Daily Life

**I am so sorry for not posting more in the last few weeks. The blogger I am using and my internet connection here in London are not letting me post pictures, which really help explain the posts. I am going to write a couple of new posts and will add pictures if and when it lets me. I apologize for this, as I know the pictures make the story. Anyways, I hope you are all doing well and we miss you guys!! **

 

Life in London is definitely different than our life in the US. Everything from the size of our apartment, to the street we live on, to the food that is available is different. I'm not saying its bad or good, its just different. Here is a typical day:

 

Colston decides to wake up around 6:00 in the morning, which is much earlier than in the states. We live directly across from a grocery store so I think when they make their morning deliveries, the noise wakes him up. He then comes and watches "toons" in our bed until its time for Kyle to get ready for work. He goes in later here in the UK than he does at home, so Colston and I are awake and get to spend time with him. It has been nice to eat breakfast with him and just get an hour in the morning with Kyle! I will miss this when we return home.

 

After breakfast, Colston plays until nap time. He loves playing with his train, balls, cars, and the newest members of his toy collection, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse characters. We have to watch Mickey Mouse every day. He also loves to look at books. After nap time, he has a snack and begins his daily task of carrying toys from one room to another, then finding something in that room and carrying it to a new room. He does this for hours! He usually does some dancing, jumping, and singing, too. He has discovered how to climb on the furniture and is now trying to learn how to jump. We have been working on names of family and friends, counting, singing songs, learning colors, and learning body parts. He now says hello when we walk into a store, and says bye-bye, waves, and blows kisses when we leave or when Daddy goes to work. Every day, he is doing something new.

 

Kyle normally comes home for lunch, which Colston and I really enjoy. After lunch, we play, color, paint, dance, and read more books. Then, its time for nap #2. After the nap, its time for another snack and more playing, especially with his blocks (another favorite pick up and deposit in various places around the apartment :) ). Then, we get around and head to the grocery store.

 

The store is directly across from our apartment. We go every day and we usually go in the afternoon. If you go in the morning, at lunch, or between 5 and 7 PM, it is soo busy and its too hard to manage with the stroller and all those people! Here's an idea of how busy our street gets at 'quiting time'. On weekends, the street is completely quiet. The grocery is basically the only store open on Saturday and Sunday on our street. Anyways, if we need to go the drug store or doing any shopping, this is usually when we go. It has been different having to go to the grocery every day, but it has also been kind of neat changing how we do things. One difference is in their berries. They are so big and sweet! Though the store doesn't have such a big variety of products, they have what you need, and that is all. We have some new favorites that we will miss when we go home, like these apple crackers and their lemonade. 

 

Another thing that is different is their fast food. Unlike in America where it is burger and fries, here it is all fresh foods. One of the biggest fast food chains is Pret A Manger (there is one below our apartment) and they are basically on every corner. They carry only fresh made products, made in the store every day. At the end of the day, whatever is left is donated to the homeless shelters. You don't feel weighed down after eating there, so I have quite enjoyed this difference. 

 

Back to our day...we come home and make dinner. Kyle comes home, we have dinner, Colston gets a bath because he looks like this after most meals, and then Kyle plays with Colston before bed time. We also FaceTime with our families during this time. FaceTime has made the move a lot easier! I would highly recommend it for anyone that is going to be away from family and friends. After Colston goes to bed, Kyle and I relax with watching TV, playing video games, and I learned how to crochet! I only wish there was a craft store with yarn near us, but I have not found one close by.

 

Life is different here in London, but it has been so much fun! It has been a neat change and we have enjoyed seeing Kyle a little more. Kyle is learning so much and has really enjoyed learning about his company. Kyle has also picked up a few British phrases. When we come home, you will have to listen for them! ;)  We only have a week and a half left in London and then we are off to Zurich and a vacation to the Amalfi Coast in Italy and to Zermatt before he starts work in Zurich. We are very excited! The time is going quickly and it will fly by in Zurich, as we have something planned every weekend from now until we come home! Well, that is all for now! Talk to you soon!