The Better Halves Club

I have been meaning to post about the exclusive and, might I add, members-only group I joined while over here in England - it's called the Better Halves Club - or as us members affectionately refer to it - BHC.  BHC was established in January of this year by founder and fellow expat Jay Seppanen.  He is a RR spouse who thought it a great idea for us non-working spouses to get together bi-monthly to chat, hang out, compare experiences, give advice, commiserate, and support each other.  It's really been a great support network for me (and Anna) and I have made some really great friends.  We usually meet for lunch and try to pick new locations each time.  We have members who are here for varied times - some for only a few months to some who are here for three years.  We vary in age from 4 months old - my little Anna ;) - to mid 50's. We are all pretty much from the Indianapolis area and most RR spouses are in Engineering - Dave's the only one in Finance out of the group.  Aside from getting together, we also get our whole families together for dinners, cookouts and if you remember - we all got together when the Olympic torch came through our city.

I am very thankful to Jay for starting this group and wish that someone had started something like this sooner.  I can honestly say I have made some life long friends here and I will miss them when we move home.  But - the upside is - they'll all be moving back to Indy at some point, so I am thinking a reunion is in order!! 

Anna and I have our last meeting next week - I will try to remember to bring my camera so I can get a group shot! 

Anna's first piggy bank - Union Jack piggy!

Dave brought home this HUGE, and adorable Union Jack piggy bank for Anna the other day!  I had to smile because I had been telling Dave I wanted to get something "British" for Anna's nursery back home - a little memento or picture of some sort (may I just reemphasize that I used the word 'little').  So, when Dave walked in the door with this ginormous piggy bank - we were both cracking up!  You can't get a sense of the size of this thing from this photo, but I assure you, Anna's got some saving to do to fill this guy up!  I'm not sure where in Anna's nursery it's going to fit!  May have to build it it's own shelf!  Also - note the gold "money" on the table!  It's all chocolate and Dave insisted it be spread all around for full display before I snapped this photo!  On a side note, the piggy was packed up and shipped with the rest of our belongings last week and the chocolate - well, let's just say the chocolate didn't make it!

Anna: 4 months old on the 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July!!!!  Anna is 4 months old today!  She is getting very active and is "talking" and laughing and rolling over all the time!  I no sooner lay her on her back, and she's rolled herself onto her tummy in point two seconds!  She loves her Baby Einstein play mat and all the toys dangling from it.  She's grasping and holding the toys and can now pull her pacifier out of her mouth!  She definitely keeps us busy!  I love her little laugh and seeing her smile.  She makes me happier than words can say!  

I was singing (not very well) "You are my Sunshine" to her this morning and she thought it was the funniest thing ever and kept laughing, which made me laugh, which made her laugh even more!  It was the cutest, funniest thing I have ever witnessed!!  I know I say this all the time, but Anna is the most amazing little girl.  Dave and I feel so blessed.  She makes our lives full and complete.  =)

Anna had her 16 week shots last week - as usual, nothing fun to report about getting three shots in her legs, but she survived and was a trooper!  So proud of her!  

I am happy to report we are in the process of getting everything coordinated for our move home in August!  Anna has no idea what all the commotion is at our house, but she will soon!  I have been busy packing and also selling some household items.  Our official move home date is August 11th!  We can't wait! 

We hope everyone has a safe and happy 4th of July!  We miss you all!

The Olympic Torch comes to Derby!

The 2012 London Olympic torch has been making its way across the country and stopped in Derby Friday evening.   We of course wanted to see it and experience the event!  It ended up being a great night - the rain held off and the temps were in the low 60's.  It was exciting to witness this historical moment and we were able to capture some great pictures with some great friends!  

Some fun facts fellow RR expat Steve Frey found out:  There are 8000 torchbearers overall who carry the torch about 300 meters each - although, the torch does get driven some legs of the tour.  The torch has 8000 circles, is 800 mm high and weighs 800g - little overboard there, but you get the point!  Anyway, after arriving in nearby Ashbourne, it traveled to the Marketplace near the Cathedral and from there, came up Duffield Road and into Darley Abbey Park.  The Frey's, fellow expats who live right down the road from Darley Abbey Park, let us and a two other expat families park at their house and we all walked over to the park.  Very helpful - especially with baby and stroller in tow!  

The park was absolutely packed!  We were going to try to find a closer spot to the stage, but found out that the torchbearer was going to be running right by where we were already standing, so we stayed put.  

 Anna was a trooper!  She hung out in the stroller for a bit and then was up to check out the torch later on!

 Me and Steve chatting it up.  Mark and little Andrew by the other stroller. 

Here it comes!

Torchbearer James Toseland

I wasn't able to get this close, but found this pic on the web - pretty awesome! - credit Gareth Fuller

Lighting the cauldron

Anna and I with the torch and runner, Helen Hopkinson

The guys with the torch - Mark Creason, Jay Seppanen and Dave

Overall, it was a great evening!  After the torch festivities were over, we headed back to the Frey's for an impromptu pizza dinner.  I am so excited we were able to witness this event and I can't wait to tell Anna one day about her little place in England's Olympic history!