Joci is learning all about Roald Dahl

Jocelyn's topic in school right now is Roald Dahl.  Now, it could just be me, but before I moved to England,  I had no idea who he was.  In England he is a very famous author, and if you're from the states and you haven't heard of him, like me, then when I tell you some of the books he's written, you may be surprised.  Perhaps you've heard of:

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

James and the Giant Peach

Matilda

The Witches

The Fantastic Mr. Fox

Some of his other well known work:

The Twits

George's Marvelous Medicine

The BFG

Esio Trot

Joci has really gotten into the Roald Dahl topic and enjoyed reading the stories at school and making different artwork to accompany the stories.  Her favorite bit, though, was being able to go on a school trip to the Roald Dahl Children's Gallery at the Buckinghamshire County Museum.  There she got to ride in the great glass elevator, go inside the giant peach, ran through the Fantastic Mr. Fox's tunnel, wore fun costumes, made some chocolate in the chocolate factory which they got to eat, and she even got to make a cute mirror with Mr. Twit's beard.  But, Joci's favorite bit was at the beginning when the staff there gave told her to close her eyes and gave her a "whizpopping" dream for later that night.  All afternoon she told us about her day and wondered what her dream would include.  The next morning she recounted, probably for a good 10 minutes her whizpopping dream.

This last Wednesday her class put on a small production telling all that they've learned about Roald Dahl and shared some of their artwork with the parents that attended.  Jocelyn was chosen to show her drawing of one of The Witches, and also to say that "my favorite book is George's Marvelous Medicine because he makes his own medicine".  She also explained that her wizzpopping dream was about fireworks.

To say that I've learned quite a few things through my daughter about Roald Dahl.  If you'd like to know more about him, check out his wikipedia page and then pick up one of his books to share with your children.

Waiting patiently for the other classes to come in.

Telling everyone that her favorite book is George's Marvelous Medicine.

Showing her dream-keeping jar.

Showing me her dream jar.

Showing me her picture of one of the Witches.

Showing me her favorite Roald Dahl book.

Showing me her dream that she keeps inside her dram jar.

 February 6th, 2013

Family Photos

Before we left Arizona we had a quick opportunity for a few family photos.  To be honest, we had kind of put off taking the pictures, day after day seeming to never have the right time.  Then it was time to leave and we suddenly realized that we hadn't taken any good pictures of the kids and my parents together.  I love these photos of them.  They show such a deep, genuine love, so apparent in all their faces.

Grandma and Joci painted their nails the same before we left.

January 2013

Making Cookies with Grandpa

My Dad has always been amazing sharing his love of cooking with Joseph and Jocelyn.  I'm rather envious, actually, as I find it frustrating to have the kids in the kitchen and I wish I didn't.  Whenever Grandpa is in the kitchen and we are at their house, inevitably one or both of the kids is in with him.  This day he decided to make cut out sugar cookies with the kids so they could decorate them later.  Dad even went out to buy sprinkles to decorate the cookies with.

I hope Joe and Joci understand how precious this time with their Grandpa is and how much he really loves them.  I hope they never, ever forget making cookies with Grandpa.

December 2012

Our First Official Snowday!

I've made no secret of the fact that I have been anticipating a really hearty snow here in England.  Living in Arizona I have always wanted to live somewhere that had some snow.  Not necessarily for months on end, but somewhere that it would snow on occasion.  This last weekend was literally a dream come true for me.  It must seem silly to some, to long for something so uncomfortable and inconvenient, but growing up in Arizona where it is always sunny, always mild or hot, it's always the same there.  I've really enjoyed the seasons here.  The way the leaves change and fall, the way the flowers emerge and bloom from their sleepy hibernation, and of course, the way the snow falls in almost utter silence.  I love it.

Last year we did get some snow, though not much.  We got enough to play in it a couple of days, but not really even enough to go sledging in.  This year is definitely different.  Last Monday we got quite a bit of snow but it melted away into a lovely icy mess for the rest of the week.  Then come Friday, it started to snow.  To really snow in earnest.  And our excitement began to build.  Well, at least the kids' and my excitement.  Jon is less than impressed, but let's be real, he grew up in snow, so I understand his reticence with it.

So, Friday.  It snowed long enough and hard enough that the schools closed at 1:30 and the kids and I trudged home, excited as we knew we would be going sledging soon.  We went home and had a lovely dinner and decided to go sledging after everyone else was packing it in for the night.  We headed straight for Telletubby Hill with our sledge dragging behind us in the snow, bundled up like we were trekking through the arctic.

Joseph and Jocelyn's first few trips down the hill were great.  Then, Jon convinced them to ride down on their tummies head first.  Joe went first.  Then Joe crashed head first into a tree and immediately began screaming.  Jon and I were there instantly checking him over.  He was dazed and had a big cut above his ear so we took him down to a family friend who is a doctor and asked him to look Joe over to make sure he was alright.  Then we headed back to the hill, and after Joe's accident Jocelyn was scared to go down the hills again.

We headed home after a few more runs, stopping at the hill in our neighborhood that is a bit smaller than Telletubby Hill and Jocelyn agreed to go down a couple of times, though she wasn't happy about it for sure.

On Saturday we hunkered down in the house, playing games and watching The Big Bang Theory, our new favorite family show.  Not really wanting to go out into the weather and get cold again.  But, enjoying each other's company and having a great chill day.

Today, though, we were back out for a couple of hours and both kids had a great time without any injuries, a definite advantage after Friday's drama.

When we got home today Jon made us all mugs of hot chocolate while he enjoyed a couple of beers that the neighbors brought over this morning as thanks for Jon and Joe shoveling their driveway.  Although, it's snowed so much now that you can barely see where he shoveled.

Now I'm left to wonder that if after all the snow this weekend will there be school tomorrow?  Probably not, as it seems many school have already posted that they are closing for the day, though not ours, not yet.  To say that I would enjoy another snow day with the kids would be a vast understatement.  More sledging and hot chocolate sounds fab to me!

Joe was such a big help to Jon clearing the drive and walkways.

Our little house, all covered in snow.

January 20, 2013

Getting back to normal after our long holiday.

The kids on our way to school today wearing the new coats that Grandma and Grandpa bought them while we were visiting them in Arizona.

Kids both had a great first day back to school after being on holiday for 3 weeks. Even though Joci didn't get to sleep until after 10:30 last night and Joe was awake at just before 4 this morning due to jet lag. I've got a brilliant dinner in the oven, roast beef, roasted veggies, and Yorkshire puddings. Super cozy and warming meal after a cold and grey day. Several loads of laundry done and all put away and items that were brought home mostly put away. After everyone is in bed tonight I have a mountain of photo editing and paperwork to be done. I'm starting to feel like we're back in the swing of things today.

Jocelyn's Homework

So, if you can believe this, Jocelyn's homework during our fall break was to make cookies.  Her teachers provided a recipe which we could use, or we could use our own recipe.  We opted to use a recipe we found in the Moshi Monsters magazine so that we could also submit a few pictures of our finished cookies to the magazine, thus killing two birds with one stone.  Joci had a great time doing her homework this week!

  

 

 

November 4, 2012