Dover, Kent

Day 1 we went straight to the White Cliffs of Dover. I absolutely loved being able to stand up at the tops of the cliffs and look into France. It was such an incredible hike, not to mention gorgeous. During WWII, the pilots didn't have navigation systems so they would look for The White Cliffs of Dover to know they had made it home safely!


Day 2 was spent at Dover Castle. I can't even begin to describe the total awe moments when walking through a Medieval Castle. This was the childhood home of Richard the Lionheart. The kids were in absolute heaven running these same halls as Kings and Knights. This castle also played a major role in WWII.

In Need of a Re-Vamp!

Wow! I can't believe how long it has been...a whole year since my last post. And what a year it has been; a third child, a new country, a new job, a new life. If you have ever wondered about your own personal strength, take your family and move to a new country. This has been the most humbling experience of my life. To know that you are completely on your own, is to find a strength within yourself you never knew you had. My kids have been so amazing through all of these changes; school has been such a repreve for them. Braxton goes to an American school at RAF Feltwell and Brollin goes to a British Primary school here in Littleport. Tyler works at RAF Mildenhall about 30 minutes away from our house (which in relation to work and home in California is a HUGE adjustment).

We have been able to travel a little (with what Tyler's work and TDY schedule will allow). We've been to London, Ely, Fotheringhay and Windsor, plus all the immediate local places. England is such an amazing place to have my children grow up; the history and culture alone will fill more than a lifetime. Our biggest adjustments however have been little things; obviously having a house full of American appliances and only British outlets, our small village has NO fast food resteraunts which is all well and fine most days but sometimes I get tired of preparing large meals for a large family every night, being so far North on the globe it is either light 20 hours a day or dark 20 hours a day and most of all I hate not being able to call home when I need too. That time difference SUCKS! Ok, now that I vented a little, I promise it's not all that bad. Cambridgeshire has such a slow, layed-back way of life. Nobody drives or has cell phones; everyone walks or rides bikes. We all shop at a little corner grocery and a small thrift store. Braxton takes dance in a building that was built in 630 AD. A little mind blowing but all together wonderful.

I've decided to take a break from FaceBook, where people only get little snipets (and not always the best) of my life and try to direct some energy into this blog. We miss our family SO much and I find this is a great way to share everything with not only them but everyone. I'll of course focus on my family, but also food and traveling. I hope everyone can share in this adventure with us! (at least vicariously!)

The Barbarian (short & sweet)

He is finally here!! After 9 long months, our new little boy has finally arrived. Tyler and I thought it would be fun to walk around the mall one day afetr picking Brollin up from school and right there in the middle of the Disney Store I went into labor! We rushed to the hospital, Ty took Brollin to Rachel and Danny's house, left a note for Braxton and made it back just in time! My delivery went well, but little Bannick was having a hard time breathing. His pulse-ox was to low for their liking so they transfered him to another hospital. I was dischardged the following morning, which is unheard of after a c-section, but the doctors were so understanding. Bannick stayed in the Northbay NICU for a few days before he was able to come home. The kids have instantly fallen in love and needless to say, so have Tyler and I. He is such a great baby and a wonderful addition to our little family!

Playing Catch-Up

So our lives have been a little crazy this past month and I have a lot to catch up on!

We had a great Easter and it was made even better by the fact that Tyler was actually home for this one! My favorite part is of course the wonderful outfits I get to dress them in! i can't wait till next year when I can buy 3 matching outfits!!

Our sweet little Brollin celebrated his 4th Birthday! I can't believe he is getting so big! He is turning out to be such an amazing boy. Other than fighting with his sister all the time, he's so polite, and friendly in an overly-shy kind of way. He LOVES High School Musical (which of course Ty hates), he rocks his skateboard and loves his soccer practices!

And last but not least, we took an 8 day Hawaiian Vacation! We thought it would be something fun to do before we moved over seas and before the new baby gets here. We went with our great friends, The Foret's and had the most amazing time! Most days were spent at the beach and eating fabulous food, but we also made it to the North Shore, The Honolulu Zoo and The International Marketplace. I think we are going to try and make this trip every 5 years! So now, I'm caught up for a minute...Bannick should be here in less than 3 weeks, we've got moving preperations to do, summer in Utah and Disneyland in October. So many things to look forward to!

