Chasing PigeonsHow romantic! Even with kids. They are the ultimate result of our love. V had roses, a sentimental card and chocolates (for S and X) waiting at the hotel for us. He even bought food and water for the room and waited for us at the tube station. Thank goodness for cell phones, as we came out a different exit! We swam, snacked and hung out. Our hotel was very nice and it included a good breakfast (and we aren’t usually big on inclusive breakfasts.)
Saturday, we went to the British Science Museum. The kids loved it. There were plenty of hands on experiments. I really liked the history of product development from WWII to now. You could also see lots of space items and many were American. I am sure there was much more to see then we could cover. We also walked through Hyde Park, which is much larger then I would have thought. There was a protest there as well. I can’t decide if they have lots of protests, or if I happen to stumble upon them.
That night we scurried about for a late dinner after swimming. It was tough to find a place on Valentines of course. We ate crepes at the train station (nicer then it sounds.)
Sunday, we went to Kensington Palace. It is where Princess Diana and Charles lived. As well as a great deal of royalty over the last two hundred years. Likely the most famous is Queen Victoria. We saw a great exhibit on Debutantes (who stopped being introduced to the Queen in 1958), their clothes and the history of it all. It was said that on a shoe-string budget, a debutante’s family spent $20,000 and it could go as high as $200,000 for a season (adjusted for today). It was my favorite part of the weekend. They also had Di’s clothes and we saw the state apartments. Strange to see the clothes Diana wore and recognize them from the many photo’s taken during her life. We weren’t allowed to take any pictures.
It is expected that 100% of Kensington will be opened to the public in the next 20 years. Currently, a few who have served the royalty well have been allowed to retire there.
Next we headed to the Natural History Museum. It was very nice, but as the travel book said, they all have dinosaurs, rocks and so on. I especially liked the exhibit on evolution. S was rather upset that we may have a relationship to monkeys. We swam again that night, ate dinner in the room and let the kids watch a movie.
Monday, we swam before leaving the hotel and then walked around Soho, Covent Garden and ate lunch. We were standing in Soho Park and having a potty trained boy mattered. V and I were looking at a map, I glance at X who has dropped his trousers “X what are you doing?” “Pottying!” “Ahhh, over here honey.” Boys. We soon headed home from our fun weekend, absolutely exhausted. X was asleep instantly and S did great in the car.
X has discovered a new favorite pass time; chasing pigeons. S on the other hand loves to shop. Put her in a market and she will study every bit of treasures they have. ASPW I may need your help when her shopping becomes an addiction!
I have about 8 loads of laundry, a million calls and two million chores waiting for me this week. S is home from school for the week, as it is half term break. I have planned two play dates for her and X.
Have a wonderful week. Love and Kisses to all.
Explorers at the Natural History Museum
Valentine's Dinner
Science Museum
Hyde Park
Hotel View
Ragley House
Trapped in the maze
Would you believe it has been twelve years. Twelve years of marriage. We lived in Apple Valley, Hopkins, Minneapolis, Minnetonka, Lino Lakes and England. We have two great munchkins. Wonderful friends and family from every part of our life, our hometowns, neighborhood, school, work, hockey, travel, ECFE, etc. I am so very lucky.
