Park, Park, Park & Park

As I look across the posting stats since this blog/journal/scrapbook started way back here (!) ,  this year turned out to be the best yet, as measured by quantity. The total is 169 posts for 2011.  And there are now 88 videos in YouTube. I'm not sure why that was- more photo opportunities, many good experiences, more time on my hands? Is that much a bad thing?  Should I change that path in some way? Maybe it means focusing on quality over quantity- better pictures, better video editing. But something gets lost, I think, down that path.

Some earlier shots of D's hands are here and here . And below is the latest update in the series.

C and D at the St Barnabas Nativity service C, D, and Mum D did a runner for this one.

Here's more art to supplant the stuff from here . D's Xmas Tree collage from nursery C's version of Santa delivering presents

D has been going to dance class for the last 12 weeks; 30 minutes with Ms. Claire on Friday afternoons. She has really enjoyed it!   Today was the end-of-the-series parent performance class.  It was the first time I've seen her in class. Her enthusiasm was clearly on display- hand up first, jumping up for everything, leading the other girls. Here's a few pictures- some video to follow.

Michael has made it over to Southfields several times in the last month to see the kids.  A few times picking them up at nursery; other times supervising bath time and then reading them bedtime stories.  He's witnessed some very sweet exchanges.  And a magnificent all-school Sheringdale musical performance of Christmas tunes (video to follow at some point). On reading bed time stories, a favourite is "Now We Are Six".  A. A. Milne is the author of the Winnie the Pooh series. He did Now We Are Six in 1927, and it was illustrated by E. H. Shepard- a family friend of the Wigans.  A very nice connection for the kids and the stories. Bella and I are then the beneficiaries of his trot past the French deli on the way from the station.  Perfectly ripe cheeses, fruity tarts, and, of course, the world famous baguettes.

Following on from last week !!! C had his Gardens Xmas play this evening.  On Sunday, we made a bird costume-in the performance, he flies to the last remaining Christmas Tree in the forest to decorate it.  He said he was a little nervous, but it didn't seem so on stage. C as"Bird" at The Gardens Xmas play In full beak!

Like in years past , December brings Christmas musical performances by the kids. This year, D treaded the boards for the first time.  Dressed as Cherub for the Gardens Musical, she, of course, stole the show.  Perched upon high, looking over the stage, she sang well.  And she enjoyed the experience, especially the chocolate coins at the end.

In the bath, D with her guardian of the day...

We had a rollicking good time for Thanksgiving this year.  A big collection of half Brit/half American people (with a bit of French and Kiwi thrown in for good measure)- including my family friends who just moved to London from Beijing. So big that we had to have two seatings- one for the under 10's and then one later for the over 35's. The dish that got the most attention was the true American one, and not the Turkey!  The sweet potatoes with marshmallows on top!

Lego was the big hit for C's 6th birthday .    This is what he got built in the few hours the next day.  There's still more kits knocking around which he hasn't opened yet.

Guy Faukes Night- early November.  C and his friends up against the fence at Wimbledon Park for the fireworks. The newest sweater of D's- knitted by my Mom this fall. Recent artwork.  From lunch at Salt & Pepper, 30 November 2011.

One morning on the way out the door to school, Bells called to the kids to come along. To C she said “ Hurry up, my angel.” D then responded by saying “He’s not an angel; he’s Superman.” Because C had his jacket hood hanging down his back like a cape. C then said “I’m not Superman.  I’m a Vampire!” and ran out the door.

On display at Sheringdale School in the hallway. Snapped on my phone at church (C wasn't that interested in Psalm 95).  The top part is a counting line to help with addition and subtraction.

D and I started to make a puzzle this afternoon.  She got a little frustrated and bored with just a few pieces put together, so I asked her if she wanted to stop. C overheard our conversation in the next room. He got up from the playroom and his cherished Legos, and came to see us. As he stood over us, he said: "Dorothy, don't give up.  Show resilience." And then all three of us finished the puzzle together.

Saturday afternoon we celebrated C's 6th birthday with a Deadly 60's themed party.  After going on a expedition to the park to find giant deadly bugs, we came back to Kung Fu Panda, cake and lots of charging around the house. The saving grace was the drinks with the parents- only martinis- when they arrived to haul their monsters away. Jacob, C, Rupert, Nicky, Issac, Alex, D Legos were a bit hit this year-  cars, planes, and bases to build things on.  C has spent most of his free time building things the last 24 hours.

