Hanging with the Travis and Emily Cushing Family-Part One

Yay for family that moves out of the country for six months so that we can go visit them! Ok, so us visiting was not the reason for the move but my brother his wife and their four kids moved to London about six months ago for work. When Tyler and I found out they were going to England, we felt like we had to go visit them while they were there. We flew out on the 5th of November and made the flight by the skin of our teeth. Do people still use that saying? Well, I'm using it now because we seriously thought we weren't  going to make it onto the plane but made it with seconds (no joke... seconds) to spare (thanks nice Delta agents for your help!).
So we arrived the morning of the 6th, were welcomed into the Cush Clan hotel (details to come in a later post) and immediately went and took a two hour nap before we were headed  to my first European league soccer game (if you're interested in that, you can read about it here.)
Don't worry, I'm not going to give you a minute by minute account of what we did, instead I'll just give you some of the highlights of our daily happenings.
Monday: Tyler, Owen and I headed to Windsor for the day. 





Went on a tour to Windsor Castle

 


Hung out at the Thames River







Classic "Stand as close as you can to a guard" pic.

 

Tuesday Travis took off work so that the whole group could head to Harrods to see "Father Christmas". Don't make the mistake of calling him Santa to Father's Christmas' helpers. They don't like it.

If you are wondering if there really is a difference, there is. I've listed them below.

1. Father Christmas wears blue eyeshadow

2. Father Christmas cracks jokes and tells children that their names in reindeer mean "toilet brush" and other such things.

3. Father Christmas doesn't ask the kids what they want for Christmas. After cracking jokes and insulting children, he sends them you on your way. 



Waiting to see Father Christmas



One redeeming quality of Father Christmas: Instead of one little candy cane, he gave each child a Peter Pan book and a big chocolate.

P.S. Harrods had the most amazing kids clothing. Not that I would ever buy my daughter a skirt for $600 (if I had a daughter) but man if I ever decided to, that's where I would buy it. Gorgeous clothes.

After Harrods we headed over to the London Sea Aquarium:

We also got to check out Big Ben and Parliment:

Westminster Abbey:

And Buckingham Palace:

Oh and ate some yummy crepes and drank hot chocolate from street vendors.... yummy!

Wednesday we headed to Oxford with Em and the kids:



At Oxford University
































We were super bummed we didn't have more time in Oxford, we could have spent a couple of days there but Tyler needed to get back to meet Travis for the Chelsea vs. Fullham soccer game:

To be continued...

Futbol

When Tyler and I were dating, had been dating for almost two years he decided to take a trip with some friends and their girlfriends to Germany for the World Cup. Since Tyler had a hard time deciding whether or not he really wanted me to be called his girlfriend, I was not invited. He had a bunch of good excuses, like that they purchased all of the tickets before he and I were really very serious, or that it would cost a lot of time off work and money (neither of which I had). I admit it... I was really bummed about it. I had grown up watching soccer, playing soccer and loving soccer. I wanted so badly to be  number 1. travevling with Tyler and number 2. Watching soccer at the world cup in Germany.
Since that time, it's been a running joke with us. Whenever soccer or the world cup comes up in conversation Tyler will ask me why I didn't come along when they went. I act like it's not funny and then he promises to make it up to me at some point.
It finally happened. By way of my older brother Travis, me and Tyler were finally able to go to a real life European Futbol game together. To make it even better, my sis-in-law Em and nephew Carter came along for the game as well.

Am I really going to give Tyler credit for this and let him get away with the fact that I wasn't invited to go along to the world cup? Definitely not... I mean let's be honest, it was Travis who really invited us and got us the tickets so Tyler can't really be taking credit for that now can he?

Well...

I'm such a slacker. We went to Utah for two weeks and I was determined to blog while there. I didn't. I'm lame. I need to catch up now so... here are some highlights of our Utah trip.

Owen's first time to the Zoo

He loved it.

 

Favorite animal at the zoo? The tractor. Couldn't get enough. Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of him and his love for the tractor.
And the other little kids. This is him trying to get the attention of that little girl. He loved her. She paid him no mind.

Anyone that knows Owen right now knows that he LOVES choo choo's (trains). He was able to ride hi first train on our trip to the zoo... loved it.

