My Orphan Child

Tonight at a Christmas party someone said, "Milly is so cute. Even though she always looks like a little orphan, she is so cute!" I can't be offended, because as I look through pictures, I think she has a really valid point.

My general policy is that if no one is crying or bleeding then things are fine. So if my children look like orphans, at least they look like happy orphans.

I admit that I could spend a little more time on her hair so she can at least see. Notice Otie's new smile for the camera.

Proof that I do, in fact, bathe my children

In other news, Milly is 18 months and went to nursery for the first time last Sunday! Otis was SO excited that she got to go with him.

Although she does often look straight off the set of the movie, "Annie", I love this girl so much. I love how excited she is to find Eddy the Elf every morning. I love how much she loves books and turning the pages by herself. I love how she likes to walk with me next to the stroller and hold hands. I love how she runs away when she steals something from Otis or when it's time to change her diaper. I love how she imitates everything Otis does. I love/hate how she prefers Tyler over me. I love how she says, "hold me". I love how she always stays close to me in a crowd. I love how she grabs my face to pull me in for a kiss.

I love how she rubs her plate all over her hair after every meal. I love how she says, "O-Dee!" when it's time to pick him up from school. I love how she loves to snuggle in just her towel for awhile after the bath. She has the sweetest nature and is so loving. I know she is the cutest thing, even if I don't spend my mornings braiding her hair.

Happy Holidays!

Waited in line for a long time for this gem...

at Hyde Park Winter Wonderland

We got our tree tonight! We had to carry home the one we chose, so we opted for this mini. I love it.

Dont mind the ninja on the wall

My mom made this advent calendar for us for Christmas last year. I love it- Otis is so excited about it every morning. And he LOVES finding the Elf on the Shelf each morning.

No chimney for the stockings this year

Imagination- day 11 wearing cape

Halloween opened up a whole new world for Otis. It's like he realized for the first time that he can be anything or anyone he wants. He has insisted on wearing a dish towel for a cape every single day since. He flies to school, the park, everywhere.

Just making sure it's doing ok in the bath...

It's so amazing to see his imagination at work. He makes me feel like a kid again. He was flying past an older kid the other day and the boy said, "You can't fly! Those aren't wings, those are your arms". Otis didn't miss a step, he just zoomed by and yelled back, "I'm flying right now!" Nothing can stop this boy.

He literally will not take it off for anything

So we decided it was worth investing (£6) in a real cape for our super hero.

This video is so long. But I decided to take a break from parenting and try to get on film this character that Otis has created. He gets this scowl on his face and gets really aggressive. I thought I could protect him from the world and weapons, but he is clearly already obsessed with guns and I don't know where it comes from. Obviously, it is not a good idea to film your kids when they're being defiant, but if I followed this, I would never be able to get videos of my kids.

I have a few favorite parts in this, first when he says, "what could you possibly do about listening?" and if you can make it to the end when he's dancing in his new cape- he does this signature knee dance move of Heidi's that he's seen her do on the web cam and I almost die laughing.

Cycling in the English Countryside

It was so fun to go out to The Chilterns and cycle through the countryside with friends. We rode through quaint villages, past old churches and cottages. And after riding a tricycle with the kids around all the time, it felt great to be on my own on a normal bike.

Not my prettiest moment, but maybe my proudest. Emma got a flat and I changed the tire! I'd never done that without the help of a man.

If you've lived in a city, you know that words can not describe how good it feels to get out of the concrete jungle and breathe in some fresh air.

I returned home refreshed and renewed.

Daddy's Girl

This girl loves her dad. I mean L.O.V.E. loves him.

She seems to have forgotten all the sleepless nights I had nursing her. And she clearly knows that I am mama, but she has started refering to Ty as, "mama" and "dada"

When Ty gets home, Milly is giddy with excitement and will not have anything to do with me the rest of the night. If I try to take her from him, or take anything from Ty for that matter, she defiantly says, "no!"

It was cute at first, but now it's getting out of hand.

But I still love her, even when she dumps cereal all over the kitchen.

Messy Class and random pics

This is the best 2£ I've spent. You go in to this room, strip the kids down and they can just go at it with paint, sparkles and clay with no rules. It was fun to see the kids get so creative without any restrictions. We got our money's worth and left covered in paint from head to toe.

We live next to the street where the Royal Horse Artillery is so we often see the horses out training in the streets.

During Shabat at school- Mazel tov!

We are really into tools and building boats at our house right now

Otis at Princess Dianna Memorial Park

It hasn't been all fun. Both kids had croup last week and have been sleeping ALOT.

When the kids are grumpy or fighting, I can always give them each a pair of goggles to keep them happy for awhile.

And finally a little me time...Namaste.

Happy Halloween!

Went trick or treating on Abbey Road tonight and got candy from Ewan McGregor's house (who I happen to have a crush on) but he wasn't the one giving out candy...maybe next year.

My new ride

This bike is the best thing that ever happened to me. After my husband and kids of course. It has given my life a new freedom and opened this city up for me.

Otis and Milly ride in it like they're the king and queen of England. Milly waving at everyone saying, "Hi-ya!"

It has been wonderful not having to use busses or the tube

Bedtime Story

Otis loves watching movies of himself. This is his favorite book right now.

First day of Nursery (pre-school).

Otis is going to a nursery called LJS 3 mornings a week. It's at a Liberal Jewish Synagogue. So far he is LOVING it. Here are pics from his first day.

I decided to document his journey to school because he looked so cute on the bus with all the people going to work.

He is not capable of passing a stick without picking it up and using it as some kind of weapon