Grandma Melrose arrives

Hi All

Marion arrived safe and sound and we have been busy over her first few days. Friday we went to the North Pole. Well actually it was Colorado Springs and Santa's Workshop. We had a brilliant time and I will take the children again. Santa was very believable and it was handy to hear that Jacob wants a Star Wars game for Christmas and Abi asked for shoes! We left as it started snowing and had a very slow drive back home. I only skidded as we turned into our road narrowly avoiding a wall! I was driving our 'new' people carrier (minivan for those Americans reading this). I love it, Allen's not keen.

Jacob came home from school with a Gingerbread house that he made with his study buddy - see photo. He's gradually been eating it! Also found out at the hospital that he's definitely allergic to eggs so we'll have to be a bit more careful with what he eats. His lung capacity has improved 300% though so his inhalers are doing the job. Next appointment for him is 7th January (eyes). Abi's fine, well apart for the let me do it, don't touch me etc.....

Saturday was the Nutcracker. It was a good performance. Only 45mins each half. At half time Jacob and Abi twirled all over the place (see photo). They both lasted very well although Abi went out 10 mins before the end as she needed the loo. So our first ballet show went down very well with everyone.

Sunday it was food shopping for taking up to Breckenridge and last minute presents. We also had 2 Christmas parties to go to. Allen and I went to one on our own which was nice and then we all went to a school one. Very successful and a nice started to the holiday.

Got to now pack the Ford up with presents, clothes, food and the tree to take up to the lodge for the week. We're taking Jacob and Abi skiing later and Marion's sorting the lodge out! Will be skiing on Christmas morning and then enjoying a huge ham plus all the trimmings.

I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and fun New Year

Rachael.

Super Skiers!

Well from the title you can probably guess what our weekend was all about! We went to Arapahoe Basin on Saturday afternoon and Jacob and Abi had a 2 and a half hour lesson. There were only three of them in their group so they got lots of tuition. Allen and I went off and skied. It got a little cold and I actually bought a nose mask as I thought I was about to get frost bite. It was warmer where the children were but when I went and got them they were cold and had had enough. Afternoon lessons may not be a good idea in the future as they were too tired. However it didn't put them off and today we skied at Breckenridge. We'd booked a private lesson with someone off of Craigslist. I then started worrying that he could be a kidnapper or child molester so had decided I was going to stay with them the whole lesson. It didn't matter as he wanted me there anyway! Jacob listened and learned, Abi was having none of it and wouldn't let anyone touch her! So after three hours Jacob was turning and snow ploughing like a pro, Abi was a demon straight down the hill and sod anyone who got in her way! The only way she'd stop was by falling over and that was only if someone was in the way. Not sure what we're going to do with her so any suggestions would be appreciated. We stayed the Saturday night in a house belonging to someone through Allen's work. It was great, 4 bedrooms and very cosy. Even better that it was free. So we hope to go lots more. We've booked Greg (the private ski instructor) for 2 more half days while we're up next week so are hoping that Jacob will then be skiing anywhere and I'm not quite sure about my darling Abi! You should have seen me shouting as she was heading for a tree! As you will see from the photos she is wearing a helmet.
No other news. Very busy over the next couple of weeks so I should have a variety of photos to post. Marion arrives Thursday and we're getting her busy straight away with a visit to Santa Land (or something like that) down at Colorado Springs. Jacob and Abi are very excited over meeting Santa so I hope he's good. Last year they met him in a small Forest in Melrose that was very believable so this one will hopefully be as good.
Have a festive and fun time
Rachael.

First Sledging!

Hi All
Have just returned from our local park after a morning of sledging (Carrie you may recognise it). Everyone had a great time. Allen is now clearing our driveway and the children are playing out the front. We had a bout 4 inches of snow over the last 24 hours and it's just lovely in the sunshine for playing. Not sure how good it'll be to make a snowman but I'll find out after lunch!
Had a busy week at school as I've been helping with the book fair. Hopefully made lots of money/books for school. Also went to a fund raising Casino night which was good fun.
Christmas dos start this week with a wives one and British one. Will go weather dependent. Definitely going skiing next weekend and are booking the children into lessons Saturday and Sunday so we'll see how it goes.
Jacob's off for his asthma clinic this week, all seems fine with him. Had his first semester report card and he's doing brilliantly. He knows all his numbers to 100 and all his letters. I have had no part in this! He's getting on well with his Spanish and is so enthusiastic about school. I am really not looking forward to the 3 months off over the summer as Jacob moans when it's Saturday! Abi's being good at school too.
Hope all's well with everyone
Rachael.

Christmas is coming!

Hi All
Well we put up our Christmas decorations today and I bet you wouldn't be able to guess who was the most excited? Jacob and Abi helped for about 30 mins and then reverted to playing with long lost toys that had to be moved to allow the tree to be put up. Allen hoovered and then disappeared upstairs with the children. I then had a lovely couple of hours sorting everything out. I will post a picture next week in front of the tree. Have to get lots of photos of Jacob prior to Christmas as after this weeks visit to the dentist,where he informed me that Jacob will be loosing all his front teeth by Christmas, it won't be a pretty sight! I thought this happened around 6 but apparently not. Got all the lights up too so we're looking rather festive. Most of our street have put lights up too so we have reindeer, santas, snowmen and some tasteful lights too!
There's a photo of Jacob and Abi doing snow angels on our driveway before school one day this week. Not loads of snow but enough to play in. The mountains had a foot yesterday. Still haven't managed to get up to ski but maybe next weekend. Did go and get Jacob more snow trousers and boots today and Abi a new ski jacket.
Also a photo from a recent visit to the zoo in the snake part - very impressive. You may notice Abi has a new hair cut. She sat beautifully for the cut. At the dentist she was an angel and actually enjoyed it - mad girl. Jacob however howled his way through the appointment.
Busy week with a school fundraiser - Casino night, plus book fair too.
Hope all's well with everyone
Rachael.

