So, Am I lonely yet??

Well, we're into week four of our overseas adventure and so far so good. We've settled in at the 'flat' and the only thing left is hanging some pictures, which I can't seem to motivate my husband to do. Josephine begins drama and computer class in the ASL after school program next week and she's also really loving the soccer (football) program in Primrose Hill on the weekends. Chris Jr. is also doing well. We've found a new part time babysitter who is also Chinese and she comes at the beginning of each week. She's going to take him to a fun creative play class at Ready, Steady, Go, a little preschool/mommy and me program across the park. Then at the end of the week he and I go to the gym together and on Fridays he has a music class at Gymboree.

So, we're all settled, right? Right... Well, maybe not all settled. I'm still trying to find a place for myself here. I'm trying to volunteer at Josephine's school and meet new moms through the St. John's Wood Women's Club. But as those of you closest to me know, I don't really make friends easily. Sometimes it seems like moms are supposed to automatically be friends when they have children of the same age, and that just doesn't always work for me. I guess I need more of a connection with people before I really feel comfortable. What I'm really saying is that making friends is hard, and though I'm not a shy person by any means, I'm always surprised at how long it takes for me to build a connection with new people when we move to new places. In Darien it was probably a year or more before I felt like I had some friends there. I hope it doesn't take me as long to meet people here, that might make for a long, lonely year! :)

That said, we are really loving London. Last weekend we explored the National Science Museum in Kensington and I have never seen Chris Jr. so excited! He was running all over the place yelling about the rocket ships, moons and stars in the exhibit about space. It was adorable! Then we returned to St. John's Wood and had a great dinner with the kids, the highlight of which was sharing the most delicious strawberry milkshake I think I've ever had. I think they made it with gelato... it was DELICIOUS!

The kids have also finally discovered

the train set that we got from their cousins about two years ago. Chris Jr. actually went into Josephine's room one morning and built a track by himself, though it wasn't completely connected, and they are both enjoying making complicated tracks with their Daddy after work.

There are also some weird UK habits that I am struggling with:

- All the smoking! I am truly surprised that the entire country isn't dying of lung cancer!

- Not getting up for an obviously pregnant woman on public transportation. Even Chris has remarked on this one. I have YET to have someone get up and offer me their seat on any of the crowded buses we have ridden on. It's just strange, in the U.S. people would jump up and offer me their seat, maybe it's a talking to strangers thing, but I just can't figure it out.

- I also cannot figure out which side of the street/hall/stairs/sidewalk to walk on. This is particularly challenging when pushing a stroller, one-handed, in the rain, while carrying an umbrella, all the while people walking towards me seem to walk wherever they feel like and rarely move to the side to let me pass easily. I'm not going to lie, it can get a little frustrating.

- Tea... ok, so for some reason I have started drinking tea in the afternoons. Which is totally strange to me because I'm usually all alone in my house doing this... maybe it's the weather or maybe I'm just subconsciously getting into the UK spirit of things. Who knows, but it is yummy.

Ok People, I'm Slacking Again... Ready, Set, Relocate!

What can I say? My dedication to blogging is officially waning. But here I am in London with few friends, lots of newness in my life, and not a lot of people to talk to. So maybe this move will be just the motivation I need to reconnect with my computer techie side. We'll see...

The last month and a half has been an adventure to say the least. We closed on our wonderful little house in Connecticut at the beginning of August, and it is ours no more. :( Kind of sad to shut that chapter of our lives. Then we were off for a whirl wind tour of extended 'familydom.' We had a great week in Atlanta visiting friends and going to the mountains with my parents. Their home in Clarksville is very relaxing and the kids just LOVED the pool. Chris Jr. discovered his inner fish and by the end of the visit Josephine was swimming under water.

Then it was off for our final two weeks in the U.S. in central New York. All I can say is that my in-laws deserve some kind of award for putting up with me for so long. I mean, as most of you already know, I am an official pain in the ass, and after three weeks of living out of a suitcase it really showed. We did have a great time at the lake, and I got some good skiing pics of the cousins and Chris.

We finally headed back to CT for one last doctor's visit to check on the baby and then our one-way flight to London at the end of August. The flight and the week to follow were quite a challenge for the entire family. The kids were good on the plane, apart from Chris Jr. spilling my cup of coffee on a lovely older gentleman before the plane even took off. Needless to say, they moved him to First Class within minutes, and we had an extra seat all to ourselves.

The jet lag was a challenge for us all. Josephine and Chris seemed to adjust the fastest, while Chris Jr. and I languished around for days getting up late and not sleeping at night when we were supposed to. Oh well, we've all settled into regular sleep now. Our furniture arrived at almost the same time we did, which made the three weeks of homelessness seem almost worth it! Particularly since I have heard some not so lucky stories from other expats here about waiting weeks and weeks for their shipments to arrive.

Here are some BEFORE pics:

Here we are partially AFTER (we've yet to hang up pics, but that's coming this weekend):

Generally things are going well. As of today we have our bank account sorted out, FINALLY. And all the utilities are on. I think Josephine is enjoying school, and Chris and I are going to her class back to school night this evening, so I may have more details to report after talking with her teachers. I will say that she seems to be adjusting well, and only mentions missing CT occasionally. She spent an hour and 45 minutes at her first UK 'football' practice on Sunday, and she did surprisingly well, considering that many of the other kids have been playing since they were 3 years old!

Chris Jr. is also doing well. The real test will be when Shaobai leaves this weekend. She came with us and has been here every step of the way helping with the move. I have been so lucky and blessed to have her here. Running all these errands without having to drag the kids has been a tremendous help. We will all miss her so much, but she promises to call and maybe even come back for a visit with her husband next year.

As for my husband, he is doing well and continues to run the 5+ miles to work each morning. His suits seem to be holding up well in this crazy Australian commuter backpack garment bag that he bought and wears when he runs, and he's not as sore this week as last week. Personally, I think he's nuts, but he's made a pledge to not ride the tube to work, regardless of weather or exhaustion. At this rate, he'll be back in Death Race shape in no time!! :)

Sending you all lots of love! Keep in touch!