Monthly Archives: July 2012

Boys getting older and moving up.

My boys left recently with my in-laws to go back to the USA for seven weeks this summer.  I will be joining them after I get back from my trip with my partner to mainland Europe. It will be 11 years since I have been back to my home in Napoli, Italia where I grew up twice for a total of 6 years.  As much as I cannot wait to go back home and that I hope it does not go by too fast, I am really looking forward to seeing my boys again in three weeks.  We have had to be apart in different countries or continents four times over the last seven years, and it does not get easier. Things can be quite loud at home when you are raising two boys, but after about 4 hours of silence it has been too quiet.  I miss them so much.  Going to look back over their last week here in England and highlight the best parts of our time together.

As you might remember we went bowling in May for my 5 year old’s birthday party.  We had a great time and the boys have been wanting to go back ever since.  They got that chance while Bob and Sue were here and the boys got to show off their bowling skills.  Ronan brought his a game and his competitiveness and really showed us up.   Its been crazy to see how much they have been growing up over this year so far.   Both boys have really pushed forward in their reading for one thing. Maddox went from not reading at all in August to now he can read from chapter books. After finishing our latest Harry Potter book, both boys were in need for summer reading.  We used their gift certificates from school to get them some great choice reading about dragons and samurai.  The boys are also moving on up in their groups at bible class over at our church.  This past sunday was their last day until they get in September. Maddox will be moving into Ronan’s class and Ronan will be moving up to the next class.  They are both excited about the move up.  I signed us up for a church retreat for when we get back and I hope they will have fun on the weekend trip.  We saw the baby ducklings on our walk home and the boys were telling me how big they think they will be when we get back.  It has been fun watching them get bigger since our first time finding the babies.  
The last day the boys were here we went to the store so I could get them proper hats for the hot summer awaiting them in the USA where temperatures have been in the 100’s (F).  They look really cute in them, but they look so much older when they wear them. It does not help that I gave them hair cuts before they left for the summer. Ronan maintained his style, but Maddox wanted a big change. He wanted batman shaved into the back of his head. We might try that this summer.  When I asked Maddox what he wanted he said he wanted hair ‘like Ronan’ and when I use my ‘hot thing that makes it straight’.  So we went shorter to help keep his curly hair maintained.  The boy has a lot of hair so I basically took it short on sides and back and on the top I did not really take off any length, just took out a lot of weight.  So hes got a lighter and more trendy look. Which makes him look older.
I let the boys sleep in our room on their last night and it was hard to sleep with listening to them sleep so sweetly next to me.  I even woke up before my alarm set for 0430.  It was hard to get up, but I wanted to make sure I made them a proper breakfast.  The boys were dressed in the outfits I laid out and finished with their breakfast before their Papa even woke up. I definitely take from my dad with getting ready in the morning.  With the extra time I took the boys outside to take some last photos before I see them again. They were so cute for it being so early in the morning.  I think Ronan took it hardest when they drove away, and I basically almost threw up outside for all my neighbours to see after they left.  I think the anxiety just really drove the nausea.  Luckily I ended up feeling better in a few hours. But my heart still hurts. I miss my boys so much.  With having them apart before, I really do not like nor want to have to be apart from them ever again.  3 weeks.  I can do this.  Ronan and Maddox, mummy loves you so way much! 
xx
B.

Bowling with my boys.
#bowling
http://instagr.am/p/NEZMwRIkyU/
Bowling Bros 
#bowling 
My boys just finished reading The Prisoner of Azkaban. Their reward?
Getting to see the film for the first time and Ive promised butterbeer.
#butterbeer #harrypotter #book #read
http://instagr.am/p/M_ZCVLokyd/
My partner and I at dinner tonight.
http://instagr.am/p/NCRzbsokzW/

