tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31671575131232482502024-03-04T20:29:00.915-08:00Light of my LifeMollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17868823098697868184noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3167157513123248250.post-39339103265808584762012-10-21T13:33:00.002-07:002012-10-21T14:20:29.030-07:00He's 3!<div style="text-align: center;">
Yeah, so apparently the Hiltpold family blog has turned into the twice a year birthday blog. Whatev - lets just go with it.</div>
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So as you may have guessed - we have a birthday in the house...holla! My baby is 3! THREE I SAID! Three means no more baby. Three means a big boy bed. Three means mommy is pondering where all the time went...</div>
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So, a few weeks ago, I went against my better judgement and personal preferences and enrolled you and your brother in a two day a week mother's day out "school" program. Well, kind of. Cade gets to go two days a week, but you only go one. Kind of a calculated move on my part. I didn't really want you in school at all, but I was pretty sure if Cade was going, you would be SURE you needed to go too. But the truth is, being the second born, you have NEVER spent any time alone with me. You two have always done EVERYTHING together. Kinda cool, but everyone deserves some special Mommy time. So Tuesday's are our days. And I love Tuesdays. But baby...YOU love Tuesdays more. You start asking the night before...making sure you aren't going to school. Making sure you are "staying home with Mommy". And in the morning as we are getting ready, you will periodically make sure nothing has changed...that we are just taking Cade to school and then we will spend the day just you and me. And we do. And it's awesome. We get errands done. We have special treats (eh hem...starbucks pumpkin loaf). We ride the carousel at the mall. We live it up. And you are so sweet and mostly agreeable and I just want to take in every minute with you.</div>
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One of the things I've grown to notice about you lately is your determination. You started not wanting to go to school a few weeks ago. Easy enough for me...I never really wanted you to go in the first place. ;). Crap...wrong Mommy response. I think I'm suppose to make you go or something. OK, take 2. So while it's OK to not go to school, I do actually believe that has to be a decision made by your Dad and me...not you. Sorry dude. So I explain and you cry and I eventually get you there and you muster up this brave determination that you're going to do what you have to do. You head into the room - stone faced. Turn back to me and run all out, tears in eyes, quivering chin...hug me around the neck and say "I love you Mommy", turn and run back into the room....NO TEARS. Shoot - now I'm the one crying. It's like you just decided and it was done. Not easy. Not what you would choose. Just done.</div>
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And Friday night, you got your big boy bed. After our experience with your brother, we knew it could be a hard transition from the crib to the bed, so we left it in your room so you could choose where you slept until your were comfortable. Just as a reference point, it took Cade two weeks and much coaxing to transition to his bed. But you - you determined little thing. "Mommy, can I sleep in my big boy bed?" You must have asked 5 times. I of course said yes every time, knowing that you would, in the end, choose the crib. Crap, I hate it when I'm wrong. at bedtime you climbed right in. didn't move a muscle all night. I know. I watched on the monitor until you fell asleep and then periodically throughout the night. I could see in your eyes the slight feeling of "I'm not sure about this", but you made up your mind. Done. And the next night ...done. You, my friend are determined. Stubborn maybe - I guess my perspective depends on if you are being obedient or not. But I love it. And I love you.</div>
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Oh - and have I mentioned that you're hair is getting CURLIER?!??!?! Oh my, I'm so in love with it. You are cute as a bug with your chipped/crooked/adorable teeth, curly hair and killer smile. I'm still just as smitten with you as ever. And even though this is your last birthday blog as the baby of this family...remember - You will ALWAYS be my baby!!!</div>
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Happy birthday Colie - Pie!</div>
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Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17868823098697868184noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3167157513123248250.post-52858015994808490052012-05-26T22:07:00.004-07:002012-05-26T22:07:46.627-07:00Here we go againSo it's happened again. Another year has passed and I find myself sitting at my computer thinking of you. Your birth. Your life. All the things about you that are so amazing. And maybe a couple that drive me crazy. But mostly the amazing ones. <br />
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Cade-y Pie...as the clock strikes midnight tonight, your birthday officially begins. Not that it really matters because we've been celebrating for two days straight...but in about 30 minutes I can no longer say I have a three year old son. Nope...I have a 4 year old. Wow. Kind of blows me away. 4. It's so...not a baby anymore. Not even a toddler really. 4. Really. 4.<br />
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So here we go...my annual list of the things I like MOST about you {currently} ;)</div>
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First I want you to know that your kind heart - and what appears to already be a heart for God is such a blessing to me. When I explain to you hard to understand, biblically based concepts about why we should have a generous and compassionate heart, you seem to (mostly) get it and adjust your actions accordingly. Of course we aren't 100% there, but it's amazing, really. You seem to grasp things beyond your years and honestly, that's super helpful to me. I'm not great at lowering expectations...I kind expect you to get it all right away and that's my fault. But you really do get a lot. and I love that. And the fact that you told me you were willing to "stay 3" because I wanted you to stay my baby forever melts my heart. You told me that you really wanted to turn 4, but you agreed to stay 3 for me. If only I could make that reality...but then I would miss out on watching you turn into the man God has called you to be. And I wouldn't dare miss that.</div>
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I also super, super love that you are willing to try things...over and over...even though we already know you don't like them. I call it the "pickles and tomato" theory. Your brother (ie: your best friend) LOVES pickles and tomatoes. Loves them. You...not so much. And I can totally deal with that as I have an aversion to tomatoes myself. There's a great story to accompany that. Ask YaYa. I digress. SO, the rule I've always had for you is that we have to try things...and if it goes in our mouth it doesn't come back out. You don't have to eat it again if you really don't like it, but we will try. And we did. Tomatoes. Pickles. Negative on both. I could easily recognize the strained look on your face as it went down. I totally get it. But your try to put on a smile and say "mmm, good". To which I reply "do you want more"? But your response it a sweet "um...no thanks". This is all very normal...cute, but expected. What I didn't expect was all the subsequent times we would re-live this same encounter. Because Cole likes them. And for whatever reason, you feel like you should too. So you try. Again and again. And every time, your eyes squint and the corners of your mouth turn down...and then your try to put on that smile. Like you keep thinking 'maybe this time it will be better'. Do you have any idea how awesome that is? You didn't get that from me. I'm a one and done kind girl. If I don't like it the first time, I'm out. But your way is so much better. You just want to give it a fair shot...to make sure your not missing out on anything worthwhile. It will server you well in life. Pickles and tomatoes baby. <br />
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I love that you are determined and capable. When we talked about you going to school, I gave you a long list of things you needed to accomplish before you would be allowed to go. I figured we had plenty of time, so I'd shoot for the stars. Make your own bed (everyday), clean your room, feed the dog, and wipe your own bottom. Yes, I actually wrote that. So I showed you how to make your bed...the way mama like it. And Mama likes neat ;). It took a couple weeks, but man are you great at it. And not only do you make your bed...you make it about 3 times a day. When you wake up in the morning, before nap, and after nap. Yes. Before nap. Because you totally buy into my thinking that a nicely made bed is more comfortable. It is. Don't let anyone tell your differently. But the kicker is that I look at the monitor in the morning and you've already been up..clearly...because your bed is nicely made and you've slipped back in...neatly under the covers (as not to mess it up), where you wait quietly for me to come get you. You make me laugh. And you are totally MY kid. You also made quick work of the other items on my "go to school" list. Thanks for the bottom wiping too...way to help a mama out...but I'm pretty sure it's because you are a mini me. You like order. You like things clearly laid out. I gave you set parameters and something to work towards. When someone asks you to do something you get it done. You got that from me too...just like your {dis}taste for tomatoes.<br />
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Cade, you are an amazing, energetic, enthusiastic, smart, talented, sweet, handsome boy. My heart overflows with love for you. Watching you (and your brother) grow is the biggest joy in my life. I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE you so much...and more than that!<br />
MommyMollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17868823098697868184noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3167157513123248250.post-68564368323913200752011-10-27T14:21:00.000-07:002011-10-27T14:21:21.775-07:00Whoo-Hoo He's 2!<div style="text-align: center;">OK, chalk this one up to "bad Mommy". I'll take it. I have to own this one. It's not that I didn't think of writing your birthday blog on your actual birthday. Not that I didn't care. Of course I did. I just got sidetracked with all the ridiculous fun going on for 4 FULL DAYS in celebration of you. And the 4 days after that....yeah, I got nothin'. Just bad Mommy.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjox9Ul5Y75LKxM4Qi0Hzh1HopoRhkkFYFtckGujrbZv4xZWYDOH7vBP5xC-3pZ7zuynWz06SyxbVTe-xHpUooGGlj5IdTrDqD8qD3lqqHos6iYkDKK7iTQwSvHAb6uWM6l5PuU8l25ZPQ/s1600/IMG_0280.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjox9Ul5Y75LKxM4Qi0Hzh1HopoRhkkFYFtckGujrbZv4xZWYDOH7vBP5xC-3pZ7zuynWz06SyxbVTe-xHpUooGGlj5IdTrDqD8qD3lqqHos6iYkDKK7iTQwSvHAb6uWM6l5PuU8l25ZPQ/s320/IMG_0280.JPG" width="320" /> </a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The two years of you have been delightful. You were an exceptionally good one year old, so I'm expecting big things for age two! You clearly have no idea that you are, in fact, two and not three like your brother. You two are inseparable. Whatever he does you MUST try and usually accomplish. You're doing gymnastics together. You play together. You potty trained yourself a few months ago simply to not miss out on something big brother was doing. You are unquestionably ecstatic about being Cade's {not so little} brother. </div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF0asDgnDGJ-RZB0aZ1FBnfNsVCrklUCFLGv4NEt612bDUABIKsx3u-_lL4SBZ4zrLFTSj2Ht-PmuU0bKbHq5FnPlmrea-70V13qvj57Rcfn7fk-IzA_RenedL2aRmR7hGBFFrB0m_Q18/s1600/IMG_0326.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF0asDgnDGJ-RZB0aZ1FBnfNsVCrklUCFLGv4NEt612bDUABIKsx3u-_lL4SBZ4zrLFTSj2Ht-PmuU0bKbHq5FnPlmrea-70V13qvj57Rcfn7fk-IzA_RenedL2aRmR7hGBFFrB0m_Q18/s320/IMG_0326.JPG" width="320" /> </a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> You are also quite possibly the best lover baby ever. You give (and give and give and give) the best sweet kisses. I also must confess that I may have never met anyone ever who gives better squeeze hugs. You have this amazing way of snuggling right in so your body fits just perfectly against me. I love those hugs. Love.</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLFsKpdBRVT_w8cqXjlNcBezRBIri5EMwn6aSp_sklQp1t6GV181u0xMcSkAeq902l_cqgb9bCDCOh1cB7tVyXYoIrs_fgoM3-Gmm0vrzcR5KkGNy2bkrvyNWkNomR-aZzUNvf0dh9aQ/s1600/IMG_0539.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLFsKpdBRVT_w8cqXjlNcBezRBIri5EMwn6aSp_sklQp1t6GV181u0xMcSkAeq902l_cqgb9bCDCOh1cB7tVyXYoIrs_fgoM3-Gmm0vrzcR5KkGNy2bkrvyNWkNomR-aZzUNvf0dh9aQ/s320/IMG_0539.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> You have the sweetest heart. Of course you have your moments...and they are some doozies...but you are quick to apologize. You always share. Maybe not the INSTANT you are asked, but always within a few seconds, you will happily give whatever toy you are playing with to Cade if he asks. Almost to a fault. I love that you love him. I love that you share. I love that you do it with a giving heart and a smile. I just want you to know that you don't always HAVE to do whatever Cade asks...but you'll figure that out soon enough. I mean - come on kid...you don't always need to give away your last cracker just because someone ate theirs first. But it's sweet and it melts my heart.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAdF2pLMF8sG4y_qsHRyNyd4MRNZOVhXJ0xGT3NbP3beqzif9fx-J-pWHQYmVx004SO3sefTogt0dY-Pw80IzwmjGOuhcbWlnIcQ2Ci9cFmU1xafR5Z742Q9VH64QCdTf6Epy6LvtfC2Y/s1600/IMG_0607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAdF2pLMF8sG4y_qsHRyNyd4MRNZOVhXJ0xGT3NbP3beqzif9fx-J-pWHQYmVx004SO3sefTogt0dY-Pw80IzwmjGOuhcbWlnIcQ2Ci9cFmU1xafR5Z742Q9VH64QCdTf6Epy6LvtfC2Y/s320/IMG_0607.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"> You were much slower to talk than your chatterbox brother, but you have the cutest sayings and inflections in your voice. In the last 2-3 weeks you have started talking almost non-stop though. One of your favorite topics is of course horses. Specifically riding. And it goes something like this..."Mommy. Me. Ride. Mia. Fun." Except imagine it on repeat...again and again and again. It's darling. Exhausting. But darling.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAf6110G-Irp-RdDC9F8yaTwOEQJC0leW5atTA0TxkLMqX2mDAJlur6ew2mXHXBCPoh89iR9QLDs4xqc5nZwGtjK3DANx7c2LLv_ujilVNvBiHH7miAU6y5OjOWye5qQkc4E0Fx6Zt4l0/s1600/IMG_0637.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAf6110G-Irp-RdDC9F8yaTwOEQJC0leW5atTA0TxkLMqX2mDAJlur6ew2mXHXBCPoh89iR9QLDs4xqc5nZwGtjK3DANx7c2LLv_ujilVNvBiHH7miAU6y5OjOWye5qQkc4E0Fx6Zt4l0/s320/IMG_0637.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> And of course there is the spike. Now that you finally have hair our general hairstyle of choice is the "spike". It's been your nickname for a while. It's fitting for your personality and we all enjoy it. For a couple of days now you've been saying "mommy. no spike" which kind of breaks my heart. I've grown exceptionally fond of the spike. But that's OK. You have curls now too and they are just as cute. For now, we spike when you feel like it and we don't when you don't. We'll see where it takes us.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF0asDgnDGJ-RZB0aZ1FBnfNsVCrklUCFLGv4NEt612bDUABIKsx3u-_lL4SBZ4zrLFTSj2Ht-PmuU0bKbHq5FnPlmrea-70V13qvj57Rcfn7fk-IzA_RenedL2aRmR7hGBFFrB0m_Q18/s1600/IMG_0326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAfqvuly-O_Im7FHmeCgzd99lpoH6HvdPK4tNMdkJX2T5eyqJl0DoxO86tm1ps4UTBkEktMtsF7hXPXy-5h7HJC9epPrpJ-tj4mBQWpWJrSQOEtNvDqYLObaJ0LZ3b6FDUiGIUlUt_JNU/s1600/Cole_Summer_2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAfqvuly-O_Im7FHmeCgzd99lpoH6HvdPK4tNMdkJX2T5eyqJl0DoxO86tm1ps4UTBkEktMtsF7hXPXy-5h7HJC9epPrpJ-tj4mBQWpWJrSQOEtNvDqYLObaJ0LZ3b6FDUiGIUlUt_JNU/s320/Cole_Summer_2011.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> My sweet baby. I love you to the moon and back. You make my heart sing. I so enjoy watching you make your way through life...following your brother, yet making your own path. Part of my "pair" and still uniquely your own, perfect person. You make me laugh out loud and smile on the inside. You are all a momma could want and I wish you an amazing year of being TWO!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLFsKpdBRVT_w8cqXjlNcBezRBIri5EMwn6aSp_sklQp1t6GV181u0xMcSkAeq902l_cqgb9bCDCOh1cB7tVyXYoIrs_fgoM3-Gmm0vrzcR5KkGNy2bkrvyNWkNomR-aZzUNvf0dh9aQ/s1600/IMG_0539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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</div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17868823098697868184noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3167157513123248250.post-29183589755929055892011-05-26T21:40:00.000-07:002011-05-26T21:43:01.636-07:003???<div style="text-align: center;">How can it be? I mean, really? How is it possible that you, my sweet, perfect, first born son are 3? I'm baffled. The past 3 years have been filled with so much love, fun, adventure, laughter and chaos that I must have missed that fact that time was flying by so quickly. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUFZh7bzB0cacnfm1IHgQyK-rGTGBFb8IPc6K5pdkWFKo9YAq9COQpR7b6RS__mXDPn-K0-t9R7e3oJL3_NLmcxNzRGbP3zo2HoO7rhTeMz49jjApEfU9i8aAqbaJMEA6BGZ6P_GjVKhU/s1600/goldenslumbers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUFZh7bzB0cacnfm1IHgQyK-rGTGBFb8IPc6K5pdkWFKo9YAq9COQpR7b6RS__mXDPn-K0-t9R7e3oJL3_NLmcxNzRGbP3zo2HoO7rhTeMz49jjApEfU9i8aAqbaJMEA6BGZ6P_GjVKhU/s320/goldenslumbers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sadly (this will totally annoy you one day), I'm one of those moms who likes to "relive" your birth every year...you know..the "I remember...blah, blah, blah...water breaking...blah, blah, blah...excruciating pain...blah, blah, blah...epidural...blah, blah, blah...talking on the phone while pushing...blah, blah, blah...perfect baby...you get the idea. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7XIvXagrAGwqFZVmwAElWbZaEE5LsMlg-HGYl85RiPSmYTdEbJH9XLVR7HbOP2d6uxqwHX348xGY8haXFF7Cx_KYMIUFPobp1xiIpn7i2sp3yxiCZ_sZ0WBQ0QFFA8twdqJMHZQbvedQ/s1600/2008_0601Cade0051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7XIvXagrAGwqFZVmwAElWbZaEE5LsMlg-HGYl85RiPSmYTdEbJH9XLVR7HbOP2d6uxqwHX348xGY8haXFF7Cx_KYMIUFPobp1xiIpn7i2sp3yxiCZ_sZ0WBQ0QFFA8twdqJMHZQbvedQ/s320/2008_0601Cade0051.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Some day soon you'll roll your eyes at me for this, but give me this one will ya? I loved that day. LOVED. You forever changed me for the better and watching you grow up is the most spectacular, bitter-sweet thing in the world.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I must admit that I have been doing a miserable job of keeping up this blog for you lately. I'd love to say it's because we have so much going on, but lets be real. Life is a lot. All the time. That's just how it is. That's not an excuse to stop documenting it for you. I want you (and your brother) to have a record of what was. How it was. How I felt about things...and you. I was doing really well with the picture thing for a while, but that too has all but stopped. I promise to get better. I have to. Because this birthday of yours has kinda thrown me for a loop. This time last year we were getting on a plane and moving to London. A YEAR! How can that be?