Dear Friend,
The girls and I joined Luke in England on Monday. He picked us up from Heathrow in the morning, and we were still all on U.S. time (the middle of the night). The girls were a bit disoriented to say the least. Maggie fell asleep on the flight and ended up on the floor under her seat, still sound asleep. It was no easy task awakening her from that position...It was like she was in a cave! Her little sister on the other hand, maybe shut her eyes for thirty of the entire six and a half hour flight... It was an awesome time for mom! Actually, despite the pain of not being able to sleep myself, Kelte was a lot of fun, enjoying the cake provided by the in-flight meal (anyone that has seen Kelte eat cake knows exactly what I mean)! A bit hectic getting off the plane and retrieving luggage, but it afforded me the wonderful opportunity to meet new people, begging for their help while toting two screaming toddlers...what a lovely introduction to the Teels in London! I even tried and failed to bribe Maggie to walk with a lollipop, which she took one lick and refused. Kelte, meanwhile, grabbed her sister's and double-fisted lollies all the way through customs.
The next couple of days were a blur. The temporary lodging on base is very clean and nice, but small with a bedroom at each end of a living and kitchen space. Jet lag has proven to be almost paralyzing. Maggie and Kelte both seemed to be living in a haze, the poor little things. Their world was completely rocked regardless of the trip with the move across the ocean to another country, and neither one knows how to communicate well-enough to understand what really has happened....Maggie has asked at least a dozen times to go to Grammy's house.
By Thursday, the girls seemed more like themselves, although they both have struggled with cold symptoms. House hunting has been our main objective this first week...again, not an easy task with little girls in tow! Hopefully, our house hunt is complete and will be finalized on Monday. Our move date should be in mid-February, so we will continue to live as traveling nomads until then. The house should be a good fit for our family over the next few years. Maggie's school will be a short walk down the road. The house itself has a lovely play area for the kids with a duck pond in the front. Across the road is a horse farm that raises thoroughbreds for the races in Newmarket. The village itself is a great central location for Luke to get to work and traveling into the bigger towns around us. I guess Luke and I both knew this was the house when Maggie walked up to the front door and told the real estate agent that she "has a beautiful home."
Finally met some of the wonderful ladies from the squadron that have helped in our transition at a breakfast this morning. Maggie was a bit shy around the new kids, but came right out of her shell when one of the kids asked her to play chase (one of her favorite games). Kelte is still coping with a terrible cough which has made her a bit grumpy (understandably). She smiled and laughed today more than she has the entire week, so that is a step in the right direction.
We spent the rest of the day exploring Bury St. Edmunds, a wonderful little town with open air markets, beautiful gardens and ruins from the 14th century. Maggie and Kelte had fun playing in the park. We went to a chocolatier where Maggie declared to everyone within ear shot that she loves chocolate! Big surprise!
Thanks for reading...until next time, friend.
Our first photos in England with our new little camera. I took the one of Maggie in our beloved TLF (hotel room), but she took the rest. She would have taken many more, if I let her!
