A Cozy Little Update

One half of the two-sided cozy.

The tea cozy is growing, if slowly. We hope to be coddling the teapot very soon. (yes, please try to contain your jealousy, not EVERYONE can knit for inanimate objects. It's a gift, I know).

London Zoo

Say "ahhhh."

We now know one thing for certain -- the DC Zoo rocks. We know this after a very pleasant afternoon at the London Zoo, a charming but sadly antiquated facility that does boast a few animals we don't see in DC (like the lovely giraffe), but overall it needs a little exhibit-lift.

 

While the adults may have noticed the differences, the kids were positively oblivious and had a super time at Penguin beach, checking out the big cats and riding the carousel. A big thank you to the grandparents for dreaming up the outing and taking us all out for a very fun day.

Don't go looking for giraffes in DC

Claudio!

Water balloon toss

Our friend Claudio, a newly-minted 3-year-old, wins the award for the first birthday party of our new and different life here in Cambridge. We attended his fete today, where we learned a host of new party games (the kids were MOST confused and intrigued by "pass the parcel" (am not making this up)....game is much like our Hot Potato, only when the music stops and you're left holding the wrapped blob, you peel off a layer to reveal a small favor.  There was a moon bounce, a home-made cake, cucumber finger sandwiches (!) and a some water balloons for tossing. And the kids were all just delighted.

Paul pitches in

Playing "pass the parcel"

Becky (right) and Claudio's cake (akin to a carrot cake)

Claudio blows out his candles

We met some lovely couples at the party (some of whom had already heard of us (!?!), which just proves how really small this town is). Happily, I felt like we made a few more connections (my mommy friends at home will be happy to hear I've been invited to join a new "moms night out" clique!). Paul even met a few dads he really like. We owe the Balzanos a debt for providing such a soft social landing pad. 

Phoning Home

Enjoying a family Skype with Uncle Jimmy in Portland, ME.

Life at Audley

Our little stable boy.

Our first trip to Audley End centered on exploring the gardens. This trip, with Jim and Eliza, we took a tour of the manor house (an incredible art and antique collection) and poked through the dairy and kitchens where actors in period costume go about their day caring for the home and preparing meals. It's great to see a historic home, but it's another to really see how people lived. (Did you know they used to put carrot juice in the cream before churning to give their butter a yellow hue?) It was really interesting.

The scullery maid.

Petting Captain the horse.

The manor house.

A small patch of the grounds at Audley End.

On the H Train.

Of course we returned to the neighboring miniature railroad for a few more rides, courtesy Paba and Zaza. My only regret is not being close enough to snap a photo of Big Jim riding atop a teeny-tiny train as it looped the track. That's grandparent dedication.

York: Day 3 (Fondant Fancy)

Fondant Fancy at Betty's.

While Harry returned for his third visit to the railway museum (sheer bliss), the girls did some shopping and Charlotte was treated to a pink fondant fancy (think: very large petit four, pink, flower on top...more bliss).

I ended the trip by spraining my ankle (a complimentary injury to the swollen eye, surprised Paul wasn't arrested for battery), but fortunately I had Zaza and The Bean there to chase the kids around the Minster park and pour wine into my maw to numb the pain.

It was a very nice trip. And if Harry has anything to do with it we'll be back next year to revisit the Railway Museum. 

Snuggling at bedtime.

York: Day 2 (The Hogwarts Express!)

The York Minster

The highlight of any trip to York is a visit to the York Minster, one of northern Europe's greatest Gothic cathedrals (and home...wait for it...to the largest stained glass window in the world, they say). Click the link for a virtual tour (or come visit us, definitely better).

Paul and I are starting to sort out visiting some of the grandest sites with little ones (a lot of taking turns during tours) and gobs of patience (ours). But we're enjoying it, to be sure.

After the Minster, we ambled to Betty's Tea Room, an English institution,  for lunch where the kids went mental over the pudding cart.

Betty's

Every child's best memory: the dessert cart

So Yum.

Driving Miss Charlotte

Then it was off to the National Railroad Museum (THE railroad museum in the UK), where we all ogled the trains, the history and the Hogwarts Express. It was Paul who found the Platform 9 3/4 sign, which they recently removed from Kings Cross station during an extensive renovation. 

The Hogwarts Express