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWM6lViLQEdZqGgwLCySxvj-j_qYnAE7lMeSk7a3p86ZfgQJwMzIDA1RwkQLp9g1aerWcbBk2eTQ6FQTUP4GdlEODD0FeBwE33T3bI4sx33u_Ay87r94kyONb-yILE9i_p4TQGvWg0TWY/s1600/344.1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWM6lViLQEdZqGgwLCySxvj-j_qYnAE7lMeSk7a3p86ZfgQJwMzIDA1RwkQLp9g1aerWcbBk2eTQ6FQTUP4GdlEODD0FeBwE33T3bI4sx33u_Ay87r94kyONb-yILE9i_p4TQGvWg0TWY/s320/344.1.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So Cade...on this...your third birthday - here are just a few of the things I love about you:</div><div style="text-align: center;">You start every morning with a smile and sheer excitement.</div><div style="text-align: center;">You have a truly sweet spirit.</div><div style="text-align: center;">You are quick to say I'm sorry.</div><div style="text-align: center;">You adore your brother.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Your hair.</div><div style="text-align: center;">You have no volume control (ok, this one is a love/hate for me but it's really cute).</div><div style="text-align: center;">You still snuggle me.</div><div style="text-align: center;">You are mine.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeXRSBYGnQ15Mj6FEcASPUMB_9dqwgD1XHQLVpZ09ZK8aJ26XGLq_fUBCv52tZ60Wy07rb__sOpYuNWwfZSpTissjRt0sCYOKVwFYUQ-FrGbCHCQa8yCw0WrdwUj1CZcGS4zyUW2iWGqo/s1600/382.1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeXRSBYGnQ15Mj6FEcASPUMB_9dqwgD1XHQLVpZ09ZK8aJ26XGLq_fUBCv52tZ60Wy07rb__sOpYuNWwfZSpTissjRt0sCYOKVwFYUQ-FrGbCHCQa8yCw0WrdwUj1CZcGS4zyUW2iWGqo/s320/382.1.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And really, that's the most amazing part to me. That God gave YOU to ME. To love and teach and nurture. It's the best job I've ever had. The pay is lousy. But the payback is immeasurable. I love you. I adore you. I cherish you. I just wanted you to know...</div><div style="text-align: center;">Happy birthday sweet boy.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17868823098697868184noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3167157513123248250.post-62885961665556994912011-02-20T09:20:00.000-08:002011-02-20T09:20:30.887-08:00Rant<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I admit it. It's true. I rant a lot. Usually about nothing - or everything. Guess it depends on your viewpoint. But today I have a good one. Actually it totally sucks.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMhkrAk6Hzeq7OZhyphenhyphenjfwGryj1TsPGoaG4Nh90zpNEoR_gpAugkleCKI4g9i1-51Oupw8-EldjkhyphenhyphenZHCV8UunZsEh6cWH384IGz92PcwGSfxHPSa2uGl0IlUBlh4vUwKq5VHZXfRnbrLjg/s1600/IMG_3000.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMhkrAk6Hzeq7OZhyphenhyphenjfwGryj1TsPGoaG4Nh90zpNEoR_gpAugkleCKI4g9i1-51Oupw8-EldjkhyphenhyphenZHCV8UunZsEh6cWH384IGz92PcwGSfxHPSa2uGl0IlUBlh4vUwKq5VHZXfRnbrLjg/s640/IMG_3000.JPG" width="640" /> </a>What is this you ask? Did I spill something? Maybe the kids did it. Oh no. That would have been heaven compared to this...The abridged version of this story goes like this: I started noticing that my once beautiful hardwood floors didn't seem quite right and so I did some research (via Google) on the only chemical cleaner I had ever used on them - Orange Glo. What I found amazed and horrified me. Seems that this ever popular floor "cleaner" has wreaked widespread havoc on hardwood floors for countless users. Seems that it leaves some sort of wax build up that makes your floors look worse and worse over time and can only be removed by a combination of water, ammonia and scrubbing on your hands and knees. And I don't mean light scrubbing. I mean grunting, sweating, blistered fingers scrubbing. So far I've spend approximately 8 hours on the floor practicing my Cinderella act and I've cleaned about 30 square feet. That's somewhere in the vicinity of 3% of what I need to do. Awesome.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXPXLeHgWRICzPlAIh7Egewdw7t8_DtRJjCMLcJIJ749jnBPVoHAeNrDGiIY-N_5IaOZ5CIQXCwflLrymN6fwHECr-vkk3KWtJzOxNLK3Qr0U5SIwG_SjjDnlqMbvmTF8otwB4lO6IfZ4/s1600/IMG_3001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXPXLeHgWRICzPlAIh7Egewdw7t8_DtRJjCMLcJIJ749jnBPVoHAeNrDGiIY-N_5IaOZ5CIQXCwflLrymN6fwHECr-vkk3KWtJzOxNLK3Qr0U5SIwG_SjjDnlqMbvmTF8otwB4lO6IfZ4/s640/IMG_3001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In other less frustrating news - my boys are all fabulous and wonderful and perfect. Ok, maybe not <i>perfect</i>, but pretty good. We went to the stock show last month and had a great time seeing the animals and paying...I mean playing at the midway.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSd6ZSMnT8JVqZbhXf-WifWG5SagVLNOyeeQq7OSGQMOyJtDymeuYcBUDHTL9zZlxERD9pZKZphgmrzkmCqtVA_ooYw4cxF0oHhVmo-RCLAZoz7k__evdLqBL3gF1QEOry_gWXo5C9pIU/s1600/IMG_2930.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSd6ZSMnT8JVqZbhXf-WifWG5SagVLNOyeeQq7OSGQMOyJtDymeuYcBUDHTL9zZlxERD9pZKZphgmrzkmCqtVA_ooYw4cxF0oHhVmo-RCLAZoz7k__evdLqBL3gF1QEOry_gWXo5C9pIU/s640/IMG_2930.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNxX2fhRyYBx_3nma2vdeeVRcgXu_oRcmgsmao56C6tKSDYlBJk_VBGcYPpChkRxs5AUaJdR0MtIReBMPcemmUTyhWB0oPrRQBnOM2w3GO_7cBEp9ENPKuho4UcOyXv49WPAHvA2IrS3g/s1600/IMG_2940.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNxX2fhRyYBx_3nma2vdeeVRcgXu_oRcmgsmao56C6tKSDYlBJk_VBGcYPpChkRxs5AUaJdR0MtIReBMPcemmUTyhWB0oPrRQBnOM2w3GO_7cBEp9ENPKuho4UcOyXv49WPAHvA2IrS3g/s640/IMG_2940.jpg" width="427" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJpxhZhpOXBBH5G3xI2DQoZMhvX8PqVyCCKz1lh2k7lW8nZTI9pHxfrabP2w3rcY2qPTXJRfJoMhqh2gQZiO5mQO-q7lzuC-Z4bizxw4jt-Khy_9oZmg8QwVwVKgJdtWwIhtZnPiS5IMc/s1600/IMG_2948.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJpxhZhpOXBBH5G3xI2DQoZMhvX8PqVyCCKz1lh2k7lW8nZTI9pHxfrabP2w3rcY2qPTXJRfJoMhqh2gQZiO5mQO-q7lzuC-Z4bizxw4jt-Khy_9oZmg8QwVwVKgJdtWwIhtZnPiS5IMc/s640/IMG_2948.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0PiYiEOsZXh0O0zVRvpXbEXtHSvd01OH0LSYmMzGmQleAeQJHNJh71FYkGD5qmd_wFFs91DDKEM_eKTyxr1wJBASoiCfqFFYVPMc22nJTxevtPVOJ5ycUdAHBgL-sAiHl-GUJIAaWzXM/s1600/IMG_2950.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0PiYiEOsZXh0O0zVRvpXbEXtHSvd01OH0LSYmMzGmQleAeQJHNJh71FYkGD5qmd_wFFs91DDKEM_eKTyxr1wJBASoiCfqFFYVPMc22nJTxevtPVOJ5ycUdAHBgL-sAiHl-GUJIAaWzXM/s640/IMG_2950.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEpdbqIvFPSQDfhbqj-a8HCD3kBtGM_kwV6qQAOJRO4hXLfTnl6fYs3cn-CWN9H5izmmqCef06wPdK-Z99_eo7nVpke8Yao5ML-WzOTFZ7Q2Z-0-jbfhYbP3Bho6gL2Wdof90HycaYF8U/s1600/IMG_2954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEpdbqIvFPSQDfhbqj-a8HCD3kBtGM_kwV6qQAOJRO4hXLfTnl6fYs3cn-CWN9H5izmmqCef06wPdK-Z99_eo7nVpke8Yao5ML-WzOTFZ7Q2Z-0-jbfhYbP3Bho6gL2Wdof90HycaYF8U/s640/IMG_2954.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQvn2vpU4y5n_BfoX6EF997Pqi-e6K49EbOs-l_scDSIX_EQDUIKlR6OT5MMKCQ-mecHp3uiSAu0JQnJ-FwpXhTRAjpVSZStLqTxsUpLe5LwOJBkZwHwk04LZyawj7s9JYtNcL2WCFstE/s1600/IMG_2955.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQvn2vpU4y5n_BfoX6EF997Pqi-e6K49EbOs-l_scDSIX_EQDUIKlR6OT5MMKCQ-mecHp3uiSAu0JQnJ-FwpXhTRAjpVSZStLqTxsUpLe5LwOJBkZwHwk04LZyawj7s9JYtNcL2WCFstE/s640/IMG_2955.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And just a few because I think they are darling and I hadn't pulled my camera out in a while.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixtjz54ewF-KcW2xVW-GgkTPL6A7jDo-mfl8vy7-S5yNhqvGOkIgZkwSN244tunqJ_JXLA7i4K2dEdJPwIUXJmZwStU4cE2jujgmPe7TOIhjnUiJf5ms4NJbCaPBCBpnm96Xu1kBByufc/s1600/IMG_2976.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixtjz54ewF-KcW2xVW-GgkTPL6A7jDo-mfl8vy7-S5yNhqvGOkIgZkwSN244tunqJ_JXLA7i4K2dEdJPwIUXJmZwStU4cE2jujgmPe7TOIhjnUiJf5ms4NJbCaPBCBpnm96Xu1kBByufc/s640/IMG_2976.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijF7GwWuPiavogOGrG2UJofY54mExqA9ffO2sGsKOF5ojZeBOQLkbbGAQz4J1svkhStbGdEzIrL3rPgnRUYsnPY0dPOM8gnBR9My9_bfVYiQHAgZXbsbNU6VrbWtHfLCrEG3_OJRtML8A/s1600/IMG_2979.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijF7GwWuPiavogOGrG2UJofY54mExqA9ffO2sGsKOF5ojZeBOQLkbbGAQz4J1svkhStbGdEzIrL3rPgnRUYsnPY0dPOM8gnBR9My9_bfVYiQHAgZXbsbNU6VrbWtHfLCrEG3_OJRtML8A/s640/IMG_2979.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaWreHMLY_O04CjZa1H9SIQhZRYBadPApb7iLiQUA-mFh4IQOjfNW4uSB8RnostlwvQPD14tMZyPKVeB-kel2qJkhvSl8LBb9hYLlrPV1YInHWMCyGR5Q_pwxEN2IASxki5S1EtOcHJu0/s1600/IMG_2980.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaWreHMLY_O04CjZa1H9SIQhZRYBadPApb7iLiQUA-mFh4IQOjfNW4uSB8RnostlwvQPD14tMZyPKVeB-kel2qJkhvSl8LBb9hYLlrPV1YInHWMCyGR5Q_pwxEN2IASxki5S1EtOcHJu0/s640/IMG_2980.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17868823098697868184noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3167157513123248250.post-19168613618949324852011-01-03T19:01:00.000-08:002011-01-03T19:01:36.148-08:00Smarty Pants<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I know they all do this...but I'm just so proud.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzsWzH319E9xDhwB0T1o91b-wku7k8a10XseXjkxfdRueu5308hSvGhtaRzOkaRLxwJXFda7UKJvPvQlTsnSw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cade - I'm in awe of you. All moms feel this way about their kiddos I'm sure, but you amaze me with how smart you are. How happy you are. How perceptive. How charming. How stinkin' cute. You melt my heart and I thank God EVERY DAY that I am lucky enough to be your mama. Keep being you. Don't ever let anyone or anything steal your joy. It's who you are and it's what I love most about you.</div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17868823098697868184noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3167157513123248250.post-57333936936302354622010-12-31T14:03:00.000-08:002010-12-31T14:03:22.783-08:00A Very Merry<div style="text-align: center;">Christmas seemed crazier this year. Not bad crazy. Good crazy. I think. Give me some time to meditate on it...maybe over a massage. I'll get back to you.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Regardless of the crazy level, It's definitely more fun with all the mini people in the family. There are too many photo ops to catch them all, but I'm trying. Christmas Eve, the E clan came over for the traditional Christmas Eve dinner of pizza followed by a smashing rendition of "The Night Before Christmas" by the head Papa himself. Christmas morning was (of course) bacon sandwiches, presents and a little whining. After naps we made our way over the the E house for lunch, flag football and more presents. What a perfect day. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dySjl-ZoCI7s2xhFJedUTHF2F1Nof3zpJLhZjMpL9ljJUMkpqlKgImyCCkEg9KezVOZ8klYIuSk9K_1fXrW8g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw2TrRjr83MMeFkLR3aaKE4dHdmfx8_EbPWN1WhwvItlL-87M9DAJ0d6Z72hgA_Wwomo77nbHXM1k2YEGGPxg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17868823098697868184noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3167157513123248250.post-83984771325653094712010-12-19T11:29:00.000-08:002010-12-19T11:29:27.584-08:00Jingle in the Trunk<div style="text-align: center;">So we don't get to have too many "adult" parties these days. Last night we celebrated YaYa and PaPa's birthdays at their house. In an effort to entertain the troops, ZuZu and I raided the "minute to win it" archive of games and came up with a winner. Welcome to "Jingle in the Trunk". If you haven't seen this one on TV, it's a tissue box filled with 12 jingle bells, tied around your waist. You have up to 1 minute to jump and shake those bells out. I'm not sure who had more fun - us or the kids. You don't quite get the full effect with still shots, but it was hilarious. We also decorated gingerbread men and enjoyed homemade hot chocolate and homemade marshmallows. If you've never had homemade marshmallows, your missing out. They are totally worth it - nothing like the store bought ones. </div><div style="text-align: center;">The picture taking ended abruptly when I dropped my camera and broke my only lens. Not to worry - my favorite husband gave me the best early Christmas present when we got home...a new 50mm lens. I'm totally in love with it and Christmas morning will now be saved!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Only one more week until Santa comes and there are some very excited boys in our house. I sure hope it lives up to their expectations. I have loved all of the fun things we've been doing this year leading up to the celebration of our Savior's birth. Thanks Jesus for being born and giving us the best excuse to rock it out and celebrate! And Happy Birthday to my awesome P's. We love you so much!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dySnXi7RBoig_oVMnmPjhKCgilCuLxCCyWE6lBULZFfwqOWszGHJ_Bp7QMSMg1aO-PzRYyfv7wiPOqbTZekUw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17868823098697868184noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3167157513123248250.post-81886736895262653502010-12-10T11:23:00.000-08:002010-12-10T11:23:35.945-08:00Playtime<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">So if you haven't noticed - I'm on a slide show kick. It's actually kind of convenient because I can stream them, music and all, to play on my TV. It also allows me to post all the pics instead of choosing which ones to email. Whatever - I don't know why I'm justifying myself to you people ;) You don't have to enjoy them, but we do so here's another one. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We took the beautiful Miss Em with us to Jump Zone this morning because baby Z had tubes put in his ears. We had a great time - despite the unbelievably rude kids (and moms)...who raises these hooligans? I can't tell you how fun it is to see them coming down the slides over and over with those huge smiles on their faces. Never gets old. C2 loved it too, although he's thoroughly annoyed that he can't get right up there with the big 'uns. Big thanks to KK who helped me wrangle all three so I could get so many pictures. A - Next time you're coming too ;)</span></div><br />
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</div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17868823098697868184noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3167157513123248250.post-88738119819225543872010-12-07T08:51:00.000-08:002010-12-07T08:51:35.884-08:00Pancakes with Santa<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;">So this past weekend we got to combine 4 of Cade's absolute favorite things...The Fire station, Helicopters, Santa and PANCAKES!!! OK, so he's not actually that hot on Santa, but He's growing on him.</span></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"> The Grapevine Fire Department hosts an annual pancake breakfast with Santa wherein the Big Guy arrives by helicopter along with the Mrs, his top reindeer and his good friend Frosty. After breakfast, you can wait in line to meet them...Rudolph is first, then Mrs. Claus, Frosty, then Santa. We only made it to Rudolph...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Regardless, we had a great time and can't wait until next year.</span></span><br />
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</div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17868823098697868184noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3167157513123248250.post-9511020423932239152010-12-03T05:29:00.000-08:002010-12-03T15:19:53.005-08:00On the Move<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">So, after months of casts, reverse last shoes, and 3-ish months where he wasn't even allowed to play on the floor (thank you London), C2 if officially a walker now. I was happy to keep him among the land of the crawlers - but nooooo. For some reason, both my boys feel the need to go and grow up on me. Way to go baby boy. Oh - and please pay no attention to the annoying girl in the pink sweater. We just cant seem to get her to shut up!<br /></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='474' height='394' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyCviHNnJ9wrbSGhOmwyW4DiOnUbqj-MX2uHV9qKn6anvz20326g1Z8Pl2hycrrU5gIu-C2-xuOygtwFK6Z3Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">And I finally put together some pics from thanksgiving. Thanks C & T for hosting. It was a great time!</div></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='464' height='385' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy0PupPZZvPojOw_7nuz73urfsGOVkXL4LLj1EcQXU-MFdm1Q1sCoAn7zLSc0w4a3pIZlgM3I6Z7bMfScAXsA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17868823098697868184noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3167157513123248250.post-7624099647676614152010-10-22T10:57:00.000-07:002010-10-22T11:40:06.121-07:00Birthday Baby<div style="text-align: center;">Oh Coco-nut. I can't believe you're 1!!! My sweet, quite, not quite brooding - but always analyzing, serious, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">snuggley</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">kissy</span>-face boy.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf8p_zq-fKzPM6hLJea-Drlel9MPoJ6yDdKi6xLOeC4l0Zr0ZKmCVz3d_7Rf2kxX0zfyrUNbI-Z-xFKgq39skuPJvYg3WjIqLCHo2C0DDsuwjmY1o6xA-ceXOdCFgvzqCVh8FmrQg8GKc/s1600/206.1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf8p_zq-fKzPM6hLJea-Drlel9MPoJ6yDdKi6xLOeC4l0Zr0ZKmCVz3d_7Rf2kxX0zfyrUNbI-Z-xFKgq39skuPJvYg3WjIqLCHo2C0DDsuwjmY1o6xA-ceXOdCFgvzqCVh8FmrQg8GKc/s400/206.1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530939053618861330" border="0" /></a><br />From the moment you entered the world you were very different from your brother. Your birth was an experience - face first and sunny side up. We had a room full of medical onlookers amazed at the position you had gotten yourself into and curious to see how you were going to make your way out. You were tough from the start. Battered and bruised in heartbreaking fashion. But still perfect. You were a tough nut to crack for me. It took me a while to figure you out, but once we hit our stride, we never looked back.<br />You are adored by your big brother. Cherished by your Mommy. Treasured by you Daddy. You have a HUGE fan in miss E and a built in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">bestie</span> in baby Z. You, my sweet, are LOVED.<br />This year has been a whirlwind - with highlights including tiny baby casts and a summer living abroad. None of it phased you. Not in the slightest. As long as you had <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Cade</span> - and the occasional nap - you were good.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeArBqIcyu66P8VPIFW0rdd3xrOErQuP49t9kupJIdbZ9ALkuLCn6q5mmBEAXIRdXYslGSrPux2jDDJoYXXaxiFxtksz7km9pjs7GaJ-I6Llv17yKuYMpzk1sLxoeGEX2CRGNhVBbBIoQ/s1600/236.1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeArBqIcyu66P8VPIFW0rdd3xrOErQuP49t9kupJIdbZ9ALkuLCn6q5mmBEAXIRdXYslGSrPux2jDDJoYXXaxiFxtksz7km9pjs7GaJ-I6Llv17yKuYMpzk1sLxoeGEX2CRGNhVBbBIoQ/s400/236.1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530939533792083698" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt_W7AnPuKT5Agv258nrc7Z3lDC_UYe2L51FC7RweXoy8NxM4KGNmf3T4wBrae3gySTphUfkGeJCgPdyOA5s3vmynWo2t8AZKZsHRbsuQW5DnSjMZTI4tETvkGaUVzQ_1RlmuLli8eSGI/s1600/401.1.jpg"> <img style="cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt_W7AnPuKT5Agv258nrc7Z3lDC_UYe2L51FC7RweXoy8NxM4KGNmf3T4wBrae3gySTphUfkGeJCgPdyOA5s3vmynWo2t8AZKZsHRbsuQW5DnSjMZTI4tETvkGaUVzQ_1RlmuLli8eSGI/s400/401.1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530931574515720434" border="0" /> </a><br />There are no words to express how much love my heart holds for you. Snuggling with you is one of my all time favorite past times. You are maybe the single most kissing baby I've ever encountered and I love every single one. You are a treasure. You are a pleasure.