As mentioned in my previous post, I picked up the rental car on Friday while Stephen was on the train back from Bolton. Normally he would drive, but the car needed to be picked up before he got home and I wasn't about to pay the extra £30 for an "additional driver" so I drove the entire 666 miles around England on the right-hand side of the car on the left-hand side of the road. And lived to blog about it.
Day 1- Meopham, Kent (pronounced "Mepp-um"--not Mee-oh-fam, silly Americans!)
Our second visit ever to "Big Muddy" (side note: when I grow up my house will have a name, not a number), Stephen's cousin Mark's home. As always, Mark and Paula put on an awesome spread (two insanely delicious kinds of lasagna-- I probably have this all wrong but I think one was chicken, spinach, chorizo and the other was beef with something?) and Auntie Jannette concocted some addictive after-dinner treat called "Caramel Delight." The gorgeous Natalie and super-handsome Matthew kept Bryce under control so Stephen and I could unwind a bit. Not sure how I don't have a photo of Bryce and Natalie-- he was by her side the whole time. And Holly, their chocolate Lab was just the most patient, gentle creature with the generally abusive Bryce and Ellis.
A Christmas Miracle! Stephen helps to clear the table!
Stephen's cousin, Adam, Mark's younger brother. Always a hit with Bryce.
Ellis and Auntie Jannette, Philip's sister and only sibling
Auntie Jannette, Ellis, and Matthew
Bryce showing off his new windup train that rides along the track in his book-- so cool! He slept with it for several nights on our trip.
Bryce decides Ellis should be sharing his new egg game.
Day 2: Sevenoaks, Kent
Laura (my cousin) and Tim (her husband) had us to their home with special guest appearance by... AUNTIE CAROL, in town from Medford, NJ!!! Since we traditionally spend Christmas Eve at Auntie Carol's house, it was extra special to have a little slice of home. Not to mention her cooking-- YUMMY! She made an awesome Chicken Francaise with these insane Balsamic Brussel sprouts and Laura tossed in some garlic mash that was to die for. After dinner, Laura and I took Bryce for the traditional "Santa Walk" to look for Rudolph's nose aglow in the sky-- strangely Santa ALWAYS comes while we are on that walk... his timing is impeccable!
Uncle Tim and Bryce rock out to some vintage VH-1 Christmas tunes
Auntie Carol looking svelter than ever and The Great Aunt Laura looking fab as usual
Ste and Professor Ellis in his bowtie
The pretty Christmas table
Yum!
He's gone CRACKERS, I tell you!
"Chee-uhs!"
Dying to know what Laura is saying in this one...
The Great Aunt Laura reading new books to Bryce
Bryce helps Ellis open his gift from Auntie Carol! It's a hit!
Gave my mom a bit of grief over this gift, but Bryce did really like his finger lights. Not nearly as much as Tim and Stephen, but still a great deal. I am trying to think what I can fashion with them for next year's Halloween costume.
Ma, here's your pic of Ellis in his Christmas bib!
Day 3- Christmas Day: Sevenoaks, Kent and Andover, Hampshire
SOMEHOW, Father Christmas must have been tracking us using his North Polar GPS system, because he managed to locate Bryce and deliver his toys to Laura & Tim's house. What he was maybe not so keen in doing was monitoring Bryce's naughty/niceness, because Bryce got spoiled a bit more than he deserved to be. Auntie Carol made a delicious sausage & egg casserole that Ellis (and Stephen and I) devoured and we packed up our loot and set off for Andover! It was sad to say goodbye to Laura and Tim and Auntie Carol, but it was really cool to add Stephen's family to our Christmas celebrations this year!
The drive to Andover was quick and easy, something like an hour and a half, and were welcomed by Bob, Steph, and Jack with an awesome Christmas dinner. (see pics) We took an after-dinner walk over to Steph's parents', David & Mavis Duke's, for some catching up and Christmas carols. Strolled back in time for Bryce and Ellis to open their goodies from Auntie Steph and Uncle Rob (they got SPOILED and so did we!) and then put the wee ones to bed. Then it was time to unwind with some tasty cocktails. Bryce was asleep on the rollaway in Jack's room-- a treasure trove of big-kid stuff, I suppose-- because we later found him covered in dozens of DVDs and their cases when we checked on him. Ahhh, what toddlers do when left to their own devices.
