One week in

It's been nearly a week since we landed and a lot has happened:

The kids have a school, Micklands Primary and start on Wednesday 26 September.  It's been 13 weeks since they left Dilworth, so it's high time to start again.  They found the 'Friendship Bench', a place where you sit when you are lonely and need a friend. 

Connor was nearly eaten by a T-rex at London's Museum of Natural History, by far the best museum we've ever seen.

We've made great new friends.  Hope has already had a gymnastics class and Connor a violin group lesson.  They both jumped right in!

After seeing loads of signs like this one, Connor finally asked, "Why are there so many toilets around here?"  Guess we need a refresher on dipthongs vs. long vowel sounds.  

A few weeks before arriving, we heard about a new building in London that was reflecting sunlight into the surrounding neighborhood, causing enough heat to melt plastic parts of cars.  We spent time learning about it, so the kids were super exciting when the spotted it towering over us.  Fortunately, the temperature has cooled so we didn't melt!

Allen has learned to drive on the left...and done a great job of it! It's been lots of roundabouts (sometimes around more than once), map consulting, and several u-turns, but no accidents, no blue lights, no other drivers upset by his driving. Hopefully no tickets will arrive in the mail!

Connor turned into an old man, reading a paper on the train. 

The kids each had a drink at Kensington Palace. 

And, we've taken loads of pictures in front, mostly in front of old places.  You can see our favorite photos here:

But, we don't yet have beds (due tomorrow) or the shipment (stuck in customs).  Although we have managed to figure out the stove, oven, microwave and washer (there is no dryer...), though most  required consulting of the manual.   

Overall, we're having a great time, the kids have been very good, and we are fully functional.  Most importantly, we have been strongly supported and welcomed by new friends, though we miss our old friends and family.  We can't wait for the visits to start.