My boys with their chapter books for Summer reading.
#book #read #summer #dragon #samurai
http://instagr.am/p/NGpmxmIk1U/
Fresh flowers decorate the arch of the church this morning.
#church #lindfield #door #flowers #arch #allsaints
 http://instagr.am/p/NGZuLhok_V
Secret! Today I noticed a filled in stairway in church.
#history #church #lindfield #allsaints #stairs #hidden #secret #arch #old
 http://instagr.am/p/NGkixsokzA/
Peach rose bush in Lindfield 
#rose #peach #roses #lindfield #cloud 
Watching the ducklings after church
#ducks #church #allsaints #lindfield
 http://instagr.am/p/NHvMTcIk3e/
My OCD has paid off. In the process of organizing one giant box of legos
into several easy to categories, we located the missing Sonic Screwdriver.
#sonicscrewdriver #doctorwho #tardis #lego #OCD
http://instagr.am/p/NIyod_ok4l/
Classy. My sons drinking milk from the ‘fancy’ glasses.http://instagr.am/p/NI-Misok7k/
Taught my boys how to wear their new hats from River Island.
#riverisland #hiphop #hat #summer #boys
http://instagr.am/p/NJQjBsokx-/
Ronan. Your smile melts my heart.
#ronan #hat #hiphop #batman #smile
http://instagr.am/p/NJgMJook5I/
Maddox. He looks older with that chocolate mustache.
#hat #maddox #max #hiphop #mustache #costa #son
 http://instagr.am/p/NJgZmfok5P/
Maddox and I painted our nails. He chose rockstar grey
and I chose a matte orange-y pink.
#nails #colour #pink #orange #grey #hands
 http://instagr.am/p/NJ0Q2Bok0L/
Loop plaits
#hair #hairstyle #plaits #braid
http://instagr.am/p/NEsrUqIkwM/
My son twirls his hair when he reads.
#socute #hair #read #book #boy #twirl
 http://instagr.am/p/NJ-_ohIk61/
Last night with my boys at the pub before their flight back to the USA.
#raisingboys #pub #food #dinner #family @ryana_official
 http://instagr.am/p/NMTuJuokwW
My son making sure no one eats his mushrooms. 
Dont worry, Papa doesnt like them. 
#food #mushrooms #pub #son 
Desserts are stressed spelled backwards.
#pub #dessert #food #etonmess
 http://instagr.am/p/NMcgJ0ok12/
Gave Maddox a haircut at midnight. Now we are whispering
stories before we fall asleep. Early flight tomorrow.
#hairstyle #haircut #maddox #max #short
http://instagr.am/p/NM2XdLIk2C/
The boys found one of my necklaces, and since its a rarity
that I wear gold I let Max have it.He looks so grown up.
 #chain #gold #maddox #max #hat #hiphop #boy #son
http://instagr.am/p/NNxPo_Ik2K/
Amazing how awake my boys were at 0500 for a photo op.
Took these right before they left for the airport.
#raisingboys #son #hat #hiphop #shaka #hilife #peace #smile #boy
 http://instagr.am/p/NN0M1QIk2w/
I have never seen so much of my dad (RIP) in Maddox than today.
I wish had photos of him at Maddox age to compare.
#dad #son #grandson #expression #photobooth #genes #maddox #max
 http://instagr.am/p/NOCtTjIk5z/

BONNIE ROSE TWEETS
  • Just awoken from a dream about Dad. He had sent me a care package and it had just arrived in the post. I wish there was mail services between here and Heaven.
  • Second time seeing this film. First time I bawled like a baby in the theatre because De Niro’s character reminds me … http://t.co/6k0fIXm7
  • After beating ME3, going back through the games starting with the first one. http://t.co/Mm0mU3nC @GetGlue #MassEffect
  • Living vicariously through @SethGreen this week while his Instagram feed shows photos from @Comic_Con #SDCC #SDCC2012
  • Finally watched the big episode about Sam Ax’s fate. Michael & Fiona are my favourite tv couple.
  • Boys and I read this last year and found the movie on lovefilm today. We are discussing how cool it would be to live in a tree house. The film makes us miss island life on Hawaii.
  • I love that the Hill’s Whitney Port is a judge this season.
  • Wearing my Deanna Troi shirt to dinner with Magners and @ryanA_official #nextgeneration #startrek #nerd #cidre http://t.co/pAhm88rJ
  • Gearing up for London 2012 by introducing my boys to a film from my childhood. Belly laughs galore!
  • Jessica Biel to play Viper in yhe next Wolverine film…awesome! #wolverine #comics
  • “That’s right, Kenny. The babysitter is dead.” Im pretty sure my sister, Zoë, and I could quote the whole film.
  • Woah it is the Doctor in Lego form at #SDCC #doctorwho #SDCC2012 #cosplay http://t.co/ZKfMiG2n
  • Madonna may be 53, but she does not look a day over 35 @MadonnaWorld #Madonna #MDNAParis #MDNATourhttp://t.co/bHF2KdJZ http://t.co/umJP3QA3
  • ‎4 Reasons I wish I could have gone to ComicCon: @Bourdain @GroovyBruce @sethgreen @mattsmith_dw TY to those who posted pics #SDCC #SDCC2012
  • I have some down time and wanted to shoot. But out of apples and oranges and the store closed 30min ago. :( #selfportraitchallenge2012
  • TKMaxx has a lot of surf wear…a lot of Billabong. Makes me forget Im living in the UK and its raining. #beach #surf #tkmaxx #billabong
  • Found a pink Hello Kitty espresso maker. #hellokitty #espresso #coffee #pink #purple #tkmaxxhttp://t.co/LKtJcoZD
  • It’s not who I am underneath, but what I do that defines me.
  • Photo: Preview of my latest self portrait entitled ‘Orange Crate’. #selfportrait #self #orange #oranges…http://t.co/o2n2hH0J
  • The back of my FIL’s shirt. I miss Haleiwa. #hawaii #haleiwa #shirt #turtle #honu #alohahttp://t.co/pNU3urrn
  • Their suitcase packed, their outfit laid out, & carryon ready. Let my boys sleep in my room. Want to stay up & listen to them sleep. Peace.
  • Just said goodbye to my boys. :( They left with inlaws for 7 wks in the USA. Safe drive & safe flight. Mummy misses u.http://t.co/nAUl6AmJ

