Fun with Family

Brian's only sister, Janice, and her husband, Jay, came to stay with us for a week and a half just before Christmas. We had so much fun, and we hope they did too! With Brian working, we made good use of the weekend and went to Bath for our Saturday. Here are some of the highlight pictures...
We found a great Middle Eastern buffet restaurant that Janice and I really liked. Samantha wasn't so impressed, but liked her snacks of applesauce and pretzels a bit better. This shot of the River Avon looks deceivingly not as cold as we were when we took it! Brrrr!! It was a very nice day in Bath, but also VERY cold. We had to keep popping into shops and markets to get hot chocolate or warm our hands.
We visited the Roman Baths -- the reason they call the place Bath. I've visited Bath five times now, and this is the first time I've actually paid to take the tour of the Baths, built in the 4th century when the Romans Empire was in Britain. It was well worth the tour, as it turns out... lots of great history and nicely restored to showcase the natural hot springs that still flows there.

I was most interested to learn that the entire springs was buried for many hundred years, and was only rediscovered in the 1800s, when people noticed their basements were flooding slightly. They dug the whole place up and started excavating and look what they found... (that's what I read on one of the plaques, but I could be mistaken in some of the details)


Samantha loved having Jay and Janice around. She especially loved all the goodies and treats Jay brought -- fizzy drinks (Fanta soda pop) being her favorite. She also loved traveling like a big girl when we went on the Tube. Instead of being in her stroller, we got her out to sit on the BIG seats with us, a rare privilege that I can't afford to do often when we're out alone.

We also spent a day in the Cotswold villages, one of my favorite places in England. Unfortunately, I didn't remember to take a single picture!! But I think Janice and Jay may have some good shots, I'll try to add later if I can.

It was so fun to have them here. Janice taught Samantha that it's FUN to have her hair brushed and fixed (something I REALLY appreciate). And she also taught her to say Princess dress, Princess pajamas, Pretty princess, etc. Welcome to the world of princesses!