Introducing the new love of my life.....

I am feeling a little melancholy today. There are so many reasons why I miss living at home. Home to me will always be England. I left to go travelling after university and am so glad I did. Not everyone gets to experience the world before settling down. But I think I always thought in the back of my mind that someday I would wind up back there.....with the people that mean so much to me.

Through the path my life took though here I am living in Florida. Just for now - I used to think. But with more certainty America, for the distant future. Not my choice but certainly a more manageable one than a year ago. So why am I sat here staring at my computer not working and dreaming about "home"....

Archie Beaumont.

He is the most adorable baby, that should I still be living in the UK I would undoubtedly be spending much of my spare time cooing over. One of my oldest and dearest friends Mandy gave birth to her and Noels first baby. It was their wedding we went to last time we were home. I feel like I am missing out on being the best Aunty ever and wish I could just hold him and kiss his head, and whisper in his ear about all the mischief we will get into!

In the past when I have been home I felt a little out of place as everyone elses lives had evolved without me. And in return they too knew very little of my everyday goings on. Its a weird feeling to be a visitor where you were once so rooted. Thank goodness we live in the age of email, webcams and Skype. I will be setting up my skype account this weekend - and hope to watch Archie, and any other little ones that may appear, grow up.

See you in September Archie!

Lily Kai's 4th Birthday!

For all of those that remembered Lily's birthday a big THANK YOU! If you haven't heard back from us yet it really is because we are waiting until Saturday. Lily is having her pirate party on the 4th and so yesterday she didn't really get that it was her birthday.

In the morning when I told her she just asked me,
"If it is my birthday where are the balloons, where is the pirate cake, and where are the people!"

So she came in to have lunch with us in the office, Terry brought her some balloons and we had a little cake!

When Mike showed up in the evening I think she had begun to feel a little more "birthday girl" but I will make sure she touches base with everyone on Saturday!!

Lily and Max

Lily has a new best friend - Max. He is her age and this year they will both be in Pre-K4 together. Since meeting a few months ago they have been inseparable and have been attending summer camp together. Moira his mum lives one street over from Sandy so I really don't know why it took us so long to meet, especially when so many of our friends are the same, and Mike has known Max's dad Charles for years!

Both being only children they really seem to have bonded very strongly with each other, first introducing themselves to others as best friends, then cousins...... and more recently brother and sister. Its hard for us to explain to the new school that they are actually not related in the slightest, especially as they each have an English parent!

Lily went last week for a summer visit to Gram and Papas in Okeechobee. I dropped her off on the Saturday and by Monday had a phone call letting me know how upset Max was that Lily didn't take him to Grandmas!?!

So on the next Saturday when Kelly and I drove to get her, we took Max along as a surprise! I wish I had captured Lily's face when she saw him, it was priceless. We joined them at a Rodeo (check out Gram and Papas blog for more info on that), which the kids just loved. They each got little lassos to practise with....... and I am still not quite sure how me made it home in the car in one piece. "Not around her neck Max....!" is still ringing in my ears!