Soccer

Yep, he should stick to being a field player. No more goalie.

For husband

Because we miss you so much, son and I went to one of your favorite spots and had a picnic.

We enjoyed the great weather and the view...

till a tourbus dropped off a load of tourists.

Spring

In between missing husband, who is gone working and working myself (I got a work month full of layovers my colleagues must have rejected. I have no idea how I ended up with all of them...) the kids and I do try to enjoy spring. It is finally here and we spend as much time outside as possible. 

London Eye

One sight in London that daughter hadn't visited yet was the London Eye. I was sure she would love it since it simply is a gigantic ferris wheel with an unbelievable view.

For some reason however, while swinging right over the Thames River with a bunch of strangers, that was the moment she decided to forget that it was MY birthday trip. She decided, however, that SHE was a neglected girl. "Because," she sobbed "you  don't  take  any  pictures  of me." At which husband and I couldn't help but burst out laughing. 

With hanging shoulders, tears rolling down her cheeks and dramatic sobbing she stood in the glass bubble and I know that the young couple next to us was silently wondering if maybe they shouldn't have any children.

  

After the 30 minute ride, just when the bubble was about to stop, we heard an announcement that an outside camera would take a picture of the entrance side of the bubble. The speaker wasn't finished yet, when daughter dashed to the other side to have her picture taken. And on the way out we saw her photo on a big monitor; daughter standing proudly in the London Eye.

 

London Walks

The reason I like London so much isn't Piccadilly Circus or Buckingham Palace. It isn't the Tower or Trafalgar Square either. I have seen all the famous sights there and they are impressive - but that is not what makes me want to come back over and over again. 

I like walking past those beautiful old houses with the tiny front yards, streets lined with Minis in all colors. I like searching for little shops and boutiques that carry old fashioned items that you can't get anywhere else. I like watching the school children in their uniforms and their mothers shopping for crumpets and jam. I like that in London anything goes, the more eccentric the better. 

Before getting into the Cath Kidston store, in her wallet a brand new 5 pound bill.

After our purchases of blue polka dotted umbrellas and other lovely items.

  

The moment husband and son poked their heads into this store and saw the abundance of pink they turned around and said: "Take your time. We will pick you up in 30 minutes." And off they went. The saleslady started laughing and told us she knows men really don't like the Cath Kidston store. "But you should see them running into the store asking for our help on Valentines Day!", she grinned.  

This is my personal favorite. They sell those old fashioned rose printed patterns that you can't get anywhere else. 

Every morning there are fresh rose petals in front of this flower shop.

London, Holland Park

Husband and the kids told me that, since it is my birthday, I could chose whatever I wanted to do in London. Anything would go. They happily would do it with me.

One of the places I always wanted to see was Holland Park. Unlike Hyde Park or Kensington Park, Holland Park is mostly visited by the residents of Kensington and Notting Hill. Not many tourists make their way to this secluded park but you will see joggers early in the morning before work, you can watch nannies with their prams and couples walking their corgies. Holland Park consists of a unusual mix of widerness and perfect order, a romantic tea house and a football field, a very relaxing Japanise garden and a tennis court.

We enjoyed the blooming flowers and bushes on two days, making our way to the Holland Park Avenue where we bought books at an old bookstore named "Daunt Books" and had coffee and pies (even gluten free for me!) afterwards.

Now, I am wondering if it is possible for us to rent a little flat there, for a month or so where I can pretent to be a Holland Park resident.

Happy Easter!

Birthday

I woke up to a very lovingly decorated birthday table with roses and cake. Cards and gifts. A new suitcase for my travels and the "Hudson" bag. (Which I had given up on considering it is not being made anymore. Husband managed to find the very last one in the LV store in Berlin.) 

After breakfast, we hopped on a plane to London, my favorite city. Where I realised that I had packed tons of clothes for the children and forgot the ones for husband and myself. 

       

Seaweed

It is April, a work month for me. Meaning, husband and I are often in a rush and our family life has to be perfectly planed. Sometimes I am amazed that we have made so far and that I haven't been forced to quit my job yet.

Trying to be very organzied, however, can back fire. Remember the ballett recital daughter attended? As a lovely seaweed? Well, after daughter came home that day I contemplated what to do with the green seaweed outfit. I contemplated for 3 days. On the 4. day I threw it out. Because, in all honesty, I don't think she wants to be a seaweed again. Not even on Halloween. And I don't know anyone else who wants to dress up as seaweed either.

On day 5 after the recital, daughter came home with the information that, because of the huge success of the recital, she will have another one. Monday morning, with the whole school watching. 

She will be the only one without an outfit. Because all the other mothers kept the outfits, even the seaweed ones.   

Lemon Tree

Ever since we lived in Georia and were able to skip long, grey winters I am rather impatient with cold, bleary winter weather. I guess I am rather vocal about it, because when husband went to the Gulf of Naples, Italy a while ago he took "happy summer pictures" just for me. 

I know that, because he is not the type to photograph lemon trees.  

He even brought home some Limoncello for me. Probably to get me over this beautiful, beautiful swimming pool.