French Fried Hamberlin's

Cult of Personality

2011-10-11T08:04:00.000-07:00

I strive to be a cultivated human being but I do not participate in mind control or dangerous rituals. Just sayin'.

Testing the Waters

2011-05-18T01:10:00.000-07:00

Working it out at the hotel

It was a sign! The hotel's front lawn feature a male mannequin sporting a NC State t--shirt . . .

so everyone got into the action . . .

except of course, for Mason, who is wise enough to know it could end up on here!

Checking out a caterpillar during ice cream house-hunt break . . .

and falling asleep in the tub after a long day's search.

The Raleigh Temple

Striking a pose, never a bashful girl.

It's small but mighty.

A rare picture of sibling cooperation . . .

as well as pure joy (from videogames), always brings the family together :). Seconds later someone sustained a "smack in the face" minor injury.

Our time was well spent during April's spring break. We arrived as a tornado was whipping through NC. It was the worst turbulence I've ever experienced. I thought I would pass out from hot flashes and all the bumpiness. We also left the country as horrible tornados spread across the southern U.S., the worst those areas have seen in years. Some kind of harbinger? Hopefully not!! We headed to Raleigh, NC, for our first visit to the U.S. since 2009. Needless to say, the children were excited. Well, most of them. It was major culture disorientation since we often found ourselves looking around and wondering, "How long will it take to feel like we're home here?" Testing the waters during a house hunt was the perfect opportunity for me to pack on 5 pounds and limp around in my tendonitis boot! I think I certainly looked American as I saw a much more mature lady in Target sporting my boot/brace also. Yes, Target, praise be! We sounded like a bunch of idiots as our family of six perused every aisle in the store and embarrassed ourselves by shouting and drooling over the Entenmann's, Tasty Cakes, Hostess, insert your favorite treat here, in the food section.

But on to more serious things. Yes, we did find a home. And, we learned a lot. Comme toujours. Over and over. Like, homes on the internet look much different in real life. Yards are small and full of pine trees, not grass. Chapel Hill is expensive but has great schools so there's not much that fits our family size and spoiled, idealized list of wants. Thus, a mansion is not in our future, nor is a plot with a soccer pitch. And the kids' favorite, Chik-Fil-A is everywhere, and Wendy's is alive and well. There we go with the food again. We will have to do some hefty home renovations, but I am actually looking forward to the challenge (I think). I guess it's more the chance to shop for carpet, pick wall colors and bathroom designs, etc., without having to build a home from the ground that is exciting. To make the house a home. Must remind myself of this when we begin a "Money Pit" scenario :)

We visited our new church/ward. There are four wards that meet in the chapel where we would attend. That's huge when compared to our situation the last six years. The kids met some potential friends, however, Mason faces the minority issue he has always faced as a young man. There just aren't that many guys his age wherever we've lived. Fortunately, the young men from several wards gather a few times a month for activities, so he'll have more opportunities.

But for now, I am trying to squeeze every bit of life out of our time here in the UK. Don't want to think about packing it all up just yet!!

Signs of Spring (UK style)

2011-05-08T15:36:00.000-07:00

Go Blues!

The Line-Up (Nico's keeper hero, Cech, in neon)

A great afternoon out with Dad

#1 Chelsea fan (well, maybe)

Emma at Hampton Court with Micheline

Basking in daffodil blooms at the Palace

The Queen Victoria Statue a few weeks before the BIG wedding

Playing goofy American/French tourists

The Glass Coach that carried Princess Di on her wedding day

Check out the Queen's ride (only used twice but housed in the Royal Mews)

Marina, ACS MS pitcher, in action

I just realized I'm missing a photo of Mason; he'll get in here eventually. Spring exploded in April, a bit early, but we've loved both the beautiful weather and the feeling of activity in the air. The chauffering life it is for me. Of course, Nico continues with soccer 3x a week, Emma enjoys t-ball, Marina finished her run in "Annie," and Mason keeps up with running and playing in his band. I won't bore you with other details, but one thing that has made my personal life easier has been my "release" from church RS president (women's group) to nursery leader. So, I've gone from leading a bunch of ladies to being led by two sweet 2 yr. old girls! Change is good.

Yet change is hard. The next post or so may detail the change of preparing for another international move...back to the U.S. this summer.

In Brugges

2011-04-07T16:29:00.000-07:00

So quaint.

Goofball Emma.

Town hall.

La Tour, the Tower.

Des sacs en chocolat.

Chocolat prep demonstration.

Yes, it's chocolate!

Chocolate crêche.

Some kind of choco giant.

Another creation.

Trying to stay warm.

One of my favorite movies ever is called In Brugges. It's not easy on the ears, however, as a few of the characters have swearing problems being that they're English & Irish mobsters and assassins. Not very pretty . . . but the film's theme (and setting) is pretty. Even the toughest cookie can have a change of heart and find redemption, and it's important to find beauty in life's quiet quotidien moments. We found beauty at the Museum of Chocolate, in the architecture, on the streets, yada yada yada. A wonderful day that was made even better as it ended with an international ice sculpture show at the train station. I know, more Belgium photos, the excitement is palpable.

Heywoodstock 2011: Shazz Khan Tribute Band

2011-04-07T15:05:00.000-07:00

Mason, Will, and Harry perform
their version of "Wipeout" at ACS' Heywoodstock music concert. A genius performance by all the guys!

Happy New Year, Ghent! So Long Ago . . .

2011-03-27T08:59:00.000-07:00

Emma & Nico share a rare moment of sibling love

"Are those all the drunk people?" asks Emma

Mark the pack mule with a passed-out M&M

Are we having fun yet?

They are :)

Santa Baby, why the face? Eurotrash family fun. And when I say Eurotrash it's not a putdown; it's the thrill of cultural diversity . . .

Wouldn't be a Hambo winter trip without ice skating!

Thank you, Mr. Penguin, for your steadiness

Lovely Ghent at night

Cool guitar building

How many angles can you see in this architectural maze?

The other side of the tracks, home of our hotel

Send post, please

Ghent marketplace, tower, and town hall

Ghent looks pretty dark in these pictures, and, it is. Winter time seems to be a blur of grey and cold, but there's something magical (if I can use that word and not laugh) always in the air. Forget the seasonal mood disorder, we really enjoyed the atmosphere. Ghent was our base between stays in Brugges and Brussels, and we managed to go car-free by taking the train everywhere. That was no small feat with the family, but actually a good experience. The canals of Ghent and Brugges have earned them the nickname, the "Venice of the North." With a bit of imagination, there are those similarities. The Flemish language is much different than Italian, though :). On New Year's Eve we had a wonderful fondue dinner of cheese, meat, poultry, seafood, vegetables, chocolate, and frites--not all at once, fortunately! I won't mention the dinner that for Nico, ended up on the sidewalk. Poor guy! The next day, Marina volunteered to watch Nico in the hotel room while we toured Brugges. He had a fever with stomach pain; probably some kind of stomach virus since no one else got sick. The kids were more excited to stay there and order room service than head out on another adventure. More on that later . . .

Brussels Revisited, or Life is a Carousel

2011-03-22T15:36:00.000-07:00

Yes, Christmas was months ago. I've gotten over being spot on with this blog and it's timing. So off to our winter break to Belgium.

Emma loves a good carousel

Nico's fondness for them on display, too

Checking out the colorful MP chocolate

The kids just love their family portrait in La Grand-Place

Chameleon time

Ostrich man

"The smallest house in Brussels"

Déjà-vu! Last time here Emma was a bun in the oven :)

UNESCO World Heritage Site

Mannequin Pis, the man of the moment

Feeling the love

Recreating photo from 5 years ago, Mark adds something different this time!

