Goodbye 2013!

Mummy and Daddy took me on an adventure New Year's Eve: we went to London!

Aimee and Jonathan Smith, our friends from church, came with us. I was really glad, because not only are they lots of fun, but they have a car. So, we drove most of the way and then got on the tube at Gant's Hill. That meant I got to sleep in my car seat on the way there and all the way back!

This is the first time I got to wear pajamas into London! Daddy had me in the tummy pack the whole time, too. I love being in the tummy pack because then I'm up high and I can see everything.

We got off the tube at Holborn, right by the British Museum, then walked down to the River Thames. We found the PERFECT spot on Waterloo Bridge--we could see the London Eye, Canary Wharf, and (most important of all): Big Ben!!

Our View from Waterloo Bridge

We laughed and danced and talked until 9:45---and then I told Daddy it was time for a bottle and sleep! I was so tired--I really wanted to stay up and see the fireworks, but I was just too knackered (as the British would say). We were on Waterloo Bridge...having so much fun....I started to sing...Daddy was so nice and warm....I'm just wanted to close my eyes for a second....



So---Mummy here. Little Brute fell asleep around 10:00 and, unfortunately, missed all the excitement of the fireworks. Daddy and I were so grateful, however, because that meant actually got quite a bit of sleep! Daddy zipped him up in his coat giving him a warm, dark place to sleep. It even muffled the sound. Which was probably a good thing.

All you could see of Little Brute was one foot....awww!

It's long been on my bucket list to spend New Year's Eve with Big Ben in view. When we found out we would be in England for a year, it was one of the first things I mentioned to Daddy---we MUST be in London on December 31st. The Christmas holiday was full of fevers, coughing, chest pain, bad sleep, and more used tissues than I care to mention, so it was looking like my dream might have to be put on hold. Luckily, by the 31st Little Brute was better and I was the only one battling the chest cold. So, we jumped in Aimee and Jonathan's car and headed for London.

When we got out of the tube at Holborn, I was surprised to see very empty streets. Oh, a handful of people were milling about, making their way towards the Thames, just as we were. Little Brute was chowing down on his first bottle of the night, with Daddy cradling his head as we walked (he's become quite the proficient feeder/walker, that Daddy). When we got to the Embankment, the crowds appeared, though nothing like I had anticipated. Waterloo Bridge was right in front of us and we found a nice spot where we could see Big Ben and the Eye.

I looked at my phone: 8:30. Holy wow--we still had 3 1/2 hours before midnight. In an effort to kill some time, we decided to see how close to Westminster Bridge we could get. Not very close. They had been keeping count of how many people were in specific areas (very smart Fire Marshall) and had barricaded the end of the Embankment by the entrance to the bridge. Oh well--our journey through the crowds burned at least an hour and we still made it back in time to find a fantastic viewing spot on Waterloo Bridge.

Pre-sleep for Little Brute. :)

As the time slowly ticked by, I was incredibly grateful to have the Smiths with us. It's so nice to have great conversation to pass the time! We talked, laughed at the drunken Germans trying to start the wave, took pictures,  danced (ok, just Aimee and me), and looked forward to the 12 dongs from Big Ben himself.

At 11:30---it began to rain. Brollys went up and we huddled together. Luckily the "rain" (it was more a bit of a drizzle), quit coming down around 11:50, just in time for us to get really excited about the fireworks!

And then it happened--10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3..2...1...Big Ben's glorious voice echoed down the Embankment and across the Thames to where we were standing, welcoming in the New Year. Red and gold fireworks exploded the from London Eye and within seconds, our senses were overwhelmed with the smell of sulfur, the beauty of the fireworks, and the music of Britain, welcoming in the year 2014. Daddy and I snuck a kiss right at midnight, careful not to squish our sleeping babe.

The fireworks were spectacular, just as I hoped they would be. The Houses of Parliament quickly faded behind of the smoke and ash as hundreds of fuses were lit, sending red, green, blue, purple, and gold explosions into the night sky.

As I was snapping away with my new camera, the people around me suddenly took several steps back. Daddy quickly retreated to the edge of the bridge--yes, a drunken fight had started. Luckily, it was contained and stopped within a minute and we went back to enjoying the fireworks--but with a wary eye on those around us.

