Epic!

Thanks to Owen and his friend Cassius, this is the adjective that describes just about anything that is good in our house these days. Things are no longer cool or awesome or neat or fun...they are all epic.

This weekend we went and took our race dog for a walk. He is absolutely enormous and a playful guy. Jer and I laughed that even though he is much bigger and younger than Griffin, Senor Heat is a much better walker. I know that reflects only on us as dog parents and I have no other excuse to give.

After, we spent sometime at the skatepark in Crawley. It was epic.

Can I set my alarm for 1:24?

Last night Owen asked if he could set his alarm for 1:24 am, so he could be awake when he turned 8. I talked him out of it and he came running down excited to be 8 this morning. As we were wishing him a happy birthday, we realized he actually was just about to be turning 8 as it was 7:15 am - 1:15 am in Minnesota. So we celebrated his real birthday without having to get up in the middle of the night after all!

I feel confident saying Owen had a fantastic birthday. The celebrations started yesterday as we hosted his party at a local indoor skatepark. Many children had never boarded before and by the end of the party they were nearly all going down ramps. Owen learned to 'drop in' and go off some pretty high jumps. It was really fun to see all the smiles. When there was just twenty minutes left, we gathered the kids to sing and eat cake. After we sang, while I was cutting the cake, they all left to go back to skate and ended up taking home their cake along with their goody bags! (the only downer of the event was realizing I really don't know how to use my new lens in an indoor setting...I don't like the color given by using the built in flash and don't know how to properly use my detachable flash...basically, I need to get going on my Photography class!)

Learning how to 'drop-in'

Today we started the day with O's request for banana bread. Owen rode his skateboard to school and then had a great day at school. Also per the birthday boy's request, we headed to Donatello's for dinner. With full bellies, we headed home for presents and a cupcake. 

Owen is growing into such a lovely young man. We feel so blessed to have him in our life. He certainly makes us proud. He gave out some seriously wonderful thank you hugs today...I hope they never stop.

S or O?

When Owen asks me if he can do something, have something, etc., once he's posed his question he will say 'S or O?' I now reply S for yes and O for no...and regardless he smiles.

We took a little adventure this weekend to Kent. It is the SE corner of England and the home of Canterbury, Dover and some other lovely places. After swimming lessons on Saturday morning and a round of golf for Jer, we packed up our estate (yes, that is English for station wagon) and made our way to Maidstone. We spent the late afternoon and evening in Whitstable, a charming little artsy fishing village that is quite famous for rock oysters. No one was brave enough to try one however, a shame I know all you seafood lovers, but it was fun seeing all the fishing equipment at the harbor. We ended the night swimming in the pool and cuddled up for a movie and popcorn in the hotel room.

Shell Beach! 

On Sunday after breakfast and more swimming, we made our way to Canterbury in time to catch the Remembrance/Armistice Day parade in the town center. We strolled through the streets and enjoyed a river tour before hitting the road and driving through the country side. We drove through Sandwich (yes, the namesake of what you often eat for lunch!), along the coast to Deal and through Dover before heading our way back home. We saw all sorts of beautiful trees, sheep, golf courses, oast houses and lovely English countryside. And although we've both commented on it previously, we realized just how far north we are here as the sun was setting around 3pm each day. It is now pitch black by 5pm easily...and December 21 is still over a month away!

Just inside the walled city of Canterbury.

Jer at the Royal Saint George's...wishing he'd brought his clubs.

You don't want to cut your children, Mom.

Walter has been growing his hair out. Until recently, he wanted hair down to his lips. Yesterday morning he asked for a haircut. He was done with having his hair in his eyes. After school, he asked again and I of course embraced the opportunity and we headed up to our beauty salon (located on the second floor of our house) and I gave him a haircut. As I was going around his ears, I reminded him to be very still and he reminded me "You don't want to cut your children, Mom."

Let me just get it off my chest here...the gap in posts is due to my dear computer not recognizing my USB/camera. I know you've heard it before, but I'm saying it again. Maybe at some point the Apple gods will show up with a new one for me...or maybe Santa...or my dear amazing husband...or anyone...Bueller? Bueller? Until then you're just gonna have to hear me complain about it every now and then...and be deprived of your regular updates on the amazing world of the Hipps family. Or maybe I'll just have to stop buying handbags and saving my own money up.

