Many of you have sent us emails to check in and send use warm wishes, so I wanted to send out an email to resond to you all and also to say hi! Eventually we will be better at keeping in touch than we have over the past week, but haven't been able to recently due to two reasons: 1. Everything takes 150 times longer here to set up at home with all sorts of formalities... ie we don't get broadband at home until mid April, it took 6 hours or 3 days (depending) on how you look at it to buy a used car.. 2. We have had so much to do!
The flight over went great. The girls and I were eagerly waiting to see smiling Tim. He, meanwhile, got a kick out of the sherpa (me) pulling two luggage trolleys with random bags falling every which way. The flight was only hampered at the end by poor Abby getting airsick. I will remember to put a bag by her on the next flight as well as scout out childrens Dramamine!
We spent a few days in a great hotel room in Chiswick (the area of London where we live). My mom (now in line to be sainted...) was able to have her own room and bathroom and so was Abby. Sophie was pedaled back and forth between rooms to whomever needed the least sleep. However, after the first night Abby was doing pretty well and Sophie had a cold - so took a few more nights.
Last Monday Tim and I arrived at our new house to meet the movers and started unpacking along side them. The house looked great and now that we are 97% moved in we couldn't be more pleased! I will take a few pictures soon and put them on the blog. While Tim and I were working with the movers last Monday and Tuesday, my mom had the girls and did a great job caring for them and keeping them occupied. It is abosolutely true that we couldn't have moved here as successfully without all of her (and my dad's) help!
Wednesday Tim had to go back to work and that left the girls to do some more unpacking and exploring. Thursday the four girls took the Tube to Buckingham Palace and Hamley's... first time with a stroller. A little stressful - but better by the return trip. Of course Sophie slept through Victoria Station at lunch rush and being carried up and down stairs (no lifts!) and Abby already seems to be a pro - counting the stops until we get off, minding the gap, etc!
Saturday Tim and I went to the largest car dealership in the universe: Car Giant to buy a car. This process was against every bone in Tim's body (normally might research cars for 3, 4, 5 or 6 months before looking at multiple options and finally choosing to buy one). I test drove 2 (though it took 6 hours) and we chose a 2006 Honda CRV. Not what we had planned on, but I think a good choice. And no, the new American family on the block is not the only one with an SUV. :) In fact, I saw a Hummer yesterday (as I was driving home from the dealership) and am still unsure as to how it fits down ANY street in London.
Sunday we decided that it would be a great day to venture to Westminster Abbey for and 11:15 serivce. None of us had actually been inside before since it is expensive to see as a tourist and free for a service (and it is across the street from Parliament and Big Ben). The service was wonderful with the loudest organ you can imagine and a beautiful choir. Tim thinks the Queen of Scots was there, but the rest of us think he's delusional. Maybe the Church of England's communion wine was stronger than I thought. Anyway, the real story is the transportation trauma. On weekends the tube has construction projects that shut down parts of lines, etc and we are just learning the bus... over an hour to get there and who knows how long to get home. Involving tubes, buses, cab rides, a crazy McDonalds in a shady part of town, screaming Sophie, Tim finding friends everywhere he goes and sideways rain that was capable of turning our ONE umbrella inside out.
Other stories we have include me driving home from the dealership! HA! (Though I only got honked at one time - which I count as a success) and going to the Council House (like a county/municiple/townhall) to get a parking permit and talk to them about Abby starting school in the fall.
Overall, we really like it. The move has been stressful on everyone, and yet we are enjoying ourselves. Tim likes who he works with, I have already been to a fellow American's house for lunch and the girls LOVE having a playroom and a park down the street. Abby is extending her walking endurance by leaps and bounds (literally!) and can walk more than a half a mile before she really wines. Sophie's cold is getting better and NEEDS to start sleeping through the night (only 2 times since we have been here). She has also been a little particular about the subtle differences in British food (no, we aren't feeding her blood sausage!). Of course, the true test will begin tomorrow when my mom goes home and I still need to do quite a few administrative tasks... but most of the big things are done!
The house is all set for you to come see us. The Pound is weak, flights aren't bad. AND, Tim and I discovered a great pub on the corner of our street that you'll all need to eat at!
I will add to the blog as "borrowing" the internet allows (until the Queen gets over here with our broadband after Easter), and, of course, emailing you all as much as possible. After weighing our options, we did NOT stick with Vonage so it won't be local for many of you to call us. Sorry! BUT, your options include Skype, emailing us - telling us to call you (we will have unlimited calling - after our phone gets installed the first week of April) or getting an international calling card and we can call you right back.
Looking down the street from Radcliffe Square.
Radcliffe Square
University Church of Mary the Virgin. Had a beautiful garden in the back for tea...
1000 year old tower - the oldest in Oxford. Just sitting there, right off of High Street.
Sophie LOVES to color! Those hands go, go, go! We love Giraffe (the restaurant). Abby stayed awake this time - she fell asleep at the Chiswick location... see previous post.
