Park, Park, Park & Park

C took all the pictures that make up this collage, as well as a setting up the entire farm. His first project for the blog.

C's 5th birthday was on Saturday. It was a pirate theme, with 30+ kids! And it was a success, even though the Birthday Boy dressed up as Spiderman at the last minute and got a bloody nose halfway through the activities. Bells did lots of games, and we had Nate, Nettie and Bobbie help out. Picture and video to follow later. I did the cake, as usual. Lemon inside, vanilla frosting and coconut on top. There was even mashed, bloody pirate bones inside!

Nate and I took an afternoon stroll through Hampsted Heath on Thursday so that he could get a bit of green. We also enjoyed a nice pub lunch at The Spaniards Inn just on the edge- around since 1585.

Uncle Nate arrived in London this morning on holiday from Afghanistan. He got here at just the right time- Nate and I got to walk C to school together. A primary school playground it a bit of a change from Kabul. Then off to Starbucks: Months of dreams of Venti Vanilla Lattes finally satisfied. Here he is later with D, both looking a little worse for wear: Nate having just flown overnight from Dubai and D under the weather from a chicken pox vaccine.

Back here , Mark, Judith and Logan came to town from Washington DC. Logan is about the same age as D, and about the same size, it turns out. Judith arrived Sunday for a short business trip, so we re-acquainted her with the kids and Southfields. She got a taste of St. Barnabas' Guy Fawkes fireworks (weak) and Bells' famous Butternut Squash soup (strong). The kids acted like monkeys most of the time.

Cleaning out my mobile today:

C came home from school today and told me the entire history of Guy Fawkes . So of course, we needed to go see him burn on a bonfire and witness fireworks in his honor at our local park. And there happened to be a Carnival there as well. With lots of flashing lights and rides. And cotton candy. And to add to entire experience, it was windy and raining. We all donned our wellies and water proof jackets (suits for some), grabbed a baguette sandwich from the best French deli in the UK, sold the car to pay the admission, and... Had a really good time. C took D on a few rides, we bumped into several kids from Sheringdale and Louisa with Ollie (family friends). Nobody got cold and miserable. The fireworks were good (by UK standards!) And the kids got to stay up past their bedtime. And I resisted the chanting for cotton candy.

At Sheringdale, C seems to spend a lot of energy on junk modelling. This is where the kids take used boxes, milk cartons, paper towel tubes, etc and make ROCKETSHIPS and CANNONS. So much effort, that he bleeds the place dry of materials. We've taken to sending C to school with a bag of what was once left out for the recycling collection. Something about a creative, engineering mind...

C, D and I went to the park yesterday, on what could be the best last day of the year. We even had a picnic supper there as it got dark. While C dug in the sand, D and I hit the swings. She really enjoys swinging away- higher Daddy!- with her eyes closed.

Following on from the previous post on singing... Grandpa Wigan came by yesterday evening to see the kids. He very masterfully acted as the kids' jukebox- singing requested nursery rhymes to them.