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

Celebrating Two Countryside

I can't believe I am already saying this, but our little Stella turned two this past weekend. How quickly she went from this little snuggly baby that fit so perfectly in my arms...

... to this independent, shoe loving, Peppa Pig addict, refuses to talk much but says "no" passionately, always laughing, wants to be just like her sister, can't stop her from jumping on furniture two year old!

We decided to make Stella's birthday special for the entire family by taking a fall break from the lights, busses, trains and noise of the big city so we headed to the countryside about an hour and a half south west of London to Glastonbury. We found a fantastic holiday cottage complex a mile from town that offered adorable cottages, animals of all kinds, fresh food and most importantly, peace and quiet. Except for Avery and Stella who showed those animals a thing or two about running wild.

The views we got to see of the countryside were stunning.  Everywhere we looked we just saw green, green, more green! We couldn't stop saying "wow", and our walks around the area were twice as long as they should have been as we stopped to soak in every bit of each amazing new scene.

While we sat on the couch with our coffee, we got to look out onto the farm. ( Of course we had to bring our traditional family birthday bunting!)

Some extraordinary views from our walks around the farm and along the public footpath that took us into town.

Glastonbury, Somerset, England - The biggest point of interest in Glastonbury is the Glastonbury Tor (Tor being the celtic word for "hill"). The Glastonbury Tor sits 514 feet above sea level and historical findings dating all the way back to the 5th century have been discovered there. The large structure on the Tor is the remains of the tower of St. Michaels church, a church originally built on the Tor in the 1360s.  The historical accounts and myths of religious, spiritual, and celestial legends in and around the Tor brings religious ceremonies and visitors of all types to it's hill top and surrounding city of Glastonbury. The town is littered with quirky witch craft vendors and natural healing remedy shops. The Flood family felt a little out of place strolling through town, but still thoroughly enjoyed a few of the cafes and pubs.

Downtown Glastonbury- one street about 1/4 mile long, yet probably 20 witchcraft shops.

The Tor 

Since we arrived in Glastonbury, multiple people told us we can't do the Tor with our small children. Upon hearing that, I swiftly had us all hiking to the top. ( We don't say "can't" in this family!)

 518 feet of steps with two toddlers and no buggy, uphill, and we made it... exhausted, but made it. The 360 degree views from the top were more than worth the climb.

 

By far our family favorite of the weekend was being around all of the farm animals that we got to meet, play with and feed. We got to know more about dogs, cats, chickens ( fresh eggs!), goats,  8 week old piglets ( fresh bacon from their Mamas!), sheep, and horses. I'll never forget the morning of Stella's birthday, as we were sitting down to a fresh farm breakfast at our table and the farm cat hopped in the sink window, climbed over all of our dirty dishes and came straight to our table to start begging. The girls loved it.

The goats that were behind our cottage got our food scraps each morning.

Lane and "his" horse Hallow had an instant bro-mance. We all loved picking apples off trees and feeding them to this gentle giant. 

The chickens ran free around the farm, and so did Stella.

I never thought of my family as a farm-loving family, but after this weekend I can see us taking many more adventures into the slow life of the country.  Stella got to start her third year of life being wild and free, climbing hills, chasing animals and of course eating boxed confetti birthday cake courtesy of our friend Duncan Hines.

~Happy Birthday Stella Kay - The sparkles in your eyes melt our hearts daily. We are so proud to have you in our lives and love you more than words can say.

L, L, A & newly two S

Summer in the States!

We waited all spring for some hot weather. We were craving some 90 degree, sweat while you sit outside, only cold beers poolside make it feel okay, type of days.  As we had been looking forward to for months, we headed home late June to visit friends, family and dig our toes in the sand at the beach.
Funny part was that upon arrival to Columbus, we found they were having a pretty mild summer and most Ohio-ans were complaining of the rain and mild weather. It was in the 80's. We hadn't seen above 70 in London.

After months of missing our favorite little people, we finally got to love on, play with, and fight over shared toys with all of our cousins.

We spent a week of our trip in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina with family and friends. The Mavko family has been doing this trip with family friends for over 20 years and this year was just the fun we remembered from the past!

Digging out some beach couches!

Fourth of July Trailer Park Parade (No, we don't stay in trailers or camp at the park, our building is next door... but seeing this parade yearly is just another tradition)

Poker Face We-Pa!

Fourth of July Spirit!

Tired Stella napping surfside on Mommy

The best part of being home was spending time with our friends. Many have had new babies we missed at birth, babies that grew up too fast while we were gone, and mom's girlfriends had no lack of good gossip stories from home.

Avery and Addison Chan - we miss our old neighbors!

Lo and Morgan at Brazenhead... all.night.long.

Down on the farm at Arica's beautiful new antique barn!

Two of Avery's favorite things - her buddy Ava Thompson and Timbits

Meeting our new girlfriend Ellis Thompson! 

Since we don't live on a quiet suburban street while in London, it was great for the girls to do some suburban-summer activities at the Grandparents.

Playing in the backyard hose with Brody!

Backyard Pool Diving at Sherrys!

Neighborhood Splash Pads

Hanging in We-Pa's backyard with the cousins

 Avery loved to end a summer evening at Nanny's taking our dog Brody on a walk around the court

Avery learning to ride her first training wheel bike!

As much as we loved our trip home for summer break, after four weeks at home we were ready to come back to our quiet life in London - Columbus, and all of our family and friends are too wild and busy for us!

Booking our next trip home for the holidays,
~L, L A&S