Oh Those Silly Brits

I couldn't go all the way to London and not share this extra special landmark...

I mean, who needs Trafalgar Square or Big Ben or Buckingham Palace when I have had the privilege of using the "LOO OF THE YEAR"? Amazing.

Sweet Boy

Here is my cute baby brother who I've come to know as "Aukeyman" or more accurately

"Auk. e. MEEEEEN!" Mom and Dad are still trying to figure out where this came from. Let 'em wonder. They think they teach me everything I know...

Aw, Aukeyman. You are so cute and lovable I want to smother you with hug-tackles and in-your-face-kisses that don't honor even a vestige of your own personal space until you cry and wail. As per the usual.

Relentless demonstrable and unwelcome affection is my extra special "love language."

WATCH OUT FOR HUMPED ZEBRAS!!!

Apparently they are roaming free all over Great Britain

(according to this sign anyway).

I have been looking for some pink giraffes as well but they must be less conspicuous... oh, wait...
I think the sign was simply announcing a CROSSWALK. Go figure.

Want to know what else is weird?

This crazy "baby bucket" that they use for bathing tots like me. Looks a little bit scary, eh?

And have you ever heard the nursery song about the "Grand old Duke of York"????

At the library song time (see below) they are always singing songs about people I have never heard of!!!

For more of these silly songs visit: http://www.mamalisa.com/?t=hes&p=1481&l=P

The Perch

Here is the old pub we found in Binsey called THE PERCH. Supposedly it burned down (check out the thatched roof!) but now it is open again for business. hooray.
We also walked down an old country lane to find this old stone church called St. Margarets where a LOT of family members by the name of Pritchard are buried and where the ChristChurch choir hosts an advent choral service on December 1st "Wrap warmly and bring a torch" the sign said.
At the Perch with mom
Walker and Dad on the patio at the Perch
And the Perch as approached from the Thames.

p.s. I officially learned how to say "pub" this weekend. Mom is so proud.

While in Binsey...

I had a little "episode" with some goats... Sure, they look tame enough, but THEN... they jump up almost over the fence to say Hello... WHOA!
I dO NOT LIKE THE GOATS ANYMORE.
Take me home! I hate the goats!
So long Goatie. No Truce for you.

Up Through the Meadow to Binsey

While the weather was gorgeous this weekend we decided to take a family walk up through the Port Meadow to the neighboring village of Binsey
Here is one of the fishermen we saw on the way (That is the Thames, btw)
And here is the meadow from across the river.

Mom's Gal Pals

Last week mom's friend Amy came up to visit from London with her mom and cousin. Our pal Julie (in purple on the left) was also up from London but she studies at Wycliffe Hall so we see her all the time. This is a pic of "just us girls" though Dad and Walker are behind the camera.

Books at Blackwells

Here we are at the HISTORIC Blackwell's books in Oxford (more info on the ever-handy Wikipedia here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackwell's)
And this is the corner where they keep all of the noisy, moving, touch-and-feel COOL books that I especially like to read.

Visiting the Pony in Port Meadow

On a walk with Mommy's friend Liz and her son Isaac.

I LOVE visiting this "bebe-po-nee...neigh!"

Heading Home

Through the Garden,
In my cosy Yellow Rain coat.

pajama party

Scrumptious Crumpets

YUM!!!

More from Christ Church Meadow

Cows in Christ Church Meadow say "MOOOOO!"

Old School

It's a good thing this town is charming because otherwise mom might not be so psyched about drying our clothes on a line. It is preferable, however, to the SIX HOURS (!) it takes to run a wash/dry cycle in our highly "efficient" washer/dryer. I will say one thing, these clothes smell awesome - fresh like the afternoon sun. Now the question is what she plans to do when is starts raining every day? Guess we'll wait and see....

New Home, New Books

I bet this picture fooled you into thinking I was just at the regular old library, but NOPE! -- Here I am at my new Central Library in OXFORD, ENGLAND! (Hence the raincoat)

Appropriately, it is situated directly on Queen Street.

For more pics of our new city/life visit http://picasaweb.google.com/harriskc/OXFORD#