Great Grandpa, Aunt Julie and Madeline Visit!

We were lucky enough to host some very special visitors this July--Great Grandpa, Aunt Julie and Madeline came to visit! First we met them in London, where we spent the weekend and they spent a bit longer, and then they came to visit us in Cheltenham!

We decided to visit Stratford-Upon-Avon while they were here, which we hadn't been to before. We had fun visiting Shakespeare's Birthplace, Nash's House, Hall's Croft and Holy Trinity Church, where Shakespeare is buried. We also visited Bourton on the Water, one of our favorite Cotswold villages, where we did some shopping and enjoyed a delicious lunch!

What a fun trip! We can't wait to spend time with Grandpa, Aunt Julie and Madeline again during our trip to NY in just a few weeks!

Riley, the literary genius!

Cousins!

Grandpa, Aunt Julie and Riley take a lunch break

Hungry girls

It was hot enough for air conditioning!

We found some hands on learning opportunities for the girls

She found a key!

Lyla learning about Shakespeare

Visiting Shakespeare's grave

Ready for a day out in Bourton on the Water

Kindergarten--A Year in Review!

Lyla started Kindergarten here in Cheltenham back in September and has been loving every minute of it! Kindergarten here is the year after nursery and is not the same thing as Kindergarten in the US, although the curriculum is a bit more intense than preschool in the US.

Here are some highlights!

Lyla has been able to try lots of fun new things at school!

Here is Lyla during a visit from the dental hygienist and painting with her feet at school!

Lyla got to try on lots of glasses during a visit from the optician!

With her friend Lola on a field trip to the Cotswold Wildlife Park

Lola, Max and Lyla check out the giraffes!

Lyla has been able to dress up for lots of special occasions with her friends!

Lyla in her pajamas for Gruffalo day at school!

She's become quite the artist!

A person that resembles a sun ( :

Lyla's lion

Lyla started ballet lessons and had a wonderful recital!

Practicing at home in her ballet outfit

At her recital

Pretty ballerina

She's become quite the literature lover!

Lyla saw her favorite author, Julia Donaldson, at the Literature Festival!

Both girls enjoyed their session on the Petticoat Pirates

Forest School

Lyla went to Forest School with her class every week. They got to play outside ad explore nature in a forest behind the school.

One of the best parts was rolling down the hill! As you can see here, the school provides waterproofs and wellies for bad weather!

Lyla's class at Fun in the Forest Day!

Learning to Write and Sound out Words

Super good work!

Lyla has loved performing with her class!