We finally seem to be over our jet lag...man did we struggle this time!! In true Dean fashion, he wasn't at all phased that days had suddenly become nights and nights had become days (it's an 8 hour time difference from Seattle to London.) Addie on the other hand (and to be fair, Spike and I) found it extremely difficult to make the shift. For four or five nights we were all up between midnight and four or five AM....NOT NICE! Last night we all slept through though!!! YEAH!!
So now we are ready to welcome 2009....lots to look forward to this year!
And how cute is Addie in her new 2009 gear? My mom got her those super cute stripe-y pants and hoddie and Matt and Trisha (my brother and sister in law) got her that fab little Patagonia fleece. Kathy got her that amazing new bunny (which is actually a bunny....not a bear which she is insisting is a bunny.) She has called the bunny Mia. As of the new year, Addie is NOT taking her "bunny" (really the bear) out of her bed. We decided we spend WAY TOO much time (very tearful anxious time on Addie's part) trying to locate the "bunny". When she gets to playing she just drops it (or stuffs it somewhere) and then when she "needs" it, it's all out panic and crisis. My dad can attest to what a HUGE problem this is (he spent a LOT of time locating it for her.) So we are keeping "the bunny" in one place, but letting her tote around any other cuddly toy she wants. She has Mia, the new bunny from Kathy, and Beatrice the super-cute-corduroy-dress-wearing bunny, a Christmas present from her thoughtful cousins in Minnesota (both Jelly Cat which are the BEST....love the funky outfits and shoes they add!) Hoping the transition from "the bunny" to "a bunny" goes ok!! Her "nu nu" (i.e. pacifier/dummy/soother) are is also staying in her bed....so ready for her to be done with the nunu.
Addie and I started Mother/Toddler swim lessons on Wednesday. She absolutely LOVED IT! She was the star of the morning...jumping into the pool with abandon, laughing and saying "more more" every time she went under water. She is just the right age for it. (I tried it with her when she was just over a year and it was a disaster....she loved the water, but wanted nothing to do with the group activities.) On Tuesdays we are doing a long play session at the Nursery school at Culford (where Dean goes.) It is meant make a smooth transition for pre-school. She is so excited and asks everyday "I'm doing to school Right, OK." (that' sher new thing, "Right, OK" The "OK" said as a confirmation of the "RIGHT"....not as a question....so cute!)
Dean started school on Wednesday. So glad they always go back midweek...this morning he was so tired and ready for the school week to be over. He has to start five days a week now....I am so sad....loved having that extra day with him!! Tomorrow he starts a new term of tennis lessons, which he is so excited about.
I nearly have us all settled back into our routine...but still have some stacks to clear and things to sort. This morning (over a piping hot cup of coffee from Spike's new (awesome) coffee maker) I finally got the last of our Christmas cards opened and read....we had a massive amount of mail waiting for us when we returned. I love all the pictures and letters that come at the holidays...think I will have another go through them this afternoon!
I must run off (literally go for a run) and get my Pencil Lines layout photographed and sent off. Really looking forward to getting back into Pencil Lines and getting ready for all the classes I have coming up.
I will leave you with just a few pictures from our very snowy time in Seattle:
We had another birthday party for Addie on the 27th....so fun to be able to have our family and friends celebrate with her! Every picture from that day has this tongue action....she was so smiley and beyond happy....yet every time the camera came out, so would her tongue...MONKEY!!
We were totally upprepared for snow...and then so snowed in we couldn't get out to buy gear....so the old cotton cloves with bread bags around the hands!!
We built a total of three snowmen...this was Addie's (the above pirate was of course Dean's.)
This was Christmas Day...the snow was nearly waist deep on little Add.
And until I get the rest of the discs uploaded...that's all folks!
XO
Gorgeous photos! I know the snow was a bit of a pain...but it looks such fun!
Posted by: Sue | January 09, 2009 at 14:37
It's so good to have you back hun - I always miss the moving of furniture when you're away - lol! Gorgeous pictures, especially that birthday one of ad's xx
Posted by: Sara | January 09, 2009 at 18:55
I just cannot believe HOW MUCH Miss Addie has grown and how supercute is she??
Happy New Year to you and your family
Posted by: Kim Sonksen | January 09, 2009 at 20:01
Glad you are back posting again as well.... The pics are fab. Looking forward to getting back and catching up.... take care x
Posted by: Amanda | January 10, 2009 at 03:36
wow snow on christmas day how fantastic would that be here! pleased you had a lovely holiday, and settling back to everday life :) x
Posted by: Deanne | January 10, 2009 at 08:27
She is just too cute :-)))
Glad to se you're back and looking forward to seeing new scrapbookig pages from you :-)
Posted by: Maya | January 10, 2009 at 08:56
yay, snow is so fun. was it still snowy here (seattle area) when you came for christmas!! that was a shock! great shots of the snow and the kids :)
Posted by: Aimee Westcott | January 10, 2009 at 18:38
Happy new year girlie!!! Gorgeous pictures again.. (Addie looks so much like you.. it's definitely a mini-you.. hehe) Happy Saturday! XOXO
Posted by: Nancy | January 10, 2009 at 22:21
loving, adire, all these photos, and the birthday photo is a gem! cannot wait to see you scrap it hun. I neeeeed to see you hun, miss you loads. How does thursday sound?
Posted by: anna | January 10, 2009 at 23:04
So good to see photos of your time in Seattle - looks like the best time! Really must email you the Seahawks photos - he chose 14 as his number, whatever that might mean! Talk soon x
Posted by: janine | January 10, 2009 at 23:14
Wonderful photos and I just can't believe how much older Miss Addie looks!
Posted by: Sandie | January 11, 2009 at 22:31
Wonderful pics, her outfit is so sophisticated!
Welcome back on European grounds! ;-)
Posted by: Marlies | January 14, 2009 at 15:58
Hi Annie,
Lovely photos ~ especially love the birthday pic of Addie!
My boys were just talking last night at the dinner table about missing the village school they went to when we lived there! Swimming lessons in Bury St. Edmunds as well.
Don't miss that jet lag though at all!
Have a wonderful day.
Sandy
Posted by: sandy mctier | January 15, 2009 at 13:40
so great to see the little ones enjoy the snow. We travelled a lot to see a little snow and have amber enjoy it.
love the "tongue" picture too.
your entering the "boycot phase" *grin*
Posted by: Mireille | January 17, 2009 at 06:57
love love your photos, so gorgeous !!!
Posted by: kelly | January 18, 2009 at 11:17
Gorgeous photos !!!!!!
Posted by: Peg | January 21, 2009 at 16:22