Saturday in London with Friends

We were invited to a proper British football game, West Hammersmith and Colchester United.   We took an express train about 45 minutes out of London to get to our friends house...on the way we passed the Olympic stadium which was exciting.    The football game turned out to be a pre season game so things were not at full steam in soccer terms.  Brad and Jackson had fun none the less while Abigail and I went to town with the ladies and the other kids.

After the game and shopping our hosts, Phillapa and Glenn had everyone over for a cook out.  She even had frango mints from her resent trip to Chicago.

                                      Phillapa and her mum... so cute and charming in that British way.

I had to take this picture as we arrived back in the King's Wardrobe...it was just so magical and a great neighborhood to be a part of for our 2 weeks.

Abigail and Chloe....so cute...fast friends!!  Notice the cat puppet...looks a little like Minou doesn't it???

The Last Days of London

Our last day together in London found us at a cool British pub in need of fish and chips and a big burger we shared.  I had wine with lunch...I must have had France on my mind!  The mural out the window was really cool and drew a lot of people to photograph it.

 We headed to the British Museum to take in a little history...we tried out the head set guides and they were amazing.  They had special ones for kids that included interactive games on the  I touch and a cute alien guy that led the tour.  It was short too...so we hit Egypt, Greece, and a little of Native America.

 After the museum we headed to Russell Square and played soccer.  The grounds were a bit wet and the flowers were gorgeous.

                                      We found another mascot decked out as a phone booth!

                       A view off the bus on our way back to our apartment...I miss this street already.

Block Party 2012....we will miss you!!!

Boo...missing our famous block party kinds stinks!!!  Here's to my girls...hope you win Bocce!!!  Have you been practicing?  And can you believe my sister is there to take my place in the festivities?  Oh well...we are off the country...Brad and the kids are going to a football game and I get to spend the day with some girls...ahhhh some adult time is much needed after camp London!!!  Have a great day 800 Clinton...we miss you!!!!

Camp London...the Last Days

Wednesday found us tired and a bit listless.  After hanging out at the apartment till early afternoon we headed out for Art Day...The Tate Modern...only a 10 minute walk across the Millennium bridge just 2 blocks away.  The kids were not into this at all but I kept at it and we made the most of it.

 Damien Hirst exhibit was ticketed so we didn't go...but I am a fan...he's the one that put animals in formaldehyde filled tanks...they had a great white shark and one of the sheep here.  This is one of his pieces...there is also the model with the fetus out there somewhere.

 We spent our time wandering the Surrealism galleries...Abigail studied Dali last year.

 2 views from the balcony where we had lunch.  This is the Millennium bridge.  When Brad and I were here for our honeymoon this was not open yet...there were some technical probe back then...now it is a really awesome walking bridge lit up at night with blue lights lining it.

I discreetly snapped this picture of these shoes...spotted in the book store...how crazy cute are these?


Thursday morning we were out and about at 9:00 AM!!!  We met Brad's good friend from back in his London days..Jamil and his wife Lou and there little girls Jamilla (2) and new born Giselle (4 weeks).  It was great to finally meet these 2, both very up and coming artists.  We spent the morning touring St. Paul's cathedral.

 THere was a whispering gallery 300 steps up...then another 100+ to the outside balcony area...this is the view.

 You can't take pics in the cathedral but I snapped this one anyway.

 Jackson and Abigail did the audio tour with us...it was incredible...all on an I touch with music, games and pictures to guide you around.  Have you done these kinds of tours with your kids?  I wasn't sure about them but they have really catered them to kids.  The first one we tried was at the Tower.  That was OK for Jackson and held Abigail's attention for about an hour.  I'm hoping Paris has caught onto this model of audio tour.


We spent the afternoon in our "cabins"...we needed a day of rest...and J wasn't feeling well.  By 7:00 we needed some exercise so we headed over the bridge to the Tate's green space and kicked the soccer ball around.  It was a beautiful night...and this guy played awesome spanish guitar...it felt like it was just for me!

Camp London and I am the Counselor!

I gotta say my camp counseling days are long gone, so managing Camp London this week has been a challenge.  We arrived back to London late Sunday night.  Monday found us back at our routine.  Breakfast, a little TV or computer, and math work.  Then I get ready and the kiddos get ready and we are out the door...what? It's 11:30??? 12:00???  So by the time we get to our destination we are famished and begin with lunch...all good, but by 3 we are exhausted.  What is going on?  By Thursday we just needed a day to chill out and do nothing.  And of course London decided that this was the day to be sunny and brilliant out!!!  Oh well...we made the most of it with an after dinner walk and soccer in the Tate Modern's green space surrounded by a birch tree forest...so below you will find what we have been doing these past 4 days...at Camp London.

The Natural History Museum...you know the place where Darwin got famous.  Very well done and one of the best kids areas I have been to in a museum...next to the Field that is.  Thats Jackson doing a rubbing of a python skin that was confiscated at Heathrow Airport...why my kids asked!!!!  This was also the first day we rode the tube...very easy and fast!



Tuesday found us on the Thames...a boat trip that the kids had little interest in...oh well.  We headed to Greenwich which I thought would be a good idea...it was a fairly nice day out and I thought we could hit the park...Wrong...Olympic Equestrians have taken over the whole place and not even the play ground was available.

So the day was not a loss...Jackson got a haircut from a proper barber!!!  I got the massive giggles when the clippers came out and a ton of hair was cut off...it looks sooooo good!!!!

The Cutty Sark restored and can be toured...we just played on the fountain steps instead.

Jackson still not showing us his hair!!!

A cool view of the Tower Bridge on our way back.

These are the Olympic mascots, Mandeville and Wenlock (one is for the paraolympics...not sure which one).  As if overnight they are everywhere.  These were by Brad's office.  We visited his that night.

Jackson...before his haircut!

Computer is acting up so I'll finish the rest of Camp London tomorrow.  Please let me know if you are reading along with us!  We would love to hear from you and fill us in on how you are doing.  And thanks to you guys out there who have been commenting it really means a lot to me and the kids to read those comments!!!  Miss you guys xoxo