Stuck in Aberdeen

What a week. Tuesday, I left work early with a colleague and flew to Aberdeen to work in our office there for a few days. I will be working closely with some of our team there on a global project. Unfortunately, the weather was grey and rainy the whole time which leaves Aberdeen grey as well as the entire city is made of granite.

It was really great to work with the team in Aberdeen. It is a fun and relaxed office and I really look forward to working with them more. They are also a very caring office. I became very ill on Thursday and everyone was so kind in trying to help me feel better. I must have picked up a stomach bug or a case of food poisoning.

We were scheduled to head back to London Thursday night. At about 3 in the afternoon, the fog set in off the North Sea and only got worse as we headed to the airport that evening. After sitting and waiting on our flight, the airport shut down and all flights were cancelled. We were lucky to get rooms at the same hotel we had stayed at the previous night and our colleagues in Houston helped us get reservations on a train back to London on Friday.

The good news is I was able to get to bed earlier and my nausea settled down over night. On Friday, I got some sleep on the train to nurse the remaining headache I had. I also got to see some of Scotland's amazing coastline and bridges as well as a quick look at Edinburgh and Newcastle.

Finally, after 10 hours of travel, I am back at home and beginning to recover. There is no place like home!

My Mother's Day gift from Alexa

Mother's Day

Mary, you're as beautiful as can be
Oh, yes, you work the hardest
There you are wonderful woman
Have some coffee, will you, you deserve it
Each love you give me is as precious as can be
Radiant you are
Speechless you make me
Dazzling you, you're the best mom of all
Angel you can fly down and keep me safe
You are very young

Things I am thankful for on Mother's Day in the UK.

It is weird having Mother's Day in March. It poses a dilemma - should I wish my own mother a Happy Mother's Day in the US - or wait until Mother's Day happens in the US in May? Well - why not both I guess. Happy Mother's Day to Mom and all of the other mothers out there.

To celebrate my own Mother's Day then, I thought I would share a few things I am thankful for as a mother:
* Of course first must be the big obvious ones of my beautiful and thoughtful daughters, Amber & Alexa.
* My wonderful husband, Richard, without whom I would not be a mother.
* Snuggles and cuddling.
* Two girlfirends who will always watch chick flicks with me.
* Watching my daughters take up causes and actually make a difference in the world.
* Being needed and loved unconditionally.
* Having my mind opened to new ways of thinking.
* My children's laughter and sharing in their joys.
* Being able to help them through their sorrows.
* Hugs.
* Being the most Awesome mother in the universe.  Yeah I said it. (okay Richard is typing this part)

 

To Wally

Today would have been my father-in-law's 71st birthday. I miss him so much - especially not being able to share with him our new adventure and seeing how proud he would be of Richard following his dreams. Wally was a second father to me - picking up right where my father left off by telling me himself that my dad had passed away. I thought I would take this opportunity to share with you a few of the things and events I remember and loved about Wally:

* He had an amazing sense of humour.
* The way he held my daughters for the first time - and all the times afterwards.
* How he loved football and baseball and so many other sports.
* How he loved and respected his wife.
* The picnics we would have in the heat of the Texas summer with barbeque chicken and playing catch.
* Family Football Competition - I loved how he and Frances always wore team shirts.
* Hugs
* The nicknames he gave his grandchildren.
* The pride he had in his children and grandchildren.
* The pure joy on his face as he watched his kids and grandchildren play.
* How he loved his dogs.
* His encouragement and support to his family and friends.
* That he always found the best in others.
* His laugh.
* His love of life - he truly lived the motto: Love Laugh Live






Miss you Wally - Happy Birthday.

Amber

Richard took Amber to a skate park at South Bank this past Sunday to practice portrait photography and fashion photography. I cannot believe how grown-up Amber looks in the pictures! What happened to that cute little baby?

Spring is on the way

It has been so rainy and so cold that I finally get what all the British have been telling me about London - that it is always gloomy and gray. It really is not always gloomy and gray - but it has felt that way for the last two months anyway. I have really missed the big blue Texas skies.

But now March is here and the sun is shining again! Monday morning we awoke to the sun streaming in Alexa's windows at 6:45 AM in the morning. I am really enjoying it! The bad part is that we feel like it should be warmer because the sun is out and we haven't been bundling up enough. It is still REALLY cold outside!

The tulips are breaking through the ground in Green Park and should be opening up in the next few weeks. I will try to get a picture for you when they are blooming.

Happy Springtime!