We had a great trip up to Scotland. Despite the rainy weather we did go mountain biking and "Go Ape". Go Ape had an amazing zip wire running across the valley - lots of fun! But I think Mykala and Jack found that a big muddy puddle was most fun! Check out more pics at http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/myknjack/20080829August2008 - you might even find a picture of me (Lisa, that is...) in the lot!!!

Well... This was Mykala's Birthday... Not exactly Alexander Springs!!! We all had a great day (well the kids did) despite the rain. We went to the local maize maze - just as we all got into the middle of the maze it started to lash it down with rain - needless to say we found our way out very quickly! Once we were all out of the maze the kids proceed to enjoy bouncing on the trampolines, riding the tractors, go-karts, seeing all the farm animals and of course some birthday cake! Wow, I can't believe she's 3 already!
Hazel had a birthday a few days before Mykala and had a great party with the theme of and Oscars award ceremony - we all dressed up in our best attire - Myk received the award for Best Disney Princess (beating Cinderella and Snow White!) and Jack was Best Comic Actor - how appropriate for both of them!
We've been enjoying days out around the Lake District, visiting some of the many local beauty spots. We have just treated ourselves to a huge family tent and are planning to have a few days up in Scotland next week.
There are plenty of pictures on the web album of what we have been up to - they are a little mixed up as my camera got a little damp on Myk's birthday, it did dry out and start working again but the pics got a little scrambled...
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/myknjack/Summer2008

Enjoy - Love to all!

Lisa, Dave, Myk & Jack

Finally I think we have a place we can call "home", at least for now anyway! The last couple of months have been very busy for us moving (again...) and completely re-decorating the new place. We have the place almost as we want it - just the bathroom and a few finishing touches to complete.
Dave had a successful interview with the RSPCA - he's through to the next phase of medical and fitness tests on July 15th - then job offers go out after that time...
Dave just treated himself to a Kawasaki ZZR1100 - what a beast! We managed to get out for a ride with the family last weekend, it lashed down with rain but it was still great fun. There were nine of us all on either bikes, trikes or outfits - and this was just family!
Mykala and Jack are doing really well. Myk is enjoying school and Jack is growing so fast - he has been walking for a while now and is starting to say a few words.
Roadie and Murphy have settled in well - they enjoy getting out or walks but are not too fond of the rainy weather!
I have been teaching on a Sunday but now we have moved it is a little too far to travel so I will probably cut back to teaching once a month... I haven't been able to keep up with riding since every spare minute away from Myk and Jack have been spent decorating - I have no idea how I found the time to ride and teach before!!!
Hopefully now as things settle down a bit for us I will find the time to reply to the 36 emails that I have saved!
Check out the latest pictures at www.picasaweb.google.co.uk/myknjack/SumnerMayJune0802

I was very lucky to be invited to join Dave's sisters Barbara and Hazel, and Hazel's daughter Christine on a girls only Coast to Coast ride. Yes, a motorcycle ride, not a horse ride! Barbara, Hazel and Christine set off early Friday morning from Walney, stopped in Kendal to meet me and then we all rode over to Whitby. We enjoyed some beautiful scenery over the moors and fells. We had plenty of coffee stops including one at a chocolate factory and one at the highest pub in England where we had lunch and watched the snow come down! Once we made it to Whitby we dropped our soggy bike gear in the B&B and went out for a great meal and a well earned glass of wine, followed by some wonderful dessert! Saturday we headed home a little more directly over to our house for Jack's First Birthday party! We all enjoyed some burgers cooked on the grill and us girls enjoyed gloating to the boys how great our ride was! Jack had a great party and received many wonderful new toys - Thank you! Jack has also started walking - there is no stopping him now! Mykala is doing really well and thoroughly enjoying nursery school - she runs in the school door kicks her boots off and doesn't even look back - her teacher wishes that she would keep her boots on though!
We have also been busy trying to find our next home... We have looked at a couple of tiny 2 bedroomed cottages in the Haverthwaite area. Both need painting, carpeting, appliances, etc. but at least it would be somewhere a little more permanent for us to settle down. Hopefully we will get the offer of one of them soon...
Dave has made it through to the next level of interview with the RSPCA - next interview will be June 4th...
More pictures at http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/myknjack/C2CAndJackSBirthday

Well what a busy Easter for us!
We travelled down to the Londaon area last Monday for Dave's interview (all seemed to go well - he should hear by May 9th if he gets to the next level or not...). Then Tuesday we picked up our trailer load of personal things that we had shipped back in November - it was like Christmas when we finally got open it! Then Wednesday we picked up Tom, Jane, Roadie and Murphy. We are so happy to have Roadie and Murphy with us! They both travelled well - Roadie was a little tired for the first couple of days, but Murphy seemed to take it all in his stride. We have been enjoying showing Tom and Jane some of the local sights, traditions and tastes. They have now travelled to London by train to see some of the sights before travelling back to the States - sadly for them without Roadie and Murphy...
Easter Sunday we went for a beautiful walk in the snow around Tarn Hows near Hawkshead in the heart of the Lake District. Roadie and Murphy were quite funny when they saw the snow, Murphy jumped out of the car and ran around like a mad thing - Roadie jumped out, took one look and jumped right back in the car! We put his jacket on and talked him into coming out for a walk with us and he did quite enjoy it. Mykala enjoyed following the trial of chocolate eggs that the Easter bunny left for her.
Easter Monday we joined some of our family for some traditional pace egg rolling, which was thoroughly enjoyed by the kids and adults alike.

Check out this link to our web album of pictures...

www.picasaweb.google.co.uk/myknjack/Easter2008

Hope you all had a great Easter too!

 

Well, finally I found a few minutes to sit down and figure out this blogspot thing... I think...
We both wish we had the time to write to you all more personally, but hopefully at least this will help keep you upto speed with us as things are changing soo fast!
We just moved again - we still haven't unpacked our suitcases from the big move! This time we moved into a friends beautiful 5 bedroom barn conversion - its so perfect, a converted barn at the end of a bridlepath (and yes there's a horse here for me to ride!) - unfortunately we only get to live here for a few months...
Our belongings still haven't arrived from the States - they are scheduled to be here March 10th - we'll see...
Both Dave and I have work... Dave has started at "Go Ape" a high wire course in Grisedale forest - he has done the course several times, and yes, he did scare himself! My turn next! Dave also has an interview with the RSPCA March 17th for the position of Insectorate (Animal Control Officer). I'm going to start teaching on a Sunday at Draughton Riding Centre where Kay is an Instructor - It will be the first time in 5 years Kay has had Sunday's off.
We are so excited that Roadie and Murphy will be with us in just a few weeks (Tom and Jane too!), Tom and Jane will be bringing them over for us March 18-19 - can't wait!
I promise I will soon have pictures of the horse and house - meanwhile here are a few more of us out walking. Hopefully now I have this figured out I can update it regularly with news for you all. We do love to hear how you are all doing too!
There are also pics on our picasa web albums some of you may have already seen them...
www.picasaweb.google.co.uk/myknjack/christmas2007
www.picasaeb.google.co.uk/myknjack/feb08

Love to ya all!

Dave, Lisa, Myk & Jack