Unexpected tea time

Dear Grace, 

There were only a couple things left on our London to do list. My first attempt was trying to see a play at the Shakespeare Globe Theater with Daddy. I literally called the box-office the week after they were closed for the season. Of course it doesn't open up until after we move. My second attempt was going to Kensington Palace. You and I would frequent that beautiful garden during the warmer months and I didn't want to waste precious outdoor time spent with you inside the palace. I waited a day too late....

Enjoy!

Love, Mummy 

Kensington Palace had a huge fence around it since we've been here due to construction. We were excitedly approaching the princess museum inside, until we came across this sign...

Womp, Womp...

The sign did say The Orangery remains open. Don't mind if we do...

As we were seated, I looked at my watch. 2:00 PM. Perfect for tea time with my little girl. Thank goodness it was a very casual restaurant because we weren't exactly dressed for the occasion. 

There was even a cute explanation of the history behind tea time...

"According to legend, Anna Stanhope is the creator to tea time. Back then breakfast and dinner were huge meals and lunch was very light. Since Anna became hungry everyday around 4 PM, she had her servants sneak her a cup of tea and bread stuffs. She then began inviting her friends to Belvoir Castle for an additional meal at 5 PM. The menu centered around small cakes, bread and butter sandwiches, assorted sweets, and of course, tea. The summer practice proved so popular, the Duchess continued it when she returned to London, sending cards to her friends, asking them to 'join her for tea and a walking in the fields.' The practice of inviting friends to come to tea in the afternoon quickly picked up by other social hostesses."

"Today, afternoon tea is one of the most special times of day in London. An occasion one looks forward to  with a great anticipation and high expectation for a perfect experience."

Grace, I'm very happy I was able to share this traditional mommy/daughter moment with you while we were living in London.

London Zoo

Dear Grace,


On a gorgeous, sunny Sunday we ventured to the London Zoo at Regent's Park. You were all smiles and constantly pointing at something the entire time we were there. We're looking forward to taking you to the Lincoln Park Zoo once the weather gets a bit nicer back home in Chicago. Enjoy!


Love, Mummy and Daddy

Which animal would you like to see first, Grace?

LIONS...

TIGERS...

AND LLAMAS? OH MY!

Sally, the camel had...2 humps!

What sound does a lion make?

tourists

Dear Grace,


Daddy has wanted to take us the the British Museum ever since he attended his work holiday party in the large Egypt room. You wanted to walk hand and hand with me. Well, at least until you let go and face planted. We saw real tears and heard your loud baby cry in a very echoey room. You shook it off real quick and had a black and blue battle wound that lasted only a couple days. Enjoy! 


Love, Mummy and Daddy

The most famous thing we saw was the Rosetta Stone. (below left picture) Since it was written in 3 different languages, the Rosetta Stone helped people crack the code and secrets of the Egyptian language. 

The Hawkins visit

Dear Grace,

We were lucky enough to hang out with two of our best friends this week. Alyse and Paul Hawkins were in London celebrating Christmas with Paul's family. They alternate between Chicago with the Probst family and London with the Hawkins family. The year we are living here, is their year to celebrate with Paul's family! How lucky are we? 

There was a good mix of girl time, boy time and group time with the Hawkins. We joke about how it's a good thing we were both in their wedding because we're not sure which side we would have asked to be seated. Flip a coin? Split up? The girls did the most traditional British activity. High Tea at the Ritz Carlton. And the boys went to a proper British event as well. A Chelsea football game. Throw in a relaxing New Year Eve celebration and it made for the perfect get together with friends. It was just like the old days. Minus an appearance at Hangge-Uppe. Plus a one year old sleeping in the next room. Enjoy! 

Love, Mommy

Our friendships with Alyse and Paul started because they worked at BP with Daddy. We have many amazing memories from an eventful weekend in Vegas to being a part of their wedding while I was 8 + months pregnant with you.

