London - a few videos

The kids logged miles of riding time during our stay. 

This one area with a depressed "drain" in the cobblestones was a favorite 

spot to sit and spin. They thought it was hilarious, as did everyone who walked by. 

Terence's Driving School at Thomas Land. 

Can you believe they let them go by themselves? 

And a final goodie from an impromptu dance party at home. 

The kids were feeling this music!

So many great moments and memories during our stay in London!

London Calling - part 3

See, I warned you...LOTS OF PHOTOS!

Face painting afternoon.

Aarrrgghh!!!
 

And a visit to the neighborhood fire station! 

No, there was no time to take off the face paint.

More yummy eats from the market with a great picnic spot on the Southwark Cathedral grounds.

Another afternoon tea session at home!

Why don't we do this everyday?! Oh right, calories.

Lots of calories.

Crown - check.

Pinkies out - check.

Love it.

More bike riding, this time in gigantic Hyde Park.

Max went without training wheels this afternoon and did awesome! He's not even 4 years old yet. 

Hugs all around.

Despite the "occasional" crying, fighting, whining, yelling, pushing & pouting, these guys got along SO well.  

Another ride just to the south of the Grenside manor. 

Tower Bridge and City Hall just behind Kenzo.

Another dress up day - this time for the London Marathon!

Mustaches on for the marathon!

Kenzo made a last minute change to the old standby: pirate!

Waiting for the runners.

There were lots of paralympic athletes competing, which was so inspirational to watch & cheer on!

Even Scarlet got in the mustache spirit!

With all the road closures for the race, the kids got to ride their bikes right down the middle of Southwark Bridge!

A nice pub lunch.

There were SO many pubs, very close to Nick & Jen's - we tried out most of them.

Pirates welcome at most pubs.

The Clink Museum - London's oldest and most notorious prisons - sits right at it's original site just steps away from Jen & Nick's.

Kenzo was obsessed with the scary entrance.

"Maybe when I'm older I can go there?"

 Another neighborhood gem is the Secret Garden. A quiet spot just next to the Tate Modern. 

Once again, we're not quiet.

Riding through the closed Borough Market.

Jen made a traditional roast dinner on Sunday - yum.

Nick kept us full and entertained with his never ending supply of pre-prepared soups and meals he would pull out of the freezer! Again, domestic goddess!

On our way home. 

Very sad to leave our friends and this wonderful city, but we had an amazing time. 
 
 
 

 

London Calling - part 2

A gorgeous afternoon in St. James Park, complete with gelato after lunch.

Borough Market - literally steps away from Jen & Nick's. Dangerously close and filled with delicious treats of all sorts.

Too close. Too delicious.

Four monkeys in the tub!

Big Ben, Parliament, Westminster Abbey...London Eye in the background. 
 

Kenzo was so excited to see his name on this place! 

Too bad we couldn't afford anything in there or in the entire Mayfair neighborhood - so swanky.

We did have a nice Japanese lunch there, so that was a bonus.
 

Goofy kids enjoying the open space at the Tate Modern Museum.

Spider Men ready for the day's adventures.

A bit blustery, but we made the trip to Salisbury for the day to check out the cathedral and market. 

Still a favorite of mine after 26 years. Yes, it's been that long since I went to school in London, vowing to get back there sooner than later.

Even SpiderMan enjoyed it.

In Greenwich to visit the Cutty Sark.

"Aye aye, captain!"

Super cool clipper ship experience.

Churchill's War Rooms. 

Very cool underground, secret headquarters during the war, preserved just as they left it at the war's end.

Still in use! 

But I think this one was mostly used as a urinal. Eeeww.

Proper afternoon tea at home.

Don't let his macho appearance fool you - this guy is a top notch domestic goddess. 

Riding over Millennium Bridge towards the Tate Modern.

 St. Paul's Cathedral.

Waiting for our train to Thomas Land!!

Just over an hour north of London, through beautiful rolling countryside landscapes...










Hard to say who is having more fun on this one...!

Just watching this made me dizzy!

The littlest engineer!

Scarlet was such a trooper as we dragged this kid everywhere!

This park was perfect for these guys - they could do all the rides...and did!

Even driving tractors all by themselves!

So cool. 

And slightly dangerous. 

But more cool than dangerous.

The dinosaur trail was cool too!

Great shot of Scarlet. 

Wonder what she's thinking...

Blurry, but you get the emotion.

He actually loved this ride and was screaming the whole time. 

Or was that me screaming?

What a great day at the park! Small, sweet & just enough for these minis.

Skate session in Southwark Park.

There were some marathon runners in training here. They were too fast to get a photo.

Monkey see, monkey do.

A great picnic dinner in the park.

Such a nice day out!

Nice enough for a wrestle session in the grass.

A moment of stillness.

We soon left this "quiet area" of the park because, well, we're not quiet.

A side trip to the east end for bagels.

This place has been open since the 1920's - according to our guide, Nick. 24/7 through the war, bombing and all.