Beach Babies

Just because we live in London doesn't mean we're not on the beach this summer. Do you know there is a beach in Camden?  It is at the Roundhouse, a big performance space in town.

Camden is an urban, artsy, eclectic spot. Amy Winehouse, the guys from Oasis, Charles Dickens, Mary Shelley and many other creative types have called it home. Live music and retro clothes. Where "hot dogs, liquor and vintage sounds until 3 a.m." sounds about right.

So perhaps an unlikely place, or maybe really most likely, for an urban beach to pop up. Throw a little sand down and you can be sure we'll find it. Add a grill and "tiki hut ping pong" and we'll make an afternoon of it.

So when the Roundhouse brought lots of sand to London, we dug it. With buckets and pails. 

And not content to keep our fun to myself, I sent the picture of the boys from yesterday to the Washington Post. 

The Banner Yet Waves In Hyde Park

It was beyond bedtime when we started over to Hyde Park last night. BT London Live is an all day and late into the night Olympic festival of sorts. Food, games, and most importantly, lots of big screens tuned to the Games. We took a blanket and cheered just like we do every evening, but among lots and lots of friends.

Hyde Park is what Big Brother has called, "our biggest front yard EVER" and it indeed makes up for living in a flat. It has to. We need space to run and play. To kick a ball, to have a proper picnic.

We cheered Team USA among fans from South Africa, Brazil, Russia, Spain, and of course, lots of British. Those fans didn't have Baby Sister shouting, "USA! USA! USA!" Even when we didn't have a competitor on the screen.

We have reason to be in the park most every day. Today we're headed back for marathon swimming and maybe we'll be back for the big screens and more cheering tonight. We might just go in our pajamas.

I'm already hearing talk about a parade for the British Olympians. There is hope that the fun will continue. It has to. We've never known life in London without fanfare so we're going to keep cheering as long as we can. Even if it is way beyond our bedtimes.

Pink. With Sprinkles on Top

We're all jumbled again, telling you about our last week while enjoying this one. All part of a mixed up summer schedule, right?!

Our summer schedule - or lack of one - means that today, Big Sister drowsily emerged from her room more than an hour after we would have left the flat on a school morning. And don't get me started on bedtimes. The Olympic excitement makes it too hard. At least the Mister and I've stopped waiting up for John McEnroe's antics on the BBC's end of day show - ripe for a SNL skit. 

Anyhow. We drew "bake" one morning last week and our assignment languished a bit while we bounced on Stonehenge, checked in at the library, went to a birthday party, and took advantage of other adventures. Then a cool morning presented itself and baking popped back up on our itinerary. Also that the kids were chanting "when are we going to BAKE?!" whenever there were two quiet moments strung together. I do love that they enjoy something I like so much. It also justifies my bringing 4 boxes of cookie cutters abroad. One day we'll bake more and more complex things again. I find myself into quick and easy baking of late. 

Quick, easy, delicious and these smiley faces in the kitchen?!  What could be better?

It became sort of a team event. The girls made pink lemonade cookies (thank you, Kappa Prep!) and the boys whipped up iced brownies. Big Brother apparently feeling like Isaac Washington in the kitchen.

Baking always makes for a great maths lesson and usually results in a some conversions, too.

The desserts were just as pretty as they were delicious. The Mister was asked to judge. I believe he declared a tie. He is a diplomat, our guy.

I never did get to take a picture of the platter. We gobbled up the goodies all too soon.  

Yesterday we watched the Triathlon in Hyde Park, had lunch at Kensington Palace, and toured the new exhibits in the reopened palace, too. We should someday be experts on royal lineage. My camera battery died just as we followed this big crowd to watch the swimming. Biggest Brother helped me take palace pictures on my phone and hopefully he can also advise me how to download them, too. 

How super is it that a pair of brothers was on the medal stand at the triathlon?  How sweet it is, this summer!

And another thing, since we are talking pink sweetness. Apologies for discussing both the medical and the edible, but I have to confess that still reigning over our summer is my bothersome eyes. I will not go into the extreme yuck of it all, but will say that I am beginning my own campaign against the darling sounding "pink eye" (what's next? Polka dot mumps? Glittered gangrene?) when what I've been slogging through is bright red, zombie movie, swollen, teary peepers. That are now sensitive to light. I may be the only one who was squinting in the shadowed darkness of Kensington Palace. Don't get me started on having missed an already overdue hair appointment and going 3 weeks in glasses and no makeup because of my eyes. Vanity was my first symptom. 

