Rock climbing ninja!

Not really...here are some photos of Tom doing his Tuesday night rock climbing - he's pretty strong for such a slim Jim!

 Laura left us last Friday so it has been strange not having her around.  Was talking to my parents yesterday trying to think what it is that I have done this week and couldn't really pinpoint any one big thing.  It has been a whirlwind of gardening at school, cleaning the house, grocery shopping, bike riding, tennis, ferrying the kids to their stuff, trying to sort things out in the UK for upcoming visit, making canapes for a party my neighbour was throwing and the Royal wedding of course!

I woke up at 4:30am to watch the wedding and then went back to sleep for an hour so missed some of the build up but as I was watching the wedding again later with the group of British ladies I have met I wasn't too worried.  It looked amazing and was a time that I really missed the UK.  I am sure you all celebrated in style where ever you were.  The Brit ladies had smoked salmon, scrambled eggs and fizz!

Also, something to mention on that fine day was that is was Rudy's birthday too - four years old although you would not know it with the way he behaves!!!

Here he is with his new toy squirrel and his bone - that he ate in just one day!!!

Last week had been so busy with helping at earth day and I just wanted to share the update photos from that week.  Here is the pledge tree with it's pledge leaves on - see previous blog for the naked tree!!

Also, the boys both entered the recycled hat competition and here are their efforts - Tom won in his class by a landslide so he was pleased -as was Laura who 'helped' him create the hat!!!

Finally a couple of shots of the front garden looking nice and one of a lizard living in my hanging basket. 

Next week I am away with school and I have a busy couple of weeks coming up.  Not long now until we are back for a break so we are all looking forward to that - may your hot weather still be there!!!

I think I can now officially say that my life is busy - not as mad as in the UK but busy enough.  Really enjoying it here and the life balance we have!!

Got to run as need to drop boys to tennis and then go and fill my car with free plants for the garden from the grapevine garden club plant sale.  Going on a garden tour tomorrow with my British friend Noelle.  Looking forward to it!

Take care all and speak soon, Bxxx

Rudy and new friends...

Forgot to post these photos...

Here is Rudy with our new pool lady's dogs - well there is only one in the picture but they are two collie dogs.  Can't remember their names as we have only met them once but I would imagine they will be back tomorrow...

Earth week prep and Laura's arrival...

Last week was pretty busy what with the arrival of Laura, garden club  (32 kids and at times only 2 adults) and earth week preparation.

Steve has been around which has been nice although he still manged to be away on Thursday when Tom did his second grade show all about visiting the zoo.

Here Tom is in his cool looking sunnies!

Laura has been busy pretty much doing nothing - well watching films, sun burning and wrapping acorns for me.  I have been up at school so much this last week that she has been very good and entertained herself.  Mind you as she does not rise from her pit until gone 10am I have been able to do most of what I needed to do before then.

So she (with minimal help from me) has wrapped over 500 acorns which are being given out to the kids to plant.  Steve has built me an enormous paper tree 11 foot high by 9 foot wide. I have cut out over 500 paper leaves which each child will write an environmental pledge.  I will be putting these on the tree on Wednesday of this week but here is the tree unadorned.

I have also been busy helping hang blow up frogs...

And putting up lots of signs...

And just think what goes up...must come down - that will be Friday's job along with judging the recycled hat competition.

We have managed to get out for lunch and dinner a few times with Laura and certainly enjoyed returning to Boi Na Braza (http://www.boinabraza.com/) for William's favourite fillet Mignon!

The weather here is hot and windy which is a good mixture - unless you are Laura sitting outside burning in it - mad woman!

Yesterday was 35 degrees and was so hot I even put the air con on for the evening.  This week we have lots of normal activities planned.  William is starting private tennis lessons today - I ask you and we have rock climbing too for Tom.  Steve is away all this week so I suspect there may be a bit of cheating and eating out!

I have joined a biking group of British ladies and am going out most days with them this week and next week.  I finally got my bike fixed and am very happy on it - it looks brand new after it's complete overhaul.

I have not been on Skype all week last week and suspect this week will be the same.  My apologies to those of you wishing to chat but just to let you know I will be back online next week.

Here are a couple of final photos from Saturday night's sunset...

I will be updating again next week so hope you all have a great week,  Bxxx

Prince William arrives and Tom and I go mad at Legoland...

This week has been busy with things fun!

On Monday I had coffee with Noelle who is the British lady that lives across the creek from me.  She also arranged for me to meet 5 other Brits on Friday morning.  It was great to chat more about the ups and downs of living in Dallas!

On Wednesday of this week I went to the newly opened Legoland Discovery center on a school trip with Tom.  We had a great day together and Tom really enjoyed his experience there.  I also saw my first 4D movies there which was really cool to feel the wind and rain on you in a movie theater.

On Thursday I was at school to watch William perform his wax work presentation on Prince William.  They had to memorise different facts about their chosen subject and then present that to the rest of the school and then to us parents.  Here he is doing his thing!

I went out for lunch after with the Lunch Bunch which is made up of a group of American Mums.  We went to a fantastic place in downtown Grapevine that is run by a French couple - the cakes in there looked amazing - not that I tried one but maybe I will go there sometime with the boys.

I had my first tennis lesson on Wednesday which went quite well I think.  I had started to learn last month but because the gym was shut one week and then because Steve was away I had been unable to do the monthly course so re-started this week.  William has also signed up for piano lessons with a lady up the road.  Unfortunately, though his keyboard died a death just days before he started so we had to go and get him another second hand one.  Tom is also learning rock climbing so all in all we are learning new things here.

On Friday I had a lovely day of having my hair done followed by coffee with the British ladies followed by a meeting with the PTA chair regarding my upcoming role being in charge of the garden at school.  We played our usual family tennis game in the evening and then went and had a lovely Thai meal. 

Saturday was mostly taken up with preparing for a BBQ that we had with our old neighbours from the apartments and our new ones here.  I think we had around 15 people here.  It was great but ended up being a late night as it seems we have met people who can talk more than us - amazing I know!!

Tomorrow Laura arrives so I am looking forward to catching up with her and showing her the sights.  I also have a busy week helping out at school as we prepare for Earth week the week after next and teacher appreciation week this week coming.  After that I will not be sticking my had up to volunteer as I am getting too busy for my liking now!

The OLC (outdoor learning center) is looking amazing and here are some picture of it taken on Saturday morning.

Finally, a new hair style for William - not sure school will like it!