Summer arrived and off to the UK

We had a long weekend and we decided to visit our good friends in Surrey Pip, Mark, Alice, and Zoe.  We have spent the last to christmas holidays with them and it was nice to pop over for a quick weekend visit.  We decided to take the car ferry boat this trip rather than the Chunnel (train in a tunnel under the sea).  It was a different trip and the kids seemed to enjoy being out of the car and exploring the boat.  We went from Calais, France to Dover, England.  You can see the white cliffs of dover in some of the photos.  

The kids had a fabulous time at our friends home.  Their garden/yard is huge and grassy.  The kids wanted to be out there all day.  They were exhausted after each day's activities and fun.  We loved seeing them explore and be playing with Alice and Zoe.  They were more kid than baby this time and were easier to play with the older girls.

The neighbors have 3 alpacas or "pacas" as Archie calls them.  We spent a lot of time wheeling cut grass from the garden over to the alpacas.  Archie would say them, "here sheepie, sheepie. come eat your grass."  They were very quiet and nice to the alpacas and asked to see them all day.  It was very sweet and a lot of fun.  They might have been overfed a little!

The last evening there we had a BBQ and ate in the nice summer weather outside.  The kids ended their dinner with fruit ice lollies.  We have berfore and during but no after photos since our kids all had to be shirtless from the dripping!

And Sylvie at hers the fastest!  Archie was still wearing Alice's goggles which he is totally obssessed with.  He asks about them everyday since....not sure we should get him some as he will wear them all the time then!

Another great part of the day was getting to see Luke, Campbell's best man and good friend.  He came over for the day from London and we had a great time catching up.  The kids adore him and had a great time playing with him in the garden.  Mark pulled out the slip-n-slide and the kids had more fun.  Archie decided he had to do this without clothes much to my requests otherwise.  He decided after a few runs that it wasn't the best idea especially after sliding into the grass.  So luckily the underpants went back on!

More Photos of Spring....before the summer arrived today!

There seems to be more photos than I can keep up with!  Here are some of Archie on his rocking horse that Grandpa made and brought over in his checked luggage!  As he was riding the horse, he was yelling "yeeha" and waving his hat in true cowboy smile (he is half American of course)!

a walk of three generations

best buddies ready or bed

 We were heading out for a rare night out with friends and I was painting my toes.  Sylvie saw that and wanted hers painted as well.  So now my girl and I have matching colors.  And then Archie wanted his toes painted too!  So we chose a nice sparkly blue!  He is too young to know or care that it is supposed to be a "girl" thing.  He is so proud of his blue toes that he told everyone we saw the next day!

 One Sunday we headed over to Belgium to see a windmill with circling steam train, playground, and old fashioned bakery with a steam engine running the machines all in one place.  The kids loved it and enjoyed the playground while we drank coffee.  Then we all hopped on the train for a ride around the windmill.  Sylvie was a little scared at first but Archie was loving it.  We will go back again for sure!

Archie smiling or the ride

And then our little neighborhood had the local bike race.  It was a loop track around our streets.  We decided to go out and cheer them on.  They clapped and said, "Good Job!" and "Go faster, go faster!"  It was super cute and they loved it.  Great free entertainment on our doorstep.