Johnsons: The Guests that COULDN'T leave!

So my first posting on the Johnson's visit wasn't even adequate. I was in the wrong mood to be writing on this thing and so I didn't do them justice. I really have to be in the right mood - with either a lot of caffeine in my blood or a glass or two of wine. Anyway, I clearly left out the best pictures of the Johnson's visit! I love photos in a series and here is a series catching Julia, Michael and me having a few drinks (and dinner!) at The Swan. Tim took this first picture, which wasn't really that flattering of gorgeous Julia for some reason. She claims it was the light, I think she was getting ready to blow out the candle on the table.

Here I wrecked the next lovely picture of Julia and Michael because I thought the first picture was so funny. My turn to look great in a photo. Also, we weren't on the first round of drinks.

Look, another great picture of the lovely visitors and me drying my eyes, trying to loook normal - quite unsuccesfully!

Now, back to the original posting!... The Johnsons and Tim and Sophie in front of Kensington Palace in Kensington Gardens/Hyde Park. What good first-day-in-London weather! Who says it rains all time here?

A rare family photo at The Round Pond in Hyde Park.

It had been since October of 2009 that we had any visitors from home so we were super excited when Tim's sister, Julia, and her family - husband Michael and son Colin decided to come for a visit right after Easter. The week-long vacation started off fantastically with warm temperatures and even some sun - a welcome improvement over the few weeks before that were filled with rain and cold temperatures. Plus Colin was a trooper, only getting airsick once at take-off and sleeping though the rest of the flight despite an ear infection.

The Johnsons had loads of fun things planned - a Hop On Hop Off bus tour, a day at The Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, nights out at The Swan (our favorite pub just down the street from our house - see above!) and even a girls' day at Kew Gardens... that's when Johnson's discovered they couldn't leave the next day like they planned. Oops! Let's just say our friend Eyjafjallajokull can take the blame. We heard the news on an announcement on the District line of The Underground on our way home - stating that Heathrow was shut down. What??!!??

So another week passed before the Johnsons could leave. After the initial shock of their forced extended vaca wore of, they got in quite a few more sites in and we got some more Johnson time in. The girls loved having extra time (except maybe Sophie with Colin - she was quite unsure about having a younger kid around here). Michael "worked" from our home. Julia helped me get ready for Kara's visit. Extra tourist destinations were explored!

Finally (for the Johnsons, not for us!) they were able to get on a Delta flight on April 23rd - one week past their originally planned departure date. Yikes! Will they ever visit again? They're still not talking... ;-) For the rest of you , Eyjafjallajokull is behaving again. For now. So hurry up!