Relivin' Grandma's Visit

Grandma is back in Tennessee with Papa. She left a week ago... and I think it took me this whole week to remember how to do the dishes! ;) She came bearing many gifts, but washing just about every dish we dirtied for 10 days straight may have been one of the best.

For memory's sake, I just wanted to record some of the fun we had while she was here.

Thursday - Somehow I made it to Heathrow with the girls in tow in enough time to park and be standing tall when Grandma walked out of the Arrivals door. The tears on her arrival made me a little concerned with my ability to cope with the tears sure to come at her departure. We made it back home, showed Grandma around LTS, and ate a celebration dinner that night.

Playground time with Grandma

Friday - No rest for the weary... or jet-lagged! We brought Grandma with us to our 9:30am Friday playgroup at St. Paul's. Grandma got a good first dose of what our life looks like here in London. After lunch and a relaxing afternoon catching up, Grandma and I met 4 other LTS wives out for dinner at a local Italian place. The food was good and it was so fun to enjoy a GNO with Mom along.

Saturday - After debating the night before on our Saturday plans, we finally decided on taking a trip to Alconbury to look around the ol' stomping grounds, see the first house I ever lived in, and get in a little shopping. It was a nice day with some hilarious (or maybe horrible... I can't decide on the right adjective here) hiccups. I will say my children were total rockstars and just rolled with it all day long.

Sunday - We all drove Grandma down to Westminster Chapel for church and then we all stayed after for lunch. Mom loved visiting our church and meeting the pastor, his wife, and other friends we've made - it was fun to see her enjoy the same things that first drew us to this church. We had a restful afternoon at home while Robert worked tirelessly until dawn the next morning on a paper. He did this so Mom and I could catch a proper afternoon tea and show the next night - what a man! I don't deserve him!

Monday - After breakfast Grandma, I and the girls went to Ikea for a little baby shopping. Grandma was a little concerned with how little I've planned to baby #3! She'd ask, "Where will the baby sleep?" I don't know... "Where are you putting the baby clothes?" Uh, not sure yet... "Where will you change the baby's diapers?" Ummm... on my bed?? "KIMMY!!!" So, we went to Ikea and bought an approximately 800lb assemble-on-your-own white dresser. Luckily I live in a seminary with lots of kind men willing to drag these things up the stairs for you! We ate lunch at home, got the girls down for quiet time, and Mom and I headed into the city! We enjoyed a beautiful TWO AND A HALF HOURS uninterrupted tea at a fancy hotel (where we both fell in the door and then I accidentally pulled the alarm in the handicap bathroom) and then Once at the Phoenix Theatre (chosen because it won lots of Tony's and my mom has literally seen ev.er.y.thing else - BUT I can't say that I'd recommend it!) It was SUCH a fun night!

Outside of Hotel - right before I fell OFF the curb and Mom fell UP the curb...

Tea Time

At the theatre

Tuesday - We all went back into the city in the morning for Bible Study Fellowship. I loved introducing my mom to my group and then taking Mom out to lunch at our usual Tuesday place, Pret. After making it back to our neck of the woods, we got the girls down for quiet time and commenced Project Make A Box of 8,000 Pieces Become a Beautiful White Dresser. I did most of the assembly while Mom made everyone dinner (how do I EVER get anything done without her???). I'm happy to say it actually DID turn out beautifully!

Always nice having another traveler along on the Tube!

New dresser for sweet Baby Girl!

Wednesday - I had my awful glucose test at the hospital where you drink that sweet sugary drink and then they take your blood 4,000 times in the span of 2+ hours. Yes, they do this test in the UK, too :) I was really thankful Grandma could watch the girls for me while there. Then, Wednesday afternoon we loaded up the girls and made our way to Oxford. We got settled into the beautiful place we were staying and then headed to a nearby shop for some grocery essentials. Next door to the shop was a lovely looking restaurant called The Anchor. We were nervous about finding a kid-friendly place, but they were MORE than welcoming! Sat us all down at a table near the fire and served us a delicious dinner - it was a treat!

Kid-friendly dinner at The Anchor

Adult-friendly as well!

Thursday - We all made our way into the city centre for some shopping and just enjoyed a day of taking the sights and fun little finds along the way. I know I was just an hour away from London, but it felt like I was in a completely different place. It was such a wonderful retreat from the city that, by lunchtime, I was begging Robert to join us the next day so we could spend another night there.

Troopers!

Meg's view of the city!

Meg with her new boots

Ellie with new headbands and bracelets

Friday - Robert agreed! And we drove back to London to pick him up after his Friday classes. We made it back to Oxford in time for Robert and I to get an early start on our Valentine's night out. We walked around the city for a bit and then started checking restaurants to see who still had tables available. We found a nice looking one with some live music and a friendly hostess who squeezed us in. We had some amazing mushrooms for a starter, I had a delicious pasta dish, and Robert had one of the best salmon dishes we've ever tasted. A night out with the love of your life is gold in and of itself, but a really tasty meal put it over the top!

Valentine's Dinner

Saturday - After the windiest night in recent memory (maybe except for this one?), all the adults sleepily pulled together and got everyone packed and back in the car. We stayed in Oxford to go and see the movie Frozen with the girls before heading back to London. I have to say getting there (Robert's iPhone suddenly stopped giving directions...??) and buying tickets (there was no ticket counter and the glitchy ticket kiosk was enough to make anyone go postal) was extraordinarily stressful. But the movie was SO worth it! We've been re-watching the songs on YouTube ever since.

Sunday - Another wonderful Sunday morning with Mom at Chapel. Then we met our long time friend Michele and her daughter, Ellie, for a long lunch together. It was so good to see them and catch up over the afternoon!

Lunch at Prezzo with Michele and Ellie

Monday - Ugh, this day always has to come, doesn't it? We had breakfast and then got Grandma and her things in the car and made our way back to Heathrow.

I had a friend at church ask me if it was a restful time with Grandma here and I gave him an emphatic "NO!" Hah! Grandma is a go-er, and I think all of her girls fell right in line with this model. I told the friend "It wasn't restful, but it sure was fun!!"

Please come back again soon, Grandma!