21 again?

Hi

I had a lovely birthday on Wednesday. It started with Abi bursting through the bedroom door shouting 37 today! Closely followed by Happy Birthday sung by my three favourite people and at lastly a cup of coffee! Jacob and Abi had been to Colour me Mine with Allen and painted some pottery items. Jacob chose a heart shaped box and painted a transformer on the top! Abi chose a handbag shaped money box. Once I'd opened it she hurried off to put her money in it! They were great gifts. I'm getting golf lessons from everyone else so, perhaps, Allen and I can venture out on the golf course together without me trying to knock his head off with the club.

Allen and I dropped the kids at zoo camp and then went out for coffee and cake. I had a crappy magazine to read and spent the next 2 hours enjoying the peace and reading about the Jolie Pitt twins. Having picked up the children we then had a picnic followed by ice cream at a very nice place that makes it's own ice cream on the premises. Later we ordered Chinese Take away and I made raspberry champagne cocktails that were tasty. A relaxing day all in all. The photos are off blowing out the candles and flowers my sister sent - thank you very much Katharine and co.

All's well, Jacob's eyes are healing nicely, we can finally swim on Tuesday. Allen leaves for the UK tomorrow - Saturday. Jacob's in school camp next week and Abi does 2 days at ballet camp. It's a Snow White theme - the only outfit we don't have. She's very excited about it all. Next Saturday me and the children are off to visit Carrie in Page, Arizona. We can't wait to see them all.

Hope everyone's well

Rachael.

Eye Surgery

Hi Everyone

Jacob had his eye surgery today. I took a before and after photo. Allen went down with him to the anaesthetic as I thought I'd cry! The hospital were excellent and did lots of explaining to Jacob and us. I thought Dundee were good when we went in before but this experience was much better. It took longer than we thought for so we were a bit worried but they did call from the OR to tell us things were going fine. All went well, he's now very blood shot in both eyes and a bit swollen but he can see and is merrily watching TV to his hearts content.

Abi turned into a bit of a madam, I'm sure it's due to the extra attention her brother is getting. Off to the lego shop tomorrow to go and get the promised Star Wars lego set Jacob wants as he's been a very good boy so far.

Hope all's well

Rachael.

A summer visit to DC

Hi

We have just returned from our 3 week trip to DC. Allen Had 2 conferences and actually flew to LA for a week while we stayed in DC for the 3 weeks. It was great to see all our old friends. We began with a 2 night stay on our old street - Jane Way. John and Mary, our neighbours on Jane Way, kindly put us up and spoiled us for 2 days. It was the annual BBQ on the street so we managed to catch up with everyone from the street. We then moved to a hotel and had days out with Ceri, Owen, Kathryn, Nicholas, Christopher and Claire. Jacob remembered everyone, Abi was a bit hit and miss! Allen went off to LA and Ceri, me and the children went to Ceri's mum's, or Nana's, for 3 nights. Everyone had a brilliant time. The best bit for the children was the lake and sand. After that we stayed with Kathryn and co for 3 nights. We had a day at Burke Lake park and there's a photo of the troops on the train. After trips out and swimming we retreated for some rest at the next hotel. Allen flew back in and we visited the Air and Space museum out at Dulles. All of us thought it was good fun - there's a photo of me and the children by the Enterprise space shuttle.

We moved to another hotel - very nice as it was in a shopping centre and spent the last week meeting up with old friends in different locations around the area. The final photo is of Jacob, Owen and Abi as Superheroes. It was sad to say goodbye again to everyone but we did have a great holiday. Thank you to all who gave us beds on our trip, I hope to see you in Denver at some point!

Back to a very hot Denver - a record breaking spell of hot weather apparently. Jacob has his eye surgery tomorrow. I am worrying already. Will let you know how it goes. Allen's off to the UK in August for 10 days and again I'm not looking forward to that either!

Hope all's well

Rachael.

Vancouver Island

Hi

I've just downloaded Allen's photos from our holiday to Vancouver Island and Seattle so I'll add some more here. The first one is of us on the ferry out of Seattle. You can see the famous tower in the background. The next one is of the shell collecting on the beach on Vancouver Island. They are now washed and sitting on the front doorstep, not smelling anymore! The final photo is of Jacob and Abi in a play park that was a great hit. Allen even found a swing thing that he went on a few times.

Allen had a good week in the UK. He did a few days of work and then went to Andy's stag weekend. Sounded like they had a great time and nothing too bad happened! Allen missed Fathers Day as he was en route back here that day so we did it the next weekend. Allen also flew straight off to Ohio for a week of work so we were busy with play dates. Jacob had a week of school camp and he loved it. It was mainly older boys there so they were good with him - building lego planes and playing games with him.

This last week they were both in zoo camp. I though it would be a resounding success but little did I know! Jacob and Abi were in the same group and it didn't work at all. In the end I got out of Abi what the problem was and Jacob switched groups. The final 2 days were good. They did lots about the environment and recycling. Great but now Jacob it picking up all the rubbish he finds anywhere to recycle!

Off to DC on the 4th July. Hoping I can update this while we're there as we're there for 3 weeks. Looking forward to seeing everyone. We're staying in Jane Way with Mary and John for our 1st 2 nights and then a hotel for a week. Will be seeing Ceri, Kathryn and Juli too plus their respective families.

Hope all's well

Rachael.