Stayed up too late considering the long drive we had ahead of us and slept like logs. Yule logs.
Sadly, Bryce didn't even crack a smile when he came downstairs Christmas morning, dressed only in his Christmas Pudding costume. In fact, he looked a bit let down and confused. (Probably thinking "but I was so naughty... all that time I wasted considering and dismissing the idea of being nice and Father Christmas came anyway?")
Bah, humbug!
Evidently Bryce isn't the only ingrate who doesn't finish his food.
Father and son in jammies!
At the top of Bryce's wish list... a jigsaw puzzle-- Tick!
Sand & water table from Mommy & Daddy, and not pictured his easel from Grandma & Papa (assembly required), and a kitchen from Father Christmas (That was waiting for him in Cambridge when we got back.)
Dolled up in my sweet-gesture-but-returned-for-ones-I-liked-better gifts from my loving husband. (Kept the lint roller and travel Boggle, of course.)
We did it! Octonauts giant floor puzzle!
Beautiful table at Robert & Steph's
Counter Clockwise from Left: gravy, roast beef, pigs in blankets (sausages wrapped in bacon), roasted potatoes, sweet potatoes, roasted parsnips, turkey, gammon, Yorkshire puddings, cheese, cookies. There was pickled cabbage too, don't know where that is.
I tried to be conservative on helping #1. I got a disc shooter in my cracker for those who care. (Yes!)
The oldest and youngest Fearnley at the function.
Jack claiming that Christmas crowns make him look stupid. I disagree. They make everyone look stupid, but he pulls it off quite well.
Can't decide who looks drunker.
One, Two, Three, WEEEEEEE! Walking to the Duke's.
Our little pudding, for the last time. (Forgot to give it back, Laura-- will remember next time we see you.)
Bryce and Milly in matching brown and white! Bryce is showing off his new Matchbox cars & plane to Milly, who is cozy on his road & airport play mats.
Days 4-7: Bolton and Manchester, Lancashire
We had a surprisingly smooth drive to Bolton, considering it is quite long. The boys napped much of the way, making it easy to focus on the road. We also followed Steph & Robert so we didn't have to focus on directions too much. Stopped only once to refuel the babes with food and me with caffeine. Headed straight to Hope Hospital and checked in with Grandad Fearnley. He looked great and was thrilled to see us all. Spent the next few days at "The Last Drop" resort in Bolton, where I cashed in my awesome gift from Bob & Steph, a facial and manicure, so had some much needed girl time getting pampered and then relaxing in the hot tub / steam rooms sans children & hubbies.
Sadly the boys both picked up a tummy bug which was nasty, but I was really glad that I didn't have to do the laundry! That also kept Ellis and I from seeing Grandad one day, but both boys were better in a matter of 12 hours.
We all got to do a bit of swimming at the resort, which Bryce loved. He has become much bolder and less scared of the water since the last time we took him. I think the warm temp helped too. We are thinking that Bryce and Ellis could both do with some swimming lessons in the Springtime.
Last, want to share the latest in Ellis's developments, many which occurred on our week away. He is waving, pointing, cruising (a little), and doing "so big!" He even says, "Hah!" when he waves. Sounds like a Texan when he says it. So cute.
And an update on Grandad (1/8): He is out of the hospital-- they did a trial run by taking him to the grocery store, bringing him home, and having him make himself lunch. Then left him for several hours on his own, picked him up and brought him back to the hospital to tie up loose ends. He stayed one more day and then was out for good the next day. He has since picked up the dogs from the kennel and seems to be doing well. We are planning another trip to Bolton soon.
To give you an idea of our travels around England
Snuggling with Grandad
Bryce watching TV in bed the day after being sick for 3 hours in the middle of the night.
I tried to get a shot of Stephen packing the rental car in the rain, but the wind was insane and he wussed out. He is asking me to add that, "the wheelie bag blew down the road as did numerous toys from the trunk of the car."
Cousins!!!
These are the looks I get when I ask Charlotte and Daniel to "pretend you love each other."
Steph and Jack--- a nice pic if Charlotte weren't photobombing it
Bryce and his new fave, "Farlotte!"
The whole gang listening to that damn Rebecca Black song that's in my head now, ugh.
All the Fearnley men!
Day 8- Home at last!
And apparently Father Christmas delivered another gift while we were away!
Thank you, ebay, er, I mean, elves!