A Short Story of Us

Since Tyler and I just celebrated our 9 year anniversary, I thought it would be fun to write a short history of us. I realize sometimes, Ty and I do our own thing and not many people know a whole lot about us; so I figured this is the perfect time.

Tyler and I met the fall of 2002. I had just graduated high school in Texas and he was a senior in Utah. I moved to Utah by myself, lived alone and worked long hours...that is until I met Tyler. Before going to Utah I had talked to him on the phone, seen pictures and heard MANY stories, but not until I met him face to face, did I completely fall in love with him. I guess you could say he swept me off my feet. He was everything I had ever dreamed of. We were talking about getting married when we found out we were pregnant with our first baby. After the initial shock and some bad reactions, we were excited and moved our wedding plans up a full year.

We were married March 21, 2003. Shortly after, we moved down to Texas. After the arrival of our daughter Braxton in August, we moved to Colorado for 3 short months and then back to TC. Ty and I both worked horrible hours at Nordstrom and I was also coaching a cheerleading squad and teaching gymnastics. To say the least, we were not able to spend a whole lot of time together. We decided to move back to Utah so that we could spend more time as a family...that did not happen. Ty ended up working 3 jobs at a time; CRAZY! So then we had the bright idea of moving to Virginia with my parents. We had such a great time there. Ty didn't love his job but we were able to spend lots of time together.

It was about time for Ty to go to basic training, so we went back to Utah. That was the hardest 5 months of my life. I was so proud of the sacrifices he was making for us and excited to see what our future was going to look like. Brax and I had a bit of a rough time the first 6 weeks, even being homeless for a little bit of that, but we were able to see Tyler in San Antonio for a few days before heading back East for the final 3 months of Ty's training.

We finally reunited and started over in Spokane. We made the greatest friends there that would eventually become family. It was the first real home, first chance to just be the 3 of us. We welcomed our 2nd baby, Brollin in April 2008 after a heartbreaking miscarriage. That same year, we were sealed as a family for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple.

So now were here in California, getting ready to embark on yet another journey. We will welcome our 3rd baby here in 6 short weeks and move over seas in 6 short months! I couldn't even fathom my life without this strong, incredible man that I was fortunate enough to marry. He is my entire world. He is the best father any child could ask for and his just adore him...well worship him more like. Even though we spend more time apart than together, I know that it is even harder for him to be away. He proves to us everyday how much he loves us by all his sacrifices and hard work.

Valentines 2012

I hope everyone had a great Valentines Day! It was just us and the kids this year; Tyler was in Arkansas teaching a combatives course. We had a fun day doing class parties and Chuck E. Cheese! I was able to sit in on Brollin's preschool party and help out a little bit; it was so fun to be able to watch him in class with all of his friends having a great time! Chuck E. Cheese was obviously a HUGE success. We went the wonderful Foret Family, as they were missing their daddy too! That place is such a great way to pass some time!

It was also on this day 9 years ago, that Tyler got down on one knee and made me the happiest girl alive! I love being his wife, even if I talk to him more on the phone than in person! He still makes me fall in love with him more and more every day!

American Eve

If you are looking for something new and good to read, I would highly suggest American Eve by Paula Uruburu. This is a biography of Evelyn Nesbit and her rise to fame at the high cost of her innocence. Her mother basically sales her daughter to artists and photographers so she can have the high-society life style she's always wanted without having to lift a finger herself. It's truly a story of a little girl trying so hard to buy the affection and admiration of her mother and never quite succeeding.

'Florence Evelyn Nesbit lived more than most in the first 21 years of her early turbulent life then spent the next 60 contending with the myth she had become and helped invent. And reinvent when the occasion presented itself.' 'In those hypocritical years when the scandal she ignited simultaneously shocked and titillated the public, Evelyn attempted to wear her notoriety with tenuous, shrinking dignity, though she barely succeeded in keeping her head above water.'