Seattle and Vancouver

Hi

We had a great time away. Flew into Seattle and toured the Downtown area. Went across and back on the ferry ( the one you see in Greys Anatomy). Walked around Pikes Markets and went to the first Starbucks. It was an easy city to negotiate and we could have easily spent more time there. There weather was damp and drizzly - it was like that most of the week but it didn't bother us too much.

Met up with Marion in Vancouver. There's a couple of photos with her. The cruise ship she was going on looked fabulous but unfortunately we couldn't go aboard to see inside. Hope she took lots of photos. Had a lovely evening with her and Lorna and then the following morning too. We saw her off onto the boat - or ferry as Jacob and Abi said! We then left for 3 nights on Vancouver Island - photo of my lot on the ferry. VI is much bigger than I expected - larger than Cyprus. I should have done a bit more research before going. The children loved collecting shells which are now stinking out the laundry room! Didn't see any whales but had a good look round and a relax.

Allen flew off to London and I returned to Denver with the children. Off to the zoo tomorrow and various local activities over the next week or so. Hoping it'll be hot enough for the pool at the weekend as it's very windy at the moment. Our plane was extremely rocky but I kept calm!

Hope everyone's well

Rachael.

Visitors and National Parks

Hi Everyone

I've been inspired to update the blog having received a letter from Wendy (Allen's Aunt)today saying how much she enjoys reading it.

As usual, we've had a busy couple of weeks. Anne, Pete and Emily were here for 2 weeks. I've included a photo of all the children and one of Abi at the children's museum - we went there on one of our outings with Anne & co. They explored Denver and the surrounding area. I took them to all my favourite places - the zoo, shopping, the parks, Breckenridge and they did quite a bit on their own too. Everyone had a great time and the house seemed very empty when they left. Allen was in Australia for a week of their visit but we didn't miss him that much as we were busy with Emily. I looked after her for an afternoon and it's amazing how you forget what one year olds are like. She was very good for me but I was still knackered by the end of it!

The day they left we packed up the car and drove to Utah to meet up with Carrie, Brian, Jake and Annie. We met at Zion National park to camp for one night. Allen and Brian went off and did a longer hike while Carrie, me and the children had a lovely afternoon playing the the stream, doing a short hike, looking for lizards and enjoying riding the bus that did an entire loop of the park. The scenery was amazing but the best bit was catching up with the Sweatlands and seeing the children getting on so well and really loving being outside all the time. The weather was gorgeous. There was even a peak called Jacob so both the Jacob's were very impressed. I've included a photo of all the children in a river - they came out pretty dirty.

On the Sunday we packed up and went to Bryce Canyon, another National Park about 70 miles from Zion. Bryce had very different scenery and I thought it was more impressive than Zion. We stayed in a lodge and the first thing we did was put all the children in the bath! I've included a photo of us with the breath taking Canyon behind and also a shot of Jacob and Allen coming down the Canyon. Allen and I were most impressed as Jacob and Abi made it all the way down and back up again. It was 1.3 miles but very steep in both directions. Again we had a brilliant night with Carrie & co and it was sad to say goodbye on the Monday. I'm hoping to meet up with Carrie a couple of times over the summer.

We've decided to camp at Bryce Canyon at some point during the summer holidays. Have now booked for DC, after driving non stop for 8 hours with the children we have booked flights to DC. We leave here on July 4th and return on July 26th - our 11th Wedding Anniversary. Before that we have a trip to Seattle and Vancouver to look forward to where we are meeting up with Marion.

Jacob had his eye appointment and surgery is booked for 5th August at 7.30am. I'm worrying already. School finishes next week - looking forward to doing lots with the children but 3 months seems like a long time to me.

Hope all's well with you

Rachael.

Abi's 4th Birthday

Hi

I know this is a bit late but, as usual, we've been very busy. Abi had a brilliant 4th birthday. On her actual birthday we went to the zoo and met up with one of her friends and his Dad and that evening the neighbours came around. Everyone had a great time on the trampoline and playing the chocolate game. Abi had her 2nd cake - ballet shoes (1st cake was with the Scottish relatives).

Saturday it was her school friends around for a party. Allen managed to disappear with Jacob to go to soccer and Abi and I prepared for 15 3 and 4 year olds. We had employed our 3 teenage neighbours to come and help for the 2 hours and it was a very good idea. One looked after the craft table, one monitored the trampoline and the other was in charge of the water pistols. So we could actually chat to everyone. We did parcel the parcel and the witches cardigan game - a game I remember my sister doing for me at one of my birthday parties. Both went down brilliantly and everyone left late and happy! Abi had a wonderful time and has had to make 30 thank you cards.

We went to a sci fi convention on the Sunday - very strange but Jacob and Abi loved all the Star Wars things.

Anne, Pete and Emily arrived on Friday so we've been out and about with them. It has been a shock having a one year old around again, you soon forget what it's like! Abi's been very good with her and Emily loves being with my 2. Jacob's not very forgiving though and has had a few trips to the naughty step to remember not to throw and push. He's had another treatment for his skin and I'm hoping only one more will be needed. His important eye appointment is coming up so we'll see what happens then.

Been very busy helping at school and continuing with Arbonne. Allen's been in Australia for a week and we have coped very well. It'll be good to see him on Saturday although we're off out for a meal that night - not sure what time zone he'll be on.

Next trip is camping in Zion with Carrie and co - can't wait, we really miss seeing them. Not sure how the camping will go but I am looking forward to seeing how the children are together and sharing a few beers with Carrie and Brian - and seeing the wonderful scenery of course!

Hope all's well wherever you are

Rachael.