Have we been on the Piccadilly line before?

The boys & I are off of school this week. Its a beautiful little thing called half-term! We've been busy with three different play dates which have included a sleep-over, swimming, exploring the nearby woods and building forts. Yesterday we took a break from friends and decided to go see one of the many great museums in London, the Science Museum. We had a blast exploring the space gallery, watching an Imax film about water reptiles of the dinosaur era, learning about climate change, recycling, and many, many more. The highlight of the museum was definitely the Launch Pad gallery, which was hands on science. Owen said a few times 'I really like this place, Mom!'

After 5 hours in the museum we decided it was time to get some food...so we hopped the Piccadilly line to Leicester Square and found CHIPOTLE!!! There are 3 in London, we went to one once when my parents were visiting, and were so happy to go again yesterday. We then caught a double decker to Victoria Station and headed home.

Owen's eyes get big when we are out exploring. I see him trying to understand the tube & map and I get so excited as I love this stuff, too. As we figured out how we were going to get from the museum to dinner, he asked me 'Have we been on the Piccadilly line before?' When I told him we hadn't, he smiled...which I interpret as being excited to explore somewhere new. Oh I do love that boy.

Standing a few feet from Walter & Mom...gaining a bit of independence & confidence...

Wow, that's really big!

My wonderful husband and the boys' super dad is 37! His birthday was Wednesday and there was much anticipation leading up to the big day. Walter and I were scooting home Tuesday after school while Owen was at chess club and he asked me 'how old will Dad be again?' When I told him 37, he said 'Wow, that's really big!'

Tuesday evening the boys and I made a cake and frosting, made our cards and found some wrapping fabric for his present. We woke him up with lots of hugs and kisses on Wednesday morning and made plans to pick him up from the station to go out for his favorite - Indian.

All was going as planned and we were happily celebrating Jeremy until we sat down to dinner and I ate my first popadom. I realized the headache I'd had wasn't just from adjusting to my new job but it was that I was about to get really, really sick. We made it through dinner, impressed by Owen's new interest in trying new foods (even the waiter commented on him eating the spicy masala), and headed home. We managed to sing, the boys all enjoyed the cake and present opening, and Jer tucked the boys into bed...just in time to start caring for and cleaning up after me. I won't go into the details, but his efforts were heroic and I'm just standing up for the first time since Wednesday evening now, 40 hours later.

I think he deserves a mulligan on this birthday.

Yes, let's go sledging!

On Monday there was a light dusting of snow when we woke up. The boys ran out in their bare feet & pj's and threw a few snow balls at one another. They then each put a snow ball in the freezer to save and the snow in our yard was pretty much gone.

On Friday, we got real snow. Enough that Walter got double play time at school on Friday and Owen spent the afternoon at a park playing in it, both followed by hot cocoa with their classmates. Enough that I went to 5 stores before I could find any sort of sled. Enough that it took Jer 2.5 hours to get home by train. Enough that the buses were warning of major delays, the airports had major delays, and cars were getting stuck all over. It was about 3 inches of snow! :)

Of course, when I picked the boys up from school I asked if they'd like to go sledding and Walter replied 'Yes, let's go sledging!' So off to Hove Park we went to sledge...or sled.

Yesterday the snow was still on the ground so we went up near Devil's Dyke and went sledding again, this time with the Mates' family. Jeremy works with Dave...Lesley has been so welcoming and kind to us...and Adam is the boys' favorite babysitter ever. We feel so lucky to have them in our lives and were able to show them our appreciation with a few snow ball fights!

Boo, hoo, hoo.

Some days its just plain difficult to be living on another continent, far from home. Today is one of them. I dropped my parents off at the airport this morning and my eyes are a bit red still. We had such a nice time with them, they are easy to have around and the boys are quite fond of them. Add to that that my best friend is having surgery tomorrow, Jer's childhood friend's wife is dying of cancer and Jer's grandpa is recovering from a stroke, and it is hard not to question what we are doing here. That's when its time to embrace the challenge and focus on all the good that is around us. I stopped by Jer's office on the way home from the airport and we had lunch together. As we were talking about it all, I realized how great it is to have him in my life (a daily revelation!) and how wonderful this experience is for our family. We are all much closer already, we have found some really kind people who enhance our lives here and how great is it to expose ourselves and two little sweet peas to the world?!

On that note, here's a peak into the second half of our time with Grandma & Grandpa Harala here.

We spent a very full day in London. In addition to the main sights, we rode the Eye, sang London Bridge on London Bridge, and saw Yoda levitating. We rode the train, the tube, a double decker and walked and walked some more. The boys got spoiled in Hamley's and we topped it all of with a trip to Chipotle!

We also spent a few nights in Windsor exploring the Castle, scootering around, feeding swans, and swimming for hours and hours in the pool.

