Drown and Out

It has been raining virtually non-stop here since, well, I forget really, but feels like November!  It's been a bit much, and the river agrees.  The Thames has crested in some spots weeks ago, with many homes partially under water since before Christmas.  And it's only gotten worse.  It really just needs to stop now, or we need to find a way to siphon off all of our flood waters to the drought affected out in California.  We have broken all kinds of flood records already, and although we got a bit of a break today, more rain is on the way.  

River levels climb up the Hampton Court Bridge

The swollen river breaking the banks at Hampton Court Palace, inching its way up

Riverside or Riverbottom?

Signage marking the footpath (now totally submerged) along the Thames

One down, two to go

Bear with me for a moment while I sidebar, but is it just me or has everyone left the blogosphere?  I check my friends' blogs less regularly these days, I'll admit, but I do check them!  And what do I find?  Seems like most blogs have been abandoned, left to join the rest of the dying blogs in a cyber ghost town!  I guess with Facebook, Instagram and various other forms of media communication (most of which I have yet to dabble in because I'm too old school) blogging has become too cumbersome.  I'll confess to rather lacklustre feelings towards my own blog recently.  Just haven't been feeling it, but I don't think I'll abandon it altogether.  It's a great space to record family history, to post the fruits of my personal photography endeavours (separate from my professional ones) and it is also a type of journal.  

Rant over.  So Dallin got his braces off about a month ago!  Yippee!  The blessed day was marked with a bottle of sparking wine and a box of chocolate "gifted" to us by our orthodontist.  Quotes used there to emphasise the fact that I'm fully aware that along with my arm and leg that I've handed over to this place, I bought these so-called gifts for myself.  I'd have appreciated much more a rebate cheque!  I won't be uncorking any bottles (metaphorically speaking) until the end of March when our final payment for Dallin's ortho care is transacted.  Now that will be a day to celebrate!  Dallin had a lot of pre-braces ortho work that included a long period wearing and tending to a cemented-in-place palate expander.  Once that was completed and removed we had to wait quite sometime before this dentally delayed child grew all of his adult teeth so that braces could be installed.  That finally happened last year, December 2012.  

Dallin the day after he got his braces, amazingly all smiles!  

It is incredible to see how his teeth went from this . . .

to this (Dallin just before he got his braces removed about a year after they were installed)  

Et voila!  The final product!  I'd say it was worth all the hassle and expense.  What a great smile!  And now I've made my case, striking fear in his heart over letting any of this slip out of place.  He's heard my "wear your retainers every single night for the rest of your life" speech just a few times :)

Apart from the teeth, I can't get over how much he has grown the last year.  Looking at his 13 year-old, newly-brace-faced self compared to this 14 year-old-turned-man person, I am just amazed at the transformation from boy to man.  

Sweet 16

16 years married!  It's been an amazing adventure!  I'm so grateful to have such a great partner in this ride of life.  We were able to celebrate with a weekend away sans enfants.  We swapped childcare with our dear friends the Stephensons, they took our kids for a weekend and we took their kids the following weekend.  It was a win win win all around.  Not only did all the parents get a fun couples weekend away, but the kids had a blast together both weekends.  Can't say enough how grateful we are for this family's friendship.  They have enriched our lives in so many ways.  

 With the kids safely deposited at the Stephensons, we took off for Paris for a long weekend.  What a dream to celebrate our anniversary in the city of lights, the city that has always held a special place in my heart.  It's where some of my life's dreams have come true, and more dreams were born.  We have been to Paris together before, more than once, but never alone.  This was a special treat.  

We were lucky enough to enjoy mostly great weather the entire weekend.  It was the perfect wintry Paris scene.  We spent most of our time wandering, walking along the Seine, visiting a few favourite neighbourhoods and landmarks.  And most of all consuming all manner of divine French food.  

While I was distracted taking photos my cute husband snuck around the corner to procure us this lock to affix to Pont des Arts, the famous Parisian bridge upon which countless lovers have proclaimed their love and devotion by attaching their own lovelocks.    

I really never tire of seeing this structure.  It still gives me the same thrill it did all those years ago when I saw it for the first time and screamed aloud.  (Only now I don't actually scream aloud!) 

Pastries and fresh baguettes sur les quais for breakfast, don't mind if I do! 

In another sweet gesture my wonderful husband took me up this giant ferris wheel for a panoramic ride.  I have known about La Roue de Paris for a while, and have always wanted to ride it.  Being up high is not one of Scott's favourite experiences, so it was extra thoughtful of him to do this for me.