An official dilemma.

Tara has been doing an experiment for science, and has been investigating the effect of healthy and unhealthy breakfast on school performance.
She has measured the number of character tickets, compliments and stickers (which all reward good behaviour) and also her daily math grades.
It was one of those projects where the teacher requested parental help (ie we got to do it!). We
had to produce graphs, and state the independent and dependent variables, and the control-( I don't remember any of that from when I was 10)- and paste everything on to a desk-top display board.

So, the results are now in:
Her math grades went UP when she ate the POP TARTS!!
BUT, she got more awards for character when she ate the Raisin Bran....

Now we have to decide if we want a kid who is smart in math, or one with great character.....

Snazzy....

Nigel is heading up a major conference this week as part of his role as Director of Lifeshapes. It has been a headache for some time as it is the first conference he has organised, and day one arriving was a relief for all (and apparently went well..)
He has managed to get some amazing international speakers- including our very own Mike Breen! And also Todd Hunter (who headed up Vineyard and is now Mr Alpha USA). So the week takes on an Alpha twist and an interesting combination with Lifeshapes.
My exciting role in the conference organisation has been making sure there is a supply of freshly laundered shirts for my snappy dresser! So imagine my surprise when he walked in last night wearing a 'Lifeshapes' polo shirt in a strange shade of green......
' All the team are wearing them...!'

The week at a glance..

The clinic is looking fantastic after a year of renovation. I had not seen the new reception extension, the front desk, or the fabulous wood floor. It was so different to the low ceilinged 'bunker' which was there before, and made the disruption seem very worthwhile.
Clients are amazed that we are still providing NHS care- partly because of all the press about the changes in dentistry, and partly because we now look like a private practice!

Catching up with wonderful friends was a real highlight of the week.
I had some great evenings with Andy and Lisa, Paul and Louise, and John and Liz (not to mention a wonderful trip to the West St spa).
It was all relaxed and familiar, and the world seemed very small indeed.

awww!!

It was great to call in on the fabulous Manserghs and tiny Elijah- I had forgotten how small newborns are! John is suitably doting.......what else would you expect?!

Oh, Mummy.......!!

My mum drove up today and we
had a great day in town with Per Una!
Saw the fabulous Peace Gardens awash with magnolia and blossom, and the new steel spheres..(groovy..).
We walked through the desert landscape of the winter gardens- (strange seeing cacti in Sheffield!-) and bumped into Harry ,who was Daniel's best friend at school.
Once he had worked out who I was, he was very
excited to have contact details again, and the renewal of a great relaionship.....

Strange....

I felt a little strange leaving the family over Easter.
I had not been particularly 'connected' at church over the week, and Good Friday, being our kids' only day of school holiday, was not spent in sombre meditation, but in frivolous egg-painting and entertaining neighbours.......
I was totally unprepared for the awesomeness of watching the sun rise above the clouds this Easter morning as we flew into Manchester. And being 'reconnected' with family at Philadelphia as God reconnected with me (despite my out of body feelings....!).

A little nap restored my soul......

up, up and away.....

Nigel had breakfast yesterday with the people who wrote that song!! (in my beautiful balloon.....)
He was at a supposedly high -powered business breakfast, and arrived back declaring it had been a 'cultural moment' and an unusual start to Good Friday! There were about 500 people there, and he had to leave the house at just after 6am -they crooned to him, and gave a little testimony, and he didn't even get much to eat! (he is so not a morning person - it would have had to be spectacular to impress!!)
I, however, am very impressed that this morning I am on my laptop at the airport connected to their wireless network- modern technology is truly amazing. The first flight was slightly delayed and I have managed to do a load of online work that time did not allow yesterday. So, I am relieved to get that done, and am just about to board.....

Phoenix nights.....

Spring temperatures in Arizona have been hovering around the low 80s which , year -round, would be perfection! Yesterday however, it randomly spiked to 98 degrees....
The air-conditioning kicked in for the first time this year, and we spent the night sleeping under little more than a sheet, listening to the strangely familiar whirring of the fan........a painful reminder of a fast approaching summer.
How surreal then, that at the end of the bed lies my partially packed suitcase- already containing boots, gloves and sweaters.....
I fondly remember last April in Sheffield, when I slept under two duvets and resorted to socks in the middle of the night, never quite getting my nose warm....

My mum had one but it didn't look like this....

We saw this wonderful sight today and couldn't resist a photo.
A new twist on the 'Easter cactus'.


(note the ears.....)

Never in a million years.

We went to a rodeo at the weekend- and, aside from a little sunburn (I know, how dreadful!) had a great day.
There was a real variety of events, interspersed with commercials- a glittery woman galloping on a horse parading a banner (advertising the local tack shop etc! )
There was steer wrestling, bronco riding, roping competitions, all culminating in the bull riding.
Now whoever thought that jumping onto an angry bull would be fun must have been short of a few sandwiches in their picnic....
These things weigh 2100 lbs (150stone) and have HUGE horns, and when you see the guys limping out of the arena, or even catch sight of their underwear as the jeans have been ripped away..........

It did make for entertaining viewing, but for the most part a complete wonderment at why anybody would want to do that!!

Frantic..!

