Christmas at Glenarm...

I'll be pretty quick with this post...

Took Hazel to the Christmas evening at Glenarm Castle tonight. We went last year and it was the best Christmas celebration. Live manger scene, live reindeer, she gets to see Santa and recieves a really nice present from him, then afterwards we all get a plate of snacks and she gets juice while Daddy and I get mulled wine or tea and coffee.

They added a few things and re-arranged everything, but it was essentially the same and just as wonderful!

Here are a few pics...

Writing Santa a letter...Posting the letter...In Santa's sleigh with Mommy...with Daddy...Snacks and warm food afterwards!

Hazel's first Christmas present for 2009...

A little update....

Brett's contract is up in June of 2010. Hazel and I are moving home in April (hopefully Brett will be, too), and that leaves a short 14 weeks of life here in Northern Ireland once we're home from Christmas.

Due to those facts alone, Brett and I have decided that we won't do a whole lot by way of Presents for Hazel for Christmas. We'll be bringing the bare minimum back from our Holiday trip home, so stuff for the little miss will simply be left there and that's just not fair to her, epecially when she's too little to know whether she's getting much or not.

We decided, as one of her "presents" this year, that it would be fun for her to get a mini-pedicure this morning while I was getting my manicure for the FG Wilson christmas party tonight. It's not something I would normally do for a 2 year old, but it's not an everyday occasion and it's fun everyonce in a while to have a girls day out at the spa.

She's just thrilled about everything. "Sparkwie pink, mama." We had to show daddy right away (he was at home). It was a great morning.Diane taking off Hazel's shoes...Bare Tootsies...Toes seperated...Now for the left foot...

"This one, peeze."Letting our tootsers dry...This is the color I got, Mommy...Pretty "sparkwie pink" toes...A pampered girl....

Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I know it was yesterday and thoughts of turkey and pumpkin pie have long gone, but being in NI and not celebrating until tomorrow, I thought I would split the difference.

I think it's important to think of what you're thankful for every day, and I try to, I just don't always say it. So here's my holiday appropriate thanks...

I'm thankful for...

A God who loves me and blesses me every day and night. Who never gives up on me even when I give up on Him. Who wraps His loving arms around me when things get hard, even when He knows He won't change it, and Cheers louder than anyone for me when I get something right.A husband who is sweet, handsome, thoughtful, smart, caring, fun-loving, and less than perfect. But he's perfect for me and perfect in the way God made him and at the end of the day, those are the only 2 things that matter.A daughter who blows my mind everytime I see her. Who teaches me every day what is truly important in life. Who lets me smother her in smooches and hugs and wants nothing more than to make me proud of her, not knowing that she makes me prouder than I thought was possible every day she wakes up.



For the tiny little person growing in my belly. Who is working so hard every second to get bigger and never rests in "his" pursuit of life. Who makes me feel so blessed to be a mom. Who is getting ready for whatever God has planned for him in this great big scary world.


For parents who love all of us more than they have to. Who are always there whenever we need them. Who don't want to let us grow up b/c that means we might need them less (we never do or will). Who love each other through the thickest and thinnest parts of life. Who love each other through sickness and health, even when sickness seems to reign. Who taught us all what true love should look like and be like. Who let us see lately that they're only human in much of life, making it easier for us to handle tragedy.
For brothers who are simply the most amazing siblings a big sister could have. Who are so different from each other and from me, but won't imagine life without each other. Who enjoy life exactly as they can, not how they should. Who don't live up to others' expectations but set expectations for themselves according to God's word and direction and never once waver from hard times.
For a Sister in law who loves my brother unconditionally. Who lets him be himself, and never asks for more than he is. Who's hard working. Who loves God. Who loves life and friends and family. Who is becoming a fantastic pedicure pal.

For Theresa and her family. 5 people I can't imagine life without...and don't want to, quite frankly. Who is my sanity every day and just quite honestly, the best friend I could ever wish for.

For Brett's family who've welcomed me into the family with open arms. Who raised a boy to become the man I love more than I could have imagined.

For PMAlliance who took a chance on "Matt's bartending friend" 3 years ago and gave us this incredible opportunity to live in a foreign country and meet amazing people and experience amazing things. Who continues to allow us to pay bills in an economy where many struggle to find a job.

For the women I've met here in NI. Marina who is my rock. Michelle who is my peace. All the women in the knit group who are my laughter. To the guys and gals Brett works with who've become dear to my heart and took me into their little group when they didn't have to.

For friends and family that I haven't seen in ages, but still hold a special place in my heart for who they are and what they've meant in my life.

I could go on for ages about what I'm thankful for. The air I breath, legs I walk on, food we eat. I'm truly blessed, and while I tend to forget it every once in a while, I know in my heart there just simply isn't anything in the world that could make me richer in life than I am right now.

Lots of love and Thanks,
Carli

Trying to catch up...

I've still got the london post in progress, which is why I haven't posted in so long. Everytime I log in, I work on it, and now it's been nearly 3 months since I posted!!!!

What have we done....

We went to Donaghadee for a weekend over Halloween weekend, it was fun!

We got to see Mount Stewart, a large estate just south of Donaghadee along the coast. The house is still a residence for a Lady Maerie of Londonderry (sounds like a rhyme, huh?).

