The last few weeks

We've had a great last few weeks in Cambridge. Here are some of the highlights:

Our pastor, Tom, came for a visit while he was on a trip to London. He finally got Mike to join him on a bike ride, although he couldn't get Mike to sport the spandex biking shorts.

The next weekend, Mike and I took a trip to Bath. It is a beautiful city. We enjoyed the best fish and chips we've had this time around in England.

We had tea at the Pump Room. If you are a Jane Austin fan, she mentions the Pump room in a couple of her novels. It houses a pump that collects water from the natural springs in the area.

Melissa & Jake - I think you should have waited to baptize the boys in something like this:

We took the Jane Austin tour of the city - Mike is a fan!

Here's the Royal Crescent:

And, since the rain kept pouring, we finally found a cozy pub to warm up and eat some lunch.

On November 22, Kate turned 3!

For some reason, I think she looks like Martha Stewart in this picture:

Christmas lights in the Cambridge:

Jessica and I took a fun day trip to London. It was cold!

Emma and John in front of King's College:

Kate and JoJo rowing the boat:

An afternoon movie and tearful good-byes on our last day in Cambridge:

Packing, cleaning, packing, cleaning...

A few of my favorite things...

Here are some scenes from our everyday life in Cambridge that I love.

On my morning runs I go by the river Cam, pass King's College (with the cows) and enjoy the fall leaves.

Kate, playing in the leaves with Miss Jessica:

Our rainy British day treat:  Hot chocolate, Turkish Delight & shortbread - yum!

Every morning this is how Mike leaves the house - everybody loves Daddy!

Making pumpkin bread with real pumpkins:

Our days end with all the kids and Mike sitting around the computer, watching He-man and She-ra... not kidding.  I'm just not sure who enjoys it more, Mike or the kids.

Halloween: Pippi, Sir John & the Princess

Carving our Pumpkin - we went for a royal theme to celebrate Great Britain. 

Pippi Longstocking, Sir John & Princess Kate:

Most children don't go trick or treating (or really celebrate Halloween) in Cambridge, so we had a party with some of our American friends.  All the kids still got their fill of candy!

Emma's 9th Birthday

Emma just celebrated her 9th birthday.  It is probably one of the few birthdays she'll actually get to celebrate anywhere near her birthplace.  On Thursday, we took Emma and John for their first train ride up to London.

For all you Harry Potter fans - this is as close as you can get to 9 3/4 at King's Cross.  We must just be muggles because there was no train to Hogwarts waiting for us.

We took Emma and John to the Tower of London.

I took Emma to get some Krispy Kreme doughnuts - a sweet taste of NC!

And then we went to see the play "Wicked", her birthday present.  She and I both loved it!
    

On Friday, we celebrated with the neighborhood friends.

While we were in London, Kate had much fun with Miss Jessica.  She stole her scarf, rode bikes, went to the Library and got a pinkalicious cupcake.