It's been a month since my last post, and I always mean to post more. Somehow, good intentions never last very long. Life always seems to get in the way.
It is now fully and truly summer vacation for me. It first started with our flight to Edinburgh, where we were picked up from a pub and taken on the quick train to Glasgow by our lovely friend Ruth. The first morning was very interesting as we helped Stu take nearly a ton of their new floor board up 2 flights of stairs. Here are some visuals to help you see it...
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| How the boys felt at the end... I felt great! |
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From there we took a train to Newcastle to visit both family and friends. My sister-in-law is looking radiant with 6 weeks to go before her due date, and my family there was welcoming as always. We got to reconnect with several of Paul's old friends and have nice chats - man I love speaking in English all the time!And just in the snap of a finger it was time to go for our real, no work all rest, one week holiday. We joined our friends in Bristol where we packed up the car and headed out to Wales (to a little town I can't pronounce). No more than an hour later, after peek-a-boo with Elisabeth, my favorite little girl, we arrive in our 13th century cottage, and thus began my first real holiday in a long time.
But WAIT! I can hear you all yelling, what about all those trips we see you taking? Aren't THOSE holidays? And my response is pretty simple - it is very rare that I actually take an entire week of holiday that doesn't include family or working online. I am always putting in an hour or two a day, never really having a real rest. But at this lovely little cottage there was no internet and no phone service. So I was forced to (gasp) relax. And it was the most lovely recharge. I spent a ton of time reading napping, eating scones, hiking about, chatting with friends, snuggling with Elisabeth and doing whatever I wanted when I wanted. It was absolute heaven in a bottle. It was only 7 days, but the days seemed long and perfect with sunshine and warmth. I left that nice holiday home rested and ready for my next marathon of visits. Here are a bazillion pictures from our time -
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| I'm soooo responsible! (She wanted it!) |
Chillin in the garden with some cider and Elisabeth, eating watches, playing with daddy and Auntie Liz, napping, what could be better?
Out to eat at a little restaurant on the river, such a happy smiling baby :)
Beautiful views, ice cream, and more napping (at least Elisabeth got to!)
Drinks at the pub that was 50 meters away. It had a gorgeous garden and Elisabeth liked napping in her stroller while the adults drank apple juice.
I spent 2 of the days hiking around these incredible paths that go through pastures, fields, across rivers and meadows, that seem to end abruptly with no warning only to have another one appear. It was a great adventure where I saw many little creatures - horses, peacocks, cows, birds, etc.
Our great friends Anna and Rob came for a BBQ and got some serious cuddle time
These are some cutie pictures I took of Elisabeth - who wouldn't want to steal her?
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| And Elisabeth's beautiful mum, Chloe :) |
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| After a long hike, I refreshed myself with a cider :) |
Look at her go! At the beginning of the week she was just beginning to scooch, by the end she could chase you to the kitchen. That's my girl!
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| I'm not hungry, the dog wanted it! (Such an innocent face...) |
Views of our cottage and gardens - I forgot to take ones from the inside!
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| Sleeping peacefully on our ride back to Bristol |
So we flew out of Bristol on Saturday night, and Sunday morning I was back at Geneva Airport on my way to LA. Everything went smoothly except forgetting my Kindle in the plane. I arrive with my mom carrying sunflowers and my dad, brother, and brother's gf waiting for me. It was very sweet and a good sight after 14+ hours of traveling.
Now I've been in Torrance for a week, and as I expected the time just flew by. I got to spend a lot of time with family - like my little cousins who I love, my parents and my brother. I also go to see many close friends and catch up, hike, see movies, shop, etc. It is always a joy to come home and I am happy that I am able to visit so far away.
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| Celebrating Kristen's 27th bday with tacos! |
Birthday sushi and drinks out mean we had the place to ourselves! What did we do? Play SPEED DARTS! The best (and probably most dangerous) game out there :)
We got to visit my baby cousin Jonathan for his 13th birthday! He grew up so fast! We played big chess....
Grilled out on the new grill - it was delicious...
...and ate cake and made silly faces. I love my cousins!
Now on to Disneyland! Chris maxed out his points and got to level seven on Astro blasters - I nearly did the same at level 6!
Family all together for a Matterhorn picture. We might take a real one in October!
Cars land was GREAT!!
Hiking with dad and Kristen in PV - it was beautiful but really hot!
Spent the last 2 nights spending as much time as possible with everyone, but it is never enough!