<br />Happy birthday baby boy. I can't believe you're one already. I may have already said that, but it's true. This year I'm wishing on your candle and I'm wishing for time to slow down! I just can't seem to hold on to these baby years tight enough. Remember - Mommy love you most...and more than that.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieTiyF329K42iohH6N_2vCl_OBA2SAsIIYob41nNoBDZ7p3geAQWaLGJ6Ple7iDZuH8Un6RzdiXa3W4v4aQ7-z5m7aqV6D7qqzZr-yvGIXBbcy8sj1tCrKe8mKfRjN9Jix_vsaKuzcDU0/s1600/166.1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieTiyF329K42iohH6N_2vCl_OBA2SAsIIYob41nNoBDZ7p3geAQWaLGJ6Ple7iDZuH8Un6RzdiXa3W4v4aQ7-z5m7aqV6D7qqzZr-yvGIXBbcy8sj1tCrKe8mKfRjN9Jix_vsaKuzcDU0/s400/166.1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530931559107069890" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17868823098697868184noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3167157513123248250.post-6208338770957140512010-10-01T18:33:00.000-07:002010-10-01T19:08:36.754-07:00Back<div style="text-align: center;">So we ARE back...back to Texas. Back to our "real" life. Back to blogging. I'll admit I had to take a break for a while. It was hard work blogging every week. The stress of trying to be funny and witty and make sure I take enough pictures...whew - I'm tired just thinking about it. But seriously - we've just been enjoying ourselves so much we haven't had time for much else.<br /><br />Since we've been home, we've been on the move. It's a big ego boost to come home after 3 months. We've felt very popular. Had lots of invites and and play dates and lunches with friends. We've had lots of visitors and visited lots of people. It's been a blast. If I didn't know better I'd say we were missed and it's been nice.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">KK</span> spent a week with us after we got home to help us adjust, but surprisingly, we needed no adjustment period. No one had jet lag and the boys settled right back in to life in the suburbs. Our first week back we battled the heat with a swim day which was lots of fun. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Cade</span> isn't really sure of the water, but Cole loved it. I have to admit though - my favorite part of it all was what the humidity did to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Cade's</span> hair...HOLY COW...I love those curls!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOTcRsD5_Re_-KoqlEZ8_VFFFL00-Bs7tfYQec7JpstbGLvBup9taTdpO-iPkVM2V70NXUrqjUyf_DxZsqJ2JO-qH1PX4dLAppKe37_NXPiXjgyHUAqgzXO_2Xx3DjycHXe4qUqAcGRiw/s1600/London34.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOTcRsD5_Re_-KoqlEZ8_VFFFL00-Bs7tfYQec7JpstbGLvBup9taTdpO-iPkVM2V70NXUrqjUyf_DxZsqJ2JO-qH1PX4dLAppKe37_NXPiXjgyHUAqgzXO_2Xx3DjycHXe4qUqAcGRiw/s400/London34.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />We've also started a gymnastics class with our cousin Emmy. They seem to really like it, but truth be told I think I like it more. I love watching him run and jump. He's quickly becoming much more coordinated and capable and I sit there beaming with pride and amazement at how he's growing. Emmy wasn't quite as sure as he was at first, but he was glad to take her had and lead (or drag) her in.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiokJl8C9w43aM-FZd71bhyphenhyphenh4usKTxHrZ0razi4RZ2kOA-N_JqOkhsU6n-V0Qfc_GctpQ6nyI02pZtba-N-Icn_4j8s0OqgLmm_8HtXIXWtR-14hYrTXVwtrvsu_UfLxO3QEKX1N7KZ-Q/s1600/Sep+10,+2010.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiokJl8C9w43aM-FZd71bhyphenhyphenh4usKTxHrZ0razi4RZ2kOA-N_JqOkhsU6n-V0Qfc_GctpQ6nyI02pZtba-N-Icn_4j8s0OqgLmm_8HtXIXWtR-14hYrTXVwtrvsu_UfLxO3QEKX1N7KZ-Q/s400/Sep+10,+2010.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Of course the most exciting thing that's happened recently is that the final member of our foursome made his way home. We talked about it for 2 weeks straight. We made a sign and got <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Whataburger</span> on the way since we knew he had been missing it desperately. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">KK</span> came back and brought the great grandparents with her. It was a real celebration.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA5pFR07BNAgO7Qa0cFo_M76MYfJQSN0IwfVry2u1e8rZaZpd5PSbsgZkbuB6NKRMAzhuZCg6GcjjAfxMEMc7q24bDT-2ugvLbiDGkigO-9zDN2x-kD0y9-0Lk2OfvtZRxaSXKDMKf4XY/s1600/Oct+1,+20101.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA5pFR07BNAgO7Qa0cFo_M76MYfJQSN0IwfVry2u1e8rZaZpd5PSbsgZkbuB6NKRMAzhuZCg6GcjjAfxMEMc7q24bDT-2ugvLbiDGkigO-9zDN2x-kD0y9-0Lk2OfvtZRxaSXKDMKf4XY/s400/Oct+1,+20101.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Unfortunately, Steve left his cell phone on the plane, but fortuitously, we had a new phone waiting for him at home that had been purchased for his birthday which was the next day. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Cade</span> was more than willing to help him open it.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCu50JpGJlDofLeykRvvPTOrpFPBTGcyqZkQ69pJdm9lGewRnIbJM2LQh7d3VcD1_sftzHqj2Zj1U6IqBL287CVBlMgSRb4OpghLiNLDaxVeeocSz7DddfK6xoyI0BirU1pxC7pzYqtkY/s1600/Oct+1,+20102.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCu50JpGJlDofLeykRvvPTOrpFPBTGcyqZkQ69pJdm9lGewRnIbJM2LQh7d3VcD1_sftzHqj2Zj1U6IqBL287CVBlMgSRb4OpghLiNLDaxVeeocSz7DddfK6xoyI0BirU1pxC7pzYqtkY/s400/Oct+1,+20102.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Saturday we had a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">PARTAY</span>! Lots to celebrate including Steve's birthday as well as <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">KKs</span>. Our fort was overtaken with crazy kiddos. You couldn't help but smile.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_VcvV6o2Ezd1tkSWrk3_VYSmCo-Bz61H7NAxCo-MeQgQRKA6B5bEm7swiyh0tFAwcCEkNRWK8r_2emylt2hXCxQCkaDJtZb6_gzrMZpD2CSPqP5R8daJg0os5LXbJkap3UXZvDkVzqaE/s1600/Oct+1,+20103.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_VcvV6o2Ezd1tkSWrk3_VYSmCo-Bz61H7NAxCo-MeQgQRKA6B5bEm7swiyh0tFAwcCEkNRWK8r_2emylt2hXCxQCkaDJtZb6_gzrMZpD2CSPqP5R8daJg0os5LXbJkap3UXZvDkVzqaE/s400/Oct+1,+20103.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523256539591853202" border="0" /></a><br />When we were in London we did A LOT if outings to parks, zoos and museums. I promised to try to keep it up when we got home and have done an okay job. We have already made one trip to the children's museum in Ft. Worth and today we went to the Ft. Worth Zoo. It's so nice to have our "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">runnin</span>' buddies" back. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Cade</span> and Em are adorable together. They have their own special relationship and it's fun to watch it develop. We have a pattern every time we get together now. Em rides in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Cade's</span> stroller and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Cade</span> in hers. That's the way they want it, so that's what we do. The little munchkins (Cole and Zack) are still good as gold and are truly roll with the punches kind of guys. They just go and do whatever. Thank God for that.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsJYpw8stICP9lpSDv_Gthyphenhyphen_5lZMxg5zo69xLEtF-b2R3EgKm_9Xlk14UYsaEQmZfRoTBG1PCqqeHxZjm-LQp-s5zN5RqcNJoXLIkBNj_mC32J_x3dXA4YxPxtNdeoXeIIn3J5rku9olM/s1600/Oct+1,+20104.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsJYpw8stICP9lpSDv_Gthyphenhyphen_5lZMxg5zo69xLEtF-b2R3EgKm_9Xlk14UYsaEQmZfRoTBG1PCqqeHxZjm-LQp-s5zN5RqcNJoXLIkBNj_mC32J_x3dXA4YxPxtNdeoXeIIn3J5rku9olM/s400/Oct+1,+20104.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523256536020815186" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYNk3yULj223g8vyFG6fBF0bFmrKCOMZE_cyOvVJA2X_vS7xiZgaEJj2edKH-ptZAl9b-_CkgIZDnwm61wByVPhqzc5ggh57FKFHTWTCzfMUPNjs0hdpRVg24ON1UbltNelC96CDDEFIw/s1600/Oct+1,+2010.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYNk3yULj223g8vyFG6fBF0bFmrKCOMZE_cyOvVJA2X_vS7xiZgaEJj2edKH-ptZAl9b-_CkgIZDnwm61wByVPhqzc5ggh57FKFHTWTCzfMUPNjs0hdpRVg24ON1UbltNelC96CDDEFIw/s400/Oct+1,+2010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523256528998629714" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17868823098697868184noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3167157513123248250.post-25216747334282851942010-09-02T13:54:00.000-07:002010-09-02T16:28:09.404-07:00Week 13!!!I can't even believe it. Here I am - sitting on my couch in TEXAS writing the final London Blog - week 13!! Looking back I can't even believe that we are here - home. I am in awe of the adventure that just 13 weeks ago we walked blindly into. Not having any idea of what would be waiting for us on the other side. I can believe how much we did. How much our lives changed. How much we missed home. And now how much we will miss London.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Our final week was a fun, busy ans wet one. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">YaYa</span> was with us all week and we tried to squeeze in as much as we could. Monday morning we headed down to Buckingham palace. 2 Months a year, when the Queen visits Scotland, the palace is open to visitors and lucky us...it just happened to be that time of year. We raced through and finished the 2 1/2 hour tour in 20 minutes then made the long walk out and around the palace to catch the changing of the guard one more time. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Cade</span> even got to trade in his play police helmet for for the real deal thanks to a friendly officer.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8NPilLhZ7BVKmApXitvaL_SBFmZmVrgiPyWHRrb7x8UC1AJZQSe14Nb84DLRyt8tVntAkvXrWft_Rt9laIPbp7LLqgRaPaoG_z9CJNpu0mIXnvEip0atjsnDIZ_Bvx2xhDMk8kFqNqSM/s1600/London25.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8NPilLhZ7BVKmApXitvaL_SBFmZmVrgiPyWHRrb7x8UC1AJZQSe14Nb84DLRyt8tVntAkvXrWft_Rt9laIPbp7LLqgRaPaoG_z9CJNpu0mIXnvEip0atjsnDIZ_Bvx2xhDMk8kFqNqSM/s400/London25.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Tuesday was a super fun day, but sadly there aren't many pictures. I finally got to go horseback riding in Hyde Park. I've never ridden "English" before and man is it different. It's really humbling to take something that you can do in your sleep and turn it all around into something that feels completely foreign. It was quite the challenge, but something I will never forget. I'm so thankful that I was able to do it.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxnJWDzSGrDVOhwSUIUXzIrARalbHWN4ZmkolE7zh-x2MCVW82ZoiUEXjLRIoZAszxlCzPHbMKISFJPLj1l6-niC7ejps7d7ax-F8kq2XmLS_2u6jCowCOKbgYe_Njiu-nhc3D1XniFgg/s1600/IMG_1184.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxnJWDzSGrDVOhwSUIUXzIrARalbHWN4ZmkolE7zh-x2MCVW82ZoiUEXjLRIoZAszxlCzPHbMKISFJPLj1l6-niC7ejps7d7ax-F8kq2XmLS_2u6jCowCOKbgYe_Njiu-nhc3D1XniFgg/s400/IMG_1184.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512460463881564258" border="0" /></a><br />The same day, Mom and I also got to go to Harrods for Tea and shopping, then on to see Wicked. I owe my mother in law a big apology for this because I know she desperately wanted to go to tea. Now, it wasn't as if <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">KK</span> and I didn't TRY to go, but we had at least 2 failed attempts due to restless little boys. It wasn't until Mom suggested that we get a SITTER to stay with them and go on our own that I realized that that was even an option. Sorry <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">KK</span>. Guess I should have though of that. I also, apparently should have though about going to a matinee...holy cow. I'm too old to be staying out that late. I was nearly asleep in the tube station before we made it home. Why, why, why did a matinee never cross my mind? Clearly I should think things through more.<br />Wednesday and Thursday were pretty normal days for us. We dodged the rain (mostly) and made it to the park for a few minutes. We also went to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Gymboree</span>, playgroup and the mall.<br /><br />Friday we had big plans to go to the museum, but a flat tire on the stroller derailed us a little and we only made it as far as the park. It was fun though. We went to see the fountain, although seeing as though it was in the 60's, it was not a day to play in the water. We also did the Flower walk and took some super cute pics.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMVftpm8Fi8jQ5cydhli2-AWHbk53zJTvI93EuMFV1OTbCobHhhqsm03Va9M5boRplOX3Wg7e05wVasvSypl2jjZXYsqsD_s_qfv28HdsVW5qhFGQmJ6R4SojqrWvOxD398vgiwGbh2FA/s1600/London26.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMVftpm8Fi8jQ5cydhli2-AWHbk53zJTvI93EuMFV1OTbCobHhhqsm03Va9M5boRplOX3Wg7e05wVasvSypl2jjZXYsqsD_s_qfv28HdsVW5qhFGQmJ6R4SojqrWvOxD398vgiwGbh2FA/s400/London26.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Friday was also a milestone for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Cade</span> as he finally mustered the courage to jump off the big block at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Gymboree</span> all by himself. It took a lot of coaxing, but after the first jump, I thought he would never stop. He was so proud of himself and I was so proud too!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdUYPpoG5hA27pxFVq4mf7SjN9g4AHSAMa8IAoL1begoce7fRbek8U6TblyKntj3_MMJgckNqoUwwUm1pjjVl4fQ3ID-vuNJ1Ubp2TgpcXo22bHfVVbp0UuDwK69kncrd6EJFUpg7GH9k/s1600/London27.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdUYPpoG5hA27pxFVq4mf7SjN9g4AHSAMa8IAoL1begoce7fRbek8U6TblyKntj3_MMJgckNqoUwwUm1pjjVl4fQ3ID-vuNJ1Ubp2TgpcXo22bHfVVbp0UuDwK69kncrd6EJFUpg7GH9k/s400/London27.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Saturday we took our last big day trip and we did something we had never done before...we REPEATED a trip we had already done. We decided that we had to go back to Brighton one more time. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Cade</span> loved the pier so much we wanted to share it with Mom and let him ride his "fire truck" again. We of course took the train...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvipweEg0kkei8M5HAfAgGb8xjVVp6YGlBEtU7eD9-mzmyiXbDSIXDs0jkUzd8PNE4rb5YX9wVgA7BW7qirIeCZ1CcOzbdIZneBtFaNjvtAjdUX8wvMmlkZwK8gmqg-E5hPatr2TP4UlQ/s1600/London28.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvipweEg0kkei8M5HAfAgGb8xjVVp6YGlBEtU7eD9-mzmyiXbDSIXDs0jkUzd8PNE4rb5YX9wVgA7BW7qirIeCZ1CcOzbdIZneBtFaNjvtAjdUX8wvMmlkZwK8gmqg-E5hPatr2TP4UlQ/s400/London28.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />And this time, he climbed the big slide all by himself. We didn't even attempt it last time because we knew he wouldn't do it, but this time we thought - what the heck. We asked the attendant if we could get our money back if he wouldn't go up and he said yes so we really had nothing to lose. I never thought he'd get up, much less slide down, but again...I underestimated him. Way to go dude.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilMURXQ3nhfolFdZ2ArHUcF5hzAvi7dhKv7dF-X4zBYNQPQCJps1pEP3WaFFzV81L33ur5jGWoYVe7lq3qT4GvcNcsV11Lts6hRb6escGto8qffrvDUE-AG7Vma2kG9kTSpcmT3tEhs6s/s1600/London29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilMURXQ3nhfolFdZ2ArHUcF5hzAvi7dhKv7dF-X4zBYNQPQCJps1pEP3WaFFzV81L33ur5jGWoYVe7lq3qT4GvcNcsV11Lts6hRb6escGto8qffrvDUE-AG7Vma2kG9kTSpcmT3tEhs6s/s400/London29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512422842006152098" border="0" /></a><br />Then came the "incident". There was this other slide that said kids his size could ride with an adult. Steve was so excited, but slide rules said the child had to be in back...which I could have told you was a bad idea. Just before the end of the slide, he hit his face (going extremely fast) on the rubber edge. Steve was trying to slow it down, but wasn't able to help much. Poor baby...just can't catch a break.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnY_6AoK1Tx64UVPsD-tgv6xzppLvCdYKBRzgOeSrNIi8TQE3v_SWcdvxwnGy-MAL450AtXcd5xpC9I0pyP4d1PivdOP6Q4crA1GeE-rQNd5eMooZD4RsneywQzVPOQ_Q7QS52TZ5bvdw/s1600/London30.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnY_6AoK1Tx64UVPsD-tgv6xzppLvCdYKBRzgOeSrNIi8TQE3v_SWcdvxwnGy-MAL450AtXcd5xpC9I0pyP4d1PivdOP6Q4crA1GeE-rQNd5eMooZD4RsneywQzVPOQ_Q7QS52TZ5bvdw/s400/London30.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512422840228476994" border="0" /></a><br />Cole spilled his water all over him at lunch, so he made the train ride home in a jacket and diaper...oh - and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Cade's</span> shades. Cuteness.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl37FzpCFGIFczYehLZpfgC1EHQh0BQxGVoW2wkMrrgX9woDeaDiouh7XGd9JQVwlxCRcBS-FxzFC6O2pzvqHgQ7kchuZ2-gOBH01zaRVAymYnmcKBa8XrgYfaASaSRLtDRVM7r8wm42g/s1600/London31.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl37FzpCFGIFczYehLZpfgC1EHQh0BQxGVoW2wkMrrgX9woDeaDiouh7XGd9JQVwlxCRcBS-FxzFC6O2pzvqHgQ7kchuZ2-gOBH01zaRVAymYnmcKBa8XrgYfaASaSRLtDRVM7r8wm42g/s400/London31.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512422824678680994" border="0" /></a><br />The next morning was Sunday. We got up around 5 am to finish packing. Things went very smoothly and we were in the car and headed to the airport by 7:25. After about 4 security checks, them making me taste 5 of the 10 baby food pouches I brought and a quick (second) breakfast in the admiral's club, we made it onto the plane and headed home.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDvfacrT5HV_nW1M7r7y9zURQ6j7OvS970nW046hBh7g8btcsoyfskjq_MK7aZln46m3G7C7fsR6fD3m35Ynk9NKDTd6U_oCbaFhwpgwB695lsGCVgWZV66xASyT3WR_645H5mWmvXGPY/s1600/London32.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDvfacrT5HV_nW1M7r7y9zURQ6j7OvS970nW046hBh7g8btcsoyfskjq_MK7aZln46m3G7C7fsR6fD3m35Ynk9NKDTd6U_oCbaFhwpgwB695lsGCVgWZV66xASyT3WR_645H5mWmvXGPY/s400/London32.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512422819856227170" border="0" /></a><br />The boys did remarkably well. They each took about an hour and a half nap. Not nearly as much as I would have hoped for a 10 hour flight, but we survived. I think <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Cade</span> ate an entire box of cheerios. Mom made me promise that I would let them eat as much as they wanted on the flight, but by the end she finally realized what I meant when I said my kids would eat themselves silly. They just have no off button. They ate nonstop the whole day.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiedAKr7kd2O_lUh2Hw8aIOeDJ56KBjcUdctrvxOkNHp1MTRphULtbRAe6EJJTL20AFxrV_Y1cCUVmuv4BN_o6dNMfwLWrM0zAWYjpIP416NCgYXzJlUzbEiozYNR_yccxyfS1WyPuWw60/s1600/London33.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiedAKr7kd2O_lUh2Hw8aIOeDJ56KBjcUdctrvxOkNHp1MTRphULtbRAe6EJJTL20AFxrV_Y1cCUVmuv4BN_o6dNMfwLWrM0zAWYjpIP416NCgYXzJlUzbEiozYNR_yccxyfS1WyPuWw60/s400/London33.