The Bairdbrook's in England

It's the beginning of April and that means one thing...it's our last month here in London!  Just writing that sentence down makes me want to cry a bit.  There is still so much I want to see and do in Europe!  We will get our chance in a few days to add a couple more countries to our list of visited places.  On Friday we leave for Spain and Portugal.  After a week away we will have about a week before my mom and sister arrive for Easter and then just a few days after they go back to America, we will be too.  This month is going to fly by and it makes me slightly sad but happy at the same time.

March has kept Josh and I quite busy as well, sorting out our move and trying to fit in time to do a few things around London.  Sam and Amanda came to visit us one last time (cry!) before Sam deployed.  We had a really fun weekend.  Sam took a Friday off and came down to London to visit a few museums.  I met up with him for lunch and then we explored a bit together.  We ended up visiting Westminster Cathedral, the Catholic sister of Westminster Abbey and took an elevator ride to the top of the tower for a view of London.  Afterwards, we met up with Josh for drinks at a pub near our flat in Islington.  We were lucky to have nice weather and was able to sit outside and enjoy our drinks.  Amanda came down the same day after she got off of work.  The next day we decided to visit Chiswick house and gardens.  Again, it was a lovely day and we were able to soak up the sun and enjoy a walk around the gardens and a tour around the house. Later that night we ate at Amanda's favorite Upper street restaurant, La Davina and then we sadly said goodbye to them.  I can't believe that is the last time we will all be together in England!  It makes me so sad!

Sam and I have a boozy lunch near Covent Garden

Our day out at Chiswick House and Gardens

Last group picture together in England.  Boohoohoo, Cry, Sob!  It's the end of an era!

Chiswick House

Interior Ceiling at Chiswick house

This bust made me laugh - I need to come up with a good tagline for it...

The gardens at Chiswick

It was a beautiful day!

I stole Amanda's instragram collage!  

March also involved Josh and I learning new things!  We have volunteered a couple times with the group Tree Musketeers.  We have been learning how to prune ornamental trees as well as fruit trees.  My favorite workshop so far though has been learning how to graft apple trees.  It was very informative and interesting and I must say, Josh and I made a great grafting team!

The green space in Hackney where we had the tree grafting workshop

Me and our grafted apple tree

Josh and our tree

The last weekend in March, I decided to go visit Amanda for a girl's weekend.  We had a grand time. Eating, sipping tea, shopping, planning Mom and Sarah's itinerary...it was wonderful.  I'm really going to miss being near my sister-in-law, I really hope that we can live near each other again someday!  We spent Friday having lunch at Harriet's, a tea room in Bury St. Edmund's, then did a little shopping and ate taco bell.  On Saturday, Amanda had a baby shower to attend, so I helped her make some tea sandwiches, went to the shower and then went to La Hogue for lunch.  Our lunch was long and wonderful, I think we were there about 3 hours!  It was so blissfully sunny, we sat outside and enjoyed our meal in leisure.  Later that day I helped Amanda prune her apple tree while she mowed the lawn, and finally we settled in for a night of trip planning for Mom and Sarah's arrival.

The most beautiful sight in the world...a fresh British scone with clotted cream and jam

Our lunchtime view

Amanda relaxing in the sun

Just look at that delicious perfection!

Mary and Carrie Bairdbrook - our alternate egos

Amanda mowing with her hilarious hover mower.  It was like a toy!

I stole another one of Amanda's instagram collages...sorry Amanda!

