London Science Museum

On Saturday we spent the day at the London Science Museum with my Uncle Jon!

Right when we got off the tube station we spotted the new Hyde Park church building and visitor center, so we stopped in for a peak. 

Jude really loved Uncle Jon immediately! 

The science museum was a blast. The kids were in heaven with all of the fun exhibits.

Livvy loved looking (and talking) to the two Livvys. 

The favorite by far was the water table. Jude went crazy and might as well not have worn an apron. By the end he was drenched from head to toe!

I love Jude's little tongue sticking out.

Livvy's favorite new friend, Clarice the reindeer went everywhere with us. 

Keeping Jude occupied for the hour train ride back was tough. I told Lincoln imagine 11 hours of this in three weeks! Let the fun begin!

Easter 2012

Let me just preface this happy, all around beautiful celebration with the explanation of me discovering that holidays in a new country will be unmistakable different.

In preparation for Easter I went to the store to purchase the necessities: 1) Easter candy, 2) dinner supplies (ham, cheesy potatoes...the works), and the 3) plastic eggs to fill and hide. 

Here's how it went down:

1) Easter candy: In this country they don't do big bags of candy (or anything for that matter) to divvy up amongst a family. You buy one giant chocolate egg and then some multi packs of random chocolate. Different, but chocolate is still chocolate, so I'm rolling with it. 

2) Ham. Ok, the "gammons" here are not cooked people. Totally raw. So after some research, and a few stressed out moments, I figured out how to tackle the uncooked ham. I soaked the (non-frozen) ham for 3 hours followed by some intense herbal and flavoring treatment, then boiled and baked. In the end it came out actually pretty good, but can I just tell you to please appreciate the beauty of an already cooked ham in your neighborhood grocery store. 

With the ham part down I attempted to get the supplies for the good ol' cheesy potatoes. Sadly, it called for Cream of Chicken Soup which upon an execution of Hawaiin Haystacks I did discover that they had, but sadly it tastes nothing like it should, so we did without the cheesy taters. 

3) They had approximately 1 bag of 8 plastic eggs and I bought them. SUCCESS! 

Ok, now that the mostly uninteresting details of a housewife's Easter woes are over let's get down to business.

Livvy and Jude

They did not notice any of my Easter faux pas (such as using a mixing bowl instead of a basket) and thoroughly enjoyed their Easter egg morning. 

We got all dolled up for church (thanks Vern for the adorable dress for Livvy) and we celebrated the true meaning of Easter, our Saviors life and resurrection.

We even had the special treat of having my-touring-Europe cousin and her husband over for they day!

It was a beautiful day and I am so glad it was so full of family! 

Our first visitor!

Uncle Jon came to visit us! 

Livvy was pretty excited to be able to ride around on his shoulders (and be about 10 feet in the air!) the whole time we toured around Bodiam Castle. 

Bodiam Castle was the first moated castle that we toured and it was pretty amazing. 

Like so many of the sites we've been to, it was surrounded by beautiful countryside. Man I love that! 

Jude met his great uncle for the first time. And loved him just as much as the rest of us. 

After we toured Bodiam Castle we ventured over a few winding roads and crazy roundabouts to the Battle of Hastings Battlefield and Abbey. 

We had a really fun time seeing the sites, but most of all we had a really fun time seeing Uncle Jon! He has been a big part of my life and continues to amaze me with his kindness and love. I can't tell you how much it meant to me to have him tell Livvy his famous "Three Little Pigs" story that I heard when I was a little girl. Not only did he come to see us, but he brought a package of goodies from GG (Great Grandma) for the kiddos.  Livvy loved having a box of treats and toys to explore! Thank you Grandma! I love my family and feel close to them even from across the Atlantic Ocean! 

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This girl is glad that I am apart of such a great family!