The Heart of the Great Alone

There was an incredible photography exhibition at the Queen's Gallery at Buckingham Palace capturing the race to be the first expedition to reach the south pole.  This year marks 100 years since the journey of Captain Scott's "ill-fated journey."  It was a beautiful show and an amazing (and haunting) story.  We found it to be really interesting.

You can see the photos here and you can even hear the audio guide narration to each scene.


http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/microsites/HOTGA/MicroSectionList.asp?exid=439

http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/microsites/HOTGA/MicroSectionList.asp?exid=439

West Hampstead

West Hampstead is a charming little area that is only a 10 minute bus ride from our place.  We took a jaunt up there together back one saturday in April and enjoyed some yummy crepes (which we waited in line for an hour for)!  We strolled around at the little market and picked up some fresh veggies and a lemon thyme plant that was just the same as the ones we had for table decorations at our wedding reception way back when (which has since died because I left it without water for too long while on one of our later vacations.  Oops!  I am the WORST plant mother ever!).  I found some steals at the great little charity shop there as well.  We came across a beautiful church there that looked quite old- but then had this crazy vibrant blue door.  It was awesome- so we took some quick pics.

Dancing Queen

Any time there is music playing, Ady cannot stop herself from dancing.  This is proof.  We were in the mall walking along and heard some good beats.  She could not contain herself.

Row, row, row your boat

The day after my parents left London (early April), we traveled across the city to Hammersmith Bridge to see the annual and much anticipated Oxford vs. Cambridge rowing competition.  I will admit that I was a bit skeptical about this.  How exciting could a rowing competition really be?  But actually, it did end up being quite fun- and more action packed than we expected.  There were so many people lining the Thames there that it was near impossible for us to see much.  Though we did get a quick glimpse of the two boats (between the other heads and shoulders of all the people in front of us) as they zoomed by.  Not too long after, and just when we thought the show was over as far as we were concerned, we learned that the race was suddenly brought to an abrupt halt when one of the boats encountered a bump in the road.  There was a swimmer in the river who "just happened to be in the water during the race" and was nearly turned into road kill after being batted around a few times.  The person was alright- and supposedly was trying to throw a wrench in things and interrupt the race.  He succeeded and probably acquired some nice battle wounds in the process.  It made for some good entertainment and squabble.

We decided to take a quick walk around the area after we saw the race pass by.  As we crossed Hammersmith Bridge, there was a man pointing a camera at us and then zoomed in on Ady, who was wearing her Dora helmet and was riding on her scooter.  After a few seconds he stopped and then told us Ady was just on live TV.  Later, someone recognized her and said they had seen her on TV also.  So, I guess that was Ady's first glimpse at stardom.  Next stop Hollywood.

Our First Visitors!

I am doing some major catching up on this blog- so here we rewind to the very end of March and beginning of April when my parents braved the long flight and trekked over to London.  It was great to see family again.  They stayed for about 8 days.  In all my excitement, I must not have been paying much attention on the escalator because I about killed us all when the suitcase I was holding got stuck on the side of the escalator and started forcing me to fall back on my mom behind me.  As hard as I tried, I could not counteract the force pushing me around and down.  It was the most bizarre feeling!  Luckily, a man ran up and grabbed me and lifted me and the suitcase back up before we all fell like dominoes down the sharp metal stairs.  Phew!

While my parents were here, we visited as many iconic  London places as possible including Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Tower of London, Greenwich, Stonehenge, Bath, Windsor Castle and more.  We had a fun time taking photos of Flat Stanley in all the places we went.  Flat Stanley was mailed to us by our nephew who needed pictures of Stanley in far away places.  Coincidentally, we started noticing many other people in the various locations we stopped at also had Flat Stanleys of their own.  I had no idea there were so many Flat Stanley enthusiasts out there.  Ady was starting to get sick with a bad cold when my parents arrived- so we had to send them on their way for a couple days while she burned through her fever and cough.  I think it is a major part of the London experience, though, and a must for all visitors- to get yourself lost in the city and then find your way back on the tube.  Unfortunately, the weather was complete crap- cold and rainy- the entire time they were here- and it has not stopped since they left!  My parents were probably happy to return back to the quiet, sunny, and mountainous corner of the world from whence they came.  Before they left, they were nice to watch Ady for one evening while Tyler and I caught a West End show- the Broadway of London.  We decided to go see Chicago.  We loved the show- and it was so nice to have a date night together!  Afterwards, instead of taking the tube home, we just walked most the way home.  For the first time, I got a glimpse of the London night life.  I must say that I like London a whole lot better at night!  The mood of the city is so much more relaxed and enjoyable then.  We really need to get out more, huh?!  Any takers on babysitting?

Good Friends

We have made some great friends here.  Ady is the best of friends with a cute little Japanese girl named Ruruko.  They have this undeniable connection.  Everyone who sees them knows instantly that they are bosom buddies.  When Ady first met Ruruko, Ruruko could not speak any english at all- but they still could play and communicate by making each other laugh.  Ruruko has learned to speak english very well in only a few months- and it is hilarious to hear the two of them now.  While out on a walk with nursery class yesterday, the teachers all said that Ady and Ruruko were giggling the whole time and that they sounded like a couple of old ladies out to tea having a great time.  

They are both the same size- and tie for the littlest girls in their class.  Their birthdays are only 8 days apart.  Their personalities are quite similar and complimentary to one another.

Almost everyday we walk home from school together.  After saying goodbye and starting to walk our separate ways, Ady and Ruruko will sometimes turn and run back toward each other with open arms and meet with a very happy hug as if they already desperately missed each other.  Then they will scream "Buh-bye!" in the highest pitched and loudest voice possible to each other as we part- even when we can no longer see each other, and can only faintly hear each other's screams.  It makes my heart melt to see them have such a strong friendship.  They really act more like they are sisters.  Watching them makes it so obvious that good friends have such natural chemistry.  Ady is one lucky girl to find such a great friend when she is so young.

  

Ady's Scooter

The best sixty five pounds we've spent!  Ady loves her scooter- and it makes our lives so much easier by allowing us to go far distances without making Ady over-tired by the time we arrive.  It is one of the most sound and well-designed devices I have ever seen.  It was developed in Germany and EVERY child here has one.  Now I know why!  It glides effortlessly over the bumpy and cobbled sidewalks of London like butter.  To steer, instead of moving the handle bars forward or backward in a circular plane to turn, you lightly lean the handle bars to one side or another in a horizontal linear plane, which tilts the wheels, and turns the scooter.  I'll admit, it blows my mind just a little bit.  Ady has gotten so good at her scooter that she has developed a style all her own- sometimes holding one leg out with a pointed toe while she coolly zooms along.  Lately she likes to go super fast and really gets her one leg working hard and quick to push herself along.  Unfortunately, this has been short-lived because it became acutely clear just how dangerous these contraptions are one day when Ady crashed and another day when she almost got run over by a car backing up that did not see her!!!  So now she must stay right by my side while we are walking to school- only to go free when we are at the park.  We have 3/4 mile walk to school each way, which is quite a distance for a little kid, so this thing has been a lifesaver!  And I think Ady looks so adorable with her huge Dora helmet on her head, which just so happens to color coordinate quite nicely with her scooter.