The Beginning ... London

Our Summer vacation this year began in England and ended back in Germany visiting a family from Miles' mission.  They offered face painting on the ferry ride over from France to England (what a good idea BTW) and the kids were excited to fill their time with something that was actually fun. Kenneth didn't get his face painted but he still deserves a picture because he is just cute.

Buckingham Palace

We were too late to see the changing of the guards (we spent most of our time in the Natural History Museum oohhhing and aahhhing over dinosaurs and diamonds) but we still had to come and see it, along with all the other tourists.

We then walked through James's Park where a pigeon pooped on me ... awesome!  If I hadn't been holding my sweet 3 year olds hand it wouldn't have happened.  There are just some sacrifices a mother will do for her daughter.

The girls at some random tourist gift shop.  I used to love Padington Bear!

Yup, we took the kids on the London Eye - the price is outrageous but the kids were dying to go.  For some of our kids it's one of the only things they remember about London.  I guess it was worth it right?!  It has air conditioning inside the 'capsule' and Miles stood under it almost the entire time!

St. Paul's Cathedral

This was actually pretty impressive!  And pretty!  This is where Princess Diana got married.

The kids after eating lunch, they are standing and on top of a really neat chair -- across the street is the Tower of London

Sanding in front of the entrance to the Tower of London with the Tower Bridge off to the right of us

Family shot at the Tower of London right next to where you enter to go see the crown jewels.  We HAD to get a picture in front of a guard, it's a staple when you go to London.  Right?!  Ha Ha

From the Tower of London we took a boat cruise down the Thames river to Westminster Abbey.  It was actually really nice and the kids really enjoyed it.  When we were buying our tickets to the boat cruise the guy at the ticket office asked us if we had a travel card, we said no, he added up all our kids, totalled the price ... waited ... then looked at us and said, 'Actually, I think you DO have a travel card' and gave us this HUGE discount!  Thanks London!!

Trafalgar Square

Everyone was climbing up on these lions to get their pictures taken.  Naturally, we needed to do the same and lift our kids up onto the platform to pose with the lion.

Anika trying to call Grandma and Grandpa from London ... they didn't answer and she was rather disappointed.


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