Bevan family trip

It was wonderful to have my parents here.  I had asked them to wait so that our visits would be more spread out (I couldn't handle 6 months apart), so this was their first time over here.  I think I underestimated how much it would help for them to see where we live, what we do, where we go.  Facetime is fabulous, but now they can put everything into context.  Now when I tell them I'm exhausted because I had to walk home in the rain, from the library, carrying groceries, they understand why:).

We had a great time and visited our favorite places in Norwich, Cambridge and London.  They even got to experience true England weather...cold and wet:).  Here are a few pictures, but I still have a ton from my phone to upload.

P insisted on bringing his cowboy hat to the train station.

the 'train park'

teaching gram gram how to hike the imaginary ball

insisting that g-dawg needed to be tackled to the ground:)

the castle

we even went to the cathedral for the first time (embarrassing because it is less than 100 yards from our house)

and P had another birthday party (we were going to london the next day so I didn't even make a cake...poor kid)

Cambridge

London!

Ben's cookies in Covent Garden...maybe the best cookies I've ever had...seriously

this is a terrible picture, but I had to capture the moment somehow...P was so enthralled with this street performer juggling a chain saw that he sat there for 45 minutes until he was finished...

Love them!

I PASSED!!!!!

I passed, I passed, I passed!!! Wahoo!! I can drive again and I'm just a tad excited:).

protecting myself

As most of my friends know, I am an emotional person... I cry while reading books and watching Kodak commercials (heck, I even cried during the 'I wipe my own ass' part of Big Daddy), but I have learned to protect myself during goodbyes (I have actually had people comment more than once on how I handle them).

Saying goodbye to our families and friends when they leave is always hard.  We are on such a high waiting for them to come and then when they get here that it is almost a shock when it is time for them to leave.   I almost feel like I can't react and I don't know what to say or do.  To be honest, I think I am partly protecting myself and partly protecting them.  I guess I think that if I cry, they will cry, then I will cry harder.  I know that it is stupid, but it is the only way I know how to handle it.

Poor Brady, because of this, I usually end up breaking down about something stupid (like how I hate that he puts salt on his pizza and I'm going to end up a young widow....this actually happened).  Anyway, we are so blessed to have had our friends and family come and see us and I am so grateful for the time we spend with them.   Oh, and just in case you are wondering...I am always so, so sad to see you go...I'm just protecting myself.

Every little bit helps

Ok, yes, I know that Parker's crazy obsession with the 2003 'stand up for the champions' video had nothing to do with the wildcats win over OU last night...but it couldn't have hurt, right?

Needless to say, we were pretty excited this morning watching the game on the iPad in our hotel room.

Good for a wildcat...touchdown!!!

Woo Hoo!

They made it!! We are so happy!! Oh, and yes, Parker is wearing socks on his hands again...crazy kid...:)

Thank goodness

Ugh, I hate being sick, but I am betting that Brady and Parker hate it almost more...my incessant coughing has meant that no one is sleeping. Luckily, I think I am on the tail end of this crud. My parents will be here in three days so I am willing myself to get better.

Thank goodness I have these two take care of me and take it easy on me when I don't feel well. They are pretty great:).

Ok Collin

Here is an example of how our conversations have progressed this week...
Me: 'Parker you need to go wash your hands please.'
P: 'I'm Collin Klein.'
Me: 'ok...Collin Klein can you please go wash your hands.'
P: 'sure receiver'

I've tried to at least get him to call me Chris Harper but it hasn't stuck yet:).

the beach!!

Parker loves the beach, and when earlier this week he told me, 'mommy, I want to go to the beach and sit in the sunshine and have a picnic,'  we couldn't resist.  Plus, we have had AMAZING weather and needed to take advantage before rainy, cold fall comes.  We decided to try a new seaside village and drove to Wells-next-the-Sea (seriously).  It was an adorable village...and as a bonus, the pirate festival happened to be going on this weekend (again, I'm serious). We had a great day, but didn't stay long so that we could be home in time to watch the KSU game live (wahoo).     

I tried to take a picture of some of the pirates, but I was afraid they would be offended so it was a quick shot.

twins!

sometimes carrying a 'sack of parker' is just the easiest way to get from A to B.

P had so much fun in the water!!  We were just excited that it was warm enough...like 75 degrees:)