For the love of reading.....

Phia has recently discovered the delights of reading to herself for enjoyment.  She couldn't sleep the other night and so proceeded to read the whole of her 'Junie B Jones' chapter book to herself.

The problem with making kids read to you is that it takes a lot of effort on their part whereas reading to yourself is just enjoyable.

The next day I caught her having a quiet few moments reading to herself in the garden.  Perfect :)

The life of an expat

In the last two weeks we have experienced a school ‘lock down’ and an earthquake.  We’re not in Cambridge anymore Toto.

To be the fair the earthquakes measured 3.4 – not exactly the stuff that will bring down houses.  It moved the sofa by about a 1cm.  And only I (in the Mole family) felt it.  But still.

The lockdown thing was all a storm in a teacup really.  Still frightening nonetheless.  Reading an email titled ‘URGENT – PLEASE READ – SCHOOL IN SEMI LOCKDOWN’ is not good for your health.

A quick summary – a death threat was delivered to one of the Appleseed (preschool that shares it campus with Carden) teachers.  This meant the kids spent their day locked in their classrooms and then the armed police were sent to patrol the area.  As soon as the word ‘firearm’ was mentioned Sophia was out of there so fast her feet didn’t touch the ground.  This was on a Friday and we fully intended to keep her at home until all guns, in the hands of the police or not, had vacated the premises.  Fortunately by Monday normalness had resumed. 

Sophia was totally nonplussed by the whole affair but again something to remind us of exactly where we’re living.  That and Ste’s seeming effort to attend every American sporting event in the area – the Sharks and the Earthquakes have a tick.  Think it’s the Sabrecats next week – who??!

You live life so differently as an expat.  We had a Brit mum’s night out last week.  It was great fun.  We are all very different and yet exactly the same because we live here.  Only when speaking to a British person whilst living in America would you start a conversation, “so, what’s your life plan?” and then proceed to make a firm friend in about 5 minutes.  And sunshine or not, there’s no way I would have survived without my wonderful fast friendships.

Fucking birds

The 5.30am dawn chorus wakes me up every morning and then I can't go back to sleep.  There are two pigeons determined to nest in the gutter right outside our bedroom window.  Ste has throw a flip flop at them, bashed them with a broom and I have hosed them down 3 times.  They keep coming back.. They are truly stupid, stupid birds.  To top it off there is also a bird in the garden that sounds like a mobile phone.  One that no-one picks up.  Whats left of my sanity will shortly leave me if these things don't 'beat it' very soon.

The beginning of May heatwave has been intense.  Set to be 90F tomorrow which actually means 100F out of the shade and this means at least 150F in my car.  All very well and good but it needs to be proper summer for these temperatures which means that the kids need to have finished school.  This is still another 5 weeks away.  I'm not moaning, really I'm not, I'm just hot.  And tired, due to the fucking birds

Summer (well April!) days in the garden)

For some, its just all a bit too much.

Jason (and his friend Lee) come for tea.  Good excuse for BBQ and wine/beer on a Monday!

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Bio-metrics for Insomniacs

So D day will soon be upon us. Our appointment for our bio-metrics for our Green Card application is on Tues 14^th May. The last step in the ‘oh so lengthy’ process of becoming residents. As Lorraine commented – we are now in spitting distance.

This of course prompted the discussion over tea about me getting a job. Now it’s very real that soon I will be able to apply for stuff, I actually feel quite terrified by the prospect. It means breaking free from my little ‘Sian Bubble’ and joining the real world of the big bad Americans. Not to mention the questions of ‘what exactly will I do?’, ‘how will I find something part time?’, ‘will they pay me more than 10 cents an hour?’ and of course, ‘will anyone actually want me?!’

This was enough to prompt a very sleepless night. That and the fact that it may be the end of April but it actually feels like August. It was just too hot to sleep. Not that I am complaining mind. I post this picture only to remind myself of how wonderful living here can be!

At 1am I’d had enough and got up and did a bit of work on my stories. ‘The Word Thief’ is nearly done. Please let someone publish it so I don’t have to look for a ‘real job’ 

Lets go Sharks

Ste's birthday treat was a family day out to a Sharks (ice hockey) match at the HP Pavilion in San Jose.

The biggest treat for both of us was when everyone rose to their feet to listen to a fat lady sing the national anthem and in the quiet T bellowed 'GO SHARKS' at the top of his lungs.  Classic T.

In fairness we had told the kids they could make as much noise as they wanted.  And they did.  They joined in with all the singing and silliness.  The ice hockey is more like a show than a game - they kept stopping play to have dancing competitions, a giant shark hung from the ceiling and when a goal was scored a loud horn sounded and the only thing they didn't do was let off fireworks.  Had it been played outdoors I sure they would have :)  It was a bit like being at a fair.  It was good fun though if only watching the greedy Americans eat Nachos, burgers, corn dogs in vast quantities.  Lots of people ate throughout the whole game.

Sophia in particular loved it.  She had been to an ice staking party earlier in the day and so was full having already been on the ice herself.  She joined in with everything and was really rooting for the Sharks to beat the Blue Jackets (?!).  T started off in fine form.  I'm actually surprised he hasn't lost his voice this morning.  Due to the late kick off time though he fell asleep (no idea how with the noise around him) in the 3rd period but woke up for the Sharks 3rd goal.  Unfortunately the Blue Jackets scored the winner in the last minute and he cried all the way home.  Life is hard when you're 4.

All in all a brilliant birthday treat and we shall go back (when we've saved up!)

2 years in - tick

So we've been here for 2 years.  Wow.  Time flies when you're having fun ;)  We celebrated with a trip to Six Flags where Ste got me to go on this hideous rollercoaster thing.  All good fun.

Mum has been over and its been spring break too so plenty of opportunity to explore.  We left the sunshine behind for the day to go to San Fran.  Freezing as usual!  There is a children's museum in Sausalito with a fantastic view of the bridge.

 We spent a happy 3 hours playing with glitter sand, painting on windows and travelling in Cinderella's pumpkin carriage.

I also managed to sneak away for the day and go to a writer's conference in Citrus Heights.  I loved it.  It was completely inspiring and has made me think this is really want I want to do.  My picture book, The Word Thief, is nearing completion and now I just have to sum up the courage to actually start sending it to people.  All fingers crossed.

Closer to 40 than 30

We're getting old.  Its official.  Ste shared his 35th birthday with Easter Sunday yesterday.  The kids and I made him a cake.

Its a motherboard (before you ask!).  We spent the day with the Jelleys.  Had yummy Sunday lunch, an Easter egg hunt and Steve blew out his candles.  Perfect way to spend a Sunday.  Ste and Simon then finished the day off with a trip to the cinema to watch a mindless shoot 'em up.  All good fun.  So Ste's now on the slippery slop towards 40.  Only 18 days till I get there too.  Arrhh!