Veronica Visit: Dover Castle

Our first weekend outing of the Vern Visit 2012 was to Dover Castle, which sits on the coast of England. 

The castle was huge and everywhere you walked was a hill. Thank goodness we had Lincoln to push the stroller =).

We were able to walk through the WWII tunnels that are underneath the castle grounds. It was pretty awesome. Jude however managed to fall asleep on my shoulder.

After the war tunnels we went to the main castle common area and Livvy played medieval games with the other 50 or so kids. She was in heaven.

The best part of the day was seeing Livvy be knighted and ride her little horse. I thought she would chicken out, but she walked right up to the man in tights told him her name and got her helmet on and was ready to ride. 

I'm pretty sure she couldn't see out of the helmet. Best picture of the day. 

Update on the kiddies.

Veronica is here and it is amazing and we have done so many fun things, but before I get into all that I need to write down a few things about my little charges, so someday I can look back when their sassing me and feel a warm fuzzy feeling.

Livvy Alice (2) has become more of a momma's girl since we've been here and is usually connected at my hip. Lately, the only way I can get her distracted from being on top of me is through the use of technology. She can navigate a computer like she was born for it and is often found sending encrypted messages on my phone. 

 

We are trying to grow her bangs out and every time I put a barrett in her hair she says "Can you see my pretty eyes?" She talks about 100 words a minute when she's in the mood. Sometimes the talking is whining and I ask her to change her voice to happy and she continues to cry and whine and say that "it's the only one (voice) that she has!"

She definitely does things her way (pictured above is Livvy "sleeping" on a bench mid-tour of some abbey ruins). She is working on her phonics and is constantly asking me what letters start certain words. She loves to wind up to words like "V-v-v-indie!" (which she does call me half the time!) 

She is an expert pretend player and exceptional story teller. I love hearing her play. She always makes something into a mommy and a baby and I often hear her calling the baby crayon "sweetie".

Jude (8 mths) is the happiest baby I have ever seen. Even when he is fussing and tired, if I look at him and smile he cracks a huge grin.

 This kid is a TANK. I'm pretty sure he's about the size Livvy was at 14 months. The reason for the chubchub is this kids love of food. If you start eating something he starts flapping his arms and kicking his legs and moaning for a taste! He can sit by himself and is a rollie pollie. Livvy has been trying to get him to crawl by taunting him with toys and saying "You can do it!" every time he's on his tummy.

To close this post here is a little video of the cuteness that is Jude Dude and Livvy-loo.

...

This momma is glad that I have two of the cutest bosses in the world. 

Leeds Castle Part 2

After we toured the house (quickly with two little ones) we went to find the maze that is located on the edge of the property. 

Once we found it, Jude and I hung back on the picnic blanket and Livvy and Lincoln ventured through the hedges. 

After they found their way out, Livvy came running up to me to tell me that she saw a "scary green man!" At the end of the maze there was a small tunnel and built into the rock was a monster looking guy that laughed an evil laugh. Livvy has not stopped talking about how she "covered her ears to make him quiet" and how he was so scary!

We ended the day by playing in the "Knight's Realm", a sweet playground that Livvy could not get enough of.

Then to top off the perfect "take a Thursday off just for fun" Lincoln bought us all ice cream and I attempted to keep Jude from smashing his face into it! 

Some things about this country drive me crazy, like not being able to find enchilada sauce or all-purpose flour, but Lincoln having to work less has been something that I love! 

...

The three of us are glad that the man in our lives can be around on a weekday! 

Leeds Castle Part 1

 Thursday Lincoln decided to take the day off. Yeah, he took a day off in the middle of busy season because the weather would be nice. Insane. I love that Lincoln is working a lot less and spending more time with us here!

Leeds Castle may be the most beautiful site we've been to yet. It is huge! The grounds are unbelievable with flower gardens, ponds, gazebos and more grass and running space than Livvy has ever seen!

The castle itself was pretty sweet too. Lady Baillie owned the castle last and lived there during the twenties. She redecorated the entire place and hosted actors and famous people. The rooms were spectacular. 

My favorite picture of the day. Jude was shocked to see a knight waiting for us as we entered the castle! =)

Oast Houses

Ever since we came to Kent Lincoln has been obsessed with these puppies.

Oast houses: (according to Wikipedia) An oast, oast house or hop kiln is a building designed for kilning (drying) hops as part of the brewing process. They can be found in most hop-growing (and former hop-growing) areas and are often good examples of vernacular architecture. Many redundant oasts have been converted into houses.


Lincoln is enthralled. Every town that we drive through has these houses and Lincoln always yells and points in enthusiasm.


So imagine his delight when while we were at Chartwell he found an Oast house to take a picture with. 

I don't understand Lincy-poo's love of the white coned house tops. 

...

This wifey is glad that we full filled a Lincoln dream and took a picture with an Oast house. 

Our pet the fox.

 We have a fox friend that comes into our neighbor's garden almost every afternoon.

Our cute British neighbors call me when he's around, just to make sure Livvy can see him.

My neighbor's feed him and recently told him that he's sick so they give him "drops". Whatever that means.

I guess it's cool to have a fox friend around, but I don't know if it's a good idea to feed this little guy.

...

That fox should be glad our neighbors are so hospitable. 

Winston's House

I'm behind in posts...but here is a little catch up. Two weekends ago we went to Chartwell, Sir Winston Churchill's family home located about 40 minutes from us. 

 The home was beautiful, all set with WC's paintings, furniture and his large selection of books. Even more impressive was the GIGANTIC estate that it is located on. Huge grass areas and small lakes and even a "kitchen garden" where they grew vegetables and fruits.

We had a little picnic on a hill and Livvy ran around to see the ducks and geese with Lincoln. 

Then we found Winston's statue and Livvy climbed aboard his lap. 

It was a really nice afternoon. Livvy was still recovering from a cold, so sadly the day ended in me carrying a crying toddler across the massive estate to the welcoming confines of her car seat. But despite how she acted I know she loved eating cookies on the grass hill and running everywhere! 

...

This tourist is glad that I could walk the same hallways that Winston Churchill walked.