Mom and Dad's visit part 2: Cambridge, Stonehenge, and Bath.

Cambridge is one of my favorite places.  We're lucky it's close!  We drove over and went punting with mom and dad.  I love listening to the history of the different colleges.  It's great because we haven't had the same punting guide twice, so we learn different tidbits about the area each time we go.  The kids came along, too. 

It was graduation week for a lot of the colleges in town.  Saw lots of grads in cap and gown!  We ate some of my favorite gelato while in town, too. 

We made a Saturday trip down to the Cotswolds for the Bath and Stonehenge experience.  I think you just have to see them while in England, so if you come to visit be ready to see some rocks.  Not that they are super exciting, but it's just one of those tourist things you have to cross off your bucket list. 

At 38 + weeks, I was pretty much ready to pop. 

 It was windy!  All our hair was blowing around in every picture.  Kind of funny.  At least it was warm :)

 

When we go to Bath, we always park next to the Cricket club.  It's an easy walk downtown, and is by far the most dependable when it comes to finding a place.  We caught a came going on.  I really don't get the rules, but it was entertaining to watch for a little bit.

It was pretty busy in town that day.  Lots of shoppers and tourists out! 

 

 I'm glad you took a lot of pictures, dad.  I didn't get many in Bath this time around.  All of these are yours.  Thanks for letting me swipe them :)

 

The kids had fun climbing on some of the monument things in the park. 

And of course we are fans of food.  We have an Italian restaurant we like there called Sotto Sotto.  Thanks Jake for making reservations.  If trip planning were left up to me we'd probably just stop in at Subway or something fast since I run low on patience when hungry.  Jake likes to plan his meals at good places, and once we get there I'm pretty happy to eat it.  Sotto Sotto has great pizza and pasta.  The Real Italian Ice Cream Co. has some pretty tasty gelato, too. 

Grandpa Paul & Grandma Pam come to England! Part 1: Bury St Edunds, Lavenham, and Framlingham Pictures

Mom and dad came to England at the end of June to hang out and to be here for baby Callie's arrival. It was great to have them for a while! Dad was here for a couple of weeks and mom got to stay for a month. I wish we could have them more often! We will take whatever time with them we can get. We hung out a lot around the house getting ready for baby to come, I had some Dr. appointments and things I had to stick close to home for, but we did get out to see some of England with them. Jake had to work for the first part of their visit, so the kids and I took them on a few local excursions to Bury St Edmunds, Lavenham, Framlingham, and a few other surrounding villages. Here are some pictures from Bury. The kids were a little grumpy since it was "sooo hot." To a British kid, when it gets to be about 85 degrees outside, life is unbearable. haha. Guess my San Antonio/Vegas babies forgot what "hot" is. At Abbey gardens... one of my favorite places to hang out around here :)

 

Little grumps under the tree.  My dad took these pictures and they crack me up!

Serious drama kids that day.

They're always fans of chasing the ducks around the grounds, and climbing the abbey ruins.  Don't ask them to walk around the town or to check out any shops though.  haha

We ♥ them!

Walking around Bury.  Dad must have taken this butt shot of us.  haha.  I love this town.  Mom and dad got the kids Popsicles at a little convenience store.  It seemed to make them forget about how hot it was that day.  For a little while anyway :)

The coolest dog was hanging out just outside abbey gate.  He was HUGE.  The picture doesn't do him justice. 

I can never remember what things I already have pictures of on the blog, and what I haven't yet.  Too many pictures can't hurt though, right?  Here's abbey gate :)

And pictures from the cathedral in Bury..

I think it was after our day in Bury that we ate dinner at Philipianos in Lakenheath.  This country needs to invest in air conditioning.  Most places don't have it or don't use it.  So, for the handful of days where it's warm, there's no escaping it.  We were all so hot sitting in that restaurant!  Maybe being pregnant made it feel worse than it was, but I think everyone was burning up!  haha.  Tasty food though. 

These next pictures were from our adventure the next day.  We went to Lavenham to walk around.  I wanted mom and dad to see the cute crooked village.  It's fun just to walk around.  Mom found a cute little bakery this trip, so we sampled pastries too.

Lavenham church...

 

Here are the pics from Framlingham castle.  I've been to lots of castles, and I think this one is still my favorite.  It's not cheesy commercialised and decorated like some of the rest.  (looking at you, Warwick.)  It's just the genuine old thing it is.  I like that. 

 

 snails were everywhere and a big hit with L & E

little cheezer...

 

view from the top of the castle walls...

After hanging out at the castle we walked into the village and bought a few things at their tiny market.  Tried some bread, a ham & cheese crepe, and a banana & nutella crepe.  Ella was liking hers :)

 

Class Pictures

School got out on June 14 this summer for Luke, and we got his class pictures shortly before then.  He loved his class and Ms. Morales this year!  Most of these kiddos will be in his class for first grade too since they're in the Spanish immersion group.  Cute little friends.  Our scanner/printer isn't working, so I get to take pictures of pictures. 

Ella has been going to Busy Bees preschool since January.  It's in Beck Row.. a village next to RAF Mildenhall.  It's a cute place.  School is at an old farmhouse, and the kids get to take care of animals some of the time they are there.  They've got llamas, horses, pigs, rabbits, chickens, and other birds.  She has learned and grown up a lot socially since starting!  British schools have treated us well.  Her teachers were really patient and great when she first started and didn't want to go.  She has especially loved Miss Katie (the teacher in the middle).  There are some words she says like her teachers every now and then.  Love it when she turns on her British accent.  haha.  Here's her class picture.  Ella's little smile cracks me up here.  Love that girl!

On the day you turned SIX

* Your sister was more excited about your day than you were.  She woke you up bright and early because she couldn't wait to see you open your presents.  She wanted to give you "birthday kisses."   You weren't a fan.

 * You scored Hero Factory/Lego stuff/a scooter, and spent the morning riding your scooter with Hunter and Ella on the "black path" behind our house.  You love riding back there.

* You spent all day outside, actually.  A must on sunny summer days in England!

 *More presents were in the mail!  One from that afternoon... (thanks Grandpa Paul/Grandma Pam!)

* We had Taco Bell and Baskin Robins at the BX for dinner. Your request :)

Keeping with tradition, here are a few of your favorites at 6!

Color: blue

Friends: Hayden, Esteban

Thing to do at home: jump on the trampoline

Thing to do at school:  shapes and math

Food: chicken tacos

Drink: orange soda

Treat: sour spaghetti

Song:  Book of Mormon Stories

Book: Diary of a Wimpy Kid

TV show/Movie:  Hero Factory,  Adventuretime

Toy:  Hero Factory stuff, Legos

We had a birthday party the following week with your buddies.  It was a laser tag party at Jumpin' Jacks.  You requested an Adventuretime cake and I sort of ran out of time to make a cake, but we had an Adventuretime cupcake tower. You liked it.  :)

Blowing your candles out!

Your 'mates.'  L to R: 

Isaiah, Peter, Hunter, Michael, Cole, Trevor, Collin, Esteban, you!, and Hayden

Playing tag...

Jumpin' Jacks can throw a good party.  You guys had a great time!

Luke, at 6 you are bright, fun, and truly a good kid.  We are lucky to have you in our family!  I can't wait to see everything you do, and how you grow this year.  Love you, mom.