This one's for Holli....

So I forgot to make a CD of your kids pics and such (No worries it will be coming in the mail to you shortly because i have more time on my hands than Martha Stewart in Jail!!)



Haha So enjoy the following for now...I still laugh a lot every time i see them.

Watching for Mommy to come home...

Drakes ingenious hiding place

Stealing my shoes...

No worries Holli, this was before the bath :o)

I miss your beautiful children; and I cannot believe how much they are growing. I had some of the best times playing with them, begging drake to not hate me, and being entertained by Drakes Houdini maneuvers (where he went to bed in one outfit + pull up, and woke up with a different outfit and no pull up) Amazing.

Love You Holli, Andy, Drake, Gwen...and the future kiddos!!

Half a world away and still feeling at home.....

Wednesday Night I was able to escape the routine. Thanks to the beautiful Hannah I was introduced to a group of women my age from the church we attend here in England. Peterborough Christian Church. My first night with them was a Pamper Night with face masks, nail polish, food, and girl talk. It was a great break from the norm and I now have people to escape with regularly. I immediately felt at home with the group, and must say that one different in our culture in the States is that the British are much more welcoming and warm. Everyone is so laid back here and willing to go with the flow and meet new people. In the states people are much more entangled in their own lives to take notice to new people much less make them feel as if they have always been a part of the group. I am truly blessed to be here this summer.

Small Women's Group from PCC (Pamper Night)

"What?!?!?! She is an American???"

My new found British friends. It is wonderful to have a night out with people my own age!

Full of love and yet I just met them

Kirsty and I talking about America and Great Britain...as well as South Africa since that is where she is originally from.

face masks...and it matched my shirt :o)

painting toes....Kirsty (red hair) is a hair stylist and thinks that i should allow her to work her magic on me....hmm

Eating British food....oh joy

The Duffy's receive packages from the states every now and then. With four sets of grandparents this is made possible even with the incredibly expensive shipping costs. The most recent package was photographs just so everyone who sends items realizes just how much it is appreciated, and how much the girls enjoy getting a little taste of home. Literally....there are just some necessities that one cannot get here in the UK...such as Tootsie Rolls and Mac&Cheese.

The Long Awaited Package from the States

Every Package is a family event at the Duffy house...mostly because it is known that American foods are in the boxes that arrive from the states.....I wonder what is in this box....

Paper....I don't want paper

OHHH FOOD...Mac & Cheese and tootsie rolls

Kitchen Cooked Popcorn, cheese puffs, baked puffs, and chips...happy day

They were so excited to try them that they forgot to open the bags first

And what would an entry on here be without a little babysitting fun....this is just another reason i have a smile on my face every day....

Yogurt Fun with Gwen

"Mom Knew what i was going to look like after i ate yogurt all by myself, thats why she let Whitney do it while she was babysitting. But i don't know why mom told Whitney to take my shirt off first...i never miss my mouth"


"A spoon is just too much work, and it only holds a little bit at a time....I would much prefer to just dig in"

Kids do the darndest things....in all countries

Today is a babysitting day again. The Kiesers have Gwen and Drake who prove to be some of the most joyful and entertaining children I have ever met. But it seems it is always an adventure at their house. Last night Drake was not wanting to go to sleep until Mom and Dad came home...

Starting at noon, the fun began with Drake screaming and crying for at least 15 minutes until he realized that I am a fun babysitter and he just started laughing. I was like....did you have your eyes closed the last 15 minutes and not realize who I am? Oh children...

Gwen was a cuddly one today now that she is used to me.....she is honestly too cute for words and the priceless sight of her walking about with wet hair, a passie in her mouth, 4 other passies clenched in her fists, her blankie over her shoulder, and her pink Pajamas makes her all the more adorable. She is too cute...and bathtime was quite entertaining with her splashing about laughing so hard she could hardly breathe....lovin it

Drake then went to bed willingly this evening in his red pajamas, diaper and freshly brushed teeth....with a nice story before bed....however, when i went to check on him an hour after he went to bed, he was no longer wearing his diaper, and he had on blue pajamas....not quite sure how this happened, but i got a good laugh. Sorry Holli and Andy :o) I didn't want to wake him

But it is sleepover time and a fun filled morning with Holli and the kids, and then i shall be returned to my Duffy family. It's amazing how much i miss them when i have only been apart from them for 12 hours.

First few days of babysitting.....

Over the weekend I attended a birthday party with the family and all of the other ISE families. There is a village called Borne that has a play place for the children. So the posse of children and dads ran thought the play house while the mothers chatted and entertained themselves. After the birthday party the Duffy family headed to lunch at a small cafe, and then did a little shopping in the cute store that were located in the down town area. Then Brittney had her first British sleepover with her friend Emily. They slept in the living room and 'stayed up all night long" which meant they fell asleep shortly after 10 PM.

Sunday morning we went to church at Peterborough Community Church which proved to be amazing. The church is very large and contemporary. The children go back into a separate service where they have a mini church with praise and worship as well as a message. I was quite impressed with the setup. The message in 'big' church began with praise and worship (mostly Hillsong music) and then the associate pastor preached on building a community. The message was intriguing and held my attention. He spoke of acceptance and building others up in order to gain trust and have a relationship that flourishes. I learned a lot about myself just from listening to the message.

Kevin and Cathy then went golfing with some friends while i stayed with the kids. (pictures below)

Monday was a normal day full of running to and from school, grocery shopping, chatting, cooking, and hanging out with the family.

Tuesday was babysitting day, as well as Today. (pictures below) But Cathy and I also took a nice walk today with the dogs. Nothing like 'girl talk' and beautiful weather. Makes me realize just how amazing the people are in my life, and makes me never want to go home :o)

Babysitting (day 1) while Mom's and Dad's went golfing.

Kayla, Kylie, and Brittney jumping on the trampoline in the Duffy's back yard....Duke likes to jump on the trampoline as well....

Duke and Kylie dancing together out back

Sophie looking out my window and being the cutie that she is....

Sophie on her swing where she played for 2 hours straight while talking to herself...

Seriously....pictures like these make me love Children all the more.

Babysitting (day 2) while the Mom's had a Ladies Day and watched movies....I got all the kids who were not in school.

Sophie, Drake, and Eden watching the Wiggles. This was the day i had 6 kids all to myself while the moms had a ladies day! LOVED IT

Drake racing his truck with Blake....

Blake....not sure if he is winning or not, but he sure is a cutie

Sophie and I making silly faces...

This wee one could totally be my sister....and while I'm in England I am know and Whitney Duffy, the big one

Sophie and Eden playing in the back yard on the slides

Gwen playing in the Kitchen, and not quite sure if she wants me to be babysitting or not. She woke up from her nap and realized that I was NOT mommy who put her to sleep....woops

Babysitting (day 3) while Andy and Holli headed out with some friends for a Grownup day.

Me and Gwen after playing outside while trying to wake up from her nap....such a happy wee one.

Gwen and her little construction hat....

Staring me down while i was lying on the floor

Gwen has the cutest outfits as well as the cutest shoes, but for some reason she wanted to wear my shoes today....

Gwen...probably the most adorable wee one I know. She belongs to another family who is living in England and I have had the pleasure of babysitting her and her big brother Drake this week...Thanks Holli!!!!!

Sophie Ann taking a nap after a long day of playing with Drake and Gwen...