D brought home Sunny the Bear from school on Friday.  The idea- the same as Thomasina with C - is that D shows Sunny around, does some fun stuff and then reports back. D did indeed have a great time with Sunny and pictures were taken and compiled for school. Here's one of a situation D managed well:

Bells and I had a lovely time at Lucy Fishers' 40th birthday last night, held at our fantastic local pub the Earl of Spencer. Due to that, we were feeling a little ropey this morning.  Bells suggested a sure-fire cure (after a cappuccino for me)- a stomp around Wimbledon Common. The unintended consequence was C losing his aversion to dogs (D still has it a little, but that's due to her relative size, I think). As we approached a small pond there, a lady walking her lab arrived.  C then proceeded to spend a good chunk of time throwing an old tennis ball out into this lake for this black lab to retrieve.  Over and over.  And over. The lab would drop it right at his feet, and C became less and less afraid of reaching right down to the labs mouth and picking it up. Even said "I want a dog when D is older..." After that, D led the charge into the woods and up the trees.

As you will have read , D is pretty committed to learning to ride her like-a-bike.  Again today she was out, putting it and herself through the paces. Right now, it's a go slowly, some tumbles, Dad push me routine.  But the fact that she is going slow, falling over and has to have me stoop over to help, doesn't lower her enthusiasm or determination. Hence the smile AFTER her ride today...

Here are C and D at the Tate Britain just before getting on the boat up the Thames: And at the Golden Hind ... And then Bells in front of Tate Modern, St Pauls across the river in the background...

And here's some of what he took... Could be the beginning of a new proportion series... Not bad....  Thanks to the Ryans for the subject matter Not sure why our broom closet made the cut...

We all went swimming Sunday afternoon at a health club in Wimbledon.  A popular place- we bumped into Julian (famous from our walk ) and Anna, and their kids Ruby and Casper. It was the second trip in three days for Bells and the kids, so C showed me the way around the locker room and out to the pool. C really enjoyed it.  And his swimming has come along really well.  He can doggy paddle about 15 feet, popping his head up every few seconds for air.  A big improvement from 2 weeks ago, even more so from back here when discovered independence and water .  D is still in the “very excited to jump off the edge” stage, which she does over and over, farther and farther. 

I had to very stealthily get my phone out to snap this during the sermon.

Swords and cups to go with the Roman soldier A wooden spoon Roman soldier The bird from Rio, fruit bats, fish and a croc.  This may go to my office.

We found ourselves down here again last weekend- in deepest Sussex. Bells, C Ernst- aged 95, Nettie, D The reason was to visit Ernst Van Maurik (Bella's first cousin twice removed) with Nettie (Ernst is Nettie's Uncle). He's famous in the family for his stories from WWII and his exploits as a British Special Operations Executive.  Here's some background on him and a video .  He told C tales of parachuting into France and working his way undercover to the Swiss border. We then stayed at John and Shelia's house for the rest of the weekend.  Some nice walks, good pubs and a campfire to toast marshmallows.

As I was dashing out of the house this morning, I spied the kids ready for breakfast in these matching, homemade sweaters.  My Mom knitted these.

Most Americans of my generation will be familiar with Tenacious D - a comic rock band fronted by Jack Black.  We have our own Tenacious D in the Park Family. Randomly, Dorothy took a shine to her like-a-bike today (a like-a-bike is a bike that has no pedals and teaches kids balance while steering).  It has been the un-used birthday gift in favour of her scooter. She decided to ride it to the park down the street.  Even though she is about an inch too short to put it to full use.  And has never spent any real time on it in the past. On her tiptoes, very slowly the entire way.  Lots of wobbles and falling over.  Tears even at some points. I offered to help but she vehemently would not allow it.  She was going to get to the park on her own on the like-a-bike or die trying.  She made it. C has been really enjoying learning to read.  He's very good at sounding out words and then repeating them. Today, he pick...

A few fellow fathers and I from Pirbright Road took ourselves off to Sussex for a bit of a walk yesterday.  Jointly organised by Rich (Thomas and Ben), Jules (Ruby and Casper), Mark (Lena) and myself, we trained it down to Alfriston Friday and walked the 15 miles from there to Eastbourne on Saturday.  Then back to reality for bathime that evening. Fuelled up on good food from The George (Lamb or beef, sir? "I'll have the one with the most fat, please") and local brew, we made good time.  Especially with no one demanding to ride on our shoulders. The scenery was pretty impressive- we started out at 9:45am on misty country trails and then the second half was the high, chalky bluffs of the Seven Sisters and Beechy Head right along the coast. UPDATE:  According to google maps, it looks like we walked about 11 miles. Jules, Mark and Rich outside the B&B, ready to set off...

We spent the day in Kent at Sissinghurst Castle - cloudy around Southfields, sunny in Kent. It was a random excursion, and it turned out really well.  We all had a great time walking the grounds and even came home with a bucketful of blackberries and sloes! Trying to fly with the wind Budding "too cool for school" look?

D is taking ballet lessons with a bunch of the other local kids.   Angelina Ballerina is a growing part of her life right now.  Maybe she's headed here ? She got her first set of slippers just last week, and was told to sleep in them to wear them in.

C's name at the top of his picture