The InLaws Visit

My boys have been counting down the days for weeks until their Papa and Mimi come over to England.  The day finally arrived last week and there have been smiles all around.  The first full day the boys got to show them around their school as we went in for the award ceremony.  The boys met me at work on Friday and we went out for smoothies afterwards.  We spent the afternoon painting and played games together.  On Saturday we took the boys to Crawley to see the new Spiderman film and it really exceeded my expectations.  We had our first mexican meal in over a year at a nearby restaurant in the town.  What was really interesting inside were the chandaliers. A few were made from old spoons and one from old bottles.  I posted photos from the below. Sunday the boys and I walked into Lindfield for church.  We got to see the little ducklings and they are just as cute as ever.  Unfortunately the English summer rain caught us in the downpour.  Monday we decided to go see Bodiam castle and there we were greeted by hoards of ducks.  They were quite cute and we had fun feeding them.  Another creature I found was a fuzzy little bat sleeping on the castle wall inside.  It was quite cute.  On the way back we decided to take a detour to the beach in Hastings.  The weather was so cold and it made me miss the warm Hawaiian sun.   We caught up with the rain again on Tuesday, this time in London.  We went to the British museum for most of the day and I think the highlight for me was the Picasso exhibit.  The boys really enjoyed seeing the mummies.  While on the subway we were right next to the actress from Doctor Who (and ER), Alex Kingston, who plays River Song.  No photo unfortunately to share but it was another highlight of the day.  The boys enjoyed playing on the pirate ship at Hyde park while it was not raining.  It has been a good first week.  Just one more week left with the boys before they head over to the US.  I am sure it will go by way too fast. :(

The inlaws surprise the boys at school.

Ronan reads his story to his Papa and Mimi at school.

My boys receiving their awards at the end of the year award ceremony at their school.

2 for 1 smoothies today at 
#gerzoocoffee

Painting with watercolours with my sons. 
#painting #watercolour #watercolor #drawing #art


Afternoon art 
#art #artwork #painting #watercolor #watercolour #girl 

Lost a game of Monopoly to my father-in-law. I traded Mayfair to complete the pink properties…and then landed on both blue properties! 
#monopoly #pink #Mayfair #gamenight 

Strawberry love. 

Bottle chandelier 
#chandelier #light #bottle #decor

I love hugs from my little man.

Spoon chandelier 
#spoon #chandelier #decor


Waiting for the rain to stop and the pub to open for lunch. 
#selfportrait #rain #England

The baby ducklings in Lindfield are getting bigger and are still so very cute. 
#ducks #lindfield #pond


For ‘blood sucking’ creatures of the night they are quite fuzzy and cute. 
#bat #castle

I caught this duck drinking from the dog bowl. 
#duck

I had him eating out of my hand. 

