Date With Big Ben

Collin and I hadn't had a date since we moved.  Months ago.  I mean, we're usually happy with Netflix and treats at home.  It's different to go really and truly out, though.  A friend took our kids all morning so we could sneak away.  To be alone together.  For our uber romantic date we decided on a tour of the Houses of Parliament and an embarrassing display of Sherlock nerdness.

We got a guided tour of the chambers of Parliament and learned lots of cool things that probably won't stick but were super interesting when she was talking about them.  No pictures in the halls, but this one of the floor in one of the oldest parts of the building was ok.

For lunch we got ourselves the Sherlock Special and the Watson Wrap at Speedy's.  If you're a fan of BBC's Sherlock you'll know the place.  If not, well, you better queue it right up on Amazon Prime, Netflix, PBS, BBC, YouTube or wherever you can get it and enjoy!  (And the sandwiches were actually surprisingly amazing.)

Good date.  We really should do it again in seven months.

Brick Lane (and some assorted moments)

Brick Lane a few weekends ago for some delicious Moroccan curry.  The smells of all the ethnic food booths--so delicious.  I was tempted by pretty much everything we saw cooking, all bubbly and hot and colorful in those big beautiful pans.  The street is vintage heaven, in addition to the street curry options.  Also, we got heavenly bagels but ate them far to fast to think to take a picture.  It's a good thing Brick Lane is a hike in a random part of the city.  If it were closer and more convenient we'd be in trouble!

St Patty's day is apparently the most American holiday ever as no one celebrates it here in the UK.  We wore green anyway, and no leprechauns pinched us.  Our (American) friends invited us over for a leprechaun party in the afternoon.  The kids searched for gold coins and decorated the sweetest little rainbow cakes.  Seriously, everyone needs a friend who loves to throw the perfect little parties in their life.  We at least try to make pretty good guests, I hope!

(After the break) I can't stop myself from posting this little series of Eliza getting herself dressed in pyjamas.  She is determined but it drives me positively bonkers.  I take pictures to make myself remember to enjoy this phase and laugh when I want to scream.  I just want to swoop in to help and fix it a little bit so she can succeed and she won't let me but gets frustrated and still won't let me make it better.  The last picture is after I did finally fix her shirt the most she would let me and she was the maddest of all.  No wrath like that of a toddler foiled.

Londontown and St Paul's Stairs

London, you keep getting better.  I guess actually you stay the same.  But I feel we're changing to accept your spell casting a little more weekend by weekend.

A few Saturdays Collin brought me to a few fun streets he had spotted in his part of London (where he works--that's the part he's most familiar with.  Mine are the museum streets!).  In an Instagram contest (one of the only ones I've ever entered) I won a family photoshoot with an incredible photographer.  She also happens to be one of my best friends here, so I lucked out double!  We're going to wait until we can drop the cold weather outerwear completely, so later this spring or early summer.  I want to have a real city feel so location scouting we go!

I couldn't get my settings right on this light post pose, so Collin repeated it until his hands hurt too much to try again. He's such a slave to my art.  ;)

Apparently the Cheshire Cheese pub is one of the old landmarks in one of our London books, so when we happened across it the kids recognized it.  Such observant children.

Sun and stairs and St Paul.  Such a lovely combination.  It was one of those glorious days that allowed us to shed coats, teasing us and spoiling us for the next long weeks of cold and windy spring.

Trying to get the children to cooperate on a stairway was not happening.  It was probably hilarious (or hair-pulling out) to watch me try though.

Don't even try to talk Eliza out of her red wellies or her black boots--whichever she has chosen for the day.  She has got a will on her, no joke.

Davy was taking pictures of St Paul's and I showed up in the corner of one.  I like being a Waldo figure in his photos.

 

So glad our weekend guy is back and ready to play.  No more busy season, please.

Recent Funnies Remembered

Me: Who is the boss of this family?
Eddy: Eliza is the boss!

Eddy coming out of bed: Mom, Eliza is not going to sleep.  She keeps standing up and laughing at us.  She's just not going to sleep even when we scare her.

Davy to Eddy:  Eddy, stop all that nopeing at me!  I can't stand any more nopes!

Davy:  Going to sleep is not one of my talents.

Liza Bee, noticing Collin had fallen asleep sitting up during story time: Daddy, shhhhhh!

Liza Bee, requesting a book about mummies (Egyptian mummies, not British mummies) for nap story time:  Mummy sleeping, shhhh.
Me: Eliza, that mummy is actually dead.
Half a beat . . . Liza Bee:  Mummy dead, shhhh!

Sighting Spring

We're still in jumpers (sweaters) and coats but we've ditched our hats and gloves and traded boots for wellies.  When the sun appears he's warm and welcoming.  Blossoms are blooming.  Birds are making a friendly noise in the trees overhead.  All whispers, spring, Spring, SPRING!! 

The best part of winter here was that it wasn't Boston winter.  It was still winter, even though it was less than New England reality.  No matter what or where your winter is (excepting the tropics, I suppose), it's winter all the same.  Spring is as exciting as only spring can be.  So we're all excited at every sign of spring we spot around the city and in our own neighborhood.

This is our blossoming hedgerow around our building's garden.  I never knew I could feel such love toward a hedgerow, but I'll tell you what.  After spending months hating our current house, it feels so nice call a pretty place home.

A shy but brave little branch in the shadow of St Paul's.

On the edge of Primrose Hill and Regent's Park, a show-off bush that can't help but get the attention it's seeking.

Dancing through the maze of daffodils at Hamstead Heath.  Whoever planted this patch of bulbs, bless you.

Mud puddling.  Except I had to talk my children into going into the mud, even though we'd come prepared with wellies.  Weird kids.

While wandering on the Heath we came across some friendly bird watchers who showed the boys how to identify and attract nuthatches.  The bird enthusiasts were tossing peanuts high in the air and the birds would swoop and catch the nut mid flight.  We took the more amateur approach of placing the nuts on the ledge of a bridge, standing back, and waiting for a bird to hop down and pick it up.  Still, they were speedy fast and I felt so proud of myself for being quick on the trigger to catch one on camera.  Quite the thrill.

The view of the city from Parliament Hill yesterday, when rain was threatening.

February in Squares

Swinging gate rides and puppies on the packaging.  I could not get Eliza out of that aisle.

On the Tube it's a mix of crazy and quiet.

Eliza is unafraid of all the hustle and bustle of the city. We are at church for hours and hours on Sunday--besides church meetings!  We have fun somehow.

 

 

Great experience at the V&A Museum of Childhood.

Errands on the highstreet and helping little sister in the park.

Zoo adventures and turning into a butterfly

My friend gave us a ride down to the antique/vintage market that happens twice a month.  It was the funnest shopping I've had in a long time.

Late winter park play dates.  Nice to see blue skies and be outside.

More and more museum trips--with and without friends.

Watched a puppy for a few days for a friend.  Kids loved Lola and Lola tolerated us!

Football lessons for brothers and wandering around the gym for sis.

Tea party with the sister missionaries and friends on a Saturday when daddies were working.  Loveliest no daddy day ever.

Boys spending their pocket money.  Then eating it the Lambourne way.

Our local library is ok for the book department, excellent for their little local-artist gallery.

And again, the museums!  Natural History, naturally.  Give us all the dinosaurs on a cold winter day.  (Davy taking a picture of me and Eddy was way more stressful than it needed to be.)

Views of London from Primrose Hill are always spectacular.  Worth the climb (depending which child you ask, when).