Hove was a nice refuge in between all the coming and going. Although the bustle didn't stop here as the boys were always eager to go explore the woods with Grandma & Grandpa, play games and create one thing or another.

G'day mate!

My dad has a terrible English accent that he loves to try a little too loudly in public. His favorite phrase seems to be 'G'day mate!' He sounds Australian at best and sometimes a bit Scottish. Thankfully I am not 15 anymore or I would be consistently red checked these past few days! :)

I am happy to report Santa found our new home in Hove. The boys were spoiled with all sorts of fun toys, books and games. More importantly, we've been spoiled with lots of fun time and experiences with my mom and dad here. Jer & I have snuck in a few movie dates, we've played all sorts of family games, there have been lego building extravaganzas and many explorations into the great woods a few blocks away.

Christmas Day walk on the beach!

We also took a little holiday to Bath (with a pitstop at Stonehenge!), where we explored the Roman Baths, experienced our first panto at the Royale Theatre (Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs), the boys and my parents did a Halk Walk and we wandered the beautiful city of Bath. Unfortunately, my dad and Owen got rather ill by our last day there and we decided to come home instead of continuing on to Windsor. Luckily, we were able to reschedule our hotel in Windsor and will be heading there on Friday.

Last night my mom and the boys decorated and prepped the house for a low-key New Year's Eve party (while Jer & I went to SkyFall and my dad snoozed) and we all enjoyed a night of games and appetizers. As many are yet on the mend, we were all fast asleep by 10pm...but did wake up to neighborhood fireworks as the new year came in!

Today we kicked off the New Year with a walk in the Downs at Birling Gap followed by a pub lunch. How English are we?! Happy New Year!

I just can't wait until tomorrow.

My parents are here! They arrived Wednesday afternoon and we've been busy exploring, playing games and having fun since. Before they arrived, the boys had a countdown until they came. Now that they are here (& the gifts under the tree have expanded drastically) they are anxiously waiting for Christmas Eve. This phrase came out of Walter's mouth numerous times today.

Thursday was a big day for both boys as they both starred in their school plays. Walter was a donkey in the Nativity play, while Owen was 'Bubbles' in 'Bubbles the Overgrown Penguin' (a play he & his classmates wrote, directed & made their costumes for!). Although it was at times hard to hear over the excited children, we left so proud of them! If you'd like to watch them, you can click here.

On Friday, we enjoyed the sun and went for a walk in Devil's Dyke. The boys decided that we should climb up the steepest ridge they could find instead of taking the gradual path back up...and they ran up and patiently waited for my mom & I to slowly catch up. We then made our way to the Bluebell Railway for a Victorian Christmas experience. We enjoyed a lovely steam engine ride through the country, played some fair games and even got to visit Father Christmas.

Saturday we enjoyed the rain and stayed in to bake cookies and put together a gingerbread train. Today, we went to see the Lost & Found Orchestra here in Brighton, followed by dinner at the boys' favorite restaurant, Donatello's. I'd say the trip/Christmas vacation is off to a great start!

Merry Christmas!!!

That was bloody huge!

We went to a magic show up at Jer's golf club this weekend. It was their holiday party for families, complete with Santa pulling up to the club on a golf cart at the end. Well, both boys ended up assisting the magician at different times during the show. Owen by scaring the magician, while Walter made a handkerchief disappear with an enormous magic wand. They both thought is was quite magical. As we were leaving a worker asked Walter how he held that magic wand 'that was bloody huge!' I still giggle with delight when I here typical British words and phrases and 'bloody' is one that gets me every time.

We are gearing up for my parents to arrive. They are coming on Wednesday and we are all looking forward to their time here. We've been busy planning a few nights away in England as well as fun things around Brighton/Hove.

We had our first dinner party with friends from school over the weekend. It felt like a milestone in moving to me. It was such a big part of our lives in MN, it felt really nice to do it again here...having the house full of kids running around and having friends to talk with and laugh with. I'm sure you know I love a good Mexican meal and its really not that well known here (we've decided their Mexican is Indian food...and its delicious!). Thus, I made a little fiesta of food, including some mighty fine vegetarian enchiladas, if I do say so myself!

Other than that, we've been busy making 'bloody huge' airplanes...

Reminding Santa that we've moved (but Griffin is still in MN)...

And playing with water balloons...in December...

The weather is finally panning out for us. We seem to be sticking around the 50's here, which means Jer still golfs ideally at least once a week and the boys & I walk to & from school whenever possible. (Although the boys were ready to hop a plane when they heard about the 17" Minneapolis got last weekend.) We will be heading down to the beach on Christmas day to watch the brave & crazy do their annual Christmas swim. Owen thinks he's going to talk my dad into doing it...I will post photos if it happens for sure.