Part of the reason we chose London for this year’s vacation was that it combined both boys interests- Harry Potter for Aidan and theatre for Brendan.  Today was Brendan’s turn.

He has loved walking around and seeing ads for plays on busses and billboards.  He thinks we should see everything playing!  But today our tickets were for Matilda.  Both boys loved it!  They also loved that during intermission Haagen-Daz ice cream was available!

Earlier in the day we did some exploring on the bus.  It’s the year of the bus in London.  Not sure what that means but it was fun to sit on the top deck.  We seemed to have come to London at quite a busy time.  We keep running into school groups as school is about to end here in a few weeks.  There were lots of student groups at Matilda!  We are also here during the City of London Festival (it lasts a month), Wimbledon and on Monday the Tour de France will be going through London!  Lots of activity but we fit right in with all the tourists!

Another fun thing about being here- Brendan’s appetite!  He isn’t eating foods that are different, just eating more of what he likes!  Typically at school he would take only a couple bites of a peanut butter sandwich.  We brought sandwich to have for lunch at St. Paul’s today and he went back for thirds!!!  That’s a sandwich and a half!  You may see a much taller Brendan when we return! 

Today was a big day for Aidan.  We started off with the Science Museum.  So much to see and do!  Aidan loved the math exhibit and the transportation exhibit.  Chris was a big fan of seeing Sir Tim Berners-Lee’s NEXTcube (the start of the world wide web).  Bren took it all in.

Then it was the trip that Aidan has been waiting for- The Making of Harry Potter Warner Brothers Studio Tour.  Mind Blown.  Seriously, his words (and several pictures).  The tour was great- it is the actual studio the eight movies were made.  The real sets, props, costumes (there was something for Bren!) and even sketches and diagrams were there.  As someone who has never seen any of the movies or read any of the books (seriously), I was impressed.  Aidan couldn’t contain his excitement.  There are about 150 pictures on my camera, and he took a bunch with his!

We did a great job riding the tube and “minding the step.”  Chris is a master at getting us around!  Aidan has been reading about British-English and has new words to share any chance he can!

The kids will be keeping journals through this trip.  They will be writing in the morning.  I can’t wait to read what Aidan writes and will be sure to share it!

We have arrived!!

We left Sunday night and arrived today in London!  The boys were great on the flight and mostly slept.  Bren actually fell asleep on the way to the airport.

There was a bit of confusion about getting picked up at the airport but eventually we settled in to our apartment (flat) in Soho where we will be for the next week and a half.  It a very cool place and their neighborhood is pretty neat too.

We unpacked, found a general store to buy some groceries and made our plans for getting around on the tube.

In appreciation for the boys cooperation we had a special lunch- McDonalds.  But promised that it won’t be something regular!  Dinner was a favorite- peanut butter sandwiches!