Oh, the grossest thing that happened at the zoo? I was drinking a hot chocolate when all of the sudden I bring the cup up to get another sip and notice that there is BIRD POO on my cup. A bird pooped on my cup while I had it in my hand. Ughhh... isn't that disgusting?

Other zoo pics...

Owen wasn't the happiest in this pic but I promise he loves these little friends of his... See...

While in Utah, we also spent a lot of time with family. I was so happy to be able to spend some time with my grandparents. I want Owen to know them like I know them. They are such wonderful people and I feel so much gratitude that they are still around and still so much fun to spend time with. Why didn't I take some picture of them while there? I have no idea. I guess I was  too caught up in enjoying time with them to capture the moment.

We were there for the first snow fall. Some of you may not know this about me but the first snow fall is my favorite day of the year. I love how beautiful Utah is when it first snows. So excited we were there for it. Unfortutalely, this little baby that will soon be coming makes me very sleepy, and pretty dang sick. So instead of playing in the snow with Owen, I took a nap. But my wonderful mother stepped right up and made a snowman with him, So cute. She didn't have her camera out there wwhen they did the snowman. So sad right? I have seriously got to get better with taking picture.
We were there for Halloween. YAY! I love Halloween. Tyler  and I dressed up as Elvis and Priscilla Preslie (thanks Carrie!).

 I really really wanted Owen to be this:

but he wouldn't keep the beard on, so he was this:

Such a little cutie pie isn't he? We went to the Del Sol Halloween Party and there were a bunch of other little kids there. This little lady Tay was loving the Elmo costume. Just following him and hugging the head of the costume. It was so cute. I guess he knew what he was doing when he picked this costume out. He's already got a way with the ladies.

That night we took Owen trick or treating. I was probably more into it than he was. Chris and Kent (Tyler's parents) were totally laughing at how excited I'd get to go to the door or how even more excited I would get to answer the door and hand out candy. But really... isn't Halloween such a fun holiday?

A few things that I would call opposite of highlights that happend in Utah.

We took Owen to his heart doctor and found out that he will in fact need surgery. We are going to head back to Utah in December to get it done. Rough thinking about our little man laying on an operating table but we keep thinking how grateful we are that it's a problem that can be fixed. Keep is in your prayers and we'll keep everyone updated.

Poor Owen had a rough week. On Halloween night he and Tyler were wrestling on the bed and Tyler tossed him onto the bed and Owen's arm landed underneath him and this happened:

When we took him to the instacare we were thinking maybe it was just sprained, we walked into the place and Owen saw some fish across the room, he started running, tripped and landed right on the arm that was already hurt. Poor little guy... ended up with two little buckle fractures and has to wear a little cast for the next few weeks.
Side Note: When we took Owen to get the actual cast on here in Florida, we sat in the doctor office for FOUR HOURS. Not exaggerating. We were in the waiting room for two and a half hours and in the room waiting for the cast for an hour and a half.  Some other guy that was there for his child came up to us after we'd been there for two hours and said that it was like that every time he had been to that office
F
O
U
R

H
O

U

R
S

Sooooo long... way too long to be waiting with your one year old.

Anyway, that was a quick synopsis of our Utah trip. I didn't get to see half of the friends I wanted to see while in town or do half of the things I wanted to do but it was still a fantastic trip. We'll just need to stay longer next time we go.

Getting our Fall On

You know how in Florida it's like a million degrees, even now? Well, I was really craving me some fall weather and some Halloween festivities. Luckily, we had a little trip planned out to Utah this week... perfect timing to get our fall fill.
This weekend we were super lazy and just hung out, played trains and cars and spent some time with family.

Cars with Grandpa. Cute.

Loves his Uncle Derek

Oh and took a ride up the canyon. I couldn't wait to get up in the mountains and take a hike but... not feeling up to hiking right now (our soon to be addition really hates me to do much other than lay around and hug the toilet), we just drove up the canyon and visited some family up there. It was perfect.

Now as I've mentioned before my mom is so super into holidays. Halloween is no exception. Last night she threw a Halloween bash for the grandkids. It was fantastic. It was filled with all things Halloween.

Such as:

Halloween Sherades. Hannah being a spider

Halloween Toy Toss. The kids let Owen cross the line to toss it in. Unfair advantage.

