LONDON

London was great and in ENGLISH!!  That is one of the best things about going there, it's a little piece of home and it's only a two hour train ride away.  It's a relief to be able to read signs and menus, and to know that everyone there speaks English.  It's the small things that seem big to us now that we live in Europe, and we definitely realize how much we took for granted living in the states.

First ride on the fast train!

Hamley's toy store...Kade said it was heaven

Lots of loot!

Kade's thrill of the trip-Papa John's Pizza!!  I seriously couldn't believe it was over here.

We haven't braved the movies in Brussels yet..we thought it would be much simpler to just go in London where we know the movie will be in English!!  The kids loved it!  I had to leave early because E was getting fussy, and as soon as I walked out she stopped.  I guess she didn't like the movie....

M&M World was another thrill for the kids!!  We all enjoy seeing a little bit of the U.S. over here!

Guarding the royal M&Ms

The Queen M&M

The boys were excited to see a tranformer at Ripley's

Big Ben

Westminster Abbey

Front towers of Westminster Abbey

You gotta take a picture in the telephone booth!

Buckingham Palace

Changing of the Guards ceremony

Hop On Hop Off Bus

The Queen

The Shard building

Ready for some London shopping!

Hanging at the pub...

The pub we were at....not sure about that name, but it had good food

The Tower of London
A royal palace and fortress.  This was known as a place that was feared because prisoners were brought here and executed, but it also served as a royal residence.   There are several different towers and buildings inside the walls and the moat that surrounds it.  The one at the front of this picture is the Beauchamp Tower, it held the high-ranked prisoners.  It's kind of strange because this big palace is right in the middle of the city.

STAR SIGHTING!!!!

Preslee was beyond herself when she saw CC and Rocky!  She spotted them and for a bit we weren't sure if it was really them.  Then they started calling each other by their "real" names and Preslee was insisting it was them.  No one else even acted like they knew who they were.  The two were with their parents and were just walking around sight-seeing.  Finally after we were there awhile and kept seeing them, Preslee became brave enough to go take a picture with them.  So, Daddy, Preslee, and Drake (who knew exactly who they were and wanted to follow them around all day) walked to them and asked for a picture.  I didn't go, I don't like to bother "celebrities" especially when they are just sight-seeing like we are, but Mike didn't care. :)  Mike said they were very nice about it and thought Drake was cute.  So I'm sure this trip will trump all others according to Preslee....

These were some of the torturing devices inside the Bloody Tower.  It was a bit creepy...

The White Tower-it's the tallest one and at the center of the grounds.  This is where the king would stay when he was at the palace back in the day.  Today it holds the Royal Armouries. 

We saw the crown jewels, but NO pictures!!!  Not aloud...

Tower Bridge

It was a fun time and we will for sure come back!!  It had lots of shopping that I didn't get to do with four kids in tow, but this may be my new "Chicago."  :))