Macleans Visit Oxford

We had a week-long visit with the Maclean clan.

Some were faster than others, but everyone eventually made it to the center of the Blenheim maze.

Hannah played her first game of chess.

A ride on the Sir Winston Churchill.

 We had our first ice skating experience, and it was so much better than I could have anticipated.

Caleb skated with Flip Flop.

Noah pushed Fish Fingers around. He had a go on his own too.

We all had a lot of fun! Cooper did great with no penguin.

Noah's 7th Birthday

Noah was VERY excited to have all of his grandparents at his birthday party. It was a special day for an amazing little boy.

Working on his Rainbow Road cake

Definitely Noah's craftsmanship - So much fun!

The cake's complete.

Root beer to accompany Noah's sausage dinner

All three boys thought it was amusing to crash the vehicles into their cake and ice cream.

Hannah's first birthday party

Happy Birthday!

Birth of Hannah Elizabeth

11 July 2013.
After walking around Headington until Starbucks opened at 7:30, we reported to the JR Hospital at 8:00. Fast forward a few hours and we're admitted to a room.

The bouncy ball became my friend. Note Nick's computer. He was able to get a good bit of work done while we waited and waited and waited. 

We walked to the main hospital building to pick up lunch and took several strolls outside. Someone finally came to see me in the afternoon and I was induced some time after 3. I felt very calm and in control during most of the labor until the intense agony that came when it was actually time to deliver. I survived.
Little Hannah was born with the cord wrapped around her neck. She also came out quickly and was "shocked" in the words of our midwives. She was limp, blue, and took several minutes to cry.

Big cry! We were so happy to finally hear her. 

She spent several hours in observation but never had to be admitted to the intensive care unit.

Observation

Cuddles with Daddy before he went home just before midnight.

Post-delivery tea and toast

I cleaned up (using a small wash pan as the water in the hospital had been turned off until the following morning for maintenance), gathered my belongings, and was moved to the Maternity Ward.

Here's my little nook in our shared room.

We went home the following day as soon as Hannah and I were cleared. 

New Easter Baskets

I crocheted Easter baskets for the boys using strips of old sheets.

Kung Fu Caleb turns 5!

Caleb's 5th birthday was Easter Sunday, March 31. We celebrated with family and friends on March 30.

Gifts from family were opened in the morning.

Nick checked out Caleb's card from Noah.

Party guests decorated noodle boxes (which also served as favors) and made Chinese paper lanterns.

Caleb's cake - made to order and completed at 3am.

Feathered Friends

Our garden hosts a lot of birdie visitors - Blue Tits, Great Tits, Robins, House Sparrows, Crows and Wood Pigeons, Collared Doves, Blackbirds, and Magpies. Red Kites frequently fly above and Goldfinches pop in on occasion, though they haven't been feeding here. I need to find out what kind of feed our neighbor uses to attract Goldfinches as they're among my favorites.

Here are a few photos of some of our visitors.

Snow Days

The boys were so excited about our first big snow of the season. They ate a quick breakfast and were out by 7:30am.

Wee Snowman

The first snow melted, but then we were pelted by some extreme winter weather.

That second snow stayed around for a while and was eventually washed away by some rain. I was considering putting our snow gear away, BUT yesterday morning we woke up to this:

Happy Birthday, Nick

We had our good friends, Andy and Davinia Young and their 3 girls, over for a birthday meal.

Nick's preparing to sample his special request Whiskey Gateau.

Birthday Morning

Dinner with Noah

Nick suggested we have a private dinner with each of the boys. GREAT IDEA! Noah was up first. He chose our meal and made superb selections. It was such a treat to have focused time with a totally  awesome 6 year old.

Disclaimer: Noah chose Schloer as his special drink. It's a fizzy grape juice (not wine) and really tasty.