The Joys of the Season

We've really enjoyed this last week (minus daddy being away).  It's finally truly Fall, my personal favorite season.  This week we made a Halloween scene for our front window (something Nana always does and we decided to make it a tradition for us too).  The other day we journeyed around the village on the walking path collecting fallen autumn leaves.  Also, we've been going through all our costumes deciding what to be (so great that they want to use costumes we already have!) 

                 

Here's Emeryss in her Fairy Princess costume I found at the thrift store for a grand total of $2.00.  This picture was just too cute not to post it!

And today we got to go to the Pumpkin Patch.  It was an experience!  The kids loved tromping through the fields and looking at all the pumpkins.  There was a maize maze that we went through; we weren't aware that a haunted shack was in the middle that we had to go through to get out, but the kids did well considering it was their first time through a haunted anything.  There was some crying and laughing (I'm a bad mother, I laugh when my kids cry).  

We also got to see a magic show and get balloon animals and eat fresh, hot homemade donuts!

                                                      

*in case you can't tell from the pictures, Brody got a skeleton, Daeglan got a spider and Mac got a bat.  Emeryss decided she didn't want an ugly balloon.

And of course, the kids all got to pick a pumpkin.  We already had some bigger ones at home so they each got to pick a small one.

It was just fun to be out and enjoy the weather and this beautiful country we're living in.  Do you ever just have a joyful day?  Today was mine.  It was great to just enjoy my children, God's beautiful world and anticipating my love coming home.  I hope that each of you can find joy in your everyday living.  Life truly is so much better when you can appreciate the little joys the surround you.

The Name of the Game...

... is 6th folder, 6th frame.

Go to your 6th folder and then choose the 6th frame/photo.

Here's mine:

Marrott's o' plenty

Daeglan, Seth, Ada, Cannon, Brody, Genevieve, Camilla, Ondine, Emma, MacEwen, Gabrielle, Marguerite, Emeryss

Tag, you're it:  Melissa

While the Cat's Away...

The mice will play!

Our first day with Daddy gone and this is what I found my little mice doing.

         

          

It's Totally Retro!

Ok, so everyone should do this.  It's too much fun!

YearbookYourself.com

Here is me and Geoff in 1968.  No wonder it was love at first sight!

All Hale Queen Ryssie!

So there was a little shop there at the Castle (of course) and we decided to let the kids all pick something.  Boys will be boys... they all chose swords, really cool hand carved swords.  And girls will be girls... Emeryss chose a princess hat.  This is what happened...

With no prompt to do so, I assure you, the boys kneel at Queen Emeryss's feet simultaneously and Brody says, "My Queen, what is our mission to fulfill for you today?"

Emeryss says, "Go and slay the Dragon."

And of course, they did.

Feeling The LOVE!

What more can I say?  Except maybe where this is... An ancient tree at Castle Rising.  My ancient I mean, the stone below it said it was planted in 1662... we think, it was hard to read, it too was ancient... the original dedicative stone for the tree...  Crazy cool history.   Really, how cool is it that we live in ENGLAND!

In order of appearance:  Back to front:  Daeglan, MacEwen, Broderick, Emeryss

Feeling Very Official!

It's official, we are residence of the UK.  So what after 6 months makes it more official now?

Black Panther now has official UK plates and a Road Tax Disc (last photo can barely see in lower left of windshield).  And yes, my kids named our car Blank Panther.

I wish I may, I wish I might....

So no day off is complete without making a wish.  And we were so lucky to find the not just one, but two wells at Castle Rising.  

     

However, we opted for the outdoor well for wishing.

I thought this was incredibly cute and I'm hoping you will too!  I've added translations for those of you that don't yet speak Marrott-nese.

"I wish I had a pony."

"I wish I had two bionicles."

"I wish I had a batman soup (that's suit)."

