Our Cheeky Monkey

It is summertime in London!  There is a heat wave rolling here that is making it much hotter than usual.  We have been outside soaking up the rare sunshine for more than a week now.  Tyler is enjoying the pool, the splash pad, and running around in crocs and shorts instead of sweaters and sneakers.  On Friday during swim class I discovered the perfect description for Tyler - cheeky monkey.  The swim instructor used this term after he spent the entire class doing only what he wanted to do (which did not involve any of the things that the swim instructor was doing).  All the other toddlers in class were participating exactly how she was leading.  But not Tyler, he was running around the pool, or trying to flirt with the lifeguard, or climbing up and down the ladder.  After class I apologized and asked what I should do and the instructor just laughed and said, "He's the cheeky monkey - there is one in every class."  So then JJ and I looked up what cheeky monkey means and it's the perfect description for Tyler right now: mischievous, but cute about it.  He's not exactly naughty, but not exactly an angel either. 

JJ's Dad and Becky are here now and our cheeky monkey is enjoying having visitors to entertain.

JJ, Tyler and I enjoyed happy hour at the Wells Tavern by our place.

JJ and I made it to Bon Jovi - it was part of an outdoor concert series in Hyde Park!

The splash pad at Parliament Hill.  Tyler loved it!  We have gone nearly every day to cool off.  It gets super crowded because everyone has the same idea!

More picnics in the Heath.  I'm getting a little smarter with my picnic dinner selection.  Flatbread pizzas are much less messy than salads with a toddler!

There are free concerts in the Heath on Sunday afternoons.

Future beverage waiter at stadiums? 

These peonies I bought at the farmers market were in full bloom!

Really pumped to be at the Parliament Hill lido (swimming pool)

At the lido - Tyler loves swimming there.  I never thought it would get warm enough here to enjoy it but we've been back a couple times now already!

Big smiles for Alison, our nanny (who took the picture).  He's also really good at convincing the guys at the cell phone store down the road to give him a balloon - they have a whole bunch in the front and he always takes them.

At the cell phone store.... again.  He loves shopping at the High Street and wandering through stores.

We went back to the zoo last week.  The membership may be a little lost on him.  He is more interested in the statues, fountains, and pigeons than the actual animals.  But he has fun so we will keep going!

He's very serious about holding on while riding the tube.

Lovely dinner at a local pub with JJ's dad and Becky during their visit.