Great Shot

Trying to capture Alathea's smile is quite a challenge, but here's a great photo a friend took of her recently.

Jubilee Picnic

Sophia's school hosted a picnic last Saturday in honor of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee (60 year reign). I had a cultural experience there that I'm still coming to grips with--a Punch & Judy puppet show. Maybe you have to be British, or at least European to properly appreciate it? See Sophia watching it in the video clip below.

puppet show + face painting + good friends + balloon launch = fun day!

One in a Million

Kudos to Wes for getting this shot, which my mom requested as a Mother's Day present. After our recent attempt at a family photo, I can tell you it's incredible that they're both smiling, looking, and holding still in the same photo!

(Note to all of Sophia's interested fans: here she's sporting her summer school uniform, but she never looks like this at school. Although it's nearly summer, it's felt more like winter for a long time, and her summer dress is always covered up with a cardigan. Still, she soldiers on. If all the other girls are wearing summer dresses, who cares if it's hailing and she also needs to wear mittens!?)

In Action

We enjoyed a picnic and playtime at one of our favorite parks with one of our favorite families this morning. Here are some shots of the kids in action:

 

 

 

For the first time ever, the big girls finally conquered the climbing frame and big slide!

Pre-Queen Show

Queen Elizabeth and her husband visited our town today as part of on-going celebrations around the UK in honor of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee (60 years on the throne). Alathea and I (with lots of others) waited for about 45 minutes, and here are some things we saw:

As patriotic as an American 2-year-old can be at such an event...but not as patriotic as the lady below:

 

 

 Security

God Save the Queen!

Patience rewarded

"We Love Luton!"

My parents have had a lot of people ask them, since they moved to Luton, England, "Why would you move to Luton!?" But there are two little girls who have a totally different opinion of Luton, and here are some of the reasons why:

 Watching videos with Grandpa

 Special presents from Grandma: in this case, a Chuggington activity pack (one of the girls' favorite shows)

 Playing with things we don't have at home

 Extra grown-ups to play a game or read a book with