Megan Visits & Tyler Feels "Poorly"

Over the last couple weeks we have enjoyed the English autumn season, welcomed Megan to London, took a girls only trip to Paris, went to a couple Halloween gatherings, and poor Tyler has been sick for about a month now with a few different colds/minor illnesses.  One thing I found as I was watching one of Tyler's English cartoons was that they call feeling sick, feeling poorly.  So now I ask Tyler in an English accent if he is still feeling poorly every morning.  The poor guy has just had cold after cold.  Once he is about to kick one, he catches another.  Tis the season for runny noses! 

Ahhh - first night in Paris - just Megan and I!  Our nanny Alison watched Tyler during the day for two days while Megan and I had a girls only trip to Paris.  It was delightful!

Megan got a reduced rate at the Four Seasons hotel right off the Champs Elysees - it was dream and the nicest hotel I will probably ever stay at in my whole life.  A real change from the hospital room that JJ, Tyler and I crammed into last fall!

I love the fruit stands in Paris

They also have the best flower shops!

After 3 trips to Paris, I still can't remember to bring a lock to put on this bridge - next time!

Notre Dame

It rained all day on our only full day in Paris - we ducked into one of my favorite cafes in Paris - the St. Regis on the Ile St. Louis

Champagne cocktails at the St. Regis - yes please!

I love the Eiffel Tower at night!  This picture took several attempts until we found someone who could get it right!

Think I'm going to frame this one!

Checking out of the Four Seasons

Big T loved playing with Aunt MayMay (he still needs to work on a lot of pronunciation!)

We took a trip to Surrey to a pick-your-own farm to get a pumpkin.  It definitely wasn't the same experience as in the US.  We were hoping for hay rides, corn maze, etc.  The British are a bit more functional about this - you just drive up and pick your veggies and then go... Tyler still enjoyed playing in the fields though!

This one, I like this one guys!

Yep, it makes a nice stool too!

Family photo at the farm!

Meg and I by the raspberry bushes

Tyler is very playful with his stuffed animals.  First he put his huge giraffe "night night" and then proceeded to put the rest of his buddies to night night as well.

He stole Megan's book for a little pants-free reading time.

We got a babysitter and went out for a night on the town when Megan was here.  Megan - we miss you so much!!!! It was so great to have you!

Playing on the London bus at the zoo - who cares about the animals when they have these cool buses?!?!?

The Heath is beautiful in the fall!

Tyler loves to run free!

Pictures from the photographer at the Women's Club Halloween party a few weeks ago - don't know why my hat is so low!

Walk these city streets, I will!

JJ took Tyler to Hamley's Toys last weekend - they have 7 floors of fun!

Cheese - I love it here!

Tyler and his playgroup buddies, Ellis and Quinn enjoying all the snacks at a Halloween party

Yoda Tyler with Pumpkin Isabella, Foxy Quinn, and Lion Ellis - these are Tyler's London buddies!

Being Yoda is exhausting!

He got a second wind after we took his costume off....

Tyler enjoying Facetime with Gigi (my mom) and Aunt Sue

Celebrating 1 Year in London!

October 4th marked our London "anniversary."  JJ and I went out to celebrate for making it through 1 full year.  Below are pictures from around town the last couple weeks.  It's hard to believe that we're more than half way through our 2 year adventure abroad!

JJ and I on our London Anniversary date.  We went to Clos Maggiore - dubbed the most romantic restaurant in London.  They had a quaint little romantic conservatory that we sat in.  I thought the French food was great.  For those of you that know JJ's simple food preferences, he wasn't impressed and I think would have enjoyed a PB&J sandwich instead.  But we had fun :)

Taking pictures with the ipad waiting to Facetime with Gigi!

There are street musicians all around Hampstead.  We heard this band from our flat and knew we had to take Tyler to see them.  Tyler thought it was a little loud - he prefers the simple guitar street musician I think.

Yep this is more like it... Tyler loves listening to her sing and play the guitar.  She has been playing a couple weeks in a row and joked that Tyler is her biggest fan.

We have figured out a brilliant way for me to have time to make breakfast - Tyler pushes over his chair so he can be taller to "help."  And when I say help - he pushes all the buttons on the microwave and grabs whatever he can on the counter.  It also allows him to be able to turn the button on the smoothie maker.  As you can see, there is barely enough room for two people in there but it's still better than him pulling on my leg to go play so we are happy.

Future English Premier League star?  I guess he should probably be running toward the goal!

We all look forward to our trip to Costco!

Trying to kiss the geese at the Kentish Town City Farm

Saying goodbye to his friend Gage who moved back to NYC this month.  Gage likes "babycinos" which is just steamed milk in a cup.  Tyler as you can see really was into it and couldn't be bothered with the picture.  I think he just felt really cool with his "coffee" cup like mama's!

I blame JJ for his freakish strength.  He was trying to do a pull-up!

Nana sent us a great Halloween care package with lots of goodies.  It was like Christmas for Tyler!

Tyler loves taking this picture of the Kern family to dinner.  He knows almost everyone in the picture now but his favorite one to point out is uncle (Uncle Matt).

Sometimes after nap Tyler refuses to get out of his crib.  On this day he requested that I put the giraffe in the crib so Tyler could put him to night-night.  Then he proceeded to have what looked like wrestle-mania with the giraffe.  I think his imagination is really sparking!

Enjoying scones he baked himself in cooking class and crisp fall air on the High Street.

Looking at dino's at the Natural History Museum.  He loved it there!

We volunteered at the Hampstead Women's Club Halloween party.  They did a trick or treat on the High Street and we passed out candy.  Tyler refused to put the yoda hat on at home (full tears, clinging to us begging us to not put it on him) so he just looked like a little monk wandering around.  Thankfully he is so motivated by food that I figured we'd try to sneak the hat on him while he ate his snack - worked like a charm!

Tyler and Daddy waiting for the kids to come to give them candy.  They had witch hats for the volunteers (don't worry this is not JJ's personal hat).  Tyler took his job very seriously and stole the show by carefully giving candy to all the kids.

We figured he earned some chocolate for his good work.

Around town in costume.

That sugar caught up with him quick!!!  He was a crazy-psycho yoda for about an hour :)