Time to go pack for Spain!  Until next time...
R x

York Weekend

In January, Sam and Amanda contacted us to see if we were interested in exploring York with them.  Josh and I jumped at the chance and we made our plans.  The day that we left to go up to Samanda's was Valentines Day.  The train was full of people carrying home boxes of chocolates and flowers.  We had brought up a gift for Sam and Amanda to thank them for having us along.  Unfortunately, we had news earlier that day from Amanda that Sam would not be home that night.  He was sent on a mission that was suppose to only take 24 hours, but ended up taking longer than expected.  We discussed what we were going to do the next day.  We could leave for York in the morning and if Sam got back he could catch a train, or we could wait and see what happens.  Amanda didn't really want to leave without Sam and Josh and I were happy to stay close to Chippenham on Saturday to wait and see if he would get back.  On Saturday, we ran a few errands with Amanda, Josh ate Taco Bell (which he was really excited about!) and we had lunch at La'Hogue.  Josh and I talked Amanda into visiting a local farm that was having a Lambing weekend.  It was great, there were all sorts of animals that we were allowed to feed.  Amanda got to hold a baby lamb and we saw a lamb being born!  Josh and I were in farm heaven.

Amanda holding a baby lamb, awww!

The momma sheep were very unhappy with their lambs being taken away from them...they were loud!

New twin baby lambs

The lamb we saw being born.

Ugliest pig ever!  LOL, but he really liked be fed.

A couple pygmy goats getting shelter from the rain

Amanda and I having fun on the farm!

Baby lambs!

 After our farm trip, we headed back to La'Hogue to pick up some lamb for dinner.  Those new baby lambs made us hungry!  We had dinner at home and then Samanda's friends came to visit.  We played games and drank Sam's beer...and found out that Sam would not be coming home that night.  We made plans to leave early in the morning for York, since we had already paid for our cottage.  Amanda was pretty sad that Sam wasn't going to be able to go, but what can you do?  Military life!

The high street in York.

The York Minster Cathedral, it is one of the largest in Europe

Josh and I at York Minster

Clifford's Tower in York, this is all that remains of the York castle, built by William the Conqueror. 

There was a Viking Festival going on the weekend we were in York, so we got to watch cool things like this Viking skirmish!

Inside Clifford's Tower

We've had a lot of rain this winter and a lot of the country is having problems with flooding around rivers.  This is a view of the river in York from Clifford's Tower.

Another view of York from Clifford's Tower

Josh in Clifford's Tower

 After visiting a few places in York, Amanda and I decided we wanted a proper afternoon tea.  The best place to do that in York is at Betty's.  We let Josh come too, he was a good afternoon tea date!

Proper fancy tea!

Amanda and I enjoying our tea!

An amazing selection of sandwiches, scones and desserts...all for me!

 After our afternoon tea, we had a few hours to kill before our Ghosts of York walking tour, so walked along the old city walls for a while and then found a pub to warm up.  The pubs in York were great, almost all of them had fireplaces, so warm and cozy!

We won't let Josh out of the city walls...he's in jail

The guy leading our Ghosts of York tour was hilarious!

 The next morning we went on another walking tour to get more information on the history of York.  It was entertaining, but we ended up leaving early so we could have lunch before heading back to Cambridge.

Ruins of an old church in York

An old thatched roof half timbered house in York.  

Josh having a rest on our walking tour

The courtyard of a school

A part of the old city wall, York has more miles of intact walls than any other city in England.  The walls were originally built in 71 AD.  

Amanda dropped us off in Cambridge later that day so that we could catch a train back to London.  Even though Sam wasn't able to go with us, we had a great time.  A big thanks to Amanda for taking us up to York!

R x

America and Christmas

Back in October, I flew back to the States to spend a few weeks with my family.  Josh followed a week later.  It is always such a good feeling to see arrive at the airport and have my sister, mom and niece Hazel greet me.  Hazel gives the best welcome back hugs!  I arrived in Springfield in time to celebrate Halloween and we kicked off the holiday by taking Hazel to Springfield Zoo's Spooktacular event.  It was really great, and Hazel loved it!

Hazel and her new fairy light.

Me and sweet Hazel att the Spooktacular!

Spooktacular at Springfield zoo

 On Halloween day, I went with my mom, sister and family friend Cindy to have lunch at a tea room in Ozark and then later on I walked around my parent's neighborhood with Sarah and Tom while Hazel trick or treated.

Mom and I before lunch at Spring Creek in Ozark

The McCubbins family on Halloween

Me and my creepy baby!