Before the show was over, we started making our way back to the tube--best to beat the crowds and the trampling that often takes place in these events. We left at just the right time--the mad dash quickly followed us as we made it through the gates and onto the streets of London. Our adventure wasn't over, however. We enjoyed the embarrassing antics of drunks, particularly a foreign couple who could barely walk. He made his way down the street kissing any girl who would let him, while his partner giggled and fell over as they tried to get on the tube. Luckily, being sober, we made it down the escalator before they could and secured our place on the Central Line, loosing them in the crowd (there's only two people I'd take a kiss from on New Years, and they were both right next to me. I was glad we avoided that awkwardness). All the while--Little Brute slept on. Completely safe and secure in his Daddy's coat. When we got to the car, we checked our pockets--none of us had been pick-pocketed while we were there. Every camera, coin, wallet, and iphone was still in our possession.

As we rode the tube to the car park outside the main bit of the city, I couldn't help but stop and think about what an amazing year 2013 was. We welcomed our sweet little boy into this world, moved a few times, Daddy graduated, we crossed the pond, Disneyland....so many things. We have so much to be grateful for. So much that is wonderful in our lives. And on the last night, one of my dreams came true--to be with the family that I love in the best city in the world, on the biggest night of the year.

Christmas in London

We went to London again this week (on the 18th)! Mummy really wanted to see the Christmas trees and go to a Christmas Market, so Daddy said we could go back--just three days after we went last time!

This time, the first place we went was Trafalgar Square, to the National Gallery. I was so tired after the train ride, so I decided a bottle and a nap in my stroller was a good idea while Mummy and Daddy wandered around the museum. I did wake up just in time to go outside, though! I got to see the tree that the people of Olso, Norway gave to London as a Christmas present (Daddy read a sign that says they have been giving a Christmas tree to London since 1947. It's a thank you for helping them in World War II) and then Daddy introduced me to the Lions! They were so big. They sit at the bottom of pillar where Admiral Lord Nelson stands.

After we grabbed some hot chocolate from Pret-A-Manger, we walked down the Mall (say the "A" like "Apple". It's not a place to go shopping, Mummy says) and saw Buckingham Palace. That's where the Queen lives! She had a pretty Christmas tree in the front of her house, too.

By then, it was getting dark but it wasn't even 4:30pm yet! So we went down to see the London Eye and go to the Christmas Market that they set up right next to it. On the way, we stopped to see Big Ben (Mummy's favorite) and look at the Christmas tree Parliament put up there.

The market was so fun! We bought some roasted chestnuts because Mummy has always wanted to try them. She and I both decided they are gross! So, we made up for it by getting some roasted Almonds (they had a sugar coating all over them that Mummy let me suck on! I don't have enough teeth to chew it, though). We walked around and looked at all the beautiful things for sale. Mummy's favorite was a stand that had a bunch of wreaths made out of oranges, limes, cloves, and cinnamon sticks. It smelled really good!

My favorite part was looking at the lights on the London Eye. There were some really pretty trees covered in blue lights right at the bottom of it, too. But it was getting cold and I was tired again. So, just as it began raining, Mummy and Daddy took us down into the tube to head home.

Can you see me and Mummy?

We had another really great day in London. I can see why Mummy says it is the greatest city in the world. But man--all that adventuring is exhausting!

Daddy's Party

Last night we went to a party!! All of the people in Daddy's program got together to have a party. There was food, music, lots of people, and...lots of drinks. At first I was really nervous and wouldn't let Mummy or Daddy put me down. But eventually, I realized that all the people there really liked me--that's why they got right up close and said "AWWW!!!"--Mummy said that is actually a compliment.

There were so many drinks at the party. Everyone kept offering me drinks, but Mummy said "No thank you" to lots of them. That was ok, because Daddy went and got me some Sprite! I love Sprite!***

I wore my Santa hat and while we were there, somebody put a Santa hat on Daddy! We were twins!

We stayed long enough to get Christmas Crackers (which are cool, but really loud) and exchange our White Elephant gift. A month ago, Daddy sent in 2 sentences about our family without giving away his name. Then, we got a note about our person and had to get something for them. When we opened our present, I was so excited--whoever had our name got me the perfect gift: a stocking!!

Overall, it was a very fun party. But I was definitely ready to go home and go to bed--I'm glad we didn't stay as long as everybody else!

***Mummy's Note: Yes, people actually did try and give our baby wine! Red wine and white wine. They didn't seem to believe me when I said no thanks. One girl even got the cup all the way up to his lips before I could stop her, good thing that was during Little Brute's "not so sure" time and he turned his head away. Seriously!

