Snow in London

Time for a past due update!!

Photos: Red Bellied Piranha; Shark (Brown Shark, I think...); Rochester Castle; White Christmas Eve, Eve.... The city shuts down with this amount of snow! (about an inch...)

Since Mom flew home, Shaunda and I have taken turns home with the kids. Thankfully work has been understanding. Mom got home fine (and 13 pounds lighter!). I think it only took a week for her to feel rested and back on the Central time zone.
School update: We have continue to advocate to get our kids in school. We have been told to expect a letter for Zane to go to the nearby primary school, but have not received it to date. Gray, however, was offered a school that is not far away by Kansas standards, but difficult to get to here. Shortest option takes an hour and multiple transport changes!! We have written an appeal, which gives the school another 30 days to delay. Shaunda and I will alternate working from home and using a local university student to spend time with the kids.
Christmas: Shaunda got the flu prior to Christmas eve, so we warned the other new Americans that the planned dinner together might not be such a good idea. Zane also had the flu on Christmas. (ask us some time about the experience with socialized medicine). We spoiled the boys and relaxed. Shaunda fortunately recovered enough to cook a wonderful dinner.
A trip to Rochester in Kent was worked into the mix. This is a town that Charles Dickens really loved. Many of the sites here are the basis for some of the settings of his stories. (We saw "Satis House" from Great Expectations! We went through a castle that was started in 1066. Most of what we saw was from the 1400's.

We had Monday off as well to recognize Boxing Day. Lots of people go shopping, but we mostly stayed in and relaxed.

Shaunda and the boys went to Madame Tussaud's (where everyone else visiting London seemed to be!) We saw two one-man plays wherein we were told a couple of Dickens' stories ("Dr. Marigold," and "Mr. Chops.") Shaunda's former London roommate, Kimberly, joined us for that one.
New Years Eve: We had plans with Kimberly, but decided that taking the tube home afterwards might be a bit too "educational" for our boys. Lots of fireworks in London! Via the TV, we could tell that there was a fabulous fireworks display near Big Ben and the London Eye. Big Ben is now 150 years old and the London Eye is 10. We think we may have to stay at a hotel near there next year...

On New Year's Day, we planned to go to the Sea Life Aquarium, but arrived too late. So, we walked along the South Bank, and found a place to eat.

January 2 was Gray's birthday. We had planned to take him kart racing, but there wasn't a place that had racing for under 18's on Saturdays. One place has that option on Sundays-- we'll have to check that out. We made it to the Aquarium this day. Pretty cool place, but expensive! We also found a Mexican restaurant for dinner. Gray loves Mexican food, but it is quite rare here. And, we realize how spoiled we were living in KC! MUCH better Mexican food there!

We purchased annual passes that allow us entry into many sites and amusement parks in and near London through the year. It makes those "cool but expensive" places much more affordable. Zane is looking forward to going to Lego Land this spring/summer.