Thursday (and Friday) in Norwich

 Mommy's tired....really tired (let's face it, she would have to be to let me write this post).  I didn't sleep very well Wednesday or Thursday night which means that we both are really, really tired.  Oh and crazy, mommy is very very crazy (don't tell her I know).   I figured that I would give you a run down of our days to finish off the work week.

We had to take Daddy to the train station on Thursday morning so he could go to London.  He was wearing new clothes and was pretty excited about his new English outfit, but you didn't hear that from me (better coming from me than mommy...right?)  He had a black tie dinner and had to wear a tux...he took this picture so we could see how handsome he looked!

Again, Mommy can't get into trouble for posting this
because it was technically me...right?

Because Daddy was gone, Mommy got to drive the car...this is never good for anyone.  I guess we had to get to breakfast fast so we had to drive and park in the mall car park during rush hour.  Also, not good for anyone.  Daddy says Mommy doesn't use her blinker correctly in the round-a-bouts (I think he's right).  Sometimes I hear people honk, but Mommy pretends not to notice.  We finally made it to the mall and parked and then met Mandy and Ellie for breakfast at Carluccios.

Carluccio's...this is a bad picture, but Mommy forgot to take one in the morning and
we were getting pushed out the door while we tried to take this.

Here is a picture of our car...Gram Gram was curious.

I was pretty good (for a while), if I must say so myself, but let's face it, I'm two and my attention span is about as long as I am old.  Mommy kept saying things like, "Parker sit still, you have to be a good example for Ellie."  Who is she kidding?  Ellie would have tried to get out of her seat too if she wasn't strapped in!

After breakfast, I let Mommy go to John Lewis to get some curtains for my room...they have busses and cars on them so it was ok.  We took them home (survived a car ride) and then ate lunch, played and I took a nap.  I have no idea what Mommy does while I'm asleep, but she is always so excited when I wake up!

According to Mommy, everything in this store is a "breakable."

After my nap, we got dressed, ate dinner and then went out to see Christmas lights.  Apparently, the flyer Mommy had was wrong because they only turned them on at the mall.  Oh, and it was crazy!  I guess the mall stayed open until 9 for the occasion (not 5) and people were really excited!  It was a bit too busy for us, but we did get to see a fun band on the way home!

"I just want to see Christmas."
Oh, and mommy has a lot of gray hairs...don't tell her I said so.

There was a LOT of people.

Mommy let me have hot chocolate...mmmmm.

I hate wearing my backpack, but Mommy said I had
to ride in the stroller if I didn't wear it soo...

This was the band, they were good.

FRIDAY
We do the same thing every Friday.  Eat breakfast, run to the gym and go swimming.  Today we had the car (thank goodness because it was raining).  I had another accident in the creche.  What can I say, I just wanted to see how fast they could clean me up!  We went swimming again and then picked up Daddy.  Daddy was really tired from traveling and after lunch, he took a nap with me (I'm pretty sure Mommy took a nap too).   When we woke up, we just played, ate dinner, took a bath and read before bed.  My favorite book to read right now is "Everyone Poops."  I just like to say the name because it makes Mommy laugh.  Anyway, that's all!!  Goodnight!

Wednesday in Norwich

Are you bored yet?  I am, maybe I'm just tired.  Anyway, Wednesdays we go to Toddler time at church.  It starts at 10:30 and that is usually our first stop of the day after some play time here at home.  However, because I promised P we would go to the park today and because he wok up saying, "MOMMMMMYYYYYYYY, I awake!  Can we go to park?"  I decided to take him before church just in case it was too dark after his nap.  He was so, so excited.  We left the house around 9 to get to the park.  He is our walk in photos (notice his pants are down; apparently he was so excited he forgot to care)...

This is on the other side of the river compared to the other pictures.

"Ok, mom...I won't throw the football."

"Nope, I'm not."  When I asked him if he was cold...yeah, right.  

Getting ready to walk through part of the Norwich University of the Arts campus.

Back of the University building.

Getting ready to go over the bridge (I know, I am a terrible photographer).

The park!!!

This is P's favorite part of this park...the big truck!!  

"Quick, surprise face!"

Walking back through town to get to the church.

