The Last 2 Weeks - Summed Up

So the last few weeks have been one long hoot. We had the Nate Wilson clan visiting for Thanksgiving - and thus we had NINE children all sleeping in the same room - four of them jet lagged. This actually turned out to be ridiculously easy, considering. The kids had a blast together and basically picked up playing right where they left off this summer. We trooped them all over Oxford and adjoining counties, made them taste mince pies and clotted cream, took Nate and Heather to dinner at Christ Church, cooked a 28 pound Thanksgiving turkey in a miniature oven, drove them past and made them wave at Stonehenge, visited the major Oxford museums, picnicked on the Thames, saw the remaining earthworks of several iron age hill forts, one ruined castle, one cathedral, and one palace. They also metal detected in our pasture and found, among other things, bits of wire, old bolts, a yogurt lid, and half of one Georgian buckle (like the kind the Pilgims wore on their hats.) All in all, a very productive 12 days. They also contributed greatly to the smooth flow of the household. After the first dinner where Brooke had to eat with the Tablespoon (as in, the cooking apparatus) and I had to use the teaspoon, Heather took me straight out and bought 2 large sets of silverware and now I feel downright opulent!

4 weeks later . . .

So as it's turning out, we're terrible at blogging. It's been almost an entire month since anything new as added to this blog - but since only about one and a half people have ever looked at it, this isn't too much of a let down for anyone! But, as an exercise in self discipline, I am now going to commence putting up some new pictures and whatnot.

So Brooke Wilson is here! Hip hip hooray! We picked her up at the airport on Thursday, and she's doing remarkably well and showing no visible signs of jet lag! Today she went with us to St. Ebbe's church, and afterwards we took a picnic and went to The Kilns . . . . CS Lewis's house and property. We hiked up the ridge through the woods (the kids call it Narnia) and had a great time and a gorgeous fall lunch which included baguettes and apples and cheese and mince pies. We're all very excited that it's mince pie season again - and we're planning on making the most of it.

Judah turns 3

Judah turned the big 3 the other night. He received a gun and a knife and a helmet, and was so pleased with them that he couldn't be bothered to taste his cake. He had a piece the next day when the thrill had worn off a bit and he could devote his mind to other things besides mayhem. Condsidering that we have had no toys of any kind in the house for 3 weeks it's hardly a surprise that he was a little dazzled by the prospect of having something to play with!

So here you have it. The Lower Farm House. It is absolutely fantastic, and just what we needed. You can see the huge pasture out past the house where the kids can run around. We are living in what is technically one of the worst neighborhoods of the city (thus the good deal on rent) - but we are just outside the village and can't see anything but fields in all directions. We're close enough to town that Ben can ride his bike into class - although it is a fairly death defying ride with hundreds of students on bikes all stampeding into town as a herd and weaving in and out of buses on ridiculously narrow roads.

The inside of the house is a hoot. It was unfurnished, and basically still is. But our landlord let us look through his barn for old furniture that people have left behind over the years - and that got us a table and some chairs which is very exciting. So far we have one mattress for Ben and me, and cushions on the floor for kids - there are no closets in the house and so far no wardrobes or dressers, so clothes are all in piles on the floor as well. We're hoping to get beds for the kids as soon as possible, and then maybe a couch. We're keeping a close watch on ebay. We did however find a whale of a deal on a piano on ebay - and Ben is going to pick it up today! The trouble with ebay is that when you find the real crazy deals it's almost never on the objects that were first on your priority list! But this piano was a deal we couldn't pass up and we're very excited to have it - now kids can start lessons and I can stop feeling like a delinquent mother for not getting music under their belts!