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512422812472504386" border="0" /></a><br />We were greeted at the airport by Papa and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">KK</span>. We then made the short drive to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">ZuZu's</span> house to celebrate her birthday. Poor girl had to cook her own birthday dinner. She's a trooper though. We came, we ate, we left a huge mess...but we had the best time being home with family and friends.<br /><br />I can't believe that we are here - at this point in time. 13 weeks ago I had a very grim outlook for the summer. We made the best of it though and have memories for a lifetime. I'm proud of my kids for being such troopers and taking whatever we threw at them. I'm proud of myself for stretching further than I ever thought I could and going against my grain to make lemonade. And I'm extremely proud of my husband for working harder than anyone should ever have to work. Ridiculous hours. Frustrating circumstances. No glory. No complaining. and to top it all off - he's still going at it. Alone now. And we miss him. He is a man to be proud of and I am so glad that he is the father of my babies. <br /><br />So here we are with this story now...I mean - who do we think we are? We are definitely not cool enough to say that we lived in London...except we did.<br /><br />Now just the countdown to Daddy coming home...22 days<br /></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none; padding: 0px; background: none repeat scroll 0% 50% transparent;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17868823098697868184noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3167157513123248250.post-48701221384289710672010-08-25T02:08:00.000-07:002010-08-25T07:20:19.897-07:00Week 12<div style="text-align: center;">So this week started out really fun with a visit to our friends, the Frailey's. Momma Frailey and I went to high school together. She and her clan have been living in London for about 3 years now I think and are here for at least another year. They have a very lovely house in Kew - which is just west of the city. It has a big backyard - huge by London standards really - complete with swing set and bounce house! I'll admit - it did take us 12 weeks to finally get together, but it was well worth it. My boys and her girls had a great time. They were wonderful hosts. We played, ate pizza, fought, flirted and had a most enjoyable time. Poor little Stella even got a bee sting on her tongue...ouch! It was really really nice to get out and play in a more intimate environment than play group - more like home. We loved it.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiim0JDmlqAeHNrzUbasgtHIeLhLgR8AFIU6YaqjmE47BiqXVPyu4ikJLUEOV8m2jfJXtpbycxexNo6XwFo7wh3LBAvqtGZnGceQm0WYLhzf7xKGir0nXX5SpAdxO-MADs3P2LkEjiIO3U/s1600/London19.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiim0JDmlqAeHNrzUbasgtHIeLhLgR8AFIU6YaqjmE47BiqXVPyu4ikJLUEOV8m2jfJXtpbycxexNo6XwFo7wh3LBAvqtGZnGceQm0WYLhzf7xKGir0nXX5SpAdxO-MADs3P2LkEjiIO3U/s400/London19.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />The rest of the week was more of our usual with the excited undertone of YaYa coming. We talked about it all week. We started counting down days until She got here as well as counting down days until we flew home to "Tess-ess". Not sure it's all sinking in, but we've been talking about the flight and how we have to sit in our seat all day. We have special treats that we shopped for that we can have on the plane and fun activities. I'm sure that since I explained it all to him so clearly that he will be good as gold. No? Logic and a two year old? This is going to be fun!<br />Saturday was Leeds Castle. Cade wasn't his usual self Saturday morning. He was noticeably tired and a little moody, but we aren't about to let that stop us. Throw 'em on the train and lets go...Now maybe two logical adults should have thought this through. 60 mile an hour moving vehicle. A two year old - who - lets just say isn't the most coordinated. Standing. On a vent. Oh Jeez. So down he goes and there is is. Our first chipped tooth. Now, not a bad chip by most standards. But I'm not most people. I'm...um...particular. And to me this is horrible. Enough to send me into a tirade about "what kind of idiots let a two year old stand up on a moving train?" Now I WAS referring to BOTH if his parents in this statement, but my poor husband looked over to Cade and under his breath said "I think your mom just called me an idiot..." Sorry. It's a character flaw. I'm working on it.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYFW_h9h2PIkKjB8MI6r9CLw-I0c-XTY1LPdiZ02i8fyLIvqlHr23Pth79E3OGC1-lL0gish7aYTXo-4b2ce68NkCnWQ9Pih5KESAcZbwNq0A4CtQ8uTSL4SM8s9yNmeyTO9TS9LUAGVU/s1600/London20.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYFW_h9h2PIkKjB8MI6r9CLw-I0c-XTY1LPdiZ02i8fyLIvqlHr23Pth79E3OGC1-lL0gish7aYTXo-4b2ce68NkCnWQ9Pih5KESAcZbwNq0A4CtQ8uTSL4SM8s9yNmeyTO9TS9LUAGVU/s400/London20.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Leeds Castle was beautiful. We're pretty good at getting in a through castles these days. We don't waste our time on the audio guide...we have our own running commentary from the peanut gallery. And if they say it's a "2 hour tour" that generally means we'll have to rush through in about 30 minutes. Natives. Restless. You get the idea.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBsvgemN3bNL_FCvngjcWSig4S4ZafYyo2dkBqHRBCLM1i0BXmQycBIPYR2Ft1135oCDVsbIJF72qfMiw8sxPjyEaAzyE0HBIrrm4m18h6rxHTnwlxkolgRksm7jh7LmNn73iEtsqy5E0/s1600/London21.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBsvgemN3bNL_FCvngjcWSig4S4ZafYyo2dkBqHRBCLM1i0BXmQycBIPYR2Ft1135oCDVsbIJF72qfMiw8sxPjyEaAzyE0HBIrrm4m18h6rxHTnwlxkolgRksm7jh7LmNn73iEtsqy5E0/s400/London21.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />There is also a little village on the grounds with some places to eat, some shops and a dog collar museum (um, No. We didn't visit this one. I'm sorry, I know you wanted pictures). There is also a maze. We've done a couple of mazes before and they weren't really all that much fun. This one we decided to do a little differently. We split up. I took Cole and Steve took Cade and we set out to see who made it through first. After about 15 minutes and running back into each other 3 times, we teamed back up to make it to the center. Once you get there, you go up to a peak and you can look down on the maze. It was really cool. Then you walk through the best grotto. It was really really fun. The pictures don't do it justice. We really love it. By far the best one.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3u4gNplviUb5wM_roNEvp_LLRSo8wFpQIynpF6qdlWebDx4hIyRak7UC3oDOV0OQrB7rvhXZp3Zm9FvUpm-ykAfij0X8NHkmqCxPARCbYkY6OSjpEkNKA0bngGcjld87lmXWm4sLEty4/s1600/London22.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3u4gNplviUb5wM_roNEvp_LLRSo8wFpQIynpF6qdlWebDx4hIyRak7UC3oDOV0OQrB7rvhXZp3Zm9FvUpm-ykAfij0X8NHkmqCxPARCbYkY6OSjpEkNKA0bngGcjld87lmXWm4sLEty4/s400/London22.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />After the maze, we walked through the gardens and the aviary. I would post pictures of the birds, but apparently they all had a pact that none of them would look at me and under no circumstances would I be allowed to photograph anything but their backs...so fine, No bird pics.<br />We had to catch the bus back to the train station and while we waited for the other passengers, the bus driver let Cade "drive". Cutie. (Cade, not the real driver.) The day must have wiped him out because he fell fast asleep in Daddy's arms on the way home. It was a VERY quiet trip.<br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx6jHousNSFbKeI0_36yi1jbZ1SxBNdvdgGimSKcyQ-4HX-mxld5MyYjGJbiSm4kIl30BIbqj2YdoPrrlH8HpsgAuwdFkUu5ySC5tdnk8kp_UXB9NZSPrRCtrZS9VKmi6aSwVU66XrWyc/s1600/London23.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx6jHousNSFbKeI0_36yi1jbZ1SxBNdvdgGimSKcyQ-4HX-mxld5MyYjGJbiSm4kIl30BIbqj2YdoPrrlH8HpsgAuwdFkUu5ySC5tdnk8kp_UXB9NZSPrRCtrZS9VKmi6aSwVU66XrWyc/s400/London23.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509339881640806770" border="0" /></a><br />SUNDAY, SUNDAY, SUNDAY...we went to get YaYa at the airport. It was hard waiting...mostly for me. Cade kept himself well entertained riding the foot rails like a horse. After about 30 minutes she finally came through the doors. What? Are you serious? You look that good after a 9 hour flight. I looked like the walking dead, but whatever. I guess I still love you.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEildGH4HJui9b40v2rjEs2zbymw674noPOb-uhCD958Nq7C7MagPi6yP0tNydnJ0EwpdNltDodrvRSXJ0JezqruVGJAstMA7Uk2Q4DLNr3yz-K4_mISj7F33zKaLiDWtk3L2igbxgqnqHo/s1600/London24.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEildGH4HJui9b40v2rjEs2zbymw674noPOb-uhCD958Nq7C7MagPi6yP0tNydnJ0EwpdNltDodrvRSXJ0JezqruVGJAstMA7Uk2Q4DLNr3yz-K4_mISj7F33zKaLiDWtk3L2igbxgqnqHo/s400/London24.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509339872281212066" border="0" /></a><br />We didn't do much else fun on Sunday. We made a few trips out for groceries, diapers etc. We hung out and played and napped (the boys, not us). Geared up for week 13...and our FINAL LONDON BLOG...<br /></div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17868823098697868184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3167157513123248250.post-18583382653245911612010-08-16T07:24:00.000-07:002010-08-16T08:21:52.105-07:00Week 11<div style="text-align: center;">Well, I did a little better this week and got the boys out to the park playground and a quick trip to the fountain. Combined with daily trips to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">gymboree</span>, Playing with out new helper, Claire, our Thursday playgroup, and one shopping trip that included getting caught in a downpour - it was a fairly full week. We had one Very bad day that included a super duper fat lip (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Cade</span>) and a huge blue goose egg (Cole). No - they didn't collide. They were two separate falls about 2 hours apart and just about pushed mom over the edge. But we made it through the week and headed, battered and bruised into a fun weekend.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuePowbEP0OesXjHPZSoikVVWkaNgR59qkUZ6XIsxRme5IZyo8Cn5wUfXUji1FJg8cV7GJZpHP9SDK7KvYHTil8HxlKBfJ7NGPuBLVJtOGhYye3QtYEwe1n80R71gBtieydmWG9OsqI6Y/s1600/London18.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuePowbEP0OesXjHPZSoikVVWkaNgR59qkUZ6XIsxRme5IZyo8Cn5wUfXUji1FJg8cV7GJZpHP9SDK7KvYHTil8HxlKBfJ7NGPuBLVJtOGhYye3QtYEwe1n80R71gBtieydmWG9OsqI6Y/s400/London18.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Our <span style="font-style: italic;">plan</span> was to go to Brighton on Saturday, but the London weather had a different plan. Since it seems as though Fall has come early this year (highs in the upper 60's and rain every day), Saturday was no different and since it was heavy rain all day, we opted NOT to set out for the beach, but rather head down to Madame <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Tussaud's</span>. This was not originally on our list of attractions that we planned to see, but we have run plumb out of things to to "inside", so we decided to try it out. We got there just after it opened and the crowds and lines were unlike anything I've ever seen. Seriously unreal. Some of the figures were better than others of course. I thought it was fun to see. Not sure if it was worth the $90 for 2 tickets - but we didn't have anything better to do so why not....<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV9oktbzqw182niXTLsp9yMDaNQIg2ToI-Wzn350SORVNnS4vNA1BZjLlYB4_PT4LdLA2HrSooiv3JVRfmWaj8hBLMDl6oPKV4GvaxMJSI88FOvPwSAwhysXRlaVaduN8LkcVSAnppD5Q/s1600/London11.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV9oktbzqw182niXTLsp9yMDaNQIg2ToI-Wzn350SORVNnS4vNA1BZjLlYB4_PT4LdLA2HrSooiv3JVRfmWaj8hBLMDl6oPKV4GvaxMJSI88FOvPwSAwhysXRlaVaduN8LkcVSAnppD5Q/s400/London11.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Top row is Royalty - Henry VIII, His daughter Elizabeth I, Princess Di and I guess Hollywood Royalty - Nicole <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Kidman</span>. Bottom row is what I like to refer to as the "Hot Mess" row - you can probably figure that out...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyWU3zci6OB4nlN28kSWnen1xUEDYAfX2Q1y7tyHKJkA-_y_kUU0YZMVBQfjxqcRrKeTK7KVMd8lTu2pvPZPP20a3xK98O5A-MxyYT9nhKCzuCpeeRTjnDL1NXzRY23amUwucnPfBYrpw/s1600/London12.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyWU3zci6OB4nlN28kSWnen1xUEDYAfX2Q1y7tyHKJkA-_y_kUU0YZMVBQfjxqcRrKeTK7KVMd8lTu2pvPZPP20a3xK98O5A-MxyYT9nhKCzuCpeeRTjnDL1NXzRY23amUwucnPfBYrpw/s400/London12.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Sunday proved to be a much nicer day. While there wasn't really much sun, it wasn't raining and that's good enough in my book - so we headed off the the beach...Brighton. Here are our customary train pictures. Seems like I post ones like this almost every week, but we do love our train trips.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4pDnxk0tRtl-Wca7Sv5r9Qfx9POAAHfboHVJG-nFSmP80WuCfuZz5hdykjSry232JljDzkBvu2Ce25gulF-mJ-SFUqXzEk35V7kS284aWXlWktmvCttAE_6q-4PTttI_BsSGLSdJW418/s1600/London17.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4pDnxk0tRtl-Wca7Sv5r9Qfx9POAAHfboHVJG-nFSmP80WuCfuZz5hdykjSry232JljDzkBvu2Ce25gulF-mJ-SFUqXzEk35V7kS284aWXlWktmvCttAE_6q-4PTttI_BsSGLSdJW418/s400/London17.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Brighton has more to offer than the Pier, but since we decided on a day trip instead of an overnight, we only made it that far. It's about a mile or so walk from the train station (and a pretty train station it is) and there's a lovely water view to accompany you most of that way.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge-ZUjKJmD9HesryA0xtTaw6T15T1iAw-V5w4vRmKm7m8agpF8uMswEHuDEYbfG43Q9zmbLtEJsj51ruafZ77sqoIpV8FgSdgq920fAWUd_PUrN3Ve_XQtLXG5CvTMe4iAndT3IYxfaUU/s1600/London14.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge-ZUjKJmD9HesryA0xtTaw6T15T1iAw-V5w4vRmKm7m8agpF8uMswEHuDEYbfG43Q9zmbLtEJsj51ruafZ77sqoIpV8FgSdgq920fAWUd_PUrN3Ve_XQtLXG5CvTMe4iAndT3IYxfaUU/s400/London14.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506016861203730210" border="0" /></a><br />The Pier is what I would assume is a very common set up. Lots of Carnival games, rides, food, arcades, and views of the water.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMxyws0HFYrPigqAWlVEmnqgk4Pe1Yr2HfM3KunFzli5HLBM5ZFAn2_p3S_TMEKYf6zhz_lqM6WMtpVE_JRGn9Oyd3shLZvriJvAaME9_unTc7HwlM14ZHz8vXb1xbuSmBRPxpnBTxPlM/s1600/London13.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMxyws0HFYrPigqAWlVEmnqgk4Pe1Yr2HfM3KunFzli5HLBM5ZFAn2_p3S_TMEKYf6zhz_lqM6WMtpVE_JRGn9Oyd3shLZvriJvAaME9_unTc7HwlM14ZHz8vXb1xbuSmBRPxpnBTxPlM/s400/London13.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506016863470451986" border="0" /></a><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Cade</span> was squealing with glee at all the fun to be had. He was totally overwhelmed and literally didn't know which way to look, much less what to head for next. We came upon this little gem of a kiddie roller coaster. We were sure that as soon as it started moving and he realized that mom and dad weren't there that he would break out in hysterics. It started moving and was going WAY faster than I anticipated. Much to my surprise though, he was in heaven. Who needs mom and dad? Bring on the coaster baby! There were tears though. Not because he got scared - but because he had to get off. Dad quickly got more tokens so he could ride again...sucker<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcYIcdMvASZ3cdMdr-rIDOGP9qFx_OWz3qdPWMJVWJHsBtQ2X_sSf_unEchN_6FtOmOqEN2fh6ojI0xI7USPR0zKmdRumO6NwVAZ9sMm0mLDzPL_VH-4F6G9C7EAKFDYhiJL9CRi46ZWY/s1600/London15.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcYIcdMvASZ3cdMdr-rIDOGP9qFx_OWz3qdPWMJVWJHsBtQ2X_sSf_unEchN_6FtOmOqEN2fh6ojI0xI7USPR0zKmdRumO6NwVAZ9sMm0mLDzPL_VH-4F6G9C7EAKFDYhiJL9CRi46ZWY/s400/London15.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506016846441428258" border="0" /></a><br />There was also a bounce house and slide for munchkins just his size. At a $ a minute...I hope he enjoyed it.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRmcJ5IcqdfMqDr2ijWWerOBZzfiQ3h4WHovf4SSerRiAyD62tGgVeg7ShRH3T9zGGfE2C6HpU4EpRt0450gEDWF8jHtzI3rlyJ1MV3Y31iO__lOib-xgqM_QMbQ018heeP1u6kb02y5w/s1600/London16.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRmcJ5IcqdfMqDr2ijWWerOBZzfiQ3h4WHovf4SSerRiAyD62tGgVeg7ShRH3T9zGGfE2C6HpU4EpRt0450gEDWF8jHtzI3rlyJ1MV3Y31iO__lOib-xgqM_QMbQ018heeP1u6kb02y5w/s400/London16.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506016842171415490" border="0" /></a><br />Mom and dad were completely beat on the ride home...but not my boys...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxpqW2ksG7mtJBTib50eaTLuRVANjcVCI8fBwl10zca6LKVBYNa04qayI3tKG5qi1ukWMdyzdEiNdt401F_xA_ByGsVdsaiDC6zVC3WKcfiATMuAZsNvLechqjLTCuzK9U3E4oR3dxgP8/s1600/London10.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxpqW2ksG7mtJBTib50eaTLuRVANjcVCI8fBwl10zca6LKVBYNa04qayI3tKG5qi1ukWMdyzdEiNdt401F_xA_ByGsVdsaiDC6zVC3WKcfiATMuAZsNvLechqjLTCuzK9U3E4oR3dxgP8/s400/London10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506016832289086066" border="0" /></a><br />Well, this was our last weekend alone with just the 4 of us. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">YaYa</span> is coming on Sunday and we are all very excited. I'm starting to get nervous about leaving. The idea of being without Steve for another month after it just being US for so long...feels really weird and sad. I am super excited about coming home though. Here's to you Texas...13 days and counting.<br /></div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17868823098697868184noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3167157513123248250.post-60266677760890042362010-08-09T01:45:00.000-07:002010-08-09T03:04:15.527-07:00Week 10<div style="text-align: center;">Well, I have to admit, there's not a ton to write in the blog this week because after 2 fun filled weeks of guests, mommy took a week off from fun. I totally fell down on the job this week and we didn't take one trip to the park or a museum or anything! We did, however make it to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Gymboree</span> all 5 days and we scored a new and Oh-So-Fabulous babysitter. Her name is Claire and she works at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Gymboree</span>. She's about to go on holiday to Croatia and needed a little extra money - which is great since I needed a little extra help ;). She's 28, an actress/singer and super, super, super, sweet. She's thoughtful and helpful and responsible. We really like her. So lets see - since I don't have any interesting stories of what we <span style="font-style: italic;">did</span> this week, maybe some stories about <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Cade</span> and his adorable-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">ness</span>.<br /><br />A few weeks ago, I noticed that every time <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Cade</span> would get hurt, I'd say to him "I'm sorry", and therefore, he too would start saying it to me as soon as he would get hurt. And sometimes, when I bring the buggy up the stairs, I jiggle the boys a little hard and I say "I'm sorry boys, that's my fault" So now, whenever something "undesirable" happens, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Cade</span> says "I'm sorry, that's my fault" and I say "No baby, it's not your fault". To which he almost always <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">replies</span> "It's Mommy's fault". Well - looks like I can check the lesson in blame off the list. Seems like we have that one pretty much covered.