Ok, I know it seems ridiculous to be posting about things that happened so long ago, but this is seriously the first chance I've had to try to wrap up our trip. I've been a little in denial about the fact that we're back and longing for the bubble of awesome called Cambridge. Not to mention our UK family. It was so nice for the boys to spend so much time with Grandad and their aunt and uncle and cousins and we miss them so much.
So Grandad came to visit us in Cambridge and we took a day trip with him to Bury St. Edmunds, a lovely town not too far away, where many of the cottages are faced with flint, accidentally-on-purpose bedazzling the town with a textured & twinkling finish. Stephen planned the day, so it's no surprise that it ended with a few pints at the Greene King beer and food festival. (Greene King brewery is based in Bury St. Edmunds.)
THEN my good friend Kathryn (and Bryce's good friend, Layla) came to visit from Brooklyn again, this time with Ricardo and the brand-new Mateo, who was born in February (I think). Like I've mentioned in the past, my memory is kind of fuzzy. We met up with them at Tower of London, where Bryce and Layla had a ball. So did the grown ups. In fact, Grandad and Stephen disappeared for a while-- getting their history fix.
I will try to be all caught up by 2013 so I can start filling in my new international friends on Brooklyn life! (Sorry to bust any bubbles, but it's not nearly as exciting as our past year in the UK!)
Love to all! XO
Freckles!
Don't remember the occasion-- probably another formal hall at St. Edmund's.
St. Edmund's chapel
Nightcap in the CR
This was actually a useful tool in helping Bryce to potty train. In hindsight, I really miss English toilets. Max NEVER got flushed there. At least, he never went all the way down. We brought home Max II to put in our pot here and it entered the NYC Sewer System on it's first flush. Poo.
Everything is better with Grandad around.
On the train to Bury St. Edmunds. Grandad can answer any and all railroad-related questions to keep Bryce occupied and informed.
King Edmund!
Initial excitement. Then fear.
BSE Market
Um, eew. This was a pretty graphic display and Bryce didn't stop talking about it for weeks.
Fierce, right?
Stephen could barely stand up with that chain mail on. I'm not sure why he's smiling.
(Just pretend you don't notice I'm 3 months behind. Trying desperately to recount our stay in Cambridge before life back in the US erases it all from my puny memory.)
Tuesday: We went, bright and early, to Bryce and Ellis's swimming class. Usually we ride the bike with the trailer, but since we had Grandma and Papa in tow and I simply didn't have it in me to pull them as well, we took a taxi. Usually Ellis goes in the creche while Bryce swims and vice versa, but since G&P were with me, they watched alternate kids as they each had their lesson. It was pretty chaotic, but I wanted them to see what it was like. I was also thankful to not have to run back and forth in my "swimming costume" to the creche. After lunch and a nap, we had a stroll through town, checked out some more colleges, managed to pop a wheel on the buggy, got it sorted by the bike guy in the market square, and headed home for dinner.
Wednesday: Took Mom and Dad to "Bounce-A-Round," a playgroup at St. Andrew the Great in the City Centre, dropped Bryce off at school, then headed to the River for a punt. Checked out St. John's college and walked around town a bit more before heading home to a roast chicken dinner.
Thursday: "Churchmice" playgroup at St. Andrew's in Chesterton, followed by our usual Tesco grocery shopping trip and Evensong at King's College Chapel. The boys(' lollipops) lasted only about two numbers and then we entertained ourselves in the main court where shouting and giggling and general unruliness are sort of acceptable. Mom and Dad and Stephen enjoyed themselves. I made some friends in the CR, where I had to take Bryce for three wees while we waited for it to finish.
Friday: Fitzwilliam Museum for a lovely mooch about and free concert (a Tercentenary tribute to organ composer John Stanley). Home to get ready for Formal Hall at Stephen's college (St. Edmund's). While getting ready we had a bad scare when Ellis had a febrile seizure. We were ignorant to what was going on or what a febrile seizure was, so after a few hours in A&E (Accidents & Emergency-- aka ER) he had recovered and we all hugged him extra tight. Obviously we missed out on taking my parents to a Formal College dinner, but none of us were able to relax after seeing our sweet baby Ellis that way: blue, foaming at the mouth, twitching, eyes rolled back, bloody mouth-- it was horrible. After several nights of sleeping on the floor of his room and extensive reassurance from the doctor and online research, I was finally able to accept the fact that he wasn't going to die from one. That was definitely the scariest moment in my life thus far and have been thankful to make other moms aware of what they are so that if it happens they don't panic. They are rather common (1/25 kids have them) and many will only ever have one. It's from a sudden fever and basically their little bodies don't know how to cope. I had no idea and had never heard of it.
Saturday: After our traumatic Friday night, we took it easy Saturday with a relaxed morning and then a pub lunch at one of our favorites, The Free Press. We had lots of extra cuddles with baby Ellis and were feeling very thankful for our health and our lovely ginger baby boy. Took a stroll through the Botanic Gardens as it was a lovely day, just the right temperature and sunny and breezy.
Sunday: Mother's Day. Sent to brunch with Mom, followed by a stroll around the City Centre. Came home to find my boys in the garden planting up a storm. Tomatoes, strawberries, petunias, snapdragons, marigolds, and a few whose names I don't remember. I relaxed in the kitchen (cooking is only relaxing when the children are being looked after) and put in a proper English-style roast dinner: roast beef, roasted root veggies & spuds. I have finally learned the secret to roasted vegetables, which I know I've mentioned in a prior post, but let me reiterate it for myself when I am trying to remember next year when I start making Sunday Roasts again: par-boil, chuff, goose fat (yeah, right, I'll probably have to use Crisco in the US).
Monday: The boys had a lot of bonding time with Grandma and Papa, reading and drawing and cuddling. We skipped our beloved Woodland Playdate to see them off. It was a sad, sad day.
I've been dying to mention this. It's not TJ Maxx in the UK. It's TK Maxx. It's also not Where's Waldo? ... it's Where's Wally? Don't ask me! Potatoes Patahtoes!
Mom in Sidney Sussex College
Weird, right?
Smooches outside King's while I get the buggy fixed in the Market Square
A quite River Cam on our way home
Our salmon parcels with kale
Babies in boxes! I can't help myself!
St. John's Chapel
On one of the Bridges in St Johns
Awww, cute couple on the backs of St Johns
Having a laugh punting
Punting!
The Wren Library, Trinity College (designed by, you guessed it, Christopher Wren)
Can't resist these cakes!
Waiting inside the main court of King's for Evensong
Mom and I are so happy they have each other to geek out with and talk about history and Lord knows what else.
Cute couple strolling the streets of C-bridge
It's as though someone knew Mom was going to be in town and printed this shirt up just for her.
Cuddles at the Fitzwilliam
A peek inside Peterhouse College, the oldest of Cambridge's colleges. (founded in 1284!)
Pembroke College, I think.
King's Chapel looking stunning
Dad and the oldest church in Cambridge
Not all that impressive. It's that old.
Christ's College main gates
Ellis passed out asleep on me after his seizure in hospital
Breakfast Saturday morning
Our sweet boy had a rough night
God Bless the Free Press. Funny how that rhymes.
Nothing like a big ol' pint of milk
What, you've never heard of a Lancashire salad? Me neither, actually. Poached egg, bacon, boiled potatoes, black pudding, cheese and tomatoes on a bed of greens. Delicious!
"Wait a minute, why are there only FOUR pints?"
Well, Ste and I are looking at the camera. 2/4 ain't bad these days.
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