Category Archives: may

Down with the Flu

So thankful for our neighbour who took our boys to and from school yesterday, as well as today and has offered to have them over for dinner tonight too. Starting to feel better, but taking myself out for a walk to get the last of the sunshine (and vitamin D) before the rain and cold weather comes back tomorrow. Hopefully the last part of this flu, a painful migraine, dissipates soon. Finally having time to catch up on photograph edits to share with you all from the country walk we took on Sunday:


Ronan and Maddox on the start of our walk.  
Of course they were quick to correct us that it was not a ‘hike’ but an ‘adventure!’
Dirt biking hills made fun obstacles to run over.
Or jump over too!
The boys ran through the fields of wild flowers. 
Then picked a whole bunch to fill mummy’s pockets.



 Here are the Instagram shots for today:

‘Valuable': I thought I had lost my photo from the Floating Lantern Festival in Hawaii.
To me out of material possessions photos are the most valuable.
#maycreative #photoadaychallenge
 http://instagr.am/p/LM_SW8okwj/
‘A number': Five 
#photoadaymay #photoadaychallenge #comics
Watching the Bachelorette with a homemade smoothie.@emilygmaynard is my favourite bachelorette. 
http://instagr.am/p/LNGfXNokxx/

Memorial Day

‘The weather today': Here in England and back home in Hawaii
#photoadaymay #weather #photoadaychallenge #Hawaii #England
http://instagr.am/p/LLmHPxIkyt/
Gone but not forgotten': Remembering both my dad, LT. Col Nystrom ret.,
and his father who are both veterans of foreign wars.
#memorial #VFW
http://instagr.am/p/LLrca_ok12/

‘Stars': Hollywood 
#maycreative #Marilyn 
@welovemarilyn @dailymonroe
First thing I have been able to eat all day and it’s 9:25pm.
A no fun day of intense nausea and vomiting.
http://instagr.am/p/LLv2bDok4T/

You have bad days so you know when you have good days.

Woke up with immense nausea and vomiting. Nearly noon and do not feel any better. Husband has had a high fever since last night. Not fun :(

Memorial Day & Country Walk

The Sun is still out and I am very delighted by that fact.  So after spending the morning inside and waiting for Ryan to get back from work we decided it was time lunch.  Refueled and ready to go outside we went on a country walk near our house.  The boys had fun and though they decided it was ‘not hiking’ but ‘an adenture’ it sounds like they enjoyed themselves.  We found lots of pretty plants and flowers and even interesting bugs.  No deer sighting but we did get barked at by a very small dog. I look forward to many more hikes out with the family.  I used to go out on country walks with my dad when I was Ronan’s age, living in England .  We lived on a farm and would go out exploring the lands picking up little things we found along the way and looking for birds from our book. It is really nice reliving our life through our kids and enjoying it together.

The boys and I during our walk.  
Country walk today for a photo outing with the family.
 http://instagr.am/p/LI8Jo2okzL
 
Photo Ryan posted of us on the walk 
Something Sweet': Found these earrings in Arizona and loved them at first sight. 
They are sweet to me. 
#photoadaymay #earrings #photoadaychallenge #birds
‘iPhone or Android': I upgraded to a Galaxy S2 but still use my broken iPhone3Gs for music. 
#maycreative #photoadaychallenge #iphone #Android #Samsung 
It’s a wavy hair kind of day. 
#hair #waves


The boys and I did 2 hrs of Italian today. At dinner we reviewed. Now after a lesson of French my mouth needs a rest. 58 days till our trip.


Just returned from our nature walk.Reminded me of my walks with dad. Love photographing through the trees and using the sun as backlight.


Nature walk with my there guys and my beloved Nikon.


I love smelling like a bounty bar. Yummy scent. Although it makes me crave chocolate. #coconutoil

Instead of using hair ties that can cause breakage, use chopsticks to tie your hair back.

Instead of using hair ties that can cause breakage, use chopsticks to tie your hair back.

Saturday Picnic

The sun was out today and we had a busy Saturday planned.  Though not a school day, we were up at our usual waking hour to get the boys to the school for the open house day.  The children were broken into groups and did a series of games and activities while the parents enjoyed tea, cake, and conversation.  The boys and I left shortly before it was over to meet my husband at the train station and we headed down to Brighton.  Apparently all of London was on our train, because all the cars were very packed and crowded.  We met up with our friend, Annette, whom we rented a room from last summer, and her neighbour and kids.  It was a beautiful afternoon for a picnic and we had a nice spot in the shade. Ryan had made fresh bread from the oven for our sandwiches and I think that was definitely a highlight.  Before we left all the kids got together to play cricket and they even let me catching on the fun. It was a great Saturday and I wish the sun was here to stay for the summer.

