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What do the kids do when the weather reaches up to the high 4os? Head outside for some run around time. But with our tiny backyard it's a short track. We are grateful we have some green to look out onto each day. Most yards or gardens as they call them are dirt. It strikes me as odd that most homeowners spend little or no time/money on the exteriors of their homes, but the interiors are quite lovely. To see a home that has some time of flower box or groomed plants is rare. I guess it's so cold and wet, there's not much need for outdoor attention.
Downtown train station.
You need 30 pence which is roughly 45 cents to use the bathrooms in the major train stations. Here we are going through the turn-styles.
The best hand dryers ever! You put your hands through a stream of super fast air for 10 seconds and they are really dry! Dyson of course.
EAT sandwich shop. These grab and go sandwiches are everywhere around town. They are freshly made each morning and have great combos like chicken, basil & lemon salad. They're cut on a diagonal and you're seeing the open sides, not the best photo.
Waiting for the bus!
On the bus.
A square downtown. Russell Square, I think.
Lots of small cars here, our Honda Odyssey would look like a giant here! This car is the smallest we've seen and even has a kid's carseat in the back.
We had lunch at Wagamama, it's a chain that serves Japanese noodle/stir fry. It was wonderful! We can't wait to go back! It had long communal dining type of tables.
After lunch, Jason headed to class and we did a little shopping. Here's an art store that sold ver professional supplies, I think the kids were expecting Michael's! The store's floorboards were so creaky and soft, I wouldn't have been surprised to fall through.
Jars of coloring pigment, could have been just decoration, but I think they really use it.
Skyping with family back home!
N was waiting for her favorite pair of pants to dry and she figured out a way to keep her buns warm while she waited!
Our dryer is small and takes forever so we've been going green and line drying.
Mary captured the sunset from her window.
Natalieism-
- She jumped on the scale and I told her she was 16 kilograms (everything is metric) and she responds, "What? I am NOT going to kill a gram!"
Little L has learned to dance!
Today Vallarie turned 7!
She was kinda nervous to have her birthday in London without a bunch of family or friends, but it was of course a wonderful celebration.
If during the last month or so you would have asked the girls what they were excited about in London, they robotically respond, "7 Story Toy Store!" Upon discovering we would indeed be making the jump over the pond, Jason started researching kid's activities for them to get excited about....Hamley's caught their attention! It is a 7 story toy store in the heart of London. Apparently it's been open since the 1700's. (EVERYTHING here is old!)
After looking at the other options, she decided she wanted to spend her birthday exploring this magnificant place. It was really neat. We actually celebrated a day early, on Sunday, since Jason is in court all day Mondays.
She woke up Sunday to decorations and presents!
For lunch, she wanted Fish & Chips, one of her favorites, so we had our first meal at a pub's upstairs dining room.
After lunch it was off to Hamley's...there are lots of hands on toys and playing with the toys is encouraged! Here's some real fake snow.
Gotta love Paddington Bear.
Miss L was so entertained by all the eye candy she never fell asleep as expected.
Legos
Valla's version of heaven...
We spent most of our time on Floor 3 GIRLS...lots of pink.
I think this was their first experience with remote controlled toys. On the BOY floor of course!
I made this on the GAME floor with Bananagrams the kid version of Scrabble.
3 hours later, 2 trips to the potty, 1 ice cream snack break (Cafe- Floor 5) and 3 full shopping bags later we were beat and ready to go home and play with our new toys!
Hamley's at night- there's a basement and one level out of sight up top.
Back home with the goodies.
Her real birthday, Monday Jan 26.
Opening gifts from Grandpa Gary & Myra.
Playing with the new horse & animal set.
Valla with her Lemon Drizzle cake we made with no pans, spatula, or mixer. I kept telling her, it was made with love, not for it's looks... but it was delicious!
January 26, 2002
Sweet Valla,
You were so teeny tiny when you were born 3 weeks early that we nick named you Pippa. Now at 7, you are beautiful, tall and strong. I do not know of a kinder gentler soul than you. Your compassion and thoughtfulness are inspiring. You are the best big sister I could possibly hope for, for Little L and Goofball N. Thank you for all your hugs, kisses, drawings, stories, excitement and times you are my buddy. I love you Valla and hope you had a wonderful birthday! Love, Mom
(ps- Bonus points for anyone who knows what movie this song is from...one of my favorites!)
Things are good here. We're finally adjusted to the time difference, that took a while for Lauren.
We've successfully navigated the buses to the UK version of SuperWalmart and Tube (subway) to get to stores and other places. I used Google Earth yesterday to look for a playground for the girls and we found one that was only a 20 min walk away. It was good to get out while it was sunny.
We bought postcard and stamps, but aren't yet sure how many stamps to use. Homeschooling is ok, the girls would obviously rather play but we're getting it done. This afternoon we're headed up to a local coffeeshop for storytime.
Lots of things here are slightly different, most things are easy to figure out. The washing machine is another story! First it's one machine that both washes and dries. It's settings do not resemble a US machine. Second issue- the tub is tiny, you can't put in more than 5 adult pieces of clothes! After a few false starts I've got it working. A wash cycle is 2 hours and the dryer is 1. With a family of 6 you can imagine that poor machine is on 24/7! Plus when it's done, the clothes are VERY wrinkled so we've been ironing jeans and things you don't usually iron. There is a laundromat up the street, but it's quite pricey. Here's L trying to figure things out for me.
The weather is much chillier than we're used to in FL! We're getting good at bundling up. Here was an attempt to not use the stroller. L is in the Baby Bjorn under my jacket. Worked, but she gets heavy.
The bus!
L's bath aka the kitchen sink!
Tues we took the Tube to Central London as downtown is called and went to Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum. It was free admission for US citizens in honor of the inauguration!
Jason and Tiger debating about the putt.
The line to get a photo with our new president was long! We just snapped one from the side.
We were watching the Obama exhibit. There were news crews to document the opening of his exhibit and statue. I'm on the floor feeding L next to the President of France!
The closest we'll get to the Queen! The girls were scared to touch.
Baker Steet after the wax museum, waiting to cross.
Desserts after lunch at EAT! (a sandwich shop)
Two tired girls on the subway home.
Our walk from the station to our house.
Water bubbling up in the middle of the street near our house, not sure why!
Our street, Whitmore Gardens.
A rat at the end of our street, Nat thought he was so cute. He was not fazed by us at all.
EAT sandwich shop. These grab and go sandwiches are everywhere around town. They are freshly made each morning and have great combos like chicken, basil & lemon salad. They're cut on a diagonal and you're seeing the open sides, not the best photo.
On the bus.
A square downtown. Russell Square, I think.
We had lunch at Wagamama, it's a chain that serves Japanese noodle/stir fry. It was wonderful! We can't wait to go back! It had long communal dining type of tables.
N was waiting for her favorite pair of pants to dry and she figured out a way to keep her buns warm while she waited!
Our dryer is small and takes forever so we've been going green and line drying.
Mary captured the sunset from her window.
Natalieism-
