A year later...

April 11th marked our one year mark in England. Can you believe it? We hardly can. It has been wonderful, amazing and eye opening. We have done much and learned more. Here are some of things we'll remember from this first year:

- The food: We were warned about how terrible it would be, and it can be if you pick the wrong place, but a lot of the food is amazing. Curry will never be the same, we will have a hard time finding anything we like as much at home. Desserts here are varied, and often delicious. Banofee pie, vanilla slice, sticky toffee pudding, may you always be on a menu nearby. We love quick dinner at Wagamama's and fantastic English fare at some of our local pubs. Dave loves the wide array of meats to choose from. The lamb is fantastic (we are surrounded by sheep).

- Groceries: All of the vegetables and fruits are local and fresh. We love our weekly delivery - thanks Able & Cole. Dairy products here are several steps above what we were used to. There are so many varieties of cream and double cream, custard and yogurt that we haven't tried even a small percentage of everything available. English cheeses are awesome - we will have to find a way to import English mature cheddar and Weeton's triple curd. And there are several types of sugar here that we never knew existed. Baking is a lot of fun with all these new ingredients to try.

- Castles: We have dragged our kids to more than half a dozen castles and that doesn't even scratch the surface. They are loaded with history, beautiful and fun. The kids bring their fake swords, we bring the cameras. Everyone is happy.

- Landscape: This year we have had countless moments where we are awed by the landscape. Around every corner there is a beautiful building, an old glorious tree, or a pastoral picture perfect setting. Being surrounded by all this beauty is one of the great benefits of being here.

- Rain: You can't escape it. It is worse than in Seattle, it is colder and much windier. The rain is most often coming at you sideways vice falling gently on you. We all have raincoats and wellies and rarely let the rain stop us. If you plan anything contingent on there not being rain, you will stay home all the time. Hilde has taken after her mom and now loves the rain and will often ask if she can play in it for a few minutes.

- Customer Service: We have come to lower our expectations. Sometimes it is still frustrating, but we have adapted the best we Americans can. We know that we won't get anyone if you call a help line after 5:00 or on a weekend. You won't get your bill at a restaurant for at least an hour after you finish eating unless you politely ask for it. You won't find anything open when you go there on a whim. I can't tell you how many times we have gone somewhere during normal business hours to find out they are closed for a family vacation, closed for a school break, or they just don't keep hours. Honestly, there are some places that do not post hours and are open when it is convenient for them - how do you survive that way? Anyway, we are a little more patient, and slightly less demanding these days.

- Enoch - I think he has grown a foot. He is constantly growing. He is all boy, full of fun, smiles and giggles. He starts school in September, can you believe it? He is loving and caring and a joy in our lives.

- Hilde - She has grown so much. I look at the picture for this post and wonder what happened. She is so much taller, her face looks so much older, and she is so much more grown up. She is becoming an excellent reader and her favorite subject in school is art. She loves to write in her journal and make up stories. She is compassionate, loving and sweet.

- Dave and I - we have changed this last year as well. We carpool as a family to work and back. We meet for lunch often, and run into each other in the hallways at work. Because we have more us time, we can make room for more individual time as well. Dave has built up some good friendships and the boys go out for curry, movies that girls refuse to go to, and he gets to do some creative projects as well. I have a group of girls I go out with once a month. We try a new restaurant and sometimes take in a movie. And now we are expecting a new little boy and will be forced to change diapers and get up in the middle of the night again, whose idea was this?

So how do we top this year? We might not, but I am willing to give it a try (sorry Dave). Obviously we will have Baby #3, and that will bring its own joys and challenges. In addition, we are planning a 10-14 day Mediterrenean Cruise for next summer. It will be our first cruise and I am super excited about it. Hopefully we'll visit Windsor Castle, Wales, Ireland and maybe even EuroDisney. Even if we didn't do any of that, I am excited for another year surrounded by my little family, the natural beauty, and the good friends we have made.

And for those wondering, it looks like we will probably be returning home in June/July 2011.