Cricket with Ruby, Ronan, Molly, and Maddox.
http://instagr.am/p/LGJBZKok20/
 
My turn at playing Cricket with the kids in the park.
#cricket #Brighton
http://instagr.am/p/LGM9jpok5W/
12 o’clock: Picnic at the park on a warm sunny English day with the family.
#photoadaymay #photoadaychallenge
http://instagr.am/p/LF6cqtIk-C/
Me ‘as a child': Dressing up as Goldilocks and posing with one of my bears.
#maycreative #photoadaychallenge
http://instagr.am/p/LGf67Iok2F/



“Don’t take my silence for confusion…I was just trying to kill you with my mind.” – Sam (Burn Notice) @GroovyBruce

Playing Cricket in the park with Ronan, Ruby, and Molly. Technically I’m watching and Ronan and Ruby are really competitive. So much fun. xx


“Sometimes you make friends and then never see them again.”- Ronan (age 7) “The story of my life, son.” – Bonnie Rose (TCK)


Picnic with the family and friends in Brighton at the park.

Really enjoying the sunny 20°C + weather these past few days. This is my type of climate.

Unusual & Hot

Shout out to my little sister on her 24th birthday today!

‘Hot': The weather has gotten quite hot for English standards.
Had to do away with my black tights/leggings and go bare leg.
#maycreative #photoadaychallenge
http://instagr.am/p/LFWgu7Iky2/

Found two Olympic coins!
 #limited #50pence #Olympics #london2012
http://instagr.am/p/LEMP4Cok_F/
 
‘Unusual': the view outside the backdoor of work…
giant baby climbing across the fence.
#maycreative #photoadaychallenge
http://instagr.am/p/LDunMUok_4/


Buon compleanno mia sorella, Zoe!

Random fact: Today is my half birthday.

Family Fun Fair

Having fun at the Family Fun Fair

After picking the boys up from work we came home to do home work and rest before going out into town.  A family fun fair came for a few days and the boys have been excited about going to the fair since the posters went up.  We started with letting them go into plastic bubbles and walking on water.  We also rode the bumper cars, they rode a car ride, and the boys went down the slides numbers of time.  We had supper at the fair, which consisted of an unhealthy choice of chips and candy floss for dessert.  We had a really fun mummy and boys night out.

Maddox and Ronan in the bubbles going after each other.
Ronan rolling in his bubble.
All smiles!
Walking on water inside plastic bubbles. 
Eating Candy Floss
Sun shining through the trees.  
After going for a ride on the bumper cars. 
‘Something new': a notebook for just 2 quid. #photoadaymay #photoadaychallengehttp://instagr.am/p/LBmXjZok3D/

‘Dinner': Beef burger made with beets, hence the vibrant purple colour. #maycreative #photoadaychallenge http://instagr.am/p/LBmok9ok3U/

Coconut Oil for Pink Eye

Yesterday we tried out natural remedies on Maddox. His eye is not red, pink, or itchy. But the last couple of days he has complained that they hurt. Due to the timing of when he has mentioned it, I assumed it was his way of getting out of eating his dinner. Except that he came home from school yesterday with pink eye looking discharge. Still later last night his eye had not yet turned pink or red, nor was it swollen. So we put some coconut oil on the eye lid itself and a dillution of tea tree oil in hemp oil in a large circle around his eye brown and cheak bone. Maddox asked me, “Do I look like the Target dog?”

Today Maddox’s eye looked as healthy as ever.  I would like to think that the amount of coconut oil Maddox gets in the food we cook at home has helped in the prevention and that the applications on his eye helped to clear the infection entirely.  A friend mentioned that the mixture of coconut oil with breast milk works even better. But being that I am not lactating we went with what we had.  I’ve been telling my clients all about this miracle oil.  I already use it on my hair and to moisturize my skin as well as in our cooking and in our hot drinks.  I was given a recipe for a sunblock, so I look forward to doing that one as well. If you have a great use for coconut oil I would love to hear it! 
‘Music': I quite fancy a pink ukulele. #maycreative #photoadaychallengehttp://instagr.am/p/LBlZqSok2j/
Technology: Sometimes the DS can be a great distraction when needed.
However it’s the first thing I sacrifice when handing out punishments.
#photoadaymay #photoadaychallenge
http://instagr.am/p/LBjoeSok1f/