Park, Park, Park & Park

My brother showed up at 3pm Christmas afternoon, forcing us to sadly miss the Queens Speech on tv. C and D were very happy to see him, as were our parents. He's been working in Kabul, Afghanistan for the last 9 months hence the outerwear.

The new London Park Christmas Tradition is pajamas! This means an annual update of the pj drawer for both C and D on behalf of the US side. This year, they came via my Great Grandmother Isotalo in the Upper Pennisula of Michigan- see here (picture) and here (map) . Here's a late Christmas Eve Dance to celebrate the occasion.

Bella's brother Adrian stopped by this week to drop off a few gifts (and pick up some others). We quickly snapped a few pictures. The car that C holds was a gift from him, which is powered by a balloon (and makes a great noise!).

The Grandparents are now here! Arriving late Thursday night, the festivities have now begun. Shopping, Sunday roasts, and lots of excitement from C and D.

There is still a bit of the Pirate Fever around the house from C's 4th birthday.

With Dorothy's first steps, we thought it time for a development update. She weighs in at: 20 lbs. And stretches: 78 cm. Her hips, which from birth needed monitoring, are now fine, according to the doctors. She was diagnosed with Duane Syndrome about 6 months ago (she's missing an optical nerve- Read more here ). It's a life long condition and nothing can be done about it. So, she just won't be a RAF fighter pilot. Arguably, she's still able to be her choice of US President or UK Prime Minister, like her brother .

Well, the 20th (Friday) was C's fourth birthday. He got his first bike (really a like-a-bike; a bike without pedals. Genius inventions!). We ran all around the neighborhood this morning with it, and he's learned how to glide and balance. We then had a big Pirate Birthday Party at the house for him on Saturday! All of his friends had great costumes- which resulted in foam sword fights around the house all afternoon and lots of shouts of "Treasure!!!". As we've done in the past , here is the centerpiece of the meal- a joint creation between Bells and I. Video to follow of both momentous events.

Dear Thomasina- I had a lovely time with you today at Deen’s Farm in Morden. Starting with our porridge and apples for breakfast, we spent alot of time together. My favourite part was showing you the friendly goats. When we made sounds like cows- MOOO- I thought yours was the best. Do you remember the chicks and what they look like after 4 weeks? And the big wooden pig showing us where bacon comes from? Thanks again, and I really look forward to our next weekend together- Christian

Randomly, both kids came down for breakfast in similar shirts. Camera out. Food everywhere.

C started reception this past September (which in the US is nursery school or kindergarten level). This means that he is now on the regular school schedule that all kids are on in the UK. Which means our holiday time is dictated to us, and everyone in the UK with kids is on the same schedule (An unintended effect is that anything associated with holidays or kids gets expensive, crowded and/or both during these specific weeks in the year). Well, we had a stay-cation! No France for us. I had a few days off from work and Grandma came over from Chicago for the week. We all had a marvelous time- nice and balanced. Time outdoors, time with C & D's friends, time for Bells and I on our own, meals with Mom, museums. D may have even taken her first few tentative steps...

In the on-going series of hand growth pictures ( here are some earlier ones of D), here is one for C. Soon after this was taken, the hand was covered in cinnamon as C started taste testing the spice cabinet.

We had great friends Mike and Di over last weekend for a little playtime and then dinner. Here are Penelope, Charlie, Christian and Dorothy at cocktail time.

A highlight of Uncle Nate's time with us (this stay!) was Bodiam Castle . It's out in East Sussex, built back in the 1300's. C was slightly afraid of heights at the top, but that didn't stop Uncle Nate from getting there.

Yesterday, D spent her first full day in nursery. Bells is going back to full time work at COI, but only three days a week. It's been a really enjoyable 15 months of maternity leave for her. C started pre-school today. His parents most likely felt a bit more anxiety about it than he did. All reports early in the morning were fine- C spied his good mate right after finding his jacket peg and tore off after him.

Over the last few weeks, I've collected bits of all kinds. In here are Grandpa as a duck, Adam at Caerphilly Castle attacking people, Danny propping up D in Greenwich, and Nate savoring meat after a long, traumatic absence.

My brother arrived in London today, on his way from Afghanistan back to the US. C has been excited all week, and D remembered him from his stay with us 6 months ago. Video to follow.

While Mark, Judith and Logan were here a few weeks back, C found a caterpillar in the park. It was adopted as The First Pet. We punched some holes in a jam jar and put some wood and soil in it. It gets fed new green leaves of various kinds- mint, grass, sage, etc (he's a bit posh)- every few days. It has survived so far, including a journey in the car to Wales and back.

My cousin Danny arrived a few days ago, en route to Viet Nam(!). C has had a fantastic time giving him a taste of London, although he's been here several times in the past. Here they are in Westminster. We then hopped on the river taxi and went out to the Thames Barrier, and stopped at Greenwich for a spell in the park.

We spent a lovely time with David and Camellia- family friends from Bella's side. They live in Wales, just around Cardiff. We visited the beach at Rest Bay, Saint Fagans National History Museum grounds , and even Caerphilly Castle. And here we are with Sari (friend of Bells from school), Jonathan, and their kids Jack and Zoe at the end of an action-packed day.

On the bay in Cardiff, in the rain, C still finds colourful things to do.

At my UK swearing in ceremony...