<br />And Cole - Cole signed "more" Saturday morning. Now, I can't guarantee that it was on purpose, but it was the correct sign and it was while he was eating so I'm <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">goin</span>' with it.<br /><br />This weekend we went to Hampton Court which I was really looking forward to. It's the most famous of Henry VIII palaces as well as where sis son, King Edward VI was born and his mother and Henry's 3rd wife, Jane Seymour died. It is really beautiful - and BIG. We of course took the train there. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Cade</span> is loving trains these days and there were lots of smiles from my boys on the way. We had most of the car to ourselves and didn't have to worry too much about keeping them quiet which was nice. Oh yeah - and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Cade</span> jumped for the first time. He's not the most coordinated kid in the world, but man he has fun trying.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC9vORjy3me8WcWVZsSencZX5hS4CddmsrswA_BkS6VfiEXsZK4j5Qx_vkS3AEixX61xhNb4UCo4dR3vJbmT-lFqjseX5XLfQM1yEtx4slpxyLsprhMIYRtI-2WlvyNlJ8plqXIgxT14Y/s1600/Aug+8,+20103.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC9vORjy3me8WcWVZsSencZX5hS4CddmsrswA_BkS6VfiEXsZK4j5Qx_vkS3AEixX61xhNb4UCo4dR3vJbmT-lFqjseX5XLfQM1yEtx4slpxyLsprhMIYRtI-2WlvyNlJ8plqXIgxT14Y/s400/Aug+8,+20103.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHTXV1D2dYMCIuIwcXHSTnUCfRBaMsQ7zSx0kppADAljxOSgD7B-BG5XtoBodEpP2PVmmDNODf9o7uesr1j065tujaj4CL34Cpic1Dyjvs1hMi98BxoEqrKyK2irASNseSVy4s-7xp4O4/s1600/Aug+8,+20101.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHTXV1D2dYMCIuIwcXHSTnUCfRBaMsQ7zSx0kppADAljxOSgD7B-BG5XtoBodEpP2PVmmDNODf9o7uesr1j065tujaj4CL34Cpic1Dyjvs1hMi98BxoEqrKyK2irASNseSVy4s-7xp4O4/s400/Aug+8,+20101.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />The gardens were really, really beautiful. We also went through the hedge maze (in the rain) which is suppose to be the most famous of it's kind in the world. I didn't get any pictures since it was raining and also since...well...you couldn't really tell it was a maze unless you were shooting from above.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4i5dUBfnML59l8ADw6DpFftJ8A4qwNK613-L0b5_eqpK0vWplUIij5zG4QDAaQZRsHayWZ1O1XW9AiGnGj2OuzCxuQgNki1PWGi0EybuT0Bewot-BeaydF7vwUo6oOw9-Rcu6xNCkM_I/s1600/Aug+8,+20102.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4i5dUBfnML59l8ADw6DpFftJ8A4qwNK613-L0b5_eqpK0vWplUIij5zG4QDAaQZRsHayWZ1O1XW9AiGnGj2OuzCxuQgNki1PWGi0EybuT0Bewot-BeaydF7vwUo6oOw9-Rcu6xNCkM_I/s400/Aug+8,+20102.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Sunday we visited the Royal Mews or stables. This is where some of the horses are kept, but also where the royal coaches and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">limousines</span> are. There wasn't a ton to see there, but it was interesting nonetheless. Steve wasn't too impressed, but he did say "well, it was the coolest horse stable I've ever seen". Touché.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFjfmUuAipLw-fFHPz15MKGKSs8O_7lkUDqWpdUjGshidTYe5oJRJ69sSpBo31epB9UJG9S34lLG3N1SDyp_ORoGDmiXvRrIPQMJr2elCrH2dR6jsoR_cDzx0T6w1uB_83IpWxTR8D_TQ/s1600/Aug+8,+2010.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFjfmUuAipLw-fFHPz15MKGKSs8O_7lkUDqWpdUjGshidTYe5oJRJ69sSpBo31epB9UJG9S34lLG3N1SDyp_ORoGDmiXvRrIPQMJr2elCrH2dR6jsoR_cDzx0T6w1uB_83IpWxTR8D_TQ/s400/Aug+8,+2010.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Two weeks until <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">YaYa</span> comes. We are very excited, but I'm starting to get uneasy about leaving London <span style="font-style: italic;">without</span> Steve. He still has a lot of work to do here and seems no closer to the end despite 70 hour work weeks. Although I understand our reasoning for the boys and I coming home, I can't help but feel a little like we will be abandoning him. I will be praying that things start falling into place and that he will be re-joining us in Texas sooner rather than later.<br /></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none; padding: 0px; background: none repeat scroll 0% 50% transparent;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17868823098697868184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3167157513123248250.post-67074519976138032642010-08-03T01:30:00.000-07:002010-08-03T02:44:15.037-07:00Week 9<div style="text-align: center;">It was a fun week here. There were some very happy <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Hiltpolds</span> - enjoying time with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">KK</span>. On Monday we finally went to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Kensington</span> palace - which I had really been looking forward to. It was a ROUGH morning. The exterminator came so we had to be out of the house at 9 for at least 4 hours. I was running late and so the morning got off to a bumpy start from there and just kind of kept sliding downhill. We put Cole in the buggy for his nap and he proceeded to scream...not cry - no, there were no tears...just screaming for the next hour. I swear I though they were going to kick us out of the cafe at breakfast. People staring - me staring back. It was lovely. I finally gave in when we got to the palace (after I spilled hot chocolate all the way down my pants and on my cream colored sweater). I took him out of the "lay down" part of the buggy and sat him in the seat in the back. He was asleep - hanging over the edge strangling himself with the strap - within 3 minutes. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Sheesh</span>.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So, I was really looking forward to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Kensington</span> palace, but it seems as though they have changed the tour/exhibit recently. Gone are the Princess Diana dresses and debutant exhibit. Now it's...well, I can't even explain it. It kind of defies comprehension. It's a modern art/creepy haunted house kind of. It's got graffiti on the walls and weird recordings in the background and mannequins suspended above beds. Weird. Disappointing. Sad really. Still scratching my head trying to figure out what the heck happened.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjDXaJYYYBAPeOZmDHjh21-sArwiA2u4s2uYh5W_yDCHpq4_z225EFO1v5LpKLEdb_jdP3UuVzBaCnCDvtFdKZyxGSak3JfzSnMgETXl55px7U6bhnuBOTEq0LmDdPTN5jWmoqMvtGRts/s1600/IMG_0688.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjDXaJYYYBAPeOZmDHjh21-sArwiA2u4s2uYh5W_yDCHpq4_z225EFO1v5LpKLEdb_jdP3UuVzBaCnCDvtFdKZyxGSak3JfzSnMgETXl55px7U6bhnuBOTEq0LmDdPTN5jWmoqMvtGRts/s400/IMG_0688.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501111388467166978" border="0" /></a><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">KK</span> was really keen on having "tea" in London, so we headed to the Orangery for that, but <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Cade</span> wasn't into that and they don't serve a proper tea until 3 pm and it's only like 11:15 at this point, so we get up from the table and head for a walk in the park. This is when it starts to rain. But do I have the rain cover for the buggy? Nope. I do, however have 1 umbrella which is nice, but surely not enough for 4 people. We went and stood under a tree and waited for it to let up. When it did, normal people would head home - but wait - we're having a carpet beetle treatment, so we can't do that. We walked about 1/2 mile in the sprinkles to the mall across from our house. I gave the boys lunch at Starbucks and we walked around until it was time to come home. Oh - did I mention that at this point I'm sick? Yeah...fun day. We finished up with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Gymboree</span> in the afternoon which we seem to be doing most days. It's something we all look forward to.<br />Tuesday we went to Harrods and spend a couple hours, but not much money which is good. Our sick count now is up to 5 - <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">KK</span> and the boys have it too. There are such <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">copious</span> amounts of snot here it's ridiculous...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh0ZvYN2bMyZXo8cgJ02dq5UjPibCRJQu6GOTk2buXbo7AHkHDaFzmRt_uPQQBXadIC2Ir7ch7zWWDZhzAnuDOFo98bqWI576LTNFQXPNH3JSKobmcJlrrnqgCo9F9Zlbc8FilhNXenPA/s1600/IMG_0693.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh0ZvYN2bMyZXo8cgJ02dq5UjPibCRJQu6GOTk2buXbo7AHkHDaFzmRt_uPQQBXadIC2Ir7ch7zWWDZhzAnuDOFo98bqWI576LTNFQXPNH3JSKobmcJlrrnqgCo9F9Zlbc8FilhNXenPA/s400/IMG_0693.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501109265062388738" border="0" /></a><br />Wednesday we went to the zoo.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9hqX-iXOjhTlOWg_Ea7RZmgFoZlUFwPlhRStPHVtmIGR4y4FI1kWcOmsD4BgHZ2pfl5mzoVXc6OFMjurFHZOLMI4MBgSXClN4lYLoWp4BR7einxvxtu2CB1suGD10XFgRa-CLcUAbq7o/s1600/IMG_0708.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9hqX-iXOjhTlOWg_Ea7RZmgFoZlUFwPlhRStPHVtmIGR4y4FI1kWcOmsD4BgHZ2pfl5mzoVXc6OFMjurFHZOLMI4MBgSXClN4lYLoWp4BR7einxvxtu2CB1suGD10XFgRa-CLcUAbq7o/s400/IMG_0708.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501109253411168642" border="0" /></a><br />At this point <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Cade</span> is getting really spoiled with taking taxi's and whenever he sees one he says - "we get in that taxi". Oh how quickly they learn.<br />Thursday we did play group and music class.<br />Friday we went to lunch at The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Wolseley</span>, then walked to Buckingham palace, then up to Oxford street.<br />Friday afternoon we went back to open gym and Cole officially started crawling!!! I tried to keep him from doing it as long as I could, but he's a man on the move now.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxMD-fVABpss6ewWJ8ill15YWmx4_3xcgNkVbu4bx5v-y0FuHtk18WJeZvPchyphenhyphenl_ug6eczazOyOyANSReTbqwF3oKiiZtSnnKC2TPWCWNSPlNHw8vLRXGaRMHqTQQzR5yZj30i3YMsf8E/s1600/London7.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxMD-fVABpss6ewWJ8ill15YWmx4_3xcgNkVbu4bx5v-y0FuHtk18WJeZvPchyphenhyphenl_ug6eczazOyOyANSReTbqwF3oKiiZtSnnKC2TPWCWNSPlNHw8vLRXGaRMHqTQQzR5yZj30i3YMsf8E/s400/London7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501099945620288386" border="0" /></a><br />Saturday we visited the HMS Belfast. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Cade</span> is getting so big, climbing those steep stairs all by himself. He does seem a little weary of the creepy mannequin staring down at him in the "sick bay" exhibit though.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiACCYN2viRwKBAyojKt7coWjyUOuOm6yv3uij36bc-6-hHIpPPiDUII4Gal-mJr9GZhtyMKnTWRHxRsdr-hHDa5ddpABRDVsxp3h5W_VBS7p3R2lQTCDpZ-bSX6ZR7NB85L7ouUVNjpvU/s1600/London9.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiACCYN2viRwKBAyojKt7coWjyUOuOm6yv3uij36bc-6-hHIpPPiDUII4Gal-mJr9GZhtyMKnTWRHxRsdr-hHDa5ddpABRDVsxp3h5W_VBS7p3R2lQTCDpZ-bSX6ZR7NB85L7ouUVNjpvU/s400/London9.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />In the gift shop at the exit, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">KK</span> bought the boys hats. How cute are my little captain and first mate???<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjrZqYBLI9Zqoq1951DXWA9f9FD1hzZIxhUyucLQMMUsr0Q3sbMewunKmsVPnQoFHfvY1sFZHF0F2IHO9Dn8O3pnmOn-13tSzyPuUdLIrScVcjepRic5SmbwY0e0WwFQgd7ZU23Njo86E/s1600/London6.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjrZqYBLI9Zqoq1951DXWA9f9FD1hzZIxhUyucLQMMUsr0Q3sbMewunKmsVPnQoFHfvY1sFZHF0F2IHO9Dn8O3pnmOn-13tSzyPuUdLIrScVcjepRic5SmbwY0e0WwFQgd7ZU23Njo86E/s400/London6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501099940835288322" border="0" /></a><br />Down on the pier, we saw the "invisible man". <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Cade</span> gave him some money...then tried to walk off with the can while the whole crowd laughed.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWZzeJD85BIBJvNhQ-XKK_lJwFpSHcuQLKF9rwLjUdJBZAFNodZvLSJAtbFWExtoLDE8VZD2ht_amy181dWztxgdI_WGUi1y3F6PKrpQSHcfjt3NUvJAv8eleTFogGyOnxgo5vBCzWpvU/s1600/Jul+31,+2010.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWZzeJD85BIBJvNhQ-XKK_lJwFpSHcuQLKF9rwLjUdJBZAFNodZvLSJAtbFWExtoLDE8VZD2ht_amy181dWztxgdI_WGUi1y3F6PKrpQSHcfjt3NUvJAv8eleTFogGyOnxgo5vBCzWpvU/s400/Jul+31,+2010.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Sunday was sad. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">KK</span> left early - about 7am. We all said our goodbye's and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Cade</span> cried a little when we said he couldn't get in the car with her to leave.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaeSzQVhekipIzutKj_ePzJTcUqLQTjVUMbOf2JENAogFLv3IHylNqJacDFu8Lnz2dlmRGHlXR4dBvEwMuKxXYUIF51Nvr2BenBdQEcBNWZqIk-1J-51UYT-3xmBCFDZLxfIaowGtoUm8/s1600/IMG_0751.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaeSzQVhekipIzutKj_ePzJTcUqLQTjVUMbOf2JENAogFLv3IHylNqJacDFu8Lnz2dlmRGHlXR4dBvEwMuKxXYUIF51Nvr2BenBdQEcBNWZqIk-1J-51UYT-3xmBCFDZLxfIaowGtoUm8/s400/IMG_0751.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501109241354058738" border="0" /></a><br />We headed in to get ready for the day and go get pancakes to make him feel better. After that, we walked to the science museum where we saw lots of fun stuff.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipOmO0Bl2TXT1R70Y3q0d8_85cPpW7DUES62K7nAD4fBYv_20QJOxd5ixB-IvRABSK0usQiPZww4LUbVoMXN5PW64p2VLd8YccFM7GdesX8pIUhc1PkACsIguqRi_ouHkbrxkeb7hsCrQ/s1600/London5.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipOmO0Bl2TXT1R70Y3q0d8_85cPpW7DUES62K7nAD4fBYv_20QJOxd5ixB-IvRABSK0usQiPZww4LUbVoMXN5PW64p2VLd8YccFM7GdesX8pIUhc1PkACsIguqRi_ouHkbrxkeb7hsCrQ/s400/London5.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_sftK_g4YtwseUCNJ3Vx9nt1zk3La77O9GXrSuarCaIiUSJdS71bAzqQfxtw5jELAAQXeEEeD83fcyur8rIiwfdePG5U6A7aMwgLQMySNTAfu1yUxiPPkMhS2P_BMVlx1cWruyQsdBgs/s1600/London4.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_sftK_g4YtwseUCNJ3Vx9nt1zk3La77O9GXrSuarCaIiUSJdS71bAzqQfxtw5jELAAQXeEEeD83fcyur8rIiwfdePG5U6A7aMwgLQMySNTAfu1yUxiPPkMhS2P_BMVlx1cWruyQsdBgs/s400/London4.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />We even went to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Imax</span> and made it about 20 minutes into the movie before <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Cade</span> was done and said he wanted to leave.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsxYoV0F5l-yJkxDbglraU44RJpBrwRFLRiAmxZvn4pk4vzjJlXFD633vPE97-nL32nXmru8TmfFF6ZuN2QwT3v4t-hMbZLisikQf0skiSykKqeOW0tWsrSjF9iYv8K6tjos0Gg8aTYgo/s1600/IMG_0766.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsxYoV0F5l-yJkxDbglraU44RJpBrwRFLRiAmxZvn4pk4vzjJlXFD633vPE97-nL32nXmru8TmfFF6ZuN2QwT3v4t-hMbZLisikQf0skiSykKqeOW0tWsrSjF9iYv8K6tjos0Gg8aTYgo/s400/IMG_0766.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501116627010527970" border="0" /></a><br />We headed home to rest from the busy week. It was so much fun having <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">KK</span> here. We are sad the 2 weeks went by so quickly. Now we are on countdown to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">YaYa</span> coming...19 days!!!<br /></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none; padding: 0px; background: none repeat scroll 0% 50% transparent;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17868823098697868184noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3167157513123248250.post-2128528316180087982010-07-27T06:16:00.000-07:002010-07-27T06:48:21.516-07:00Week 8<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">YAY</span>!! This has to have been our best week so far! Not only did I get my mew computer (praise the lord), but we had visitors! Yes - more than one!</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEithEVW09vy7wyEnP-1c_hCoOb90i8vX9lXrGgmuDsD6eYCPNnwdj56x1Gekvb-yy-TqtRHgLpONwMNpD9NuSjZCVZzkC42ceYhLgIKYT0ZHRDYG7XRQdv_8k4GqgirIocnc_60D1r-GWc/s1600/IMG_0668.JPG"></a><div style="text-align: center;">On Monday, my cousin Erin came to spend the day (and night) with us. She's a captain in the US Air Force and by chance, got sent to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Swindon</span> for the Royal International Air tattoo. We didn't make it to the show, but she took the train to London on Monday and we got to spend some time together. It wasn't until after she left that we realized we hadn't taken a single picture. I know - impossible. Sad, but true. But trust me, she was here and we had a great time.</div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Tuesday we set out for the airport to meet <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">KK</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Cade</span> was really glad to see her and boy does he have her number...immediately he started asking for presents We got her settled in and on Wednesday we went to the park. It was fairly warm and very sunny. We had a great time.</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheOdabQxR_cFutfJApYWaIP-elr4EogCYRa4H8Vb0BuRgPbFAeBdkO3-w0239mY0sfL1icToH5HXbg_5uG-7_vSqt63AGPqAwxu2U8zxCaYCkj-Z7ZuVByStGeV-OxvY9oOJ3lQlteyK8/s1600/London.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheOdabQxR_cFutfJApYWaIP-elr4EogCYRa4H8Vb0BuRgPbFAeBdkO3-w0239mY0sfL1icToH5HXbg_5uG-7_vSqt63AGPqAwxu2U8zxCaYCkj-Z7ZuVByStGeV-OxvY9oOJ3lQlteyK8/s400/London.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheOdabQxR_cFutfJApYWaIP-elr4EogCYRa4H8Vb0BuRgPbFAeBdkO3-w0239mY0sfL1icToH5HXbg_5uG-7_vSqt63AGPqAwxu2U8zxCaYCkj-Z7ZuVByStGeV-OxvY9oOJ3lQlteyK8/s1600/London.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb9m7ynqzP_6Tgo2Jkh__nwt-6s0KoSOtEbGYks-F7DNFi8UzL8cRuPCqa-7jTlEKZWegZJI2ZkZxAqz0c_M_G6PzjJrBWBNo0Lgew5_4nCYgUeqN0tBvyjWqFj5at9pVPO1ofF9MNUMw/s1600/London1.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb9m7ynqzP_6Tgo2Jkh__nwt-6s0KoSOtEbGYks-F7DNFi8UzL8cRuPCqa-7jTlEKZWegZJI2ZkZxAqz0c_M_G6PzjJrBWBNo0Lgew5_4nCYgUeqN0tBvyjWqFj5at9pVPO1ofF9MNUMw/s400/London1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">Thursday we went to ply group at the church in the morning and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Gymboree</span> music class in the afternoon. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Cade</span> is not totally into the following directions and participating as this mother would like, but he enjoys it so we will keep going. And it's paid for...so he better get with the program. Friday we went to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Westfield</span> and did a power shopping day. It was lots of fun for the girls. The boys - well, they played along. Then we went to open gym at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Gymboree</span> in the afternoon. This is much more <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Cade's</span> speed. No rules - just run and scream and do whatever you want. I sat in the corner with Cole and bit my tongue.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Saturday we took the train to Windsor and toured the castle. It's really really big and you can't take <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">buggys</span> inside, but we managed and it was interesting to see. We also got to see Henry VIII burial place which is pretty cool since Steve and I have been watching the Tudors box set, so are learning about his reign (from the highly historical showtime channel). Nonetheless - cool.