The bridge above leads to the castle.

View from the Castle Mall.

Ha, the back of the church...we have to go in this way for Toddler Time.  

Toddler Time ends at 12:00 and we were both exhausted.  I felt like I spent 1.5 hours going, "Parker, no" or "Parker, give that back" or "Parker share."  Usually he is really good about sharing, but for some reason today, he did not want to...at all.  By the time we got home, we had a little time to skype with Gram Gram and G-Dawg (his bad mood continued though and told Gram Gram that he wanted to watch Mickey instead...oh gosh).  Luckily it was then time for a nap.  Mommy cleaned and worked on the blog while he napped.  Daddy called while he was sleeping and wanted us to go buy him some new pants, so we headed back into town right after nap time.

We stopped here to get Brady's pants...he loves this store!

Then went to the market to get fruit...I seriously love this market.
Too bad I was using my iPhone camera,  the pictures aren't great.

The Market from another angle.  When you are coming down
upon the market you can see all of the brightly colored tents.  

Then off to the library.  You have to walk through at least one old church cemetery
to get almost everywhere in town.   

There are over 52  old church buildings
in Norwich, but not all of them are used for services anymore.

The Forum where the library is located.

I would have taken pictures inside, but well, I just forgot.  Sorry!

After a crazy, busy, great day.  We went home to make dinner.  P was so tired that he laid down on a blanket in the kitchen the entire time I cooked (broccoli, potato, cauliflower soup with feta on top, mmm).    After bath time, story time and prayers, we put Parker down a little early (I have a feeling he is coming down with something).  I then went to the gym while Brady did P90X at home.  I don't think he even realizes how nice it is to just be able to go to the gym by myself every once in a while!  I'm so blessed!

Tuesday in Norwich

Yes, I'm going to do an entire week of tours through Norwich...sorry in advance for the snooze-fest, but I figured this might help satisfy some curiosities about life here.  

Tuesday started at 6 AM and a realization that we were out of milk.  Usually, if it is before 9 here, you are out of luck.  However, a couple of months ago, this little place opened on the corner...it opens at 7AM...thank goodness  P was willing to wait until then for his milk.  Oh how I miss 24 hour Walgreens and Dillons!

The sign under our street sign says that the street was named Quayside because of the many dunkings that took place there...mainly women.

After breakfast, cleaning up and one episode of Mickey Mouse...Parker and I had playtime and worked on letters.  Today was C for Cow, but he wasn't really interested.  After a serious game of football, we got ready to go to Gymboree.  We left the house at 11:00 AM.  I didn't take any pictures on our walk there because it is in the same building as the gym from yesterday.

Gymboree lasts until 12:30 (luckily P didn't "tackle" any of the kids today, but he did spend most of the time watching himself run in the mirror).  We got home around 1 PM and had lunch (pasta, P's favorite) and then I put him down for a nap.  Thank goodness he went right to sleep.  From 2 to 4, Mommy talked to Wendy (thanks for calling:), did laundry, and Plyometrics and took a quick shower (seriously, like 2 minutes).  After P woke up, we had to hurry to get out of the house to pick up Daddy's tux before everything closed at 5.  Because I didn't have time for an argument, here is what I let P wear out of the house.

Oh yes, those are socks on his hands and orange socks pulled clear up to his knees.  Oh my Parker.

We left the house at 4:35...here is an idea of how quickly our days are fading!

One of the entrances to the Cathedral.

Our favorite toy store...too bad we pass it every time we go into town.  I have to say no...a lot!

Getting into the heart of the center.

The original "indoor "mall.  It is really beautiful inside.

Moss Brothers to pick up Daddy's tux at 4:53...we made it!!  Only to find out they actually stay open until 6, ha.

Quick stop in the grocery store for fish.  This is actually part of a department store, but they have the best meat selection.

On our way home at 5:35.  Just to give you an idea of how quickly everything closes down here. 

Finally home by 6, and Brady was home early again today by 6:30.  Dinner at 6:45 (shrimp stir fry) and P is in bed by 8:00.  Such a good day!!

