Oh What Fun!

We've enjoyed some fantastic memory-making this past week. It was our first family Christmas completely apart from extended family... so let me start off by saying it wasn't ALL fun :) The sting of distance has been terribly acute over Thanksgiving and now Christmas, and there were some tearful moments - especially while wrapping presents from all the beloved aunts, uncles, and grandparents. I guess I just longed for that mass hysteria of paper flying and children (and my sisters!) screaming. It's strange the things you miss.

So, it wasn't the same. But it was so special. And it WAS fun, praise God!

We started off Christmas week with a VERY special visit from Papa. Work brought my dad into England just for the night and we excitedly packed up the girls on Saturday afternoon and drove to Cambridge to meet him. We just had a couple hours with him, but it was just heavenly - our first familiar face since we left. And to see him with the girls... well, I'll just stop there or I'll be too hysterical to finish this post!

Enjoying the Christmas tree in the hotel lobby

The next day we got to church early for our little angels big debuts. Meg's teacher (and certainly NOT her mother) was able to coerce her into the outfit and all the children participated in the morning worship and telling of the Christmas story. It was really sweet.

Meg's face cracks me up - you wouldn't know it, but this is the friend she LOVES to run around with after Sunday meals!

We spent Monday and Tuesday preparing for the big day and wrapping gifts. Thankfully we had some very willing little helpers.

Meg wrapping her gift to Ellie

Impressive! She did tell Ellie at least 15x what it was, so the surprise was a little muted.

In her enthusiasm, Meg added several more precious "gifts" to the pile

Then, on Christmas Eve we attended local church's Christmas Eve "Crib" service. We knew about the service because the girls and I attend a weekly Toddler Play Group at this church.

The service was very kid-friendly and interactive so we were glad the whole family could participate.

Then it was time for the big Christmas dinner. Since I knew we would be with friends for a meal on Christmas day, we decided to have our special family meal on Christmas Eve. Y'all, I was seriously nervous about it! I have never been in charge of a meal for any major holiday. I have 2 extremely capable mothers who worry about all this! It was so humbling to realize how little I've contributed in the past - I just show up with my kids and pig out!

So, by God's grace we ended up with ham, scalloped potatoes, green beans, deviled eggs and bread - and it was a hit! The crock pot ham was delicious and I've used the left-overs in sandwiches, omelets, and soup.

The spread - the girls excitedly helped arrange it all 

Then we let the girls open one gift.

It's pictures like these that make me realize how much I'm showing!

The girls got sweet PJs from Aunt Shelley and wore them to bed

Our Christmas cards and stockings... a bit of an unfair advantage for Dad, wouldn't you say??

Then came Christmas! And it was really hysterical when we finally went in to get the girls - Ellie said she was still tired and wanted to sleep! Excuse me, what?! Am I really begging my 4 year old to get out of bed on Christmas morning??

We did end up luring them out of bed and had a sweet time opening gifts together.

Daddy got more chocolate from the girls - Cadbury Roses (AKA true confectionary beauty in a tin) to be specific.

We all received far more than we deserve, and know this is a small picture of the gospel we proclaim. After gift opening, we enjoyed a family tradition from both Robert's and my childhood: Christmas Breakfast.

Then we quickly changed and hopped in the car to meet LTS friends for a big Christmas gathering at one student's house just outside of the city.

The girls excited to wear their new boots

Visiting with everyone

A sweet friend willing to take on my two wild monkeys

After visiting, we enjoyed an incredible meal together. The turkey looked like it was straight out of magazine - and it tasted as good as it looked!

After eating we got to take in the countryside around their house.

It was just beautiful.

I asked them if there was anything for free... I mean, uh, for SALE close by :)

It was so special. A very memorable Christmas indeed.

We've spent the last couple days catching up on rest and nursing our colds. Thankfully we have 2 more weeks before Robert has to start back class!

Christmas is the Time for Carols & Colds

... and celebrating the birth of our Savior, of course.