So thus far, our summer: very sweet, but definitely not pretty. Now, who saved me a brownie?!

Here We Go A Courting

When we weren't caught up in cheering for countless Team GB successes (and Usain Bolt, too!) this weekend, we were touring Hampton Court Palace, wondering why women kept falling for Henry VIII, navigating a maze, learning about Tudor table manners, and enjoying magically quiet train rides to and fro.

We walked where Bradley Wiggins cycled last week and even sat in his throne!

I love this of Big Sister. Our resident princess.

We had no hope of keeping up with our princes in the maze and barely kept track of the girls.

As beautiful as the outing was to Elmbridge, what could possibly top the sights of London we walked through on our way home? We are so, so lucky to live here. I know we will feel a tug on our hearts when we see these landmarks one day from afar. For now, though it is very special to call this our neighborhood.

We could live here forever and still not tire of the front seat on the top of a double decker bus. No better view than crossing Westminster Bridge.

The decorated Wenlocks and Mandevilles (and phone booths, too) that have popped up everywhere might not be quite as iconic as Big Ben, but they're delightful.

Hooray, Team GB! Hooray, London! We've sure caught the London Olympic fever and hope it will continue to grow and linger. Already bracing ourselves for life after the fanfare but trying to soak it all up and pretend it won't end.

Fore the love of Selfridges

Today found us miniature golfing on the rooftop of Selfridges, high above Oxford Street.

The Mister overheard us draw "mini golf at Hyde Park" this morning, suggested this fantastic substitution, and helped perfect a few small swings. We took an express lift to the roof where we were greeted by lovely decor. Not sure where, but I intend to copy this strawberry and golf ball wall.

Outside, the course was darling! London landmarks were made of faux cake and fondant and jellied St Paul's were on tilted cake plates. Our city is full of whimsy.

Baby Sister adopted golf's unpredictable garb. She wears it well.

Back in the clubhouse, the teacup and saucer wall was equally adorable. 

A championship day in Londontown.

Bouncing Stonehenge

Going to see Stonehenge is on our long list of "to dos." Bouncing on it never occurred to us. But when we heard that a giant inflatable Stonehenge was touring the country, how could we resist? Only during the Olympic summer, I tell you. Our entire city is completely, delightfully upended.

I surprised the kids by telling them to get ready for the day right after breakfast. A huge departure from our summer schedule. And we didn't draw from our fishbowl.

Bouncing buddies! Who knows what the next day's adventure will bring. It is good to be with America's sweethearts this summer.

Hello, Books! Goodbye Clocks and Calendars

R is for Red Arrows, Reading and Road Race.

It is already a jumble our summer, so this is likely to a jumbly post. An amalgam of neat things I don't want to forget.

The Red Arrows streaked across the sky above our flat on Friday night, ushering in the Opening Ceremonies.

Some of our favorite summer memories include books. There's no better way to lose track of time than to get caught up in a story. And there's no surer sign of being on vacation than to have no concept of the date or time.  That is already the kind of summer we're having. We debate if it is Monday or Tuesday.  Knee deep in books with little idea of the date and having a vague sense that it is approximately afternoon only when the girls begin to droop into naps.  Sayonara, schedules!

Last week found us back at our local library signing up for their summer reading program. Baby Sister got her own card this year!  Big Sister packed a chapter book for our outing yesterday. Of all the places we take the children, there are unlimited journeys they can take with a book in their hands. This is why I cried at Big Sister's last school conference. We are so grateful to her Reception teachers (as well as the teachers who did the same for the boys) for teaching her how to read. And to love it. This is one of my favorite stages with the children - watching them unwrap the written world.

I have lots of dreams for "my shop" and would love to be able to join it with my other passions for children's literature and breastfeeding. Ideas for how to do that are always rumbling around my mind. Through my shop or otherwise, I'd love to help send new families home from the hospital armed with confidence (clear information) about nursing and a book for baby.

Anyway. Back to our summer fun.

One cool, wet day we drew "scavenger hunt" for our day's adventure and what fun that was!  I issued the kids a few lists of things to hunt for in the flat ("something fuzzy," something with your name on it," "something from nature," etc., etc.), shopping bags and off they went.  They were very clever in their finds. For an alphabet hunt, Big Brother managed to make one find work for 5 clues!

Sunday found us cheering the end of the Women's Cycle Road Race. It was a thrill to be just a walk through the park to see an exciting finish, even if we did get a little damp in process. 

Reading, Rainbows, Racing. Running through the park with the red, white and blue. A summer to remember.