I changed my watch today...

For the last week my watch has remained on England time. I refused to change it to California time until I actually felt like I was in California and, well, let's just say I've been a little tired. Mr. T had a hard time adjusting the first day (more like the first night) and while he has perfectly recovered, it took his Momma a few more days to feel like a real person. Well, today was the day. Today I changed my watch. I changed my watch to California time.

And with the change of watch (and mind) I will once again commence my blog-session. The last week has been full of fun, fun, family fun and luckily we have a few more weeks to soak in all of this family lovin'. There really is no place like home.


Can you believe ALL of those bags, boxes, carseats and suitcases belong to the three of us. AND, they were all included in our baggage claim (AKA--for freeeee). We definitely used every last inch (and pound) to fit our England life in that plane.

After an hour in customs and a few hours in the car, we reached Sac-town (from San Fran) and had a family dinner party at Dad Wigginton's office. We ate Chinese, caught up with family members and watched Talmage run around in his jet-lagged stupor. It was a blast.

All the Grandparents loved seeing this little man. Last time they saw him he was still a colicky, screaming, crazy 5 month old...but now he's a laughing, running, crazy 16 month old. Do you see his Cambridge grad shirt? What a cutie!

And in totally Talmage fashion, he went to anyone and everyone who offered food. Uncle Buck's ice cream for our welcome home celebration was a big treat!

Look at those McKee boys eating their Chinese (a meal that made me feel right at home!) I missed seeing their cute faces!

The weather in Cali has been hot, hot, hot. Like, over 100 degrees. Ouch! Talmage has found many ways to keep cool. Like the hose...

...and the baby pool Grandma bought for him...

...and the big-boy swimming pool.

I also broke down and gave Talmage a haircut. Jim's wanted me to give him a cut for months now, but I felt sorry for our mostly-bald son and resisted. BUT...I realized that it was time for a few snips in back to that he didn't look like an 80s rocker.

Grandma helped entertain the baby while I played barber. I know it wasn't much, but I think that Mr. T looks so much better with his new do. What a babe.

Here we are, showing off our new summer haircuts. It feels so good to be home, and on California time!

Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

Saying goodbye is so lame. I hate goodbyes. Sad.

Our last Sunday was hard. I cried. A lot.

BUT...

we will LOVE and REMEMBER these people forever.

(Obviously I didn't take lots of pics...it was Sunday for heaven sake. But we love everyone!)

The International Relations students.

The Relief Society Presidency.

My Relief Society Presidency. The old Relief Society Presidency.

I was released. And I cried.

A family picture on our last Sunday in Cambridge.

Helping Hands

On Saturday we went to a wildlife reserve called Mole Hall for the Ipswitch Stake Helping Hands.

Jim actually did some work. You know, digging trenches and building roofs.

When he wasn't posing for his stalker wife, that is.

Talmage and I made froot loop necklaces and I wrestled with a billion little rugrats (AKA-I was in charge of the nursery).

Sometimes we played with the kids.

And other times, well...don't judge us. When things got busy, we stuck some of the younger children under the table. They ate crackers off the ground and we ran after other kiddos. You do what you gotta do.

Pudding Club

This, my friends, is an absolutely horrible picture of a beautiful sight--a table with so many amazing sweets Willy Wonka would've been jealous! We had a Relief Society activity on Wednesday called Pudding Club (Pudding is another word for dessert here in the UKizzle)...and it did not disappoint. In fact, I am positive that it attracted nearly double the sisters that our activities usually do. I'd pridefully like to think it's because the event also doubled as a goodbye to us sisters who are leaving, but seriously, I think it had everything to do with the mention of all-you-can-eat pudding!

I played the part of crazy American paparrazi. It came quite naturally! I wanted to get pictures of everyone there so I'd always remember them. I LOVE these people. I didn't quite get everyone...but I was close!

Ruth, Vanessa, Janene, Susan and Mason


Heather (my poem-sending friend), Fiona, Bryny, Louise

Nina, Doris, Debbie, Lynda, Lynn, Claire

Rebekkah and Christa

Libby, Yolanda, Sister Jensen

Sister Jensen, Sister Kinjo, Victoria

And here I am in the middle of some previously picturized people.

Pudding Club is possibly my newest favorite activity EVER! I plan on suggesting it in my next ward, and the ward after that, and the one after that, and so on and so forth (and maybe one day we'll stop moving around all the time and I will be forced to stop suggesting it. The thought makes my head a little spinny!)

Dear Cambridge Ward,

Let me tell you one more time.

I love you like a fat kid loves cake.

Love, Heath

Singing in the Staircase

I love baby talk. I love baby talk. I love baby talk. I love baby talk.

And that's why I love this video of T singing/baby talking in the staircase.

You'll like it too. Trust me.

England Fan!

England is playing in the World Cup today, and word on the street is that an absolutely adorable fan is sending his support all the way from Rexburg.

An England jersey has never, no not ever, looked this good on anybody. Am I the luckiest aunt in the world, or am I the luckiest aunt in the world?

I can't wait to see these two soon. soon. soon.
And mostly I can't wait to hold and hug and love that baby. OH man he's cute.
Go England!

Weekend in Wales

We spent the weekend in Wales visiting friends and relaxing (AKA watching game after game of the World Cup). It was wonderful! I was completely rubbish at taking pictures, but believe me when I say it was a well-needed and much-appreciated.

This is the only picture I took which even proved we were visiting Mitch and Niall...and I didn't even take a picture with the Abbott's. Oh man! We have missed the MacKenzie's SO much since they left Cambridge and it was so nice to see them again.


These two little cuties got along great. Except when Talmage tried to beat her with a stick. And when he tried to hit her in the head with toys. Oh yeah, and maybe he stole her blanket once or twice. And everytime he saw her he tried to poke her in the eye. But other than that, BFF. They do have the same birthday you know.

Daddy and son on Father's Day. The primary children in Cardiff made all the Daddy's a ribbon to wear and also gave them chocolate. T and Jim both enjoyed!

The Abbott's took us to St. Fagans Museum of Welsh Life and we really enjoyed it. It's a collection of Welsh folk architecture, artifacts and lore. We had to take a picture in front of this red house because Jan said Mom Wigginton has one just like it from when she visited Wales. We can't wait to dig it out when we come home!

On the bus home from Wales, Talmage made a friend in the next seat over. The man let T listen to his headphones and Talmage was singing along (one of his favorite things to do lately!) It was so cute.

Unfortunately our trip had two casualties--T's tooth and the pushchair. The tooth was chipped when Talmage decided to dive off a one-inch ledge separating the grass and the pavement. He fell face-first and I knew it was not going to be pretty. There were lots of tears, lots of blood, and TONS of hugs. We think the rest of his tooth is here to stay (it's not turning black)...until the next fall that is! The front wheel of our pushchair snapped off when an overzealous employee for our bus company threw the cart into the storage area. That stroller is like my car so I am pretty sad, but I guess this means we'll buy a new one (and maybe the bus company will even help...we'll see!)

M and N and M

Thank you!