Anniversary

Today is the one year anniversary of our living in our home in Sandhurst. A look back over the year and I don't think we could have picked a more perfect house. We are in the perfect location at then end of a cul-de-sac and have lots of other kids on our street. We are walking distance to the school and shops and from a nature reserve and park. At times I can't believe we have been here a year and others when it seems such a long time ago as so much has happened. We are not sure how much longer we will be in this house. We keep looking at opportunities to go overseas, but we shall have to wait and see what comes our way. In the meantime we are happy, healthy, content and waiting for the arrival of the newest member of our family.

Where We Are

This posting finds us a bit all over the place. Stuart is currently away on his grand tour of the Far East. So far he has been to Tokyo, Shanghai and Beijing. As I type he is on a plane to Shenzhen in the Southwest of China. He then heads onto Bangkok, Hong Kong, Sydney and finally Singapore. We aren't quite sure if we will remember what he looks like by the time he gets home. Stuart is an adventurous eater so has enjoyed most of the culinary delights that have been placed in front of him, though he has been giving the heartburn medicine a bit of a work out. He has know learned to take it before he eats!!

The kids are off school this week for the half term, I am working, so Jonathan and Eleanor have been packed off to my parents in Luton for the week. A decision I am sure they are not disappointed with as they will be spoiled rotten by 2 very doting grandparents. So it is Chris and myself who have been left to hold down the fort. We are halfway through the week and no sign of fire yet. Chris spent yesterday at Thorpe Park, a big amusement park, with a friend from school. He now reckons he has gotten over his fear of rollercosters.

Please Vote

On our blog is a link to Stuart's Computer Weekly Blog. Please follow the link and vote for him for Blog of the Year. Please, please, please. I know he would be thrilled to get the award. Thanks everyone.

Sunny Days

We have had a fantastic weekend. It was our first of really nice warm sunshine and so were able to spend most of it outside. We also had a visitor, Bill, a stuffed dog that belongs to Jonathan's class, and spends the weekend with a different kid. They then have to write about what Bill has done in his diary. I think Jonathan has left out the part where he was making death defying leaps from my bedroom window into the front yard!! We did take a picture of his much more sensible bike ride.

Stuart and I busied ourselves with exciting activies like mowing the lawn and cleaning out the car. Lucky us! We are at the end of a quite cul-de-sac and so the kids are free to play out in front of the house. Our neighbours all have girls, so Eleanor is set and spent the weekend between everyone's house.

This is Jonathan with his best friend Jacob and Bill.

Baby Scam

BABY

The Bovee-Kings would like to officially announce the expected arrival of a new member to our family. Lucy is now 12 weeks and 4 days pregnant!!!!!!! Stuart said we weren't allowed to say anything until I hit the 12 week milestone. A sensible option. Stuart is desperate for it to be a girl, I am not fussed. The kids are just so excited about a baby being in the house.

Our Travels

This month is proving quite nomadic for us all, as we all head off for somewhere. Stuart has spent this past week in Sao Paulo and is in Buenos Aires for the rest of the weekend. He hasn't been overly impressed with either, saying they are pretty much like other large cities. Unfortunatly, he hasn't really had the chance to really explore them as he is there on business. I personally would give both my arms to visit either city.

We took Jonathan to the airport this morning as he and my mom are flying to New York City to visit Auntie Genevieve and then onto Salt Lake City to visit Uncle Stephen. They were supposed to be travelling with my Dad, but sadly Saudi government red tape has prevented him from being able to get out on time to make the connection. Hopefully he will be able to join them in a few days. Before he left, Jonathan had planning meetings with both Genevieve and Stephen to work out exactly what they would be doing while he is there. His must do's are going to the top of The Rock building in NYC and throwing snowballs at Stephen in SLC!!

On Tuesday Stuart, Chris, Eleanor and I all fly to Madrid. Stuart has to go on business so he thought it would be nice to combine business and pleasure. I am thrilled as Madrid has always been high on my must go to list. Stuart will be working for the first 2 days, so will be just me and the kids which will be a great time for us to get a bit closer. We will then have another 2 days with Stuart to wander the streets with. I feel I may end up torturing everyone as we trek through every art museum in search of El Greco's. He is my absolute favorite artist. When we return we will update the blog with tales and pictures.

