Rain and More Rain

It was been pouring rain for days now. It's getting a little old. Tuesday we ventured to the gym and got utterly soaked on the 2mi walk home, even with the kids in their rain suits!

We kept busy playing with Legos (this is a T Rex with a gun and a tree and 2 flowers nearby):

And baked:

Fruit pizza:

Raspberry Bars:

I was totally craving the fruit pizza. It was difficult to find some things (no prepared sugar cookie rolls or frozen whipped topping) but I found another recipe to made the sugar cookie crust and use Philly Cream cheese, sugar and vanilla for the topping. Oh and I purchased creme fraiche thinking it was the sweet topping we get when we order the Swedish pancakes with berries and creme fraiche at the Maltby Cafe (my fave) back home. I did think it was odd when it suggested putting it on top of jacket potatoes. Turns out, it is like sour cream! Good thing I tasted a spoonful first! Ha, we couldn't find sour cream at the store a different time and that would be why! 

The kids took a 3+hr nap and it was great because I was able to clean the whole house in prep for my parent's arrival Wed (and Lexie's fam visiting right after that).

Then today we watched "Back to the Future" and then ran errands when the rain stopped and the sun finally came out. Ha, we got all ready to go after lunch and the minute we opened the door, it started raining again of course. I swear, that happens to us all the time!

We definitely had to go play outside! We got apps and dinner ready and were waiting for my parents to arrive between 6-7 but got a call from them at 7 saying their flight got delayed due to thunder in London and that they lost one of their bags so it will probably be more like 9:30.  Sounded like a long day!

Hailey kept getting all excited and squealing at her drawings, it was funny.

Hailey's Curls and the Tank Museum

Love this girl's curls! A bit of a rainy morning so I took some pics while the kids played and did some housework. 

This afternoon Chris took Ethan to the Tank Museum (the sun came out when they were leaving around 12:30 but it was kind of too late to head to the air show at that point). Ethan's favorite was the "dump truck tank".

Then we walked along the pier while Ethan rode his trike:

S'mores on the grill after fish bbq (becoming Sunday tradition). It was funny, Ethan said tonight, "What about fish and chips? I think I'm ready for some again now." (Ha, all of us needed a several month break from fish and chips) :)

She was trying to lick it off her belly:

Crabbing Again

This picture was actually pretty taken for the purpose of making fun of Nick Smith at work about his vast Hello Kitty knowledge (apparently Hello

kitty is a blonde English girl character). These two love their Hello Kitty coin purses though. Nick has been out here for two weeks and then a week later for three weeks. He comes and BBQ's with us once a week or so, it's been fun to hang out with him and have him here. The kids love him too, they get really excited when he comes over and Ethan calls him Nicky.

Crabbing take two while it was nice and sunny (Chris had to work a half day this Sat):

Hailey and Ethan cheersing with sippy cups with some girl they befriended (neither Hailey nor Ethan is shy in the least bit):

Holding the line:

Playing with the dog. Hailey was actually having a full-on conversation with the dog. They miss Syd.

Ready to take on the world:

Caught five crabs today!

Dumping them back in:

Fun to watch this crab run and take a dive off the edge:

Fun Wedding party transport:

Three crabbies reading (no, just Hailey. She was pretty crabby after her nap.):

We were supposed to go to the Biurnemouth Air Show this weekend but the weather is not cooperating. Unexpected downpour started this afternoon and tomorrow is pretty much 100% rain. Hmm... The countdown until our sunny Sicily getaway begins (only 5 more days)!

"Hailey, we're best friends."

This kid knows how to melt his mom's heart. So glad they've been really buddy buddy lately (even if they turn on each other on a dime). :)

Look at this girl just lounge while she has Ethan running around in circles for her. :)

Right after this (we had been at the park for about 30min.) it started POURING rain. Soaking wet. 

And today as well. I think there has been more rain than sun in this UK summer.

Makes you want a nice warm beverage... Cheers!

Ethan also told me that he wants to take his grandparents (who arrive in 5days) crabbing every day. "It's so much fun, you can do it every day!" Big fan here, if you can't tell... That, and he wants to color with them.

Motorcycle Tuesday on the Quay

Every Tuesday, hundreds of motorcycles descend on the quay. Just about every motorcycle imaginable is present. Here were some of the kids and I's favorites tonight:

Also, Ethan really wanted this Lightning McQueen keychain so I told him he could use his own money from his coin purse to get it. So we went back after his nap (£1 in coins ready to go in a ziplock bag) and he stood in line and bought it all by himself.