Well we’ve been back almost 2 weeks from our whirlwind trip to London and Jersey. We had an amazing time. It was quite different from our last trip to Europe, where we went “sans kids”. Going on a transatlantic voyage with a 3 and 1 year old is a whole other ballgame. The 5 hour difference affected us a little for the first few days but the kids adapted really well. We did slack off a bit on routine and rules but that was mutually beneficial in that we wanted to relax a bit ourselves. So here are some pics we took along the way. So this is just a small handful of the pics we took.
First morning and the boys are already at it…
We arrived just a few days after the anniversary of Princess Di’s death. These are the gates at Kensington Palace, covered in flowers and pictures of her and words from well wishers
What turned out to be the first in many shoulder rides on the trip. I believe Chris’ spine may have compressed a few inches on the trip
Life size pirate ship in the Princess Di Memorial Park. Such an awesome playground.
Henry playing some of the musical instruments available in the park
The view from our flat. We were instructed to look for the “pink and white house”
Henry riding the tube like a pro
Just have to make a quick phone call…
witnessing the changing of the horse guards. At one point, a guard detached himself from the group and basically stormed a cluster of tourists. A policewoman nearby yelled at those tourists letting them know that was a warning shot and that they had got too close. We wondered what would happen after that warning shot if they did it again. They didn’t…
This picture makes me chuckle
This guard gave a head nod saying we could take a picture with him. I tried to get Henry to come with me, he said no and didn’t want to get near him.
Freddy putting on his lady killer charm in St James Park
They boys and I posing in front of Buckingham Palace
Palace guard doing his thing
Henry wearing his “kiss me I’m Irish” shirt in front of Buckingham Palace with a guard in the background.
The boys in their favorite spot in the flat. They loved having breakfast right on the edge of the door to the balcony
Date day at the Tower of London
Steve, our hilarious Beefeater tour guide.
One of the ravens of the Tower of London. They keep 6 (really 8) on location and legend has it that if they were to leave, the monarchy would fall. Funny enough, the day we went for our tour, one of them had escaped and a beefeater had to go chase him outside the walls of the tower.
an armoured dragon housed in the Tower
Chris enjoyed the bajillion spirally stairs in the tower
This is me shaking my hand in disappointment at a coworker who was supposed to take a picture at this exact location earlier in the summer. He didn’t do it. Hence my disappointment.
We found the TARDIS! It’s bigger on the inside.
Chris tried to break in but I’m guessing he’s not the Doctor’s type.
A sign outside the local pub
Enjoying a pint at the pub
Chris clearly upset that I’m drinking lager in London.
Teeny-tiny car
Our last day in London, we decided to travel to the center of the earth…. or the museum of natural history. My memory is a bit foggy.
Henry got an early admittance to Hogwarts. Here he is off to school. They grow up so fast
I decided to take a stab at a second field of study and joined Henry on his adventure.
I begged Chris to let me buy this book for my friend Caitlin. He said we can take a picture only. I still regret not making that purchase.
On the express train to Gatwick. This seating arrangement did not last long.
The view from our chalet in Jersey, in Bouley Bay.
Another view of the bay. That’s part of the hotel we were staying at.
The boys spent most mornings, and some afternoons just throwing rocks in the water.
as you can see, there was an abundance of selection
Chris drinking Bass beer. Apparently it’s the oldest trademark in the world. Chris is a trademark officer so this is basically like his holy grail.
We went to the Durrell Wildlife Park. The man behind this park was a pioneer in saving animals from extinction. This was the first enclosure you see as you walk in.
Chris and Freddy bonding….umm I mean, two gorillas..
More gorilla
This bear was giving us a “come on in, I won’t hurt you” look…
The boys monkey watching…
The monkeys, boy watching.
Freddy looking quite ravishing as a southern dame.
My guys on a rock
Henry kept “relaxing” on the rocks
Freddy thinking Henry was freaking hilarious
The boys chilling in a cool swing at Millennium park. I got to swing in it as well and loved it. Trying to convince Chris to install one in our backyard.
another cool feature at the park. Henry loved it. It’s basically a giant rubber string with a seat on each end and a kid sits on each end and bounces up and down.
Chris enjoying a cold swim in the ocean. Didn’t seem to phase the locals but dang was it cold!
These are cool pools built to work with the low tide. Basically you can’t see any of this at high tide but at low tide, it keeps the water in the giant circle and people can swim in it.
The boys giving their traditional morning hug to the “black dog” outside the “black dog pub”
They really loved this dog.
Chris loves turning our kids into daredevils, no matter the location.
Henry is a bit more adventurous than Freddy
We visited the Jersey War Tunnels. Probably the best museum I’ve seen. The Germans built these tunnels as an underground hospital during the German occupation and the Jerseyans turned the tunnels into a walking history of the german occupation.
Henry testing his muster as a gunner.
Our final full day in Jersey, we went to visit Elizabeth Castle. We went out at high tide so we had to take a ferry, on the way back, it was low tide so we walked across and were passed by the ferry which was now a bus.
The safety of Jersey is the boy’s first priority.
Climbing to the top of the castle. Well Freddy was carried part of the way in his stroller. We abandoned the stroller partway up though and forced him to walk up.
We made it to the top! The boys getting the lay of the land they just conquered.
view from the top
My guys and the Jersey flag
Chris and I working on our selfies
another pic of the castle. We got all the way to the top over there.
Our last morning in Jersey and Freddy enjoying jam. He developed a huge love of it while we were there. He’s been in withdrawal ever since.
This was in the Jersey airport. I wish we had one in the Ottawa airport. The kids were so well behaved on the flight back to London. Probably due to sheer exhaustion from the bouncy castle.
So that was our trip. I’d do it all in again in a heartbeat. And to sign off, I’ll leave you with this, a lifesize lego Queen Elizabeth and her lego Corgi.
