Happy Fourth of July!

We had a great time celebrating the fourth with some American friends today.

I am very convinced that I have learned much more about being American since leaving America. It is hard to know what is 'American' until you compare yourself with those who are not. Never in America would I have been described or introduced as 'Erin the American.' That has now become my identity!

We missed Charles this year, but still managed a bit of fun. Here are some pictures:

Pirate Show

Last Monday we went to Legoland which is a little kid amusement park. The boys had a great day. One of their favourite activities was watching the pirate show which is impressive. Ever since we have gotten home they have worked to try to reenact it. Here is their latest attempt:



I love the part where Theo talks because you can tell he is trying so hard to get his mature thoughts out. And I also like the part at the end where Jack gets a 'key' but then he finds the need to tell you that it isn't really a key (i.e. it is a fabric Thomas the Train costume). Why he feels the need to tell us that I am unsure - it is not like anything else is 'real'!

Sweet Friends

I started to title this post 'good-bye sweet friends' but then deleted the 'good-bye' part.

Last week we sent our good friends, The Tuckwells, back to Cambridge. We had the great chance to know them in Cambridge and then get to be neighbours with them here at Oak Hill. It has been such a great experience to get to spend so much of our time in England near them. I have lived in England for nearly seven years and six of it has been near them. They are definitely some of the first people we call when we have a problem here (everything from the mundane: something is broken, I need something out of the loft and Charles is out of town, we need to borrow something to the more serious of asking for honest feedback and advice). They are very much our English Family.

They are very dear friends to us and we will miss them very much. We are very excited that they get the opportunity to go back and minister at Christ Church Cambridge. We are excited for them and those at Christ Church, and we are happy for us that they are only an hour away!

One of my favourite things about Jon coming to train at Oak Hill has been getting to see our boys become such good friends as they have now known each other outside of the baby/toddler years. Jack and Theo both adore them. In fact, Theo, a bit confused by all the moving vans that keep showing up at Oak Hill, keeps asking when we will get to move next to the Tuckwells (as well as when we get to go bowling with the Tuckwells!).

Our time in England would not be the same without Jon, Ruth, Joshua, Noah and Esther! Thanks for being some of our 'first English friends' - it is clearly from friendships like yours that we have 'learned to love the English!'

Cutie Pie

Here are some really fun pictures I got of Addie recently:

Sunday in the Pool with Friends

Sunday was really really hot. We were wondering what to do with the last couple of hours of day. Then we thought what better than to invite ourselves over to some of our favourite people's house? A few texts later and we were on our way to a pool party across campus with the Byuns. I don't know what it is about the Byuns but I always feel at home when I am with them.

Perhaps it is because our kids get along well?
Perhaps it is because they talk like us (with American accents)?
Perhaps it is because they are Americans (well kind of - but we'll claim them!)?
Perhaps it is because Charis looks like one of my best friends from college?
Perhaps it is because they have gone through many similar stages (i.e. seminary, moving to Cambridge, working on PhD, going to Christ Church, moving to Oak Hill, etc.)?
Perhaps it is because Seulgi likes food as much (if not more!) than Charles?
Perhaps it is because they love Costco as well?

Maybe it is all of these and more, but I know I am very thankful for their friendship!

Here are some pictures from our afternoon: