I just can't wait until tomorrow.

My parents are here! They arrived Wednesday afternoon and we've been busy exploring, playing games and having fun since. Before they arrived, the boys had a countdown until they came. Now that they are here (& the gifts under the tree have expanded drastically) they are anxiously waiting for Christmas Eve. This phrase came out of Walter's mouth numerous times today.

Thursday was a big day for both boys as they both starred in their school plays. Walter was a donkey in the Nativity play, while Owen was 'Bubbles' in 'Bubbles the Overgrown Penguin' (a play he & his classmates wrote, directed & made their costumes for!). Although it was at times hard to hear over the excited children, we left so proud of them! If you'd like to watch them, you can click here.

On Friday, we enjoyed the sun and went for a walk in Devil's Dyke. The boys decided that we should climb up the steepest ridge they could find instead of taking the gradual path back up...and they ran up and patiently waited for my mom & I to slowly catch up. We then made our way to the Bluebell Railway for a Victorian Christmas experience. We enjoyed a lovely steam engine ride through the country, played some fair games and even got to visit Father Christmas.

Saturday we enjoyed the rain and stayed in to bake cookies and put together a gingerbread train. Today, we went to see the Lost & Found Orchestra here in Brighton, followed by dinner at the boys' favorite restaurant, Donatello's. I'd say the trip/Christmas vacation is off to a great start!

Merry Christmas!!!

That was bloody huge!

We went to a magic show up at Jer's golf club this weekend. It was their holiday party for families, complete with Santa pulling up to the club on a golf cart at the end. Well, both boys ended up assisting the magician at different times during the show. Owen by scaring the magician, while Walter made a handkerchief disappear with an enormous magic wand. They both thought is was quite magical. As we were leaving a worker asked Walter how he held that magic wand 'that was bloody huge!' I still giggle with delight when I here typical British words and phrases and 'bloody' is one that gets me every time.

We are gearing up for my parents to arrive. They are coming on Wednesday and we are all looking forward to their time here. We've been busy planning a few nights away in England as well as fun things around Brighton/Hove.

We had our first dinner party with friends from school over the weekend. It felt like a milestone in moving to me. It was such a big part of our lives in MN, it felt really nice to do it again here...having the house full of kids running around and having friends to talk with and laugh with. I'm sure you know I love a good Mexican meal and its really not that well known here (we've decided their Mexican is Indian food...and its delicious!). Thus, I made a little fiesta of food, including some mighty fine vegetarian enchiladas, if I do say so myself!

Other than that, we've been busy making 'bloody huge' airplanes...

Reminding Santa that we've moved (but Griffin is still in MN)...

And playing with water balloons...in December...

The weather is finally panning out for us. We seem to be sticking around the 50's here, which means Jer still golfs ideally at least once a week and the boys & I walk to & from school whenever possible. (Although the boys were ready to hop a plane when they heard about the 17" Minneapolis got last weekend.) We will be heading down to the beach on Christmas day to watch the brave & crazy do their annual Christmas swim. Owen thinks he's going to talk my dad into doing it...I will post photos if it happens for sure.