Dear Lauren: Read this Post in February when you are cold and haven't seen the sun in days

Stop! This can't be happening! Its too early to be pulling out our hat and mitten box, buying new puffy, faux-fur lined coats and making my Christmas lists already! I haven't even properly sat down and reflected on how amazing the summer was here in London, and we are almost already through the fall?!? I need to catch up on recording our memories..... otherwise, what will I have to look back on mid-winter to remind myself that better, warmer, sunnier, happy days are ahead? 

Summer in London was AMAZING for the Flood family. We experienced record breaking warm weather, which we got out to enjoy every single day of. (Since we saw many days in the 80s, and we have no air conditioning and can only crack two windows in our flat, we really had no choice!). The girls slept in, lounged around through breakfast then adventured around the city daily finding new things to do. Ice-Lollies (Popsicles) were a daily occurrence, we visited our community back garden playground nightly and enjoyed the 9pm sunsets that kept our kids questioning why they had to go to bed during the daytime. Since many locals here in the UK take the majority of August to "holiday" around Europe, it meant that Lane's work schedule was super relaxed, so we go to enjoy most evenings with him!

Swimming at our neighborhood splash pad in Hampstead. Think giant baby pool, knee deep filled with hundreds of kids.... yes, the water gets murky near end of day but we would try to get there early!

Lunch at our favorite park - Golders Green Park is a mile walk away and even has a "zoo" (deer, birds, a goat....but the kids love it!)

The girls favorite days are when we get to load up the double stroller, with two baby doll strollers and go for a group walk. Nothing like carrying 4 stroller seats and 4 babies around a crowded city.

We found the fantastic "Lollibop" kid festival that had dozens of craft booths, freebie giveaways and concerts out at Olympic Park in Stratford. The girls even got to get their faces painted for the first time!

City walks with Girlfriends 

Legoland Windsor

 Stella playing the bongos at one of the more community-free loving style events we found

Another day, another Park... Stella wasn't thrilled this day!

A Sunday afternoon visit to Highclere Castle... more imporantly known as Downton Abbey!

Summer evenings hanging and dining alfresco. Isn't Mary adorable?

Chill-axing

Come end of summer, our modes of transporation needed a crumb, sandbox, sunscreen removal wash down.

A Note To Lauren of February ~ You can do it! Only a few more long miserably cold and wet months! So what you haven't seen the sun in months? Who cares that Stella wakes up from her afternoon nap to darkness and that you haven't seen Lane in what feels like weeks? Remember, come June the sun will be out, those flip flops will be calling your name, and the parks will be awaiting your arrival.

~L, L, A&S