One long Fall Season

We seem to be skipping winter and heading straight to spring.  No snow or ice this year (very unlike the winter wonderland of last year).  I have no complaints as I don't have to walk (with the stroller and kids) to the stores or bike them to and from daycare.  But it would have been nice to see some snow for the kids.  My brain is still thinking in F and not Celcius I live in otherwise I would be able to tell you how not cold it has been! 

Here are some recent pic of the kids.  I haven't posted in awhile so there are a few!

Another day out to Ghent, Belgium.  We go often....they have Starbucks!

Nice crisp, cold day in Antwerp, Belgium.  They have a great old center to the city. 

Saying "cheese".

Finally both kids can do painting and crafts together.  They usually don't eat the paint, but it happens.

And that in the background is our laundry.  I have to hang dry everything and I couldn't keep it out of the photo!  Real life in our house, nothing edited here.

Still obsessed with Campbell's hats

So we played with hats!

Sylvie is such a character now.  She and Archie are good friends and play together well.  Archie likes to lead Sylvie around by the hand.  Sylvie likes to call our for Archie and can say his name really well.  She is super giggly and wants to be wherever Archie is.

Archie is obsessed with Campbell's Texas Longhorns hat.  He wants to wear it all day and to bed (which he does).  This was from a nice day out to the shops.  I will try and get a photo of him running through the grocery store with the mini-cart.  He is crazy and fast.  He never hits anyone or anything which seems impossible when you see him.  He scares all the little old ladies but always says sorry.  Luckily he is so darn cute most people enjoy the show.  I sweat a little worrying that he will take someone out or go down the wine isle.

Our super happy boy!

Our weekly lunch of toasties at the gym.  We go after our swim classes.  The kids love the water and have a great nap afterward!

Archie was feeding the T-rex some toastie because he was hungry too.

Bubbles at the park.

Sylvie is now big enough and walking.  So going to the parks is way more fun.  This is a great one near our house with lots of sand to dig in.  The summer should be a lot of fun getting outdoors to play.

A little blurry but you can see how long her hair is getting.  She looks more and more like Campbell every day.

One of the few times they are not moving (which is why most photos are blurry).  They will sit for a snack but not look at me for a photo!

Blurry!

They are liking the muffins I make!

I had to stop the car and take a photo of Archie in his hat, with Sylvie's sunglasses on, and with his binky.  He was a happy boy!  He had no idea how cute he looked!

Christmas in the UK

We spent another wonderful Christmas in the UK with good friends.  It was a wonderful time and a great family setting for us to be a part of.  It is only 4 1/2 hours for us to drive from our home to south London.  We took the Chunnel as part of our journey which the kids enjoyed.  Archie is into trains and we told him Thomas the Train was taking us on a trip.  Here are some of the photos:

We rode the train into London.  Archie and Sylvie loved watching the city go by in the window and being on the train.  Archie narrated the entire ride in and ride home.  He was making the commuters smile with all his commentary, "Mommy, it's dark outside.  The lights are on." He is into the dark and light parts of the day now and that light turn on when it is dark.  It was super cute.

London Bridge in the background.  Perfect weather.  We spent the entire day in the city.

South bank walk.

We headed to the Tate Modern Museum of Art. It is an old power station made into a modern art musem.  The old turbine room is now the main entrance gallery.  It is several football fields long and the kids ran around for 1 1/2 hours.  Part of it is a large ramp the kids ran up and down.  Archie also let his cars roll down it.  It was very entertaining for all of us and other patrons.

Up and down again!

Come-on Sylvie, this way.

Sylvie's first baby-chino at Starbucks!  She is a fan.

Cuddles with Nora.  This is our good family friend who grew up with Campbell's Dad.  we stayed a half our trip at her house and the other at her daughter's house with her family.  It was so gracious and nice of them to share their homes and holiday with us.  It was also great because they had wonderful decorations for the kids to enjoy.

We found a wonderful English Pub where we enjoyed some coffee and treats with the kids.  We love the UK!

The kids are at an age now where travelling is getting a bit easier.  They are able to sit more than 5 minutes (roughly 12).

Chistmas morning.  We brought a couple of presnts and it was fun to see the kids get excited this year.

Archie understood who Santa was but not what he is all about.  He had a good time opening presents as well.

The fishing was a big hit!

The were good kids the entire trip and we had so much fun!

Chistmas Day walk near Nora's house

Out for a walk near Pip and Mark's house in Surrey.  They live in a beautiful part of the UK and we were able to do some gorgeous walks in the countryside.  This is a hilltop over looking Surrey and the valleys.  The weather was outstanding for most of the week, minus the massive wind and rain storm one night that flooded the area and nocked down some trees!

Christmas table set at Pip and Marks house

Post Christmas photo, not sure what day this was.  This is a classic Sylvie, "Go?" for where did it go?

Archie is into making tea and toast.  Here he is drinking it.  We even make real mint tea together which he gets to drink.  

Sylvie and her new best friend Zoe.  Zoe loves Sylvie and had a great time playing with her.  She was so sweet and thoughtful toward her.

 The kids enjoying a musical snowman

Game of table tennis before dinner.  Archie LOVED it and could actually hit the ball with the paddle.  Sylvie had a great time too.

Just about to serve!

Mark just about to carve the turkey and get dinner started.  It was a fantastic meal and we all enjoyed the feast.

Boxing Day: Alice, Zoe, and Sylvie enjoing some cartoon.

Archie and Sylvie are starting the new year off right.  They are best friends and really care for one another.  We are excited for this next year and all it will bring.  We are thankful for our friends who have helped us make this Christmas special. It  will be one of the special holidays when the kids were young and there was lots of magic.  Thank you for everything:

Nora, Alan, Pip, Mark, Alice, & Zoe.