My First Thanksgiving

Mummy told me my first Thanksgiving was rather unconventional. I don't really know what that word means, but I thought it was wonderful. On Saturday, we got to go over to Dr. Martland's (Mum says I can call him Peter when I'm a grown-up) and had turkey dinner with him and a few of his friends. It was so much fun!

We had turkey, mashed potatoes, corn, and cornbread, which Dr. Martland was pretty proud of himself for making. It was his first time making it. Mummy laughed because it was the boxed kind, but she was proud of him, too. Anyway, Mummy also got some sweet potatoes baked, which Dr. Martland got from the store on the American Air Force Base. Dr. Martland also found some pumpkin pie mix and asked Mummy to make a few pies.

So Friday night after I went to bed, she and Daddy made their first pumpkin pies. I think it turned out delicious, and everyone else thought so, too. Mummy and Daddy said they both don't really like pumpkin pie, but they both ate a piece at Dr. Martland's and didn't seem to mind it. I think they liked it because of the amazing white stuff they put on top--Mummy calls it "whipped cream."

Mummy told me all about the Pilgrims and the Indians and when Thanksgiving first started. She also told me what the true purpose of Thanksgiving is: to show everyone we love how grateful we are for them and to thank Heavenly Father for all of our blessings.

I've thought about it and here are the things I am most grateful for:

Mummy and Daddy
My BYU mobile that Nana, Aunt Chels, and Aunt Sam made me
Daddy's belt (it's so fun to chew on!)
The drawstring on Mummy's hoodie (also fun to chew)
Gingersnaps
The whisk that Mummy sometimes uses to bake
Puff-its (my favorite snack)
My Hedgehog
Crackers
My little Elephant that plays music
Warm milk in the middle of the night (can't get any better than a snuggle with Mummy at 3am!)

I thought Thanksgiving was a great holiday. We got to eat lots of food, play, and we got to see Dr. Martland. Mummy says next Thanksgiving we will be with our family and it will be even more fun. I can't wait!

Me being silly with Daddy at the table. 

This is me and Dr. Martland!! He is so much fun! 

My Christmas Tree!!

We put up our Christmas tree today! The tree stand came in the mail today, three days before Amazon said it was going to come (by the way, I don't know who this Amazon is, but he sure sends some amazing stuff! Mummy gets a delivery almost every week from Amazon, and it's always really exciting. Thanks Amazon!).

Daddy used his Leatherman to cut the bottom of the tree off. Mummy said she was glad we had a small tree--if it had been as big as she wanted (20 feet I think she said), then it would have taken Daddy much longer.

While I was sleeping, Mummy and Daddy brought it inside and cut the net off. Isn't it beautiful! Mummy thought it was so beautiful that she gave it a hug. Right after I woke up, she let me touch it. I wasn't so sure, but I think that was more because I was SO tired!

 That night, Daddy put the lights on it, and then we got to hang up all the pretty decorations! Mummy found beautiful red beads to hang on it, and Daddy picked out a set of gold baubles (that's what they call ornaments here, at least the ball ones. I love that word! Bauble...bauble...bauble bauble bauble!) and a beautiful gold star! Mummy also wanted some glittery red snowflakes--Daddy lets her get whatever she wants, so we have nine of them.

We have a couple of special ornaments on the tree, too. Mummy says the most important one is mine. It looks just like the baby rattles they had a long time ago. It's silver, and on one side it says "Baby's First Christmas 2013." On the other side, it says "Get ready to have your world rattled." What do you think that means?

The other special ornaments are the one I made (it has my hand print on it), a little hedgehog made out of sticks that Mummy got at the Botanic Gardens, a Postbox with an English Robin on top, and then a really cool Owl Bauble. That's Daddy's favorite.




To be honest, my favorite part was definitely helping Daddy put the tree topper on. I'm so glad he let me help!

It is definitely my favorite part of Christmas so far! Every day I come downstairs and get to see my beautiful Christmas tree. Thanks Mummy and Daddy for getting it for me!

Picking Out Our Christmas Tree!

While we were at Scottsdale's, we picked out our Christmas Tree!!

We looked, and looked, and looked for the best tree. Mummy found it right away, but she wanted to make sure, so we looked at a few other trees before deciding on that one. I helped Daddy look at them all! After a while, I think all the trees started to look the same to Daddy--good thing Mummy was there to help us pick one out!

