So much....

..... to talk about.
I don't feel like it however.
I want to post pics but lost my camera cable (it is somewhere in the basement last seen around Thanksgiving!) and don't want to write anymore posts without pictures! I have so many that I want to share.

I didn't write about my second weekend in Carlisle.

I didn't write about getting shortlisted for interview at Teesside (I don't have pics for this one though!)

I didn't write about the snow.

Or the snow candy that Kerry next door made.

I didn't write about my Peyton Manning signed football.......

I guess you will all just have to wait!

Christmas

So. that time of year is upon us again.
I tell you, Thanksgiving here throws you for a loop because everything is geared up to that holiday and then all of a sudden Christmas is next week.

My parents are coming to see me. They are actually travelling over on Christmas Day (although I won't see them until the next day most probably). Nevertheless, I feel more homesick this year than I did last year. Maybe that is because this time last year Beth and my Mum were here. Or maybe it is because it has hit me that I didn't have Christmas at home last year either.

Who knows!

Here are the things that I am going to miss the most (in no particular order!):

1) The Marks and Sparks trimmings. I don't eat the turkey but I LOVE the trimmings!

2) The best roast potatoes EVER (my Mum is a genius).

3) The dog getting excited about opening presents even if they are not hers. She is very funny. She won't go and open them herself but she will help out, especially if it squeaks or smells like beef! Then she'll get excited about opening ANY presents!

4) The Santa sack that my Mum made for me when I was younger (I told you my Mum is a genius, right?)

5) The way we open our presents throughout the day not just all at once in the morning. Even at 7pm we have a couple of pressies each left under the tree.

6) Carolling with the GREBC lot. I love it! I miss Christmas carols. Somehow I missed out on singing ANY last year. I hope this year isn't the same! And what is this about Jonathan teaching parts to the carols?? When I am not there??

7) Beth. Well, I actually never see her at Christmas. I just miss her. She is the best best friend in the world!

I'm sure I will come up with more things that I miss as the week goes on.

Mum and Dad, I can't wait to see you!

My Week

On Sunday I decided to polish my shoes five minutes before having to leave the house. In my Sunday Best clothes.

Yes. I am that clever.

Shoe polish went everywhere. I had to change.

On Wednesday I lost the first sheet of my UCAS personal statement that I needed to type up. I blitzed my room to find it. I didn't. I rewrote it. I found it.

Yes. I am that clever.

I found it right beside my left foot.

On Friday evening I stepped on a needle.

Yes. I am that clever.

It hurt. A LOT.


Actually, all these little anecdotes include feet (or things that go on feet) in one way or another. At least I was clever enough to work that out.

The Writings of a Six Year Old

I am clearly extremely behind on my posting! These pics have been up on Facebook for a while so no doubt most of you will have seen them.
This is Michella's first foray into the world of writing......
Her first book goes as follows and it is a semi autobiographical work:

Michella is bad.

Sorry, Mom.
I didn't mean it.

Please note that she did put a full stop at the end of that sentence. So very proud!!

The second is a work of fiction (just kidding):

Michella is good today.

I was!

I am also planning to post a song that Julianna wrote about Valentines Day..... interesting topic for a then 9 year old!

Little Knitters

I recently got back into knitting. I hadn't done it for a while but now I am very much loving it (in fact, don't be surprised if you get a knitted gift for Christmas..... Beth, I am working on yours right now!!). The girls were very interested in the knitting and so I got Julianna a knitting kit for her birthday. Last week the girls had vacation for the Thanksgiving holiday so I sat down and taught them how to knit. Even Alex had a go, although it took me a while to persuade her. They all did very well, particularly Michella. I wasn't terribly surprised. She took to cross-stitch very well last year while Julianna struggled with it. Julianna also did very well with the knitting and she had much less help from me than Michella did. Michella was getting very frustrated that we weren't actually making a particular item at that point and were just practicing. She didn't quite get that we weren't making a cabled sweater yet. There is something called walking before you run, Michella!
Anyway, it was a lot of fun!