Surprise, another carousel for Nico

Just one of Mason's many GQ shots (I take so many since he used to hate me taking his photo)

Marché de Nöel

Brussels just makes me happy. Let's make that Belgium in general. I know both times we visited it was cold, rainy, and grey, but the beauty and architecture of the city, the chocolate, the people, the waffles, the frites . . . what's not to love? We first came in 2005 when I was pregnant with Emma, and this time she was enthralled with her introduction to Mannequin Pis (ok, not really).

Beautiful Israel

2011-03-21T16:10:00.000-07:00

View from our Tel-Aviv hotel room

Little man caught in the act

Enjoying a few rays on our pasty UK skin

Monument commemorating the events below . . .

View of Jerusalem

Family tombs similar to those where Jesus believed to be buried

Garden of Gethsemane

Entrance to Gethsemane

Way back in November, Mark was asked to speak at an HR meeting in Israel for Cisco execs and employees. So naturally he wanted to make a weekend of it . . . and naturally we needed babysitting help! Cue desperate plea to Dad & Sharon who had yet to visit us overseas. We lucked out as they were willing to travel (quickly) and watch the kids for a few days. Even better, my dad was willing to drive, something most visitors are scared and cautious doing on the "other side of the road." :)

With children secured, Mark and I enjoyed a whirlwind two days: one in Tel-Aviv, the other in Jerusalem. Our day in Tel-Aviv was spent walking from the beaches of the town to Jaffa, setting of Jonah's famous whale tale. It was very old and also kind of artsy. Lovely! We ate at a restaurant called Manta Ray and had one of the most delicious meals I've ever eaten. Everything was fresh, the fish, the veggies, yummy entrees, mains, and desserts. Lots of people were out in full force since it was Sunday, back to work day. I forgot that the Sabbath is Friday there so the weekend is Fri. and Sat.

Gethsemane "tomb" (presided over by Orthodox Churches)

Church of Mary Magdalene

Jerusalem marché

Women's section of Western Wall

Men's area of Western Wall

Our second and last day was spent on a private tour of Jerusalem. Our tour guide, Tony, was Italian and Israeli. He was born in Israel, then his family emigrated to Italy. He said he always wanted to return so voila, we profited from his expertise. He tailors his tours to the client (us) and finding out that we were Christian/LDS, he showed us the BYU Center and gave insightful commentary on the places we visited. He was interested in our views as many of the sites were debatable as to their authenticity. And, it was interesting that the Orthodox, Catholic, and Muslim faiths all shared responsibility for the management of these holy places including Gethsemane, Jesus' tomb, crucifixion site, etc. It didn't seem right, however, to see people draping themselves all over these spots and then only being able to catch a glimpse of them with security having to limit visiting time ... almost like when Jesus chased the merchants from the temple because they had defiled, had corrupted a sacred place. Everything just seemed strange and dark. But who knows where all these events really took place? So in the end, Mark and I were just blessed to be in such a wonderful, important country. We took away new ideas about harmony and witnessed all kinds of people from all kinds of religious backgrounds living side by side there. That's the story we don't often hear enough about!

Animal Attractions

2011-01-23T15:25:00.000-08:00

This guy was worth the little hike to the top of Parc Güell. All he could sing was "Happy Days" and "Light My Fire" in broken English. Over and over. Classic! Worth every euro, too.

Look at this handsome lad. Mark had to have his picture taken by Gaudi's famous lizard friend.

Speaking of friends, Nico made one at the Aquàrium.

And Emma was not to be outdone with her whaley amigo.

This street performer earned his in a whimsical, stilted ensemble.

The Casa-Museu, where the Gaudi lived for 20 yrs. of his life. It's one of several "gingerbread" houses in Parc Güell, very funky.

This is Marina's elephant face.

And this is the King of the Jungle welcoming us to his crib. Yes, he's taking a dump. Sorry, but everyone got a kick out of his nonchalant greeting.

Parc de la Ciutadella's lovely Cascade Fountain. So long Barcelona! Next time we're going to so catch a Barca game at Nou Stadium (in our dreams :)

Sagrada Familia

2011-01-19T14:35:00.000-08:00

As promised (and about three months later), our visit to Barcelona's #1 tourist attraction: La Sagrada Familia, Antoni Gaudí. First stone laid in 1882. Completion set for 2030 if donations continue. Wow. That's what you say as you regard this massive cathedral, but not for it's grandeur, more for it's split personality design and detail. Everywhere one looks there's something else to see and discover, and for that reason my children managed to enjoy our visit. Really. This is a close up of the front (or what is now the main entrance), more modern and almost cubist in design.

General view upon arrival.

Jesus overlooking the construction, making sure all is well.

Inside, hard at work and getting closer to completion.

Blurry photo of stained-glass.

Hardhats for the guys from the head office.

The statue of Jesus first confused me as I thought it was some avant-garde version, at least from far away. I eventually realized he's wrapped for protection and will be unveiled from his spiderman prison in due time.

Very cool ceiling and columns, designed to appear as trees bend and support.

Color variation, nothing here is "normal," or expected (I guess you could say).

The rear of cathedral, much more gothic-looking and detailed to the max! I forgot to take a picture of the famous Nativity facade, but it's in there. You could spend hours just staring and straining to see all the work. Good I Spy material.

Looks like it's haunted or melting even.

A rare picture of the kids and I. Yay!

Mark and Nico strike a pose.

Managed to get all our heads in this one, but I am seriously lame at DIY photos. Nevertheless, we had a great time and spent one of the most interesting days learning and laughing together.

Whilst touring and descending the top of church, one can wander through giant sculptures of fruit and veg. Gaudí had a true sense of all things organic.

View of the city from the top.

The old botanical cross. As mentioned, Gaudí loved nature and incorporated into his architecture--everywhere.

Cranes, cranes go away. They ruined my lovely shot but they're everywhere, what can you do? We took an elevator up for a small fee and the stairs down for free. It was the only way, so there were lots of silent prayers that my children (i.e. Nico and Emma) would survive the spiralling descent since neither railings nor safety features existed to keep them from plummeting to their deaths. Phew!! We made it. That concludes our visit, my next post will be a wrap up with some random photos from the rest of our trip, and then on to Israel. It's my hope that I will soon return to regular blogging and include more meaningful events like birthdays, matches, concerts, etc. Crossing my fingers!

La Pedrera

2010-10-26T08:06:00.000-07:00

We had the wonderful opportunity to travel to Barcelona for the kids' October school break. We've been wanting (or rather, I have been wanting) to visit for a very long time. Mark had been here several times for work, and this was a wonderful week of eating, wandering, exploring, running/walking, shopping, insert your own verb here. Family time is a luxury and we've been blessed to experience it in some very cool places. So, as architecture is one of Barcelona's many highlights, we begin with a walk down Passeig de Gràcia. We strolled past many a modernista building and enjoyed the Casa Battló by the famed architect, Antoni Gaudi, with its colors, textures, and especially the balconies sculpted in the form of carnival masks.

Casa Batlló

Down the street, at la Pedrera, we wondered over the wavy, iron balconies. Inside are apartments, a clothing store, a museum, an exhibition room, and of course, the obligatory gift shop!

La Pedrera rooftop view. It's a park full of sculptures with chimneys that resemble medieval warriors and huge ventilator ducts twisted into bizarre organic forms (not to mention the great views)! Do I sound like a tour guide? Because I am quoting our Top 10 Barcelona guide in order to make this the best blog post ever.

L.P. atrium

More of Gaudi's funky design . . .

How about this?

