Odd's Farm

While the girls and I were in England visiting Katie, Terry and India, we spent the day at Odd's Farm.

We were able to feed the goats.....

Hug the goats.....

Kiss the goats....

Drive tractors (pretend)....

Be with cousins....

 

 

Swing...

It was a really nice day!

Jolly 'Ole England - Part Two

On Saturday, we went to Windsor Castle, which was a first for me.  I can't believe I've never been there before.....  it's really just a short train ride outside of London, and such a cute town.

And it was such a beautifully sunny day!  Although HOT!

Here is a picture of me and my little tourist.  It's hard to see, but she has headphones on for her very own audio tour.  They had a kids version, and she was walking around listening the whole time.  Well, except when Mommy wasn't quick enough to plug the next tour number into the guide......

We arrived just in time to watch the changing of the guard.  Equally as impressive as at Buckingham!

The family pic.  When will we learn to pull Grace's shirt down when we're taking pictures??

 

Cute Windsor all dolled up for the Queen's Jubilee.

Enjoying our ice lollies (popsicle).  Windsor was a two frozen treat type day!

Here is an album of all of our pictures from England this go around:  England August 2012

Jolly 'Ole England - Part One

This post is long overdue and past due...... but with all the elbow drama and working through the new school schedule, I let it slide....

So I'm back, again.... for a few updates.

When I broke my elbow, Katie sprang into action and came to our rescue.  She drove over from London, and took the girls and I home with her.

We got to hang out with Katie, Terry and India and live like real 'Londoners'.  We went with Katie and India to her music class.  The girls really enjoyed that!  We hung out in their garden and garden house, and fed the fish.  We went shopping.  Which was a blessing!  I needed to get Grace a few things for school, and the elbow threw a wrench into all my plans.  But luckily there is a Marks & Spencers and Mothercare just up the street, and we were able to get that all out of the way.  We also went to the Royal Botanical Gardens one day and took a picnic and played on the playground.

But on Wednesday, Matt got to town, and we played tourist.  We met him down by Borough Market, and walked through all the stalls and grabbed lunch.  Borough Market is a huge outdoor market in the middle of London, and they have EVERYTHING.  Afterwards we strolled down the Thames to see the sites.

Here is Matt & Audrey with Big Ben and Parliament across the River Thames.

Our lovely hostesses, Katie and India

The London Eye, Big Ben, Parliment and the River Thames.

A levitating street performer....we're still trying to figure out how they did it!!!

Big Ben, Parliament, and Westminster Abbey in the background.

How many Caspermeyer's can you shove in one phone booth?

We also got to see the Olympic Rings over the Thames!!

We finished the day off with some Fish and Chips and then headed back to Casa de Rawlings for some much needed rest!

Next up....A Sunny (&hot) Day in Windsor!

Pre-Father Christmas

Based on all the grooving going on, I really thought this would be the year she'd sit in Santa's lap!

Father Christmas at Harrods

We took the girls to see Father Christmas at Harrods.  I tried to talk to Grace quite a bit beforehand about sitting in his lap and telling him what she wanted for Christmas.  About 2 minutes before we went in to see him, Matt said...'I bet she doesn't sit in his lap."  And sure enough, when we got into the room with Father Christmas, Grace did ok walking up to him, but would not sit in his lap.  She stood in front of him, while he talked to her for awhile.  She did manage to tell him that she wanted a red race car for Christmas (news to Mommy and Daddy!!).  He gave her a special pin commemorating her visit to see him at Harrods, a story about the Gingerbread Man, and a gold chocolate coin.  I thought surely after all these gifts, she will sit on his lap for one picture......

 .......not so much!

 It is an improvement over last year.....  Here's a link to last years Santa attempts:


2010 Visits with Santa

St. Andrew's Santa


She edged a little closer to take a picture with her sister and Father Christmas....

Extreme Baby had no fear!

A (RARE) Night Out on the Town

While we were in London, Matt and I enjoyed a rare night out on the town to meet up with some good friends, Mohit and Erica, that recently relocated there.

So good to meet up with some friends, and enjoy some quality adult time catching up.  Thanks to Granny, Hapa, Uncle Terry and Aunt Katie for keeping an ear open for two little girls sleeping soundly upstairs while we went out.  Much needed!

Pre-Harrods Photo Shoot

Before we headed out to see Father Christmas aka Santa at Harrods, I tried to get some good shots of the girls in their pretty dresses and with their baby cousin, India.
 

 

I think Audrey is almost at the perfect age for photo shoot - she was hamming it up for the camera!

Ham Bone

 

Smirk

 

This picture really speaks to how these girls feel about each other.

 

Beautiful Sisters

The Caspermeyer Rawlings Cousins

Thanksgiving in London

We went to London Saturday morning via the Euro Star (high speed train).  It is less then 2 hrs on the train; total time door to door, is about 4 hours or so.

My parents were already in London.  Mom arrived at the beginning of the month to help prepare for baby India's arrival.  Dad arrived a week before we did.

We were all so excited to meet baby India.  She was only 8 days old when we got to meet her!

Grace was pretty gentle with her, as a seasoned big sister.

Audrey just wanted to pull her socks off.

India casting a magic spell on Audrey!

 

Aunt Katie and Uncle Terry hosted the perfect Thanksgiving dinner for all of us!  Thank you!

And on our last morning, we tried to get a picture of all the Alley Caspermeyer Rawlings Ladies.  Uh, yah.... good luck with that!

Grandkids!