Exhibition Road

Museums, museums, and more museums.

We love making the trip to South Kensington because we can't get enough of the museums. Our favorite is probably the science museum (OK, well its my favorite). We love to check out the rocket/space section, the engine/train section, the airplane section, and of course the garden.

The garden is a play area for kids 3-6 years and is full of hands on science. Ellie especially loves playing in the garden. She begs to go to the museum all the time, probably because she thinks they all have stuff for kids. And in fact, London does a pretty good job at entertaining kids through learning. We can always find stuff for kids alongside learning for adults.  Ellie loves playing in the water and collecting pillows (bean bags) so she can throw them through the chutes in the tree house. Jet just loves being free. I think he has officially spent too much time in the ergo. And I love to watch both of their imaginations at work.

Trains

And Planes. She doesn't sit still for long, so I very rarely get a good picture, ugh.

We always have so much fun running around and learning about all the amazing things that innovative men and women have done throughout history. Ellie especially loves to go places I can't with a stroller and tell me she will meet me at the end (pictured above). It basically gives me a heart attack.

This place, on the other hand, does not give me a heart attack. In fact, I love it! I think it is so important to ingrain a love of learning young and to use every opportunity you can to stimulate the sense of curiosity in little ones. I love when Elle asks me questions (and I love that I can give them adequate answers..only in the science museum). Education is so important at every age.

Water Play:

 Tree House/ Pillow fun:

Sounds and Lights

Building our castle:

 

We also love the Victoria and Albert museum across the street. It is full of artifacts, ceramics, furniture, and sculptures from across the world and through different eras. I especially love all the english history and artifacts they have. It is almost like you are walking through time. Even Jetty wanted to see what it was like to be a baby in the 1600s.

Jet in his ruffle

Bah! This little boy has my heart. He is still crying way too much but I would only put up with that nonsense for this little face. These are some of my favorite pieces from the museum. I can't believe our English adventure is over on Friday. We are so grateful for this opportunity and have had such a fun time, but we are ready to come home. Love and miss you all.

Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge

The Prince has arrived and London is excited. I mean we all have had babies right? Its always exciting to welcome a new little life into the world. You get to share the experience with family and friends who love you and the little one. Well, the royal family is the family of England and the English people love Will and Kate. It is exciting to see the whole country out to celebrate with them.

The royal couple knew the gender of the baby, but according to tradition they waited until the birth to share the secret. Apparently, the birth announcement is signed at the hospital by those who witnessed the birth and brought to the palace, where it is then framed and put on a gold easel placed near the gates for the country to see. The announcement was brought to the palace Monday night (July 22) and we headed over to the Queen's place on Tuesday afternoon to take a peek. We had to queue for like 30 min in order to see the historic easel. Apparently, it was the same one that was used to announce the birth of Will himself. I was interviewed in line and asked if the birth of this baby was different than the birth of my own. And what I thought the name was going to be. I told them I was sad it wasn't a girl because I wanted to see them name her Diana and that it was pretty much the same celebration as my own babies just on a much bigger scale haha.

The official announcement:o- July 22, 2013 at 4:24pm

Some of the fun stuff they did here in London was dye the Trafalgar fountain water blue, light the tower bridge blue, light the London eye in patriotic colors (red, white, and blue), and give little Georgie a 41 gun salute in Green Park. We were present for the salute and saw the royal artillery march down the street and set up the cannons. I was told they do this every year for the queen's birthday, but only 21 cannons are fired. I'm not sure the significance of the 41. Jet loved the cannons and the booms. Typical boy.

Media madness

The artillery heading to Green park for the 41 gun salute to Prince Georgie

We are heading over to Kensington Palace today to wish the family the best by playing at the nearby Princess Diana Playground.

Camden Market

Funky, Hip, and New Age.

Basically, everything that I am not, but this place is still my favorite market here i= love, love, love the ambiance and the goods. I feel like I could have spent so much money there bringing home treasures. At other markets I love looking at the fun things people are selling, but I would never think it practical to buy anything. I just wish I were a little more like my Nana, a great bargainer. I am so nervous to come back with a counter offer, so I just walk away if something is too expensive. 

So, when we got to the market literally people just wanted to play with Ellie and give her stuff. We were looking at hats and this old hip asian man told Ellie she looked great in these glasses. He told her to keep them and since it was scorching that day, Ellie kept them on. I think she looks great too, haha.

Then, she found this pink inflatable dolphin that she immediately fell in love with. The man at that stall also told Ellie that she could just have it. Maybe that is when i fell in love with this market. Nothing screams awesome like people giving away stuff for free, even if it is really ghetto stuff. She loves the dolphin and so does Jet. It was a great gift for my toy deprived kids.

We found some great dresses and cool watches. I tried to bargain, but felt too uncomfortable, so I left just dreaming of a gold jigga boo watch that would have looked great on my wrist.