Photo opp in front of the magical Christmas tree at the Ritz before heading into high tea. We had to make reservations 2 months in advance. 

Supporting the local club.

Jason and Kate

Dear Grace,

One of my best friends, Jason, and his girlfriend, Kate, came to London for the holidays. Kate's Mom lives in Northern England. Since they were on this side of the pond, we were able to spend an evening with them while they were in central London seeing the sites. The evening started with a glass of wine and Grace time at our flat and continued to a local pub around the corner for dinner. Enjoy!

Love, Daddy

Jason was my roommate in Chicago for 4 years and one of the groomsmen in my wedding. We met while interviewing for BP and we were both pleasantly surprised when we saw each other the first day of work. Jason is about to become an official Munster Mustang so we're looking forward to spending more time with them once we move back home. 

It's Miller TIME

Dear Grace,
Two of our dearest friends visited us last week and we all had a blast! Mr. and Mrs. David (aka Vinny) Miller spent 5 days and 4 nights with us. They were there for your birthday party and actual 1st birthday! You now have the cutest little silverware to use while we're dining out thanks to them. Daddy was in their wedding literally the day before we flew and moved to London! Enjoy!


Love, Mummy and Daddy


Vinny lived in London and visited many times so he came wanting to do 2 additional things on top of showing Alana the city...Indian food and a play. London is known for having great Indian food and Brick Lane is known for having the best Indian food in London, so that's where we had to go. We started off the night with a proper pint at White Hare, the Jack the Ripper bar. Then, we were off to Brick Lane to negotiate the best deal for our meal. Employees stand outside their restaurant trying to get you to read their menu while offering a free round of drinks, appetizers, etc. After following us down the street, PREEM's marketer was the winner and also the sister restaurant to the place Vinny ate at last time.


Look what restaurant popped up in Google images when I typed in Brick Lane-

Rock of Ages- if you love 80s rock music, Hair Bangers Ball, or Kilroys, this musical is a MUST see. It was hilariously entertaining. You feel like you're at a rock concert with your lighter in hand. You're given a fake lighter as you enter the show. What a fun touch. 

Trafalgar Square 

You're probably wondering how we got up there. Well, some are better at jumping up on wet slippery platforms than others...

I have a great battle wound and picture to remember this moment.

You have a baby...in a bar? Yes, we do and this time it was actually the very first pub Daddy enjoyed a pint on his original visit to London back in 2004. Lamb and Flag. 

Mind the gap, please. 

Guy Fawkes - Bonfire Night

Dear Grace,


Bonfire Night is a holiday in England around November 5th, which celebrates Guy Fawkes's attempt at blowing up Parliament as well as all the top officials including the King.  His failed attempt was the night before "the State Opening of Parliament" in 1605. At that time, Parliament was viewed negatively by the commoners/Catholics.

"On the night that the Gunpowder Plot was foiled, bonfires were set alight to celebrate the safety of the King. Since then, November 5th has become known as Bonfire Night. The event is commemorated every year with fireworks and burning effigies of Guy Fawks on a bonfire."

"Some of the English have been known to wonder, in a tongue in cheek kind of way, whether they are celebrating Fawkes' execution or honoring his attempt to do away with the government." 

We compare England's Bonfire Night to America's 4th of July. Both have firework displays. Both are a reason for family and friends to get together around a bonfire. Some children keep up the tradition of carrying around a dummy of Guy Fawkes, referred to as "The Guy." They beg people asking, "a penny for the Guy," which they later spend on fireworks.  Enjoy! 

Love, Mummy and Daddy 

The movie, V for Vendetta, was based off the idea of this real event. 

As we were walking away from the bonfire, the song, "It's Getting Hot in Here," by Nelly started playing over the loudspeaker in Battersea Park. 

We were curious about how your little ears were going to react to the fireworks. We ended up viewing the fireworks far enough from the park where you just sat back in your pram and enjoyed the light show

.