Alright, whining over, here's some sweet photos of my sweet boys one afternoon on a walk in the beautiful English countryside.

(these are not my sweet boys I was talking about.)

Owen helped edit this one until it was just right.

"Why would you want a picture of the fence, Mom?" - Owen

I want to get a 'Spooks' book.

Owen is clearly becoming a big kid. He likes scary things...as seen in his choice of Halloween costumes and is particularly interested in renting really scary books from the library. Really scary. He gets it from his father.

Jer loves scary stuff...last night he wanted to watch an episode of Walking Dead and I obliged as it was Halloween and sat with him with my iPad looking down durning all scary scenes. At one point he yelled and jumped.

After much uncertainty of what it would bring, we enjoyed our first Halloween in the UK. While the houses weren't quite decorated like they are back home, there were still plenty of treats to be found. The boys stocked up and ate way too much candy. Here are some photos of our pumpkin carvings while Grandma Donna & Grandpa Bruce were here as well as some scary dudes with full buckets!

Guess how many days until my birthday?

Someone around here is excited to be so close to being 8! Owen has a countdown in his room and reminds us often just how many days until his birthday - 21 from today!

A few more guests have arrived...number 7 & 8. First, was Owen's class guinea pig, Peebles. We brought her home with us on Friday and get to take care of her during half term. Yes, the boys are reaping the benefits of the UK school year and are enjoying a week off for half term. Right now we are enjoying family time with Great Grandma & Grandpa before they leave tomorrow evening.

Guest number 8 was Jer's cousin, Matt, who lives over here in Worcester. The boys adore him; he is one seriously fun dude. They especially loved teaching him all about Bungees and playing hours & hours of it with him...even at 6:30 a.m.! (I told you he's cool.)

What if toe nails grew up to your neck?

Owen asked me this the other day. Albeit rather gross, I admit I love thinking about these kind of what ifs and love that Owen is full of silly & weird what ifs lately!

We have been introduced to a new game here, Conkers. And, at the risk of being cheesy, my boys are bonkers for Conkers! You thread a shoelace through a horse chestnut (aka conker) and take turns hitting one anothers' until one breaks. The victor is the one with his conker still on its string. Owen could play and play and play. Here they are in action:

Eleanor Sophia

I'm an aunty all over again! Jon & Rachel's third baby was born yesterday, Eleanor Sophia Hipps...now if only they lived in Jersey instead of New Jersey I'd be getting some serious baby fix in! Welcome Eleanor!

We continue to enjoy the company of Jer's grandparents. Yesterday we drove up to Devil's Dyke and, though it was foggy, it was still quite lovely. After school, they came with to pick up the boys and then joined us at the skatepark where Owen worked on the half pipe. He can now do hop turn as he goes around it...I'm sure there is some technical term for this, but hop turn is going to have to do for now! Walter did some scootering, followed by some playing on the playground...while I enjoyed playing with my new lens! (it's amazing!)

the 'hop turn'

Mom, your hood is on backwards.

This is what Walter told me today as we walked out the door. I was wearing a cowl neck sweater.

Round 6 of guests arrived Saturday! Jeremy's grandparents, Donna and Bruce are here after an emergency root canal for Donna had us wondering if they would make it. Thankfully, it went well and she was still able to travel the day after her surgery.

Yesterday we took them into the Lanes of Brighton and they asked the boys to choose their favorite restaurant to go to. We ended up at Donatello's and both boys cleaned their plates and ate dessert. (Jer & I might have, too!)

They were kind enough to bring a few things from home for us, and their muscles were built up from all the weight. Jer had a new driver delivered, we both have been missing our VitaMix terribly, and I had a new lens (!) delivered to them...all of which they carried over here for us! We need to buy a massive transformer to make our VitaMix work here, but it will be so worth it to start our day with green smoothies once again. Jer is itching to get out to the range and test his driver. I have been playing with my new lens and am so happy to be taking a photography class beginning this January because this lens is definitely more advanced than I am when it comes to taking photos. I feel like I used to be pretty good at taking photos and since I've put that new amazing lens on...my skill has gone way, way, WAY down. In time, in time...