This past weekend we got to enjoy a carol service on Saturday and Sunday night. They were both fantastic and so encouraging.

Getting ready to go downstairs for the carol service

The children had been working on songs for a couple weeks at their Explorer's class, and they performed 2 of them during the service. Ellie excitedly walked forward when it was time, but Meg didn't quite make it to the stage!

Singing "Away in a Manger"

Future UK visitor beware: some of the English melodies are different than the American ones. If you begin "Away in a Manger" on the high note that comes automatically to mind, you will be wrong in an obvious way :)

Then Sunday night we enjoyed another carol service at Chapel. For the "Little Drummer Boy" number the sweet children's director made top hats and drums for several children to march around in.

Our Little Drummer Girls

We arrived early... practiced the song several times... even provided a little candy incentive for keeping the hat on....

And THIS is how Meg walked around the entire church! Hands over her face the entire time - it was priceless!

She later explained: "Daddy, I didn't want anyone to see me."

In other much less interesting news, I have a cold. I think I just got over one, too. Maybe it's back with a vengeance, or maybe I just keep catching a different strand of the cold virus. Whatever the case, I'm pretty pathetic with colds while pregnant - sorely missing my Aleve Cold & Sinus. I love that stuff!

This all became a little more noteworthy when I had the coughing attack of the century in the middle of my prenatal hospital visit. You know when someone is coughing or sneezing in public and it just makes you cringe... you feel sorry for them, but a little more sorry for yourself for being in the same area? Well, those poor people in the waiting room had to hear me compulsively spasm into a red-faced, crying, gasping, coughing mess. It was like that throat tickle spasm thing you have to somehow mentally overcome to stop.

BUT it was all worth it because I got to hear baby's heartbeat at the end of the doctor's appointment! I wasn't expecting it and had a minute of panic when the doctor mentioned it because the girls were with me. Yet somehow the mercy of an early-morning hour+ bus ride with children, delays and downed computers on arrival, 45 potty breaks for little bladders, and surviving a coughing attack somehow gave me a sense that if the worst possible thing happened, God's mercy would be there, too - even if heartbeat wasn't.

The doctor gave the usual warning that it can take a while to find the heartbeat, and I'm telling you AS SOON as she touched the scanner to my stomach that sweet thump-thump came over the speakers. Ellie said it sounded like a horse galloping. Meg said it was weird and she didn't like it :) I said, "It sounds fast!" and the doctor agreed (the girls always had lower heart rates). It made my day.

We're just a week away from Christmas, folks!

Wicked Weekend!

Yes, Robert and I did get to go and see Wicked on Friday night. It was our first night out together in London and to say it was highly anticipated would be an understatement! I was sure somehow we'd get a stomach bug last minute and not get to go.

But go we did, and it was so fun! We left the girls with our friends, Mae & Halbo, and they would later be with Paulo & Paula - date night was a group effort for sure! We're so thankful for trusted, generous friends here at LTS!

We ate a quick dinner at Pret (our quick-serve chain restaurant of choice) and made our way to the theatre. We were a little nervous when we sat down and found binoculars for rent, but we could still see and hear it all really well. And WOW, it was just fantastic. I even shed a few tears during Defying Gravity - not because it's a sad song, but the human voice can just be so beautiful and powerful.

Saturday morning came a little too soon, but Robert still encouraged me to spend some time out, so I went to a coffee shop in town and read for a bit. That afternoon we all headed to the southern part of the city to eat dinner at a friend's house from church.

On the "tuba" as we call it...

I think they're playing our version of "Quiet Mouse" where you try to make the other person laugh. 

We left a little early and took the Underground into the city so we'd have a minute to take a look around on the London Bridge. 

And, yes, we did sing the song... is that bad?? We certainly weren't hoping for the bridge to collapse!

Making our way through the crowds

View of Tower Bridge 

Then we got on an OVERground train to finish our journey. It was fun looking out over the city as we rode by.

View from the train

I'm sure Robert would want me to include this picture of a football stadium we rode by.

