Winter Wonderland

Off to the beautiful yet chaotic city of London today.  We took the tube downtown to Hyde Park Winter Wonderland.  It was a beautiful day, around plus 13 with no clouds in sight, and just a bit of wind.  We set off around 10am after John & Maci gave me my cards and made me breakfast.

Maci slept the entire tube ride there all bundled up in the ergo.  Here we are at the entrance, LOOK at all those people.  It was packed, especially right at the entrance.  It was like a maze trying to get through, but extremely gorgeous and puts you in the holiday mood.

Daddy & Maci hanging out with the fake snowman as we have NO snow, thats right, plus 13 and NO snow.  (Now that I have written that I expect to wake up with white grass.)

I am really not sure what Santa was trying to do here: escape? Climb down a chimney? 

There was a beautiful real ice skating rink with a band set up in the middle singing songs, looked exactly as a Winter Wonderland should.

The critters were VERY brave, this little guy climbed up a lady's sleeve then on to the guy's apple that he shared with him.

Maci having a snack and about to get her bum changed in St. James Park.  How many people can say they had their bum changed in St. James Park?  Now she has eaten in Buckingham Palace where it is forbidden to eat and got partially naked in the park.... What a little rebel girl. :)

Daddy playing in the leaves.

On our way back home around 3pm, so a fairly long day walking around from Hyde Park to Southbank.  Maci wanted her own seat on the tube, she is growing up way to fast. It was a great day spent with my little family.  Although, John didn't like the crowds too much, I must keep these downtown London trips few and far between so he will brave them every now and again.  Then when we got back to the tube station John made ME drive home.  So now I have driven twice and he continued to tell me I was hugging the curb too much.  It is very difficult to get use to driving on the wrong side of the road, but I WILL figure it out, sooner or later.

Delicious and Gross

Today John was on a mission, he started organizing the rooms full of junk (items not in use).  Most of the houses here are not equip with storage rooms or basements for our unused items to go, so ours have been split between a couple rooms and the garage.  Now, all the junk has all been moved to the garage so the spiders can move in.  We also pulled out the Christmas tree and decorations (which will be completed and blogged about December 1st, so stay tuned).  The Christmas tree was so thoughtful and brought in an unwanted hornet to our living room, Maci and I ran away, while Sidney tried to chase it.

Once John was done organizing, he made the most delicious dinner for me.  We had oh so tender ribs, roasted potatoes and zucchini/mushroom mix.  He is a really good cook!

While the ribs were cooking there was some daddy and Maci cuddles watching daddy play on the iPad.

Maci's new jumper arrived today, she loves standing and has started jumping on us when standing on us, so I figured it was time to buy her a jumper.  She was a little confused on what to do at first, but she is slowly figuring it out. 

Then before bed she was getting fussy, as I was trying to keep her up to skype with Gramma so I put her in the jumper again.  She stopped fussing and was having a great time..... then I heard a familiar pooping noise....I looked over.... and oh emmm geee, I started laughing as we maneuvered Maci straight to the bath.  When we got there John ran to get the camera....

It went everywhere.

So we hosed her off and then finished with her bath.  Yes, we still skyped with Gramma too, once we got all cleaned up.

" Little America"

Once John got home from work on Wednesday and we got all packed up, we were off to RAF Lakenheath, for 2 nights.  There was a Canadian conference/meet and greet for the military families.  This is an American base, about a 2 hour drive from our home, which has American restaurants and a store that carries all the American goods that are very difficult (if not impossible) to purchase here in the UK.  So for a short 2 hour drive we can stock up on almost everything that we miss from Canada.  

Maci is ready to go!

We had the nicest room ever!  It had 2 bedrooms, 1 with 2 single beds, 1 with a queen bed and a crib.  Then the living room with a pullout bed, and a kitchen with fridge, oven/stove, dishwasher, microwave, AND a washer and dryer.  I couldn't believe how great this room was.  I could totally move in!

 

This is the American mall.

 The American grocery store!  We got so many things that we miss from Canada.  

Oh how I miss you my bowling balls and of course my bowling shoes. :(

Even a movie theatre on the base.

Here is Maci making her speech, she practiced a lot for this, and she did wonderfully.

Daddy and Maci getting into trouble playing the piano.

Then daddy decided Maci should pour him a beer as well.... 

The BEST thing about the American base....... Oh how I miss the good ol' egg nog.  Too bad I had no rum near by.