Bobbing for worms in whipping cream (mmmm... yummy)

Pin the nose on the pumpkin

Halloween Cake Walk (for prizes, not cake)

We played all games for prizes. This was Owen's prize bucket. Don't worry, everyone's prize bucket looked like this. In my mom's world, nobody ever loses. Everyone wins and to be fair, everyone wins the same prizes.

Could this lady be any more fun? Really... such a fun grandma.

Off to such a great Halloween start. Luckily we are here for another week and a half so we'll get plenty more Halloween fun in. YAY for Utah in the Fall!

Mmmmmm... Cruisin the Ft. Lauderdale Canals

When I was little, we'd go to Lake Powell every year with my aunt and uncle. We camped out in the red sand and played in the water for a week straight. At the time we didn't have a boat but our Uncle John and Aunt Debbie did... we loved that boat. I remember sitting on it listening to Bruce Hornsby for hours on end. When I was seven years old, I got out on the waterskis for the first time. It totally clicked. I loved it from the second I got up on those things.

Right before tenth grade my parents decided to invest in their own boat. Best purchase ever! We were so excited (Except for my poor older brother Brandon who had just left on a mission, bad timing for him). Looking back it feels like we spent every weekend on that boat. We listened to mixed tapes and waterskied the days away. Since those days I always swore I would have a boat when I was older and married so that my kids could enjoy that same thing. Well, when Tyler and I were dating, I mentioned that to him and his response...  "I will never own a boat, you are always putting money into them and I would rather put my money elsewhere". So sad for me and our future children.

This past month, Tyler ate his words.

We are now the proud new owners of a little 17 footer. We have yet to name her but she is a beauty.   We took our first ride this past weekend and it was bliss...

Working on the boat... look at those sexy mechanics

Me, Mel and the kids loving it

 

Love these boys. P.S. Owen is a natural on the boat. Loves it.

Landon (The Captain)

It was windy. Oh and look how happy his little face is. See... bliss!

The Johns

Unfortunately, but for very good reason I won't be doing much skiing at least  for another seven months or so because of the little peanut growing inside my belly. Yes, that's right people, there is something else that starts with the letter B that's going to be new to the Rhode's family. It's name right now is baby, I'm sure we'll come up with something more original than that by the time he/she comes along.

Suggestions for names for both boat and baby are welcome.

Who Indeed?

A few days before Tyler's Birthday I went to get a card for him. I  love looking at cards. I could spend hours standing in the card aisle reading and reading... or wait... is it that I have such a hard time finding a good card that I end up spending hours looking for one that I could give to someone and actually feel good about it? Either way, this day, Owen and I were in Target and I had been looking for the perfect card for my perfect husband for-EVER. Owen was sitting patiently in the stroller next to me (really... shocker right?), when out of the blue I heard this. I shrug it off thinking that someone must just really love annoying early 2000 singles hits as their ringtone but then I heard it again and again... I look to see where it is coming from and lo and behold, it's coming from my child. Not that he was singing it, the card he was holding and loving was singing it every time he opened it up. I decide it's probably as good a card as any since Owen picked it out for his dad and we were on our way.

Fast forward a month... this card has been the most fantastic (or annoying?) birthday card ever. Owen walks around with it constantly, openeing and closing it, dancing to it. So cute. He totally knew what he was doing when he picked it out.

Please excuse  the messy house and the annoying voice in the background.

In other Owen news, a few new things he is doing.
1. He loves shoes. He goes in to our room, digs out my shoes and brings them to me and Tyler and wants us to put them on and walk around the house in them. He also loves wearing my shoes. He's constantly walking around in heels. (Should I not admit that my son prefers heels?)
2. He loves a clean house. Even if it's food he's dropped on the floor, he points to it and yells yuck until you wipe it up. He also loves pushing around the broom and the swiffer or bringing them to me and having me hold him while I push around the broom or the swiffer.

3. He loves kicking, throwing and catching balls. He loves running through the house kicking his soccer ball and he is just figuring out how to catch the ball when you throw it to him.
4. He loves trucks. He loves standing at the window looking out when the garbage or recycling truck come down the street. He'll also points out every truck we pass when we're driving "Mommy, truck, mommy, truck, mommy truck" until you look at what he is pointing at. So cute.

