Westbourne, New Forest and more

Friday it was POURING rain and we ventured with Margie to Westbourne. We grabbed some things at Badger & Bumble and then headed to Le Petit Prince Patisserie and Bakery for lattes, macaroons, cheese twists and some lemon Provençal bread. They asked if the kids wanted babyccinos. Ethan loves the place now. The French lady came over and was doting over the kids. Margie and I were trying to talk but kept getting interrupted by one or both of the kids and then Hailey was flat out not happy and was making it known. I was afraid this might happen when she woke up earlier than usual at 6:30am this morning.  She promptly passed out in the stroller after we left and we were waiting for the bus. 

Earlier Margie stopped to have a key made and Ethan said he wanted one and the key maker was kind enough to give Ethan a random key. Margie bought him a key chain and we wrote his name on it. He's all excited about "his keys" and curious if they will work in different doors. We got completely drenched in the 15min walk home from the bus and the kids changed into their fleece pjs and I changed into a fleece pullover. A good day to just chill at home with some hot tea.

Tonight Ethan totally surprised/cracked up Chris and I when he was joking at the dinner table and said in an English accent, "Excuse me mummy, could I please have more salad dressing?"

Saturday we drove an hour or so into New Forest (known for wild ponies and forested wilderness with cute little towns). We explored some shops and ate our picnic lunch and then we drove all around through the New Forest and made our way back along the coast. I took some pictures of the wild ponies (the kids and I were impressed but Chris didn't think it was even picture-worthy). New Forest seems like a good place to go for a walk/hike or rent bikes but aside from that was kind of meh. There was one town that had a huge Saturday market that would be worth paying a visit another time (we drove through because Hailey was asleep). Saturday night we celebrated Chris' birthday. I got him a 2day weekend kitesurfing lessons and Ethan wrapped up one of his mini coloring books for him. We had Bennett's fine lemon sponge cake-yum. Ethan also had a card to give him that had a race car on it that he wanted to get at one of the shops in Westbourne on Friday. He drew the Eiffel Tower inside and signed it. 

Sunday Chris did some work training while I cleaned (not exciting but necessary) and took a nap (Hailey keeps getting up at 6:30 and taking just a 45min nap in the car or stroller, we are stuck in a bad pattern. It was a long week-Chris worked really long hours and got home after 8pm every night and so both he and I were worn out.

For over a month now Hailey takes off just her right sock and shoe over and over throughout the day (and/or puts on one wellie). I finally have gotten to the point where I've stopped trying to put it back on and we leave the house with just one shoe on (in the stroller). She wins. Clearly someone else runs the show around here:

She is such a little lover lately though too. I'm not complaining that she is in a mama phase right now.

Here are the kids with their new London themed Hello Kitty coin purses from the Pound Store (Ethan's piggy bank wood house bit it for the last time and was beyond glue repair so I had to get something to keep his coins in (so they weren't strewn all over the kitchen floor). And well, Hailey wanted one too. Here are the kids with them (and H is fishing around in her diaper as well):