Off To The Mall

Well today we decided to make our way to The Harlequin Shopping Centre.  I searched out the path via the internet, got everything ready and off we went.  We have been shopping there before, but we drove, and as I am not confident in driving here, Maci & I walk everywhere (At least I am getting lots of exercise!).  We went to complete the holiday shopping, as the mail needs to get sent soon.

Maci is all bundled up and ready to go, although it is very nice out today with the sun shining, she is probably nice and toasty.

We had to walk about 15 minutes to the bus station, then jumped on the bus for it to take us where we needed to go.

SANTA has ARRIVED, but you can't see him!  This seemed very strange to me.  You have to pay to go in to Santa's workshop and see him, then pay for your picture.

Of course we went to see him, Maci needed her first picture with Santa.  Maci grabbed Santa's beard and wouldn't let go.  Then she got her picture taken and as soon as it was taken the lip came out.  She was done, she did not like Santa any more.  It was so very cute!  She was happy as soon as I picked her up again.

And just so everyone knows:

Nope, I did NOT finish my shopping yet. Ugh!

Remembrance Sunday

Today we went to Green Park, Downtown London for Remembrance Sunday.  It was a gorgeous day with the sun shining.  The Canadian members of the military, from in and around London, all gathered for a beautiful ceremony to remember and honour all of the heros.  

Maci in her beautiful dress from Aunty Jayne, all dressed up for the ceremony.

We all gathered at John's work and made our way downtown on a bus, here we are ready to go.

Zzzz... time for a nap before the ceremony.

A beautiful picture of a small piece of Green Park, so many leaves!

The Victoria Memorial out front of Buckingham Palace.

The band in the back and a piece of the Canada Memorial fountain found in Green Park.

My handsome husband and gorgeous baby.

Family photo with Buckingham Palace in the background.

A piece of the Canada gates leading to Green Park.

Beauty Queen

So a quick update on Maci's needles; she was fabulous!

Daddy showed up because mommy is a wimp.  He held me tight while the nurse poked a hole in each one of my legs.  Here I am with my trousers down getting ready.

I made one little screech for each poke and then I was perfectly happy ready to get on with the day.

Now only if the nurse actually put the bandaid on the target, good thing I am not a bleeder!

Now The Beauty Queen....

Right after we arrived here in the UK, John had a fun golf tournament set up through his work.  One of the prizes he won was Beauty Queen treatment for a local salon.  Well of course I was going to take advantage of this, I have never been pampered before (I offered it to John, but he didn't want it?).  It included a mani, pedi, facial, and blow dry.  So off I went leaving daddy and Maci at home to lounge around.  It was great to get away and relax for a couple hours while getting some pampering.  Here I am showing off my blow dry that got disheveled on my walk home (it looked pretty in the salon).

My mani and pedi....ooooo pretty.  

Of course I have to show off my gorgeous Maci and her pretty new hat to keep her warm in the winter months.

And a picture of my little Maci growing up feeding herself. :(

Today was a wonderfully relaxing day, I may have to start doing that more often or go back to my gel nails because I really love getting those done.

The Beginning

It's never to late to start a blog, right?  Well here I am starting, just after we have gone through a crazy year (pregnancy, marriage, baby, overseas move), I think it's time.  I am sure I could have come up with some interesting posts before but now you can join us and our adventures as we live overseas, just outside of London, UK.

We have been here as a family for just over 2 months now, and have been exploring around our little area, and sometimes when we get ambitious we explore further.  Even downtown London, with other lovely ladies of course, to show me the way.  We try to explore something new each weekend (of course sometimes we just need a relaxing weekend), and Maci & I try to do something new each week as well, while daddy is at work.

This week Maci & I had her 4 month weigh in....the verdict is....12lbs 10oz.  We also went to our first Mommy and Baby group.  It was fun and Maci loved looking at all the other babies.  Maci was the oldest, but wasn't the biggest *hehe, my little squishy*.  We have 4 more weeks of our group, I hope to make some mommy friends and Maci can make some baby friends.

I am also trying to find swimming lesson for little Maci, she LOVES the bath, I think she is part fish...

Well today we have Maci's 3 month needles (yes, she is 4 months but they were slow to book her in) and I am nervous once again.  Glad daddy is coming home from work to help me out, poor girl screamed murder last time.  I hope she does better today and they don't affect her at all, we shall see.  So we probably won't be doing much of anything else today, just let baby relax.

Welcome to our little family adventures.