Category Archives: family

Our first Christmas in Bath

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We moved just a couple of days before Christmas to Bath, England and we able to celebrate the holidays with Nonna (my mum +Teresa Nystrom ) and Zia Zoë (my younger sister +Zoe Nystrom ) at our new place.  It had been a little stressful, but nothing could make our Christmas better than having our family here for the Holidays.  I have not spent a holiday back in Europe with my mum and sister yet, and it was an amazing sense of ‘home’ to break in our life in Bath.  Although my dad could not be here with us in person, he was definitely felt here with us in spirit.  What great memories +Ryan Aherin and I to share to end our 2012.

My family (from L to R): Bonnie, Ryan, Zoë
, Teresa, Ronan, and Maddox)
Making snowflakes on Christmas Eve with roasted chestnuts and mulled cider prepared by my husband. 
After getting their new Arsenal christmas pyjamas, the boys opened the stockings on Christmas morning that Nonna brought for us from the USA.
Maddox asked Father Christmas for a spy kit and looks like he listened!
Nonna brought the boys full Science kits including lab coats!
Ronan ‘trying’ to look sad because it was not a metal detector. But really he was and is still very excited about his Meccano kit.

My husband and I brought back these Roman gladiator sets from our trip to Italy for Father Christmas to bring on Christmas day.  Looks like they can both play ‘Rory’ now. 
We took my mum and sister, Zoë, to the Abbey in Bath on December 27th.
Zia Zoë and my sons lit a candle for my dad on his birthday, who would have been 59 on December 27th.
The view of Bath at night time is equally as beautiful and I loved seeing the water lit up by the lights and bridge under the moonlight.  There were a group of swans that you cannot see in the photo but that added to the ambience of the moment. 
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Lake Trip in Missouri

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Driving into St. Louis 

This week we drove down to Missouri to visit with my husband’s brother and his family.  We spent a little time in their hometown of Springfield, Mo and then four days by the lake in Branson, Mo.  Hands down my favourite moments this have been on the lake.  I love the water and being able to kayak, be on the pontoon,  or just lay out on the water and tan.  The best part was being able to be with my boys and enjoy some well deserved quality time.  I just wish my husband was here to enjoy it with us.

Ronan & Maddox visiting a farm in Springfield, Mo. 
Ronan and I loved kayaking on the lake.  
The boys on the Pontoon. 
Maddox enjoying fishing. 

Love & Family

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‘Love’ poem by Erica Jong taken from the Book of Love.
#photoadaymay #photoadaychallenge #love #poetry
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Black and white dress day just because.
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‘Family': My boys are my world.
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Happy Easter

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I have not fathomed just how big and over the top America celebrates holidays.  Trying to find things to put in the boys’ Easter baskets proved this point to myself. There are lots of eggs, but no ‘baskets’.  There is also not a plethora of plastic green grass, needless Easter toys and egg dying kits.  I love the thought of just buying an Egg and the boys were both excited to get their own egg.  However I did pick up some extra little chocolates, a film, and a few items from the toy section so we can have some new things to do together while they are on Easter Break.

We really wanted to get out of the house today and do something special as a family.  We took the boys over to Chichester to go to the RAF museum.  The boys really enjoyed seeing the planes and it was really nice to do something that reminded me of my dad.  He would have loved going there with us.  I really wish I could have seen what he would be like with my boys experiencing something that was such a huge part of his life and who he was while he was alive. 
We ended up missing the last bus back and got to take a 2 hour nature walk back to where the train station is in town. Though not planned it was very enjoyable.  We got to see two large rabbits in the field as well as many other animals.  After a night of pizza we got our train and headed home. It was a great day to be with our family.
The Easter Bunny left his goodies for the boys. 
Ronan & Maddox with their Easter goodies. 
Ammo.
Engines…
Looking inside.
My three guys with the planes at the RAF museum. 




My kids’ Easter surprises. They do not do baskets in the UK, so I pieced it together from a few various shophttp://t.co/zBNM1u7c


Toured RAF museum in Chichester, took a 2 hr nature walk after missing the last bus, and enjoyed a family dinner before catching train home.

Buona Pasqua a tutti! Happy Easter ♥ xx

Easter Hair Cuts

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I gave my boys fair cuts at work today to get ready for their Easter photos. Afterwards we went to the big playground to run out all their sillys.  We finished with ice cream as we waited for our train ride home.  I am really being spoiled by all this warm weather. I am not looking forward to any wet rainy weather ahead. The boys and I had a great time out and I am really enjoying our extra time together while they are on their Easter break.  

My boys with their new hair cuts for Easter. 
Maddox donned his Batman cape for today’s salon and park outing.  
Carb free pasta made by my husband, Ryan. Paleo meatballs on linguini made from Zucchini. 

Warm Spring weather, picnic at the parks, and spending time with my boys outside. #ilovemylife
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“If a guy does something stupid once, it’s because he’s a guy. But if he does the same stupid thing twice, it’s because of a girl” #TheLorax

Setting the Clocks Back

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We set our clocks forward today and it is going to take some use to being woken up by the sun before my alarm goes off.  The boys cleaned their room so I took them outside for Adventure. Ronan dressed as Indiana Jones. Love the sun as we walk.  The flowers were out in bloom.  We enjoyed a picnic lunch in the park to take use of all the warm sun before we go back to cold weather. 

On another note: When I was stateside, I got so addicted to soda. I would go to the McDonalds drive through in Tucson just to get a large diet doctor pepper no ice, because it was cheaper than getting a small bottle or can. When we got to England we had a few coca colas and fantas, because the recipe here is much different (way fizzier too) and ive always preferred it. But then we just stopped buying it and onlydrinking just spring water, carbonated water, and tea. I broke down recently and bought a soda because i was very thirsty after work and there were no bottle waters left in the machine. I had two sips and threw the bottle out because it was so sweet to me. I’m glad I finally got the caffeine/sugary drinks out of my system and broke the addiction. Now if I can just finalize my addiction to carbs and I can really go all out on Paleo.

Ronan with his lunch in the park. 
Maddox with his lunch in the park. 
Playing at the playground. 
Fun angles with cell phone cameras. 😉 

Setting clocks forward. Not so excited about missing an hour of sleep. Miss Hawaii…we didn’t have to worry about this in summerland.
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Costa barista gave me Raspberry tea instead of plain ice tea. Tastes like candy. Due to my accent, I don’t feel pressing the issue. Gross.