For You, Mom

We recently moved. I've been promising my mom a video walk through our new place to help her visualize where we live. So here it is as promised. Sorry the quality is so poor, but at least you get the idea.

Antalya vs The Escalator

I've just found a great speech therapy group that meets every Friday down in the city. That means every Friday I've got to take the girls on the tube to the appointment. Today was my first experience getting there with both girls. We managed pretty well on the tube, and even managed to get the stroller, plus all three of us up two flights of stairs.

Then came the escalator. Antalya LOVES escalators. I knew I didn't stand a chance convincing her to sit this one out in the stroller, so I explained that she needed to hold my hand. So with one hand pushing Victoria in the stroller and the other coaxing Antalya along we got to the bottom step of the escalator. I pushed the wheels of the stroller on, the stairs rose up and we were on our way.

Well, part of us were. At the last minute Antalya had broken away from my hand. She wanted to do it all by herself. And it was too late for me to do anything but just watch. I feebly tried to pull the stroller down the steps, but I knew there was no way I would reach the bottom - we were going up quicker than I could pull us down.

So I watched, and panicked as Antalya, with a big grin on her face, took a step onto the escalator with no one to help correct her step. Then I watched as her foot landed right on top of the crack where the stairs would soon be splitting. Sure enough, the stairs rose, Antalya lost her balance. In very slow motion I watched as she fell back, then the next stair tipped her back even more, and I knew the next stair would tip her back all the way and she would somersault backwards down the staircase.

It was an awful moment. Knowing exactly what was going to happen and not being able to do anything to stop it.

Then suddenly out of nowhere a man appeared and caught her fault and carried my crying, kicking little girl up to where we were.

I think the stranger carrying her was the scariest part of the ordeal. He set her down next to me. I held out my hand and said, "will you please hold my hand?" She quickly grasped it, and didn't let go.

I'm pretty sure next time we come face to face with an escalator and I ask her to hold my hand, I won't get any protests.

Different Strokes for Different Folks

It's a very rainy day today in London, so after lunch we decided to pull out the paints. It was Victoria's first painting experience. I think she must have thought I was finally letting her play in my makeup; as soon as I handed her the paint brush she instantly put it to her face.

Before I knew it, this is what I was looking at.

Odds and Ends

This was taken on Antalya's first day back at school. She is in nursery school which meets five days a week for three hours, except for Mondays when she goes all day. She is so excited to be back, and it is so wonderful to be back on a schedule.
Of course after watching Antalya pose for a picture, Victoria had to do it also!

A couple weeks ago I took the girls on a day trip. Just me and them. It was the first time I have gone anywhere all day with them without someone else to help entertain during the car ride and lend a hand when girls wouldn't cooperate. We visited this beautiful home (if you can really call it a home) called Audley End House. We didn't actually go inside (I knew that would really be pushing my luck with the girls), but we did enjoy walking around the many gardens, playing on the playground, eating at the cafe, and buying an ice cream. The best part of the day was, We did it! We managed just fine the three of us. In fact, I would even do again!
(forgive the smudge on the photo - I didn't realize that little, sticky fingers had been playing with my lens)

Victoria still very much enjoys her meals.

And Antalya loves her pink boots!

But not nearly as much as Victoria enjoys wearing my bras.

And I am enjoying all the silly things my girls do. They keep my smiling more and more each day! And the best news of the day...the landlady has agreed to put in new carpet. Hooray! I'll wait to post pics of our flat until after the new carpet arrives :)

Back Online

It's been almost two full weeks of feeling very disconnected from the world. But as of a few hours ago we are back online and life is grand again. If there is one thing the English pride themselves on - it's not fast customer service. If it's the check-out line at the grocery store, plan on at least 10 minutes; if it's getting a cell phone or internet connected plan on at least 2 weeks. It's just the way it goes here.

We are working on getting all settled into our new flat. It's about the same size as our last one, but the lay out lends to a lot more room for running and playing which has been fun for the girls. Plus we have two gorgeous sets of french doors, and our own little balcony. I'll post some pics soon. We are still in the process of getting it presentable. The small fortune we are saving on rent each month came at a price. I don't think anyone had cleaned this place for a long time. Jason and I have spent several hours every evening for the last week deep cleaning the place. As I'm cleaning a line from "Annie" always comes to mind, "You're gonna clean this place until it shines like the top of the Chrysler Building." And that's exactly what we are doing. And by the time we are done, this little space is going to feel just like home (plus I'll have the added satisfaction of handing it back to the landlord in better condition that I received it).

Antalya started school last week. She is loving it. The first day of school she ran almost the entire way there (it's just under a mile away). She comes home every day happy. And her TA is amazed at how much she has changed over the summer. She reports that she is much more attentive during story time, and was amazed when Antalya climbed to the top of the play equipment a couple days ago. I have a feeling it's going to be a great year.

Pictures coming really soon. I promise!