London 2010

Some photos from our winter break trip to London.

A highlander in Trafalgar Square

This hardy Scot was piping in Trafalgar Square just outside the National Gallery. The temperature was mid-30s with an icy breeze blowing up his kilt.

Alex and Grayson are in the foreground. Check out their spontaneous jig...

The Cat

Ellie getting her face painted by our neighbor on the first full day of this year's trip to London.

Venice and Chioggia

My neighbor and I took our kids to Italy for a week in May. We stayed just south of Venice in an apartment 2 blocks from the beach... yeah, it was as fabulous as it sounds. The beach was a low-key solidly middle-class family place perfect for us. The waves were mild and the water was shallow for 25 feet out. We took the ferry to Venice one day where we ate lobster pasta just off Piazza San Marco and shelled out the big bucks for a "romantic" gondola ride through the city. The kids kept trying to either put their heads in the water or reach out to touch the walls. How is it that I don't have any pictures from that day?! I know I took some!

This bridge view is in Chioggia

Gelato was a big part of our trip. Serena got a hilarious video of Ellie and G doing their "gelato dance" here. Think sugar high.

London 2009

London was, as they say, brilliant. We stayed eight days and could have stayed a million more. Locals were helpful and indulgent of our energetic kids, the weather was cold, but we had rain only one morning, the sights were amazing and, of course, the company was excellent. What was our favorite? The Tower of London. Or the Natural History Museum. Or the National Gallery. Or the British Museum. Or Buckingham Palace. Or Stonehenge. Or Hamley's. You get the idea.

Jeff did a fabulous job driving from the wrong side of the car on the wrong side of the street. Our screams, squeals, and squeaks every time we looked out the windows couldn't have helped.

We could see Stonehenge from the road as we drove in. It is utterly amazing.

A highlight for Alex and Ellie was the Natural History Museum.

Ellie in front of Buckingham Palace (she did her own hair). After the changing of the guard, the band set up chairs to play for the crowd. I've never laughed so hard as I did when Her Majesty's band started to play "La Vida Loca" - I just didn't expect it!

Happiest Place on Earth

That's right. Our first family trip to Disneyland! My brother, who works for Disney, got us in for f-r-e-e and the thing about that is that all the pressure to "get your money's worth" was gone. We just wandered around following our fancies and had a great time. Well, Ellie didn't like any of the rides and still tells me not to take her on Peter Pan EVER again. Still... The 2 highlights for me were seeing Alex and Hugh bond over wrestling (each of them thought the other was the most hilarious person alive) and seeing Ellie's pure exhilaration at meeting, touching, and talking to Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Belle. I was not even close to capturing the rapture on film, but believe me it was so precious. My mom and I were both teary-eyed!

I asked, "Where are you?" and snapped a picture of their answering screams, "Disneyland!!!"


Kraus Cousins


Main Street with Grammie K


with Grandpa K


Princesses

These ears are actually mine. And I want 'em back!

This lolly may have been Hugh's favorite part of the day. He was INTENSE!


5. 4. 3. 2. 1...


Everyone gets kisses

A California Adventure

Alex spent a good hour by himself building this "spiderweb" in the garage. He requests big spools of string for his upcoming birthday.
Who's gonna clean this up?


Mini train in Griffiths Park. After the trains, we headed up to the Observatory for a great (albeit smoggy) view of LA, Beverly Hills, and the Hollywood sign


Cameron can hardly contain his excitement


The LA Zoo is fabulous and the weather was perfect. These giraffes were even closer than they look in this picture.


Ellie sweet talked Grandpa K in to carrying her through the zoo