(enoying candy apples at Mount Stewart)A group of men turned an old beater car into a boat and drove it over to Scotland from Donaghadee. It was funny as the car started to sink about 100 yds off the pier. But they got there!!! Saturday night we ate dinner at the oldest pub in Ireland, opened in 1611...We took Hazel to the Exploris Aquarium for the day on Sunday before making the hour drive home. It wasn't the prettiest of weekends, but it was fun.

Hazel's been to 2 birthday parties this month already. Emma's and Inara's. It's really cute to see them all get so much bigger. Brett went with us to Inara's party, and him and Hazel had a blast. I think he played as hard as she did!!!!

Well, that's us for the past couple of months...pretty boring, huh?

Hazel's birthday and a Trip to London

Wow. I can't believe I haven't posted since August 23. That's crazy!

Nothing much has happened though since, so I suppose there isn't much to tell :) We went to a party and Matt and Jenn's where too much liquor was consumed and Hani stepped on my ankle, but other than bruising that's lasted 2 1/2 weeks, we're pretty lowkey.

Last Thursday we went to London for the weekend! Hurray!!! It's our second trip to London and it was far better this time.

We flew out of Belfast City Airport Thursday night, landed in Heathrow about 10:30, took a taxi to our hotel, and tried to check in.

That's right. We TRIED to check in. Hotel was paid for in full along with our flights, and the travel engine that we used, didn't send our hotel reservation OR payment to the hotel. Luckily it was a Thursday night and they had an room for us. So finally, about 1 am, we were all in bed.

Morning came quick, though. We got up, had breakfast, and set out on our day! I really wanted to go to Buckingham Palace, but we weren't sure how Hazel would do on the tour, so I went to the palace and Brett took H to the London Aquarium. I was at the palace so early that I made one of the first tours, had no wait to buy a ticket and was in the palace in no time. No cameras were allowed, so I can only pass on stories....

Queen Victoria was the first monarch to actually live in Buckingham as a palace. It was originally a grande house or mansion that was added to and expanded upon by George IV.

It was beautiful, and amazing, and mindblowing that I was even there. But it was also really sad. I mean, this is a place of residence, and it LOOKED like a museum. There was no warmth, no "homey" feel. I ached to place an old beaten up lazy boy somewhere. A couch that appeared to have years of lazy Sundays, flu-ridden children camped out, movie nights on it. But everything was pristeen, playing out just a little more of the illusion that we want when we think of when we imagine being king, queen, princess, or prince.

Meanwhile at the aquarium.....

They had a great time. I guess Hazel wasn't so sure about it at first and REALLY didn't like the sharks, but after a few minutes, she warmed up to the idea and ended up loving all the fish.

We met up afterwards, I caught the guards' precessional down the road called the Mall, to the changing of the guard at Buckingham, on my way to Westminster Abbey. We attempted to walk through Westminster Abbey with the nut, but A) it was PACKED with people, so moving about with a stroller was rough, and B) you had to be quiet (it's an Abbey after all) and our 2 yr old is less than ok with being silent...so we saw the cool tombs, like Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary and quickly retreated...

Hazel and I headed back to the hotel after having lunch and took a nap while Brett did some more sight seeing. This is St. James' palace. The last remaining Tudor palace.and I can't remember what this is, I'll have to ask him...On Saturday, I headed off early to IKnit day while Brett and the nut headed to The Natural History Museum. There were lots of things to see,But hazel's favorite part was the Butterfly exhibit....Daddy bought her a magnifying glass so she could do some detective work...

That night we took Lil Miss to The Rainforest Cafe for her birthday! She had a great time, and since we didn't throw her a birthday party, we decided to go all out....She got a butterfly painting on her cheek...Did lots of coloring at the table...Got the kid's activity pack with her dinnner, and had to try on everything...But wasn't sure about Mama wearing it....Had the world's biggest Ice cream sundae...

Sunday we spent the day at The Tour of London. It's soooo cool. It's where many people, including Anne Boleyn were beheaded, and acts as a residence to the monarchy at times and it's a whole city inside itself! We're entering the oldest entrance here, and behind us is the Moat that has been long since filled in...This is the first thing we say upon entering the ToL. This just begins to show you how BIG this place is....

The Traitor's Gate, where traitors would have been boated in from the Thames to await trialKing Edward's bedroom...original beams and brick...Royal bedroom recreated next to the orginal bed chamberThe White Towe that takes up a majority of the center of the fort...Hazel and I walking along the inner wall...

Reinactment of The Anne Boleyn trial. Lady Kingston is on the left and Anne Boleyn is on the right.Cromwell, telling all how Queen Anne had done wrong...A pic with Queen Anne (I know, I'm a dork)The hospital ward, this portion sustained pretty heavy damage during the bombing of London in WWII...The Chapel where Anne Boleyn was buried....

This is the Queen's House...There's a Beefeater standing guard in front...Sir Walter Raleigh's room in the Bloody Tower...This is the tower that houses the crown jewels. Definitely cool to see. There's a lot more to the crown jewels than I realized!!! No pics allowed inside, though!Finally, on our way out of the ToL, Brett in front of the Tower Bridge. Pretty cool to see in person.After that we headed back to the hotel, got our belongings and headed to the airport to come home!

It was a great trip!