Across the Pond

 First day + 1 

The kids had been restless waiting for this day to get here, but I felt like a freight train was chasing me with all of my work and prep that needed to be done. I spoke at a Conference the morning of the day we left, raced home thankful to see the kids did the list of the "last minute chores" that I left them and we were tightly packed in our Uber an hour later. Sissy was mad I wouldn't let her wear her beloved jean skirt on the flight but I told her to trust me, it wouldn't be comfortable on a seven-hour overnight flight. Checking in and dropping bags was quick and easy (Thanks United!) and off to TSA pre-check, Dulles people movers, and the dreaded Siberia of Terminal D. 

Got our last US dinner from & Pizza and boarded. I had all four kids in the middle row (a choice) and Chris had an aisle over. Movies were a HUGE hit, which was good because we sat for an hour waiting for another flight's bags to be loaded, weighed, and secured before we could get in line to take off. And THAT is why we always go to the bathroom before we fly! Seven hours of squirming, Sissy and David invading each other's seat space, and movie watching even when I told Daniel to go to bed. We landed only 10 minutes late. 

So thankful I had done this trip last fall and knew how easy the Heathrow Express was to get into town. Sissy was loving being on her first train ride while Chris and Daniel got more naps. Paddington Station and its art deco ceiling was as beautiful as I remembered and we sat there a bit to get breakfast and meet Paddington the bear. We got our first Underground experience riding the Elizabeth line to Tottenham Court Rd, which is an entirely spoiled way to first experience the underground. We then dropped our bags at a local wine shop that has a side hustle with Stasher and we were FREE to walk bag free. 

A brisk walk and playground stop later, we made it to our next underground adventure and realized how spoiled we were on the Elizabeth line, but also grateful that the UK is being spared from the heat wave hitting the rest of Europe. 

The TOWER!

Somehow we arrived early for our Tower Tour and Chris and I enjoyed some caffeine (sorry kids). I was glad I invested in the family audio tours and pre-paid to get the printed guides so we could read about all of the things we missed along the way. The Tower's themes were "Fortress, Palace, Prison" and shocker, the kids were the most interested in the "Prison" part. I was bummed that the line for the Crown Jewels was insanely long and we voted to skip it. Though probably for the best since Sissy would have wanted her own crown and the tweenager was already getting grumpy and hungry. It's crazy to think about how the Tower, which is made up of many towers, built around the original White Tower, is nearly 1000 years old. We got to see one of the rooms where a number of the famous prisoners were held before (chop) and the gorgeous "graffiti" that they left in the soft stone. The torture devices were especially popular with the boys too. 

After an overpriced, but quite delicious, lunch at the cafe, Chris and the kids started to fade. David perked up a few min later and we were to go see the battlements (up high!) and do the White Tower tour. So glad we did since there was so much history in there too. David especially loved the Armor displays, the centuries of various weapons used to protect the tower, the hidden "poop chutes" off of the main hall, and the interactive kids' area where he got to see how he would do as an archer, mason, swordsman, and rifleman. Give this kid a sword, he hit every single target in the game! We came back to find Chris and Sissy STILL snoozing at our lunch table and rallied them since it was getting to be the time to check into our flat. The overcast day had turned sunny and the weather was so perfect. Unfortunately, Sissy's disposition was not so. I had made the grave error of eating one of her two desserts during her nap and she had wanted both. Never mind she had a gorgeous Tudor Rose cupcake, but a tired meltdown ensued and I begged to get at least one family photo with the Tower Bridge. Huzzah, we got one!

Underground ride back to get our bags, checked into our flat and we all got horizontal for a bit. Sissy was refreshed from her nearly two hours of napping but all of the boys passed out hard. Thankfully the tv had American kids' shows and our place has balconies so I was able to leave Sisys to entertain herself while I did a lap through the chaotic Covent Garden and found my Tesco Express to get dinner.

Feeling restless after dinner, the kids and I went for a walk around Covent Garden and found some delicious gelato for dessert. There are a LOT of gelato stores, so we're claiming it as British. A stroll to the even more chaotic Leicester Square to see some street performers (Daniel was grooving some to the salsa dancers!) and David found his mother ship, the Lego store. We'll hit that later, but he was in awe of the two-story Big Ben. Daniel was ready to be done and the crowds made me hold on to Sissy, the slow walker, but we made it back to the flat and went right to bed. Hopefully, body clocks will reset for more adventures tomorrow!