What a pumpkin!

While we couldn't find a 'pumpkin patch' to take Jake too in central London, we did stop by Covent Garden to take a look at their giant pumpkins on display.

My friend Gretchen conveniently brought along a costume to suit the occasion which the boys took turns posing for pictures in.


We won't be trick or treating but we may celebrate Guy Fawkes Day (or Bonfire Night) which is a more typical celebration here in the UK next week. The holiday is celebrated by building a fire around a homemade effigy of Guy Fawkes, the Catholic perpetrator of the failed plot to blow up Parliament in 1605, and shouting happily as it burns to a crisp. Fireworks are set off adding to the mood, and some people toss effigies of unpopular politicians on the fire for good measure.

Flames tame the Wild!

Even though Jake is a rugby fan, he still keeps up with the Calgary Flames hockey team back home. On Wednesday, the Flames came back to beat the Minnesota Wild 5-3 after being down 0-3. We will keep cheering over here! Don't worry - once he outgrows this one, he has more pajamas, shoes and a jersey so will be outfitted in flames gear for awhile yet! And Red just happens to be his favourite colour...

Happy Birthday Auntie Jen!

Saturday was a very special day as it was Auntie Jen's birthday! Jake wants to focus on this instead of it being the day that England lost in the rugby world cup.


Before the game showing their support....


Unfortunately the game started at 8pm and the pub wouldn't let Jake in to partake in the festivities, so Jake went to bed smiling and unaware that his team did not win! Daddy was not quite as happy when he came home...

Tricolore

This weekend is the rugby world cup, which happens once every 4 years. We had just arrived in London when England won it 4 years ago, and the celebrations were fantastic! The victorious rugby team toured through London on the open top of a double decker bus and went right down the street in front of my office, so I got a close up view of the heroes of the game! Its crazy to think that was 4 years ago, and here we are again - the finals are this Saturday and England (rather suprisingly) is in the final against South Africa. We will be cheering them on from a pub of course! (Jake too!)


Rich was able to make it to a quarter final game in Wales where he saw France beat New Zealand (the favourites!) I've included some pictures of the French fans, who really get into the spirit of things and proudly wear/paint the 3 colours of the French flag to show their support.
I love it!!





Token English fan at the match:) There will be many more English roses out Saturday!



This one made me laugh if you take a closer look!

The New Zealand 'All Blacks' have been training for this for the past 3 years winning almost every tournament along the way....and after their loss in the quarter finals, the coach was promptly fired!

Lucky 7

Jake is now 7 months old! And what a month it has been....so much has happened!

New stats - weight 14lb 14 oz, length 68cm (when do you start saying height?) And a whopping 4 new teeth through last week which brings him to a grand total of 6, 2 bottom teeth and 4 up top. New tricks - sleeping through most nights (yippee!!!), fake coughing (at least I think its fake - otherwise I am a bad mum), rolling to get where he needs to go. No sign at all of crawling, does not even like to be propped in the crawling all fours position. Instead would prefer to hold on to your index fingers and pull himself up to stand. Other mums tell me this means he may be an early walker. I kind of hope this isn't true as I am really still enjoying not having to watch his every move right now!

And bathtime may be his favourite part of the day:) At least one of my favourites for how sweet he looks covered in bubbles!

The Office

So we went to visit Daddy at the office....Jake made some calls(ate the phone), closed some deals(got his way by smiling/crying) and then took out his frustrations on his new red stress ball!

Food Glorious Food!

Over the past month we have been introducing Jake to something close to my heart....real food! He definitely loves anything orange...sweet potato, carrots, pumpkin or anything sweet like pears, apples and bananas. The greens are going down well too - he has been eating mushy peas like a true Brit:) The things you have to do to fit in around here!


We are up to 3 solid meals a day now and Jake is definitely starting to bulk up - next Tuesday will be 7 months so am excited to get him weighed to see if he has moved up from the 2nd percentile....stay tuned...