London...Day 5

Day 5 started with Bets and Annie taking off for Scotland. We were sad to see them go but happy for Bets that she got to travel to Scotland.

Sadly for Bets, Day 5 might have been one of my favorite days. We started out with a little shopping spree to Topshop and Zara. They are British stores that I fell in love with when I lived in Italy. Next, we went to lunch at one of my favorite places we ate. That's saying quite a bit since we spent A LOT of time in restaurants. It was the OXO Tower Restaurant. Granted, when we pulled up.. I was pretty sure our driver was taking us somewhere to kill us. It was in a very industrial area that apparently is up and coming but the facade did not match it's reputation.

We ate on an awesome patio overlooking the Thames. It had really cool grass flooring and we all know how I love grass, so I was highly impressed. The food was amazing and the atmosphere even better.

After lunch we went to Notting Hill and since it was a Saturday, the market was going on. Portobello Road is packed on Saturday! There was so much cool stuff to see and it was actually the first time we could afford to shop since it was street vendor prices.

After a day of shopping it was time to eat. Shocking, I know. However, we had about an hour before we were supposed to be at dinner and Hallie and I decided that we could not possibly eat one more thing without some exercise, so we went to the park behind our hotel and walked all the way to Buckingham Palace...took some pics and just moved our legs! On our way home there was a party going on at St. James Palace (Charles and Camilla's house) so naturally I poked my little head through the gate desperately trying to see a Royal but to no avail....Where are you Will and Kate?!! Pippa?!?..... Bummer.

We had dinner just around the corner from our hotel at The Wolseley. The restaurant and the atmosphere were both great but that was not the highlight of the evening. Right after we walked in, Anna Ferris and her publicist walked in behind us. She is one of Hallie's favorite actresses, so we really wanted a pic with her. She walked outside and like the three stooges...Hallie , SJ and I followed her out. We asked for the pic and she could not have been more lovely or gracious. We chatted for about 10 minutes and I'm pretty sure she wanted to be our new best friend.

After dinner, we had to do what we absolutely did not want to.....pack to go home. It was such a wonderful vacation and while I missed my boys, I was sad for it to end. We woke up at 4am the next morning to hop our flight and then slept the whole way home.

OXO Tower

Great view...Great food.

St. James Park....I wanna sit out there. 

little shocked when I walked in and it was covered in dirty magazines...eek!

Knox's future home...if Will and Kate have a girl...

Will? Kate? Where are you?

Headed to Dinner

Anna Ferris!

Knox's Sunday funday....

Before, I finish my London trip...I have a quick story...

Today, I put Knox in timeout. He kept doing something I told him not to so to his room he went. He gave me attitude (not my baby!) and so he also got a spanking. Needless to say, Mommy was not happy when she left the room. I wait the few minutes to let it really sink in and then go back in to get him. When I opened the door I couldn't help it...I busted out laughing. Excellent parenting, Linds.

Knox was sitting in his rocker, legs strait out in front of him, reading..... the Bible. It was his kids Bible but it was, in fact, the Bible. He looks up at me and strait and solum faced says, "Oh, Mamma." I couldn't help it, I could not stop laughing. The kid was already repenting for his sins before I even came back in the room.

Then tonight as I was putting him to bed, I was rocking him and he kept wiggling to face me. I couldn't figure it out, but then he sat in my lap facing me, clasp his little hands and bowed his head. I guess he and Daddy pray like this. I usually hold him when we pray and snuggle him...Not anymore. Apparently, he wants to pray like a big boy and maybe tonight he thought he needed a little more forgiveness because when we were finished before I could say it, he yelled..AMEN!

ohhh, Knoxie!

London...Day 4

Let's see...as I am trying to get these updates in, Knox and I have both had the pleasure of some super fun stomach bug that causes vomiting and extreme exhaustion...yippee.


Day four in London was probably one of my favorite days. It was our day in the English countryside. We started out at Windsor castle. It's the Queen's residence. She spends about 2-3 days a week in Buckingham and then the rest of her time at Windsor. It is absolutely beautiful so I understand why Liz likes it. Plus, the town of Windsor is adorable.


We toured the grounds as well as the state rooms. My favorite part was Queen Mary's dollhouse. It's amazing. Seriously. It's an exact replica of windsor. It even has working electricity and plumbing. Since people knew the Queen had the dollhouse, instead of bringing random gifts when they came to see her, they brought all things mini (paintings, furniture, etc.) for her dollhouse. Little history lesson for ya!


