An Award Winner - Owen's Speech Day!

OK, so things in the UK are not the same as the States (duh, right?). Owen's end of year assembly (which is also a, hmm graduation, or maybe not) is called Speech Day where we gather to listen to the Headmaster of St. Edwards Sr school speak (some might say for a long time), as well as distinguished guests, head students and other random folks with a word to add. This is really a great event with nothing comparable in the states as this ceremony recognizes all high performing students from grade 7 through the highest grades in the school (equivalent to American high school seniors).

This year Owen earned through hard work and study the highest marks in his grade in Latin and Music - this guy is a classic! For his trouble Owen received books of his choice for each of these awards. Additionally Owen won three events at his school's Sports Day in track and field events (1500m run, 8oom run, and high jump) and received a small plaque. He is currently known as the fastest young man in year 7.

Owen rounded out this spectacular year with a Distiction grade of 130 marks (which I am told is quite good) on his grade 4 piano exam. All this basically means the guy is a good piano player and spends a lot of time practicing (I know because I hear it each day!).

Well done Owen! A great end to a great academic year!




Owen receives his awards from the distinguished Speech Day guest, Professor Gerald Pillay of Liverpool Hope University.

Here come the Plants!

It always amazes me how incredibly good and wonderfully clever the class assembly's at St.Ed's are! Well, Cora's assembly this year was no exception! The theme plants-how interesting can this be you ask? Well, let me tell you these kids made it the most fascinating assembly on plants you have ever seen! Cora did her bit with exceptional clarity and volume! SUPER JOB CORA!!

Sharon this Spuds for you Birthday Girl!

Happy Birthday Sharon!! A rousing party was held at the McMahan house to celebrate Sharon's 40 something birthday. Good fun was had by all with dinner, presents, party games, and even a non traditional McMahan cake- no yellow cake with chocolate frosting for this birthday girl!!



Sharon, your the first girl on the block to own a..pair of serving tongs. "Ahh, I'm sorry I thought this was my birthday!?"



Just when things were getting dodgy, the real gifts came out! Was there ever a lady so lucky! Happy Birthday Sharon!

The Lakes - Days in the Wilds of England

For more than two years now we had not had the opportunity to visit one of England's most beautiful (and wet) regions, the Lakes of Cumbria. Well, check that one off the list because in May we spent four days walking fells and braving dangerous roads while seeking the Grail of Beatrix Potter - her home at Hilltop.

The bald fells (why do English hills and mountains have no trees? Very strange for a Yankee from Penn's woods) and deep valleys envelop you as you enter the Lakes, a land of green valleys, deep lakes (called 'meres') and rocky crags. The Romans enjoyed the area so much they built two forts here, including one at a site called Hardknott that would certainly be a 'hardluck' post for the poor plebe stationed there. Approaching this fort was no easy feat as the roads were at about a 30-40 degree incline in some places and very narrow! Not a great place to meet a Tesco's lorry.



Cora finishes the climb high above Hardknott Roman Fort. What a climber!








Castles, stone circles and mountain clothing and equipment sales awaited us in other areas of the Lakes as we toured Windmere, Keswick (Kesick if you speak 'English') and Penrith. And we just about saw them all, execpt for a few maddening sites far off in southern Cumbria.

One of the best days was spent in Keswick where we saw an impressive stone circle (Castelrigg), rowed a boat on the lake, sorry, mere, and visited the world's biggest pencil factory! Oh control your excitement!



Out on the mere in a rowboat. Now if we were both rowing the the right direction we may have gone somewhere.









Yes, the last day we did visit Beatrix Potter's home at Hilltop. Finding a parking space was a pain (there were about 5 for 100 cars) but we made it. The house is small and unassuming but veru quaint. Elizabeth certainly thought it was worth the trip. We could see why she wanted to retire to this place - surrounded by beautiful, unspoiled countryside.



The girls in the garden of Peter Rabbit and his friends. Oh watch out for that mini cooper on the road!

RunningWoman crushes Fairford 10K

At the end of the summer half term break I dragged my children to Fairford so I could run the Fairford 10K. I haven't run a race since leaving the states. Why did I decide to torture myself again you ask? Well, there are many reasons for this but the best answer I have is Erin made me!! All joking aside, I think it was actually my idea. I've been back on the running trail for the past year and needed some new motivation to keep me going! Erin has been a super support since she moved here! We run together most Saturdays and sometimes during the week.



Erin, Elizabeth and Joshua celebrate with their medals after the Fairford run. Way to go in the rain!!







OK-so back to the race! It was not my best-in fact I felt horrible the whole way! I guess I can chalk that up to too much fun and not enough running in the Lake District the week leading up to the big race! Despite the horrible feeling while running it was absolutely a gorgeous run-winding through a few small villages around Fairford- too bad I didn't have my camera with me! It was well worth the pain just for the view and I got a metal!!! Oh by the way, I ran my 10k faster than I ever have before-under an hour!!! WOOHOO!!!

The Snyders 'Do' Cheltenham

In May my (Elizabeth's) cousin Scott and his wife Tami came for a visit! WOW!! Now considering I have not spent any considerable amount of time with my cousin (more than a few hours) since we were young this could have been a really, really long week but, in fact, we had an absolutely fab time (at least I did!)!

I took them on a whilwind tour of England. We did a bit of everything-Romans, Castles, London, Cotswold villages. I think Scott recorded everything on his camera from driving on the M5 to eating dinner at our house! It was great to reconnect with with my cousin. I found out not only is he really funny he's quite musical! I hope Tami and Scott had as much fun as I did I thoroughly enjoyed my week of being their tourguide!

Scott works for his food. This man plays a mean guitar!











Tami finds her way down a dark castle staircase. No, Scott really is not cowering behind her - there are no ghosts in England!

Cora Thrills at May Fayre

Cora dazzled the crowd (along with many other members of her class) during the annual St. Edwards May Fayre event. Cora's class provided vocal entertainment and Cora and some friends followed up with some fine Irish dancing. Mayfair proved to be one of the nicer days of the summer, as you can observe from the photos!







Cora and classmates sing in dreamy sky blue shirts!









Cora kicks up her Irish heels - check out that red Irish hair!


















Cora and her friend Melissa prepare to strut their Irish stuff for the anxious crowds.