It's official: I Love Little Sisters

Back to the usual Sunday post. I was talking with Agne and we both realized we are running out of time here! We have started planning a few day trips around here (Stonehenge, Oxford, others) since we only have a few more weekends left. I’m thinking about how quick the first 3 months went and how much faster this next one will go.

Beth came in my room Monday night and said she was hoping for a snow day (it isn’t suppose to snow until Saturday) so we looked up snow day prayers and I wrote it down on a piece of paper for her to keep under her pillow. I could hear her repeating it over and over…with her pajamas on inside out.

Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray for snow twelve inches deep.

Should it melt before I wake,

I pray school’s canceled by mistake!

She also found some Fanta in my room, so I let her have a few sips(they aren’t usually allowed to have pop, especially before bed) and she thought she was pretty cool. She chugged it, wanted me to taste how good it was, smiled and said “your just like a sister.” She then proceeded to talk about Germany (she is the only one that really understands) and how sad she’ll be when I leave. I’ve promised a visit to California upon my return to the states, a promise I definitely cannot break! 

Tuesday Kate and I started a new lunchtime routine of setting up her little table and chair in the family room and catching up on Dancing with the Stars.  She thoroughly enjoys it.

Kate picked out her own lunch at the shop... sausage rolls, they actually weren't bad.

Wednesday I went to Hemel and did some shopping. I stocked up on Christmas cards and the girls and I started writing some after dinner. They each picked who they wanted to send cards to so feel very special if you receive one!

Thanksgiving wasn’t a very festive day, just the normal day. We all got to skype with the fam all in Tennessee for Thanksgiving visiting my sister, which was fun. I was making dinner and walked in to see Kate and “Brian” chatting away. I’m pretty sure their stage fright in front of the boys is forever gone…hope they can meet in person!

Lisa and Gordon went into London for Gordon’s birthday so it was just me and the girls having a pj party. They want to do this every night…I’m not so sure since I have a twin bed and woke up to Kate next to me and Abbey at the other end of the bed. It was their first sleepover with an au pair so it was VERY exciting.

sweets before bed

food coma

Watching Harry Potter, little scared. 

someone snuck into my bed, she was "scared"

Slumber party & breakfast in bed!

Friday Lisa’s parents came in for the weekend and it was early to bed for me. I woke up early Saturday to head into London with Agne. We planned to go see the London Bridge, Tower Bridge, Tower of London and Hyde Park Winter Wonderland. In the three months I’ve been here and the three months I studied here a couple years ago, I’d never been to this part of London. It was a really cool area, parts were very touristy though, I guess you would expect that. The Tower of London was huge and a little overwhelming…we opted out of the tour so we just wandered around for a while. Some was cool, some was just a little boring but the highlight was the Jewel Room. You can’t take pictures because it is the most secure part of the Tower. This is the building where the crowns and all the gold plates, jewels, and special ornaments used in coronation ceremonies. There were old videos of the Queen playing explaining what everything is used for and some of the things were AMAZING with the amount of diamonds and jewels on one single piece. I would definitely recommend visiting the Tower of London if your ever here if nothing else to see the Jewel Room.

Tower Bridge

Later we went to Camden market, one of my favorite parts of London, always a good time. Heading towards the market the streets of Camden are kind of punk rock and hardcore lined with biker dudes with spiked hair and lots of makeup and piercing, but safe. We did a little Christmas shopping, then headed to the food stalls and had some Chinese followed by donuts…totally hit the spot.

Streets of Camden

After leaving Camden we went to Hyde Park to see the Winter Wonderland they have set up from now till Christmas. It was full of everything Christmas, from Christmas lights and music to traditional gingerbread and mulled wine. Needless to say, I was in heaven. Can you tell I’m a little obsessed with London at Christmas?

Gingerbread

We had plans to hit a few other places but it was already dark (4pm) and did I forget to mention it was FREEZING all day. We hopped on the train home and felt like I was going to pass out any minute. I got home, watched X-factor and went straight to sleep.

Today I got to sleep in till 10am! Woo! Then we all went to Ashridge to go for a walk in the hills. It was a really pretty day, really cold but sunny and beautiful out. We got home, chilled out and had a massive “Thanksgiving” Sunday roast. I could definitely get use to this Sunday roast thing…

The end of another week and another month…that makes THREE months, yikes!