Refugees from the UK descend

Gaudi's Masterpiece, la Sagrada Familia (rooftop L.P. view). More on this later.

Marina ponders life in Barcelona

Nico just wants a nap

All's well that ends well in another beautiful L.P. foyer. I loved the painted floral ceilings with lovely lit stairways and ornate staircases. Special thanks to Stephanie Boyd who mercifully explained how to upload pictures much faster :)

Beautiful Box Hill

2010-10-03T13:41:00.000-07:00

This weekend we've enjoyed listening to the wonderful messages of our church leaders during General Conference. It's been raining, a lot, so it was great conference weather. Sunday the kids were a little stir crazy from being inside all day, and in the afternoon something inspired happened . . . there was a break in the skies and the sun peeped through the clouds for a few hours. Mark decided to take us on a ride to Box Hill, an area set on the highest point in Surrey. He also rides his bike there, thus he wanted to show us his 'hood. It's a lovely place with some trails and a pretty lookout point. Of course, Mark forgot to tell us he wanted to walk around and failed to mention we would be doing more than standing at the scenic overlook.

Cue the mud! Ok, it was fun but all I could see was laundry piled here and there :) Did I mention Marina wore a skirt? Fashion victim at age 11.

Autumn is Bustin' Out All Over!

2010-10-03T10:22:00.000-07:00

The thrill of finishing your first xc race!

Colorful marche stalls

The thrill of completing your first olympic triathlon!

Looking good on the course

Perigueux Marche (animals optional)

Marina's 11th Birthday

Cathedral de Perigueux

Wow, time flies when you're not a hardcore blogger! This post was originally to be titled June is Bustin' Out All Over (complete with a summary of said-month's/summer's highlights and as a shout-out to Susie), however, it was not to be. I did post a few pictures on facebook since it seems to be much easier for a lazy gal like me. I get discouraged with how long it takes to upload pictures on here. Is there an easier way? Why am I so techno challenged? This is why I should stick to my journal format. It's for the grandparents, I tell myself. Grandparents, are you out there? I have included a few photos from our quick trip to Perigueux for David Ramos' wedding (the weekend before school began).

So school is back in session and life marches on . . . we are also in the throes of autumn which means colder temperatures, wind and rain interspersed with sun. And football, volleyball, x country, music, seminary, churchy stuff, insert your own activities here, etc. Mark finished his first olympic triathlon which made us ALL very happy. He did a great job. Let's say the training alone causes one to be obsessed and stressed (which added to a crazy work schedule complicates life a bit). Now we're enjoyed watching the kids try new things and I am looking forward to attending Olivia's wedding soon in mid-October. It was strange not to "go home" to the U.S. for a few weeks this summer, and I am excited about doing some necessary and maybe not so necessary shopping. How much can I cram into two days, including the wedding and reception? Hah.

Spiritual Highs

2010-06-04T14:01:00.000-07:00

#1 Footie Fan and birthday boy
IYS Baseball, very casual

Birthday Wishes

The Messi card, supreme birthday gift!

Looking good in white with Dad

I love to see the London Temple!

Emma with Grandpa H.

Tout p'tit, tout p'tit bluebells

So lucky to have Grandparents visit :)

Our Nico man turned 8 yrs. old in May, so that meant he was ready to become an official member of our (LDS) Church through baptism. He was very excited and prepared being the enthusiastic guy that he is! A woman named Natasha (from Latvia) was also baptized. Her husband joined the Church earlier in February, and they have a little boy who is two. It was a great day for them as we haven't had a family baptized into the Kingston Ward in a quite a while. What made it even more special was that Grandma and Grandpa Hamberlin were here to spend time with us before their Euro tour, so they were able to be a part of his day. Part of being a member means that he is now responsible for his choices/consequences, of which Nico remarked, "this is going to be so hard and it's only been a day!" He took the words right out of my mouth. Get used to it kid :) But if anyone can do it, Nico can.

Tintagel

2010-05-07T15:06:00.000-07:00

Backtracking a bit as I forgot to post one of our spring break days. Here are a few pictures of our day at Tintagel, legendary birthplace (or conception location?) of mighty King Arthur. Imagine this breathtaking, cliffside mount dotted with a castle and its own village back in the day . . . it's quite the location! You have to take a little hike to reach the site, then ascend a few sets of stairs to the entrance. Once inside there are lots of great nooks and crannies as well as peaceful viewpoints of the sea. I may sound like a reality show contestant when I say this, but it was truly magical. My photos don't do it justice, however, it was probably the highlight of our trip to Cornwall. One of the coolest places we've visited in England.

My Big Baby and Little Baby Are Growing Up!

2010-04-17T06:48:00.000-07:00

Pondering deep thoughts . . .

Mr. M. turned a GQ fourteen.

He played a new sport this year . . .

and made some new friends.

Gained more confidence . . .

and hopefully learned it's not all about him!

Even on rainy, grey days

life is good!

So pose like you don't care . . .

mess your hair a little . . .

and don't take yourself too seriously!

We've been tourists . . .

and learned new words, like fragola, fraise, or strawberry . . .

and someone wasn't afraid of looking like an idiot :)

Whether you're with your family in Florence . . .

or celebrating your birthday in Esher,

there's nothing like blowing out the candles on your Angelina Ballerina cake!

A new bike for a big girl . . .

and a goofy smile for Mom :)

The Old Iron Cross (in Stone)

2010-04-15T13:31:00.000-07:00

Growing up in NJ, there was a little old man in our church ward, Bro. Melville, who used to sing "The Old Iron Cross" every January. He would recount all the bad things that happened in his life (in the month of January, if I remember correctly). You just remember people who do things a little differently; at least it kept us kids from falling asleep during the meetings :)

Anyway, it's not January, and the crosses aren't iron. Rather, they're stone and found all over Cornwall from the early inhabitants of the region. The Iron and Bronze Ages, let's say, and lots of Celtic and other cool cross action going on . . . I couldn't resist snapping pictures of them. Oh wait, most of these are rather modern but nonetheless interesting and very cool. Next post, family, I promise more exciting pictures of your grandchildren!

Simple Pleasures

2010-04-14T16:01:00.001-07:00

In our family, simple pleasures include crepes, Sunday walks, scones, movies together, Mason finding a lingerie-clad mannequin in a restaurant men's room (wait, how did that get in here?), and frolicking on the beach . . . or rather, crashing down sand dunes. A few shots from our Cornwall adventures last week.

London BUPA 10,000 for British Heart Foundation

2010-04-12T03:14:00.001-07:00

2010-03-29T11:03:00.000-07:00

Love Never Dies

2010-03-29T10:55:00.000-07:00

My husband used to tease his mom about her Broadway, and more specifically, "Phantom of the Opera" obsessions . . . and now it's come full circle. Mark, Micheline (our friend visiting from Paris), and I headed into London for "Love Never Dies," the sequel. I was doubtful it would be any good since the melodrama and cornball Andrew Lloyd Webber factor is always in danger of going over the edge. But, was I wrong, and am I becoming my mother in law? :) Try to catch it if you're in London or New York (from Nov. 2010).

Hogmanay Holiday

2010-02-28T14:09:00.000-08:00

I've already put a bunch of photos of our recent trips to Edinburgh and Italy up on Facebook, but I figure it can't hurt to cover all the bases for my homies (a.k.a. Moms and Dads of the Stryker-Hamberlin dynasty :). So, Grandmas & Grandpas, this is for you!

