America the Beautiful

Hello! I am back to recount my adventures in America! It has been a long while since last we communicated and, as usual, I have lots to tell. I rode a plane and that was pretty exciting...for about 45 minutes. About halfway through, I told my mom and dad, "I want to go outside now." They seemed to have real difficulty explaining why I couldn't just go outside. I stayed at Gammy and Poppy's house and systematically dismantled all loose parts that might be attached to the house.

Then, I ran riot with my cousins Sarah and Adam! Here we are playing pumpkin leapfrog.

But the highlight of the trip was going down to see the train each morning with Poppy.

I met the conductor, Mr. Curley and the engineer, George. One day, the most amazing day of days, they invited me to ride the train with them. I got on and Mr. Curley gave me the ticket punch so I could punch my own ticket.

I rode the train to Southeast with Poppy.

Then, George asked me if I would like to RIDE IN THE ENGINE!!!! The train is a shuttle that runs between Southeast and Gammy and Poppy's town and doesn't turn around so the engine is located at the back of the train on the return trip. George went to the other end of the train to drive it back and I got to sit in the Engine at the controls.

Well, first George "disabled" the Engine controls which he explained means that it makes the controls are more suited to my abilities. And then, I drove the train! Okay, I drove it backwards...and with disabled controls...but it sure felt like I was driving!!!! And that, was probably one of the coolest things that has happened to me in my nearly three years.

Oh yeah, I also helped Poppy with chores around the neighborhood. In order to tire me out, Poppy discovered that I like to push trash cans up peoples' driveways from the street after they have been emptied on garbage day.

So, I helped out all the neighbors along the street by pushing up their garbage cans on trash day and I brought their morning papers right up to their doors every morning. Yup, I am just a helpful (and very energetic) guy, I guess.

When it was time to go back to England, I wasn't too sad because I know that I will be going back to Gammy and Poppy's house for Christmas to see Gammy, Poppy, the cats, the dogs, Kate, Mourad, Sarah, Adam and of course, George and Mr. Curley. And now, I am home in London and I am happy to be back to my routine. After all this exotic travel to faraway countries, this nearly three year old could use a little routine.

Bonjour! Merci! I speak French!

Say fromage! I am back from my holidays (that's what I call vacation) in Brittany and boy do I have some photos to show you! While I admit that I was THRILLED to get back to nursery school and away from those geezers known as my parents, I do miss the French countryside. Yesterday, in fact, I casually referred to the tree house where I stayed in France as "Saxon's treehouse at my home." Now, if you understand me and my convoluted toddler logic correctly (and I think that you do), this means that the London mews house is no longer "home" only to be usurped by a much better place called France where people live in trees. But, more about that later...

Anyway, here are some photos of my adventures in no particular order...

First, we drove our car into a boat which we then sailed across the sea....mind bogglingly awesome for a two (nearly three) year old. The boat was especially cool because we got out of the car, went upstairs and ate chips, drank juice and ran around like a manic for three hours. Wierd how dad seemed so tired afterwards....

I met a nice little kitty cat that I named "Saxon's kitty cat" at the cottage where I stayed.

I played in the swimming pool at the cottage.

I went to St. Malo and took photos of the boats.

I did lots of sightseeing with my hairy-faced dad.

I whispered (sort of) in a church in Dinan.

I went to the beach and announced immediately upon arrival with a note of genuine panic in my voice, "Mommy, I NEED my sand tools." ps. The tiny pink thing in the chair is Trixie!

I ate lots of ice cream. My new favorite flavor is 'sundae'!

I met Arthur and Margot who seemed suprisingly unimpressed with my highly developed communication skills honed after many in depth toy-related conversations in nursery school.

I went to Omaha Beach and re-enacted the agony, emotion and terror of the D-Day invasion. (Actually, I was just mad at my mom and dad for walking too fast.)

I went to Mont St. Michel which is a mouthful so I just call it the "castle."

Speaking of mouthful, I ate yummy omlettes at the castle.

I visited my mom's friend Edwige and her three sons, Antoine, Vincent and Maxim and I tried gallettes (Brittany pancakes) for the first time. Why can't MY mom get an electric gallette maker so every day can be gallette day?

