Memories.

There are so many things about my children that I don't ever want to forget. That is why I keep this blog. 

I just wish I could save every bit though. 

Em. 

We have a new puppy. He is a boy that will love having a dog. He is not a boy who loves having a puppy. He doesn't like the way they smell or jump or lick or touch his toys. He told me he will like Phiz "When she gets more sensible."

He has recently developed an imaginary friend. Augi had a couple that have gone away (named Bubblegum and Spiceygum.) Em calls his "Hippo Hippo's Grandpa." (Hippo Hippo is a stuffed Hippo that Grandma Valerie and Grandpa Albert gave Em. It is one of his favorites.) Let's just call him HHG for short. HHG tells Em stories and goes to exciting places and lets Em do all the things that we don't let him do. He even lets Hippo Hippo drive his car. For a split second I got a little concerned. My son is talking about hanging out with some old man who gives him treats and lets him do whatever he wants? I saw that Bicycle Man episode of Different Strokes. Then, Em showed me an electrical box in our front yard where HHG lives. And I realized the boy is either at school or with us. No Bicycle Man. Just my own overactive mommy imagination.  It isn't the 80s for crying out loud.

My kids wore me down and we got out the Christmas tree today. I know. Crazy Lady. I didn't even decorate before having children and now I am doing it in freakin' mid November. Anyway, Em found a little sleigh ornament with my mom's name on it. He asked me if it was hers. Then, he quietly stared at it for a while, squeezed it in his palm, and hung it back on the tree without a word. 
I so want to believe he remembers her. 

Achievements? Em got an award last week from the Headmaster for receiving the most house points that week! What a good boy!

Augi.

Last year there were only 3 girls in Augi's class. This year there are 5. 5 is way better than 3. Two of the girls from last year are good friends. However, Augi and one of them compete for the other's attention. All of the girls are very nice, good girls. However, the pack leader was recently telling Augi that they shouldn't like one of the other girls. That makes my toes curl! I hate girl bullying. Augi didn't like it, but went along with it. We talked about how that other girl would feel and she agreed to just stay silent rather than join. The next day she came home with this to say:

"Mom. There are 3 kinds of girls. Bossy boots. They want to be in charge of everything. Slumps. They will do anything to get the attention of the bossy boots. And those in the middle who can't be bothered with either. I'm in the middle." 

Smart girl.

She also has a crush. The little boy always complements her on her hair and asks her all about her violin lessons. He is very sweet to her. I suspect he: 1. has a crush on her, or, 2. Wishes he could be a girl and had long hair and played violin. 

We'll go with #1 for now. It's really sweet to hear her talk about her crush. I am flattered that she will tell me about it. I NEVER would have told my mom. I am careful not to tease her (most of the time!)
I love my kids so much.

Aaa! I forgot Halloween

Not really...I just forgot to post about it. This was the biggest month of Halloween celebrations we have ever had. FIVE Halloween events!
1. Fascinator making with friends, in costume of course.
2. Bonfire/Halloween party at a friends'
3. Halloween party at the base. Children everywhere. Unsupervised.
4. Trunk or Treating at the local LDS church. So, if you read facebook then you know this story. But it is worth a mention here anyway. The word for trunk in England is "Boot". I often tell the kids I am going to "Kick em' in the Boot!" (I am only teasing about it. No need to contact CPS). So, for us, Boot=Bum. So, as we headed to the Trunk or Treat (i.e., everyone decorates their trunk and you walk from car to car begging for candy.), I told the kids "Maybe we should say we are going to a "Boot or Treat!" Em replied with, "OK. But it wouldn't be very nice if we called it an "Ass or Treat." Mwahhaaahahaaa!
5. Trick or Treating on the base! Woowoo. LOADS of candy.

Here are some shots from the events:
Augi went as Neytiri from Avatar. She did her own makeup. What a great job!

 Em was sometimes a wizard, sometimes a skeleton. He always had Hippo Hippo, though. What wizard/skeleton doesn't?

 England is no place for Neytiri. It was freakin' cold.

 This was the first year Em really got the idea of trick or treating. He can't wait til next year!

Phiz.

The day we put Nanny down I gathered up all of her belongings and took them to the pet store donation center. We would not get another dog for a loooooong time. Apparently 5 months is loooooong. I had a few breeds in mind. I excluded schnauzers because it was just too painful. But, I like greyhounds and whippets. I loooove Boston terriers. The only dog I could get even a glimmer of interest from Christian was a Staffy. I started reading all about them and stalking the local breeders. I found one for the right price and we all drove to London to put money on it. When we got there they had sold it out from under us. I was soooo disappointed. Some people say things happen for a reason. Well, it was a good thing we didn't get that dog. We ended up with a superstar! Phiz comes from very good lines. Her breeder was fabulous and is even featured in a Kennel Club video about the breed! 

She isn't Nanny. She eats anything. She now weighs more than Nanny ever weighed. She isn't a lap dog. She likes to be outside. Even when it's cold. She sleeps in a crate. 

However, I am starting to get attached to her. Chris is already there. Augi loves her. Em and I are just warming up but we will get there.

Where does the name come from, you ask? Well, it evolved, really. But, we didn't just make it up. 

It is a real word:

phiz  (fɪz)
— n
	slang chiefly  ( Brit ) Also called: phizog  the face or a facial expression: an ugly phiz
[ colloquial shortening of physiognomy ]