Saturday 31 May 2008

Steps in the right direction

We had a really lovely day today, hanging out with the Steinke family and the kids all really got on well which was a relief and meant D & I finally had a bit of R&R. I am now armed with information about where to go to buy food, etc. It was wonderful just to hang out with another family and amazing how at home we all felt considering only D had met them before. I'm sure you will be glad to hear that everyone ate their pasta without complaining tonight (phew!!), not least because they were worn out with running around all day... Looking forward to church tomorrow evening and I think we are going to the Botanical gardens in the morning. It was beautiful weather today and up to 80 degrees by late afternoon. It seemed a crime to put clothes in the tumble dryer but there's no washing line so I have no choice. I have promised I and E we will do some home-schooling on Mon as they are really excited at the idea of it so I guess this is where the rubber hits the road, as it were.... I am very aware that this is where I will really feel it as the schools go back in the UK and I still have all of mine at home. We are planning to spend more time with C on Wed/Thurs and we are going to hunt for the best beach to 'join' for the summer - you have to be members for most things here. I also plan to take the kids to the local park around half three most days this week as there is a primary school next door and am hoping this would be a good way of getting to know some local people. Am yet to summon up the courage to go and introduce myself to our neighbours (surprisingly, unlike on Desperate Housewives, no one has rushed over to bring us cupcakes to welcome us to the area!!!)

Friday 30 May 2008

Crisis in the kitchen

Today has been a yo-yo day with heavy showers followed by blazing sunshine … could have been a metaphor for the childrens’ behaviour! We have had more tantrums and screaming fits (only one or two from me!) but also some nice playing together and a successful trip to our local ‘Tot Lot’ aka play park. Bit of a disaster on the culinary front tho………… I was delighted to have found a jar of pesto sauce in the supermarket last night as ‘pesto pasta’ (or pasta pesto if you are a Hosier of the Poole variety”!) is one of my stop-gaps with the kids. But it was disgusting and I couldn’t make the kids eat it as it made me gag so I ended up throwing it away and we just took the kids to MacDonalds as D came home early. A bit pathetic, I know, but am desperate to find something the kids will eat as so far the only thing any of them have said they liked was I eating a hotdog. Am full of hope for tomorrow spag bol – surely mince can’t taste different???? D and I are having salad every night which would be incredibly virtous if not followed by naughty icecream! We have high hopes for the Wilmette weekly French market in the station carpark tomorrow……..

Thursday 29 May 2008

My kids are monsters!

Phew! Well, we are here in one piece and starting to settle in but still no internet at home which is a bit of a pain as I now feel very removed from everyone at home… We got here Tues night and everything went smoothly at the airport/car hire etc. We fell in to bed around half nine Chicago-time (half three in the morning UK time so we were completely shattered). The kids have been waking at 5 the last couple of days and resisting sleep so they are turning into the most horrible brats – not a good first impression! It’s hard because they are being dragged around the shops as we try to build up the essentials and jet-lag and excitement don’t mix too well when you are little. They are also refusing to eat pretty much everything which doesn’t help matters. We arrived to a wonderfully stocked fridge and kitchen, thanks to the leaders of Fusion. Good job as I have since completely failed to find a supermarket. America is full of massive retail outlets but there’s no advertising outside or on the roads to give you a clue as to what the shops sell so I am rather lost.

We discovered Target yesterday which was fab for stocking up on essentials like car seats, a kettle and an ironing board (amazing value at $12!!). The house is furnished and we have things like bedding and towels which is great but there’s little to no cooking items so I keep having to get things – tonight, for instance I thought we would have a simple omelette (as have yet to source fresh meat or anything more exciting!) but then realised that there is no bowl to whisk the eggs in!!!

I braved the downtown traffic today which was fun – we took D down to the office, driving alongside the lake for a more scenic route and then I had to get back on the freeway. I must at this point sing the praises of ‘Maureen’ our SatNav. We bought the US card before we left and it was amazing to land in Chicago, programme in our address and just follow the directions without even consulting a map. Wow!


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I am now writing this a couple of hours later and life is much sweeter already – internet is up, kids in bed and I have been to a proper supermarket and found Ribena and pesto sauce so hopefully tomorrow will be a bit better with the kids! I also started watching the Lost season finale but as the last episodes we watched were nearly 2 seasons ago it makes little sense.

Just checked my emails and Facebook so thanks to those who have been in touch – will try and get back to you all asap. xxxxx

Monday 26 May 2008

To boldly go?

It's less than 24 hours to go and it all feels rather strange. I have zipped up all the suitcases and the house looks so tidy (makes you wonder why the only time it is truly tidy is when we are going away). Am now starting to think about the prospect of an 8-hour flight with 3 small children ... I fear we may make some enemies in business class tomorrow! The kids have watched TV all day today pretty much, thanks to the rain and packing so they are going to be hyper by the time we get to Heathrow tomorrow. I am now wondering why we didn't give in to the temptation to buy 2 Nintendo DS to get us through!! Am really hoping that we will get a couple of hours' peace towards the end of the flight while the children sleep before I have to tackle the Chicago rush hour traffic.

I would like to say that I'm really excited but the truth is that I'm sorry to leave behind what we have here. 8 years ago, just weeks after moving to Sidcup we uprooted and went to New York for 2 1/2 months and then it was really easy to just go but this time it has been very different. Saying goodbye to family and friends has been particularly hard because we are so happy here but we do feel that we want to maintain a pioneering spirit and we are looking forward to what God will do with us in Chicago. It's such a blessing to know there are people from Fusion Chicago (the Newfrontiers pioneering work there) waiting for us and we are really looking forward to getting stuck in there. I guess the packing and the flight are just necessary stressful bits to get through on our way to the adventure that awaits!

The next time I write we will be Stateside. Let's hope it's sunnier than this rainy Bank Holiday!

Saturday 24 May 2008

Pre-trip nerves

Ok, this is my first attempt at a blog so you will have to all bear with me as I work it all out! My lovely sister-in-law suggested that I do this to keep you all up-to-date with our US trip and so I thought I would give it a go................ It all seems a bit surreal at the moment as am yet to start packing with 3 days to go. Feeling a bit nervous about the flight - hope we don't get on the wrong side of too many business customers with our 3 noisy kids! It will also be a bit of a baptism of fire for the first couple of days as I'll have to brave the US supermarket first thing on Wed and then D is in the office on Thurs. On the plus side we have booked a massive 4x4 hire car for the first few weeks so I should fit in well in the 'burbs. Watch this space............