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3qBhPWBGUZ2c3clsAIYSc2PwWpln358X8wzQ78zohVIcj3up3KfnKqYLBSiJjRX0ApJPLGEuwn3Wgh-1L8-hFiiANc0UherMPrDQ0EV7qTgULOBddGUxM3PV_42OH_Q_YL6PqRddZ-UE/s1600/London2.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3qBhPWBGUZ2c3clsAIYSc2PwWpln358X8wzQ78zohVIcj3up3KfnKqYLBSiJjRX0ApJPLGEuwn3Wgh-1L8-hFiiANc0UherMPrDQ0EV7qTgULOBddGUxM3PV_42OH_Q_YL6PqRddZ-UE/s400/London2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">We also got to see the changing of the guard again. This by far is my favorite picture of the day...</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEithEVW09vy7wyEnP-1c_hCoOb90i8vX9lXrGgmuDsD6eYCPNnwdj56x1Gekvb-yy-TqtRHgLpONwMNpD9NuSjZCVZzkC42ceYhLgIKYT0ZHRDYG7XRQdv_8k4GqgirIocnc_60D1r-GWc/s1600/IMG_0668.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEithEVW09vy7wyEnP-1c_hCoOb90i8vX9lXrGgmuDsD6eYCPNnwdj56x1Gekvb-yy-TqtRHgLpONwMNpD9NuSjZCVZzkC42ceYhLgIKYT0ZHRDYG7XRQdv_8k4GqgirIocnc_60D1r-GWc/s400/IMG_0668.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498574720678233250" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sunday we went back to Westminster and did the London Eye. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqDO9UXNbFEjBCjjBID3Zq28A8UQk8IdUuqnjCzjzAKome7bavUXlE5C_KUuFMYqsYKJn8lpA9NfcDkIovS9aa1aTMndp0hGGAIth1vLhs9cj6p8KCCBZz3-DvU0HPtwAcmj_rL07MnCM/s1600/London3.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqDO9UXNbFEjBCjjBID3Zq28A8UQk8IdUuqnjCzjzAKome7bavUXlE5C_KUuFMYqsYKJn8lpA9NfcDkIovS9aa1aTMndp0hGGAIth1vLhs9cj6p8KCCBZz3-DvU0HPtwAcmj_rL07MnCM/s400/London3.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">We didn't do as much this weekend as we have in weekend's past, but we did enough to tire everyone out seeing as though 1)Karyn isn't use to the crazy that is London in addition to the crazy that is C squared.</div><div style="text-align: center;">2)Steve and I were sick.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Steve's project is hitting full tilt and work days extend to weekends now as well as late into the night. I'm so glad to have someone here to help out and share my days with. I can tell already that it will be hard on all of us when she leaves. The boys are pretty much sick of spending all day with me and love having other people to terrorize. We are trying to fit as much into her visit as we can, but more and more days without naps are leading to crankier spells, so we'll see how long we can keep this up.</div></div></div></div></div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17868823098697868184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3167157513123248250.post-6468541159010407002010-07-21T06:15:00.000-07:002010-07-21T07:13:31.848-07:00Week 7<div style="text-align: center;">So this week kind of a lot happened - although it wasn't all necessarily stuff that we were planning on or appreciated...</div><div style="text-align: center;">My phone broke, which wasn't a huge problem, more of a minor inconvenience. Had to send it in for repair. Got a loaner which was a downgrade...from the $6 phone...so you can imagine what a gem that was. Whatever - it was fine. Then. Um. IT happened. I dropped and killed my computer. Dead. No bueno. Panic set in. Thankfully, my generous hubby agreed to buy me a Mac which was awesome. But it's much cheaper to buy one from the US than the UK. Problem is - they won't ship it here. So we decided to ship it to his mom who was leaving at 4:00pm on Monday to come here...Perfect. So we overnighted the computer to her and the Mac web site said that it should be there either Friday or Monday. But on Friday, we got an email saying that it was going to ship and should be there by Tuesday. Um...wait - that doesn't work. So I called Apple and kind of went on a mini tirade. I asked to speak with a manager. They put me on hold for 20 minutes and never came back. Well, I guess that was kinda fair. Anyway, we finally got a shipment notification and it said it should be there by 3:00pm Monday. Whew...lets hope. So we squeaked in just under the wire. I got my new baby when Karyn arrived this week...but more on her arrival in the week 8 blog. Lets remember that I'm a week behind here due to this little set back ;)</div><div style="text-align: center;">It rained a lot this week, so incidentally, we didn't go out much. So - for the enjoyment of all in their cushy houses back in the big TX...I decided to hit on a few highlights of our home here in London. Working our way across row 1 of pictures from the upper left corner...This is our living room. It's the biggest room in the flat if you don't count the impossibly long hallway (to the right). It's decor leaves something to be desired. Yes, that sofa probably does belong to Austin Powers. I mean...what were they thinking? The next pic down is a view fro the opposite side of the living room into the dining room. Since we do so much entertaining. It seats 10. </div><div style="text-align: center;">2nd row of pics starts with our bedroom. Yes - the drapes match the chair. If you look very closely at the end of the bed you'll see a throw rug. That is the extent of the "carpet" in the flat. So - carpet beetles huh? And never in this room. Weird. The blue tiles are from our master bath. I especially love the 1x2 holding up the corner of our sink. And the 4 tiles that totally don't match. Finally, we have our microwave that is no lie older than me. It has a lock people. never seen anything like it. Yes, I am certain it leaks radiation. And finally is our dishwasher. No - I didn't open it to show you how lovely it is. This is as far as it opens and thus this is as far out as the bottom rack slides out. Sweet. No, this isn't all of the loveliness that this apartment has to offer. I just picked some of my faves. Those of you who come visit get to see it in all it's glory.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhK8FXRfIYnhQVgdrV7o1-L4e9V0GaX_JMrWrv6pDS41Y0YcTD9VjhCCCJIneZIpMjLj1rsXocb0FdethM_tzrgTV-oP0t1LT2uqMinXMCNUoVE98nvDCCPpGEqP2O81l4AkEg9cZb264/s1600/Jul+18,+2010.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhK8FXRfIYnhQVgdrV7o1-L4e9V0GaX_JMrWrv6pDS41Y0YcTD9VjhCCCJIneZIpMjLj1rsXocb0FdethM_tzrgTV-oP0t1LT2uqMinXMCNUoVE98nvDCCPpGEqP2O81l4AkEg9cZb264/s400/Jul+18,+2010.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Saturday we visited the Churchill War rooms. Much more interesting that I though. How would you like to use a "chemical" toilet instead of a flushing one? Um, Ewww.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhK8FXRfIYnhQVgdrV7o1-L4e9V0GaX_JMrWrv6pDS41Y0YcTD9VjhCCCJIneZIpMjLj1rsXocb0FdethM_tzrgTV-oP0t1LT2uqMinXMCNUoVE98nvDCCPpGEqP2O81l4AkEg9cZb264/s1600/Jul+18,+2010.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7jsPREnWByb4s4Rr7cwrqNJTcYRNNBRTkGLsOwZo4vX9A-jSQAXFEU4u5Sj-We50W8xbhBLxcy75fy4rlNly-dItu5bS1cPwFs2YBgUXTBW3FTem_eqIFoTC3PcZPb-7olPfhWTQcOZY/s1600/Jul+18,+20101.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7jsPREnWByb4s4Rr7cwrqNJTcYRNNBRTkGLsOwZo4vX9A-jSQAXFEU4u5Sj-We50W8xbhBLxcy75fy4rlNly-dItu5bS1cPwFs2YBgUXTBW3FTem_eqIFoTC3PcZPb-7olPfhWTQcOZY/s400/Jul+18,+20101.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">After the war rooms, we headed to Trafalgar Square. It was super busy, so we kept walking. We came upon this HUGE parade. Probably about 5000 people - and worship music. Wow - maybe this is why it was so busy...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7jsPREnWByb4s4Rr7cwrqNJTcYRNNBRTkGLsOwZo4vX9A-jSQAXFEU4u5Sj-We50W8xbhBLxcy75fy4rlNly-dItu5bS1cPwFs2YBgUXTBW3FTem_eqIFoTC3PcZPb-7olPfhWTQcOZY/s1600/Jul+18,+20101.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHhnGESBpJ6EPh_NjVockBqy_xK0PzEP-DvqmgQgEhZET5qLKiz0AmhS7rvzT3BXfLaUZAYWthTe5o2iBJ342t3f5B0Qesi8SwPVezKn4Co68t9GVUCoIf_Qu5ZIXWNaq7Pd39v_JvGn8/s400/IMG_0577.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496356659237001922" /></span></a></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1a9aM3-L1-jY70FVm05xT_-p2iOHxlFelbITRQeTKKTw4a9k3YazwVl_OI5SzEd8WXHW3ibYrbPdISVJq_H4Q68EdSYMxVQECL__Shon0N3jk7o9wzcA6edbI7xAyhNCK050Nj-vFKoo/s1600/IMG_0578.JPG"></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1a9aM3-L1-jY70FVm05xT_-p2iOHxlFelbITRQeTKKTw4a9k3YazwVl_OI5SzEd8WXHW3ibYrbPdISVJq_H4Q68EdSYMxVQECL__Shon0N3jk7o9wzcA6edbI7xAyhNCK050Nj-vFKoo/s1600/IMG_0578.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "></span></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1a9aM3-L1-jY70FVm05xT_-p2iOHxlFelbITRQeTKKTw4a9k3YazwVl_OI5SzEd8WXHW3ibYrbPdISVJq_H4Q68EdSYMxVQECL__Shon0N3jk7o9wzcA6edbI7xAyhNCK050Nj-vFKoo/s1600/IMG_0578.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1a9aM3-L1-jY70FVm05xT_-p2iOHxlFelbITRQeTKKTw4a9k3YazwVl_OI5SzEd8WXHW3ibYrbPdISVJq_H4Q68EdSYMxVQECL__Shon0N3jk7o9wzcA6edbI7xAyhNCK050Nj-vFKoo/s400/IMG_0578.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496356662321640834" /></a></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Next, we headed on to Picadilly Circus,</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9lDHb8cesg2SovApMsLtiXgSXBKmmZdG4kzU5FeHcI4BNgHVe8j4Kdn1k-JKgmlbiaxJYXK1_thdmN7VXjMap9S5p9nrbcUrQkVPecUJYE_6njZ4innEtUa5oEltKg5sX3yP1IPLvsDg/s1600/IMG_0579.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9lDHb8cesg2SovApMsLtiXgSXBKmmZdG4kzU5FeHcI4BNgHVe8j4Kdn1k-JKgmlbiaxJYXK1_thdmN7VXjMap9S5p9nrbcUrQkVPecUJYE_6njZ4innEtUa5oEltKg5sX3yP1IPLvsDg/s400/IMG_0579.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496361593214822946" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">up to Oxford Street, back through Hyde park and home. Another full day.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Sunday, we did our usual breakfast then on to HP. We went for a stroll along Kensington High street, then back through the park for another carousel ride. At home, we started preparing for our company...TWO visitors this week! More in the next blog, but for now, just this ;)</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOFvRUEuGtWAuhBH6YTrrCEDKkW3JUF_-4-OP8Qs7fBVsf9bVn4tZYUc6T4qqui2CC-FQSVXroAauz6PlrhSF_ErVSnlNKnNgQuGn3iCyxage2u2cFFaqvTFJu3EgISWAyP9iNZ08SBA8/s1600/Jul+18,+20102.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOFvRUEuGtWAuhBH6YTrrCEDKkW3JUF_-4-OP8Qs7fBVsf9bVn4tZYUc6T4qqui2CC-FQSVXroAauz6PlrhSF_ErVSnlNKnNgQuGn3iCyxage2u2cFFaqvTFJu3EgISWAyP9iNZ08SBA8/s400/Jul+18,+20102.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP9PwSPdLACMI206s2JqpnIRsSfk28tEejvzBnAUGxQzSTKJLKlwOlYs8OovyFbN9GRxfKzjZSO4xQ_yIH7DvGRgteMLqjee-wQcquTKyQ6zQgo0T0qFSs6iiZbIQuHg3q9qi1WVMEqGE/s1600/Jul+18,+20103.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP9PwSPdLACMI206s2JqpnIRsSfk28tEejvzBnAUGxQzSTKJLKlwOlYs8OovyFbN9GRxfKzjZSO4xQ_yIH7DvGRgteMLqjee-wQcquTKyQ6zQgo0T0qFSs6iiZbIQuHg3q9qi1WVMEqGE/s400/Jul+18,+20103.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;clear: both; "><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div></div></div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17868823098697868184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3167157513123248250.post-79944826457387484162010-07-12T02:45:00.000-07:002010-07-12T12:37:39.545-07:00Week 6<div align="center">Wow - 6 weeks. So long and yet not quite 1/2 way through. This week we are finally feeling like our much awaited company is getting closer to arriving. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">KK</span> will be coming for about 2 weeks beginning next Wednesday. We are so excited to see her and have someone else here. We have really been missing our family - we are a REALLY close family. So it's hard to not see everyone so much. And lucky for her - we had the exterminator come back this week - twice! Both the mice and the carpet beetles are under full attack and should be gone shortly. The Exterminator said how unusual it was - or seemingly unheard of as he made it sound - that we had so many beetles in so many room, yet no carpet. He was confused as to what they could be feeding on. Said he'd never seen it before. Sigh...why would I be the slightest bit surprised?<br />We had a pretty laid back week. We were going to join a second play group on Monday, but the forecast called for rain all day and Mom didn't want to walk over a mile there and get stuck in the rain, so we opted out. We went to the park a couple of days and we went back to playgroup on Thursday. Allie is now with us 3 nights a week since Steve almost always works until 8. She and I have settled into a routine for dinner baths and bed. Pretty much It's still me doing everything and her checking her text messages, but an extra body is still a help, so I won't complain. Friday we were going to try to meet a new mom's group at the park. We got there about 10 minutes early and instead of finding the group, we met another Ex-pat mom with 2 girls ages 1 and 3. She was very friendly and shared their sand toys with us. We played for about an hour and a half then she asked if we ever wanted to play again. I'll probably call her this week and set up a time. Nice to finally have someone we can get together and play with. </div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxrRv-AMCr3_m2Rb6T-B3dFPKWPkEt0LbYuSs9aSE2TjV356PerweVxUY4xIMrPasgRJgQOWBCqgcaTmcQN9iAXZYZkyKXvXriKlk8hJvWdCsKCAv6kbOHgcOqGMsIhxhfiV8vmMsA3lc/s1600/IMG_0470.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492955213669240930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxrRv-AMCr3_m2Rb6T-B3dFPKWPkEt0LbYuSs9aSE2TjV356PerweVxUY4xIMrPasgRJgQOWBCqgcaTmcQN9iAXZYZkyKXvXriKlk8hJvWdCsKCAv6kbOHgcOqGMsIhxhfiV8vmMsA3lc/s400/IMG_0470.JPG" /></a><br /></div><div align="center">We left there and headed to the fountain to enjoy the 80 degree weather (and lets be honest...to wash off the sand). After 25 minutes there, we headed home for lunch and naps. It was a very successful day.<br />We are getting to the point now on the weekends where we have seen mostly all of the London tourist sights and are <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">having</span> to look a little harder for things to do. We headed to St. Paul's Cathedral Saturday morning. It was beautiful, but I was disappointed at the no photos policy. I look forward to taking pics to share with you all back home. I did snap one "illegal" photo while I was feeding the baby. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Shhhhh</span>...don't tell. Steve and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Cade</span> actually walked all the way to the top of this dome. You can't even see the balcony, but it's above the windows, around the very highest center point. He said it was quite the walk. The spiral staircase was apparently very very narrow and the ceiling very low. At one point we heard someone yell "he's lost a shoe" and sure enough, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Cade's</span> shoe had come off and tumbled down the stairs. Thank goodness the kind people passed it up to him...does this sound familiar to anyone??? Ski...ski lift? Anyone???<br />After the cathedral, we walked another 1-2 miles to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Covent</span> garden. This place is a mad house on the weekends. We found a pub and at lunch outside - enjoying the people watching. After lunch, we hit the transport museum and learned all about the development of the public transport system in London from 1800 - now. </div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg3yGeiFRbtiHka1V-apXIklJkz2ZWrraDXAE7Flbs_nslevljzYRFibYQU9N2zRBsQr7j-O4u452AcLVkGLjpPSej7-lWEPO4O3lBWk90Rkw3gynsN4JOUnbVs9PmAQ6fcd0zhGALaTU/s1600/06-09-2010-London21.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493104891068056594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg3yGeiFRbtiHka1V-apXIklJkz2ZWrraDXAE7Flbs_nslevljzYRFibYQU9N2zRBsQr7j-O4u452AcLVkGLjpPSej7-lWEPO4O3lBWk90Rkw3gynsN4JOUnbVs9PmAQ6fcd0zhGALaTU/s400/06-09-2010-London21.jpg" /></a><br />Sunday we did out usual breakfast at Costa and then headed to Hyde Park again. We got to see up close and personal two of the helicopters arriving and then leaving again from <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kensington</span> palace. It was a lot of fun for <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Cade</span> (and I think Dad too). Then we spend a few minutes exploring the pirate ship at the playground.</p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2cRPqWgR2bZnha37KT8OpRhmAriVPSG5RaekLWLogZDCHPduCDVJdMvCzQu1w4pZFXsdtHBWex13blD9Zbns6s5gZGLbYSbXNIMtTQNoyp0w3gr0qXXa0wfBBnAH9t_pODKA5j9ZuSJQ/s1600/IMG_0531.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492955218368193666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2cRPqWgR2bZnha37KT8OpRhmAriVPSG5RaekLWLogZDCHPduCDVJdMvCzQu1w4pZFXsdtHBWex13blD9Zbns6s5gZGLbYSbXNIMtTQNoyp0w3gr0qXXa0wfBBnAH9t_pODKA5j9ZuSJQ/s400/IMG_0531.JPG" /></a> </p><p align="center">Next we walked to the Serpentine and the "big boys" took a paddle boat out. Unfortunately, Cole was too young to go, so he and I stayed behind.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOcXobVoYPJQvEQXSyCBNdxlRx1mC5Y074xACc7Nbvy_GULGxHb9dqvY4EWglDjqAg4zeRPpIiHcVpJa9A1ucAvuIRUuOb-a1lTBtAt9Ha_WO9k6zLqHwV8jrP0y5jvMYNLdyl5UJeP68/s1600/06-09-2010-London19.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493104868407352418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOcXobVoYPJQvEQXSyCBNdxlRx1mC5Y074xACc7Nbvy_GULGxHb9dqvY4EWglDjqAg4zeRPpIiHcVpJa9A1ucAvuIRUuOb-a1lTBtAt9Ha_WO9k6zLqHwV8jrP0y5jvMYNLdyl5UJeP68/s400/06-09-2010-London19.jpg" /></a><br />Finally, we grabbed a picnic lunch and went back to the memorial fountain, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">Cade</span> loves this place. I think he could play there all day every day.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigAaQj6qKyO2qCm3VWP_WdE8gM-I_ycn-l_V8TkHtTsi7IAyReJKShO437HvLBOLFFyZsIDV7PY0QzV_i2rjJxwsFh5zUw9eyNL91QOhBmfo9bXiORmvx9-pPsGrv3zwaUONfiSY14E00/s1600/06-09-2010-London18.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493104864184078482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigAaQj6qKyO2qCm3VWP_WdE8gM-I_ycn-l_V8TkHtTsi7IAyReJKShO437HvLBOLFFyZsIDV7PY0QzV_i2rjJxwsFh5zUw9eyNL91QOhBmfo9bXiORmvx9-pPsGrv3zwaUONfiSY14E00/s400/06-09-2010-London18.jpg" /></a><br />And once again, I want to post some pics of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">CoCo</span> just to show he's actually here...he doesn't seem to be part of the action most of the time and since he's usually stuck with me (behind the camera), he doesn't get as many pics. But nonetheless, he's enjoying himself immensely - especially if his brother is around. He's getting cuter and cuter (if that's possible) and I just love getting close ups of that little face.</p><div align="center"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEyDGNPaAS8vVYxmT-b0Kj4h5IqqZ-AWJga1DTXGU03HOdrXHRNtss2Vay6k2Jtrd_QXkJDNidiPX8tqGy-cBp90ID_Se-4crDbZJzO_qoV88Mq91lUtzmV3EK_aNBp77JB8nCpnZcSDk/s1600/06-09-2010-London20.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493104853540973938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEyDGNPaAS8vVYxmT-b0Kj4h5IqqZ-AWJga1DTXGU03HOdrXHRNtss2Vay6k2Jtrd_QXkJDNidiPX8tqGy-cBp90ID_Se-4crDbZJzO_qoV88Mq91lUtzmV3EK_aNBp77JB8nCpnZcSDk/s400/06-09-2010-London20.jpg" /></a> </div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17868823098697868184noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3167157513123248250.post-67536644228937765122010-07-05T12:45:00.000-07:002010-07-06T02:11:44.082-07:00Week 5<div align="center">Well, Happy 4<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span> of July (a little late) from a country that <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">surprisingly</span> doesn't seem to celebrate that holiday...huh.