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.

Merry Christmas!

Tis' the Season

The holiday season is here and we have a blend of many holidays to participate in.  On November 11th, Saint Martin's Day, there was a nice parade of school children from the Catholic Church with coloful lanterns in the evening.  They then go door to door asking for candy....sounds like similar doesn't it!  Your lights have to be on.  So we didn't have any knocks....or candy.  So it worked out fine.  We will be prepared next year.  Sylvie and Archie looked out the window and waved to the hundreds of children passing by.

We were lucky again to celebrate Thanksgiving with some wonderful friends this year.  It was a mix of Brits, Scots, Americans, and Portugese.  It was a wonderful dinner and the kids actually have a good time playing with the other little ones there.  It was quite a nice dinner with fried turkey.

Then Sinterklaas arrived again in mid November.  He came by boat on the canals from Spain.  We didn't have much participation in it.  Archie had a little party at school and he enjoyed the little cookies, pepernoten.  Sinterklaas left on Dec. 5th and took his boat and helpers (Black Peter) back to Spain.  

Image from wikipedia....visit there for more info if you like!

Pepernoten or Kruidnoojes cookies

And now time is leading up to Christmas.  We have been to 2 Christmas markets, Dusseldorf and Aachen, Germany.  We had a lovely time in both but loved the market in Aachen.  There were many booths with mulled wine, beer, pretzels, sausage, chocolates, and more.  There were also lovely wooden ornaments and other holiday crafts.  All the booths are wooden huts and decorated with garland and lights.  It is such a nice part of the holidays here and we were happy to drive to Germany to see it.  Tomorrow we head off to Brugge to see a market there with our good friend Luke.

 

This is a view down one of the aisles toward one of the cathedrals.  The booths are decorated, there is music, and you can smell the mulled wine!

Some crafts

This was the best chocolate store we saw.  They had a beautiful window display but was too crowded to even enter.

We went to the gym and they have a huge Christmas tree set up.  The kids had a great time checkingout all the lights and ornaments.

Our Christmas tree this year!  It is from the Christmas market.

Some TV time early in the morning!

Sylvie enjoying the Oliebollen!

Every area of Holland has a signature food that is served at different times of the year.  In our area, it is Oliebollen (yes, oily balls).  They are rounds of dough that is fried and then sprinkled with powdered sugar.  So good but so bad for you!  I let the kids have some and of course it was a hit of a dish.

Trying to get a photo goether where everyone is smiling and looking the same way: Fail.

Putting up our decorations

Archie and his favorite toy, Mater.

Sylvie is my wash bucket

And this is a block of Blue Stilton cheese that is being marinated with a bottle of port.  This is what we have to look forward to during our trip to the UK for Christmas.  Not this particular one but a great one that our good friends supply.  I will write another post after Christmas about the good times we have there.