We began the festivities with a torchlight procession, "Son et Lumiere" (that's Sound and Light). Everyone sauf Emma had a large torch that could've easily doubled as a weapon. Nico and Mason were especially dangerous, and I believe I have some colorful commentary on the Flip camera footage to prove it. A few fellow tourists and myself almost got singed from their efforts. We eventually made our way to the Tower where some cool fireworks were set off. Freezing, we retreated to the hotel for some rest after the train ride and day's events.

The next day we met up with our friends, the Crane's and the Whitehead's. We ventured to Camera Obscura (see black and white building above) where we enjoyed lots of cool little exhibits with trompe l'oeil and many other forms of visual stimulation. We ventured to the rooftop for lovely views of grey but picturesque Edinburgh.

During our stay we also visited the castle for a very chilly and windy evening of storytelling from its former inhabitants including Mary Queen of Scots. It was fun but I felt sorry for the narrators/actors the entire time!

Oh man, I just realized this has been sitting in my edit box for two months! I am losing the will to blog. I have to pay more attention to my family so hopefully the relatives will forgive the quarterly posting instead of the monthly one :) There is just too much going on and not enough time to do it. So, I'm signing off for a bit and living life . . .

Mark's 40th Birthday . . . Last Year

2010-01-08T16:21:00.000-08:00

Ok, so it was in December but last year sounds more dramatic as we're in 2010 now. My honey turned the big 4-0 with a surprise party during the Thanksgiving weekend. He was surprised so the party was a success, even a low key affair, really. Mark wanted to invite people over for Thanksgiving, American-style, and encouraged me to go with a caterer so we could invite more friends and not be stressed! Way to go, Hambo! It worked out well and we had a fun time. I wish we could have had family and friends from the U.S., too, but with the quick timing and cost of flying everyone over it couldn't happen.

He also had a party of sorts with his global HR team, who happened to be in town for meetings on the day of his birthday. Dare I say he had more fun on this day since they made a big fuss, going out to eat and bowling (crazy, I know :) We also celebrated the day before (as a family) since he was to be out with his colleagues. Forty wasn't going too badly, perhaps even looking positive, until Mark pinched some kind of nerve that wracked his neck, shoulder and upper back with pain and left his arm numb. It happened right at midnight on his birthday, so the funny thing is that he kept saying; "The warranty expired! I'm broken, it's all downhill from here . . . " It took over a month to where he could move like he did before the incident, however he was determined to ride in the Hell of Ashdown bike race on Jan. 30th (35 miles, I think). It's a race named after the forest area from whence his decendants originated in England. It's the same 100 Acre Wood from the Winnie the Poo stories. It was very hilly, chilly, icy and difficult so Mark was just hoping to pedal like he was out on a leisurely ride--not wanting to push it since the course itself would do that! Of course, his competitive side always wins out and he turned in a 6th place finish (out of 100+ participants). Not bad for an old man, eh?

Blog, What's a Blog? Who Cares, Look at My Handsome Husband!

2009-12-07T02:35:00.000-08:00

The world's most striking 40 year old man, Mark Hambo

Marina performs with the Middle School Orchestra

I can never get a clear shot of her with all those other kids in the way :)

Beautiful Trafalgar Square Night Shot (courtesy of Mr. Allison)

Nico in the reflecting pool at Salisbury Cathedral

Mark & Nico at Stonehenge, yet again!

Emma & her good friend, James

Nico blocks a goal (from his Dad)

Always the dirtiest player on his team

Cute Scramblers in costume

Madge & Mason strike a pose

Really? Posting a picture from October in December (yes, that's my life)

Some People that I See Everyday Who Make Me Happy

2009-11-15T14:23:00.001-08:00

Mark, many moons ago in 6th grade

Marina, 5th grade

Emma, pre-school

Nico, a.k.a Vlad the Impaler, 2nd grade

Mason, 8th grade

Auschwitz-Birkenau

2009-11-02T13:23:00.000-08:00

This will not be the most uplifting post, in terms of what was photographed, but it was very enlightening and interesting. Words cannot describe what occurred at this concentration/work camp, however, it is a place I've always wanted to visit and see for myself . . . I guess the pictures tell the story.

I will say there were no other children around, unless you count high-school age kids visiting on school break tours. Our stroller and young ones set us apart and probably caused some people to think we were a bit strange to expose our children to something they may not remember or understand. Perhaps, but when you're this close to something so historical, so incredibly important, how can you not go? The history major in me had to be there. We were touched and haunted by the materials, the possessions, the photos of all the people--Jewish, gypsy, disabled--from many nations that were left behind. It was horrible to see how the Nazis dehumanized them in every way possible from shaving their heads to labeling them for "crimes." And that's just the tip of the iceberg as we all know.

Auschwitz seemed much smaller than the huge Birkenau camp. They're 3 km apart and were both used for various experiments, labor, and ultimately death. I kept having images flash in my head from "Schindler's List, " especially the train arrivals, screaming of people in the showers and gas chambers, the boy hiding in the latrines, and so on. On a positive note, we were heartened to see many groups of Jewish teens walking with Israeli flags, leaving memorial candles here and there, and hopefully taking pride in all their people endured and survived. We say never again, but the adversary works hard to harden people's hearts and minds . . .

Krakow's Rynek Square

2009-10-26T09:31:00.001-07:00

The kids had their fall half-break and that meant it was time to travel! Fortunately Mark got some time off as his schedule allowed a few days for us to visit Krakow, Poland. What a beautiful place. As a history buff (and student of many a WW2 specialist professor), I've always wanted to see the sights in the region, particularly Auschwitz-Birkenau. Pictures of that to come. We rented an apartment in the city, which outside looked like something out of a communist ghetto but was tastefully renovated on the inside. Yea, it's that concrete monster on the left, right beside a beautiful terre-cotta hued hotel.

Marina and Emma enjoyed riding the clock tower's guardian lions (Nico, too).
Everyone wanted to pose in front of or inside of the cool blindfolded head on its side statue.

The figures on top of the Cloth Market, which is in the process of being refurbished.

And,
Marina amongst what seemed like legions of pigeons, Europe's cockroach species (not my description). I will post more pictures of Mark and the kiddies' adventures with the

pigeons, yes, it's that exciting! :) There were a few cool statues and Mark even broke down and let the kids go on a horse-drawn carriage ride. It was pretty cold the first day, yet we considered ourselves fortunate to experience decent weather and even some sun during the last two days of our stay. We enjoyed some talented street performers who used helmets to protect their heads for some of their more daring moves. There were also the standard costumed mimes who move, pose for photos, and perform for money. Nico is drawn like a magnet to those guys! I think I'm going to make a photo book of his adventures while we've lived abroad because I have so many pictures, and he can't resist them (unless it's a clown, of course). The beautiful St. Mary's Church housed a huge wooden-carved mural at the front/center of the cathedral. There is so much color and detail, it's incredible. I think the architecture is somewhat similar to Prague, another place I've only seen in pictures but would love to visit. The food was also very tasty with copious portions. Lots of potatoes, meat/game, cabbage, pierogies (yummy), etc. And it was so much cheaper than London!! But what isn't, actually? We had a wonderful time and there were no injuries so this was a great trip for the Hamberlin's.

Lifting Burdens

2009-10-24T02:17:00.000-07:00

Lifting Burdens . . . I know that my Redeemer lives, what joy this sweet sentence gives . . .

