Keeping the Natives Unrestless

 Alathea in a car she kept coming back to at a local park.

 Sophia decorating a royal goblet at a prince/princess dress-up birthday party.

And a royal game of pass the parcel...

Our First Ripe Tomato

We've been waiting for this moment for months, as I, without terribly green thumbs, have tried to keep alive the cherry tomato plant Sophia started from seed.  And tonight, Sophia is going to eat her tomato for dinner!

Sophia at the Seaside

Good friends took Sophia to the seaside a little over a week ago--a dream come true for a girl who'd never experienced the beach before:

 

 

 Building sand castles

 Writing her name in the sand

On the train home

How to Make Your Children Cry

Try to get them to keep their backs against a wall, not wiggle, hold their heads straight, look toward the camera, not open their mouths, preferably not smile, while avoiding shadows anywhere in the visa photo. It was hard work on everyone involved, and we had to resort to chocolate bribery and laying Alathea on a cushion in the end. Here are some classic shots:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Collage

I've lost track of what we've done since my last proper post eons ago, so I thought a collage of shots/videos taken in recent weeks may be the best approach at getting caught up...

(Facebookers, http://wbsenglish.blogspot.com to view videos)

In our garden

 

 

 

Sophia's footprints

Getting a trim

The long day is over

The pizza was great!

Fun with Wes's good friend, Chris

 At a park in our town

 

With Sophia's friend, Molly

 Alathea LOVES swinging

 

Sophia loves walking on walls

 A walk in the woods near us

 

Mommy and Daddy have to initiate potty sessions, but Alathea's willing and very happy to get a sweet when successful!

  A trip to St. James' Park in Central London (Buckingham Palace in background)

Pray for London

You've probably seen the news about 3 nights of unprecedented violence all over London (and spreading to other English cities). We're okay, although quite a few hooded people were yelling outside our flat and blocking the road for a bit last night, and some windows were smashed in our town. We're all hunkering down and hoping the new strategies the government and police are employing prevent further escalation tonight. If you think of us, please pray for London.