Last week, Josephine had her half term holiday from school. It was pretty relaxed. We went to some museums and the playground and mostly just hung around the neighborhood.
With the silver lions at the Victoria and Albert Museum
At the Science Museum
At St Luke's Park after picking Pascale up at school.
Bernie took the girls to Kew Gardens on Saturday, so I figured I'd go to the Tate Modern to check out the exhibits and make some purchases at the bookshop there. Well, they had the above-pictured installation going on! It's a huge plywood playground! Of course, I HAD to bring the kids there, but it was only there for the weekend, so we had to hurry. We went on Sunday. The girls had a good time, but Pascale would have preferred if the toys were more colorful. They would never be able to put together an installation like this in the US. The lax liability laws here make toys much more fun.
Pascale received another award at assembly this week! This one was for swimming, 5 metres with a float. She was a little nervous about getting up in front of everyone to receive the award. I think it's good that her school makes the kids do this.
We went to the aquarium today, since we have not been there in a while. The girls had a really good time. Josephine is taking care of the school's stuffed bear this weekend. We have to take the bear around with us, then write a story about what the bear did all weekend. They read the story in school on Monday. In the photo above, Josephine is holding up Bertie Bear so he can see the fish better.
Josephine's coloring is improving by leaps and bounds.
Last Monday was a bank holiday, so Bernie and the girls had a 3-day weekend. We went to the butterfly exhibit at the Natural History Museum, which Pascale really enjoyed. Josephine could sort of take it or leave it.
Both girls practiced their tree climbing. That's Josephine in the tree in the background. At one point, Josephine climbed the tree that Pascale is in in the pic. Some boys who were maybe 6 years old came along and said, "Is she stuck?" I said no, she's fine, and asked her to get down so they could have a go. So she shimmied down, and these boys could not manage to climb the tree! She's quite a monkey.
Pascale received an art award, presented during Assembly at school! It was quite illustrious. She had to get up in front of the whole school and assembled parents to receive it. She did a great job, but next time, I want an acceptance speech.
receiving the award from the headmaster
The girls have been staging weddings where they dress up and walk down the hall and I take pictures.
Another wedding
The weather has been fantastic for like the past month! I want to ask, What city is this and what has it done with my London?
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.
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
At the Science Museum
At St Luke's Park after picking Pascale up at school.
Watching the monkeys at the Battersea Park Zoo
The firetruck at the zoo
The tractor at the zoo
The sand moving equipment at the zoo. 
Pascale took this picture at Battersea Park!
The playground
The playground
Pascale's picture in the art gallery
Kew Gardens
Millennium Bridge
Playing at the Tate Modern
Tightrope walking
Climbing
Lounging
We went to the aquarium today, since we have not been there in a while. The girls had a really good time. Josephine is taking care of the school's stuffed bear this weekend. We have to take the bear around with us, then write a story about what the bear did all weekend. They read the story in school on Monday. In the photo above, Josephine is holding up Bertie Bear so he can see the fish better.
Running around the park
A butterfly landed on Pascale's ticket
Pascale dancing
Josephine on the zipcord, clearly terrified.
The girls have been staging weddings where they dress up and walk down the hall and I take pictures. 
Another wedding
The weather has been fantastic for like the past month! I want to ask, What city is this and what has it done with my London?
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
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
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
