Friends!

Once a week Lyla and I get together with other moms and kids for a playgroup.  The kids and moms have all become quite good friends. Just now, as I am working on this post, Lyla has climbed into my lap and said excitedly, "Those are my friends!"  It all started back in TLF (temporary lodging facilities on base).  When I think back about it, I am reminded that God's timing is always right.  We had been in the temporary housing for a little more than a week.  Our car arrived and I was trying to get the hang of driving on the opposite side of the road. On the particular day I'm thinking about, it was my second time driving and it ended with me getting out of the car nearly in tears, wanting to go home. So, as we often did, because there wasn't much else to do, we took Lyla to the playground.  It was on this day at this time when God new I needed it most, that I made my first friend in England.  That friend then invited us to pizza, which was quite the staple in TLF, where we met other friends.  And the making of friends at the playground continued! 

Lyla, Deyton, Eli, Alex and Seth enjoying their s'mores

climbing the fence to say hi to the horses

Easter

 

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead ... 1 Peter 1:3

On Easter, we had bunch of friends over for a cookout and egg hunt.  We were blessed with fantastic weather!  It was a perfect day with lots of good friends, food and fun. :)

Checking out her Easter basket

blowing bubbles with Cana

playing in the playroom while the eggs are hidden

Note the chocolate hanging out of Lyla's mouth. :)  After discovering that there was candy inside the eggs, she wasn't very interested in looking for more eggs.  I was able to convince her to keep looking for a little while.  I think she might have collected 4 or 5 eggs.

Lyla and Lydia checking out their goodies

Friends playing in the playhouse. :)  I wonder what they were talking about...

Dover and Canterbury

While Grandma Carol was here, Jack and I got to go away for a night with out Lyla.  Grandma and Lyla got to spend some quality time together and so did Mommy and Daddy. :)  We drove about 2 hours away and went to Canterbury and then Dover.

Canterbury Cathedral

St. Martin's Church

St. Augustine's Abbey 

Dover Castle

 

Looking down from the castle onto the port of Dover, the major port between England and France.

Gramdma Carol's Visit in April

Grandma Carol Comes for a Visit

We were so excited to have Grandma Carol here.  Lyla loved the extra attention that comes with having Grandma around!  It was wonderful to just be able to spend time together.  Most of our time together was spent having low key days playing in the playroom with Lyla or working our puzzle of London.  We did take a few little trips while Carol was here.

Fun Around the House

reading Lyla a bedtime story

working the puzzle of London

enjoying the horsey swing with Grandma

Lyla and Grandma spent a bunch of time playing on the steps. :)  Either Lyla was throwing a ball down to Grandma or she was "ka-chunking" down the steps like she is in this picture.

singing songs at bedtime




Buckden Towers

A Weekend in Bath, United Kingdom

Lyla on the drive to Bath

St Micheal's Church

Bath Abbey

Jacob's Ladder - Bath Abbey

Jack and Lyla (listening to the commentary) at the Roman Bath

 Roman Bath with Bath Abbey in the background

 

Pultney Bridge

 

Carola and me enjoying creamed tea at the Jane Austen House

 

Carol in front of the Jane Austen House

 Picking her Gelato

 

 

The Tasburgh House - the bed and breakfast where we stayed in Bath

 

Lyla finishing every last drop of her sweet potato fries :)

Sights in London

 Tower Bridge

 Carol in front of Tower Bridge

 Westminster Abbey

Enjoying ice cream on a hot day

We had a fantastic visit!