 Our Christmas tree is BEAUTIFUL! Mummy said it's pretty small, but it looks big to me! It's green and smells really nice. Daddy said we'd get to take it home and put beautiful, sparkly things on it. The nice man at Scottsdale's put it in a bag for us to take home. Mummy was going to have them deliver it to our house, but Daddy and I decided we didn't want to wait a week for it to come--we could take it on the bus! What a great idea!!

This is our tree!!!

At the bus stop. It was really dark outside!

We paid £29.99 for our tree. Mummy was worried that was kind of a lot, but Daddy said "Hey, it's Henry's first tree." That's right! It is!! After we paid, we walked down to the bus stop. I was relieved, because on the sign, it said just 6 more minutes till the bus came. 

But if didn't come. 

Then the next bus didn't come, which was 20 minutes after that. Mummy sat down on the grass with me and I got a bottle. I was so tired that I fell asleep! I got to take a 25 minute nap on her lap out there before the bus came. I was glad that it took a while, because that meant I got a nap and I still got to be awake for the bus ride home!

I'm so excited to take it home and get it all covered in pretty lights and the sparkly things Daddy called ornaments!

Here we are on our way to the bus stop and then on the bus. 

Father Christmas, Santa Claus--Same Guy.

This is me and Mummy in the winter wonderland!

Today, Mummy and Daddy took me to meet Father Christmas! We took a bus for a long time to get to a place called Scottsdales. They sell plants and flowers there. Daddy called it a nursery (thought that was where babies slept, but he says baby plants sleep in nurseries, too. Thank makes sense). When we got there, we got to walk through a winter wonderland! There were other kids with us, and they were really excited to see the polar bears and the penguins that were in the snow. Then, we took a fun sleigh ride, pulled by Rudolph, to go see Santa Claus! (oh, Mummy says here in England they usually call him Father Christmas. She likes Santa Claus better--so do I). We sat on a little bench for the sleigh ride and sang "Jingle Bells" and "Rudolph" while we traveled to the North Pole.*

When we got to the North Pole, we went in Santa's house! He was there, waiting to see us!

This is my new truck!

I really liked watching all the kids go up and meet Santa. He also had a bunch of benches just my size that I enjoyed playing with while I waited for my turn.

When I met Santa, I wasn't really sure about him. But, I figured I'd be a good boy and let Mummy take a picture or two. I didn't even cry! Santa said I was so good, that I could choose a toy from his cupboard to take home! Mummy and Daddy helped me pick out a really awesome monster truck! When you push down on it, it goes all by itself!

I had such a fun time visiting Santa Claus. I cant' wait for him to come to my house!

*Mummy's Note: Just FYI, the "sleigh ride" was actually us sitting in a wooden box, with a fake reindeer at the front. On either side off the box, were large canvases with beautiful snow scenes hand painted on it. And don't worry--the canvases they scrolled through as we went. Seriously. Derek says they "tredmilled".  I was rather disappointed, as the advert we saw promised a real sleigh ride with Rudolph. Oh well---the little kids we were with, and Henry had a good time. A good story, right? :)

**Mother's Note 2: In England, you must pay to meet Santa. Scottsdale's was the cheapest we could find--we paid £8  for the 3 of us to see Santa. 

Always Remember

Mummy and Daddy took me to a very special place today: the American Cemetery at Maddingley. We took the number 4 bus to the outskirts of Cambridge, and I fell asleep. Which was probably good, because then Mummy and Daddy had to walk another half a mile uphill in the rain to get there. I was safe, snug, and asleep in my buggy: just how I like it!

We got there just as a bunch of soldiers and their families finished a ceremony. Mummy said they have the ceremony at 11 o'clock because that's when World War One officially ended in 1918. There were a whole bunch of soldiers wearing their uniforms: I really liked that. Most of them were wearing blue uniforms; Daddy says that's because they are in the Air Force and there is an American Air Force Base nearby. Mostly I liked their hats and the shiny medals some of them were wearing. 

I was very good and quiet the whole time we were in the Cemetery. Mummy told me that the nice, warm feeling I had was the Holy Ghost. She said the Holy Ghost is very strong in places that are sacred. 