As of today, C is: 41 inches tall and 35 pounds. As of today, D is: 29 inches tall and 18 pounds.

Wednesday I swore allegiance to the Queen. I now have British citizenship- just like the kids. Which really just means we get through European airports faster because we don't have to split up at passport control. No, I didn't have to give up my US passport- never will.

C needs glasses. And they arrived on Thursday. C and I have a deal- he wears his, when I wear mine. He's longsighted, so these will help him see objects up close. And he should be out of them in a few years- like braces in America.

My room-mate from University, Mark (and his wife Judith and their son Logan) came to visit. As you'll remember Mark is D's Godfather . Here they are reunited in the UK!

Not to be out-done, D had an almost entire ice cream cone at the Fire Truck convention. She ate all but the last one inch of the cone, and when that was taken away (to finally get in the car without a mess) she screamed bloody murder.

We found ourselves out in Hampshire on Sunday morning for a Fire Truck convention. All kinds- vintage, new, airport fire trucks, and even a few military vehicles. It was quite a treat for C. He even got to help work a hose!

When my brother was younger (really younger!) he used to climb alot of trees. His time with us last year seems to have rubbed off on C . No evidence with D yet.

Generally, I'm still handling bathtime for the kids. C is getting to be a bit of a handful, and D is just starting to appreciate the fun. Once we got D out of the picture, we snapped this of C last week.

We all spent the night at our friends Duncan and Katie's (and Harry and Ben) house last night. They actually live right around the corner, but it's great for the kids and good for the wine drinkers. Breakfast consisted of croissants and lots of orange juice for the kids. And tea for the fuzzy parents.

Well, the morning post brought word that my application for British citizenship has been approved. The next step is for me to attend the ceremony where I pledge my loyalty to the United Kingdom (most importantly, I do not have to forgo my American citizenship for this). This means that I can now work and travel throughout the EU with no restrictions. It is all slightly surreal. No I match C and D .

C's godfather Andy (and Sophie) came to dinner on Monday eve. They arrived in just enough time to share a kiddie cocktail with him, and read a bedtime story. Both the drink and story were a much better success than last time Andy and Sophie visited- see here ... And here ...

In the on-going drama of D's growth, here is the latest installment of her hand. See the last installment here .

C, after a quick dip in the fountain, scampered up the nearest tree.

Well, in the quick growth of a kid, it has come and gone. We had a lovely day yesterday with a few close friends and some champagne in the backyard. Some nice gifts and a pink home-made cake. D was very well behaved (C was slightly less so, running around with his mates).

Living over here, we need to take some opportunities to teach the kids about America, Americana, American things and people. After C and D had their naps, we all watched the highlights from... Glastonbury - the British Woodstock-type music fest. The headliner last night was... Bruce Springsteen , who did most of his big hits, except- travesty- Born in the USA. We watched a few, but all danced to Glory Days, which then led into Louie, Louie. Now it's about time for D's first birthday.

I just noticed that the last post is number 505. That's a lot of Cs and Ds. Do you remember this one ?

C got himself in a bit of trouble today. Bells came down during naptime to find shampoo over several of his toys and on his bedroom carpet. This has become a bit of a trend over the last few months- paints, water, toilet paper, and crayons have all featured in his creative exploits during quiet time. Unfortunately, he is now feeling the wrath of the parent. No “Here Comes the Fire Engine” dvd, no pudding tonight, and no stories at bedtime. No doubt there will be other challenges, but there is only so much cleaning and lecturing a parent can do to a three year old.

C found a rather large log at Claremont Park today (as well as a few other bits of the forest). He insisted on carrying it around a lake and into the cafe for tea. And then it came home in the trunk of the car with us, and is in thee backyard. He should be sleeping well tonight.

Equal time for siblings: One of the best pictures to date.

As a three year old, C makes his way through all manner of moods, emotions and the resulting facial expressions. Here are two of the good ones recently. First, he attended a sports day where he did quite well at the running races. Here is his enthusiasm. Second, here is his satisfaction while eating one of the best roast pork sandwiches ever at the local village fair.

C went to a Pirate themed birthday party today. That's his shipmate Aaran next to him (it was his party and he decided that Spiderman was much cooler at the last minute). C had a brilliant charcoal beard, ripped jeans, and bandanna with built-in eye patch!

Since we did a christening in the US, we thought we should do a church blessing here in the UK to balance things out. Here is Uncle Adrian. Sunday, the 31st of May, we gathered Godparents and family at St. Barnabas here in Southfields. And then had a bit of champers back at the house.

Here is C getting his haircut at the barbershop I went to as a kid. And now on display afterwards under the banner of my old high school.

Just before I left, Bells, the kids and my Mom ventured by train into Chicago. They took a water taxi along the river, through the skyscrapers, to Lake Michigan. And on their way back stopped off at Millennium Park - home to a recent re-development with fountains and great sculpture.

In the waning days of our time in the US, we found just a bit more Americana. C's Godfather Ubu took us to a diner where the food is served by train! That's him behind C, and notice his kids milling about in the background. Posted from O'Hare Airport.

D was christened on the 10th of May at the Church of the Holy Nativity. D was perfectly behaved except for the 1 minute while She was in Amie's (the priests) hands. And here is a collection of the attending Godparents- Nettie, (me), Mark Segal, Michael Anderson.