Don't Grow Up So Fast

I have eleven more summers with my oldest before he's off and away, the others right behind him before I can even catch my breath or blink.  I want to slow time down at the stage we're at right now.  It's so perfect this minute.  I know more good is ahead, and so much good in past memories.  Even so, the moments today are incredibly precious to my mommy heart.  Here is my weak attempt to make time last a little longer.

Eliza, Just Three

Eliza is three and very much so.  She is charming and quite the best little girl in our house.  I have portraits from these past few weeks that capture some little bit of her vibrant personality. 

She's learning letters and numbers from the amazing street signs in London.  She was especially happy to see 3.  And a snail.

She requests certain hair dos from day to day.  Sometimes I even have the time and patience--and she sits still long enough--for her vision to come to life.

Abba's Visit to London

My dad had a conference in Oxford and was able to come down to London to visit for a few days after.  We were all ecstatic to see him and show him our London.  First evening we brought him to Primrose Hill for a little pyjama football and the view.

Abba proceeded to spoil us so entirely it was like it was his job.

Abba wanted to do whatever the children would think was most fun.  I though the best donuts in the world (from Borough Market) and a Tower Bridge adventure would be something we could all enjoy.  It was!  We even got lucky with the timing and got to see the bridge lift.

The floor and the ceiling mirror and the views were even better the second time (though we missed Collin doing stunts).

And then to get home Abba sprang for a taxi.  We got to drive over Tower Bridge in a black cab and Eddy's smile was how we all felt.  It was so amazing.

My dad is a tennis guy, has been since childhood.  We went down to Wimbledon for the tour and strawberries and cream.

Centre Court was covered for the grass to regrow, which was disappointing.  But even I could feel how special this place is.

I'm sure the zoo was not highest on my dad's list of places in London to go, but we were really happy that he wanted to let us show him one of our favorite places.

Afternoon tea at the Chesterfield Mayfair Hotel was a serious indulgence, probably mostly for me!  It was Willy Wonka themed and children are expected and welcome.  There were plenty of sandwiches, treats, and drinks to go around and the ambience was plenty fancy.  I--and I hope everyone else--had a great time! 

The treats!!  We were mostly done eating when someone began playing the piano and Eliza took the floor to dance.

As if there wasn't enough sugar on the table, there were jars full for treats to take away.

It was very very hard to see Abba go back home.

Family Visti--Transatlantic Travel

We've been blessed to do a lot of travel the past two years.  In those adventures we've only ever been one or two hours different in time.  I was apprehensive about how we'd all deal with the jet lag.  It turned out better than I thought, as it usually does.  The kids were great.  We settled in pretty quickly, wiped as we were after a long day of flying.

I turned around to this scene in the Salt Lake City Airport and memories came flooding back.  Right before I went to volunteer in Guatemala for six weeks Collin proposed marriage.  I still went to Guate, but more engaged than I'd anticipated!  When I came back I could not wait to see my love.  I was completely giddy.  I came through the airport toward baggage claim and my mom and sisters were waiting for me.  I was happy to see them, of course, but Collin wasn't there and I was disappointed.  After a few minutes I heard over the intercom my name telling me to go to oversize baggage.  I went over and saw my new fiance sitting cross-legged with flowers.  So when almost ten years later I saw this I was overwhelmed with how incredible life can be, how beautiful this life we've built together is.  This man has his hands and heart full and he is ours.

We got Wendy's frosties on the way to the LAX airport and it got spilled all over Eliza's new dress (luckily it came out).  Even with that pit stop we had time to kill at the airport.  Our terminal always seems to be the last of the furthest away!  We lucked out that this one had a pretty great view of the runways.

The flight home was a red-eye and long.  I got to watch two or three movies I'd wanted to but didn't sleep much.  The kids slept a little but fitfully.  They fell asleep again on the tube on the way into London and zombie walked home.  We spent the next week sleeping as much and whenever we could.  Finally we figured out the local time again and got back up and running.  I do not know how people do this more often and with more poise!