Easter 2008

Hi
I haven't managed to do an entry for a while so this one covers a few weeks!

Last weekend we went and saw Nemo on ice. It was an excellent show and we all really enjoyed it. Abi left asking when we could see it again. There's a photo showing Jacob in his Nemo hat and Abi dressed as a beautiful mermaid.

The weather has been very strange here. One day it's t-shirt weather and the next snow trousers. As we thought the sunny days were on their way we went out and bought Jacob and Abi bikes. I put them together, Jacob's taking about an hour and Abi's 20 mins. There's a photo of them on them. Since, we have cycled to the park and they are getting a lot faster. I'm hoping over the summer we'll be able to go on longer cycle rides. Stabilisers are on at the moment but I think, later in the summer, we may be able to start trying without.

There's also a photo of them decorating eggs. We had a fun time doing it with only one egg being dropped. You should notice that Jacob is now Mr Gappy at the front and his other front one is loose too. He seems so young to be loosing them all. Abi's most annoyed that she hasn't lost any and that Jacob is getting money from the tooth fairy and she's not! Jacob's saving his dollars for a matchbox dragon car thing. Abi has a long list of what she wants for her birthday. Unfortunately she's watching adverts on the TV and has some hideous things on the wish list!

The last photo is of our egg hunt this morning. Too much chocolate, but I'm sure Allen and I will help them eat it. Well not the Hershey bits.

Off to Winter Park for 2 days skiing. Jacob's got another eye appointment at the hospital on Wednesday. We have written down lots of questions this time.He had a dermatology appointment this week and had his spots treated again. This time it was not as sore for him and none of the bled like last time so he'll be swimming again soon. Abi's having preschool friends over Thursday and I do my first proper Arbonne party this coming week. Allen's family arrive Friday, not telling the children til Thursday! Have started cleaning and sorting for then. Finally put up blinds in the spare room and set it up ready. We have bought a sofa bed for Cameron and are hoping Finn will sleep in with Jacob and Abi.

So the next photos will include our Scotish family; we're looking forward to spending some time with them all.

Hope everyone's well

Rachael.

A Spring Day

Hi
Well we've been busy as usual. Went skiing last Sunday, Monday and Friday at A Basin, Keystone and Brekenridge respectively. Jacob and Abi are definitely getting more confident and faster. Abi may need another lesson but I think Jacob has it mastered. We had a good time, staying with people from Allen's work at Dillon on Sunday night. They had a lovely puppy, and for me to say that it must have been cute as I hate all animals! Jacob and Abi have now been on and on at me about wanting a dog. My response is that we can't have one until we move back to a country for good. Trouble is they don't really understand that and we don't know when or where that will be.

I've just completed my resume, the American term for CV I think. I'm taking it into Jacob and Abi's school plus another one very close by. I'm hoping for some cover work; we'll see. Also starting my Arbonne business seriously this month so we'll see how that goes. I was tempted to go to Atlanta for the National Training Conference but, in the end, decided not to. My main reason was a bit sad as I wasn't sure I could leave the children for 3 nights.

We had a great Spring day yesterday. Walked to our local park early and the kids played and ran around. Then we took a picnic to a park near Melissa's new house - she moved yesterday. The house is great but it's a reposession and had been empty for a year so it was filthy. I volunteered to clean the bathrooms for her. So I left Jacob, Abi and Allen at the park on a lovely afternoon and went and cleaned the most disgusting bathrooms I have ever set eyes on! Her new house is very different, big, airy and a super back garden. It's in a good location too, so a step up for her on the property ladder and we'll probably spend quite a bit of the summer over there. We came back to our close and the children played out for the rest of the day. The photos are of basketball practice and Abi on roller skates. Some very popular neighbours feature in the photos too. Jacob loves Sam and Sam is very good at letting Jacob join in.

Abi did an assessment at preschool, it was a trial by a local foundation who asked teachers for student volunteers. We were asked for Abi to take part and she loved it. She came out very well. 2 years above for general ability, spot on for letter recognition (good as I've done sod all so far with her) and a year above for problem solving. I think they'll assess her again in a year.

Jacob had treatment at the hospital for his Molescum Contagiousum (thought it sound like a spell from Harry Potter!). The actual treatment didn't hurt but afterwards they all blistered and bled. We weren't warned so I was a bit annoyed at the doctor. It does seem to have removed quite a few though. He has got to go back in 3 weeks, not sure he'll want them touching him though poor boy. Also have an eye appointment this month.

Yesterday it was a lovely 20oc, today it's minus 4 and snowing, what a change! Looking forward to Allen's lot coming out at the end of the month and then Anne, Pete and Emily next month. Allen may be off to Australia too so busy as ever.

Hope all's well
Rachael.