Pascale's Birthday Party

Pascale's birthday party was at the Battersea Park Zoo on Friday. It was a beautiful day to be out. When the weather is nice in London, it's REALLY nice. We had the party a few days after her actual birthday because her birthday fell during the term break, so we figured everyone would be away and we'd wait until the term started any everyone returned. We had a nice turnout.

Pascale's cake -- Yes, that's a 3-dimensional likeness of Pascale rendered in sugar. She asked for lots of candles, so all the kids could help blow them out.



The start of the party



All the guests watching the monkeys



Monkeys watching the kids



Meerkats



The zookeepers brought out a massive bunny for the kids to pet



Josephine with massive bunny



Pascale got to paint a birthday brick



Josephine at the Victoria and Albert wearing a dress and cape that I made for her.



Both girls in their dresses and capes




Pascale and Josephine staging a wedding

Trip to Barcelona

For the last week of the kids' term break, we went to Barcelona! Now we can say we've been to Spain. It's really a lovely city, with lots of beautiful art and architecture. We ate copious amounts of tapas.

In other news, it was Pascale's birthday yesterday. I can't believe my other baby is FIVE! For her birthday, she wanted a Build-A-Bear. This is totally not my thing, so when she told me that she wanted one, I told her that the only way I would get it for her is if she asked for it for her birthday. So off we went to the mall yesterday so she could build her bear. Josephine got one, too.

The build-a-bears


We went to see Dan Zanes in concert. Pascale was right down in front.



Pascale got a fairy costume from Aunt Beverly.


Opening presents. Pascale let Josephine open one.


The fountain at the Westfield Mall. It has a very trendy vertical garden.


We walked by a funfair at Shepards Bush Green, so of course we had to go.


Funfair


Funfair


Pascale's birthday cake



This funfair ride is particularly horrifying, even by English standards. Keep in mind, this ride is the kind that they can disassemble and cart away. Oh, and I was holding the camera wrong, so the video is sideways.


outside the hotel in Barcelona


In the cathedral in Barcelona


The candy shop in Barcelona



We took a pedicab


Barcelona


Barcelona


Barcelona carousel. The English carousels go like 100 mph, so it's nice to go elsewhere so the girls can experience a carousel that is not a thrill ride.


Pascale like watching the break dancers by the cathedral in Barcelona


We went fabric shopping in Barcelona, and got fabric to make a dress for each girl

All Around London

Whew, we were all over London last week! The weather has been great, so we've been having a really nice time with the school break. Here are some highlights:

Victoria and Albert Museum courtyard


London Eye


Pascale in Bernie's clothes


Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground


Pascale has been watching Project Runway and making and modeling her own designs.


They don't sell Peeps here, but I did find these cool flocked chocolate bunnies.


The easter basket. The Easter Bunny brought mechanical rabbits, chocolate rabbits, chocolate eggs and cress seeds. The Easter Bunny does not come here, so they don't sell baskets in the shops. I looked at like 5 different shops, and no baskets. I had to use this big basket that we had around, and they shared.


Finding the Easter Basket



Pascale had such a nice time on the bike last week that she wanted to do it again. This time, we went to Battersea Park, which is much more convenient than Richmond Park. Pascale pedaled the WHOLE WAY around the perimeter of the park. I was very impressed.


Bernie rented a recumbent


Josephine did not like the bike seat last week. She liked this basket much better.


Swinging at the playground.

Spring Break -- Week One

We're one week into the term break, and we've been having a very nice time. The weather has been lovely, which makes it so much easier to get out of the house. There are all kinds of little and big things that we never get around to doing while the kids are in school every day, so it's good to have an opportunity to do them. I have decided to do away with the stroller, which makes the kids more tired when we do go out. This way, they are not bouncing off the walls while I'm exhausted from pushing them around.

Pascale has discovered Teletubbies. At age 5. In case you don't know, Teletubbies is made for babies around on year old. They hardly even use any words. And my 5-year-old, who never watched it when she was the appropriate age, is transfixed by it. Hmmm.


Here's Pascale near the statue of Queen VIctoria in Kensington Gardens. We went there to go to the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground, only to find it CLOSED for renovations. So distressing. It's supposed to be open next week, so we'll try again.


Since the Diana playground was closed, we went to Westfield Park instead. It's not nearly as spectacular, but they do have sand there.


The water table at the Violet Melchett Centre


Pascale and Josephine having a wedding.


We went to Richmond Park today and rented bikes. Pascale did really well on the tandem bike. Josephine was in a little seat mounted on Bernie's bike.


Richmond Park


Deer in Richmond Park


Josephine was so exhausted when we got home (see above about no longer taking the stroller) that she fell asleep in front of Teletubbies.