April in London

I've been promising to tell you about my trip. Now that I seem to be over my jet-lag, have cleaned the main floor of our house, and done a bunch of laundry, I feel I can take a few minutes to share the details.

We arrived on Saturday, April 2, bright and early, after a red-eye flight with a bit too much turbulence for my liking. We were both able to get a fair amount of sleep on the flight, despite the bouncing. We took the train to Paddington Station, and then grabed a cab to Little Bro's house. He's renting a town house with plenty of space for visitors. We had the third floor to ourselves, with a private bathroom and everything. If it weren't for the price of airfare (and the jet-lag recovery) I would be back quite often.

After freshening up, we had some lunch and a walk through the park with Little Bro, SIL, and Lady C. We spent the evening relaxing, and playing with Lady C while my brother cooked us an awesome Bolognese sauce for dinner.

Regent's Park

On Sunday, we all ventured out to walk across the Millenium Bridge (Hubby is in the Bridge business, so I had to make sure he got to see lots), and then to the Tate Modern. After lunch, SIL took me to a salon in honor of my birthday (the following day) to get our hair done. Their nanny came to babysit Lady C, and the four grown-ups headed out to a nice dinner.

The Tate Modern

Freshly styled and still stick straight!

Monday was my birthday. Hubby and I ventured out on our own while Lady C was napping, and Little Bro and SIL were working. We wandered through Hyde Park, and stopped near Harrods for lunch. (There may be another story about my inability to decide where to eat lunch at another time. This post is about fun vacation memories!). Later that night, we went out to dinner at a place recommended by on of Hubby's British coworkers, who insisted that we book an upstairs table. It was definitely an experience!

Upstairs Table

The rest of the week was pretty much spent sight seeing and wandering before and after lunch, hanging with Lady C in the afternoon, and enjoying a leisurely dinner at home with Little Bro and SIL in the evening after Lady C went to bed.

Until Friday...when we were so exhausted that we just went to the park, and after a walk around the water, plopped ourselves down on a blanket for a few hours. Boy, did it feel good to stop...and it reminded me that we need to do it more often. (and makes me want a beach vacation before our future baby comes...even if I have to lie on a beach 6 months pregnant...and even though we REALLY shouldn't spend monty on one!) 

That night, Hubby's brother was actually in town for business, so the three of us went out on the town, and got to experience the block party-like quality of the city at the end of the work week after three beautiful clear blue sky days. There are pubs everywhere you look, and no one was in them. They were all standing outside on the sidewalk, drinking from their glass (not plastic as would be the case here) pint glasses, and having a jolly good time.

Saturday was our last full day, and the whole lot of us (my BIL included) headed out for a cruise on the Themes, and a visit to the Tower of London, followed by another great dinner at home.

All in all, it was a fabulous trip. I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate a birthday. We saw lots of sights, had lots of great time with Lady C, and her parents, and I have a renewed creative energy from taking so many pictures of flowers, and visit some great design stores, including one of my all time favorites, Designer's Guild (which turns out to have a location right around the corner from Little Bro). I kind of want to be Tricia Guild. I can't deny it.

So to recap, we hung out with Lady C

  

We were impressed with the variety of solid foods in her diet. 

She loves to reach for the camera

This seemed to be her favorite location for an afternoon poop!

The look on her face makes me think they might have a daredevil on their hands

Followed by a look of pure joy that just melts my heart!

Lady C and Aunt Jenny (cause little kids like to say Jenny and it makes my brother nostalgic)

I took lots of pictures of flowers...

And got inspired by designy things

It's sort of a self portrait, can you see?

We saw lots of sights

The British Museum

The London Eye

Parliament and Westminster Abby from the London Eye

The Tower Bridge

Some guy painting the LAST red shape to complete a three year repainting job of the Tower Bridge

The Tower of London

The Tower Bridge from the Tower of London

The chapel inside the White Tower

 Relaxed in the Park

Looked for hidden messages

And had lots of good quality family time. 

Hubby and his little bro 

She refuses a bottle, but is skilled with a cup

First boat ride

Wearing the completely impractical poofy dress Aunt Jenny brought

 

I'm looking forward to July, when they make the trip back here and we get to play with the little cutie again.

One of my favorite shots from the whole trip...taken with my iPhone