Strolling East Meon

After lunch at a pub, we strolled through East Meon to a visit a friend. Both boys loved looking at the stream every time we crossed a bridge. 

Salisbury cathedral

We drove east on Monday to visit friends in Hampshire, where we spent two days playing and chatting with old friends and visiting pubs. On the way we stopped at Salisbury cathedral to stretch out legs. There, we saw one of only four extant copies of the Magna Carta. We also saw lots of old cathedral stuff, but I was too busy wrangling babies to take pictures. 

Pub day

We made it out to a pub this afternoon. So far that's been our grandest adventure here in Devon!

And we eat

And merry Christmas from us!

A totally un-ironic new sweater: 

A day at South Beara

We arrived in England on Monday for a long holiday at James's parents' house. It's going to rain most of the time we're here, but today we had hours of glorious sunshine. 

We went out for a morning stroll. 

Came home for snacks:

Then went out for another long walk. 

I imagine we will be inside, eating, for the next ten or so days. Here's hoping some of my clothes still fit for the plane ride home!

Morning goofs

We have the most amazing sunrises here. And because the sun gets up so late these days (after 8:30!), we get to see most of them. We've had more sunny days already this winter than we had all last year, I think, and we're able to take advantage of almost every minute of them.

Sunrise from the balcony:

These pics are from nearly a month ago, but I've only just found them! Still worth sharing, as I know I haven't been posting much lately:

Little baby boy

We've been happy and busy around here. My job is going well - I'm loving going into the city by myself, talking to other adults about things other than poop, and, of course, earning a paycheck. We've got two very exciting trips coming up - Christmas and New Years in Devon with James's family (and some friends!), and then in January and February we're going to Portugal for a month! We'll be spending time with another family who live here in our town, with kids the same age as ours. So the next two months or so will be a whirlwind of (happy) activity!

But, entirely unrelated to that, I've been digging through photos and finding some gems that I've never shared with you. Like these:

Don't you want to just get in there and shnarffle the heck out of him?

Keeping them happy

Sometimes it's quite hard to keep them happy, or at least just stop them from screaming. But who knew that a hair in front of the oven was all we needed? He sat there eating raisins and watching the oven (nothing was in it) for about twenty minutes. 

Meanwhile, this guy enjoyed eating raisins directly off the floor:

He was dressed as a jul tomte (Christmas Santa) for a festival at dagis, but at dagis he refused to leave my arms and join the other children. 

Sleeping and splashing

Our home by the sea

Please forgive me, as today's post has nothing to do with the kiddos. I walked home from the bus this morning and was struck by the diaphanous, shifting light and the unsettled sea. 

A sunny day with the dumpling

 Yesterday was gorgeous - sunny skies, crisp air, a calm sea - and Leif and I spent a lot of time wandering and playing outside. I had the loveliest of days with him. 

Though he wasn't so convinced at first:

Today is just as beautiful but I'm heading in to work. I did take a quick walk before sunrise though: