Is it only Day 3?

Today started off a little more slowly. But by the afternoon, you never would have guessed anything was amiss yesterday. With the aid of a little medication, Lucy seemed to bounce back from her slump of the day before. James, as usual, was bounding with a surplus of energy. We hung around the apartment in the morning trying to get as organized as our suitcase existence permitted. It was a much needed breather.

I do need to write a little about where we're staying in London. 56 Onslow Gardens is quickly becoming one of my favorite places in the world. For the week, Mom and Mike volunteered their apartment (or flat) and have taken up residence in a nearby hotel. You might wonder how we've all squeezed in here. Obviously, six people in a 1 bedroom flat can feel a little tight, "James, get off me!" is a phrase that I think everyone has uttered (we understand our children's need for personal space, but we're trying to teach them how to say, "Leave me alone!" with as much love and affection as possible). But with the gardens out back (the best yard that you never have to mow), and all of London just outside the door, it actually feels quite spacious. We're so grateful for how they opened their home to us and its permitted us to have experiences as a family that we never could have imagined having even a year ago.

Present sleeping arrangements!

The South Kensignton tube is a five minute walk (8 minutes for James' legs). It's just far enough outside the city to get away from the chaos, but close enough to easily steal away for an evening of theatre. And with the Natural History, Science and Victoria Albert Museums a ten minute walk, it feels like we could stay here for weeks and still see and experience only a fraction of what's available. We couldn't have asked for better accommodations. Even the Lamborghini dealership on the corner is a touch of our Abu Dhabi home.

At lunch we went down to the Hyde Park chapel for one of their weekly lunch time concerts. It was a world class performance in a very intimate setting. Even James was more or less attentive for the duration of the recital. After the concert, we had a nice lunch at the Natural History Museum across the street and then Grandma Edwards and Grandpa Mike treated the kids to a Butterfly Garden experience which was incredible. The quantities and varieties of butterflies flittering about was overwhelming. The kids became quite adept at welcoming them onto their hands, their shirts and their heads.

Mom and Mike had mission duties to attend to, so we took in the Natural History Museum, or at least a couple of rooms of it. Of course, when given the choice of any room in the museum to visit, the kids picked the Creepy Crawly exhibit. We also were able to visit an impressive display on birds and we learned a lot about the different ways rocks are formed and shifted around. It felt like we walked around for a while, but there were whole wings and floors that we never even glimpsed. I know that we can't see everything, but it's hard not feel like we have to make the most of every moment here. But, alas, we do have to sleep and there's that eating thing we have to do too.

The Natural History Museum and Butterfly Experience

The Lobby of the Natural History Museum

Lucy with a lot of birds!

In the evening, Julie stayed home with Lucy, Miranda and James so that Liam and I were able to take in a play together. Liam's was so great to hold down the fort for us the night before, I really wanted to do something for him (and, selfishly, for me too). We watched a West End production of 'The 39 Steps' which was the perfect play for the two of us. There was a cast of four actors playing over a hundred characters through the course of the show. (http://www.love39steps.com/). Liam and I then got to meet some of the young adults Mom and Mike are working with. It was great to see them in their element.