Yes, Please!

What a fun week! We started with a family outing to the GERMAN MARKET. We rode the bus into town and got off at the big new-ish library. They set up a ferris wheel and ice skating rink outside, and then the shops start-there are SO many good things to EAT. We saw fudge, crepes, hot chocolate, onion rings, donuts, and more. There are also shops selling trinkets, hats and mitts, and even a little place with hand carved animals you can play! The guy selling them never says anything, he just plays different animals (like blowing into an owl carving that sounds like an owl “hooting”, rub a stick down the back of a frog that sounds like “croaking,' etc…) We shared some giant chocolate covered marshmallows, Paul tried an authentic bratwurst, and I sampled schnitzel! It’s basically a breaded pork steak you can eat in a bun with ketchup and mustard. Yum!

We met up with a few friends from Paul’s cohort too! It was a cold day, but we had fun laughing together and getting warm in McDonald’s while I fed Alice. I promised Rachel we would ride the Merry-Go-Round, so we made sure to “ride the horsey” before heading home.

That night, Bev and Becky Mace came over to babysit while Paul took me ON A DATE. WHAT!!!!!!!! WE WENT ON A DATE!!!!!!!!! We were kind of like kids-Bev dropped us off at the movie theater and we went to see Mockingjay. We smuggled in a few treats, but I couldn’t resist buying some Ben and Jerry’s. (They sell ice cream at every theater here, and before the movie starts, they show like 15 minutes of commercial ads that are HILARIOUSLY terrible. Sorry England. They also show like 3 movie trailers.) I can’t even explain how great it was to sit by my husband and just breathe for 2 hours. Nobody needed a nappy change, made messes, cried, or needed feeding. I got to be Melanie for a few minutes, and then when I got home, I was a much better Mommy! I testify of date night. Amen.

Wednesday was spent baking and packing for our trip to visit the Beasley’s in Loughborough. We had such a great time relaxing together-watching “White Christmas”, getting caught up on “Downton Abbey,” feeding the ducks at the park, and I even got to sit in the hot tub for a bit! They rented a hot tub for the week since it was Rebecca and Mike’s birthdays. They also gave us an early Christmas and early birthday for Rachel! Rachel got a little yellow scooter she calls her “motorcycle”. She loves it so much, she became hysterical when we tried to give her another present to open. Haha! We all got cute “jumpers”(sweaters) for Christmas Jumper Friday! Apparently it’s a thing? You can wear your jumper to work or school and people usually donate a few pounds to charity. We took a little family picture in front of the Beasley’s Christmas tree, and it definitely felt like Christmas to us! And it wouldn’t be Christmas without someone getting sick, right? Rachel got carsick and vomited all over herself on the way to the Beasley’s, and the next day I came down with a fever of 101. We had a little trouble getting through the nights, but all in all, it was such a great trip.

When we got home, Paul and I talked about how we don’t even know what to do-we feel guilty for all the things people have done for us or given us. It literally feels awful to know we can never catch up-never repay all the service we’ve received. It makes me a little depressed, but at the same time, I’m overwhelmingly happy and grateful for all we’ve been given. I guess it’s oddly appropriate to have these feelings at this time of year! This Christmas, because of our recent experiences, we are more aware than ever before that we are forever indebted to and grateful for the Savior. There’s no way we can repay him, and there’s no point in keeping a tally, because we’ll never catch up. It literally requires “all we can do” and then some. So, I guess we’ll keep doing what we can and feel forever grateful for the difference that is miraculously made up.

Saturday was indeed a special day. Not only did we “clean the house and get ready for Sunday”, but we were visited by Robin Dick, Lewis Quinn, and Jonathan and Becky Mace who happened to be in the neighborhood for lunch. It did our hearts a world of good to have a house full of laughter and love. We are so grateful for the amazing experiences in Nauvoo that brought us together, and I am so glad we didn’t have to say goodbye!

Sunday, we went to church and watched the #heisthegift video. I love it! Such a great reminder of the true meaning of Christmas. If you haven’t seen it, take the 3 minutes and go visit lds.org to watch it. You’ll be glad you did.

We spent that afternoon and evening at the Moody’s with the Cornilles’s and Alan Farnes. (Erin was sick, dang it!) We’re all Americans-most of us moved to the UK about the same time. And we wanted to try some traditional English Christmas treats. There are LOADS of Christmas puddings and biscuits (cookies) in the stores right now alongside the normal chocolates and things. We liked most things, but the real winner was Alan’s cinnamon rolls. Ha! Definitely not English, but SOOO yummy! I really like Turkish Delight too.

Today, we went on a family adventure into town and enjoyed the sunshine. We also had the missionaries over for dinner and watched the First Presidency Christmas Devotional for FHE. (Family Home Evening) We particularly loved hearing the choir sing.

So, Paul and I are nerds. We own three different Lord of the Rings card games-each one is based on the books. We usually play a round or two at night unless we’re really tired. Then we either go to bed after we put Rachel down, or we watch an episode of the West Wing or something. Anyway, I am on this awesome winning streak, and Paul is DETERMINED to beat me. Last night, we played for “toilet cleaning duty” and… he lost again. Booya! I think tonight we’ll play for vacuuming. Or sleep in hours? Haha!

Rachel’s corner:
-SO good at taking care of her baby dolly. I love the way she holds it and says “Ya ok, baby?”
-loves riding her motorcycle from the Beasley’s
-her “happy voice” is improving and she says “yes please” almost every time she wants something! It’s so cute! When she doesn’t want something, she says “nnnnnnope!” Hilarious.
-She discovered that I have long hair, so she likes to pull/play with it and says “long HAIR Mommy” over and over. She also reminds me that Rapunzel has long hair too.
-She asks me to sing Rapunzel or Frozen while we walk to and from the store or park. I think the people on the street secretly love it too?

All About Alice:
-I’ve discovered that I don’t know her well. I don’t have as much time to just sit and look at her the way I used to with Rachel. And every child after this will be exponentially less… it makes me sad. But I do love every minute together.
-She slept 7 hours the other night. What a wonderful baby!
-She really smiles a lot and is starting to make the cutest little talking sounds!
-I’ve decided she likes Paul better than me because she feels safer in his arms. She is SO BIG I can’t hold her and bounce and keep her pacifier in her mouth all at the same time. When Paul holds her, he can just use one arm and she’s still safe. That’s got to be it, right?