Halloween

We've begun carving pumpkins for Halloween. It's messy and fun.

School!

Teddy has begun preschool, also called nursery school.  He goes to Southwark Park Primary School. He seems to enjoy it. He wears a uniform that we bought at the grocery store (almost all schools in the UK have a uniform), and he has a few buddies.  One of the girls in his class said they are going to get married. Which was hilarious.

We had a 6-week meeting with Teddy's key worked and she said he's very good at sitting on the carpet, raising his hand, and answering questions. He is very good at interacting with adults, which wasn't a surprise for me, Teddy loves adults, he's an only child. When I first went to school my teacher told my mother 'Rose seems to enjoy being in a group' to which my mother answered, 'She has 5 siblings, she's in a group every day of her life!'.

Teddy enjoys taking his scooter to school, and when I pick him up we sometimes play 'scooter football' which is wildly dangerous because when the scooter goes over the football it tends to flip. This danger is probably what makes the game so much fun.  

Holiday in France

We have recently returned from a short holiday in France, taking in the towns of Limoges, Angoulême, Bonneville, Hiersac, and briefly Verneuil-sur-Vienne. The ultimate reason behind this jaunt was to attend the Burtt(s)chell Family reunion, an opportunity for Teddy to meet 60 odd international cousins! We have however totally fallen in love with this area of France.

The reunion got  write up in the local

paper. 

Table decor with the flags of the three branches of the family. 

Ted outside the church in Bonneville (where reunion took place). 

The obligatory look around the cemetery, a part of all family reunions, this one in Bonneville. 

Ted in his hammock in Hiersac. 

An amazing chapel in the butchers quarter of Limoges. 

The street on which we stayed in Hiersac. 

Snacks...

... make you jump for joy! 

Teddy goes behind the camera

Teddy had his first experience with photography a few days ago, I want to share the images with you all. Tell me what you think in the comments below. The focus on the body and how it related to a verdant but utilitarian landscape is quite avant-garde.

Happy Third Birthday Teddy!

We had Teddy's 3rd birthday party last weekend.

It was a fun day with family & friends, waffles, and cake!

Teddy enjoyed the day, and appreciated all the gifts he recieved so much he woke up at 4:30 the next 2 mornings to play with them!

Here are a few pics from the day

3 birthday candles, making a wish!

all blown out

having waffles with cousin Bailey

It's great to be able to get together for birthdays, since so many of our friends live near and far, it gives us a chance to catch up. 

Easter Egg Hunt!

Teddy had a chance for his first Easter Egg Hunt, and he loved running around the park looking for colorful eggs, then when he found out they were made of chocolate it was even more fun!

1 day without us

Rose and Ted participated in 1 day without us, by attending an event at our local MPs office....

1 Day Without Us is a National Day of Action on 20th Feb 2017 to celebrate the contribution of migrants to the UK, to coincide with UN World Day of Social Justice.

Rose's tweet was retweeted

I like to move it move it

Teddy has begun taking his first dance class at Rambert dance studio.  It is still a toddler-friendly dance environment, with parents participating as well as children ages 2-3.  Teddy has loved the classes and it has been fun to see his sense of movement develop. 

Dance is a skill Teddy has possibly inherited from his grandmothers, Nancy Daly and Wendy Cull. 

Nancy (Nonnie) remembers taking dance classes from around 5-years-old until 11. " In the picture with the yellow ensemble, I look around age 6, the photo was probably taken in 1949. In the photos with the blue and gold outfits I look like I was probably 8-10 years old, so these would have been taken in 1951-52."

Wendy (Nana) attended Goldsmith's College in London to study Dance and Movement. She remembers using the Laban Movement Analysis technique, to undertake a special study of the Art of Movement of Iyengar Yoga in 1971.

"Nana doing  the Lion pose may well  amuse Teddy!"

 We hope that dance and movement will be something Teddy enjoys for his entire life.  Rose has been a yoga practitioner for around 15 years and she has combined her practice with competitive rowing, Irish and African Dance and Pilates. 

Dan feels he could have been a great dancer, if society had only allowed him the chance.  He is determined to let Teddy know that 'you can dance if you want to'