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. 

The Tube is a Great Place for a Nap. And so is Parliament Square.

I found some amazing places to take naps and scenic places to eat while we were in London yesterday. Mum wanted me to sleep while we were on the train, but there were just too many things to see and look at outside the window.

But once we got on the Tube, it was just too long since I woke up--I fell asleep right before our stop at Westminster. 

Mummy carried me for a while, then put me in my stroller with my blanket. I took a nice nap while she and Daddy got through the crowds around the Houses of Parliament. 

I think Mummy was a little bit disappointed that I wasn't awake for when Big Ben told us it was noon, so I decided I better open my eyes so we could take a family picture. 

Mum has told me all about Big Ben and how much she loves to hear the bells. I liked to look around at all the people while they took pictures and ate their lunches at Parliament Square. Watching them made me really hungry through, so Mum and Dad stopped at McDonalds and got food for them, then we headed to St. James' Park for lunch. 

Did you know that St. James' Park is right in front of Buckingham Palace? That's where the Queen lives. Mummy and Daddy said if I want to live there I'm going to have to marry a Princess. I guess that would be ok.

Just as we went through the gates into Green Park, it started to rain. I decided I was tired of being in my stroller and just wanted Mummy to hold me, so I got to ride in the tummy pack and see her pretty umbrella! 

We walked and walked and walked and walked until we finally found the Victoria and Albert Museum, Mummy's favorite Museum in London. I liked it because I got a bottle once we went inside. We wandered around and looked at some of the amazing things in the museum. My favorite part was probably all the silver they have in a big long hallway. 

The Victoria and Albert Museum is HUGE though. Mummy said that we went into parts that she had never seen before--and she's been there dozens of times! One of the places we went that she'd never seen was the baby changing room. I felt very pampered getting changed in there--the changing table is polished marble! All of the tiles in the bathroom are white marble with green in between. The white ones have a V&A on them--it was REALLY fancy. Mummy said she wants her bathroom to look like that someday, except have a D&J. I think that's a good idea!

We were pretty tired after that, so Mummy and Daddy found a bench and sat down. I got a bottle and that put me right to sleep! I'm telling you--there are lots of great places to sleep and eat in London.

After the museum, we looked outside and saw that it had stopped raining! We stopped at the Hyde Park Chapel and then Mummy said she really wanted me to meet Peter Pan, so we headed back to the park. This time, it was to Kensington Gardens. 

Peter Pan was so cool! We were lucky that there weren't a lot of people around, so got to touch the animals and talk to Peter all by myself.

Look at me! I can fly!!

I was hungry again after that (naturally), so Daddy and I sat by the Long Water and had some dinner. Well, I had dinner, anyway.

While I was eating, the craziest thing happened! The tree that was right above us decided that I needed a branch full of beautiful yellow leaves to play with. So, it dropped one right next to me in my stroller. Thanks, tree!!

I pulled of the leaves and examined them one by one. Every leaf is different, did you know that? Then I chewed on the branch. Mummy and Daddy were nice enough to let me do that. I know lots of Mummy and Daddy's aren't that cool.

After that, we went to get dinner for Mum and Dad at a place called Whole Foods. Then, we headed back to Kings' Cross Station, tried to get in to Hogwarts (see my previous post about that), then headed home. 

I was exhausted after such a long day! Mummy gave me a nice bottle on the train and snuggled up with me. The train was very full, though, with lots of interesting people to watch. So, I ate my bottle and kept myself awake. 

Overall, I really enjoyed London. I can see why Mummy loves it so much and why she talks about it all the time. I can't wait to go back!!

Siren

Sometimes when people walk in front of us on the footpaths they walk slow.

Yesterday, when Mummy and I were on our way to buy food at Sainsbury's, we had 3 slow people walking in front of us. They just wouldn't get out of the way! I could tell that Mum was getting frustrated, but that she didn't want to say anything to them.

So I did.

I remembered watching all of the cars get out of the way for Police when they have their loud sirens on, so I thought I'd do the same thing. I grabbed the tray on my buggy, pulled myself up straight, and gave my best imitation of a siren. "Blahh!!" I yelled as loud as I could.

They turned around, saw me, and got right out of the way.

I was pretty pleased with myself. I sat back against my buggy backrest and quietly congratulated myself (at least loud enough for Mum to hear as well).

Mum apologized to the people as we went by (that's the British thing to do, I guess), but I could tell she was really pleased with me.

This is how I sit up when I want to look around at things. Or yell at people. 

Granchester Meadows

We walked out to Granchester Meadows today. There were a lot of people on the path--Daddy said a lot of colleges had an organized "walk to Granchester" for tea today since it's Sunday. We just wanted to go for a walk and be outside in the sunny weather.

I fell asleep just as we reached the actual meadows. Mum and Daddy found a nice spot of grass near the Cam to spread the blanket out on, and I slept in my buggy (Mum says that's what the British people call it).

On the way there, we saw some sheep!

Granchester Meadows is really pretty and green right now.

 I really like to pull pieces of grass up onto the blanket. Daddy was helping me.

On the way home, we went through a "kissing gate". Mum gave Daddy a kiss! Ew...

Sometimes I look really serious when I'm in my stroller.

We stopped at the Causewayside Park and played on the swing for a minute. It was so much fun!

Stroller and Tummy Pack

Based on the last week, I am going to spend a lot of time in my stroller while we live in Cambridge. Every day Mum and Dad stick me in there with a blanket and a toy and we head out in to the city. We go shopping, look at the colleges, watch people, and enjoy the weather. I like riding in my stroller a lot--so that's fine with me. I have a really great view, plus if I get tired, I can just lean back and fall asleep. It's awesome!

So far, the weather has been really nice; but when it rains, Mum and Dad put a plastic cover over my stroller so I don't get wet! All the other kids have one on their stroller, so I don't feel so weird. (Mum says to say we will put pictures up of that later on). 

When I'm not in my stroller, Mum or Dad hold me or I get to ride in the tummy pack! I like that because I usually find something to play with: Mum wears some really cool necklaces or I get to chew on the strings on her hoodie!

One time on the way home from grocery shopping I feel asleep while Daddy was holding me. He's so nice and warm, it's hard to stay awake when I'm tired!

Mum says I will be spending a lot of time in my stroller and my tummy pack, so I'm sure this is just the first of many blog posts about my stroller. Just wait till it rains and I'll show you my awesome cover!