5. He loves boats, we actually purchased one (I promise to write a post about it soon) a couple weeks ago. It's parked in our front yard and every day, all day he comes to me and Tyler saying "Outside, boat, outside, boat". He likes to go sit in it and act as though he's driving it around. We can't wait to get him his own little captain's hat. 

6. He loves to read. A few times we haven't been able to hear him and we'll go look in his room and his sitting in the rocking chair by himself, reading a book. So cute.

7. Some things that he loves doing that mom and dad maybe don't love so much... putting food on his head to get a laugh, throwing food, either to get a laugh or just because he loves to throw things and taking off his pants... he hates wearing pants. Also, we've started seeing a bit of a stubborn side. This boy knows what he wants and is bound and determined to get it.

It's so fun to see all of the new things he is constantly doing. I have no idea what Tyler and I did for entertainment before he came along. He is the perfect addition to our little family. We just LOVE this little dude!

A Clown Ballerina? Is there such a thing?

It's nearing the end of Septmeber, which means the start of fall and the beginning of the Halloween season. YAY! I love Halloween so much. I have so many great memories of Halloween. When we were little, some people in our ward would have a giant Halloween party at their farm every year. They would have a scary movie playing in the barn, a hayride for the little kiddos, a warm fire, hot cider, the works.  I also have memories of my cousins who lived up Brighton canyon coming to our house every year to go trick or treating with us. As we got older and didn't trick or treat any longer my mom made it a tradition to have Chili, breadsticks and donuts at her house every Halloween for whoever wanted  to stop by. I love love love Halloween!
Even though it won't be the same Utah Halloween I'm used to (crisp fall air, leaves changing colors, the annual Halloween parties) I'm determined to not to let the sweletering Florida heat fool me into thinking Halloween isn't just around the corner. I've started thinking of costume ideas for Owen (suggestions welcome). I'm coming up with nothing. Am I horrible mother? The poor little dude isn't even two and I've already run out of fun Halloween ideas. I thought of sticking him in his costume from last year again but as you can see from the second picture, he doesn't really care for mustard. (Tyler's joke... need to give credit where credit is due)

Anyway, I decided to go back to some of my pictures from past halloweens to see if it would conjure up any creativity on my part. Mostly it just conjured up tears of laughter about what I thought were great halloween costumes at one time. Like this one:

I wanted to be a ballerina, my best friend April was going to be a clown. Can you tell that my mom did both my makeup and April's makeup? Maybe she thought deep down I wanted to be a clown too. It's ok mom, I think it's hilarious and I must have not known it was embarassing at the time.

Or this one:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
At our church they asked everyone to be something from the past. I thought it was a great idea to be the Pinta. You know the Nina, the Pinta, the Santa Maria? Weird.  Do you see the shirt under the boat? It's a clock. I thought it was super clever to wear something that was representing "turning back time".

Or this one:

I honestly don't even have an explantation for this one. I don't remember what I was thinking but it was probably something along the lines of "I know I'm too old to be trick or treating and I don't have a costume but maybe if I draw polka dots on my face, stuff my outfit with pillows and throw on a red wig, I can trick neighbors into giving me some candy."

Anwyay, like I was saying,  I love halloween, there is nothing more fun than going to a haunted house with the man you love and cuddling up close when the chain saw guy is coming at you or eating chili and donuts on halloween night (Tyler thinks chili and donuts are a weird combo but to me that's halloween. Yummy) or getting lost in corn mazes or eating candy corn or seeing my mom dressed up for Halloween even if she isn't going anywhere the whole day. Plus, I love fall, it might be my favorite season. Could you Utah friends please mail me some leaves that have changed color? I need me some crisp fall air and something other than green trees!

Ok, so as I writing this blog post Tyler came up with the best idea... he wants the few of you who read this blog to email me a picture of your most ridiculous or your funniest Halloween costumes from the past. My email is: brittersport@gmail.com. If it's ok with the people who do send them, I'll do a post ranking our favorites. If only one person sends me their picture, then I guess you'll automatically win. For you more timid folks, you can just leave a comment about your funniest costume. I would just love to hear that there are others out there who wore humiliating costumes in their pasts as well. The winner will receive halloween peeps, unless of course you hate peeps in which case I'll send you the halloween candy of your choice. Please send some pictures in... Tyler and I need some entertainment!