6:05 am Friday Morning, Phoenix, AZ:
So Fresh! And Clean! Here's all of us embarking on our first overseas family trip! With hope and promise in our eyes, we set off on our adventure!
The first leg of the trip was from Phoenix to Newark. Eli kept busy with the Nintendo DS - what else?! - and was in heaven that he had no time restraints to interrupt him.
3:00 pm, Newark, NJ:
Miss Independant Ivy was a force to behold on the moving walkway. She seemed to consider it her personal catwalk and strutted her stuff down every time.
8:00 pm Friday, Newark NJ:
After waiting in taxi for nearly two hours, we finally jetted off in the 777 plane. Each seat had its own screen with access to games, movies, tv shows - any type of entertainment that could be had on a screen. What excitement! Oh, and did you know that they still serve hot meals on planes? We got dinner and breakfast! All this included in an outrageously expensive ticket. The trick is to fly internationally - everything's included because they feel so bad that you paid so much to be uncomfortable for so long.
Middle of the Night, Atlantic Ocean:
The kids finally tuckered out. With only a half teaspoon-full of help from Benadryll.
8:00 am, Heathrow Airport, London:
In our own personal London fogs from lack of sleep, we met our driver and loaded up the van. I don't care how prepared you are for English driving, this other-side-of-the-road business is just wacky! It shifts all paradimes of what I knew to be true on the road. {Heaven help us in 5 days when Adam rents a car in Scotland...}
9:00 am, Saturday, St. John's Wood, London
We found the flat of Shannon and Scott Ashton, with whom we'll be staying for several days. They have kids the same ages as our, just opposite genders. The kids became instantly inseperable...
11:30 am, Saturday, London
Freshened up and ready to tour the city!
Rode the Double-Decker to Picadilly Circus...
Stumbled upon an Air Show at Trafalgar Square in honor of the Queen's Birthday...
Climbed a Friendly Lion...
Lion Grooming...Eli thought he spotted a loose tooth...and the lion seems to have a sun-glare booger...
1:40 pm, London
We forgot our watches; luckily there was a big clock nearby.
Found #10 Downing St. (Hi, Gordon Brown!)
Thanks for the cool photo idea, Shannon!
We toured West Minster Abbey. Wow. Wow, wow, wow. I knew it only for the weddings that took place. But anyone who has ever contributed to the good of England is honored there. wow.
And we posed by Parliament.
4:00 pm, Saturday, London
Came back to the flat. Ate pizza. Gave the kids baths.
8:00 pm, Saturday, London
They're all sleeping soundly, hopefully having now adjusted to a time zone eight hours ahead of Phoenix. They sure were great travellers today. It would have been a challenge for anyone to stay happy without sleep for that long (besides Jack Bauer, of course), but Lizzie, Eli, and Ivy did it, without much complaint. It was one Loooong day, but we made it! We are so lucky. :)
So Fresh! And Clean! Here's all of us embarking on our first overseas family trip! With hope and promise in our eyes, we set off on our adventure!
The first leg of the trip was from Phoenix to Newark. Eli kept busy with the Nintendo DS - what else?! - and was in heaven that he had no time restraints to interrupt him.
3:00 pm, Newark, NJ:
Miss Independant Ivy was a force to behold on the moving walkway. She seemed to consider it her personal catwalk and strutted her stuff down every time.
8:00 pm Friday, Newark NJ:
After waiting in taxi for nearly two hours, we finally jetted off in the 777 plane. Each seat had its own screen with access to games, movies, tv shows - any type of entertainment that could be had on a screen. What excitement! Oh, and did you know that they still serve hot meals on planes? We got dinner and breakfast! All this included in an outrageously expensive ticket. The trick is to fly internationally - everything's included because they feel so bad that you paid so much to be uncomfortable for so long.
Middle of the Night, Atlantic Ocean:
The kids finally tuckered out. With only a half teaspoon-full of help from Benadryll.
8:00 am, Heathrow Airport, London:
In our own personal London fogs from lack of sleep, we met our driver and loaded up the van. I don't care how prepared you are for English driving, this other-side-of-the-road business is just wacky! It shifts all paradimes of what I knew to be true on the road. {Heaven help us in 5 days when Adam rents a car in Scotland...}
9:00 am, Saturday, St. John's Wood, London
We found the flat of Shannon and Scott Ashton, with whom we'll be staying for several days. They have kids the same ages as our, just opposite genders. The kids became instantly inseperable...
11:30 am, Saturday, London
Freshened up and ready to tour the city!
Rode the Double-Decker to Picadilly Circus...
Stumbled upon an Air Show at Trafalgar Square in honor of the Queen's Birthday...
Climbed a Friendly Lion...
Lion Grooming...Eli thought he spotted a loose tooth...and the lion seems to have a sun-glare booger...
1:40 pm, London
We forgot our watches; luckily there was a big clock nearby.
Found #10 Downing St. (Hi, Gordon Brown!)
Thanks for the cool photo idea, Shannon!
We toured West Minster Abbey. Wow. Wow, wow, wow. I knew it only for the weddings that took place. But anyone who has ever contributed to the good of England is honored there. wow.
And we posed by Parliament.
4:00 pm, Saturday, London
Came back to the flat. Ate pizza. Gave the kids baths.
8:00 pm, Saturday, London
They're all sleeping soundly, hopefully having now adjusted to a time zone eight hours ahead of Phoenix. They sure were great travellers today. It would have been a challenge for anyone to stay happy without sleep for that long (besides Jack Bauer, of course), but Lizzie, Eli, and Ivy did it, without much complaint. It was one Loooong day, but we made it! We are so lucky. :)
8 comments:
AAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!
I'm so excited for you guys! You look like you are having the best time! Wish we could experience it with you!
And, I'm glad to hear that Ivy is doing so well. I asked her on the phone what she would do in Europe, and she said, "Play My Little Pony."
Best post EVER.
Oh how fun!! You certainly look like you have everything under control and I LOVE the pictures you took. Have fun!!
Glad you are having such a great time!
Yay for family trips to London!!!! Have a wonderful time. Glad you are sharing it!
(btw, we had our baby, Ella Paisley Gallagher on Wed!)
Good pictures! Looks like a fun time in the UK, keep up the hard work over there.
The phone booth pic looks like you guys are going to the 'ministry'. I'm soooo jealous and want to hear all about it when you get back.
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