11 June - Take a (trip to) Bath

Or maybe don't. Jane Austen Centre was terrible. Won't even go into the story.

The Circus and Royal Crescent are interesting. We didn't make it to the Roman Baths. We're Losers with a capital L.

Exhaustion set in and was helped along by a swim and a beer. Sooo tired now. Had dinner in and the boys are out playing croquet now while sis is already asleep.

Doing laundry tonight so we can pack up tomorrow night.

11 June - Really Old Rocks

In 10 days, the summer solstice will put the sunset in just the right "spot" at Stonehenge. I'm sure the creepy factor will increase then! For now, Stonehenge seems like a bizarre arrangement of blocks. Like Legos that have been toppled by time instead of toddlers. Of course, then you consider the sheer mass of the stones and the 4,000 years that they've stood here. It puts the Roman ruins around here to shame. It was so interesting to see how they (whoever "they" were) put woodworking type skills to work to create the lentil part of the circle (the stones that sit across the top).

As amazing as being at Stonehenge was, the best part was watching D enjoy it. He loves to listen to audio guides and keys in the numbers for the appropriate section when he sees the signs. However, he does NOT love having his picture taken so I have to sneak up on him.Sometimes C looks at me like I'm crazy when I ask him to pose like this...and yet he does it. Weird.

10 June - Shepherds Strike Again

(I didn't have the camera on our walk tonight so these are from other walks.)

It's funny how much can happen in 2 hours. Since writing the last, I've been on a walk with the boys. We ventured across the way to the Oxfordshire Way. In England, there are public footpaths on private land. Once a year, people come out to walk each path in the country to ensure that they will remain public. In fact, some of the most important archaeological sites in the world are on private property (such as the Rollright Stones) and there is a public right of way. Anyhoo, the boys and I went through a gate into a field with about 200 sheep. I have 2 things to note about this excursion (aside fromt he obvious note: these children are really, really into sheep). I'm comparing their sheep-obsession to 2 years ago and I find:

1 - They are still able to move 200 sheep back 100 yards in under 5 minutes.

2 - They are much slower moving now because they actually care about stepping around the sheep poo. It's a welcome change.

After shepherding for a while, we wandered around the stream and field beside the cottages. Once we were freezing, I was able to convince them to come inside so Dad could build us a fire. That was great fun and was followed by a round of sticky toffee pudding....and baths and bed.

Stonehenge tomorrow!!

10 June - Cotswolds, Castles, Curry

Should I back-up a little for those of you who have no idea where we are? About 2 years ago, I was looking for family friendly vacations. I eventually settled on England and Scotland. Then, I went to the uk's i-village. I read some of their message boards and found loads of links to family resorts and cottages. Finally found Bruern Stable Cottages near Burford in the Cotswolds. The Cotswolds are about 2 hours out of London and are filled with charming towns like Burford, Bourton-on-the-Water, Bibury, and Moreton-in-Marsh as well as miles and miles of back roads and sheep farms.

So, we came 2 years ago and then drove to Scotland and had a flat in Edinburgh for a few days. Clearly, we had a fabulous time and couldn't wait to visit again. We are having a wonderful time this week and even though we're excited to go to France on Friday, we'll be sad to leave the Cotswolds.

Today, we went to the market in Moreton-in-Marsh and it was a bust. A couple of bus tours had just dropped off a few hundred grannies! We had a look from the car and decided to cut our losses. We headed to Tesco for groceries and then to Sudeley Castle for a picnic. Had a very nice little picnic at Sudeley and then toured the castle and gardens.

Their playground was this amazing castle structure with lots of climbing and slides. Very cool! Considered heading to the Farm Park, but decided to go on Thursday when we can spend longer there. So, headed back to Burford for a beer before heading home for dinner. The drive was GORGEOUS! So glad we took the single track! (Road that only fits one car - you have to squeeze through when another comes!)

Just finished dinner now (Chicken Curry and Fruit Crumble) and sent the boys out to play. I've got to go inspect the playroom in a minute to find out where A keeps getting into markers.

Have I mentioned how much these 3 kids like peacocks?! And Toblerones?

9 June - Vacation from Vacation

I'm sitting at the desk here in the cottage with a mimosa at 8 a.m. It's the drink I needed after yesterday's adventure but was too tired to have last night. Just made some great bacon and toast for the kids and am waiting for C to finish up the coffee.

Planning a lazy day at the pool and the wildlife park, but I'm sure I'll be back with an update later!

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Went to Bibury (voted most charming Cotswold town) and for coffee in Burford. Back in the cottage now (noon) to make lunch and swim. Still planning an outing to the wildlife park and shopping in Burford and dinner at The Lamb.

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C dropped NK and me off in Burford and he took the boys to the Cotswold Wildlife Park. NK and I found some great stuff and the boys had a marvelous time, too. C came back at dinnertime and we went to The Lamb. It was sooo good. Gorgeous garden to eat in and perfect weather. Had a perfect pint of the local bitter while C sampled (guzzled) 2 of the selections on tap. I love when they pump the tap to get the beer from the cellar.

Now, we're cooking sticky toffee pudding and putting NK to bed while the boys are next door playing with some girls they met on Saturday.

Finding nooks to play in at the cottage today:

8 June - to the Big City

FINALLY got into London around noon. Long drive, long train. Came into Waterloo Station from Windsor/Eton Riverside Station where we ditched the car. Went straight to the London Eye. Long, long, long line. I told C to wait a minute with A and NK while D and I went for tickets. Between the line and the heat (okay, maybe it was 78 degrees, but it was really sunny) and the crowd, I was thinking I didn't want to go in the little capsule. (Hot + Crowded = Claustrophobia!!) So, I went to the Fast Track ticket line. What good is $ if you can't use it to spare yourself an hour-long wait in the sun? Bought Fast Track tickets for the boys and C.

Told C not to ask what it cost as I ushered him and his monkeys into the 5 minute long line for FT. NK and I went for a latte and juice.

45 minutes later...started back to the tube station and ran into Jack Sparrow. The boys were asking for an "animal museum" so we were thinking Natural History Museum. Got slightly lost looking for the tube and ended up in a black cab (love those things) to the museum. Saw much more of the town that way compared to underground.

They LOVED the NHM, but we left without finishing because I'm a selfish Mum and wanted to go see Kensington Palace. We have to do something new, right? Had been to the Eye and NHM before. We walked through a very crowded Hyde Park to the palace.

Kensington Palace isn't all that grand and the state rooms that were open were pretty boring. BUT, Diana's dresses were there and they were gorgeous! C took A and NK to the Diana Memorial Playground while D and I toured. He was so good and really enjoyed it. We talked about the beautiful princess who had worn those dresses and how she had 2 little boys, too. Then, we got into a long chat while we sat in the garden about the queen and how there's no king right now and why. It was very nice.

Then, we were all off to the tube, the train and the drive back to the cottage. We scrubbed the city-dirty children, had showers and collapsed. Good day.

7 June - Stratford and Bourton

Woke up at 8. C and I had nice coffee and breakfast and got dressed and then woke the kids at 9. 14 hours must be enough sleep for them! We hit the road for Stratford-upon-Avon.

The best part of Anne Hathaway's house had to be the maze. Especially since it was closed. We put the boys in it anyway and let 'em run. We're such rebels.

Baby girl fell asleep as soon as we got back in the car so we drove back down to Bourton-on-the-Water for lunch. Ended up at our favorite little garden pub right on the river. The boys were sooo happy!