Park, Park, Park & Park

We had a mean game of charades this NYE before dinner. It may have been fueled by the kids having their first taste of champagne.

Outside the gate to Canterbury Cathedral, there were a group of pilgrims just finishing their walk from London. We joined the service inside commemorating Archbishop Thomas Beckets death 845 years earlier.

The cathedral is in the distance.

At Whitstable.  Had a great lunch at Samphire and then a windy walk along the harbour and beach.

Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house... ...People were dressed in fuzzy warm matching pj's. ..

There is a skyscraper in London called the walkie talkie because of its shape- it is wider on all sides at the top than at the bottom.  It's pretty impressive to stand at its base and look up. At the top, it has a visitors deck and garden- and a area where you can step outside onto a terrace. We all journeyed into London on Christmas eve morning for a view.

Just after singing the opening Christmas Carols.

Taro, Isaac,  C.

Age 7 Beautiful.

C won an award at school this week. And it sounds like it wasn't one of those "participation for everyone" awards. Over the last few months, we've spent our Wednesday mornings shuffling C out of bed, shoving a bit of food down his throat and getting him to school for 8am Running Club. He's been less than enthusiastic some mornings. It turns out he's done well running. And hasn't complained to the coach. Generally showing a good attitude. So on Thursday, the school recognised that effort.

Front row in the pink trousers. Lovely.

Boris Johnson, the mayor of London refers to ping pong as "whiff waff" in a friendly way. Our kitchen table is the new competition court. This may be the best spent £5 recently- Thanks to MJ!

All week was a blur of excitement. Big plans for a sleepover and a rather advanced movie for 10 year olds. - Mission Impossible with Tom Cruise. After the movie, Taro, Issac, C and I went down to the park in the dark and played hide and seek and tag with a flashlight. "Epic" it was called.

...and his gift- a brand new bike- is awaiting him.

C, just in the last few days, has generated quite an interest in architecture and interior design. He stayed up well past his bedtime tonight to construct a 3D model of what his future flat will look like. 

Indoor climbing on a rainy day.

Painted up as a zombie.  Off to Nicky's house for pranks.  We spent the afternoon rubbing mud and blood into his clothes and even burned dome holes into them. I think the facepainted added 2-3 years; he looked 12 when he left.

Dressed as a great green witch and off to Amber's for trick or treating.

C ran with his Sheringdale classmates in the annual Putney Schools Cross Country Race on Saturday.  It's a 2km run through parkland nearby. He enjoyed it and finished middle of the pack. In the front row: Isaac, Adam, Joe, C, Nicky, Jacob, Tino.

We found ourselves in Haga, a quaint section of Gothenburg around the late morning. This meant we participated in Fika - Swedish late morning teatime. We stopped at a typical bakery and had the typical cinnamon rolls that are the size of your head- see the window behind.  

D and I just picked up C from his weekend Cubs camp.  They had a blast running through the woods, campfires and breaking all parental guidance and staying up very late. D and I had just rushed home prior from Heathrow.  We caught an early morning flight back from Gothenburg. We had a lovely time with B, who showed us all the sights. Smaka, a Swedish local resturant, was the biggest hit- lots of variations on herring. And now I'm in charge until Tuesday when B arrives back from Sweden.

Over pizza tonight, C educated the three of us about the new language sweeping the Sheringdale playground. Instead of the traditional- "Good day my fine brother. How are you on this crisp autumnal morn?" The kids nowadays just say- "Sup bro". And apparently the word "lame" has gone completely through the wash and now means "cool". OMG.

Michael made his regular trek to Southfields this evening, and brought a bountiful spread from his garden. The beans are actually purple, but turn green when cooked. Tomatoes came in three varieties.  The little things at the end are cucumelons- a cross between cucumbers and melons.

Out at Hatchlands- a National Trust property in Surrey Our favorite climbing tree in Wimbledon Common Our breakfast together in the early morning

It's 7:15 on Friday morning. We've recently slipped into having breakfast together- just the two of us- before C and B come down. Usually sitting on the kitchen counter...

We've had repeated discussions lately with C about independence- walking places on his own. Tonight he took himself off to Cubs on his own- just down the street, out of range from this picture.

We just dropped off D at Holy Trinity Church after tea for her first Brownies meeting. Despite the look on her face in the photo,  she was excitedly looking forward to it.  (She's getting weary of Dad taking all these pictures). On a related note: C stayed home on his own for the 20 minutes while we ran D over. We're starting to test him independently holding the fort.

After a long week of activities outside the house, we've started the routine of a family game on Friday evening. All those crazy kids on Facebook have their "throwback Thursdays"; we had our throwback Friday,  listening to 1980's music and playing a 1980's vintage board game- Ratrace.

Jessie and D at the RAC An ice cream scoop the size of your head in Clarendon Hills, USA At Maggie Daley Park in Chicago D and Issy after Ballet At the pool in Bermuda

C and I in the stands- Cubs and Sox fans all sitting together. C eating a Chicago-style hotdog with EVERYTHING on it, including hot peppers! C, Will and Jake before the first pitch At the Picasso Sculpture in the center of the Loop Outside the Sears Tower

We stopped in Sheen on the way back from the race for a pub lunch.  The kids had their own table, and here's  the scene after lunch- all reading. D is hiding in the front chair.

...on a beautiful day in Richmond. In 2 hours and 9 minutes.

C is now in year 5. D is now in Year 3.

I took the kids and their friends swimming today at the RAC.  They all taught each other flips, tumbles, jumps and dives of the edge. Taro, C, Jessie, D And then we spent the afternoon at Coronation Park playing cricket and dodge ball... Alex, C, Taro, Issac

We made the rounds of nine different beaches on our US trip.  Here's the round-up: Zuma Beach , CA:  Huge waves, dolphins and seals. Venice Beach , CA: Interesting people watching along the Boardwalk; Met Sari +++ Blackrocks , UP: Jumping into Superior off the granite rocks from 30 ft up. Marquette, Lower Harbor , UP: Flips off the pier wall and even D jumping in. Marquette, South Beach , MI:  Shallow; with Tony, Mary Catherine and Corrine. North Lake , UP:  Where C and I camped, acted as our bath. Lake Michigan , MI:  The Ryans Cottage; lovely catch-up with three generations. 12th Street Beach , IL: Beautiful Chicago Skyline views and beach glass. Miller Beach , IN:  Bella and I got away for a few days here.

Here's a few shots of the end of our trip.