A look back into 2017…..
Caroline Rose Sexton (Year 7, drama, violin, Art)
“Mom read this poster. They’re looking for talented kid actors, ages 11-14, for a local tv show. Read this part right here!!! It says they must be very talented in singing and drama. And then, it says playing a musical instrument is a bonus!”
“Wow! Caroline! Check, check and check! You are a triple threat!”
“I know! I’m not saying, I will, but my chance look amazing.”
Helen Therese Sexton (Year 5, futball, breakdance, art club)
***Finishing our morning school routine in the bathroom, about to head out the door…..
“Helen! Where are your knee highs? We have to go right now.”
“I looked everywhere for a pair. I cannot find any.”
“Fact. You did not look in the dirty laundry. I found your gymnastic shorts there.”
About three weeks ago, Helen got off the mini-bus, at the end of the school day, at The Queens senior school. I was helping her carry her bags. Four girls ran up to her…..
“Bye, Party Girl!”
Not at all surprised.
Kate Elizabeth Sexton (Year 1, yoga, ballet, taekwondo)
“Kate, how did you do on your spelling test?”
“I don’t know mom. I spelt them the way you taught me.”
Kate now eats her breakfast on the way to school for a much-needed extra half hour of sleep. As a result, she eats more, gets more sleep and the crumbs trail to school, not a meal on our kitchen floor.
Steve and Sarah (40, work so hard, mom so hard)
‘Why were you arguing with the car salesman about the size of the car? He told you “x” was bigger than “x” and you could not let it go.”
I know, but it did, it felt smaller when I sat in it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=817P8W8-mGE
I will never forget our first Christmas in Chester. Magic. Warmth. And of course, more wonderful memories shared between our family. Santa properly gives gifts to good children, but the girls buy gifts for Steve and me. Santa does fill the #sextonfive stockings. As Steve was emptying his stocking, from Santa, in front of us, he looked confused, “women’s grey opaque tights.” He threw a curve ball. I caught. “I think these were meant for you.” He dug deeper into that stocking. Annoyed look, “women’s navy opaque tights.” Speed ball. I knocked it out of the ballpark!
I loved the Chester Christmas parade-Disney magical. I loved the Christmas market in Chester and Manchester. It was my first time trying mulled wine. I loved the zoo lights. The girls did story time with Father Christmas at the library, the most unbelievable landmark in Chester (my opinion). The girls had an all school, lower and senior school, performance at the Cathedral. How precious! I was able to see them all sing. It is something I have never experienced before. And we said the Lord’s Prayer and it brought me home. Christmas Eve at the Cathedral told the real story of Christmas. It was beautiful. After the service we had carolers visit our home. And, in the month of December, I learned and fell deeply in love with mince meat pie. Shocked the hell out of Steve and me. It’s not something I ever thought I would like, but I LOVE! Glad they are seasonal. I over indulged.
As I get to reflect more on life and such and such…..I see my mother coming out in me. The kitchen is not my place in our home, but it slowly is becoming. I made artsy-fartsy Halloween treats with the girls. Every year, my sisters and parents get together and we spend an entire day baking Christmas cookies. We always did it at our home in Beverly Hills because of our double ovens. Fun how the tradition continued from a distance. My sister took pictures of her family baking, and I sent the same scene back, same day, cousin love. I do not bake or cook from scratch.
I found a sugar cookie and buttercream frosting recipe online. They do not have sugar cookies in England. I made them for teachers and Steve’s co-workers and nobody has ever had them before. My mom sends out recipes to us all the time, and online and speaking with her, she will tell you how she adjusts the recipe. But there are times, where I think she scraped that recipe altogether and just put together everything in her cupboard. I was SO proud of the sugar cookies the girls and I did. I thought they tasted delicious, and I adjusted ingredients. I emailed my family my experience. “It asked for milk, but instead I used crema and doubled the amount. It did not ask for vanilla, but I added it. And then I added a few tablespoons of powdered sugar.” Susan responded immediately. “I laughed so hard at that email. You sounded just like mom! In lieu of sugar, I used applesauce……. etc.” I cried when I received her response. It did not occur to me until I saw it highlighted.
Further in the kitchen, I am doing things, like “mincing” fresh garlic. “Finely chopping” parsley. “Dredging” chicken. “Seasoning” chicken! Simmering, searing and reducing. I am also learning I cook like Caroline. I make a big mess. And I am enjoying trying new and fresh recipes. And a glass of wine always adds enjoyment to the process.
Welcome, welcome 2018
I do not need a New Year. I just need a new day. It’s great that if today did not work out, today was lousy, today was a struggle, things can turn around tomorrow.
I am meeting phenomenal women here and miss my #momtribe from Michigan.
Yesterday I had a wonderful shopping experience. At Tesco, you can grab a scanner. Scan your item, and pack it as you go. The convenience for me is I pack it in my cart and I do not need to use bags. I know the aisles to go to first, allowing me to put heavy items, cans in the bottom of the cart and bread and eggs at the top. You take your scanner to the register, boom, bang, enter your pin—shopped and done! It’s a new and beautiful idea.
We continue to love our #sextonfive Saturday date night. We went to a Japanese grill on Saturday. Fun, fun night and the food was delicious.
We have our first European vacation planned and booked. We are looking forward to a brand-new experience. The Sexton girls will journal about it.
Sunday, we were getting ready to go to the Liverpool Museum. Would say it was about 10:30 and Steve walked into the kitchen. I was doing dishes. Kate was sitting at the table with a spoon and a jar of Nutella–just scooping and eating away. Steve, “Kate! Is that what you are having for breakfast?!” “No, Daddy!!! I ate breakfast. This is my snack. This is just a snack.” Still busy with dishes, “I have no idea where she picked that habit up from 😉” Oh Steve knows! Our whole family knows!!! Hint: initials–> SEPS
Helen had trouble sleeping two nights in a row last week. There is absolutely nowhere comfortable for me to lay down with her. Our beds are teeny!!!! We went to the living room. I got very comfortable with a bed I made on the floor, and Helen got even more comfortable on a bed on the couch. I was laying there and saw a snail shell, “huh.” I put it on my desk in the living room. YUP!!!! it was the snail the girls brought in from outside our 2nd week of living here. They made a home for it, but no lid, sure enough it crawled away, never to be seen until last week.
Steve to the family: “The girls really need to start doing more chores. They can wash the cars. Outside and in. You know we have a cellar that they can clean.” Sarah to Steve: “Seriously that is child abuse. If they have CPS we would be convicted.” Honest to all and mighty—that cellar is the scariest thing I have ever been in. I think “Silence of the Lambs” was inspired by it.
The British “Office” tv show is VERY funny, not as funny as Michael Scott (Steve Carrell), but a wonderful comedy fix.
The other day I HAD TO open the Nutella jar. Kate’s spoon was still in there. “Thank you dear. That makes it so much more convenient for mommy.”
And last, Steve came home with a written evaluation from a co-worker for my sugar cookies. I received a 9.5 out of 10. Really?! A 10 in my book! Well, definitely a 10 for effort!
Abbey Row 