Year One

We've had a pretty mild autumn so far and I am so thankful. This time last year, we had just moved and it literally rained almost all day every day in the month of November as well as being dark and gray and cold. It's been rainy since we've been back from our trip to Italy. But it mostly just showers an hour or three a day. We've even had some sun. The temperature has been a tolerable high fifties too. All in all, pretty good weather for northwest Cheshire.

I was out walking today and I took a route that I don't normally take into our village. I used to walk about a mile each way on this street three days a week when I ferried Myles to and from nursery. Since mid July though, he hasn't been at that school, having started five mornings a week at a primary school a few blocks from our house.

Today I found myself thinking about the walks Myles and I used to take along this road. I remembered all the fun things we used to point out that I haven't thought about in months.

There's the fountain in a townhouse courtyard that used to be turned on at nine each day. It was never on when we were on our way to school but always on for the return trip. Then there was the classic English cottage with the high retaining wall. The owners had planted lavender and mint along the wall. In the spring and summer the plants hung down at just the right height for me to run through them pushing Myles in his stroller and showering him with fragrant herbal blossoms."Run through the purple flowers!" he would say ever time we passed them.

I passed the area of the old, windy, two lane road where there is only enough room for sidewalk on one side and remembered our conversation about why there was only one sidewalk and why the road was so narrow and what would the people on the other side of the road do.

I walked past the spot near your school where I told him every morning to be the good boy I know he is and to talk nicely to the other children and not to hit or scratch and to share and to do an art project and have a really good time.

Then I realized; you won't have memories of any of this.

Oh, that makes me sad Myles because we had so much fun on those walks. And I know that it's going to make a great story for me to tell you when you're older, how we explored every inch of that road from here to there.

We do that every day don't we?  I so hope we always will and that even though you may not remember, I can remind you that your first year in the UK was filled with adventures and new things to learn about and new experiences and castles and beaches and medieval villages and immense bonfires. You have enjoyed every minute of it, except for the cold last winter that made your hands hurt.

Oh my god, it's been amazing to watch you soak up every bit of this incredible opportunity we have and I can't wait to see what this next year brings.

Your first snow. You were decidedly unimpressed.

Black volcanic beach in the Canary Islands - you loved all the volcanoes.

By the second snow you figured it out.

Conwy Castle, north Wales - our first but not our last!

Riding the steam train at the Manchester Museum of Science and Industry

Exploring a Bronze Age cave in England's Peak District.

Neuchatel, Switzerland

Driving the cars at Tatton Park never gets old for you.

On the beach in Blackpool, England. It was chilly and windy but you had a blast playing in the tide pools.

Our first English festival. We all had a blast and you loved camping as much as ever.

At the Roman ruins - You said they looked like a puzzle that needed to be put back together.

Your first Halloween costume party. You loved having your face painted and looking at the costumes and decorations.

 

Comments

[Caroline]

So glad to read about your adventures in the UK! Are you all back in the US any time soon? We'll be in SW FL for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Hope we can get together sometime soon. Love, C

[Lynni Bennett]

Ugh! I'm sitting in the library at school all got all choked up as I read your words. Your writing is so beautiful and you know I'm right there with you as a mommy. I'm glad that you are having amazing adventures but I just got really sad that the boys won't get to grow up together...
xoxoxo!

[Jessie]

It looks like you've had a really fantastic year! I can't believe how big Myles has gotten; he's definitely lost the baby look and is all boy now.

[saviabella]

Your family is so gorgeous. Wow.

[Elizabeth]

I am so glad you are back to blogging. I really missed your words. And I love seeing Myles getting so grown up.

[jess (formerly fancypants)]

It's so great to read about all of your adventures! So pleased that all is well. Myles is adorable!

[apathy lounge]

Can't believe you've been gone across the pond that long. Miss you!

[Jeff]

Love it. Great entry.

[roo]

TB, sorry to chime in so late-- for a while, it seemed your site was password-protected, so I haven't been by. I'm glad I checked back in.

Your family is beautiful. As are you.

[TB]

Roo! Hi and congratulations to you! You look amazing and I'm so happy for you.

The site was password protected for awhile, I had to shake a stalker, who actually may have been the only one reading anymore since I post so infrequently. But I found I missed it while it was gone, so here I am. We'll see if I can actually start writing again. I miss the old days sometimes. So glad to hear from you! x-T

[TB]

Hi you! Congratulations :o) Ive been lurking around your blog and Im so happy for you. How are things? How is pregnancy? Its a total rollercoaster, trippy, crazy experience and then you become a mother and the ups and downs just get even bigger. Welcome to the club.

Hope you guys are doing great,

xo-Teebs