UK visit Nov 07

Hi
Have just returned from the UK on a nightmare flight with Abi. The trip was good but coming home took a little longer due to problems at Heathrow. We sat for 2 hours on the plane before take off. Abi, by which point, had had enough as had the rest of us! Luckily she fell asleep before Allen threw her off the plane. Anyway we were on that plane for 12 hours. (you would have loved it Ceri!)No bumpiness so I was OK.
The UK visit was great. Nanny's funeral was full of great memories and I learnt a few things about her that I didn't know.(She'd once met Charlie Chaplin.) Jacob and Abi had a great time with their cousins and Grandparents. Allen's mum came down from Scotland so it was good to catch up with her - photo at the station. She's out here on the 20th Dec which everyone is looking forward to. It was my sister's 40th while we were back which was a bit over shadowed really. We did go to the pub for lunch though - see photo. We also managed to catch up with local friends and there's a photo of Jacob and Abi in dress up stuff with friends William and Isobel.
Thought we'd visit again in the summer but we're going to wait and see what devil child is like before we book.
Arrived back to snow in Denver. Thought about going skiing this weekend but checked the weather and it's minus 25 centigrade in Breckenridge at the moment so I think we'll wait for a bit longer!
Hope everyone's well
Rachael.

Jacob's 5th Birthday

Jacob's Birthday weekend was a great success even though we did have a few language issues with the Mc Donald's staff! We started the day with present opening - lots from the UK so thank you to all those people who got them here on time. He loved walking in and seeing them all piled on the table (see photo). My mum and dad used to always do that and it was something I looked forward to every year. He wasted no time demolishing the pile, letting Abi help too. We got him a Spiderman scooter which has been well ridden by both of them - we know what to get Abi for Christmas! After a bit of a play, with most things, it was swimming lesson time. They both enjoyed the lesson, neither listening much and doing their own thing! We had a quick stop for cake at the cafe on the way home and then Jacob and Daddy got back to building their Batman Lego creation, sent from Grandma Melrose. Jacob has wanted this set since his friend George got it when they visited us in DC back in April. Abi and I went and picked up the balloons for his party and then we all set off for Mc Donald's only to find that they had double booked the room and we had to set up in the restaurant. Allen was fuming but it all worked out well and everyone had a brilliant time. The play area was a hit, as was the cake.

We arrived home tired but having to get ready for the neighbours coming round. Did a party tea with a castle cake - see photos. It was much more relaxing with the neighbours, perhaps due to the champagne! They are also very easy going. Jacob really enjoyed his day.

It's been lovely weather today, so after some last minute shopping to take back to the UK and lunch out, we went to Washington Park and took the scooter and bike for a trip around the lake. It was so nice being out in shorts and T shirts, I have a feeling we won't be wearing that this coming week in Hertfordshire!

So am all packed, just snacks for the journey to sort. Hope to see some of you in the UK over the next 10 days. Hope all's well with everyone. Would have been Nanny's 98th Birthday today so Happy Birthday Nanny. I will be raising a glass as soon as I'm done here.

Rachael.

Halloween!

Hi All

Halloween was great fun. It started the day before with a whole school trip to a Fall Festival. I've included a photo of Abi on the pillow bounce. It was a huge inflated pillow. We also enjoyed a corn maze, well it was hot and I had Abi on my shoulders but Jacob enjoyed it! There was a train and hay ride too so a busy day really.

There was a school Halloween party that I helped at. Well, Abi took most of my attention so how much help I gave was debatable! I've included a photo of Jacob doing the candy corn race. If you've never had candy corn it's a sugar hard sweet that Americans seem to love - not sure why!

Halloween night was dry but cold. Luckily Allen went round our close and the next one too with Jacob as a bat, and Abi as a cat. I stayed at Keli's ( a neighbour over the road)and had a drink. They came back with plenty of candy which should last us the month.

Booked Jacob's 5th Birthday party at Mc Donalds. Out here they have big play areas that go with the actual restaurant so there should be plenty to do. He's very excited although Abi is a bit confused as she's picked out a cake too and keeps telling everyone what she wants for her birthday! I think I'll have to find a few things to give her on the day to soften the blow! (Mum's sent something out so that'll be a good start - thank you Mum.)

We're coming back to the UK a week tomorrow (12th Nov). Sadly Nanny died having nearly reached 98 years old. Looking forward to seeing everyone but wish it was for a happier reason.

Will try and blog from the UK but with no broadband in Holwell that could be pushing it! I'll do Jacob's birthday though next week. Back in the US on the 23rd so we'll be missing Thanksgiving.

See some of you soon

Rachael.