rub a dub dub, two crazies in a tub

I have decided that I live with crazy people. Giovanni had a grocery store blue bouncy ball, you know that kind that are always in those towers of bungee cords?! Well today was actually nice enough to go outside. So they were outside playing and accidentally kicked the ball into a thorn bush. When he came inside crying to show me the damage, he noticed that the hole got bigger with some help. We ripped it in two pieces and of course, what better hat than half a broken ball?!
When they took their baths, they thought they looked like swim caps. So here are my two future olympic hopefuls....

my new "desk"

Ok, so I will admit that I am a paper stacker. I get important papers and put them in a stack. I study new topics and put them in a stack. Well, the stack desperately needs to be sorted. I have a ton of space, but no real surface to work on. I decided weeks ago that I needed a new table top to sort things. I wanted it to be large, but easy to store. I thought about a regular folding table, but found this instead. It is a drop leaf table that has a drawer in each side underneath. It is only about ten inches wide when completely closed so can be pushed against a wall or behind a couch. It needs a bit of TLC, but in no way is "another project". I hope this gives me the push to actually sort all my junk.

junk store finds

I go to thrift stores here quite often. They call them "charity shops" because they all donate their proceeds to a different charity. Well, here are some pics of my latest finds. I got two chairs, and an end table all for 5 pounds each.

School Pictures

MY BOYS

SERGIO age 4

GIOVANNI age 6

The boys have to wear uniforms here in England. I think it is GREAT. It has saved many fights in the mornings over what to wear. The schools here have a tradition that when siblings are at the same school, they can take school pictures together. Too cute.

Family Pictures

The picture where we are all dressed in grey was the day before Marc left for Iraq. The picture with me in red is about two weeks after he got home. What a difference a year and a half make...

our "British" kitchen

Our house's original foundation is about 300 years old. It has had two additions and recent remodeling. Luckily for us, our landlord must have seen many American kitchens when he remodeled our kitchen. (Plus he was inspired to make it red and black for ME!) We have a double oven, and a huge eating area by British standards. You must know, this is what sold us on the house. We have a lot of counter space, an island, and our big fridge and the mini fridge that came with the house. Most of our friends here could fit three of their kitchens in ours. Needless to say, we feel really blessed to have such space.

our "sitting room"

Right next to our living/family room, is our sitting room. Keep in mind that neither room is very big and would be better as one but cannot because the wall that supports the stairs is what also divides these two rooms. Anyways, since we have a room, we have to decorate it, right? We inherited a beginner piano for the boys and keep our coat "closet", wardrobe in here.

can't live without him, can't keep the office clean with him

Marc has been out of town for a month. His wonderful Mom came for 2 1/2 weeks to save my sanity. While she was here, I finally got Marc's office cleaned and organized. I was so proud of myself and how clean it was and how Marc has a place for all his military junk. Well, I knew it wouldn't last, but I am still impressed with how fast it was messed up. Mind you, he hasn't even been home a week, and he is still "unpacking."