Our journey

Feels so good to not be working at the moment.  Not working has given me time to think of the opportunities that await us when we move to the US.  I cannot wait to find out where we will be going.  I am really hoping to get somewhere on the east coast, preferably the south since a lot of family like there and I am familiar with the area.

On another note, we took the kids to Thursford which is an hour away. There is a place called Santa's magical journey.  It was a walk through place with all kinds of lights and those mechanical things.  They had elves, polar bears, penguins, and snowmen, just to name a few of them.  My 4 year old got a little freaked but was fine once we reached Santa.  Something new I've learned about the UK:  You cannot sit on Santa's lap here!  For me, it's not really the same to get a picture of the kids sitting on a stool in front of Santa near his feet.  O well!  They didn't complain.  They each got a gift at the end.  Cambrya got pink "bricks"  which are blocks to us Americans and Parker got a stuffed bear which was really cute and soft.  It was an overall fun experience!

the finishing touch

I'm just putting the finishing touches on my final paper about Schizophrenia.  I actually enjoyed writing this because it hit so close to home with my brother in law having it.  He celebrated his 21st birthday last week and his mom took him to Vegas.  The whole time he wanted to sneak off and do some kind of drug or attempt to o.d on his meds.  I feel so bad for his mom but feel like something needs to be done to keep him from trying to get "high" all the time.  Through my research though, I have found that it is typical for someone with the disorder to act like that.
Anyways, I think I'm pretty much done Christmas shopping... With the holidays coming up, I'm missing some of my family from home in PA and FL...Last night I sat here doing school work and got a huge craving for a hoagie....not a sub, but an authentic Pennsylvania hoagie from a tiny convenient store called Hillside.  Not much longer and we can enjoy sitting on the porch watching the kids try and catch fireflies : )  I can't wait to go to FL and go out on the boat and go fishing!  Less than 6 months now!!  YAY!  I have forgot what it's like to live in the US!!

Baaaaah Humbug!

I hate to sound like a negative Nancy but this last week has been a rough one!  It seems like we're hit with one thing after another these days!  A few days ago, I woke up and couldn't see out of my eye and was very sensitive to any light and it hurt to look an anything for more than a few minutes!  I called the doctor and they said it was simply conjunctivitis.  What!?  No one I know has or has had pink eye!  Don't you get it from poop particles??  I am a compulsive hand washer and my cracked hands prove that.  Apparently, it is from an allergy from make up.  It's kinda sad because I have been using the same stuff for a while now : (
My daughter is better though and my husband and myself tried to round the kiddos up for some Christmas pics and neither of them were having it!  My daughter said flat out no and my son hated, I mean HATED the outfit I put him in!
On a good note, I put in my notice at work.  It means less money but more time to spend with my family and more time for school work!
Here's on of the best pics I got on "picture day!" LOL

http://s23.photobucket.com/albums/b381/ashly_ladawn/?action=view&current=IMG_1044.jpg

'tis the season

SICKNESS!!!  BLEH!  It's been one thing after another with my daughter these days.  She has had a fever for 5 days now and I have taken her to the doctor and apparently it's a virus that is going around.  Last year, she woke up on Christmas morning and took a quick look at the tree and went back to bed.  I'm hoping we're getting the sickness out of the way before Christmas this year.  At least daddy is home for this one and it will be our first on as a family of 4! yay!
On a better note, we got all of our Christmas decorations up and the house feels so warm and cozy! 

6 weeks in a nutshell

The past six weeks have been completely overwhelming but influential at the same time.  For my research paper, I decided to do it on Schizophrenia.  I decided to go with this topic because it is one that I would like to know more about and show that there is hope with the disorder.  My brother in law suffers on a daily basis and wasn't diagnosed with it until he was 19.  My husband has seen first hand what it can do to someone and it breaks his and his family's hearts.
I am finding it hard to find the time to put my all into my school work lately.  My son is pretty soon going to be a toddler and he is into everything.  This week has been a particularly rough one too.  My daughter was in the ER on Friday for 3 hours because of a very bad stomach bug. On top of it, I have had to work this weekend and things aren't going too well there right now because of this girl that is trying to make my life harder.  She has been saying not so nice things to other people about me like I don't carry myself well.  I'm a frickin' cook!  I'm not supposed to dress up for work.  I take very good care of myself and my family!  She thinks she is still in high school I guess.  I will be off work for 4 days after today and I am so ready for it.  I can't wait for Thanksgiving. 
I feel like I have a heavy work load and can't wake up for the seminars because they are too late for this Englander.  I can't get up at 3am and then be up with my kids at 6.  I wouldn't be able to go back to sleep.
I am going to try and buckle down as much as possible.  I feel like I never get to see my family because when I'm at work, my husband is home and vice versa.  My other time is spent doing school work and cleaning up the house.  I don't want to miss anything and I feel like I am missing out on a lot right now.

Christmas is coming!

The anticipation is killing me!!  I can't wait to smell the smells and see the sights of Christmas.  Thanksgiving is approaching and even that reminds me of Christmas.  This is going to be my son's first Christmas and it will be even more special because my husband will be home. Of the 5 years we have been married, he has only been home for 2 Christmases. 
We have finished shopping for the kids but we haven't bought anything for any one else in the family.  I know what I want to get them, I just don't know when I will be able to with the lack of money.  I hope everyone understands that we don't have a lot of money this year and not be disappointed.  My sisters are particularly spoiled and have a tendency to hurt other people's feelings when it comes to gifts.  O well!  It could be worse!! I still can't wait!!