A Saturday in London

Ever since we moved to England, the kiddies have been asking to visit Daddy's office (something we could do weekly in Switzerland.)  So we took off to London to show them where Daddy disappears to everyday.  Highlights:  picking out their favorite skyscrapers, playing hide and seek, raiding the pantry for cookies and apples and video conferencing each other.  We spent almost 2 hours there and they had no intention of leaving until we mentioned Hyde Park and ice cream.  Needless to say, they think Daddy has a great job.

I wish I had taken a picture of them on the Tube.  They love the train and make friends with everyone around them, that is unless they are openly discussing how "stinky" it smells.  

We spent the rest of the day at Kensington Garden's Princes Diana Memorial Playground.  It was great.  We were so busy enjoying the park that we didn't take many pictures.  However we did document Will's first taste of sand.

Portugal

Anthony and I escaped to Algarve, Portugal for 4 days to celebrate our 9th wedding anniversary.  We did a whole lot of this:  beaches, pools, napping, tennis, surfing, massages and golfing.  It was amazing, just what a vacation for two should be.  

Marsh Farm

We took the kids to a really great petting zoo while Chelsi was with us(a great au pair with a too short visit to London).  We all had a ball and enjoyed a near-empty park on an overcast day.

Three

Matthew's first "friends" birthday party was a complete success:  kiddie pool, trampoline, sand pit, bubble machine, "pass the parcel," cupcakes and presents.  Anthony made fabulous BBQ for the parents and our friends Sam and Sam even brought their pet gerbils for added kiddie entertainment.  And we couldn't have asked for better sunny weather, the famous English rain held off until at least 2 hours after the party ended!

Our "Little Bear" isn't so little anymore.  And as if the natural growing up wasn't enough for a mom to cope with, he has officially told me not to call him Bear anymore, he is now "Big-kid Monkey."

Chicken Pox

It was the season for Chicken Pox at our pre-school and Matthew brought it home and shared it with his best buddy.  Thankfully Matthew finished it before his birthday party, and Will, although 10x worse than Matthew's, wasn't bothered at all.  We are happy to be a spot-free house now!

Dressing Up