Life at Shakespeare Lodge

Saying a "crazy" goodbye to our best neighbor friend Lucas

After all of our things were gone and we survived 2 weeks with military loaner furniture, we moved into a  furnished apartment called Shakespeare Lodge just outside base in Beck Row. We had 4 weeks there, and with very limited space we had to get creative with our spare time.

Owen would stare at the washing machine in fascination

Playing with stickers. The silver star on Owen's forehead left a red mark for a whole day.  Who knew they were so sticky?

SOLD the truck! Dave bought it before we were married and was very attached to it.  Unfortunately the price to ship it back to the US was way too high. Good-bye truck you were good to us and our only vehicle for 5 years!

Owen learned how to walk while we were in Shakespeare Lodge, suddenly everything became more interesting and fun.  Jumping Jacks play place was a hoot now that he could get himself around.

 We walked to the BX, took pictures of the beautiful Fall leaves, checked out the Christmas display and played with every toy, twice!

 There was no tub at the apartment so washing Owen was a challenge.

Just to get out of the apartment, after supper we would bundle up and walk a few blocks to the local store (there really is only one in Beck Row) to buy a treat.

Ava loved pushing around the tiny shopping carts and picking out a treat for each of us.  Then she would act professional and place them on the counter with a 10 pound bill.

Waiting to go to church.  Nothing beats iPad distraction.

After church I took Ava on a picture scavenger hunt.  I wrote things she had to find on a piece of paper, and put them in my pocket.  She would pick one and then have to find and take a picture of the specific item.  She loved holding the camera and taking all the pictures   We had to repeat this game every day following.

The letter A

A fence

  A leaf

An animal

Something yellow

Made a lot of funny faces and told a lot of jokes

Signed Ava up for Halloween Pumpkin carving at the Bob Hope Community Center.

Then we played on the indoor playground

Played with Helium balloons for days! Owen was completely amazed.  Dave would tie one to his wrist and he would bat it around forever.

Took one last trip on the tube.

Enjoyed delicious cupcakes at Westfield Mall

Ava is completely bummed that she just had her last ride on the train and that we are leaving England.  I'm not all that excited about leaving either!