** I've been trying for 3 days to get Brody's Wishing video to upload and for some reason it won't.  So, regrettably his wish is not on here.  But, here is a quote from his video:

"I wish that drugs and bad words didn't exist and that I had a real omnitrix and shape shifting powers."--  Brody Marrott

                                              

For those that don't know, an omnitrix is from the show Ben Ten and gives the wearer the ability to shift into lots of different aliens, what kid wouldn't want that! 

Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Marrott Style!

So Geoff is about to leave for Germany for training and we decided to let the kids play hooky so we could have a day together.

This is where we ventured to....

Castle Rising

Built in 1138 and presented to the Crown in 1300-ish, it is one of the largest Keeps in the country and it was AMAZING!!!

Ok, so check this out....

 

... the moat on this thing was deeper than any plumber's crack I've ever seen!!!  Seriously, I don't know if you can truly appreciate it from the pictures, but imagine yourself fully dressed in 15th century armor, carrying a sword and shield trying to climb 40 feet up a 75 degree angle.  That's if, you made it through the water!  Oh, and did I mention, it's a double moat.  That's right, not one but two moats!  This place is nie impregnable.  

Ok, here's a few more pix...

     

A really cool tiled fireplace (glassed over to protect the tile).  The tiles were all individually stamped with the coat of arms and various other pictures and symbols.

G with Daeglan and Emeryss sitting on an old chapel wall.  M with the four mini-geomir's sitting on the back side of the castle.

View from the Gate Wall.  We got to pretend we were archers defending the Keep!

Here is the triple barricaded entry.

     

Going up!                                     Going Down.

The innerds.  Ok, so if you look closely (on the right) you can see the kids in the little doorway across the way.  And (left) this is from the basement looking up, all floors and obviously ceiling gone.

           

Gorgeous original wood-work.  I want to live here!!!

Just for Geoff

Since everyone gets to hear about the kids all the time and since it's usually from my perspective (ok it's always from my perspective), so you get to hear about/from me too, I thought it'd be nice to let you know some things about our fearless leader...

    

Geoffrey Lorenzo Marrott

Husband Tag:

1. Where did you first meet? FHE @ Ricks (not BYU-I, Ricks), so cliche, I know.

2. How long did you date before you got married? 3 months from 1st date to wedding day!

3. How long have you been married? at the moment, 8 years, 3 months, 22 days, and roughly 10 hours!!

4. What does he do that surprises you?  quote scriptures and prophets with no problem or even any effort 

5. What is your favorite feature of his? his eyes

6. What is your favorite quality of his? his passion for what's right and true!

7. Does he have a nickname for you? Leigh

8. What is his favorite color? blue

9. What is his favorite food? fish and chips

10. What is his favorite sport? Football (you know the world sport aka soccer and then there's American Football)

11. When and where was your first kiss? After our second date outside the Huntington House, then I came in and jumped on the couch with Melissa!

12. What is your favorite thing to do as a couple? We love to watch movies, go out to eat and explore the world (or at least we think we like to explore the world) and we love to be with our kids and just talk to each other about our future plans.  

13. Do you have any children? Yes, we have four little rascals and I love that I can look at them and see Geoff!

14. Does he have a hidden talent? He is the best story teller, I've heard all his mission stories uncountable times, and I would listen to them a thousand times a thousand more.  His stories are just captivating, just ask someone who has listened to him.  He can tell a story about tying his shoes and your enthralled. 

15. How old is he? 31 going on 13 somedays

16. Who said "I love you" first? I think he did... Wow, guess I need to research that in my journal.  Whoever it was the other followed right behind, so...  does it really matter?  I guess most would say it does, but...

17. What is his favorite type of music? BAGPIPES

18. How did you know he was The One?  I just guessed and got lucky... JK.  Lots of reasons: we want the same things from life, he's protective and yet allows me to fall sometimes so that I can get stronger by picking myself up, I love his sense of humor although I am usually at the butt of every joke (Love the line in PS I Love You when the mom's says that's the way a man shows you are with him!), but really his conviction for the Gospel and Truth had me at Hello!

19. Do you think he will read this? Doubt it, not of his own accord anyway.  He would if I ask him to, but not sure I would.  

20. I tag: Every woman who reads this.