Back to school...September

What a busy month August was!!! We returned to London on Tuesday September 3rd and the kids were off to school the very next morning. Though tired and looking a bit run down, they were both very excited to get back to school to see their friends!

Aiden was excited to see Mandy and Ryan go back to school, this meant he had Mommy all to himself again!! 

On our first weekend back, there was a boat race on the Thames going through Richmond. The kids and I went to watch the 500 boats row on by!

Mandy Caught the Rainbow Loom Craze!

It wouldn't be autumn without a trip to Garson's Farm in Escher. We always miss this time of year back in the States, the hay rides, pumpkin and apple picking, Thanksgiving...we were so happy when we found a little piece of that here in London. We make the 30 minute drive to Garson's at least twice a year.

One Sunday we decided to take a drive into the country and went to the town of Shere. Shere is a village in the Guildford district of Surrey. It is a small village with many traditional English features. It has a small central cluster of old village houses, shops including a blacksmith, tea house, art gallery, two pubs and a church. Shere is considered to be a civil parish consisting of four villages with a total population of 3,359!

We had lunch at one of the two pubs in town, The William Bray! William Bray was a life long resident of Shere from 1736-1832. He was an antiquary and very involved in the social scene of Shere. He wrote numerous books and has had his private journals published which make his cheeky personality very apparent. While in town, I went into the Shere Museum (the size of a small hall!) and spoke with a gentleman who helped me locate the family tree of William Bray. While there doesn't appear to be a direct family link to him, he did have 3 brothers! 

The Church of St. James has been a place of worship since 1190. The spire, built between 1213 and 1300, was covered with cedar shingles, but had to be replaced with oak shakes in 2000. There are several brass plaques in the chancel dating back to 1412!

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Random cuteness in Kew Gardens!! At one point before I got my camera out. Aiden was sitting on the ground and the ducklings were literally walking over his legs!! He kept saying "Hi Baby!" I was surprised the mother duck was okay with this, she kept close watch but didn't flinch when Aiden pet her babies as they walk all over him!!

We had a friend move into the front garden...While always fun and interesting to explore nature, I have to admit this creeped me out a bit!!

We wrapped up the month of September with a trip to Edinburgh Scotland which is soooooo deserving of it's own post. Coming soon!!!