Park, Park, Park & Park

C and D are on holiday this week from school, so Bells brought them into Central London for a tour. I met them briefly for a walk up 311 steps to the top of Monument memorial. Its a memorial to the Great London Fire of 1666, which C has been studying at school. The kids didn't mind the height; Mum and Dad did though.

C's design. Dad's manual labor.

D has been coming along well with her reading.  Last night, she read a few books to me- Pip, Kip's Bed and I'm Dressed.  All three are simple and D sounds out each word well. This morning, I woke up to the sound coming out of the kids room of D counting in 2's.

C, D and I met my old Ashridge MBA classmate Arvind this morning in Central London.  He's here on business-over from Dubai. When I travelled to see Arvind in Calcutta several years back, his two kids were the same age as C and D are now. D even made a necklace gift for him.

After many days of hanging on by just a thread (vein?), C lost his first tooth today. Right in the front, middle, lower row.   It had been loose for some time- his tongue would flick it around, to the disapproving (grossed out?) looks of his parents.  Of course, it's the first of many.  Still a very exciting day for C; he couldn't get to sleep tonight. As I write, it is tucked tightly in a small box, awaiting the Tooth Fairy, under his pillow. The Sacred Tooth-Holding Box is actually the box that our wedding rings arrived in- fitting, I think.

We ventured out of London on Saturday, down to the deepest part of East Sussex.  Down to John and Sheila Van Mauriks in Hartfield.  See here and here for past good times. The walks in the Ashdown Forest were glorious, and the kids were suitably occupied with Legos and other toys. C even managed to put on a brave face after a tumble waist-deep into a creek. These pictures don't do the trip justice, but will bring back fond memories later.

There was lots of excitement on Pirbright about Dad making a quick trip to the US.  I went back to Hinsdale for my 25th high school reunion. American high schools are just like you see in the movies- parades, football games and dances.  C and D should experience it some day, some how.  I had a fantastic time. Staying back with Mom and Dad was the icing on the cake.  Here we all are before I left on Monday.