Maddie: This morning we woke up early to catch breakfast downstairs before it ended. We ordered scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon and baked beans. The bacon was huge, but it was yummy and salty. Charlotte, Grace and I all wore matching shirts that Aunt Beth gave us. We rushed by tube to Westminster to take a London walking tour. We saw Big Ben (we saw the giant clock, not Big Ben which is actually the bell inside).
We also saw Parliament, Westminster Abby, St. Margaret's church, Charing Cross and Trafalgar Square, then we had to race to see the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace.
Our tour guide was really nice and funny and told us lots of history and cool stories about everything. Then we walked to St. James Park. We walked along the river...Charlotte liked the geese and ducks.
It's like spring here, all the flowers are in bloom. We found a playground and played for awhile on big rocks in the sand.
Then we had a picnic lunch at the park. 
Then we walked all the way past Trafalgar Square back to Westminster Abby. 
We went on a tour of the Abby and we saw lots of kings & queens graves like King Henry VII, Queen Elizabeth I and her sister Queen Mary. There are tons of other famous people buried there too like Sir Isaace Newton, Charles Darwin, D.H. Lawrence and more. I stood on the grave of Charles Dickens!!! Christian, Grace & I filled out a kid's questionnaire as we went on our tour, then we got a huge chocolate coin at the end!
We walked back to Trafalgar Square (anyone counting?) and played on the giagantic lions and the fountains. 
Then we went to the National Gallery (big huge art museum) and saw lots of beautiful paintings. We ate dinner there - we ordered a ton of stuff and everyone shared everything...we got salad, fruit, shepard's pie, quiche (mom said it was egg pie, but when Charlotte took a bite she spit it out and said "That's not pie!!!"), spinach & goat cheese tart, and "still water" to drink (that's just regular water that you have to pay for). For dessert we got trifle tart and raisin scones with clotted cream (a creamy dip). It was delicious! Then we went back out into Trafalgar Square and Aunt Beth, Aunt Lynn & Christian went off to see the musical Les Miserables, and my mom took the girls window shopping on Oxford Street. Now we're back at our room for baths (in the deep bathtub) and bed. I have to go join the girls for bedtime, so pip, pip cheerio now!
Molly: Miraculously everyone slept great last night (including Charlotte once she wound down)! We had an awesome busy day. Tomorrow...Windsor Castle! It's been such a blessing to have so much time with my sisters, and the kids are having fun being together too. Much love to Dan & the boys...we miss you! XOXOXOXOXO
4 comments:
Whew Maddie, I got tired just trying to keep up with the many places that you guys went. It was neat to hear you talk about Shepherd's Pie because that was one of my favorite dishes that my English mother used to make for me. The other one was steak and kidney pie, but that grosses grandma out so I haven't had any for a LONG time.
Have a wonderful day tomorrow and know that you all are our favorite valentines.
Love,
Grandpa Foster
OK, I have to say that, despite the obvious MEAT in it, steak and kidney pie (affectionately called steak and pygmy pie in our home) was MY personal favorite growing up. It was a regular at "school dinner" time during our year in England when I was young and that's probably how I developed a taste for it.
Seriously, the texture of the kidney is indescribile. So I won't try.
Glad you are having a great time, everyone! We're thinking about you and commenting on London's blue sky. Uh, we had a blue sky today, too. But it was only like 20 degrees. And no flowers in sight, sadly.
Can't wait to read tomorrow's installment!
Much love,
Claire xxxox
We are having so much fun looking at your photos and everything you have written about each day. Wow! Do they celebrate Valentine's Day in London? We plan to take Jake & Carson to Big Boys' with their coupons. Pretty romantic, huh? You sound like you are really enjoying being together. What a fantastic trip this is for all of you! We miss you but are thrilled that you can have this adventure! Love, Grandma xxxxxxxooooooo
Did you remember to look for The Queen's Tea for me?? If you can get it, my friend Sandy & her friend Annie each want a box too - if that's not too big a deal!!
Thanks. Love, Mom
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