</div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2p2pJb3S1KQDbdDrYg-q_eQTk98oba5fURkhW_QT1xv8mRBqG_HWJTGu74BIrq0RcmA26h1nCutDyR71JYK6fRqMUskemF2pDhMe2e6Gkk5Km2IUWJ-pYUjvIqRGmIRjAcyjURzBfkcc/s1600/06-09-2010-London13.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 234px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490516718794433538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2p2pJb3S1KQDbdDrYg-q_eQTk98oba5fURkhW_QT1xv8mRBqG_HWJTGu74BIrq0RcmA26h1nCutDyR71JYK6fRqMUskemF2pDhMe2e6Gkk5Km2IUWJ-pYUjvIqRGmIRjAcyjURzBfkcc/s400/06-09-2010-London13.jpg" /></a><br /><br />So this week I tried really hard to do some fun things. We went to the Zoo which was a big hit. The Zoo here is small compared to Ft. Worth. Not as many "big impressive" animals (no elephants or <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">silverback</span> gorillas), but you can get closer to a lot of the animals here, so that was fun.<br /></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwtrsjvmzMEwWDxmKcwzqYe49pnRzTWvYElD3Vwsr1sylcco4jsHr7IWTAXuP-SnEyoYP_ZAL16ymQLQEoSwVFEH9yvicSZkJWLa0rcEOSfhIkYyB-dlNVygBIJ5EHNMKLCbmN7nyHCpc/s1600/06-09-2010-London8.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwtrsjvmzMEwWDxmKcwzqYe49pnRzTWvYElD3Vwsr1sylcco4jsHr7IWTAXuP-SnEyoYP_ZAL16ymQLQEoSwVFEH9yvicSZkJWLa0rcEOSfhIkYyB-dlNVygBIJ5EHNMKLCbmN7nyHCpc/s400/06-09-2010-London8.jpg" /></a><br /></div><br /><div align="center">We also joined a play group. Yes, Mom went way out of her comfort zone and walked a mile and a half each way to join a group that meets at a church. There were a lot of kids and parents. Not a ton of people talked to us, but a few did. We met a little boy named Thor who is 2 weeks older than <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Cade</span>. Really, the most interesting part of the kid is his name - but whatever. But hey - how many times in your life do you get to ride a scooter up the center aisle of the church?</div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_SHWZTbzRuRtGqIewqamJ-vXGNrc2WShi_YyPG02txzCwsQROQaK5TrJCZzZMumRfM_-vcE_VpbJeDrTCo5-5peqxM30zN5gi1jZM6hIEXsLTWKI50lGOkMPI9WsYiEwelFFR6r0NEHc/s1600/IMG_0211.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 267px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490523853770140434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_SHWZTbzRuRtGqIewqamJ-vXGNrc2WShi_YyPG02txzCwsQROQaK5TrJCZzZMumRfM_-vcE_VpbJeDrTCo5-5peqxM30zN5gi1jZM6hIEXsLTWKI50lGOkMPI9WsYiEwelFFR6r0NEHc/s400/IMG_0211.JPG" /></a><br /></div><div align="center">This was another "close to home" weekend. No beach trip yet, but we did do a TON of other stuff. We took a boat ride down the Thames to Greenwich - home of zero degrees longitude (which separates the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">eastern</span> hemisphere from the western). If you ever worked with computer programming you may have had to work in Greenwich mean time - voila!<br /></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8E1unm9QX7ghIJbp5ByGwngzz2UM2y0AMKgl16ip9cXbLygnlbmeap3r8j4HRDCZpip7tlR3YQ_vSt9lm_J8wuJ5YhFWWkfGN3t862KDdQbiKGFlJJuhU7Mtjbo2DPhQn98MqpDSmhuM/s1600/06-09-2010-London14.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 234px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490516754063774546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8E1unm9QX7ghIJbp5ByGwngzz2UM2y0AMKgl16ip9cXbLygnlbmeap3r8j4HRDCZpip7tlR3YQ_vSt9lm_J8wuJ5YhFWWkfGN3t862KDdQbiKGFlJJuhU7Mtjbo2DPhQn98MqpDSmhuM/s400/06-09-2010-London14.jpg" /></a> </div><div align="center"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Cade</span> LOVED, LOVED, LOVED the boat ride. He kept saying to people in the boat "I'm on a boat". Bless him.</div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjelHUjdw2ppoM815e5o0N6_ptLynKgVKj5dJKJu1b1K2Ulwg3lvq5mOf4mcBnLi_MRP-byeqxKKBinb51NI4p5mCZ2dSQG6dzeikZeJDvuH-hJOS5FLCNjgpJWipC5JMUW-Luo8L_EkKw/s1600/IMG_0242.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490530432463614098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjelHUjdw2ppoM815e5o0N6_ptLynKgVKj5dJKJu1b1K2Ulwg3lvq5mOf4mcBnLi_MRP-byeqxKKBinb51NI4p5mCZ2dSQG6dzeikZeJDvuH-hJOS5FLCNjgpJWipC5JMUW-Luo8L_EkKw/s400/IMG_0242.JPG" /></a></p><p align="center"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490530416331630146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Kadar5oADXfTtnbszKlKfAIucmc3wBes-qQDFTkk56PuRi7C5xloN4iwyBDaGCAZ0NXlvKNTveLl5IB15AmFKiEC0S4Gln8pVPz_iMbMqsFFSOeGv1hbA2TVGqUFIq5t_YrNfLnYJKk/s400/IMG_0239.JPG" /></p><p align="center">We also visited the National Maritime Museum - which - gotta be honest...not all that interesting. Sorry Greenwich. </p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr6rhBhCYv1bD6CUpUlnYiSweaSlAS4gIZQvlEKyR8_x3eY2Jqd2AHNZ0DXs-zG0zLelDAU6vJ0KuYIFFfcl3TE-l8nNvxWiN_e7t7JBpd0Il16qbRXif5EmgxMGzUX8FuJhJ9zzu5wsM/s1600/06-09-2010-London16.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 234px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490516759989717634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr6rhBhCYv1bD6CUpUlnYiSweaSlAS4gIZQvlEKyR8_x3eY2Jqd2AHNZ0DXs-zG0zLelDAU6vJ0KuYIFFfcl3TE-l8nNvxWiN_e7t7JBpd0Il16qbRXif5EmgxMGzUX8FuJhJ9zzu5wsM/s400/06-09-2010-London16.jpg" /></a></p><p align="center">One funny thing happened on the way home. TWO different people came up to me and asked me which train to take to get to their stop and I actually knew the answer. Not sure how this happened, but apparently, I look like a local.</p><div align="center">Sunday we went to the London Aquarium. I thought it was really fun and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Cade</span> like it too. He got to see lots of "<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">fishy's</span>". He even touched a starfish and got his face painted. </div><div align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1V2h2AF1vnEuZ2011v6w-d-L-hatyL4JNSnZ3n9jOWBCdmHWjRumhSepv3yGD3lZsOMMw_UMCfJ8shhNhj7O-0cq9Ki86pNu7I4plkXVTDlkRQoGqRZsKImQ5s69l7M0GB83fNUPv3uQ/s1600/06-09-2010-London11.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1V2h2AF1vnEuZ2011v6w-d-L-hatyL4JNSnZ3n9jOWBCdmHWjRumhSepv3yGD3lZsOMMw_UMCfJ8shhNhj7O-0cq9Ki86pNu7I4plkXVTDlkRQoGqRZsKImQ5s69l7M0GB83fNUPv3uQ/s400/06-09-2010-London11.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsJj4S6fxS8d-vYr6_skYztInCDajLmY9B4sUdhglJMzFXpcWxH5_dlaqsQU53U2svRE2O8YrQ6O0p-UkZMctpznMNB1cFEDNn7LD3XjqtSxDLN5z0_diC-NPcxNTbaGhF__DaUDl1D2Y/s1600/06-09-2010-London10.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsJj4S6fxS8d-vYr6_skYztInCDajLmY9B4sUdhglJMzFXpcWxH5_dlaqsQU53U2svRE2O8YrQ6O0p-UkZMctpznMNB1cFEDNn7LD3XjqtSxDLN5z0_diC-NPcxNTbaGhF__DaUDl1D2Y/s400/06-09-2010-London10.jpg" /></a><br />After the aquarium, we headed out and got sushi for lunch - appropriate I would say. In case you were curious, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">Cade</span> likes curry rice. Then we headed over the bridge to Big Ben and on to Westminster Abbey. Truly beautiful and hard to believe almost 1000 years old!</div><div style="CLEAR: both" align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglRnFVbhggTTuc9UyIWMssy5-W9PHugFXoqRSCrTg-PGfK4cXPvQanZ_iLJcKe4vqkzPbYr0Mm4wSavRF6DmPK6ORgZpCWZrr9UDEcv7KanpwHKikqK26Vd-q651VaVFpV7KFdC0DdZ9I/s1600/06-09-2010-London15.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 234px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490516742331585666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglRnFVbhggTTuc9UyIWMssy5-W9PHugFXoqRSCrTg-PGfK4cXPvQanZ_iLJcKe4vqkzPbYr0Mm4wSavRF6DmPK6ORgZpCWZrr9UDEcv7KanpwHKikqK26Vd-q651VaVFpV7KFdC0DdZ9I/s400/06-09-2010-London15.jpg" /></a><br />I just can't believe how grown up <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">Cade</span> seems this week. Maybe it's the haircut - I don't know, but he seems to have become a "big boy" right before my eyes.<br /></div><div style="CLEAR: both" align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQEBx4WUkHJH6AzCiggsTa5cNpSLSCUhY5J83XZsattGbFQ4Tb3cuLNN4DQfHsBWdP1ZrFPqVwrhcYadTDhy9wF5T0xgV3_PnK3M8IpJJQL60IkXQ4aGTIDriOjAbOhhHL5HR7cAos2Vo/s1600/06-09-2010-London17.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490516729639200994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQEBx4WUkHJH6AzCiggsTa5cNpSLSCUhY5J83XZsattGbFQ4Tb3cuLNN4DQfHsBWdP1ZrFPqVwrhcYadTDhy9wF5T0xgV3_PnK3M8IpJJQL60IkXQ4aGTIDriOjAbOhhHL5HR7cAos2Vo/s400/06-09-2010-London17.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="CLEAR: both" align="center">They boys are getting closer every day. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">Cade's</span> answer when you ask him who his best friend is is "baby Cole'. Even when prompted to say mommy or daddy, he says "baby". Love. These. Boys.</div><div style="CLEAR: both" align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbaooX-m035MZaDa1cfVOGeE1jbzbOTWAIQ7k1L0EoQy6fzJ6ce_69HPf9skJ7F2tEnMsmVHsZSrY8cdKflADzyZ3yNllP6w16hLBbRWAvdqFo-8ZVGRK1luKNkX_77JWe2EUfQml5cJ0/s1600/06-09-2010-London9.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbaooX-m035MZaDa1cfVOGeE1jbzbOTWAIQ7k1L0EoQy6fzJ6ce_69HPf9skJ7F2tEnMsmVHsZSrY8cdKflADzyZ3yNllP6w16hLBbRWAvdqFo-8ZVGRK1luKNkX_77JWe2EUfQml5cJ0/s400/06-09-2010-London9.jpg" /></a></div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17868823098697868184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3167157513123248250.post-59894781853385062382010-06-28T02:12:00.000-07:002010-06-28T06:39:57.742-07:00Week 4<div align="center">Well - can you believe it? We've been living and London for almost a month now! I believe that summer finally arrived this week and <em>that</em> my friends is wonderful. It's still cool in the mornings (maybe in the 60's) and all this week it was in the mid 70's with the exception of Sunday where I think it reached the low 80's. I have to admit it's a very welcome change to a Texas summer. </div><div align="center">This week started off with one very bad haircut which has since been through at least 3 <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">iterations</span> with mom fixing here and there. I think we are satisfied that it is as good as it's going to get and we are just waiting it out. We also got the news that we have carpet beetles. Don't ask. Just google it. I can't even talk about it. Treatment is $500. I'm waiting for an answer from the agent on if they will cover it. You can imagine my mood. These pictures were after only 1 revision of the hair. </div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_yYZrpgUFMsWD0vFl-yiAYdAkED05EQj90Eo5coZ-EsMBM3F6Cv9dvjOmo5B6NtFw3FD72X04macCyy_CteM1Fbqd7qvV1tnHyEOni3YG1VanAtumetaQJzOUJYQ2A6vy88vN4gDhi6o/s1600/06-09-2010-London1.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_yYZrpgUFMsWD0vFl-yiAYdAkED05EQj90Eo5coZ-EsMBM3F6Cv9dvjOmo5B6NtFw3FD72X04macCyy_CteM1Fbqd7qvV1tnHyEOni3YG1VanAtumetaQJzOUJYQ2A6vy88vN4gDhi6o/s400/06-09-2010-London1.jpg" /></a> </div><div align="center">I was finally able to meet up for a play date with a friend of a friend in Hyde park. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Cade</span> and I both had a great time (Cole mostly slept). It was nice to talk to another mom and get some weekend travel ideas. We hope to be planning a trip to the beach soon.</div><div align="center">I also took <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Cade</span> to his first <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Gymboree</span> class. Not what I was hoping for. I was the only "caregiver" there who spoke English as a first language. C showed little to no interest in the class. He wouldn't participate. He threw a couple mini fits. He just wanted to play on the toys. When it was over, however, he promptly asked if we could go back and "play kids" again. Oh sweet child - you sometimes wear me out.</div><div align="center">We stayed a little closer to home this weekend and visited the Tower of London as well as the Tower Bridge. Most people actually call this the London bridge, but in fact the London bridge is just up the river and completely unremarkable. The Tower bridge is quite beautiful and ornate - makes for much better post cards. Here my friends is your history lesson for the week. Study it - there will be q quiz when I return.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTaQZE0ZHcnrvBtyKxWykq2rtCOpYsgsY2v6MSSZr3Ih7Q_1kPkNYkoLJgCOOFP4jEITl-WWz6Qush_cyyjMb_9bq4R45cVuR6dNRrs_4_8NYQVAohtH8g6ezGCOybiQDXZptxHhyRAv0/s1600/06-09-2010-London2.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTaQZE0ZHcnrvBtyKxWykq2rtCOpYsgsY2v6MSSZr3Ih7Q_1kPkNYkoLJgCOOFP4jEITl-WWz6Qush_cyyjMb_9bq4R45cVuR6dNRrs_4_8NYQVAohtH8g6ezGCOybiQDXZptxHhyRAv0/s400/06-09-2010-London2.jpg" /></a> </div><div align="center">The Tower of London was also fun. Really interesting. Really Really old. We got to see the Crown Jewels. Wow. But this is also where both of our kiddos started to melt down, so we kind of rushed and didn't get to absorb as much info as we could have. Sue me.</div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9sDNgm8NfV4uM-tCVt8_QEu0dqAkOTiCo7Ln80kvOinTotceYkGsRt9zuYh5mVkknYr3dHnvZIqXCKeRKslSTlSBiOzIyYV2HwucRIdQooR4AnkIUW2uAWHR3ipWsAoPJ0MD9_G_swuY/s1600/06-09-2010-London7.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487808891177569170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9sDNgm8NfV4uM-tCVt8_QEu0dqAkOTiCo7Ln80kvOinTotceYkGsRt9zuYh5mVkknYr3dHnvZIqXCKeRKslSTlSBiOzIyYV2HwucRIdQooR4AnkIUW2uAWHR3ipWsAoPJ0MD9_G_swuY/s400/06-09-2010-London7.jpg" /></a></div><div align="center">Saturday night we did our best to make a "home style" meal. We made fajitas and black beans. Not the best we've ever had, but it certainly wasn't bad and it's nice to have something to remind you of home. We also watched the US lose in the world cup. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Boooo</span>.</div><div align="center">Sunday Sunday Sunday. Sunday we went for pancakes (as we have made a habit of doing every weekend morning per <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Cade's</span> request). We headed down to Hyde park...again. It seems like we go there all the time - and we do. It's just so big and there's so much to do and see it's just always a good option. We were planning on going to the Princess Diana memorial playground (you know Di - always for the kiddos), but it wasn't open yet so we headed over to see about <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">paddle boats</span> on the serpentine. Instead, we got sidetracked by our new favorite find - the Princess Diana Memorial fountain. This thing is so cool. It's a fountain/river/<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">play pool</span>/picnic area thingy. Clean, fun, super family friendly, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">Cade</span> had the BEST time. I wasn't sure we'd ever get his to agree to leave. Cole even got to take his shoes off and dip his feet, but it was REALLY cold and he wasn't a huge fan. I'm sure we will spend much more time here in weeks to come.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj16X64oEwV3UJ0r9zmaDSQ8RFilrEKpyWGoTZgc-qpEgaf3PimPNlnTGPRxktdt8veL1TaRt_wo_gNLOgPo4Lo-lRw_UlKy1QzJfdHXmmrighz3epnpW4lase3DUvsps1hezwYdOFsTO8/s1600/06-09-2010-London5.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj16X64oEwV3UJ0r9zmaDSQ8RFilrEKpyWGoTZgc-qpEgaf3PimPNlnTGPRxktdt8veL1TaRt_wo_gNLOgPo4Lo-lRw_UlKy1QzJfdHXmmrighz3epnpW4lase3DUvsps1hezwYdOFsTO8/s400/06-09-2010-London5.jpg" /></a> </div><div align="center">And this little munchkin. I just can't get enough of that sweet face...or the scowl. I kinda like that too. He's a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">roll-y</span> one, this boy. Starting to scoot. Eating me out of house and home. just want to Eat. Him. Up.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEhvpjJYEwJBNfjbh3v767TTg-Tc6GegV7Hny0026TaIR6qy8t_MON716RWutZH-WX__vvjd7YO0T82TEq2MV3Cjx_WIGhAk0AwhNSOlRT-RtB4z6vAomtgd2caUH5hoWJqvYx93PsuaI/s1600/06-09-2010-London6.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEhvpjJYEwJBNfjbh3v767TTg-Tc6GegV7Hny0026TaIR6qy8t_MON716RWutZH-WX__vvjd7YO0T82TEq2MV3Cjx_WIGhAk0AwhNSOlRT-RtB4z6vAomtgd2caUH5hoWJqvYx93PsuaI/s400/06-09-2010-London6.jpg" /></a> </div><div align="center">Not sure about next weekend yet. Maybe the beach? Not sure. But I promise there will be pancakes ;)<br /></div><div style="CLEAR: both" align="center"></div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17868823098697868184noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3167157513123248250.post-19403580985165640512010-06-20T12:31:00.000-07:002010-06-20T13:46:22.312-07:00Week 3<div align="center">Well, let's see. This week was some of the same and some new. The weather was good for most of the week, so we made a couple <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">outings</span> to the park - one with our new sitter Allie. We saw <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kensington</span> Palace<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTAHUgyr00IDQjC4Ub3fhJfpwbWz3T2J7SFzkkz3pa8BXNRP4tQlRv59n2qFXaMFBHuEjhigwozwSWRokjimQLpYwGsMJR7c01tDtzZ2ZLpLonjqTHyTUmxE1f36tSY32cpehvylc5dak/s1600/IMG_0014.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTAHUgyr00IDQjC4Ub3fhJfpwbWz3T2J7SFzkkz3pa8BXNRP4tQlRv59n2qFXaMFBHuEjhigwozwSWRokjimQLpYwGsMJR7c01tDtzZ2ZLpLonjqTHyTUmxE1f36tSY32cpehvylc5dak/s400/IMG_0014.JPG" /></a><br />And lots of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">beautiful</span> flowers.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrrQVLEXy2UNojBybE7EE5p9cUpJNz3h2R8nq3mOC2tD72t_M_U1s2Y90OII0Dd0vvyjLv27-2Vsn22B_6iHkENxliNby8XUsId396WU5Uxp1TMSISLx1c6wbdZhhZDyBo2g0AC8AvosY/s1600/IMG_0032-1.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrrQVLEXy2UNojBybE7EE5p9cUpJNz3h2R8nq3mOC2tD72t_M_U1s2Y90OII0Dd0vvyjLv27-2Vsn22B_6iHkENxliNby8XUsId396WU5Uxp1TMSISLx1c6wbdZhhZDyBo2g0AC8AvosY/s400/IMG_0032-1.JPG" /></a><br />Thursday I took the boys to the Natural History Museum. Cole did his normal thing and slept a majority of the time. That could have to do with the fact that I schedule most events like this during his <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">nap time</span> as to minimize my chances of being out numbered in a "cranky" situation.<br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Cade</span> and I enjoyed much (but certainly not all) of the fun finds here. He loved the animals, but kept asking to go back to the zoo - Guess we need to work on some concepts here.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoqosRSwqnuHVj04gH6rIU_RXQupLXzJcjrZBrbZ9-VawYXg3UchlC2JWzhBmolr0b3p_U0Eyf1hx7EG24x5G8igIxYcv1WONCkEBzfOSGYNQbg4unM-yM41e6Z_9NSLvHYuIQTEl15Xk/s1600/IMG_0056.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoqosRSwqnuHVj04gH6rIU_RXQupLXzJcjrZBrbZ9-VawYXg3UchlC2JWzhBmolr0b3p_U0Eyf1hx7EG24x5G8igIxYcv1WONCkEBzfOSGYNQbg4unM-yM41e6Z_9NSLvHYuIQTEl15Xk/s400/IMG_0056.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjOd9px2uptfh-A9MtyWL2MINU9hMuA0t2CieL-ovgHkOjfGkvyTLwLFIpGeeH3pbRVcHCQ_P45LZGSXbJiDzLDmtxXD7zlDkXUQbaheGl4LD46BrbQb1G4OIT9471qzXf9sxRu1RrgeQ/s1600/IMG_0068-2.