Paris-Versailles 2009

2009-09-29T15:22:00.001-07:00

Will someone please tell me how to better arrange photos and commentary so that this doesn't look like a deformed puzzle? On most people's blogs the pictures are arranged with a nice caption underneath yet mine looks the work of a two year old (maybe because I have the patience of one when it comes to doing these things. All for you grandparents!! :)

Oh well, c'est la vie. Which leads to our next subject, a quick but great visit to Paris (and a run to Versailles). We, the chitlins and I, took the Eurostar last Thursday to Paris and met up with Mark on Friday evening. After spending a week in CA for work, he flew from San Jose to London, then from London to Paris. We went straight to a very tasty sushi dinner with our friend, Micheline, who is pictured with Emma at the town hall of Versailles here. Micheline was Emma's occasional babysitter and turned out to be the sweetest angel whilst we lived in Vaucresson. She used to make us all sorts of good food and spoiled Emma like her own granddaughter. It was fun visiting with her and catching up on her life.

On Saturday Mark and Nico secured our time chips and goodies for the race, then we dropped off Mason at his friend, Max's for safekeeping. We had lunch at a regular's type of bistrot and then walked around a bit at the Trocadero before heading to La Defense for some shopping (not really, just surviving the crowds and making our way to the train to the suburbs). At the Troc, we enjoyed a show from some street dancers. They weren't the greatest, "Diversity" they were NOT, however, they did their best and entertained our kids for a bit. We also witnessed Elvis' secret love child in the crowd, although he seemed to be mysteriously German and walked away quickly when he noticed me taking his picture. He was quite the poseur!

Later that evening we traveled to the Crook's, in our old home of Vaucresson, for a carbo-loading spaghetti dinner. Although they used to live down the street from us, they've since moved to a beautiful home with hopefully no more plumbing issues. They have three kids who match up more or less with our younger three, so everyone had a great time playing and meeting the family's new member, dog Daisy. I wish I had taken some pictures there. I think I was too tired to think at this point! They graciously offered to have our kids spend the night so Mark and I could sleep soundly and participate in the race without any worries. It was so nice of them!

The next day (yes, we broke the Sabbath), we ran the lovely Paris-Versailles, starting from the Tour Eiffel and ending at the Chateau de Versailles. It's a ten mile stretch through the quais/riverbanks of Paris and into the forest leading to Versailles. The weather was beautiful and I felt really good. There were some killer hills but overall, it was a wonderful experience. Mark was feeling not so well, with the jetlag and his body giving him trouble, yet it was our goal to finish together and we did! After meeting up with the Crooks and claiming our children, we ate lunch with Micheline at a local creperie (which was painfully slow but ok). Then we took the train back to Paris where I picked up Mason from Max's home and I finally took a shower (at the hotel)! Wow, I just realized how terribly uninteresting this blow by blow description of our weekend is . . . no wonder I don't write much on these things! We had a mostly uneventful trip home to London and Esher, unless you count our taxi driver being an hour late to pick us up; we arrived home at midnight and everyone crashed as the show went on with school and work the next day. I've yet to feel totally recovered from the whirlwind but I'm hoping the upcoming five day weekend will help--thank you parent/teacher conferences! Sometimes you just sit back and say life is good and I'm really blessed. That's how we feel as we've been so fortunate to be able to do many things like this during our time in Europe, from the very beginning in 1998 Perigueux to 2009 in London. Praise be to the big man upstairs for all these opportunities. We love you!

Marina's a Tenner!

2009-09-20T14:26:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm only a month late in sharing 10th birthday photos of our lovely firstborn daughter, Marina--poor girl! I win the bad mother award, but she did do okay in the gift department so she can't complain. This year Marina had a low-key birthday, a more mature event that she celebrated with her friend, Alexandra. Alex spent the night and the next day we had lunch and went shopping. It was my kind of celebration and Marina seemed content. I'm sure she'd like a big deal made out of her birthday, however, we are trying to simplify and get back to a party/friend celebration every other year (with a family one every year, of course). Ever since we've lived overseas it seems like birthdays are an excuse to invite all the friends over since you don't know who is going to be moving at any given time, and it "might be their last chance to have a party" with them. Sometimes it seems like the parents and kids want to outdo one another and the parties often end up draining the financial reserves . . . I won't even mention how much we paid for inflatable jumpers in France. It brings a tear to the eye!

But I digress, this is about Marina, our beautiful Marina. Her doctor christened her the "Sumo" because she was an average size baby, 7 lb. 14 oz. Apparently, next to the alcohol and caffeine-addicted underweight french babies of Perigueux, she was enormous. No slight to my French friends, but Marina was healthy and cute while the others looked sickly and preemie; it was like 5 lbs. was a pretty normal birthweight! She was pretty stubborn, though, at ten days late. My doctor insisted she was coming and an induction was not in the cards. Thanks, man, I really needed that! Marina has continued to charm her way through life and she is full of life in general. When she is not dreaming of becoming a star, she is listening to her iPod nano and ripstiking around the driveway. Marina is a gentle soul; you may catch her giving her brothers a hard time yet she is the greatest big sister and still likes to hang out occasionally with her parents. She also has a crazy streak that calls to mind a young Whitney Hamberlin :)

We love our Marina, and hope that 10 is a magical year for this blossoming young lady!

People Who Live in Glass Houses . . .

2009-09-07T10:07:00.000-07:00

Shouldn't throw rocks at their brother and/or sister! That's what my, ugh, sweet innocent angel girl Emma decided to do recently. It's only taken three weeks to track down someone who says they can replace the glass . . . now how long will the whole thing actually take? Customer service not a European priority. Anyway, life continues and here we see Nico's badge progress in gymnastics (not unlike the "belt plan" in martial arts where one is motivated to continue a sport and pay for small feats completed over time). He's really enjoying it so whatever works!

There's a few of our lovely sister missionaries, Chase and McGraw. They're joined by Katherine and her daughter, Emma. Along with husband Michael, they are our houseguests for several weeks while they prepare to return their native South Africa. Little Emma is getting lots of attention from our children, hopefully this means they haven't been scarred by their sibling relationships and may someday babysit and even more hopefully, have children of their own. A few token first day of school photos on our stairway--Emma chose to wear her pajama's to Scramblers (pre-school), and Mason somewhat smiled for these photos! He's come a long way, baby. He even tried out for the middle school volleyball team and made it. Now mind you they don't cut anyone, we're just proud he made the choice to try and will learn a lot. Marina turned 10 on 22nd August so I'm working on her post. It was a low-key birthday and more details to follow. She's growing up beautifully and looks a little too old for her age. Not looking forward to these rollercoaster years :) Right now I'm a bit swamped with church and school responsibilities (why did this have to be the year the Girl Scouts needed a leader??). Oh well, hopefully you can teach an old dog new tricks!

Duck Week

2009-09-01T14:53:00.001-07:00

After all the hustle and bustle, it's nice to just relax at the beach. We were so fortunate to do just that in lovely Duck, NC. Even Mason got into the spirit of things and dared to touch sand and ocean water (at least for a day or two :). With all the responsibilities of school and work, and back to reality, it all seems so far away. But what a great week it was!

UT Trip . . . It's a Cousin, Cousin World!

2009-08-30T10:34:00.001-07:00

Where the Heck to Start (or Finish)?

2009-08-23T13:42:00.000-07:00

The summer came and went with a vengeance but what a great one it was. We had lots of time to enjoy at home in the UK (June-July), then spend the latter part in the U.S. (July-Aug.). We are very fortunate to be able to return to visit relatives and friends, however, we just wish we had a base, a home of sorts, so that we could rest up a bit between legs. Oh well, we wouldn't see as many people that way! I might be more sane, though :) I will summarize broadly the season's events: Legoland Windsor, of course, followed by gymnastic classes for Nico and Emma, recreation camps at ACS for Marina, Nico and Emma, a visit from Grandma and Grandpa Fraze, London outings and the Lion King (again for Mom and Emma but a first for the whole family), and concerts with the Script, Paolo, Nickelback . . . yes, you heard correctly and don't deny that you find yourself humming the latter's hooks and melodies subconsciously.

