Playing with Bubbles

Sitting on the kitchen counter top while I washed dishes, Elli discovered the bubbles. I scooped two little cups of just the suds and let her go to town. And she loved it!

Focused with 2 hands dunked in the cups, she was determined to figure it out.

"Do these bubbles feel like puppy does on my nose? Nope, they tickle!"


And then it was time for a refill


Loads of fun with mom in the kitchen. We did have to change her outfit by the end of the tactile experience.

Her First Pedicure

Yesterday I was touching up my toes before I went to my very diverse Bible study. (We're doing Beth Moore's study of Esther and it has been really great!) Elli was fascinated by the polish, so I thought I'd give her toes a try if she would sit still for it. The stillest she ever sits is when I'm clipping her fingernails and toenails. And her pattern held true.

She loved it and now has a cute little pedicure.

Her Purse

Elli loves to load things and carry them around. It can be anything from a tupperware container, to Daddy's tennis shoes. She has this little bag we've made into her purse.

She works hard to put things in it


Loves to take things out of it

And all in all is ready to go shopping!

Are naps on the way out?

We've moved to "rest time" instead of the must have naps. So it has gone that while Elli sleeps in the afternoon, Ethan sets up on a couch with some books, blanket, Buster and Lion. On a lucky day, he conks out too tired to stay awake for the hour of couch time. But then there are also the days when it is more like jungle gym time in his restricted area, as the books quickly grow old and his body just HAS to move.

This was one of those conk out days. Even though he's growing up, he's still so cute!

Ethan's Favorites in London

Ethan loved the public transportation! Fast trains and double decker buses! It didn't take him long to learn how the acess system onto the tube worked, "minding the gap" as he went.

If we rode on double decker buses, Ethan and Daddy would ride upstairs, while Elli and I were downstairs with the stroller. Here he is, taking in the sights!



This was our stop, Boston Manor. The subway actually rode above ground for several stops which was extra fun for Ethan to watch the world pass by. He would wave at the train drivers as they came into the station. Here he is celebrating the train's arrival! The wait for trains at times was agonizing!

And at the end of each day, Ethan was always excited to come back to Buster his bear. The Bed and Breakfast was run by an Indian family. However, a Nepali young man served breakfast, worked as the coustodian and housekeeper. Ever day we would come home to Buster dressed in a new outfit, composed of an array of our items of clothing. Such fun for a 3 year old boy. I don't think he ever realized the man who served us our breakfast each morning was dressing Buster every afternoon.

Joys of Jet Lag

There is nothing like jet lag with 2 small children, in a small hotel room trying to have intentional, productive time! But it sure makes for some great family bonding. With only a 6 hour time change, it was agonizing to pull ourselves out of bed in the morning since our bodies felt like it was 2 a.m. And then we had little 12 p.m.-2 a.m. play times, since our bodies didn't feel like it was quite time for bed.

Yet regardless of what time it was, if Elli was tired, she would conk out. One time standing up. Austin then laid her down. Life still going around her, she was out of it!

In one of these late night play times, Ethan and Elli were playing cars. The younger sister of a very interactive older brother, Elli already knows how to play cars; including the car noises (see facial expression) and the necessary crashing (see overturned van!)

It was really quite cold in London but our rooms radiator was broken. There was no temperature control. When things got really hot, we opened the window and took clothes off. This is how Elli slept several nights we were there.

Where our stuff is stored

It was a search for the beloved trains that Ethan has been asking about ever since we left home on the 13th of December. Even though I didn't want to unpack anything more than necessary; the normalcy that the trains would offer was definitely worth it.

And this doesn't even give do the room justice. I stood on top of several trunks to take the picture, and only got a portion of the room. This is the stuff of all our transient co-workers. If that doesn't give you a glimpse at how uncertain life is here.

It was only 2 trunks and we were able to find the trains and track on the third one we opened!

And the joy was worth it! We found Percy and Thomas and the others were soon to follow. Life's starting to feel normal again for this little 3 year old!