More Winter Fun And We're Moving!

I'm on a roll tonight, so I might as well finish posting our pictures from the month.  Hopefully, this will make up for the lack of posts in the last couple of weeks :)  And, I'm also going to apologize in advance for taking the next week and a half off from blogging.  We're moving to a new flat on Friday and we have been informed that although Sky will be setting up our cable on Friday, they won't be able to set up our internet connection until December 12 (and they haven't even told me yet when they might be able to set up our phone line!).  But, I won't bore you all with a rant about how much I already hate Sky (I so wish we could stay with Virgin!).

Anyway, the movers are coming tomorrow to pack us all up for our big move (we're only moving about a mile down the street :), so as of tomorrow, we will be without wi-fi.  This also means that for any of you who call us on vonage, you won't be able to get ahold of us until our wi-fi gets set up in our new flat.  On Friday, we will officially be out of this flat and into our new flat!  Although we will miss it here, we're excited to be moving on to a slightly bigger place.  And, Nathan is thrilled that we will now be living literally upstairs from Purple Dragon (the kids club we go to).

Here are some pictures of us enjoying the holiday season and crisp days here in London.

Wearing Mr. Potato Head's glasses.  Guess he wanted to be like Mommy and Daddy :)

Watching the ice skaters with Daddy.

Climbing rocks at the playground.

"Helping" mommy make banana-nutella bread.

Harrods Toy Kingdom at Christmas!  We spent two hours here the other night.  Nathan didn't want to leave!

Our Elf, Bob, has arrived.

Thanksgiving In Marbella (Part 2 of 2)

Here are the pictures from Granada and our Thanksgiving dinner.

A statue by the Granada Cathedral.  For some reason, Nathan loved this statue and would not leave it.  Needless to say, I think he ended up in several other people's photos.

Oops, I think this one is actually from the resort in Marbella, not Granada.  

The Alhambra.

Our hotel in Granada.  It's an old convent that they converted into a gorgeous hotel.

Another picture of the hotel.

Thanksgiving dinner.  No complaints from Nathan :)

Thanksgiving In Marbella (Part 1 of 2)

Chris was able to take some time off during the week of Thanksgiving, so we decided to take a little vacation to Marbella, Spain.  Compared to London, the weather there was gorgeous (probably about the same as California weather at this time of year).  Until we got there, I hadn't realized how much I have been missing sunshine and warm weather!  

We stayed for most of the week at one of our Marriott Vacation Club resorts on the beach in Marbella.  Even though it wasn't quite beach weather, there were lots of other things to do there.  We played soccer, went to the playground, played bocci ball, played ping pong, played croquet, went swimming in the indoor pool, and of course, had lots of fun playing with the resident cats! 

We also took a day trip to Granada and spent one night there.  While we were there, we got to see the Granada Cathedral, eat tapas, and tour the Alhambra.  Then, it was back to Marbella to enjoy our Thanksgiving dinner.  On Thanksgiving night, the resort did a Thanksgiving dinner buffet for all the American guests.  They had turkey and all the sides.  Unfortunately, it just wasn't quite the same as a home-cooked Thanksgiving dinner.  So, we have already put in a request to have a proper "Thanksgiving" dinner while we're home for Christmas :)

We missed all of our family this Thanksgiving and can't wait to see them for Christmas, but all in all, it was a good Thanksgiving.  We have so much to be thankful for!

Ready to go to Spain! 

Thank goodness he's such a good traveler (I guess we haven't given him much choice about that - we've had him on one airplane after another since he was four months old). 

I was so worried he was going to hate sitting in a carseat, because he hasn't had to sit in one for the past five months.  But, he didn't put up too much of a fight.

Nathan loved the cats!

So nice to put our toes in the sand again!!

Duke of York Square Tree Lighting

So, I am really, really late with this post.  Our neighborhood (Chelsea) had a tree lighting ceremony on November 10 (Christmas gets started very early here, because there is no Thanksgiving).  Santa came with his reindeer and there was a choir singing Christmas carols.  We went with some friends of ours who are also here from the States.  We were all kind of expecting something similar to the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting.  It wasn't quite like that, but we had fun anyway :)  Nathan loved seeing the reindeer and he got a balloon, so he was a happy camper!

We got to see Aiden there, even though his mom was a little under the weather.

Getting a balloon was the highlight of Nathan's night, even though they had run out of helium and dad had to blow it up :)

The "tree."

Santa's reindeer.

Winter Fun

I know it's not officially winter and I also know that it's going to get much colder, but to this California girl, it feels like winter (highs in the mid-40's)!  Even though the new chilly weather seems to have made everyone in this city sick (including Nathan and I), we have still managed to enjoy the brisk weather and the beginnings of the holiday season.  

Today, Nathan and I spent the afternoon at the Natural History Museum's ice rink.  We had a great time watching the skaters, riding the carousel, and drinking hot cocoa!

Here are some photos and videos from the past couple weeks.

I told him to sit on his hands to keep them warm. :)

Finally decided it was time to break out the winter gear.  Stroller "sleeping bag" and hat that covers ears.

Carousel at the Natural History Museum.  This thing went super fast and there was no strap for the kids!  They also wouldn't let me stand next to him, but instead made me sit on the horse next to him.  I told him to hold on tight and I leaned over the whole time, keeping a tight grasp on his jacket hood!  This thing would not be in operation back home in our litigious society, but Nathan loved it :)

Enjoying watching ice skating!

Mmmm - hot cocoa!

I just showed him his pockets :)

Working out with Daddy.

I didn't even realize he knew his A,B,C's!

Happy Halloween!

Nathan loved Halloween this year!  He loved dressing up, loved going to Halloween parties, and loved trick-or-treating!  He has such a sweet tooth like his daddy that Halloween is bound to be his favorite holiday :)  

We got into the spirit of Halloween yesterday morning with a special delivery from California.  Grandma and Grandpa Valdez sent a Halloween goodie bag with lots of fun Halloween toys and goodies.  Nathan loved it so much that he insisted on carrying it around with him everywhere we went yesterday (and today!).  After nap, we went to the first of our Halloween parties - the American Women's Club Halloween party for all the little ones in the group.  From there, we went straight to our second Halloween party at the Purple Dragon Kids Club.  The whole club was decorated for Halloween and they had lots of fun activities - a mad scientist doing experiments and blowing things up; a Halloween dance party; face painting; Halloween photo sessions, etc. - so much fun!!  And, of course, it's not Halloween without a little trick-or-treating, so we stopped at some houses on our way home from Purple Dragon.  Nathan loved it.  By the last house, he really seemed to get it and was saying "Trick-or-Treat" and "thank you."  And, on the way home, he kept requesting to go to another "door."  

Here are some pictures of our little dinosaur.

Examining his Halloween loot from Grandma and Grandpa Valdez. 

His favorite toy from Grandma and Grandpa.

Happy Halloween from our little dinosaur!

Fun times at the AWC Halloween party.

Nathan and his buddies Aiden and Brice.

One of his favorite things to do at Purple Dragon.  Apparently it's just as much fun when you're a dinosaur :)

He loves this little spinning pumpkin toy!  Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!!