The Birthday Girl

Our beautiful Eleanor turned 7 on Friday. She received some fantastic presents, her favorite, a pair of pink crocs from Grandma. That night she wanted to go to Frankie and Benny's for her birthday dinner. She hasn't decided what she wants to do about a party yet, but I am sure a gaggle of little girls and a lot of pink things will be involved! We are so proud of her. Happy Birthday Eleanor!!!!!

1st Update

I thought this blogging thing would be great, of course know I sit down to write something, as I said I would keep as up to date as possible and now can't think of a thing to write. Do I really think our lives are that boring? Anyway, I am now back at work, again!! I am now at the Thomas Cook branch in Farnborough, I am on what they call a nil hour contract, so I don't work fixed days, they call me in when they need me. It suits me well as it means I am able to set my own hours. If I don't fell like working on week, I don't have to. It is a fantastic branch, much like Luton customers, but friendlier. The staff are wonderful and management even better. Everyone is laid back and quite flexible. Yesterday was only my third day, but am already "one of the gang".

Stuart seems to have mixed reviews about work at the moment. Some days good, some days bad. He is at the moment trying to plan his world tour. The company board want him to visit as many offices as possible this year, which will include Singapore, Thailand, Japan, Australia, UAE, and Brazil, just to name a few. Is Lucy green with envy that she is going to be left behind, most definatly. There are a few trips that he will take in Europe that I have invited myself on, namely Madrid and Moscow, so if anyone is available to babysit, please contact us!!

The kids have all been back at school for a little over a week and have settled back in just fine. Eleanor and Jonathan always look forward to being back as both really enjoy school. Both are thriving and are doing really well, Eleanor is in the top set for most subjects, and came home with an excellent school report. Her teacher said that she is the only child in the class of whom she doesn't have reprimand for disrupting or talking in class. We were a bit surprised as those who have met Eleanor will know that she is quite the little chatterbox, as she is so very friendly and social. She is still very much a girlie girl. She loves her dolls and stroller, and has pink everything in her room. Jonathan is in top sets for every subject, and it seems his teachers sometimes do not know what to do with him as he so far ahead. We do have problems with him controlling his temper and patience. He gets very frustrated with other children in the class when they don't know the right answer. He is like a sponge with information. He can tell you when the Leaning Tower of Pisa was built and how high it is, he also can tell you how tall the Freedom Tower will be, and how many floors and elevators it will have!!( We are into skyscrapers) Christopher is doing well as well, at 12 he is starting to show the first symptoms of the teenager disease. School and homework are a bit shaky some days, but for the most part things are good. He treks up to school each morning with a group of boys from the neighbourhood. It is quite a long way and a walk I would not relish, but he never complains and heads off most mornings in good spirit. They leave about an hour before school starts so they can take their time and do what boys do on their way to school without having to rush. We don't see a great deal of him at the weekend as he is out and about with friends. A few minutes walk away there is a skate park and rec center where the teens "hang out", he also gets the free shuttle bus into Camberley where there is a shopping center and trades in his old X-Box. He has also discovered a music store called the Rock Box, Chris is an excellent guitar player,(so if anyone knows of a band who are looking for a guitar player, please make contact via the comments below) and spends most of his pocket money there on stickers and badges and picks.

Well for someone who reckoned she didn't have much to say, I sure have written a lot! This Friday is Eleanor's birthday, our girl is going to be 7! I will post then and add some pictures of the birthday girl.

Our Blog

My sister has been blogging for a while now and thought it about time that we got involved. It seems the perfect way to help keep everyone in touch with what is going on in our home. We also wanted a way to make sure that we had told everyone news. Sometimes it is hard to keep track of whom we have told those we haven't. I will endeaver to keep this as up to date as possible. We are also able to upload pictures so everyone will also be able to see what is going on as well. You are also able to publish comments on the blog and pictures. We look forward to keeping you all informed of our comings and goings.

We wish you all a very Happy New Year. We love and miss you all very much.