Oliver Avery Klein

We are welcoming a new addition to our growing family. Oliver Avery was born on Saturday June 26 at 330 in the afternoon, weighing in at a whopping 8lbs 11onzs. He is definitely showing is own separate baby personality, very different than Emma. Emma just can't get enough of her little brother, but atleast she has camp for a distraction. Enjoy some baby pictures.

Our Last London Vistors

Our last London visitors where Jill and her mother Carolyn. We were so happy when they arrived and enjoyed spending the time with them while they were here. I also appreciated their help as Adam was away on business for 2 weeks during that time. Jill and Carolyn would take Emma to Nursery every day then head out to site see. I would pick up Emma and we would spend a quite evening together.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter! Notice that Emma is still wearing her Christmas PJs.

Emma's First Hair Cut

Well Emma's first hair cut was at a British super cuts in the mall. She got to sit on a high seat while the man cut her hair. She was perfect, no crying and sat very still. She was probably still mesmerized by the squirt bottle.

Baby #2 Pics

Baby K*K or as Emma refers to the baby, "Princess", is moving and growing. Here are some recent pics for everyone to look at. Due around the 22nd of June and yes we will be having him or her in the states. We are going to fly back to the states on Saturday May 1st. Looking forward to seeing everyone, before our life's change again.

Miss you all!

Adam's 33rd Birthday

This is a late post but I thought people would like to see pics.

We celebrated Adam's 33rd in London. We dropped Emma off with Greg R, who gracefully watched her for us at the IC London Center. Then Adam and I escaped for a couple hours to go see a cirque show. Very neat to see the show performed at the Royal Albert Hall. Such a beautiful space. Afterwords we all got back together and went to a Thai Pub for dinner...YUM.

Camden Town

Went to Camden town this past weekend to walk around and hang out. It was ever so cold out side and I was constantly fighting Emma to wear here mittens. We also tried out this new restaurant for lunch called Hummus Bros. Wow was it delicious, just bowls of hummus with interesting toppings. I had the hummus with guacamole...yum. Emma was kinda in dipping heaven. After lunch we fought the crowds to get through the market, didn't really buy anything. I think we went for more of a day out than shopping trip. Went and watched the canal boats go through the Camden locks. I think Adam was jealous and was reminiscing and teaching Greg R all about the locks and controlling them. Of course by that point Emma was sound asleep...too bad for her.

Good day out with family and a friend.

1st Day at Nursery School

Well the day has come when Emma is now old enough to join in a school. We signed Emma up for a Nursery School down the street from us here in London, Willows Preschool. She got a new book-bag for school and a pair of Wellies and with her lunch bag in hand she headed off to school for the 1^st day. Now it is just another schedule for us to remember. One thing is fantastic; she is exhausted by the days end. Daddy drops her off in the morning and mommy picks her up in the afternoon. She started of with tears when she headed in and now a week later we have tears when it came time to leave.

Cancun in December

Well the day after Christmas we all packed up (the 6 of us) and headed to Cancun. Our little winter holiday was fantastic. Our first day in Cancun we commandeered a cabaña for the entire day; right next to the pools and food. We spent the entire day lounging around and eating (and of course taking turn on who went in the pool with Emma). On our second day we made it down to the beach for all sorts of fun. Grandpa built sandcastles with Emma, and buried her in the sand. She had no fear of the water and walked right into crashing waves. We ventured away from the all inclusive resort and had dinner at a great Mexican restaurant downtown. They knew just how to make guacamole!

Christmas 09

And back on a plane we go, as we now journey back to the states for Christmas. We head to New Jersey to have Christmas with the Kollmann’s, on the 24^th. Christmas came early to us as when we arrived at Heathrow Airport to find out that we were upgraded to first class for our long trip back to the states. WOW, that I can get use to, and apparently so could Emma (as now Emma expects to get warm nut and grapes when she rides any airplane). We had a lovely and quite Christmas in Jersey with Grandma and Grandpa Kollmann, Aunt Kit Kit and the Bauser clan. Emma really enjoyed playing with Grandpa’s train sets (which he placed at her level on purpose).

Emma is 2

And Back to London – The Actual Birthday Celebration! Unfortunately Mommy had to work that Saturday, but left early to come home and celebrate with her 2 year old; with a yummy dinner and a great chocolate cake. We were also lucky to have 2 lovely guests join us for dinner. Greg and Jon were in London, Greg will be teaching at the Ithaca College London Center this term.

Emma loved her new lady bug to ride though out the house and she also got her 1st piece of luggage, I guess she is truly a world traveler (she should be with around 75,000 air miles of her own).

Hanukkah in London

Well we had not prepared our self’s to be in London for the holidays, so we had to improvise. Emma and mommy made a homemade menorah for Hanukkah. We also had to keep reminding her that she could not blow out the candles (one of her favorite things to do). It was a nice quiet Hanukkah in London together.

