The kids at St Aubyns Place

I thought I would put in a few photos of the kids.

They have created a bus and are driving to PA, around York, to Kansas, etc.

Oliver got off the bus for awhile looking for alternate transportation.

Family dinner at the Patte house. Most meals are eaten outside, except for breakfast and when it is raining. For some reason we eat indoors on those days.

Lily's first corn on the cob. It went over really really well. Not fresh corn on the cob, but none the less not bad.

This is a rare occasion to get a photo of the boys smiling, without their hands in their face, and actually looking at the camera. Life is good.

Toy Story 3

Oliver went to his first big screen movie this afternoon with his mommy and Harrison. It was TOy Story 3 in 3D. He did really well wearing the glasses and sat through the entire movie with little to no movement. I was impressed. It was really fun. They have not seen the first 2, but honestly I did not see the 2nd one and i did not feel I missed out on anything. I think when we get back home we will work on watching the first 2 Toy Story movies as I'm sure they will LOVE them. We had lots of discussion about the BAD guys in the movie, especially the purple bear and the monkey freaked them out a little bit.

Harrison Turns 5

Harrison turned 5 today! Daddy spent the day at home with the family, which was really really nice. Harrison helped me to pick up some party food and his birthday cake. At 5 we had some friends over to the house. My friend Sophie, her American friend Jill, her childhood friend Sarah, her husband Stevie, and their 2 kids Finn and Charlie.

The kids played outside. We played hide and seek, tag, "football", water balloons, and bubbles.

The water balloons went over really really well. A little tricky to fill, but we figured it out. No outside tap.

We ate homemade pizza and fruit salad. Very yummy!

The cake was a big hit. It was an Alien Cake! It turned out awesome and NO I did not make it, BUT it tasted terrible. We missed a Velma cake this year.

Then the little ones were getting tired, so we opened gifts. Harrison got some new books, some monster figures, and some adventurer gadgets...binoculars, magnifying glass, bug collector, stop watch, compass.

It was soo much fun!

and then there were 5

Well, my folks left yesterday. They were here for 10 weeks. It is hard to believe how quickly the time has flown by. It was sad to see them go. We had so much fun together and so many laughs. When there are kids involved it is hard not to laugh! The boys ask about them, why they had to leave, or where they were going. We talk about the fact we will see them at Christmas or Thanksgiving in Kansas.

Thank you Thank you Thank you to my folks for all their hard work with the kids and around the house!!! Travel, cooking meals, bedtime, walking to town, going to the park, and bath time was made easier with their presence here in York. It allowed Michael to travel, work, and see the sights he needed to for his Fulbright experience without him being concerned about leaving me alone with the kids. It also allowed a few date nights, a little time outside the home without kids, and our trip to portugal.

We only have 4 more weeks until we leave for home. We are going to make the most of the end of our time here and enjoy the cool weather while we can.

The curiosity of little boys

Oh the curiosity of Little Boys.

My folks and I arrive home with the kids at nap time after eating lunch along the river Ouse at the Revolution Restaurant. I take Harrison upstairs for his nap. Grandpa brings Lily up and I get those 2 kids down for a nap, when I hear an alarm going off. The alarm is our house alarm, which I have never set and I can't find code. I look through our paperwork to no avail, so I call Ashtons. They are able to provide the code right away, so the house is quiet and the kids are able to take their naps. The circuit breakers are in the cupboard under the stairs and Oliver was able to open it up and switch off 2 breakers, which turned off the electricity in the house and set off the house alarm.

The following day we were in 2 different store and Oliver was eyeing the fire alarm. He came a little TOO close for mommy, but we did not set off a fire alarm. Oliver also has found the button at the bottom of the escalator in Mark and Spencer, which stops it. That he has done once if not twice. Now we have a discussion about what buttons to avoid prior to entering buildings.

Oliver is just so curious.

Take a Trip into Town with us

On our way into town this morning we decided to document the walk. What we see each day and our usual route for the most part.

Here we are on our way into town

The boys LOVE to push the button to cross the street,

although Harrison's enthusiasm does not show this morning.

Harrison and Oliver are delighted whenever we have postcards to mail.

Grandma and Harrison

Oliver and Harrison have both developed this excitement over acquiring and carrying around "maps", which are pamphlets about things to do in and around York. They are so funny about them. Oliver is holding one in this photo. (Lily is teething...awaiting a back molar poor thing).

Stopping in front of a Chiropractor's office waiting to cross the street.

The local Sainsbury...our closest place for groceries.

Reel Cinema...our movie theater. A good place to change passengers in the stroller.

Walking toward town as we approach Micklegate Bar.

Standing under Micklegate Bar.

I found out that this street is Nicknamed the Micklegate Run as there is the highest concentration of bars in York on this street. There are more wine bars in other areas now, but later at night it has been common to see people throwing up and peeing in the streets along this road.

This church has been made into a bar and grill called "The Parish".

A bakery we passed daily and Grandpa picked up a custard pie or a sweet treat of YumYums.

View from the bridge and the River Ouse.

Everyday Oliver and Harrison ask to look at the boats on the river, so each day I stop the cart along the wall and let the boys look out over the river. You might think they would lose interest in this activity, but everyday they continue to ask to stop.

View from the Bridge along the River Ouse

King and Arms along the River Ouse. Michael and I were able to go out with another couple, Sophie and Stevie and their American Friend Jill. We sat at one of the tables drinking a beer along the river. I'd have to saw we were a bit cool...as it had to be in the 50s. A bonus for July in UK.

Straight up to Mark and Spencers and turn left to Boots.

Betty's Tea Room is a fancy place for tea. My folks and I went there one morning for a mid morning snack with the children. It was oh so yummy, but a little chaotic at times.

To the right is Betty's and straight ahead is Stonegate, which is wonderful street for shopping.

Our grocery store has so many little old ladies who shop there. I still feel eyes on us when going through the store at times. Oh well...what can you do. The boys love to go up the "crawling stairs" with Grandma or Grandpa to use the restroom...sometimes I feel they ask to use the potty just so they can use the "crawling stairs" or to push the button in the elevator "lift". 2 weeks ago, when I went to Marks and Spencers with the children solo Oliver ran over to the "crawling stairs" and found an interesting button to push. There is a button at the bottom that will stop the escalator. It was too irresistible and just had to be pushed to see what would happen. I was mortified and we walked quickly away.

The boys love to try to splash in this fountain in the Plaza, but Oliver then wants to take off his shirt or pants if they get wet.

Center City Plaza of York, where there is frequently venders and tents for various fairs. There are street musicians almost everyday in this area as well.

Oliver at the flower stand in the Plaza.

The Shambles.

The Shambles.

The Shortest Street with the Longest Name.

Courtyard Near Barnits and the Shambles.

Inside Barnits with Grandpa. Oliver LOVES to go with Grandpa to the hardware store.

Outside Costa...a local coffee chain.

UK version of CVS or Walgreens minus the food.

Just a little shopping.

York Central Library reopened in mid June, which is much larger than Dringhouses Library.

The boys giggled and laughed so much under the umbrellas on our way home in the rain.

On our way back home.

Thank you Grandma and Grandpa for my new Hat!

Hope you enjoyed joining us on our daily trek.