3- The traditonal Christmas Dinner: Ham, cheesy potatoes, rolls ect. We chose to have this meal on the Sunday before Christmas. I do not want to cook on Christmas day.

Tradition #4- Is the Christmas Cracker placed by each persons plate. This is a very British tradition. A little present is placed by each plate, usually you cross arms grab the person gift next to you and the person on the other side grabs yours and then you pull. When the gift is opened there is a little firecracker inside that goes off. Each has a small gift, a paper crown to be worn at dinner and a joke. We will miss this tradition.





Tradition #5 Christmas Eve dinner. I took a picture of the table set because since arriving here I have been converted to loving dishes, especially for special holidays. This is "The night before Christmas" dish set by Wedgewood. Each plate has a different part of the story on it. My goblets are from a trip to a crystal factory in Germany. The kids loved using all the great dishes as much as I did. I think I may have even converted Doug:) (The dishes used for Christmas dinner are the traditional Spode Christmas dishes. All of these made in England, but not for long.) This dinner is a stake and shrimp feast. Carried on from Doug's family.




Tradition #6- Christmas Pudding. Another British tradition. They are cooked by seaming them in the oven or crockpot for hours. Then a carmel sauce is poured on top. Sugar cubes soaked in lemon extract are placed on top and lit on fire. As you can imagine this is a favorite of the kids. We had to do the fire 3 or 4 times. Each one with more cubes, making a bigger fire.



Tradition #7 was missed this year due to time issues. The nativity acted out by the kids. I was very disappointed this didn't happen. Doug was a bit relieved. Maybe next year when we have a semi-baby again.