Early Birthday Celebrations

A month before Emma’s 2^nd birthday we were on a long holiday in the States, so what better that to have a pre-birthday party. A great excuse getting everyone together for a visit. We are so thankful to everyone for all the gifts and for wishing Emma a Happy Birthday.

And thanks to Aunt Kit Kit for making all those yummy cupcakes!!

Thanksgiving 09

We had a nice long holiday in November, when we made the long trek back to the states for Thanksgiving. We were able to spend lot of time with family and friends and made it around to see most of them. Also on our agenda when we were home was to put our Riverdale Co-Op on the market. I guess we are finally out growing our tiny apartment or we have just gotten spoiled with the house we have in London. We also announced out upcoming new arrival to our family. We are expecting another little one at the end of June. That could also be part of the reason we had decided to put the apartment on the market.

For Thanksgiving we were very lucky to have been invited to Becky and Jason’s house, were the Klein, Richardson’s and Gwen were all brought together. Emma got to play with her cousins all day long, playing dress up with Georgia or reading books with Gabe. Emma didn’t even mind when mommy held baby Hazel for awhile. We had a fantastic time and were sad to leave.

London Halloween 09

Well we didn’t know how popular Halloween would be in London. All the stores had the candy and costumes out for sale, people were talking about it and signs were announcing it. However once the day came, it was little to be desired. We bought a pumpkin to carve out. Emma got to dress up as a ballerina and we trekked around a chilly Raynes Park in search of houses that looked like they were giving out candy. It was a big bust and we came back home later with an empty bag. Emma didn’t know any different and enjoyed her walk around the neighborhood, swinging in her skirt.

Our Maine Visitors

This morning we were happy to welcome Grandma Susan and Grandpa Bob from Maine to London. We were lucky to have some time to show them around London and our favorite sights, including Emma’s favorite playground and a walk through Kensington gardens.

The a waited event was one we had been planning for months, the Canal Boat Trip. All 5 of us packed our bags and boarded a canal boat in Bath. We spent 4 days on the river Avon, stopping in at cities and testing our muscles against the Avon locks. We had a blast and practiced our ABCs in the echoes of the tunnels. And it took some skill to drive those boats through the turns.

A visit to Shakespeare

We went with daddy on a business trip to Stratford Upon Avon. While daddy was busy talking with his clients, Emma and mommy walked around Stratford. We went and had lunch by the water. We feed the famous swans, they really like Emma (a little too much). We even found a butterfly farm.

When Adam was finally done with his meeting, we hung out together. We walked to Trinity Church and saw the tomb of William Shakespeare. We walked along the Avon and saw all the renovations happeing to the RSC (Royal Shakespeare Company). They have pretty much gutted that how theater complex. We started our hike back to the train station walking through the town, passing Shakespeare's birthplace and other great sights.

It was a busy, but great day out of London.

Our Busiest Visitors

We had some great visitors come for a visit at the beginning of October. Jill and Mike came to London to celebrate their 1^st anniversary. It was great to have them and Emma warmed up to Mike very quickly.

On their first day here we dragged them, jet lagged and all, to the French Circus. A very tiny circus but Emma had a blast eating lots of junk food.

They were the busiest visitors we have had so far. I think they were sightseeing every single day they were here, from visiting historical places to riding high speed boats through the Thames. Emma and I had a chance to go with them on the London Duck Tour. I had to hold on tight to her, see was having so much fun; she would have jumped out of the boat into the Thames.

Versailles

Versailles, the most popular French Palace, was fantastic. This place was huge and took pretty much a day to go through. The inside was much like any other palace we have been in before but the gardens where wonderful. The grounds of Versailles are massive and no way were we ever going to walk them all, but you can get a taste from the pictures. Too bad we were late for the fountains, they have turned them all off now that it is fall. But I hear the fountains are fantastic lit up at night.

Paris Trip

Well we finally made it to Paris. We took the Euro-rail from London straight to Paris, and with in 2 hours we were there. On our first day we decided to explore Versailles, which was only a short 30 minute metro ride there. This palace was remarkable, unfortunately we missed the fountains. They only run them during the summer times. However the gardens, HUGE, were beautiful. On our way back into Paris we decided to do Paris a night and went to see the Eiffel Tower, which now Emma pronouns it like "awful tower". After a full day of sight-seeing we sorely found our way back to our hotel for some sleep. The next morning was jam packed it sight to see. First thing was the Eiffel Tower, to go up to the top. Took the elevator up, but walked down. Mommy was the lucky one to backpack Emma on the way down. Next we went over to Notre Dame and Saint Chapelle, both so beautiful. In the evening we strolled down Champs-Elysees and found a place for dinner. Next next day we tackled the Louvre, before getting a train back home. We could have spent another day at the Louvre, maybe another trip.