Update from the Road - Europe with young children

Don't have a lot of time to write, as I'm borrowing a friend's computer, but we made it to England safe and sound with minimal difficulties. After two quick days in London, we are now in the tiny village of Nettleham, outside of Lincoln, visiting Emily (co-blogger) and her family. Slowing down to a small town pace is a wonderful way to travel with the kids. We have a little cottage with a kitchen and two bedrooms, so it's much like life at home in terms of daily ritual. Esme naps in her own room, and we prepare meals there or eat at our friends' house. Esme has three-year-old Imogen to run around with, while Emil gets to stare at (and be stared at by) three-month-old Atticus.

It's very interesting being "the American" around town. Emily, who was always "Wonderful English Emily" is just Wonderful Emily now, and I am the foreigner in her land. I've never really thought about what it was like for her living in the States for so long. I don't know if Esme is aware of the differences between the English and the Americans yet. She has picked up on some of the verbal differences. Just today, she was talking about her Nappy Diapers, a phrase that amused me. She is proving to be an adept traveler, as well. While we were slightly afraid she might break down in tears whenever a stranger talked to her, she explained to Jacob the other day how he was going to have to take a train back to London, and that he would have to change trains, which she further explained meant that he would have to get off one train and then get on a different train.

I think preparing her for the trip by discussing each step of it in detail has been tremendously helpful. She knew we were taking a long plane ride and would be staying in a hotel in London, and that we would see a puppet show there. She likewise knew that we would take a train to Nettleham where we would visit friends. Occasionally, she asks me wear we're going next, but other times, she tells me that we're taking another train and a plane to someplace else, and that we have to stay in more hotels and go to a toy store and a beach (both things I had told her we would do at some point).

Well, gotta run now. I'll try to post more later!