It was getting really hot, so we stopped at a bubble drink cafe to try and cool off. My friend Robyn came with us and since she was 27 weeks pregnant we needed to make sure we didn't make her suffer too much in the heat. We cooled off with these really yummy treats and a little indian street food that was just ok.

I wanted to go to Regents park after the market and so we decided to take a music boat down the canal instead of walking. This man from Argentina serenaded us as we rode through a magical landscape. Ellie loved being in the boat and putting her hands in the pretty gross water. Kids will be kids, right? The music was great and Ellie told me, "Thanks mom for the boat ride! I love it!" That alone was worth it. I don't think Jet knew he was in a boat or he would have loved it too. But all that Jet really notices or cares about these days is food. So I fed him grapes and he was quite the happy camper.

 We are in love. Did I tell you that he is now crawling around the house saying mama mama? He is such a good boy.

 Our Musician

Two more weeks

Two more weeks left here in London. Can you believe our European summer is almost over? This summer will always be remembered and will go down in the Johnson family books as one of the best yet. But I do have to admit that I am ready for it to be over. I am so tired of walking all over the city everyday finding new things to do or relying on the old favorites to keep two very little children entertained. Day after day, this gets quite exhausting. I'm not sure how people with kids live in the big city.

I just wanted to take a min to write down some of our favorite things, so I can look back on this and smile.

1. Princess Diana Park

2. Hyde Park Lido/ the interesting pool

3. Pavartti

4. St. James Park

5. Drury Lane Park

6. The Mummies at the British Museum

7. Eating Ice cream in the park

8. The car ride and the carousal 

9. Our weekend get aways (Leon's favorite was Longleat and mine was Dover)

10. Our tea party (Stupendous Afternoon tea at the Raddison Hotel) 

11. Southbank bubble performers

12. South Kensington Crepes

13. Holland Park

14. The Markets (my favorite being Camden)

15. Regents Park (Queen Mary's Garden)

16. St. Pauls Cathedral

17. The Gherkin

18. Covent Garden

19. Coram's Fields

20. McDonalds Ice cream runs

21. Kensington Memorial Splash pad

22. Sand Toys

23. Robyn

24. Tesco Chocolate Milk (Anything Chocolate)

25. Putting our toes in every fountain we find in the city

Sometimes I think about what would I tell people to do if they were to visit London with kids. I can never figure out what I would say because I have no idea where to start. So, don't ask me, I won't be any help haha. 

Kensington Memorial Park

The weather has been unbelievably beautiful across the pond. The sun has been coming out everyday and the city gets to the mid 80s frequently. This beautiful weather pulls us out of our flat and across the city to explore new places for some water fun. Some of our favorite places to go in London to cool off in the summer include:

-Hyde Park Lido

-Princess Diana Memorial Fountain

-Corams Field's Park Paddling Pool

-Kensington Memorial Garden Splash Pad

Deep in the heart of Kensington is this little gem of a park with an awesome splash pad. Honestly, I feel like Vegas has plenty of splash pads like this, but in London Kensington Memorial Park is one of a kind.

We packed up the stroller with snacks and drinks from the local Sainsbury and we were off. I was a little nervous as I traveled an unfamiliar route to the park with two kids, but when we got there I was so glad. It was full of fun for every age with three different playgrounds and a big splash pad. Ellie loved playing in the sand and climbing the rocket ship. Jet loved splashing in the water. And I loved watching them. I think being their mom is the best thing in the world. Both of my kids are so full of life and happiness. The littlest things can bring them so much joy. Find Ellie a playground and Jet some water and you have a perfect day.

So, we ran around the splash pad together running away from the water, then running into the water, and then crawling through/ sitting in the water. I decided I needed a drink, so I picked up a slushie for Ellie while I was at the snack stand. When I brought it to her, she was so surprised. She looked at me and said, "Thanks mom, you're the best mom!" then I got a big hug. It is moments like this that I live for.

We stayed and played for hours, and when we finally headed home (after giving into Ellie begging for one more second at the park) we took the scenic route. Walking up the almost empty Portobello Rd in Notting Hill around 6pm was wonderful. The shops were just closing up, yet I was still able to lust after all of the eccentric clothing and antique treasures. This market always makes me think of Papa and makes me wish he were here to enjoy it with us.

We stopped for dinner at Nandos, my old BYU study abroad favorite haunt. I love being in that area. It brings back so many great memories. I wonder if one day Fleet street will do the same. I think it probably will. 

The splash pad

The playground

My water baby

Sometimes they play so well

Water fun

warming up

Her slushie

We are so lucky to have such a fun and different opportunity this summer. Although this trip is fantastic, we still miss our family so much. We only have two and a half weeks left here on Fleet street. Its gone by so fast and I still have so many things I want to do. But I can't wait to see my people in just a few short weeks.

We love and miss you all!!