Halloween 2012

Life's getting more complicated now that E is older.  Four is old enough to begin to really grasp the traditions of certain holidays... and Halloween is no exception. 

Beginning to scoop out the pumpkin... we all took turns wielding the spoon.

The final result: here is "Scary Pumpkin Dave" as named by E.

Blurry pic of the kids before we set out trick-or-treating.  E was a scary knight with a giant trident and C dressed up as her brother, wearing his yellow construction vest and carrying a foam sword.  We live in a great, very safe neighborhood.  England doesn't do Halloween like America, but some houses really tried hard.  We only called in on places with lit pumpkins.  About a quarter of a way into our route we met up with folks we knew and went in a big pack down the street until we eventually split up again to come home... have I mentioned yet that I love this area?

Halloween aside, it's been a few weeks of mundanity around here.  I took the camera along to our neighborhood park recently....

Today we went to the children's zoo in Battersea, which has adventure playgrounds and a fire engine to clamber on in addition to animals. 

Beep beep.

He spent ages on this sand digger.

Really was too cold for sand and water play.  Went to have lunch and peek at the animals after this, then back for another 20 mins play before leaving.

BIG smile.

And that's all for now.

Dumbphone, Part 3

Two posts in one day!  Scroll down for Part 2.

 Nearly running.

 Climbing the part that was actually designed for 5+ year olds.

 Motorcycle boy.

 Fish, across from the motorcycle, because anything he does, she has to do too.

 Rocking cow in a cafe.

 This area is very child-friendly, but very expensive.

 "Exercising."

 Sodden playing, after a rain shower.

 "She can sit in my lap and you can take a photo."  Okay.

 BOUNCE.

 "Typing" an email to Dadden.

 After-school cafe visit.

 "Resting" on a bench.

  Tree climbing at the Common.

 "You can come in my forest house."

 Another "forest house."

 Driving the wheel in the car.

Random play at some place... forgot where now.

 It was warm for about 2 seconds in May so we got to go out in shorts and dresses.

 Toilet in at a rest stop France.  OH MAN. 

 Rainy weather again.

 Swing.

 Puddle stomping!  In June....

 Love their identical smiles here.

 "We can both go round and round this pole!"

 Remnants of the Jubilee celebration - several roads closed for street parties nearby.

 Tree climbing, with Spiderman boots.

 "This helicopter is going to France.  Hold on tight."

Rocks.

And that's all for now.  I have some more photos (including one of his last day at preschool) that I plan to post in the next week or so.  The weather here is getting better - less rain, hotter... just in time for the Olympics.  Maybe we'll actually have a summer after all!

Dumbphone, Part 2

Part one is here.

My dumbphone is full, so here are some photos.  They date from early April-ish up until a few weeks ago.

 Cool baby.

 Baby in a saucer at the park.

 Cool dude.

 "Cooking" at the1'o'clock club.

 That's playdough, I swear.

 Really.  Playdough.

 Siblings at the water table.

 "Welcome to my cafe."

 He's getting too big for these swings, but you try telling him that.

 Forest walking.

 Wearing his uncle's hat on a jaunt around the neighborhood.

 Peepo.

 E on a roller-coaster.

 The carousel.

 After this ride, he dragged me on a rickety Ferris wheel.  "Make sure you keep yourself right back!" the attendant said cheerily as he slammed shut the rusty barrier.  Never.  Again.

 A restorative, childless pit stop for tea and cake.

 Rainbow girl.

 Somewhere in that crowd are Dadden, Granny and the children, swimming at Archway.

 Rain.

 Piano at Grandpa's.

 Building a maze with bricks at one of the 1 o'clock clubs.

 Apparently, that is a nose.

 C and her clipboard.

 E hammering nails with a real hammer.

 Styling his new haircut, climbing the walls outside his school.

 There was lunch in front of her but she decided her shirt tasted better.

 Ikeaplaying.

 "What does this say, Elijah?"  "M--..."  Pause.  "Mols."  Whoops, I should have considered his angle before asking that question.

 Parallel play with the ball chute.

 Building a... something.  Maybe this was a spaceship.

 Picking flowers at the local park.

 She can climb this now.

Play.