Veronica Visit: Best 16 days here so far.

Finally I have come to the end of the Veronica visit chronicles. Let me just sign off with a quick list of the top ten reasons you want a Veronica to come visit. you.

10. She will load your dishwasher before you even have a chance to notice the mounding pile.

9. She will hold your crying baby and make him laugh and giggle.

8. She will provide hours of entertainment via her Apple computer camera for an all too busy toddler.

7. She will laugh when the ever-so-clingy toddler follows her to the bathroom, only to wait outside and ask her if  "She's done yet?" and "Are you wiping?"

6. She will go see Hunger Games with you and you will remember what being just a sister felt like.

5. After a very drama filled bath time of soap in eyes, pee (lots of it), little feet slipping and the followed whining, she will make you laugh so hard you are crying, rather than just crying.

4. She will bring a piece of home and family into your life and take away the sting of homesickness.

3. She will watch your kids and give you a night out with your hubs.

2. She will love your kids and make your tiny, sometimes lonely life, feel full and important.

1. She will remind you of the 100 million reasons she is your best friend and the best sister you could ask for.

Veronica Visit: Pooh Corner

A.A. Milne wrote the Winnie-The-Pooh series about his only son Christopher Robin and his adventures in Ashdown forest located in the quaint English town, Hartfield. Lucky for us Hartfield is only 20 minutes away! 

So on a bleak Monday morning we drove to Pooh Corner (a tiny family owned shop) that gives out maps to all the pooh sites located in the "Hundred Acre Wood". 

Livvy has slept with 2 Pooh Bear stuffed animals since she was a baby and she was so excited to go see where Pooh Bear lived! She kept asking if "Christopher Wobin" would be there. .

She didn't find Christopher, but she did pick out her very own "Pwigwit" and has been loving him ever since.


We walked about 20 minutes to Pooh Bridge and played a quick round of Pooh Sticks. 

Then we booked it back to the car because we were freezing. At one point I had Jude in the Baby Bijorn and Livvy on my back. Let's just say that didn't last long =). 


We love love love Winnie the Pooh...and Pwigwit. 

Veronica Visit: Scotney Castle

Prettiest castle I've ever seen. I felt like we stepped into a fairy tale.

Veronica Visit: Groombridge

Upon moving to Tunbridge Wells I learned that the Bennett home in Pride in Prejudice (featuring Kiera Knightly) is 5 minutes from my house. So after watching the highlights from the film, we hoped into the car and pulled up to the large moated manor house.

Sadly we found out on upon arrival that you actually can't tour the house. We wandered around the gardens though and enjoyed the sun that finally came out for a few hours. 

After our "tea time" (aka snack time) we boarded a boat down the stream to the enchanted forest. 

After our 5 minute boat ride we landed in the enchanted forest. The forest had animals and playgrounds and a giant dinosaur. Livvy loved loved loved it. 

Jude also discovered the fun that is swinging and had a blast.

We ended the day by chasing some chickens back into their coop. Little escape artists needed Vern's mad skills of kicking them toward their home.

One of my favorite days with Vernonica. =)

Veronica Visit: Alfriston

On our way back from Brighton we stopped in Alfriston, a tiny town (literally made up of only one road), to see the old church and try some pub food. 

After checking all the pub menus (all four of them) located within a few feet from each other. We sat down to have a taste of England.

Right after we sat down I looked over at Livvy to see her grinning from ear to ear. She was so excited to be eating at a restaurant. =)

The George Inn was the pub that we ate at and it was first licensed in 1347. It had great food and even better atmosphere.

We ate our food and then were off. It was a nice ending to a busy day. 

Veronica Visit: Brighton

Brighton is a pretty popular beach town located about 1.5 hours from us. It's mentioned in a few of Jane Austen's novels. So, naturally it was a on our list of must sees. 

Besides hanging on the pier and people watching while eating cookies, we also went to the Royal Pavilion which was way cooler than I expected. It was designed by John Nash commissioned by King George IV, who was known for his extravagant life style and overindulgent taste. 

I wish you could see what was inside the spectacular building! It looks so out of place now and I think it was quite the upset back when it was built. On every wall, banister, corner and door there was lavish oriental decorations. From the ceilings hung huge chandeliers being held up by gigantic dragon statues. Pictures were obviously prohibited. We were in shock at how indulgent the king must have been to decorate his palace with so much opulence. 

We had a really great day, minimum tantrums, maximum apple eating and pigeon chasing.