Two and Two Half-Pints: Some highs and lows

15 Dec- 22 Dec

Started out this particular week with our first brief snow. It fell heavily, but not for long. Stephen came running downstairs in just a towel, cheering, "It's snowing!!" like a kid. I think he was more excited than Bryce and Ellis and myself combined. I think Bryce was a little disappointed by its fleeting nature, but I assured him next Winter would be snowier.

Visited Audley End miniature railway to see Father Christmas in his grotto. We took a train on the full-sized railway to get there, which was an adventure for Bryce in itself. Had a good mile-long walk through the countryside from the rail station, but it was sunny and we enjoyed it. Stephen wants me to add that "we saw lots of pheasants." And a random blue heron. "Good, now I'm happy," he says.

The next day we had some upsetting news that Stephen's father, Philip, was being collected to go to the hospital. Earlier that day, he was using the wrong words for things during a phone conversation to Robert, Stephen's brother, so Robert called an ambulance. This news came just 4 days after his 68th birthday and 4 days before Philip was to come to Cambridge and join us on our holiday travels across England. After being wrongly informed that he had had a stroke, we discovered that he had instead had a bleed in his brain, thankfully not as severe. Now, over 2 weeks later, he is still in hospital, but on the mend and back in Bolton after spending 2 weeks at Hope Hospital in Manchester, where they specialize in brain conditions. Extensive tests concluded that he is in the clear and that there is no further risk-- that it has stopped bleeding and there are no clots, etc. He is still having some frustration in being able to retrieve words-- mostly proper nouns, but is in speech therapy which will continue inside his home when he is discharged from the hospital shortly. Physically he is in great shape.

With our Christmas plans a bit up in the air, Stephen hopped on a train on that Monday morning, the 19th, to Bolton, where he met Robert and stayed by Philip's side. We were on our own in Cambridge, but so very glad that Stephen was just a train-ride away and could be there for his dad. Bryce was a very brave boy without his dad around and we kept ourselves busy and distracted by making cookies and packing for our tentative Christmas travels. We had news of Philip's clear test results on Thursday and so Friday the 23rd I picked up the rental car, Stephen came home, and we set off for our trip-- without Philip. Robert stayed through Christmas Eve and we all moved up our travel dates so that the whole family would be in Bolton with Grandad Fearnley by Boxing Day.

Please keep him in your prayers as he is still on the mend and missing his late wife as the anniversary of her death approaches. We are all hugging each other a little closer these days, thankful to have one another and our health. Sending our love and virtual hugs your way, too. XO

Bryce is really into drawing these days. Favorites are monsters and dinosaurs. His favorite color is still brown.

He especially likes to draw circles and features on a face.

The first and only snow so far

The BIG train! Does that face say it all??

This guy is pretty excited, too!

Watching the landscape breeze by

A chair just for Bryce.

Love little feet dangling so far from the floor.

Awesome old road sign in an old flint wall and me, briefly child- and stroller- less.

Scenic walk to Audley End

More scenic walk

If you keep your eyes open, you never know what you might find when meandering through the English countryside-- like 4 dozen ladybugs at a ladybug picnic. Yeah, that song will be in your head now for hours, sorry.

Just across the street from the miniature railway is the Audley End House & Gardens, a Jacobean country house. On our to-do list for Springtime, not open to the public in colder months.

Ellis, trying to stay awake to meet Santa.

I like how this photo looks like they are traveling through some sort of wormhole or something.

Father Christmas asking Bryce what he would like for Christmas. Bryce very clearly told him "a jigsaw puzzle," and he nodded and handed him a plush bear donning an "Audley End" t-shirt.

Bruce and Bryce

Making gingerbread men. You can't tell from this photo, but Bryce's entire bottom half is covered in flour. Now I understand why my mom always tried to steer me away from making them as a kid. They are a royal pain in the tush to make and quite frankly, don't taste that great. They are, however, fun to decorate, in moderation. Unfortunately my recipe to make 36 made instead 75 so I spent several naptimes gluing buttons upon buttons to my gingerbread army. After about 50 they started to get really creative-- Lady Gagabread with asymmetrical hair, multicolored eyelashes and multi-dimensional bra-dress, also numerous angry and sad amputees. Bryce helped me put many of them out of their misery.