We enjoyed NJ and visits with the Fraze, Cobb, Lentine, Lamb, Stryker, and Allen/James families. Lunch with the Haver girls was a hoot and swimming with Becky's kids (well, her real kids and two baby goat kids) is always a treat. Mason stayed with Grandma and Grandpa Fraze and delighted in his quiet time away from the younger bro. and sisters. Later we all camped out at Pop Pop and Grandma Sharon's. No caged groundhogs this year but the thrill of driving International tractors was all worth it for Nico and Marina. It was fun to catch up with my brother, Lee, and wife Kim as well as cousins, Syd and Henry. We are very blessed to have relatives who take good care of us and put up with our masses of luggage and nomadic lifestyle! We love New Jersey, even if the humidity reduces us to sweaty, stinky people :)

The Acropolis Museum

2009-07-06T00:54:00.000-07:00

Mark and I had the opportunity to visit Athens, Greece (me for two days, Mark a bit longer). He was asked to present at Greece's "Great Places to Work" conference in which Cisco participates. My mom and Larry flew from NJ to stay with the kids and do a little touring around. Thanks for parents who were able to rearrange their schedules to help us out!! It was a hot but beautiful weekend with lots of sight-seeing, street shopping, great food and the like. I must say we really enjoyed not having to answer to anyone 13 yrs. and under. We took our time and loved the new Acropolis Museum as well as the requisite Parthenon viewing. Now we dream of a vacation to the islands . . . some day, perhaps.

The museum was supposed to be open for the Athens Olympics but was delayed due to ruins they kept excavating during construction (see pictures), battles with homeowners in the area, and earthquake concerns. Better late than never--it's a beautiful place and you can't beat the views!

Where to Start?

2009-07-05T14:47:00.000-07:00

Last I posted we had Nico's 7th birthday. He had wanted an archery party but alas that was not to be with the end of the school year mad rush of bdays and activities. This is definitely the last year of the inflatable! His friends and he had a great time, though, and were all well-tuckered out. Mason got an award for outstanding effort in art for the 7th grade. They keep it a surprise for the parents and kids until their name is called out at the middle school assembly--he knew something was up when he was told to dress up for the occasion :) Marina graduated from the Lower to Middle School so she'll be a BGOC, big girl on campus, this fall. I just can't believe how the time flies and my children grow. We are so blessed to have wonderful kids that are both imperfect and perfect the way nature intended! They make us proud and keep us busy and laughing. Nico and Emma continue to mature as they keep up with their siblings in tenacity and curiosity. They both do gymnastics and look forward to nothing else on the day of their classes!

I took all the kiddies and two of their friends who are moving back to the U.S., Logan and Brinley, to an amusement park not far from our home called Chessington World of Adventures. They had a lot of fun running around and getting wet! Nico and Logan hung out as Mason is not much of a daredevil but his friend Logan is. Marina and Brinley kept each other amused as well with multiple water rides. The park wasn't too crowded since the British schools are still in session (till mid-July, poor children). Mason did go on his first roller coaster, the Vampire, so I was proud of his courage, and Nico surprised us by taking on a monster ride with Logan. It was one of those swirl in circles, zip around corners, go upsidedown roller coasters--he survived and loved it. Must have gotten Mark's genes to handle that one!

Nico Man Turns 7 (A Month Later :)

2009-06-15T14:17:00.000-07:00

Busy Times, Random Photos

2009-05-20T13:14:00.001-07:00

They say a picture is worth a thousand words . . . well imagine what's going on here, ok? Cause we're really busy and I don't have time to elaborate :)

Nico's 1st grade trip to the London Zoo, then Mark's first triathalon, the Thames Turbo, followed by various leftovers from our Portugal trip and Marina's Roman Day presentation. Hopefully Nico's Spring Concert, Lion King pics, kids' baseball, Paolo Nutini, more Stonehenge and most importantly, Nico's 7th birthday photos will make it up here soon!

Obidos

2009-04-28T23:52:00.001-07:00

A medieval, walled village with ramparts you can walk upon? We're there and walking the death-defying walls (not really d.d. but scary for the mom of rambunctious 3 and 6 yr. olds). This was a very pretty place, not very grand but well preserved and not too

touristy! I guess that's how you could sum up Portugal (except in the southern Algarve during the summer).

Lovely Lisboa

2009-04-23T06:40:00.001-07:00

Elevador De Santa Justa, designed by a student of Eiffel

Typical colorful buildings

The entry of Se de Lisboa, a Romanesque cathedral

Hanging out at Castelo de Sao Jorge, basically a fortress that sits atop the city. We loved the tile buildings, too.

Family photos and danger at every corner of the castle. Tip: don't bring your umbrella stroller or any stroller for that matter, on the tour. There's barely enough room to walk the walls--scary but good, clean fun.

Nico attempted to mark his territory at the urinol nearby the castle.

Locals skateboarding

Day One, Praia d'el Rey

2009-04-22T13:45:00.000-07:00

Ahh, who doesn't love the beach? Well Mason, for one. So you won't find him in any of these pictures but we did have some fun later in the sand dunes at Peniche. We'll get to them later. We arrived in Lisbon, Portugal and drove northwest to Praia d'el Rey (where we rented a town home). There is a beautiful Marriott Resort there and a bunch of homes and condos as well. Later in the week Mark and Mason tried to play golf, but you had to have a statement from your country club or golf pro testifying of your handicap of 26 or lower. Or, you could have them analyze your skills for 30 min. and pay a large sum for said activity. So, the boys played at a run-down golf course that was more miniature golf theme park than anything! They had fun, and Mason and Mark will have good memories for a lifetime. But I digress . . .

It was one of the three sunny but rather chilly and windy days of our trip. We headed to the sea since the kids were dying to stick their feet, legs, and eventually their bums in the freezing water. The beach reminded me of Carmel and some of the places we frequented in NorCal. In other words, beautiful but wetsuits recommended. There were lots of dead little crabs on the shore and thus the few photos of our little friends handling them. It was a great start to our vacation.

More Legoland Windsor Fun

2009-04-19T14:40:00.000-07:00

We love Legoland, a lot! As Mark visits major league baseball stadiums each year to achieve his life-long dream of seeing a game in every stadium, so do my children dream of visiting every Legoland in existence . . . not too hard considering there are a lot less of them than baseball venues! San Diego (CA), Germany, England, and the remaining Denmark to be conquered. We traveled to Windsor for the second time, and fortunately, enjoyed the day with chilly winds but no psycho rain. I decided to get annual passes since it's about 45 min. drive from our house. It's usually less if there's not much traffic. Let's hope we use them more than our Disneyland Paris passes, ha ha! Our friend, Brittney, came with us, and I believe we opened her eyes to what life is like for a family with four children of various ages. A challenge? Methinks so.

By the way, check out the picture of Marina and Nico on the carousel. They are spinning their seat/teacup around so fast the poor, unlucky kid seated with them is about to hurl. The look on his mother's face says it all while my kids have a look of sheer evil on theirs'. She told them to calm down, fortunately. It was a priceless and proud parenting moment.

Face Paint

2009-04-09T00:57:00.000-07:00

We made a little trip into London to see "Oliver!" (Nico and I that is). But of course, we had to take everyone and make it a family affair by stopping at Hamleys, the biggest, overpriced toy store in England. While there Emma decided she wanted to have her face painted, something she's been begging me to do since her Feb. birthday. Yes, I am a bad mother, but hopefully I made it up to her with this kitty masterpiece. Every time someone looked at her and made a remark, though she would suddenly become coy and shy. She is skilled in the ways of little girldom!