Me and my lovely sister on Halloween

 I was blessed to be able to see many friends and family while back visiting.  I especially enjoyed getting to see a few of the kiddos I used to nanny for...everyone is growing up so fast!

Visiting with my little friend Amelie

The Scarrow kids with their sock snowmen we made together

After Halloween I drove up to Josh's parents farm in Northern Missouri to visit.  We were able to get together with our high school friends, visit lots of family and Josh got to do a lot of hunting.  This ended up being a bittersweet time for Josh and I, this was the last time we were able to see our sweet dog Harley.  About a month after we left to come back to London, we got a message from Josh's mom that Harley had passed away in his sleep.  Josh and I were devastated, but also felt so glad that we had been able to see him one last time.  He was a fantastic dog who gave us lots of unconditional love, laughs and joy throughout the years.  Rest in peace my sweet boy!

Josh and Harley at his parents farm

Josh with his mom and brothers in their awesome shirts :)

 After our visit to northern Missouri and Quincy, Josh and I drove back to Springfield together.  On the way back we stopped by the property we purchased a few months back.  My parents met up with us and after a delicious lunch of BBQ the guys enjoyed  some target practice.

Josh and I visiting our land in Missouri

Josh and dad target shooting

Josh gave us a tour of the 60 acres

 The following day we decided to have an early Thanksgiving.  It was delicious and so much fun!

Sarah and Tom at "Thanksgiving"

Cathy and Kevin, our favorite Springfieldians!

Family Thanksgiving picture, just missing Sam and Amanda

 Once 'Thanksgiving' was over, it was time to celebrate an early Christmas.  Mom took all of us girls on a Polar Express train ride in Branson.  It was great!  The train was decked out in holiday decorations, Santa and his wife came through, we sang Christmas carols, saw Christmas lights and the North Pole, had cookies and hot chocolate and listened to a reading of the Polar Express.  It was adorable.  Hazel loved it all, apart from the Hobo, who despite his efforts, made her cry multiple times.

Hazel is excited for the Polar Express train ride

Hazel was not too sure about Santa

Sarah and I meet the Hobo that Hazel hated!

Sweet Hazel loved the ride!

After three weeks it was time to come back to London.  I must admit, it was harder to leave this time than it has been before.  Luckily, Josh and I had a visit to Samanda's for the real Thanksgiving to look forward to (and a trip to the Christmas Markets in Germany!).  We also celebrated Christmas at Sam and Amanda's.  It is great to come up to their house, it is so spacious compared to ours!  Josh and I arrived in Bury St. Edmunds on Christmas eve and headed straight to a party that one of Samanda's friends was hosting, we are so thankful that their friends are so welcoming!  After the party we headed to Ely Cathedral for midnight mass.  On Christmas morning we slept in and enjoyed a delicious brunch, then opened our gifts.   

Josh and I ready for midnight mass

Sister and brother, together for Christmas!  

Sam and Amanda on Christmas eve (and Hercules too!)

Wow!  Look at all of the presents!

A fun toy that mom sent Sam, flying chickens!

Josh is happy it is Christmas day!

So many things to open!

Josh and a few of his favorite gifts

It's our Christmas goose!  Sam did a great job cooking it.

What are you doing to that poor bird!?!

Afternoon naptime.

In traditional Bairdbrook Christmas fashion, we found it necessary to take pictures to entertain our family and friends back in the States.  We decide to forgo the Nudifyer app we overused last year and went with classic Christmas movie scenes.  I think everyone enjoyed them!  

"Shitter's full"  - National Lampoons Christmas Vacation

Kevin, from Home Alone

Spider on Marv - Home Alone

Randy ready for school  "I can't put my arms down!"- A Christmas Story

Fuller smashed by a chair- Home Alone

Schwartz being double dog dared - A Christmas Story

Ralphie getting his mouth washed out with soap - A Christmas Story

The poster scene - Love Actually

Cop scene - National Lampoons Christmas Vacation

Christmas was so fun!  And now I am officially caught up (finally) with our goings on from the last few months.  Hopefully I will be better about updating in the future!  

Rach x