Monday in Norwich

So I have had people ask me for more pictures of Norwich and my house (ok, ok, so it was just my mom:).  Well, I'm not quite ready to show many pictures of the house because it is still not where I would like it to be (I should really adjust my attitude because if I wait, I may never post pictures:).  However, I did decide to give you a week in pictures of our life.  I know this might be boring, but at least everyone (my mom) can see our daily routines and where we live...oh, and I will have something to show Parker when he can't remember living here!  

So...here is Monday!

6:00 AM Parker wakes up, snuggle in his bed for around 30 minutes before going downstairs.

6:30  I start breakfast, Parker watches Mickey

6:45 Parker and I eat breakfast (oatmeal and fruit), mommy posts pictures on the blog

7:25 Daddy leaves for work...hugs all around.

7:30 Mommy washes dishes, cleans up, folds laundry while Parker plays with Kiki (because of this mommy tries to kick the soccer ball around with Parker while washing dishes)

8:15  Mommy and Parker go upstairs to get ready.  Parker helps mommy make beds, etc.  We brush teeth, battle on the benefits of pants and finally are dressed!

9:30 Mommy and Parker leave the house to run to the gym...here is a tour of our run.

What we see when we immediately come out of our door.

Our street.  The river is on the other side of the wall.

I have not figured out whether this church still serves a purpose or not. 

Adam and Eve Pub

Going to the river walk.  The fence is up because they are finishing the walk between here and our house.  I can't wait!

Cow Tower

Heading over the bridge...apparently one of the oldest in Norwich.

Past the train station.

And the riverside district

Under the bridge (although sometimes P wants to go over...so we do...hey, it adds .30 miles to our run!)

Riverside Leisure Center!!  Arrive around 9:48...1.65 miles from home (yes, I am a really slow jogging stroller runner...)

9:50  Take P to the potty then to the creche (nursery)
10:00 Mommy warms up for spin class (gets her bottom kicked...seriously)
11:00 Pick up P...Parker had an accident today and was super sad when I got there...the worker told me she thought he was embarrassed to ask because they were helping a little boy who hurt his chin.  He was really embarrassed after that.
11:05 Mommy and Parker change to go swimming.
11:15 Get in the pool!!  P is afraid of water suddenly so he would let me let him go.
11:50 Get out and change.
12:15  Walk to NEXT to get Parker some new trousers (it was next door) and then go to Costa to get P a sandwich and Mommy a coffee (I forgot to take pictures).
12:45  Arrive at the grocery store

The grocery store

1:30  Leave the grocery store...

All of our stuff...Oh and notice the bag of groceries I stuffed in the bottom of the stroller...I didn't realize until later that my bread was in that bag....shoot.

HOME!!!  Oh, and a chance of sun...woo hoo!! (too bad it is only light for 2.5 more hours)

 2:00 Arrive at home...P is asleep. Mommy tries to take him upstairs without waking up...doesn't work...Mommy puts him in a diaper (he didn't go potty before he laid down and was almost asleep) and goes downstairs to unload groceries.

2:05  Parker yells..."mommy!  I have to go potty!!!"  Taken care of, now in big boy underwear and back in bed.
2:15  Mommy scrubs kitchen tiles for 20 minutes
2:35  Checks on Parker...still awake (this never happens)...read some books and puts P back down.
3:20  Mommy starts some laundry
3:45  Checks on P...still awake...obviously a nap is not going to happen today so we go upstairs and play (soccer, farm, football)
4:45  Mommy vacuums
5:15  Mommy starts dinner because Daddy will be home early while P watches Mickey Mouse and plays soccer in the kitchen.
6:00  Daddy is home!!!  He and P play upstairs while mommy finishes dinner
6:30  Dinner is ready!!  Cheesy Leek and Mustard Soup...delicious!  Find the recipe here.
7:15  Daddy helps Mommy clean up (P helps too)
7:45  Call Papa Wes to tell him Happy Birthday!
8:00  P takes a bath (we're running a little behind)
8:15  Mommy reads Fox in Socks (Daddy then had to read it) and Everyone Poops.
8:45  Say our prayers then lights out.
8:46  P has to go potty (this is the new way to procrastinate bed time...)
9:00  Mommy and Daddy do P90X
10:30 Bedtime!!!