#duck


He is a silly knight named Maxalot.
 #knight #sillyface

At the seaside in Hastings 
#beach

Fish faces with my son Maddox 
#sillyface

Checking out the mummies at the British Museum 
#museum #london #skull

With my sons at the British museum 
#museum #london

Princess Diana Memorial Playground in 
#london #memorial #princess #Diana

BONNIE ROSE TWEETS
  • ‎9 and half hours till their arrival. #inlawshttp://t.co/q2e4eVef
  • Best part of my morning? Finding a 2 pence coin in the hose of my hoover. No wonder it lost suction. Glad its not broken. #firstworldproblem
  • My american father in law is playing chicken with on coming traffic when deciding what lane to drive in here in the UK. :/
  • Clean house and just finished the dishes from supper. Whats a girl to do but kick up her feet with a cup of tea.http://t.co/ZYj1Wcw2
  • Photo: Painting with watercolours with my sons. #painting #watercolour #watercolor #drawing #art (Taken with…http://t.co/uj3g70Xl
  • Photo: Lost a game of Monopoly to my father-in-law. I traded Mayfair to complete the pink properties…and…http://t.co/tsEFelGF
  • Watching Karl in Mexico with the hubs and my father-in-law. Yay for hearty belly laughs.
  • “What Naples is, is a damn beautiful.” – Anthony Bourdain So excited about going back home to bella Napoli this summer!
  • Have focused on pushups lately. Sleeping with my hands behind my head, cant tell if its painful in my chest muscles or feels great #exercise
  • Hoping it is better than the last three, than again Im not a fan of Tobey as Spidey. http://t.co/NfG09PFT @GetGlue #AmazingSpiderMan
  • IDK whats more exciting, the next Bond film, another Batman film with Christian Bale or the newest film in the Bourne Series.
  • I ♥ High tops for guys. Can you suggest brands that make affordable ones in boys sizes? My kids outgrow shoes fast. pic.twitter.com/ZDZhIkIV
  • Going back through the series starting with season I of NCIS
  • Slept on my neck wrong and today my neck progressively keeps getting worse. Hurts to hold my head up. :( #painful
  • My 5 yo went from not reading at all in Aug to tonight where he read from Harry Potter to me. So proud. I ♥ reading HP with my sons. #read
  • What do you call a Frenchman wearing sandals? >>>>>>>>>>Philippe Phillop. #joke
  • Bachelor is Spencer Mathews from Made in Chelsea. Game on.
  • Making faces on the train commute to Londonhttp://t.co/3NDT2lAb
  • Photo: Self portrait in castle by candlelight #selfportrait #castle @thebonnierose http://t.co/U776ROvxhttp://t.co/BX8V1Mrx
  • Just rode on the subway two seats away from Alex Kingston aka River Song #doctorwho
  • Today I sat next to Alex Kingston on the subway, saw a Japanese artifact that looked like a dalek, and spotted this doctor who bank note at the #BritishMuseum #doctorwho #dalek #tardis
  • Woke up from an extended afternoon nap just in time for dinner and a thunderstorm. The rain and thunder sound so beautiful. #rain
  • Just shy of 0430 and watching the sun come up.

Week 2 of July Photo Challenge

I like to take photographs, it is no secret.  My poor kids constantly have a camera in their face every day of their life it seems.  To keep my weekly blog posts from being too photo heavy (as if that would be possible), I am keeping the Photo A Day challenge photos to a separate post.  Here are the Instagram challenge photos for July for the last week:
‘On the Floor': 3am workout 
#day5 #photoadayjuly #workout #music #floor 
‘Chair': 
#ikea #photoadayjuly #day6
‘Garden': outside our flat 
#day7 #photoadayjuly #flower #pink 
‘Lunch': by candlelight at the Witch Inn. 
#day8 #photoadayjuly #candle #lunch 
‘Big': Mirror 
#day9 #photoadayjuly #big #mirror
‘Favourite Colour': PINK! 
#day10 #photoadayjuly #pink #shoes 
Letter: ‘M’ for Maddox 
#day11 #photoadayjuly

Eurocup 2012

Before I touch on football, a big Congratulations to my Lil’ Roro for winning first place in the art competition for Purple Pinky. We are so proud of your accomplishment and seeing that sweet smile when you found out you won just melted my heart. I love you, my little man. xx