The musical was great, by the way, with Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean) as Fagin. That was the main reason Nico wanted to go and since it's his birthday in May, his wish was granted. Now if only his other birthday wishes were so easy!

Hampton Court Palace

2009-03-24T16:50:00.000-07:00

Brittney, Emma and I recently spent a day at Henry VIII's home. It's only 10-15 min. from our house so we figured it was about time to check it out. It's lovely and we also enjoyed the gardens (including Paddington's Marmalade Maze--not really the name, just the title of a book but a maze nontheless). The grounds are beautiful and Emma loved all the daffodils! She's such a picture poser. I thought the gift shop was funny since Henry and his six wives took up most of the postcard displays. I'll have to brush up on their history but no "Tudor" episodes for me, please.

Warning: Raw Meat Photos Ahead!

2009-03-18T10:40:00.000-07:00

Mark and Nico took a quick trip to NM a few weeks ago and he recently downloaded his pictures. It almost makes Alamogordo look tempting with it's flora, fauna and dazzling sunsets . . . almost :) The highlight was visiting with Aunt Judy and Uncle Bill, as Judy is battling cancer for the 3rd time and Mark felt a great need to see her again after a few years of absence. Nico also hung out with Granpa H., making beef jerky and chopping wood. The joys of retirement! Great Grandpa Ashdown also paid some visits to the Hamberlin homestead and the boys very much enjoyed their brief but meaningful stay. Thanks Mom and Dad Hamberlin!

So Good, So Deadly

2009-03-18T10:36:00.000-07:00

These mint chocolate Kit Kat bars are too tasty for words. They're like the mint chocolate Girl Scout cookie crack that I've been fortunate to avoid for years . . . but now this is jeopardizing all that.

Seussical and the Paris Semi

2009-03-15T15:04:00.001-07:00

Man, there aren't enough hours in the day to blog so I'm constantly playing catch up. Marina had a few whirlwind weeks with ACS's production of "Seussical Jr." It was the first time the school attempted an all-ages involved musical and it turned out so well, with so much hard work involved on everyone's part. I wish I had taken more pictures, but I volunteered to help behind the scenes and couldn't take any pictures. The one performance I did see we were told no flash photography allowed so I obeyed. She was a Who and really enjoyed learning some dances and songs as part of the chorus. Most of the chorus was made up of her fourth grade friends, in fact, thus practice was more play for them I think. Now she is going through withdrawal and listening to the soundtrack everyday, even in the shower.

Marina didn't have too much time to reminisce as we boarded the Eurostar soon after her last show on Friday. Actually, Mark told me to take an earlier train and he would come later with the kids so I could relax a bit and not stress before my half-marathon. We had to laugh, though, as it was twice as hard to get our two groups here and there with all the transport and taxiing involved. Fortunately we have our sweet friend, Brittney, visiting from CA, and she has been a huge help with the kids and with helping me get things done. I did enjoy a quiet train ride and walking around Paris in the crisp weather, getting my race info. and number, eating my baguette sandwich and flan with no interruptions, and taking pictures of the Chateau de Vincennes. Not as glamorous as it may sound since it's the end of the metro 1 line and not the most picturesque of neighborhoods. But I can't complain, it's Paris so you can't go wrong, right? The next day, Sat., we met up with our friend Micheline, and passed Mason off to his friend, Max, for a sleepover. They had a party of sorts with other guys from school (lucky boy). The other kids were disappointed they didn't get to see their own friends with the breakneck speed of our trip, however, I've promised them a week trip after school's out to visit with their ASP chums. We visited the Pompidou and shopped a wee bit, walking a lot more than we should have, but it's Paris, right? :) Ok, I am annoying.

Long story short, I survived, my knees were good with Mark's braces (though I think I resembled an old woman), and I finished in the frosty wind and rain. It made me want to do another one and not do another one. We'll see what the future brings. Mark's training for a mini-triathalon so I'll leave the next race to him. We really miss that place and the people! Micheline even showed up in the cruddy weather to support me and I was very touched. She is such a kind-hearted person and Emma is lucky to have a sweet bond with her.

Grommets and Sucettes

2009-03-01T14:09:00.000-08:00

Nico had grommets (tubes) put in his ears and his adenoid removed last week so we've been taking it easy--not really--since his big hospital day. He had to stay home from school for a week to keep from catching anything, thus he was one bored dude. At least he had Emma to fight and play with . . . I didn't take pictures of his experience but all went well. As he received the injection of anesthesia in his hand (through the prepared tube), he remarked, "That feels cold and weird." Then a few seconds later the eyes roll, he sneezes three times, and a big chunk of snot shot out his nostril. Poor kid, unconscious and lying there with a big boogie on his face. I was a very proud mother as the doctors had never seen such marvel before! Let's hope this is the end of his ear infection era. He is back at school and in gymnastics with a bang.

Marina's school musical, "Seussical Jr." is almost ready to premiere this week. She's had a ton of rehearsals and the kids are doing a wonderful job. I've been able to help out at some of the practices and it's so fun to see it all coming together. She's a Who in the chorus with most of the lead parts going to the high school students. I think it's been a great experience for her and am happy her confidence seems to have grown, too.

Our friend, Brittney, has arrived for three months from Morgan Hill. She has already been a huge help with the kids and routine, and we hope to repay her with some travel and adventure. That shouldn't be too difficult with our kids :) Her boyfriend recently entered the Navy so she is loyally writing him letters and keeping in touch with his/her family; we hope the time passes quickly for the lovebirds while he is at bootcamp and she is here.

I also had the pleasure of hosting a baby shower for my friend Holly and her sweet baby, Tristan. They are a fellow Cisco family and we have kids around the same age (you may have seen pictures from our trip to the Bath area in Oct.). We had a good turnout and Holly got some really cute things for her little girl. I think most of the moms had older children so we didn't waste their time with baby shower games and the like. We did the important stuff, like eat, talk and open gifts! Holly was a good sport and even helped me set up the food since I am an organizational mess. Brittney also saved the day with her child watching and fruit-cutting skills! This weekend we'll be heading to Paris for my semi-marathon and hope to catch up with a few friends (especially Mason's friend, Max) and Micheline, Emma's buddy. If you're reading this please pray that my knees can withstand 13 miles of pavement! I'm serious.

M&M's Birthday

2009-02-20T15:31:00.000-08:00

Emma is no longer a toddler. My baby is a big girl now (including the potty training thing)! I don't feel sad, but I do miss snuggling a smaller child when I see a baby. Fortunately she's still very cuddly so I'm lucky that way. She was able to celebrate her birthday with two different cakes for two different locations: once in Kent and once in Esher (so Dad and Nico could sing and eat with us). This little girl is a gift as she has bonded with each of her brothers and sister

in a way that holds them together whether they like it or not. They watch out for her and we are blessed by her presence!

Feeling Kentish

2009-02-17T05:57:00.001-08:00

Here we are in Canterbury, home of the Canterbury Cathedral and of course, The Canterbury Tales. While Mark took Nico for a quick visit to NM with the Hamberlin relatives, Mason, Marina, Emma, and I ventured east for a few days. It was Emma's first trip as a potty-trained woman and she also celebrated her 3rd birthday (more on that later). We enjoyed ourselves, though there are few pictures to prove it :) The kids were definitely not in the mood to pose with the rainy weather and walking itinerary, but we managed to see most of what we could in three days. There are so many great little villages, animal parks, shopping areas and castles in the area--though this comes as no surprise--just a little challenging when lots of places are closed for the winter season. We'll have to come again with Marcus and Nico when it's a bit warmer for some jousting and shoulder rubbing with Chaucer.

