Never mind the Bollocks

Yes more London for your viewing pleasure, and Jason's got the helm. Here is the view from outside of our hotel! I snapped this pic of Cyd and Jo looking at the Thames... First more talk about the science and Natural History Museum. Definately good times for the boys. They're always happy when they've got entertainment and things that are hands on. I wish they were just a little bit older so we could do more historic stuff, but you've got to do what you can, right? Here's a picture of us at the entrance of the Science museum. It's a great entryway, we're all looking pretty happy here.
The kids got to play with all sorts of hands on exhibits, very entertaining and accessable. And it was all for free! Which is a good thing because London is very expensive. Even with the pound coming down a little in value, it's still hard to swallow that one pound was worth 1.45 dollars. So for example, a lunch at 7 pounds sounds great until you figure in the conversion. Still, an english speaking country to tour around in was wonderful. We understood all the signs, language, and there's lots of American culture infused (think american fast food that is very kid friendly) to dive into

Here's a picture of us in an exhibit that re-created the earthquake in Kobe, Japan. The room was set up like a mini-mart in Kobe and there was a video showing CCTV of a market in Kobe during their earthquake. The boys loved standing on the platform as it shook back and forth. Hey, anything for a thrill right?

More hands on stuff. Jo and Colby loved it, and James loved the opportunity to talk to people, in English, and make friends. Watertables, toys, games...oh the Joy!Finally, we decided to break the group up. Cyd, ever the Masochist, stayed with James and Colby to watch an Imax version of some silly cartoon called *Fly Me to the Moon* at the Science museum while Granpa, Nana, and I went to the Westminster area to explore the war cabinet. During WWII this particular bunker was used by Churchill and his crew to run the war and the resistance. It was definately an interesting historic side bar and I really appreciate Cyd for taking one for the team and watching the older boys while we went to the museum. A long day, lots of things that were seen. By this point the boys were still game, but there were definately fraying at the edges of their behavior.

we broke off from the parents for an hour and jotted over to Westminster Abby, but the line was emense, so here Cyd snapped a pic.

then we went to *The Tower of London* it was good for about 2 hours...then the boys started to melt down , it was late and they were tired...to much walking.
this is a cool pic of the king, it's in his room....a ghostly image...ooohh

on our last day in London we rented a car and drove 2 and a half hours to Drayton Manor !!! 'it was soo worth it! to see little Jonah's face when we walked in and he saw Thomasland!!! the other boys had a blast too! James got to ride the big boy rides!! he went off with Grumps and Colby and Jonah stayed in Thomasland! Jo rode everything and was so overwhelmed that he passed out in my arms on the Balstrode tugboat ride. what a sweetie.

thanks for letting me fill in. Cyd should be back soon!

-j

London Calling

Hello London,

Well, we made it back, three kids, we didn't lose them. It was great to see the granparents, and, well, it was great to tour around a great city. It was definately a struggle with the kids to do some of the events, but you know what, if we don't do it, we'll never see Europe. So here's the first post of probably two or so of London. We did things on the cheap at first; a great Ryan air deal, the whole family round trip to London for only $600. The grandparents got there first, and we reserved a vacation apartment near the Thames at 09 Albert Embankment just across the river from Parliment and Westminster. It really was something to walk out of the apartment everyday and see Big Ben. For the boys it was reality of the "flushed away" movie that they love, for us it was history in the making.

w

So here's the crew, first day out after our flight back. We're headed to the Natural History Museum, of course totally free (yes Jason is a tight wad), but the kids really liked it and got a lot out of it. Just a short tube ride away, but when you calculate time and trouble, you've got to calculate how hard it is to roust 4 crazy boys anywhere, it is not easy! Trouble, trouble, and more trouble. And of course, Grandpa is the fourth troublesome child!

Here's Jo and I outsid ethe Natural History Museum

I was really impressed with how interactive all their exhibits are. I know that in the states the museums have been moving toward more interactive stuff, but England has it nailed! They had an elavated walkway over the dinosaurs that let you look at the bones eye to eye, not just on the ground looking up. The kids loved the animitronic dinos that they had there, and the cool exhibits. They even had real taxidermied animals ( a relic of the 1800's, all the animals were strangely yellowed, but hey, who kills animlas now a days anyway?). The Naturalhistory museum had great interactive displays with bugs, and other things, they loved it! I'll post more of the Science museum tomorrow, but as will be described later, museum that are interactive, or anything for that matter that involves hands on is a must with the kids. I think the grandparents had a good time, but very tiring. More posts later, Sorry that i've had to take over the posting, but Cyd just rented the Twlight movie and she's out of action. Just as a personal critique, I really think the movie Twlight is crap. Am I wrong? It's kind of a buffy the vampire slayer meets a really bad after school movie, I just don't get it. Edward dosen't sparkle that well either!!! -Jason

with childlike visions leaping into view...

we are off to London in about 4 hours! i am so excited!

any last minute requests for goods? we will be there until Sunday...so if you want anything, i will be checking in!

We decided to paint our guest room!! i love the colors! a soft blue and a mocha brown...yummy! look at Jasy....doulble yumm...he did a great job on the paint! love him...

here are a few pics of the boys in thier natural habitat! Colbs in costume...as always, it's nice to see that things have'nt changes to much! and Jonah and James on the 'pooter, as Jo Jo calls it! totally cute!

i made something super cute...wanna see 'em?

totally cute, huh?

i have been teaching classes here on base and i taught this one last weekend!! i love how they turned out! i made a few for the girls at Colby and Jonah's school!

ALSO look what comes out in just 3 short days!!! i can't wait to get my copy!!! woo hoo!and...uummm...HOLY CUTE!!! wow he is a stunner....ooh, Edward....this is a pic from the new issue of GQ mag!!! unbelievable...

catch ya all in a few days!

loves

and i will drive my chariot down your street....

Hey! we are back in business! we are getting ready for our trip to london on the 18th and i'm so excited! woo hoo!!

i am also loving our new laptop! it's pretty fancy!

and in the mail today i got an early bday package from my dear, dear bff Erika. i love you more that you will ever know. thank you sooo so much. you made my day! seriously.

lookie....along with so much scrappy stuff!!! i am dazzled!

the boys are loving basketball and they had a game on Saturday! it was cute.
swimming just started again today! we are busy!

on sunday the weather was so nice that we went to the beach! her are a few pics! James and Colby made friends quickly and proceeded to bury eachother up to thier necks! good times.

Jonah was content to sit on the beach blanket with me and listen to some tunes....he's a good kiddo.

we had a great time, Jason was working in the ER, so we spent like 4 hours on the beach! it's going to be an amazing summer!

loves

..

i'm not dead...

and i'm not a vampire...either, but the computer died, though. so we were out of commission for a few days. I lost all of our pictures that i have taken since wqe;ve been here in Espana....i'm pretty bummed out about that. we are still trying to recover them....keep your fingers crossed. So this is a pictureless post. boo.



we just got a new laptop! i still do'nt have my pics from the old one, but, you all know i take a gazillion pics all the time so, i will have pics up soon. this is just an update. i will post a picture heavy post asap!

loves