Park, Park, Park & Park

I spent today moving Insider Publishing from Lime Street to Eastcheap Street. B, C and D came to meet me at the end. Here's C in my new office. Unfortunately the Park kids seem to be predisposed to damaging their fingers. On their way over, D stuck her fingers in a fan and arrived yelling bloody murder. No long term damage but still some sore and red finger tips

To Godfather Andy. He sends all of his godchildren gifts on HIS birthday.

In the last several weeks, C has really gotten the hang of reading.   Bella ordered a series of Horrid Henry books which challenge his vocabulary and ability.  So now at night, he's reading to us.  He's even showing some enthusiasm for it. Last night, without sounding it out, he rattled off "encyclopaedia".  Then, when Horrid Henry said "all right" in a stroppy teenager tone, C said it pitch perfectly. He even spends time reading to D after our storytime.

C with a collection if his friends- Tino, Jacob, Issac, Joe and others.

After my run this morning, I came home to find D awake at the top of the stairs. She then came down to the kitchen with me. While I compiled my usual coffee and yougurt, she sang me songs from her perch on the counter.

On the edge of a big puddle. On Sunday after church, we had another fantastic lunch at Salt and Pepper.  Steph, Colin and Gwynie joined us. Here are D and Gwynie in the past . And we all then went stomping and scootering around Wimbledon Common.  It's been a wet spring, but Sunday was bright, dry and sunny. Speckled in mud. C brought along his bike.  He felt compelled to ride through all of the muddy puddles he could find- some twice. Side Note:  It was 6 years ago Monday that C was christened at St. Pauls.

The current instalment in the series of the kids growth- Christian Height:  4 ft, 1 inch Weight:  47 lbs. Dorothy Height: 3 ft, 3 inches Weight:  27 lbs. And here's some past data points-   C's hand and D's hand .   If you want lots of other measurements, just type "proportion" into the search bar at the top of the blog.

D's Easter Egg C's Car C's Collage from School D practising her writing and spelling

We found ourselves wandering through the rain today at a National Trust property south of London.  It was wet, muddy and a little chilly, but everyone enjoyed themselves.  No complaining.

Julian, Mark, Rich and I are out for our semi annual countryside experience. We're walking from Marlow to Henley today. Right now, we're at the half way point in a great pub called the Flower Pot. UPDATE:  We did 11 miles, we think.  The original post above was done half way through.  In fact, we went to Henley, and then went another 2 miles beyond to Shipton to catch a train.  We had planned on canoeing the route, but with the rain this spring, the Thames was too high, and the authorities wouldn't allow anyone on the river. UPDATE 2:   Here's the first walk we did together.

Not only a sailor, but a rower as well. We had a fantastic time in Germany recently- attending Philipp and Cornelia's wedding.  Travelling worked out well- planes , trains and automobiles. It was in Munster- a gem of a city in Westphalia.  It was bombed significantly in the war, but has been sympathetically rebuilt with a thought towards pedestrian traffic. The wedding itself stretched the whole day- a Catholic ceremony at noon (all in German), a walk to the reception/lunch, and then full dinner and dancing late into the night.  D fell asleep at about 10, and C made it all the way until we left at 12:30!  The Germans know how to throw a high class party!  And that was after we arrived Friday eve into the middle of a Westphalian themed gathering at the best local pub! In the center of Munster The kids behaved themselves when they should have (in public), but slightly less so in private (when they should have been napping be...

... We should have been more specific about whose clothes they put on.