School Daze!!

This week I started school. Despite the fact that I am only 2, I'm old enough to go to school, just like Julia. I go to Toddler's Inn Nursery School up near the St. John's Wood High Street. It's where my big sister, Julia, went too. I like school okay. I cried a little bit the first day but overall mommy said I was pretty good. I did, however, cry when mommy wasn't there on Friday. She said she had to run errands but I was sad that she wasn't there to watch all my fun activities!!! Luckily one of my teachers, Miss Chloe, was there to give me a cuddle. (I like Miss Chloe!)

I LOVE my teachers. Their names are Miss Chloe, Miss Kim, Miss Laura and Miss Pip. Mom is already prepping me that I will be going back this week and she won't be there! We will see what happens!

Me & Daddy with my new backpack!!

Me and my pal Amy in front of school!

Since it's very rainy outside we do fun stuff - like slide - inside!
Whheeeeeee!!!!

I like to ride the bikes too!

Cricket Anyone???

On Sunday daddy was in a Cricket Match. In the match, not an observer, not the ball boy (or whatever they are called in Cricket), not the water boy, etc. Early Sunday we drove out to Kent (about 2 hours away) so daddy could suit up and play for about 40 minutes. Marco and I played with the other kids and hid when it rained. Mommy wasn't thrilled about the whole thing but she had fun talking to her friend Katy, Lila's mommy. Everyone said daddy did a great job (I think their team won but I'm not sure) but I have no idea... I really don't get that game. It was a fun way to get out of the city!!!

The teams!
Marco throwing overhand!

Daddy throwing overhand!

Daddy batting!

Summer Fun - part deux!

We are home after a nice long (sunny) summer in California!! We did loads of fun things there: We spent time with our grandparents, our aunts and uncles, our cousins, and our friends! We saw lots AND LOTS of friends and family.

We visited two states while we were home - California and Nevada - and several counties - Sacramento, Placer, Marin, etc.

We celebrated many birthdays - Julia's (4), Calvie's (6), Nana's (25+) AND Alex Odland's (5).

We went to two zoo's: The San Francisco Zoo (gladly without incident!) and the Sacramento Zoo. We went to Fairyland in Oakland and Funderland and Fairytale Town in Sacramento.

We also did LOTS of swimming - in pools and in lakes! We swam in Donner lake (brrrr), at Auntie Julie and Uncle Jim's, at Aunt Bethie's, the Lawrence's, the Carter's, and the Kurtzig's!
We LOVE to swim. Julia even learned how to jump in off the side and was FEARLESS by the end of holiday!

Here are some pictures!!!

Marco and Unkie Andy!!

Julia and Drewsie LOVE each other!

Auntie Ann loves Marco!

Greg and all the kids (sans marco) on the boat (in Oregon)!

Julia and Marco at the cabin!

With Nana on the gondola at Northstar!

On the porch with Nina and Greta!

Greta, Drewsie, Marco, Nina & Julia in the tub.

Julia and Marco with Andrew and Allison.

Aunt Michelle and Alex, Sara and Julia on the ferry to the city!

Off to the city with the Odland's!

The Milani's at Stinson beach (the only non-sunny day!)!

Happy Birthday Alex!

Happy Birthday Calvie!

Happy Birthday Nana!

And, Happy Birthday Julia!

The San Francisco Zoo!

The Sacramento Zoo!

Funderland with Kevin Jose!

FairyLand (in Oakland) with Olivia and Amanda Hallas!

Fairytale Town in Sacramento!

We did TONS of swimming!

With Brooke Carter

With Unkie Brian!

With Matthew (at Aunt Bethie's)!

Julia was fearless diving in at Auntie Julie and Uncle Jim's!

Marco LOVED swimming in Donner lake!! (Brrrr!)

Summer FUN!!!!

We have been in California since the beginning of July! We've had loads and loads of fun!! We've done lots of cool things: I had my birthday party (I'm now 4); we went to TWO zoo's (San Francisco AND Sacramento); we went to TWO fairy lands: Fairy Land in Oakland and Fairy Tale Town in Sacramento; we've been in TWO states: California and Oregon; we've played with almost all of our cousins (totaling well over 10); we've swam almost a ga-zillion times; and we've spent time with just about all of our grandparents, aunts and uncles. Basically, we've been having the times of our lives and once our mommy finds time to download the 700+ photos, we will post them here!! STAY TUNED!!!! --- Love, Julia and Marco Milani.

Sports Day 2008!!!!

All the schools in the UK a have Sports Day at the end of the school year where the kids show their athletic prowess! They do various relays, sack races, and egg and spoon races. Even the parents get into the act and have a few races!! Yes, Julia's mom and dad participated as well! (Mom LOST and dad won one and lost one!) It's all done in good fun but you can sure tell the athletes from the mathletes!!! Julia may be a bit of both.... maybe.

Julia, Julia Ingram and Isabella on their way to Sports Day at school!

Here comes the Nursery class!!!

Julia and Abi march into the stadium (the track at Regent's Park!)!

Julia getting into the sack for the sack race!

SHE'S OFF!!!!

Julia and Abi are neck and neck in the bean-bag on the head race!

Julia running her little heart out in the relay race!

Here goes Daddy in the Dad's race!!!! (He won the first one but unfortunately it was null since their was a false start!!! He lost the second; he's claiming a pulled hamstring.!

Jolly Phonics!!!

Julia is in the second row on the right - between her friends Julia I and Bella!

This week Julia's class gave a Jolly Phonics presentation to the entire school!! The nursery class did a fantastic job of showing all the other kids at St. Christina's how they learned songs for each of the letters of the alphabet. Mommy's favorite was M!

Mmmmmmmm, the mum's and dad's make many meals, many meals, many meals. The mum's and the dad's make many meals for the hungry children! MMMMMMMM!!!!

Play time!!!

We LOVE LOVE LOVE play dates!!! We recently had a really fun play date at our house with the McCarthy's (Olivia, Brenna & Amy), the Beyer's (Brooke and Ryan), and the Forrest's (Sarah, Anna & Leah). We played dress up - even Marco dressed up - games, we ran around, we danced and basically we had a great time! We also had lots of snacks, or "tea" as they say here in Merry 'Ol England! The mommy's had their own version of tea but it wasn't hot.... We LOVE play dates!!!

Marco and his tiara!

Olivia, Julia & Brenna, the princesses!

"Tea Time" for the kids!