Our Wimbledon

It's here.  Time to say goodbye.  So bittersweet!  When we first moved over, there were many tears.  Now as we are getting ready to leave, the tears are flowing again!  I am just going to keep this short and sweet and try not to get too sappy ;)  I am so thankful and grateful that we have had this opportunity.  The Lord has been faithful in his provision these last two years beyond my imagination! Thank you to everyone that has made it feel like home here!  We will treasure you all and miss you dearly!!!  We feel incredibly blessed to have had this extraordinary and special experience and as sad as it is to leave, we are also excited about what is in store for us in the next chapter of our lives! :)

So as our last London post I thought we would copy a friend (thanks Amy!) and do "Our Wimbledon" :)  Just normal and everyday things that are a part of our lives here that we don't want to forget!

I also have to put some British Brylie quotes in here:

"Truett isn't doing that properly Mommy!"

"Daddy is going to be very cross with you if you don't clean that up, Truey!"

"(fill in the blank) was very naughty at school today and had to sit out"

"I am feeling poorly and my nose is blocked"

"The chick at school was ill and couldn't pip his way out of his shell so we had to send him back to the farm to get well"

"I need to have a think about that one"

"Why do mommies get together and chat and chat and chat all day?"

"Mommy I had a brilliant dream last night!"

"Oh Dear!"

"I need to go for a wee before we leave!"

"That is quite far and I don't think I'm meant to walk all that way Mommy"

"I need to rest for a bit"

"I painted a lovely picture today"

"We had loads of sweeties at the party!"
"Mommy, did you know dessert is called pudding?"

Ok, so this is our road looking one way...

...and the other way.

Our house

(These were taken just a week apart, but a huge difference in weather!)

Our road, Craven Gardens, is just off a main road (Queens road)

Our bus stop.

It takes about 10 minutes to walk to the Broadway (where all the shops are) and the kids like to climb on these the whole way down...

We have become very familiar with this walk down Queens road!

Our church.

Centre Court (Get it?) is our "mall" :)

These are bathrooms inside the mall that are locked because only patrons of the restaurant inside can use them...much to our dismay!! :)

The anchor department store, Debenhams.

This is standing in front of Debenhams looking down the length of the mall...just the one strip with stores on 2 floors and a cafe court at the other end (Where there are free toilets! Also just want to add that while using these free toilets today someone stole my cell phone right out of the stroller while Truett and I were in the stall!!!)

Superdrug, which we always call "Superdawg" :)  Overpriced toiletries :)

Cute store.

Marks and Spencer.  LOVE!  I will miss so many things about this store :)

Boots is like a CVS or Walgreens over here.  The one in Centre Court used to be a church (actually our church used to be here!).  Pretty :)

Some of the amusing signs in Boots...

Local police ladies.

Where Queens road meets the Broadway.  That is the Odeon movie theater behind me and Morrisons (grocery store).

Tescos (more groceries)

The station is sort of connected to the mall.  Here is the main entrance (notice the "crowd" on either side of the top).

This is the side entrance we usually take.  Platform 5 takes us to Waterloo (and they have elevators, yay!).

Looking down the Broadway.

Making our way towards the village...

Truett gets his hair cut here :)

Elys department store.

Remember Service Merchandise??  Same concept.  At Argos you go in and pick from a catalog then take to the counter and they will bring it to you from the back :)

Geoff gets his hair cut here.  I tried once but it was no good :)

Foxtons are our letting agents - they are terrible!!!!

At the bottom of the hill...ready to walk to the top!  You can't tell, but the incline makes it quite a workout!

Cute English house on the way...

Top of the hill, Wimbledon village!

The Lawn Bakery...gotta stick with the theme :)

So many beautiful flower shops around town :)

Heinz Mayonnaise.  This stuff is not like what we have in the states and please don't tell me what is in it...but it is a delicious splurge with french fries :)

Ok, so Geoff wanted me to document our lunch bill.  This is why we don't eat out often (that is in pounds mind you!).  Also because it tasted like they heated up a TV dinner in the microwave and brought it out...we could have done better!  This is one of the few kid friendly places...

Cute french restaurant and good people watching.

Bayley & Sage.  Gourmet groceries...they do have some delicious treats here!

Joules...another cute store.

Ok, now back down by our house.  Brylie's school!

We got here early to pick her up because they are strict about not taking any pictures of the children...this is the area where we wait for the grounds keeper to let us in the gate!

The kids bikes and scooters.

Truett wanting in the gate!

Showing off his stamps from playball.  We have just enough time to drop Brylie off in the morning...walk to Wimbledon park...have his class...then walk back to pick her up!

Outside of her classroom.

There are two morning classes and three teachers for each (and a floater so Brylie kind of has four).  So Brylie is in the Red class and has Miss Pui...

...and Mrs. Thornton...

...and Miss Caley...

...and Mrs. Buckman!  They have all been so kind and loving to Brylie and we are so thankful for that!!

Abigail and Maia wanted to join Brylie in the picture...so sweet!

Inside her classroom.

This is random, but had to throw in here :)  Our growth chart in the doorway to the kitchen (sorry, it looks so dirty close up!).  These two babies of ours have grown a lot these past two years!!!

Unfortunately Dora has not :)

Sorry if this post jumps around a bit!  This is our park (South Park Gardens)...we love it and hope to live near a park back in Dallas!

My favorite tree there...

Our sweet neighbors.  This is Jane and her daughters, Emily and Abigail.  She has been a huge help to us and a good friend! :)  We will miss them so much!!

Our neighbor on the other side, Annette.  Such a precious lady!!  She has loved us and our kids and we couldn't have asked for better neighbors!!!

Geoff chatting with Annette over the fence :)

Signing off in London...preparing for our next adventure!!!! :)