Stephen laid down to help Bryce with his puzzle and Bryce mimicked his pose-- so cute!
It was SO cold when we got back home! We had to snuggle until the house got warmed up again.
Started out this particular week with our first brief snow. It fell heavily, but not for long. Stephen came running downstairs in just a towel, cheering, "It's snowing!!" like a kid. I think he was more excited than Bryce and Ellis and myself combined. I think Bryce was a little disappointed by its fleeting nature, but I assured him next Winter would be snowier.
Visited Audley End miniature railway to see Father Christmas in his grotto. We took a train on the full-sized railway to get there, which was an adventure for Bryce in itself. Had a good mile-long walk through the countryside from the rail station, but it was sunny and we enjoyed it. Stephen wants me to add that "we saw lots of pheasants." And a random blue heron. "Good, now I'm happy," he says.
The next day we had some upsetting news that Stephen's father, Philip, was being collected to go to the hospital. Earlier that day, he was using the wrong words for things during a phone conversation to Robert, Stephen's brother, so Robert called an ambulance. This news came just 4 days after his 68th birthday and 4 days before Philip was to come to Cambridge and join us on our holiday travels across England. After being wrongly informed that he had had a stroke, we discovered that he had instead had a bleed in his brain, thankfully not as severe. Now, over 2 weeks later, he is still in hospital, but on the mend and back in Bolton after spending 2 weeks at Hope Hospital in Manchester, where they specialize in brain conditions. Extensive tests concluded that he is in the clear and that there is no further risk-- that it has stopped bleeding and there are no clots, etc. He is still having some frustration in being able to retrieve words-- mostly proper nouns, but is in speech therapy which will continue inside his home when he is discharged from the hospital shortly. Physically he is in great shape.
With our Christmas plans a bit up in the air, Stephen hopped on a train on that Monday morning, the 19th, to Bolton, where he met Robert and stayed by Philip's side. We were on our own in Cambridge, but so very glad that Stephen was just a train-ride away and could be there for his dad. Bryce was a very brave boy without his dad around and we kept ourselves busy and distracted by making cookies and packing for our tentative Christmas travels. We had news of Philip's clear test results on Thursday and so Friday the 23rd I picked up the rental car, Stephen came home, and we set off for our trip-- without Philip. Robert stayed through Christmas Eve and we all moved up our travel dates so that the whole family would be in Bolton with Grandad Fearnley by Boxing Day.
Please keep him in your prayers as he is still on the mend and missing his late wife as the anniversary of her death approaches. We are all hugging each other a little closer these days, thankful to have one another and our health. Sending our love and virtual hugs your way, too. XO
Bryce is really into drawing these days. Favorites are monsters and dinosaurs. His favorite color is still brown.
He especially likes to draw circles and features on a face.
The first and only snow so far
The BIG train! Does that face say it all??
This guy is pretty excited, too!
Watching the landscape breeze by
A chair just for Bryce.
Love little feet dangling so far from the floor.
Awesome old road sign in an old flint wall and me, briefly child- and stroller- less.
Scenic walk to Audley End
More scenic walk
If you keep your eyes open, you never know what you might find when meandering through the English countryside-- like 4 dozen ladybugs at a ladybug picnic. Yeah, that song will be in your head now for hours, sorry.
Just across the street from the miniature railway is the Audley End House & Gardens, a Jacobean country house. On our to-do list for Springtime, not open to the public in colder months.
Ellis, trying to stay awake to meet Santa.
I like how this photo looks like they are traveling through some sort of wormhole or something.
Father Christmas asking Bryce what he would like for Christmas. Bryce very clearly told him "a jigsaw puzzle," and he nodded and handed him a plush bear donning an "Audley End" t-shirt.
Bruce and Bryce
Making gingerbread men. You can't tell from this photo, but Bryce's entire bottom half is covered in flour. Now I understand why my mom always tried to steer me away from making them as a kid. They are a royal pain in the tush to make and quite frankly, don't taste that great. They are, however, fun to decorate, in moderation. Unfortunately my recipe to make 36 made instead 75 so I spent several naptimes gluing buttons upon buttons to my gingerbread army. After about 50 they started to get really creative-- Lady Gagabread with asymmetrical hair, multicolored eyelashes and multi-dimensional bra-dress, also numerous angry and sad amputees. Bryce helped me put many of them out of their misery.