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjOd9px2uptfh-A9MtyWL2MINU9hMuA0t2CieL-ovgHkOjfGkvyTLwLFIpGeeH3pbRVcHCQ_P45LZGSXbJiDzLDmtxXD7zlDkXUQbaheGl4LD46BrbQb1G4OIT9471qzXf9sxRu1RrgeQ/s400/IMG_0068-2.JPG" /></a><br />When we got home, we discovered that our baby Cole has not one, but tow new teeth!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW6_oFgrFokgRI7i-SDrD70IyydhhVydm_Uw8CvTtLy4D2HM_Ezy2IQqp5LS8pUpWJhV-1dQaV4kADhAdY5953Bl5MLE1D_7crGReealobN9rAmuVx7WFs5QvJrQopnbErfh5NS-3JNf0/s1600/IMG_0003.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484947578790250194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW6_oFgrFokgRI7i-SDrD70IyydhhVydm_Uw8CvTtLy4D2HM_Ezy2IQqp5LS8pUpWJhV-1dQaV4kADhAdY5953Bl5MLE1D_7crGReealobN9rAmuVx7WFs5QvJrQopnbErfh5NS-3JNf0/s400/IMG_0003.JPG" /></a> </div><div align="center">Friday night was also eventful, but NOT in a good way. Friday I walked down to our bedroom just in time to see a mouse scurry behind the radiator. What? Um...Steve...head to the store. Do something - fix it - I don't care what! So Steve headed out at 10:15pm and came back with the only thing they had...so now there is a bowl of poison sitting on the floor...seems safe enough with two little one don't ya think? UGH!</div><div align="center"> </div><div style="CLEAR: both" align="center">Saturday we headed out on another train trip. I'm growing quite fond of them to be honest with you. We headed to Bath.</div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyi5yvUZVyZqWU8OJAxaRD7dfIv6KqW267s56HhagHrSZtB2VQQIRBmwlqxu7zF2td7927eUk3rQMJwnyXpTfb1LJatqlyKK1x8INz4sh20c-ytv6S0i0uOe6Sfv90xh0u8mK_qAfqyaU/s1600/IMG_0019-2.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484947590596208610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyi5yvUZVyZqWU8OJAxaRD7dfIv6KqW267s56HhagHrSZtB2VQQIRBmwlqxu7zF2td7927eUk3rQMJwnyXpTfb1LJatqlyKK1x8INz4sh20c-ytv6S0i0uOe6Sfv90xh0u8mK_qAfqyaU/s400/IMG_0019-2.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center">We of course saw the Roman Baths - which were amazing.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmAD3A4515QsDuIpt7GdSWn7RxwRCIbCMSaXQEQ8Q0Qjn64LhIKqkDdUFlCQJtWeMYbx8xBG4eLxtTE0nv0zDqAfUeaEl9AZ8-VnjYtfKiISl4ljMCRi5BEH4LJyIh2d76eoV_5Ja0PtE/s1600/IMG_0050-1.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 267px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484947606392783394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmAD3A4515QsDuIpt7GdSWn7RxwRCIbCMSaXQEQ8Q0Qjn64LhIKqkDdUFlCQJtWeMYbx8xBG4eLxtTE0nv0zDqAfUeaEl9AZ8-VnjYtfKiISl4ljMCRi5BEH4LJyIh2d76eoV_5Ja0PtE/s400/IMG_0050-1.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdKxWWaMVJqtI1vqqUDfSlVg-bHeVg5Wy86NdUE4lF414L90dyauS-HWwd4y77FES6VLNFuk_Zsax9_EQi4n2Ggtsb7KoTXiVW95UqDcP5xXAIHQw8XsXtHITH0PrNPM5bihm_8PSGqbg/s1600/IMG_0070-1.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484947637650201122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdKxWWaMVJqtI1vqqUDfSlVg-bHeVg5Wy86NdUE4lF414L90dyauS-HWwd4y77FES6VLNFuk_Zsax9_EQi4n2Ggtsb7KoTXiVW95UqDcP5xXAIHQw8XsXtHITH0PrNPM5bihm_8PSGqbg/s400/IMG_0070-1.JPG" /></a><br />We also saw the fashion museum which was a display of over 400 years of fashion. Very cool.</div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Pvm0nJTUnxvyQnt9Sy0S7vbeykBLHlC2YoteGpHkRQyVWGL0RhfLP2bfG61KUWOGXaOrY_D3F_sBnAJh_4kn4gLikas5KnyHR2vBuFN6tYV2GhfQMjn9szxVPNs5reFtSYj17xhBjBc/s1600/IMG_0080-1.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484947654971561762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Pvm0nJTUnxvyQnt9Sy0S7vbeykBLHlC2YoteGpHkRQyVWGL0RhfLP2bfG61KUWOGXaOrY_D3F_sBnAJh_4kn4gLikas5KnyHR2vBuFN6tYV2GhfQMjn9szxVPNs5reFtSYj17xhBjBc/s400/IMG_0080-1.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center">We saw the Royal Crescent - beautiful and fairly spectacular.</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz-n0eDbe013VJwhO1AHZIMjlE4rHi42663gFsXBaPxWkz5V1GTpBcGExbseoumgMV9MFK_dIC7DBFFkgzvtVVk570D92unsQNxJLX0mFhIxZp3IPJUoq-41b4yhFZwFXyu01C8wmTWpU/s1600/IMG_0115-1.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484954948441525074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz-n0eDbe013VJwhO1AHZIMjlE4rHi42663gFsXBaPxWkz5V1GTpBcGExbseoumgMV9MFK_dIC7DBFFkgzvtVVk570D92unsQNxJLX0mFhIxZp3IPJUoq-41b4yhFZwFXyu01C8wmTWpU/s400/IMG_0115-1.JPG" /></a></p><p align="center">Bath Abbey<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYGSP7FnMctyGc1NnL6PZ0Bv2ZevNgAFnEPwcjq4UR18y7jdGyLBTQ49KTDdu6bI29TPxERsJm3EQMPq3r4FRASnWj_t4R_48J2XwXEL9vZoEXouIzeFYiS8_ZZ_pSDEsupi6Pj6FsyxA/s1600/IMG_0027-1.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 267px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484954928383619970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYGSP7FnMctyGc1NnL6PZ0Bv2ZevNgAFnEPwcjq4UR18y7jdGyLBTQ49KTDdu6bI29TPxERsJm3EQMPq3r4FRASnWj_t4R_48J2XwXEL9vZoEXouIzeFYiS8_ZZ_pSDEsupi6Pj6FsyxA/s400/IMG_0027-1.JPG" /></a></p><div align="center"> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Beazer</span> Maze</div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVH8LN9X_uDczTEmXYFPbLnNmrKU5WonzQaXEu0Yjfd7ehoY_Wc-EJy4_7621tumwtJuvFjyIKWFtrvqEQO8iKDjMiWI0MtWwIVwtdJmLaF7vasD0Pjl8-71b-4inavbStBLpk5U_UvbQ/s1600/IMG_0031-3.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484954896817584290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVH8LN9X_uDczTEmXYFPbLnNmrKU5WonzQaXEu0Yjfd7ehoY_Wc-EJy4_7621tumwtJuvFjyIKWFtrvqEQO8iKDjMiWI0MtWwIVwtdJmLaF7vasD0Pjl8-71b-4inavbStBLpk5U_UvbQ/s400/IMG_0031-3.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Pulteney</span> Bridge and the river boat tour<br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoS17j8z70r1g3Vop3mqnbgYL3grZgutNapVlJQhedYUBQdh3wtXoR79Ui9ShbqGu8pmgGYEVvm0FiHaGW2O-F1aeLHFKGFD5K_DrTUEUHawBBKaE1fa2eVL6M-DbQ20v9CwkgBiXcWdU/s1600/IMG_0001-2.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484954886891697234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoS17j8z70r1g3Vop3mqnbgYL3grZgutNapVlJQhedYUBQdh3wtXoR79Ui9ShbqGu8pmgGYEVvm0FiHaGW2O-F1aeLHFKGFD5K_DrTUEUHawBBKaE1fa2eVL6M-DbQ20v9CwkgBiXcWdU/s400/IMG_0001-2.JPG" /></a></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWlfIsWwhLnfHq5TOo9CzxqswR_ymRIndsX77V4DmoEpGk77aHqhlxbQVt2NQ8hTrlJ3A4Il4AePCwOSaMXtohKTfDzLl3vy2VCCRIqhbENJybtlVKNPhJa4zLNNPKV9SuHLhB3blRtZ4/s1600/IMG_0028-3.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484954873741787730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWlfIsWwhLnfHq5TOo9CzxqswR_ymRIndsX77V4DmoEpGk77aHqhlxbQVt2NQ8hTrlJ3A4Il4AePCwOSaMXtohKTfDzLl3vy2VCCRIqhbENJybtlVKNPhJa4zLNNPKV9SuHLhB3blRtZ4/s400/IMG_0028-3.JPG" /></a></p><div align="center">We also enjoyed much more that what you will see in the pictures. Bath is a small town, but really, really charming and beautiful. It's super easy to get around with lots to see. Shops all around, good food and treats. Entertainers in the streets. Very, very fun.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">We are very thankful for our time together as a family on the weekends and feel lucky that we get to do things we would never have done otherwise. We are becoming quite seasoned at getting around with the boys and are getting use to walking everywhere.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">We are still aching for home. Anxious for our own comfortable surrounding and our "real lives" back. The week days are harder, longer and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">lonelier</span> than the weekends. We look forward to family and friends visiting in July and August. Miss you all and hope to see your faces soon.<br /></div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17868823098697868184noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3167157513123248250.post-38707030020398028342010-06-14T01:45:00.001-07:002010-06-14T02:46:22.405-07:00Week 2<div align="center">So this week, there's no great need to go day by day. As anticipated, this week was much M-U-C-H slower than last week. Most of the settling in has passed and now we are onto more day to day activities. I'm doing some searching for a play group or friends of some sort. I haven't had a ton of luck yet, but I'm still working on it. I did get a recommendation for a babysitter from a friend of a friend and I'm VERY excited to say that Allie will be helping us out a few evenings a week. Steve has been working pretty late leaving the witching hour, dinner, baths and bed all in my court. Having Allie will make for a much less stressful night.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">This week it rained a lot. It's not like Texas rain - Git 'er done kinda rain. You know, where it pours for a while then you can move on with your life. Nope, this just comes and settles in for a few days. Kind of like a comic strip where that black cloud just hangs over your head and rains on you. Except here it's drizzle. Not enough to require an <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">umbrella</span> all the time even. Just enough to make you stay in and wish you had bought more cookies.</div><p align="center">So, 5 straight days of...whatever this rain is and the boys (and their mama) hardly made it out except for a few quick trips to the store. Finally Friday we said forget it and headed out in the gray mess for an afternoon at the park. There is a fantastic playground at Hyde park - complete with the largest beach/sandbox area you've ever seen at a park, lots of fun play stuff and even a huge ship! I would have taken pictures, but due to the weather, I left the camera at home, so I'll have to post later. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Cade</span> opted to swing for about 45 minutes straight which was perfect with me. I don't really dig sand anyway - so messy! Oh, and we were practically carried off by the birds wanting our sandwiches. One even landed on <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Cade's</span> leg and tried to take it right out of his hand. Needless to say, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Cade</span> isn't a huge fan of birds anymore. All the way home he said "mommy, birds scary" Indeed <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Cade</span>, Indeed.</p><p align="center">Saturday was our big adventure for the week. We got up early for a pancake breakfast courtesy of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">McD's</span>, then headed to the airport via the "<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Heathrow</span> Express". It's the rather pricey new train that gets you to the airport in a little <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">cushier</span> style in 1/2 the time. There was no one on the train at 8:40 when we left, so they put us in "first class". Nice.</p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfa0zByPOGNOVTK-IX0WaRY1qCRbwYlbXSxbyW6IDEUbz0nQJ-kUu5AfQ_QmZzA298H3unucwP4nOtL6fg-ednTVu8j0WmW8972XIXXeawWYDdf9B09XlrkH0DJ-ZoyCRDnuCQrIdqdI/s1600/IMG_0016.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482554114285172642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfa0zByPOGNOVTK-IX0WaRY1qCRbwYlbXSxbyW6IDEUbz0nQJ-kUu5AfQ_QmZzA298H3unucwP4nOtL6fg-ednTVu8j0WmW8972XIXXeawWYDdf9B09XlrkH0DJ-ZoyCRDnuCQrIdqdI/s400/IMG_0016.JPG" /></a></p><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCfj7d7oI9Fwg8RX4-V4AE6hwyHGO7Y87HhmNkcIHTc8sSiYiJZlRG7BG_cBksKy7gD_wmcmpgQd-1JJ51LwywWzaAW_5Idke_H7fBO0dmvXpfdvdIqQoZr-sUJIOxvz1Eo3FJljYOc8w/s1600/IMG_0027.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482554123759866434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCfj7d7oI9Fwg8RX4-V4AE6hwyHGO7Y87HhmNkcIHTc8sSiYiJZlRG7BG_cBksKy7gD_wmcmpgQd-1JJ51LwywWzaAW_5Idke_H7fBO0dmvXpfdvdIqQoZr-sUJIOxvz1Eo3FJljYOc8w/s400/IMG_0027.JPG" /></a><br /></div><div align="center">Next, we catch a shuttle to the car rental place. Isn't it always the case that 3 hertz shuttles pass before 1 <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">alamo</span>? Guess which we rented from. So we get there and the line is HUGE and not moving at all. We ended up spending an hour waiting for our car (so much for my master planned schedule). </div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVrlGNyZqOPHj8TzLEDpuIVXQ9jZ6Tpa9gveeeuPTTJCiWk37wGklAbZA8X7HI5tsfNN3wnb5nh-Ax3YeiGUs97xEkTjIOK4r47wwl_VKp9fROilGX66HRlLtwAslJsZsa0vDksCthOBk/s1600/IMG_0028.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482554131844225346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVrlGNyZqOPHj8TzLEDpuIVXQ9jZ6Tpa9gveeeuPTTJCiWk37wGklAbZA8X7HI5tsfNN3wnb5nh-Ax3YeiGUs97xEkTjIOK4r47wwl_VKp9fROilGX66HRlLtwAslJsZsa0vDksCthOBk/s400/IMG_0028.JPG" /></a><br /><br />So finally at 10:35am, we get everyone strapped in and begin the adventure. If you know me, then you know about 2 minutes in to this road trip, my armpits started itching. I've never been so nervous in a car in my life. But Steve did great (only hit the curb a few times) and we are all still in one piece!</p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-OinyXKPdqdgyzyquULndjVul8OnuyGKrZirTKmiUYuApWJIsI-pqdN273-wpS6MtCYs5itRDVOwrem5iZFvnNTs_v1IzciTSSc-93BYy8J02uRw5cqpKOMbAUbCpMe_ZuE__meLdXZo/s1600/IMG_0030.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482554135604925602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-OinyXKPdqdgyzyquULndjVul8OnuyGKrZirTKmiUYuApWJIsI-pqdN273-wpS6MtCYs5itRDVOwrem5iZFvnNTs_v1IzciTSSc-93BYy8J02uRw5cqpKOMbAUbCpMe_ZuE__meLdXZo/s400/IMG_0030.JPG" /></a><br />So off to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Stonehenge</span> we go. It took about an hour and 45 minutes. Lots of highway, but some scenic English roads too. A fun drive. Really pretty. Unfortunately, all of my pictures are through a car window, but you get the idea.</p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWzlaC56MRrS-S_a_yCAWDZ9qUqEfyaz5pBVgcFxu2z5fnhCSr2AiiIsx6f4Wy0KqoRUSnbSfmhdVvUafY2SE8OzkA0kplJcXJWAunjodk32l9VySX4JbupWmToXL7juNudo1TKUA6q-0/s1600/IMG_0038.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482558252850920738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWzlaC56MRrS-S_a_yCAWDZ9qUqEfyaz5pBVgcFxu2z5fnhCSr2AiiIsx6f4Wy0KqoRUSnbSfmhdVvUafY2SE8OzkA0kplJcXJWAunjodk32l9VySX4JbupWmToXL7juNudo1TKUA6q-0/s320/IMG_0038.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkiKExkjb3_yEj2fyzv1XMQVk3NP2_IVioBHsS-pyul8WUHU7YNQFZXD-j1igB6LsE_U4qty6ICFFanuLxvX24MpF4yg5ggmeS8yOi-6HDVn23szP68cxk5AL1ZR6w8hTT7ssdBfEZ2jI/s1600/IMG_0041.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482558239616917522" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkiKExkjb3_yEj2fyzv1XMQVk3NP2_IVioBHsS-pyul8WUHU7YNQFZXD-j1igB6LsE_U4qty6ICFFanuLxvX24MpF4yg5ggmeS8yOi-6HDVn23szP68cxk5AL1ZR6w8hTT7ssdBfEZ2jI/s320/IMG_0041.JPG" /></a><br /><br />We got to Stonehenge around noon. There's simply not a ton to say about the rocks themselves. They're rocks. Big ones. Cool to think about and hypothesize on how and why they are there. But still. Rocks.</p><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdMAXXW7TWrsyB0bAbvw01kumLHXHUDIzmMly-jo1lYgtM-ZDAqhuaN8y0ayT68kRwj4T4ITMje6PofcQeDnUPeLcTRu7IQbYa-gdDkbxVFw1lSVbMY8NTrMIv831qStUV31ziB-Sznbc/s1600/IMG_0090.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482558265075381202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdMAXXW7TWrsyB0bAbvw01kumLHXHUDIzmMly-jo1lYgtM-ZDAqhuaN8y0ayT68kRwj4T4ITMje6PofcQeDnUPeLcTRu7IQbYa-gdDkbxVFw1lSVbMY8NTrMIv831qStUV31ziB-Sznbc/s320/IMG_0090.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixibd835TFzD6o_HGgLfv_K_fiNv1MXxzbKirqbuN7BcV0emLTPBkduZzpRKIVzTorvsfvQHRn4mCZ1bU8GWuaGS8WDeEyl1M-Nre1bunfVEdjVQyibnH85SxQzaIKt1-3aRb5RYAQ09I/s1600/IMG_0103.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482558259670943922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixibd835TFzD6o_HGgLfv_K_fiNv1MXxzbKirqbuN7BcV0emLTPBkduZzpRKIVzTorvsfvQHRn4mCZ1bU8GWuaGS8WDeEyl1M-Nre1bunfVEdjVQyibnH85SxQzaIKt1-3aRb5RYAQ09I/s320/IMG_0103.JPG" /></a><br /></div><div align="center">The flying/attacking beetles however...now I have A LOT to say about those. I mean - what the? They were everywhere. You couldn't escape them. They were all over our clothes. In our hair. On the babies. Horrifying. I just. I'm glad it's over (the bugs I mean). </div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">We decided to add a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">way point</span> on our trip back to the airport. Windsor Castle. Unfortunately, our GPS can't read signs - like the one on the street it told us to turn on that says "no motor vehicles". So we could never figure out how to get "to" the castle. Just this pic from a distance will have to suffice.</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-_hNEY6yQCz46zBETjgJSQypg5lslXZU47_yeJxyXOSzEsKgAYxMUSUTcXDFJ4Ulfpi4jfLYiMfMtW3-1illuJpyveSrM5tUUkWPdo5RLmMetApp5ibh7BE1L4FV4wtmtM7y087DcdO8/s1600/IMG_0115.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482560800067941538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-_hNEY6yQCz46zBETjgJSQypg5lslXZU47_yeJxyXOSzEsKgAYxMUSUTcXDFJ4Ulfpi4jfLYiMfMtW3-1illuJpyveSrM5tUUkWPdo5RLmMetApp5ibh7BE1L4FV4wtmtM7y087DcdO8/s400/IMG_0115.JPG" /></a><br /><br /></div><div align="center">We made it home about 4:30. Took short naps, dinner then bed. Allie came to babysit and Steve and I enjoyed our first night out....possibly ever since C2 was born. We went to a pub to watch the world cup - US vs England. It was utterly uneventful. The game ended in a tie. The food was mediocre at best. And we enjoyed every minute of it.</div><div align="center"><br />Sunday we trekked to Oxford street. Whew - what a busy place. Too much shopping even for me, so you can imagine what Steve felt like. I'm not sure, but one time I think I <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">caught</span> him trying to jam a fork in his eye to alleviate some of the pain. And by the way - if anyone who was part of the design of the London tube system is reading this blog - I have some serious bones to pick with you! Really London? Really? Even your stations with lifts (which are NOT MANY) have stairs too. It's impossible to travel with a stroller if you are by yourself. What about wheelchairs <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">London</span>? <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error">Crimmany</span>.</div><div align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz3PCLxuNS95-hAjmEiWQNHxIsZN7LB0tY-z6I9Bzkw8reJGNKOqvG3jkgFLJGwzU6uhBS4dnw2c89Wv7ih3hNEuXZDZ6KNCLY7xZ5fgdEn1DE7OditD9Y8CSW9q2ojXAiAigoa1YIpCE/s1600/IMG_0120.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482560814072373266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz3PCLxuNS95-hAjmEiWQNHxIsZN7LB0tY-z6I9Bzkw8reJGNKOqvG3jkgFLJGwzU6uhBS4dnw2c89Wv7ih3hNEuXZDZ6KNCLY7xZ5fgdEn1DE7OditD9Y8CSW9q2ojXAiAigoa1YIpCE/s400/IMG_0120.JPG" /></a><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz5VfKLhoJpsOjjV13slSBitP8f8qgzPoUdvvr3m_30rj7_wmYt9fwra_vHvWFV4PKlFXvMDkUKYh2rSh6lqqtLz6ATRl74Pf8nfectRHIkR7zmGNFRWQ14Y7KHdaUF2DkMQvTkMMho28/s1600/IMG_0118.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482560812116481506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz5VfKLhoJpsOjjV13slSBitP8f8qgzPoUdvvr3m_30rj7_wmYt9fwra_vHvWFV4PKlFXvMDkUKYh2rSh6lqqtLz6ATRl74Pf8nfectRHIkR7zmGNFRWQ14Y7KHdaUF2DkMQvTkMMho28/s400/IMG_0118.JPG" /></a><br /><br /></div><div align="center">So all in all, another great weekend. We'll see what this week has to bring. Cheers!</div>Mollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17868823098697868184noreply@blogger.com1