Emma was really freaked out by the "Canterbury Tales" visitor centre. It should've had a sign posted outside that said "all naive tourists were welcome!" It was a bit creepy with these old , robotic mannequins telling you the watered-down tales every four minutes (in dark corners here and there) through the labyrinth building, however, it made it all the more campy and memorable. I think even Mason was scared and amused--no small feat.

Snow Day!

2009-02-02T12:56:00.000-08:00

Today the UK saw it's heaviest snowfall since 1991. We measured about a foot and it's already melting, but who knows what tomorrow may bring (except another snow day). Apparently England isn't prepared for snow accumulation--I read on CNN that they used most of their salt and melting sprays this weekend preparing for the storm! Hmm, who's in charge here? Anyway, the kids won't complain when they get two days off of school.

The snow was beautiful and Mark was also able to work from home, fortunately. He helped clear up the drive a bit, and together we made a mini snowman while Mason made "the world's awesomest snow fort." His words, not mine. Of course, this is nothing for our seasoned mountain dwellers and east coast friends, yet it was wonderful to have a winter wonderland in our own neck of the woods.

Vienna

2009-01-29T00:27:00.001-08:00

Did you think I was done with our Austria pictures? Of course not! If only I wasn't too lazy to properly post these pictures with commentary underneath, but as I'm lucky enough to post them I'll leave it to the pro bloggers (though I'm sure it's really easy to do).

Can I stress just how beautiful Vienna is? The architecture is very cool, kind of like Paris but with more quirkiness. It was freezing so we didn't spend a lot of time oohing and ahhing but one day I'd love to return and really digest all that we saw. I'll have to watch "Before Sunrise," too, and relive the time spent there. We went to a natural history museum and hung out with the Viennese New Year revelers. It was a good mix of fun and culture for the whole family. We know now why so many Austrians smoke, drink and wear fur . . . it was freaking cold! I know I already said that but it can't be said enough when one is walking around everywhere in the dead of winter. I loved seeing people doing the waltz and learning various dances from instructors and performers on these stages set up around the city. The people are very proud of their skills as they should be. Another funny thing was people wearing pig hats and vendors selling pig paraphernalia all over--could someone explain this to me?

Mason's a Teenager?!

2009-01-25T02:46:00.000-08:00

Time keeps on slippin' and you end up with a 13 yr. old son. He's seemed like a teen for so long now it's not much of a revelation, but we are grateful it's the "good" kind of teen connotation. Mason is a wise one in many ways, but then there are days his mom remembers he is still a boy. He knows his limits and doesn't try to manipulate his parents, he helps with his little sister (notice Nico and Marina aren't included here :), and he tries to do well in school. I am noticing a new sense of confidence with his studies and I hope it continues! We're really proud of him.

Mason was supposed to arrive around Jan. 16 (and the Noreaster of '96), however, he had different plans. Why come outside when it's so nice and cozy inside? That set the stage for his life's theme! After some medieval torture/induction methods the night before, Mason the moose made his grand appearance later the next day, Jan. 24th, at 4:59 pm. He even managed to be named South Orange NJ's New Year's baby . . . what on Jan. 24? The town paper nicknamed him "Manson," which we quickly corrected even though it went published as such. No cult connections, please. After a bit of colic the first and second month, he really became my little buddy and shadow. Sometimes he still creeps up on me to see if I know he's there, or will talk my ear off about the latest video game, an injustice at school, or his favorite Simpson/Sandler/Ferrell moments.

On the 31st, Mason and seven of his friends (plus Dad) will head to Campaign Paintball and spend the day celebrating his birthday. He's been wanting to do this for a while and hopefully Dad will not be the target of all these young men's agressions, or vice verse! Mark and I are continuously surprised at what our little surprise, thirteen years ago, brings to our family. Happy Birthday, Mason-nouille!

Ice Skating

2009-01-18T22:45:00.000-08:00

As soon as Mason stepped on the ice he saw his whole life flash before him, including a whack to the head in Strasbourg, France. That was his last memory of ice skating. So, he attempted three minutes, max, and became our photographer after deciding his were not blades of glory.

The other kids, however, were all over the ice (mostly in good ways). After seeing the rink a day earlier, Mark and I froze our toukas off whilst the youngsters enjoyed circling round and round. There were a few of these polar bear and penguin guides--not enough, though--for little guys to lean upon thus you see the photo of Nico and a particularly obnoxious child vying for Mr. Penguin. That kid would try to take any one he could get, and we witnessed him trying to steal several, even when he had another one in his possession. His mother almost took me out with some vigorous skating so I guess their talent ran in the family! Marina did very well so her inline skating must be paying off. Nico was kamikaze but also remarkably solid for only his second time. Emma relived the excitement of an episode of 'Peppa Pig' ice skating and wouldn't stop, even when Mark and I got tired of holding her up for an hour and a half. We got our quota in for the year!

The Beast

2009-01-16T02:36:00.000-08:00

Here are a few shots of our rental car in Austria--wasn't it kind of us to provide free advertising for Buchbinder rentals? Just a word of warning, I don't advise booking with AutoEurope because they sell your reservation to other companies (which I knew, but I reserved a Chrylser Caravan not an airport shuttle :) It only took the heat 45 min. to circulate in the van! But the best part was that we were able to park in front of our hotel in Salzburg for free since the van was too high to fit in the paid parking garage. Vienna, however, was a different story. We had to park the beast in a bus parking lot, ha ha and lost any money we might have saved. Oh, well . . . all's well that ends well!

Salzburg, 1

2009-01-12T07:48:00.001-08:00

This post goes from sunset to sunrise; a bit backwards, but that was theme of our Griswald holiday vacation! You'll see what I mean when I reveal a picture of our luxurious rental car; it made us laugh and cry at the same time.

In both Salzburg and Vienna we enjoyed freezing temperatures, so even though there wasn't snow on the ground (albeit in the mountains), il faisait froid! We walked around the quaint and picturesque city with about a million other tourists, and all along "The Sound of Music" soundtrack played through our minds. Someday we hope to return to Maria's home when the hills are alive and green! Check out Mark posing with Mozart and his chocolate balls below. Just so you know, there are also Beethoven balls, Princess Sisi discs and Schubert's mounds. Conjures up all sorts of lovely ideas! One never knows what you can endorse when you're dead famous. We had lots of fun ice skating, too. It seems we have to torture ourselves every time we spot a quaint skating rink in a village center because it just seems more like Christmas! Ok, that and the kids wouldn't stop asking :)

Christmas 2009

2009-01-07T07:07:00.000-08:00

It hardly seems fair that there is so much build up and hype to Christmas and then boom, it's over. So, I wanted to savor that wonderful celebration of our Saviour's birth with a few pictures. It was a very peaceful day spent with our little family, and we indeed have much too be grateful for . . . we also have much to work toward, in terms of bettering ourselves and giving Jesus Christ the best kind of gift one can offer. And what would that be? Perhaps a kinder, gentler heart, less arguing and yelling and more listening and serving, and developing true charity and humility. The list goes on.

Let's get our "houses" in order! I pray 2009 will be a year of good health and happiness for our family and yours.

Christmas Eve

2009-01-04T15:19:00.000-08:00

Just a few pics from our Christmas Eve gathering . . . we hosted our friends, the Crane family, their friends from Italy (Max, Louise and Sophia), the sister missionaries, and brothers Moses and Noel. It was a fun evening with dinner, dessert and capped off by the traditional (or not :) Nativity reading and "play."