Our next stop was Cliveden. It is a mansion/ estate that is now a five star hotel set on the River Thames. The site has been home to an Earl, two Dukes, a Prince of Wales and the Viscounts Astor. It's is most popularly known as the home of Nancy Astor. It was incredible. I felt as though I walked into Pemberley and Mr.Darcy was going to be stopping by for tea any minute. 


The grounds were amazing and I absolutely loved it. I made Hallie sprint down the center of the garden with me because I was so sick of eating and not exercising. A bunch of people looked at us like stupid Americans but we didn't care! 


We soon had to head back into London because Betsy's cute friend Annie from Nashville was coming in from Scotland where she's living for a few months and going to spend the night with us. Bets then went back to Scotland with Annie for a few days. We also got to meet another one of Betsy's friends Autumn who is working for Tom's shoes in London. They were super cute and it's always fun to add more people to the mix. 


Dinner that night was at La Caprice with Annie and Autumn. We had plans to see Wicked that night, so I wish our dinner would have been after because we just finished lunch pretty much when our 5:30 reservation came around so we could make it to the theatre on time. Even though I was not hungry in the slightest, I ate because why not? The food was amazing. 


We said goodbye to Autumn then headed off to the West End to see Wicked. I know, it's been out forever, but a few of us still hadn't seen it. It was FABULOUS. I know I use that word a lot, but this time I mean it. The actress who played Elphaba was amazingly talented. I found myself just wanting her to keep singing. 


All in all it was a GREAT day!

Hallie and I at Winsor

Bets and I

'

love this window...feel like a princess should be hanging out..

there's a princess!

SJ is totally into the tour

The Queen's garden

not to shabby

Non and Hallie

Windsor

picture of a picture

always enthused

ummmm

CLIVEDEN

the gardens...uh-mazing.

view from the garden

action shot!

Wicked!

Headed to Dinner

London...Day 3

Day three across the pond might have been our busiest yet...

We started out the day without Nonnie. Ray took the girls to go ride the London Eye. It was actually pretty amazing. It's a great way to get a visual reference of the city and where everything is in relation to each other. It moves super slow so this was not your average ferris wheel. But it was neat and so glad we did it once.

Next we stopped at a building that I have no idea what it was...but it's important. I knew it because it was the building that all the Royal Wedding procession drove through on the way to and from Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey.

We picked up Non and headed to our first official outing of the day...Buckingham Palace. I was super excited about this as we had tickets to be able to go inside the palace. We got to see all the state rooms where the Queen recieves anyone on official business, Presidents, well...anyone really. Best of all, the tour was culminated with a viewing of Kate's wedding dress. Also, her earrings, shoes and wedding cake. It was cool to see where the receptions were held and photos we all recognized were taken.

After the tour you exit through the back garden which is where the Queen hosts her garden parties...let's just say, she has a REALLY nice backyard.

After the Palace we went to lunch and I'm sure it was somewhere fabulous but for the life of me I can't remember right now...

After a brief break, we had tea at the Ritz. It was lovely. The have the best scones I have ever had and the tea was amazing. The bring you not only tea but a three tiered service platter with sandwiches, scones and sweets on top. Supposedly, you are supposed you have your tea and eat the goodies from bottom to top. Not me. First off, they gave us EACH eight mini sandwiches...that's almost two whole sandwiches PER PERSON...for a snack. A bit much, eh?

I started with the sweets on top because they were begging me to try them. This brought a few looks from the tables around us. Really people, I am never going to see you again in my life, let the girl enjoy a little chocolate instead of the sandwich surprise below.

After tea we went to meet Hallie's friends Caroline and Caroline (who are both living in London) for dinner and to celebrate Hallie's birthday. We went to C London (formerly Cipriani) and it was delish. I honestly wish I would have been a tad hungrier, but worry not, I persevered and ate as much as my tummy would hold. It was so great to meet the Caroline's and hear about their adventures thus far.

Hallie and I on London Eye

Building Will and Kate drove though on wedding day

she's silly

they crack me up

Nonnie and the girls at Buckingham Palace

The Queen's backyard

not bad

view from London Eye

Tea at the Ritz

Notice the plethora of sandwiches