The word 'deadline' is a strange one- what does it mean? But I have discovered it has amazing powers....
My organisation of our UK accounts has been relaxed and chilled of late (read: totally procrastinated.....) as I was anticipating finishing them by mid May. It turns out the only envelope of time I have to go back to Sheffield is this Saturday, as Nigel's schedule is so mad (read: oh my goodness that is 4 days time).
So my chilled , relaxed life has changed in the twinkling of an eye, and I have the joy of 3 more days like yesterday- 10 hrs of balancing cheques and sorting invoices......
(I am obviously an externally motivated kind of gal!)
But I am looking forward to the joy of being at Philadelphia on Easter Sunday!!

Surprising parenting....

Yesterday Nigel and I went exploring and found a whole new area of Phoenix which we had not experienced before......we took a trolley ride around old-fashioned shops (found some fun western wear.......yee -ha! ), had lunch in a rooftop cafe over looking the mountains, and culminated in a very posh mall. A fun day off.
We set off for home and got caught in traffic. My cell phone rang- the kids were home (alone) and we were about 5 mins away. I tried to sound calm and suggested they get a drink and a snack and we would be back before they knew it........Daniel asked me not to rush, and not to worry! When we walked in through the door he had a duster in his hand, and had just organised the fastest and most proficient clean up of Emily's room as a 'wonderful surprise for mummy'!!!
Surprised indeed !!!

Bad Hair Day!!!

The braids came out today......and we were NOT happy at the thought of curly hair!!!

Playing outside in a bobble hat until shower time..........

Take it off before you pass gas!!

Was looking at my contemporary phylactery-and it got me thinking about traditional ones- and then that got me thinking that maybe the point of them was to think about God and not the phylactery itself.........
Anyway, I did a Google search and found this amazing site teaching people how to properly wear them...... http://www.hanefesh.com/edu/Tefillin.htm
Wow! Now I have even more to think about........

Butter wouldn't melt!

Daniel is 'star of the week' at school, and today he has to give a 20 minute presentation on the poster he has made. They are big in to the 'self confidence' thing over here!
There is an article in his newspaper entitled 'Meet My Hero', and it reads like this-

My mum is my hero. She helps me if I need help. She cooks delious food and she likes cooking the best is the hugs. She buys the most wonderful things. She is the best mum.

Needless to say......I love it!!

Belated, but beautiful.....

My mail order gift from Nigel just arrived- an added pleasure in my week. I love the unexpected surprise!
He managed to track down a bangle formed as a Mobius strip, with the Lord's prayer engraved on it.
A plane without end, a prayer of infinite length, my contemporary phylactery.........
and more wearable than a hexagon!!

I saw Bo Derek last week......

As promised, some photos of our recent trip to Mexico.
It is an easy 4 hr drive to a gorgeous beach, and apartment complex with several pools and swim up bars.....
The weather was wonderful, and my gorgeous girls got their hair braided- while Danny learned to fly a kite.
Do pray for us- life is tough at the moment!!.........

Hello Darkness my old friend

The sunny Skye has gone, and now all is gloomy...
It has been wonderful having Mags, Phil and Skye staying with us- baby Skye has such a happy disposition.
The kids have loved having her around, and Daniel in particular with his soft heart, has spent
loads of time on the floor playing peek-a-boo with her. Apparently he wrote in his book at school that he wants to visit them and the beach in the summer- So watch out Charleston, we can feel a vacation coming on......


Nigel got up at just after 4am to see them off. I stayed in bed and thought very hard for a good excuse to remain embracing my pillow. And then it came to me- a Holy revelation of personal justification.
"do not walk in the darkness, but walk in the light"............
and as it obviously was still dark, I could not walk around, could I?

(I had a bit of a laugh to discover that Nigel missed them anyway!!)

A perfect day....

the weather hit a fabulous 82 degrees today- that is 28 for you celsius types.
We have the gorgeous Charleston Kellys staying with us, and started the day with breakfast at the pioneer museum- serenaded with country music!




then on to church where Gareth was leading worship, and it was great to catch up with others as we have not been around for a while.


we saw the Frenches and it was another good excuse for a BBQ, water bomb fight, and general frivolity.....

then a spot of tea!

And a general commiseration with those in Guisborough who are expecting snow tonight.....

I thought this was a particularly attractive birthday card which some weird friend sent. Apparently I have now reached the dizzy status of 'old lady'......
Hope you are suitably impressed with my first exciting day of blogging- have learnt loads today!! I suspect the initial enthusiasm will wear off!

Tara, Emily and Daniel prepare for a sleep over with next door's kids. Mum and Dad look forward to a lie in!

This is a photo of us with our great friends Anne and Angus who visited us in February.
We went to Sedona and took a jeep tour round the stunning red rocks.
We love having visitors as it makes us feel very connected to life as we knew it !
Yesterday was Sue's birthday and we had a fabulous party with Mags and Phil from Charleston, and Andy Swann, Jane, Clint and Joy from Sheffield. They were all visiting on the same weekend- so it was a good excuse for a BBQ!

those pesky peers

Well, another year older, and still giving in to peer pressure.......
Apparently there are millions of people out there just waiting to hear how the amazing Mallons are doing!!
I will learn how to post pictures and update you all soon.