At Edwige's house, I met a donkey in love with a sheep whose sheep husband also lived with them in what the French call a 'manage a trois.' Of course, the complicated situation is only more confusing because the donkey's estranged ex-husband lives across town at Edwige's parents' house. Personally, I think it is easier to keep the chicken relationships straight...lots of hens, one rooster.

And finally, the pièce de résistance (as they say), I lived in a tree house for three days. That is correct Saxontologists, I lived with the birds, 30 feet up, amongst the leaves and branches and breeze. And I loved it!

I slept in a big boy bed....

....ate croissants for breakfast on the balcony...

....and paid the composting toilet my highest compliments....

This is the moulin (that is 'mill' for all you non-Frankophiles) where my friends Artur and Margot live and where the treehouses are.

This is Cyrus, the biggest teddy bear in France who lives at the moulin, guards the treehouses and plays with kids.

Finally, after nearly three weeks of pancakes, ice cream, frites and fun, it was time to cross the channel and go home again. My mom made me stand here in front of the ferry even though it is very, very obvious that I really needed to go wee wee. Just after this photo was taken, my mom did take me to my final French public toilet...but, as those of you who are familiar with the horrors of French public toilets know, that is an entirely different epic tale....

The Kids' Table Rocks!

Oh happy day! Oh joy of joys!

My cousins came to London to visit me and FOR ONCE (!) someone else got disciplined for being naughty!

Of course, I still put in the requisite amount of naughty behavior myself but it is so much more fun when there are fellow conspirators....

Kate and Sarah took the train and met us at Hampton Court Palace.

Personally, I found the hard landscaping (i.e. gravel) much more interesting than the architecture, furnishings, history or gardens.

Trixie thought the guidebook tasted nice.

Afterwards, we enjoyed a pub lunch of fish, chips and lime and soda. Sarah and I discovered that we both love ketchup (which I call 'tomato sauce'). Yes, there was a tussle for it but then, my dad took the bottle, said loudly "share" and gave us each a little bit on our plate. I gotta admit that I am not really liking this new "share" concept at all....

We did lots of sightseeing around London while Mourad, Kate, Sarah and Adam were here but there seemed to be a universal ending to every day.

I can't wait to get on the big airplane in September. Adam has even promised a Brooklyn jacuzzi!

I'm cute and, by extension, so is she.

Okay, I admit it...there is some resemblance...a very teeny, tiny, miniscule hint of a glimmer of a similarity. But, for the record, I was the first and the original cutie and all those who follow are mere pretenders to the potty chair...

Goat Communication and other feats of strength.

Where would I most like to go for a day out of London if I couldn't go back to the train center? The nursery school teachers read my mind when they planned a trip to Willow Farm because who can resist the lure of TRACTORS!?!?!? (Not me!)

BIG TRACTORS that roll through mud and cow poop (another thing that I like to talk about recently).

LITTLE TRACTORS that my dad has to watch that I don't try to perform stunts in.

Oh yes, and then there was the moment that I shared with some young goats. They are frisky, stubborn, pushy and ravenous. When you think about it, they are not so different from me except that they have those fantastic horns that so impressively help to emphasize their point of view. Where do you think I could pick up a pair of those? I am sure they would come in handy playing in the garden at nursery....

Riding the Rails in Wales!

Did you know that Wales is the land of the choo choos? Well, it is. Sure, some people go for the mountains and walking. Some go for the beaches. Some even go for the history. As for me, well, I go for the trains.

And, of course, because I am two (and a half) and I generally get my way or do this....everyone went on choo choos! In fact, I did five choo choos in four days....try to top THAT!!!

Including a choo choo underground where I wore a bob the builder hat.

A tiny choo choo that went through a tiny town.

A steam choo choo.

A choo choo diner.

I even rode a choo choo to the top of the mountain!

Then, I scared my Daddy by screaming "I want to go down!" and pointing over the cliff. (You never saw my Daddy go so pale!)

Oh, I almost forgot to tell you about the cottage that we stayed in that I referred to as "Saxon's house."

And I helped Daddy build fires in the fireplace while Mommy, Kari and Trixie watched.

And I spent all my Daddy's pocket change driving a tractor that only worked for 10 minutes every time he put a pound in the slot. And I fished with sticks, and went walking and counted sheep (there are lots of them!) .

And I, and I and I...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....