Mummy brought some flowers with us. This morning at breakfast, she explained that we take flowers to cemeteries to show the people that are buried there that we love them and that we remember them. She said that they look down from heaven and see that we are thinking about them and it makes them happy. She also said that taking flowers is a sign of respect, that it shows that we understand that we wouldn't have the wonderful lives we have without their sacrifice. 

When we got to the Cemetery, Daddy suggested we put the flowers by one of the crosses. There were so many! Hundreds of white crosses and a few shaped like a star (Mummy said they are called the "Star of David" and that they are for people who were Jewish). They were all in perfectly straight lines. It was beautiful. The cross Daddy wanted to put the flowers by was for an Unknown Soldier. Daddy said it would be nice to give them flowers, since their families have no idea what happened to them and they probably don't get flowers left by their graves very often. When he said that, Mummy started crying. 

We found a cross that said "Here Rests In Honored Glory A Comrade In Arms Known But To God." Mummy helped me put the flowers down by it and then explained to me what it means to be an Unknown Soldier. That means they couldn't tell who the man was when he died. 

We also went in to a chapel that had a place for people to pray. On the wall, was a big map that showed where all the fighting happened during World War Two. Mummy pointed out the places where Great-Great-Grandpa Schofield fought and showed me where the Pacific was, where Great-Grandpa Bruton fought.

When we were leaving, Mummy told me that one of the reasons she likes to go to the Maddingley Cemetery is that it reminds her of the friendship America has with Great Britain. She said that during World War 1 and World War 2, American and England fought together, as allies. She said I should always be proud to be an American, but that I should remember that we need our friends, too. 

Remember, Remember...

Last night, Mummy and Daddy took me to see the fireworks! The 5th of November is Guy Fawkes Day, or Bonfire Night as most British people call it. Do you know who Guy Faweks is? Well, he tried to blow up Parliament in 1605. He and his friends got the gunpowder below the government buildings and everything, but they were discovered!

So to celebrate, people in Britain shoot off fireworks and have huge bonfires!

We went to Midsummer Commons, right by where Daddy rows on the river, to see the fireworks and watch them light the bonfire.

Mummy put me in the tummy pack so I would be warm. I got to go outside in my pajamas, which I hardly ever get to do! When the fireworks went off, I couldn't believe how pretty they were! I just stared up at them for twenty minutes while they exploded in the sky, sending ashes down on the river and the college boathouses that were on the other side from where we were. After a while, I started watching some of the other kids that were around us. There were so many! It was fun to see some other kids in their pajamas--one girl was sitting on her Daddy's shoulders in pink pajamas and red Wellies. She and her Dad laughed every time one of the fireworks made a really loud noise. I liked watching her the best.

When they lit the bonfire, I was getting pretty tired. We stayed to see all of the wood get covered in flames, and then we headed home.

By the time we got home, I had totally crashed. It's exhausting watching so many fireworks!

Finger Turkeys. Wait, What?!

Mummy ordered the coolest thing for me off Amazon: finger paints!!

She used a cheap toothbrush to put paint all over my hand and then I got to push it on the paper and made turkeys! Mummy said we're going to send them to Nana and Papa, Grandpa and Grandma, and then all of Mummy and Dad's Grandparents.

Anyway, I LOVED finger painting. The only thing I didn't like was we had to make so many different turkeys, so Daddy kept taking the paper away from me! Just when I finally got my hands on it, he whisked it away and put another one on my tray. Oh well--at the end Mummy gave me my very own piece of paper that I was allowed to play with!

 When Mummy wasn't looking, I put some war paint on my face. What do you think?

Finger painting is a serious business. War paint must be applied.

My high chair got pretty messy, but all the paint came right off so it's all white and clean again. Mummy gave me a bath right after. I wanted to keep playing in the paint all day!

Happy Halloween!

Halloween was yesterday. Mummy said that it was kind of a lame first Halloween for me, but I thought it was pretty fun: I got to play with pumpkins! We bought them at a store on the corner of Lensfield Road where farmers can bring their food and sell it. We paid £3 for Mummy and Daddy's and £1 for mine. 


We took them home and Daddy destroyed them! He took all the insides out and cut them up. I was not very happy about that.

But then I saw what he and Mummy had in mind for them and them I got really excited! Oh, and Daddy let me play with part of the pumpkin--that helped, too.

Mummy carved mine to look like me! With two teeth and everything! Hers looked like Mike from Monsters, Inc. and Daddy's said Happy Halloween. It was pretty amazing!