 

http://www.purplepinkie.com/ ♥ £1 saves the lives of 2 children ♥

Sometimes this is how I feel.
Maddox showed up with a bowtie for dinner. He requested I call him ‘the Doctor’. Should I have checked to see if he had a Sonic Screwdriver on him? 
#doctorwho #bowtie #kid #dressup 
‘Fun': Palaeontology fun with my son 
#day4 #photoadayjuly #fun #bones #dinosaur 

http://instagr.am/p/Mqi9g9Ik_q/ 

‘Something Soft': My son’s hair 
#day29 #photoadayjune #soft #bw 
Happy 4th of July! 
@welovemarilyn @alwaysmarilynmonroe @bonnierose 
My son won first place for the Purple Pinky Children’s Art Competition 
#charity #art #school #rotaryinternational #purplepinky 
Dip dyed, cut off, and distressed my jeans for new summer shorts. 
#shorts #jeans #dipdye #summer #diy
Mirror crashed and broke into way too many pieces than I have patience for today. http://instagr.am/p/MpvvaZIk-J/
‘Favourite part of your day': Receiving messages from friends & family all over the world. 
#day3 #photoadayjuly #phone #text #message 
My dinner before the game. 
#pizza #eurocup2012 #italia
A new book for my summer reading. 
#summer #read #book #ontheroad #kerovac
Its Game Day. 
#eurocup2012 #italy #italia
Attending the Summer Concert at my boys’ school. 
#school #concert #music #singing #songs


BONNIE ROSE TWEETS
  • The sun has been up since 0400 and its now 0920 and it is currently 22°C. Is it too early for frozen yoghurt?
  • My current dream car is the 1909 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost. She is beautiful. #car #vintage #rollsroyce #silverhttp://t.co/UwYd9qPR
  • You know what night is…its Italy vs Germany. Forza Italia! xx
  • First goal goes to Italy! #eurocup2012 #italy
  • SUPER MARIO!!!!!!! And a yellow card for taking off his shirt! HA #eurocup2012 #italy
  • Photo: Italy vs Germany! #eurocup #italy #shadesofblue #maggio #christian #parody #football #forzaazzurri…http://t.co/bBkgVlMU
  • Buffon ti amo! #eurocup2012
  • Going to not comment in recent game events and instead point out that keeper Buffon looks a lot like actor John Turturro. #eurocup2012
  • I love Di Natale! xx #eurocup2012
  • Italia did it! They go on to play Spain in the finals! #EUROCUP2012
  • Up to episode five of season two. I think Richard, the war vet missing half his face, might be one of my favourite characters because I think the actor does such a great job bringing him to life.
  • Last day of work at salon until September. Just one last unsold appt for cut&style available xx
  • Last appt sold. See you in September. xx
  • Seeing Michael’s heart break as tears rushed to his eyes when he saw Fiona in jail made my own heart ache. When Fiona started crying, I did too. Do I really have to wait two weeks till the next episode?
  • Hulk vs Loki was hilarous.
  • From my boys’room I hear Optimus Prime singing Lady Gaga’s Bad Romance. >>
  • You know you’re a TCK from multi cultural background when your brain instantly blurts out appropriately…http://t.co/7IR52Caz
  • ‎25 super-easy everyday hairstyles for long hairhttp://t.co/NYxIb07h
  • Wising I was at the beach and not cleaning, so my tunes this morning are @jackjohnson & @jasjason_mraz
  • To my Canadian friends, Happy (country I tell English people I’m from) Day.
  • Watching the Eurocup 2012 Finals Italy vs Spain #eurocup2012 #Italy http://t.co/6DOJo9gZ
  • Wish I could watch the game at the pub with @ryanA_official & his friends bc not only am I watching alone but just missed 5min bc of my net.
  • Great. Apparently I missed the goal. Italy catch up! #notamused #eurocup2012
  • Italy it was not our year. :( #eurocup2012
  • “Success has many fathers, failure is an orphan.” Gillian Darmody – Season II, Episode VIII
  • Photo: My son won first place for the Purple Pinky Children’s Art Competition #charity #art #school…http://t.co/R42pxjo0
  • Photo: Third Culture Kids. Artwork by my own little TCK, Ronan (age 7) http://t.co/McS6Uokk
  • My hair seems to be more wavy & less curly the longer it gets. I love the natural waves with a centre part as of late.http://t.co/bkwtb0fy
  • Polio has been the theme today. So blessed to have two healthy kids after watching that heartache.
  • Sometimes Im terrified of my heart; of its constant hunger for whatever it is it wants. The way it stops and starts. #edgarallanpoe #quote
  • Emily and Jef are still my favourite couple.
  • Photo: Self Portrait Challenge 2012 #selfportrait #hairflip #birds #movement #longhair #feathers (Taken with…http://t.co/zCFVWkq3
  • I am eating one bite of my kids’ cookies for every 15 min that they havent finished cleaning their room. It just got real. #parenting #ftw
  • Rocking out to Bon Jovi for my non holiday here in England.
  • Can Nucky Thompson be my Uncle? 😉