Today was a great day.  The perfect mix of relaxing, productive, and fun.  We got a lot done this morning with making plans for upcoming trips around the UK and other countries in Europe.  I got to take a nice long afternoon nap while Todd took the boys to run some errands, and then we all headed off to see the Tower of London!

We got to the Tower a little on the late side and missed doing a tour from one of the beefeaters.  We will most definitely go back for that.  I was bummed we missed it.  You really could spend the good part of a day at just the Tower of London.  There is a lot to see and do!  

The boys loved the Tower of London.  I mean really LOVED it.  Like, I was a little worried about how interested they were in all the gory stuff.  They were glued with attention from the moment we told them a little bit of the history behind it.  Nice.  I have always been fascinated with British Literature and history, so I know enough about the Tower of London to know that it wasn't the funnest place in the world, obviously.  One of my absolute favorite parts about visiting was every so often there were these little signs that basically said, "we know you have heard a lot about the gruesomeness and the torture and the beheadings and all the horrible stuff that happened here, but that was just a very, very small part of it's history, really it's all fun and dandy and wonderful roses!!  Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!"...in so many words.  Oh, you Brits!  I cannot tell you how funny I thought this was and really couldn't stop laughing!  Just own it!  So you have a bad part of your history... so what, learn from it and move on. It was so funny!   

While visiting today I learned the story of Lady Jane Grey.  They had this little info plaque about her and honestly her story is just so sad and tragic.  If you haven't read about her, you really should. Interesting and sad stuff.  They have her picture with her words above, "I pray you dispatch of me quickly".  She said that just before she got the axe, literally.  Boy, she was polite.  I would have had a few choice words, if that was me, and believe me, they wouldn't be so polite or lady like, and I doubt they would make a plaque of them! 

  Todd and the boys in front of one of the outer walls to the Tower.

Todd looks like Mavrick here..."I went to the DANGER ZONE!"

Today I was able to go to the park with a great girl in our new ward who I have been corresponding with the past few months getting her advice on all things London.  It was great to finally meet in person and meet her two darling boys.  We played at the park for a bit, and then the boys and I headed home for lunch. 

After lunch we decided to head up north from St. John's Wood to Swiss Cottage and check out this place called The Swiss Cottage Leisure Center.  From the stuff I had seen online it kinda looked like the Frisco Athletic Center.  When we got there, it was ridiculously impossible trying to get information about memberships, which was frustrating because I really would like a gym to go to and also a venue for the boys to do sports etc.  We are thinking about it, jury still out on whether or not we will get a membership.

I need to get these boys into some kind of sport or activity asap.  We decided that when we came to London we wouldn't have a TV in our home for a year.  This is because our boys need a serious detox. And I mean serious.  They have become waaaaay to addicted to video games, ipads, TV shows, movies etc.  So the only thing they have here electronic are their kindles, which have strict parent restrictions and mostly use for reading, and the computer which also have timers and restrictions on it. 

The other day when we were at Hamley's one of the guys who worked there told our boys they would probably want to go down to the bottom level to see all the video games, and Tagg said, "we can't, we don't have a TV!"  And the guy looked at us like we were crazy.  Yup.  We've become one of those families, a cross between the Duggars and the Amish.  No but seriously, when we first started toying with the idea, it just felt good and we realized that it was the perfect time to go cold turkey since it would be a new place and new home.  Plus, who wants to sit around watching boring british TV when you are in London?   So it's been a week and so far I can say we absolutely made the right decision. The first few days have been rough, but each day I notice a difference and the boys seem to be starting to really forget about zoning out and have been finding better more creative things to do with their time. But I also feel I need to find them outlets like sports and activities so that we replace TV and other time wasters with good things. 

Here are some "popcorn trees" by the Swiss Cottage Leisure Center.

I love that my boys still call these popcorn trees and they are my absolute favorite part of spring. 

After the Leisure center we took our first double decker bus up to Wagamama's in Hampstead for dinner.  I tried Wagamama's for the first time when I came house hunting because one of my bff's Lindy (shout out!) always talked about it from when she lived in London.  It was delish.  So I've been really wanting to take the boys there since we got here.  It is such a great place because it is so family friendly.  Big tables, lots of noise, great kids menu, high chairs, etc.  The boys loved it and Tate made a big gigantic mess and giggled and screamed all of dinner and not one Brit gave us a dirty look.  Success and hooray!