Scrambled Eggs**

**please be aware that this post contains gross child related content. those of you with weak tummys...just be prepared...

Yesterday started out as every Sunday does. Brett got up, then Hazel, then they had to con Mommy out of bed. Sunday mornings in America were always Church then Brunch at Bob Evans. Well, Hazel and I have attempted church 2ce here. The first time was a disaster. The 2nd was no less a disaster, but it was for a friend's baptism, so we endured. The thing about church here is that they don't have nursery's during the service. So I wrestle a antsy 2 year old, then take her to the narthex so she doesn't interrupt other parishoners, so I don't hear any of the sermon. Not worth it. I don't go to church for Bonus Points or to look good. I go to learn and be closer to God, and as that doesn't happen with a 2 year old and no nursery, we just don't go. Grill me all you want, but if you expect me to go when I can't be there for the proper purpose of going to church, then maybe YOU aren't going for the right reasons. End of story.

Anyway, back to my story...

Sunday mornings are dedicated to our family since we can't go to church, and we do our best to get to Breakfast between 9 and 10:30. Ulster Fry (google pics, it's a big heart attack on a plate) is Brett's fave meal over here, and Cafe Spice has the best we've found up to this point, so we get dressed and go!

We get there, get settled at our "usual" table, and I go order our breakfast. Brett's never changes, and Hazel's always varies between Eggs and Peem Peems (Pancakes...ask Brett), and mine is never the same now that I'm preggo and can't have fried eggs (I want runny yolks, none of this cooked all the way through business), so after figuring out what H wants, I go up and order for us.

Yesterday she wanted eggs, so I got her scrambled eggs.

Now, let me preface by saying that scrambled eggs over here...regardless of where you get them...are gross. As in, really really nasty, think really bad hospital/airplane scrambled eggs. I don't know what the collective masses over here do to their scrambled eggs, but they're either insanely watery (not under done watery, like soaked in water watery) or feta cheese dry. Both are equally nasty. But I digress...

She got her eggs, I got my bagel, and Brett got his fry.

We were happy.

We were together.

Life was good.

We were almost done with breakfast and Hazel got a very strange look on her face, then proceeded to let out this enormous belch. She giggled, we tried not to laugh (twas impossible) and let her know she should say, "excuse me," and then the funny look returned.

Without warning, scrambled eggs projectiled out and down. All down her front, all over the place.

And it smelled.

to this pregnant woman, it smelled so bad that Brett had to clean it up as I couldn't even be near the table (have I mentioned what an incredible hubby and daddy Brett is? Not lately? Oh, let me tell you he is by far the best and most amazing...hey, he cleaned up scrambled egg puke and didn't complain).

Breakfast was over. That fast.

Need a quick exit for a meal? Take a 2 year old and encourage her to vomit. Will do the trick every time.

All the way home she complained of her tummy hurting. We got home, got her some water, changed her into Jammies and she laid on the couch watching Tinkerbell for about 45 minutes, just being mellow. Near naptime, she acted better, and post naptime she was great.

We decided to end our Sunday with a family movie. It was our first family movie and it went great. Hazel inhaled a large popcorn, which was amusing, and luckily didn't end in a tummy ache. We watched Alvin and The Chipmunks 2, which, in it's defense was the perfect movie out for Hazel and was significantly better than the first. Worth taking your kids to.

That was our Sunday. Interesting, but memorable.

That's all I ask for any day of the week...

It's a Rather Blustery Day

Wind. And lots of it. It's blowing over the chimney, making it sound like there's an air raid going on above our house. It's doing it's best to break in through the patio doors in the dining/toy room. It's cutting out our Satellite so that every so often while I was giving Hazel a "tubby" I would hear Brett cry out as it was interrupting his Rugby match (go Ulster!).

It's windy outside.

I'd never experienced real wind until we moved here. "Gale force" is such a mild sounding name for the insanity going on outside. Used to be that it would make me very nervous as, in the Midwest, if you get this kind of wind, you better be prepared for whatever season appropriate weather was blowing in. Now, it's just annoying to have to turn up the TV to hear. It's hard to ignore when you're trying to fall asleep and hear nothing but the banshees SCREAMING outside your walls. And all of it is just wind...for no reason!

I, personally, prefer Thunder. At least it has an almost symphonic resonance to it...

Another Crazy Year Ahead

Hi Everyone!

Welcome to 2010!!!

Sorry it's been over a month, but what an insane month. Traveling home is wonderful, but doing so over the holidays is exhausting. We ran pretty much from the moment we left our house in Larne until 2 days ago when I dropped Matt and Eric off at the airport. It was a whirlwind, but it was fantastic. We saw lots of family and only a couple friends, but we weren't worried as we're moving back to the states in April! YAY!!! We SHOULD be able to catch up with all then :)

Matt and his friend Eric came back with us and did a very speedy visit of Northern Ireland...even made the trip to the Republic to see Dublin for one day. It was a lot of fun to have them here. We were all really really tired, but it was worth it. I, personally, think the coolest thing they did was sneak into Cairndhu house. They both took some cool pictures and Matt even got a little video. I'm so jealous. I am not, however, going to climb through an old derilict house while preggo. Things that aren't safe for someone who's not pregnant, is a major no-no for those who are, ya know? But they were sweet enough to bring me back a roof shingle...a shale tile. Too fantastic. It needs scrubbing.

I told Brett I was taking this week to recover from the past month, and then, on my honor, I am going to tackle this house. We have 13 weeks to divide everything up into "sell it", "ship it", or "recycle it". Marina and I are going to have a couple of carboot (think, TRUNK...brits call it the boot) sale to try to get something out of some of this stuff. It seems ridiculous to think that we moved over here with 4 suitcases full of stuff. It's grown a bit.

We are mid-cataloging our movies to start the organization process and just going through Brett's DVD case (H and I have one each, too) and NOT counting all the individual DVDs within seasons of different shows, he has 282. That being said, there's 3 DVDs unaccounted for in Little Britain, 25 DVDs not accounted for in Knight Rider, then there's the entire BSG series and miniseries, 2 seasons of Big Bang Theory, 4 seasons of Star Trek Enterprise, and well, you get the point. Tonight we have to go through Hazel and my cases and then we have a whole case in America. It's an illness, I swear.

Well, not much other to report, just taking it easy while we're here. Supposed to go to Emma's house today but we haven't heard anything from them and I suddenly have about 10 phone calls to make to America, so we'll see what happens!

Big hugs!

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?