Millwall Football Club

Then we made it to Ben's house, which is truly a different part of the same city altogether. Different restaurants and markets - even music playing on the street. Everything felt a little more lively and colorful. The walk to Ben's flat felt like its own little adventure.

I really do think Ben deserves host of the year award for being SO accommodating to our entire family!

He found two aprons for the girls and set them to work making dessert.

Then, while dessert was baking, we feasted on Ben's slow-cooked ribs. I mean, I just wanted to cry eating them... just fall-off-the-bone delectable! He gave me the recipe a few weeks ago when he mentioned he'd started making them... there were like 8,000 steps... he's way out of my league!

In between dinner and dessert, Ben let us go up on his balcony to take in the incredible view over the city. You can see the London Eye from his roof!

We were late getting back so our hero, Robert, ended up carrying passed-out Meg home from the tube station. We opted for knocking out the overdue baths in the morning and dumped those tired cuties in the bed!

Wet hair & church dresses on Sunday morning

We had another fantastic morning at Westminster Chapel and fit in a few family pictures by the Christmas tree.

And... I, of course, cannot forget to mention all the Auburn induced excitement of Saturday night! Robert found a way to watch the AU vs Mizzou game (in the dark in the girls' room while they were sleeping, no less) and woke up to an exciting text in the middle of the night saying the #2 team had lost and Auburn was going to be National Championship bound. I think he smiled in his sleep the rest of the night. WHAT a SEASON!

Robert wearing his Auburn bow-tie to church

And to think... the only blemish of their season was a loss to that wonderful purple and gold team from the bayou...

Our "Bury" Fun Weekend Away

Last weekend we got to go visit our friends in Bury St. Edmunds to go to the Christmas Fayre and celebrate Thanksgiving. It was our first weekend away from London and it was all I was hoping for... plus some.

Robert had a really busy week of class, and we left as soon as we could on Friday when he finished.

Meg slept on the way!

Ellie played Barbies.

We arrived in just a couple hours - so easy!

Soon after arriving, we hopped back in the car to get downtown for the Christmas Fayre. Our favorite baby boy, Wesley, came along.

There are hundreds of vendors of every sort lined up together in the heart of the town centre and all through the abbey grounds.

It was so fun. I think it helped heal my sadness from missing the Peanut Festival this year!

We were all wide-eyed walking around.

I was looking for Christmas wreaths... Robert was looking for... "Robert-y" things...

Me & Meg about to enter the abbey grounds to see more booths

I think these were called Donut Balls... Amazing!

Why, thank you, we're glad to be here!

After perusing all the booths (I did find my wreath!), we headed back to the Jolleys for a Thanksgiving FEAST.

What a spread!

Kristen's cooking tasted like my Mom's in some ways - talk about comfort food!

After thoroughly gorging ourselves, we headed over to the Macintyres who graciously took us in for 2 nights. On Saturday, Robert joined Matthew and Gordon for the day at Presbytery while Kristen and I got to go to an indoor play centre with the kiddos. It was like Chick Fil A x 100 in there!

Fun for all ages!

Trying to "hide" in the ball pit

Huge slide the girls rode about 50 times

Then we headed back to Kristen's for hot chocolate and a movie (or 2...). The girls were utterly devoted to Wesley during our stay!

That night we met up with the boys again back at the Macintyres where Dani made up an incredible English dinner of Bangers (English sausages) & Mash. I think we all had seconds!

On Sunday, we enjoyed a wonderful morning of worship at Bury St. Edmunds Presbyterian Church. There is just so much to love about this gracious and inviting congregation.

Then, somehow still hungry, we had another delicious meal all together before getting back on the road to London.

When we walked back in our door Robert and I looked at each other and said, "It really feels like we're home." And we were! It was so wonderful to have some time away and then come home to the fresh realization of the new home the Lord has given us. Though I've shed some tears missing family over this special time of year, I can clearly see how God hasn't left us stranded. Truly, He's done the opposite by lavishing us with a home and beautiful community to "family" with on this side of the pond.