Turkey Day

So it may not have been a "typical" Thanksgiving day, but we had a great little celebration way over here in London. We had Fr. Cool visiting last week, so the contemplation of making a full turkey dinner easily became a bit more justifiable. Cooking for 3.5 people seems to be more of a celebratory atmosphere than just 2.5 people - this latter contingency would have had turkey (deli meat) sandwhiches. But alas, our first Thanksgiving here in London proved to be a good day.

We started off our day with a mini-beat music class, the gym and then off to the Sigmund Freud Museum. I mean, doesn't everyone start their Thanksgiving with a psychoanalytic adventure? And while we didn't eat until 8:30 (London time), it was right in the middle of the US celebration. So, technically speaking, I wasn't that overdue with my 7:00 estimate. Crying babies take priority... sorry burnt sweet potato casserole.

My first "hosting" of Thanksgiving included: all homemade everything... except for the wine. So here goes: chunky cranberry sauce with lemon zest, stuffing -Martha Stewart's recipe, sweet potato casserole (not too sweet, with nutmeg and a hint of brown sugar), gravy, broiled asparagus, a boneless turkey breast wrapped in bacon and a pumpkin cheesecake. Upon opening the butcher paper for the turkey breast, I was surprised to find it gloriously wrapped in bacon. What a wonderful and unexpected discovery. I'm sure you would agree with me in thinking more foods should be encompassed by a little pig now and again. If Hostess embraced this sentiment, perhaps Twinkies would still be around.

disclaimer: Charlotte only has her pacifier because she kept crying when we entered Freud's study (the "couch" room) and was scared for the remainder of the tour.

hand, foot and mouth disease = 1, family trip to prague =0

The last few weeks, we have seen one infestation after another - illnesses not rodents (half-thankfully). Colds, Tonsillitis and now Hand, Foot and Mouth disease have reared their ugly head in our household and these are only including Charlotte's poor little maladies. Over the past 5 weeks, I have been feeling so sorry for this little bugger (and to be wholeheartedly honest, a bit for myself too) as she just can't seem to get well. We have visited NHS on a weekly basis. This latest bout sounds a bit animalistic, but I can assure you it is not the same as Foot and Mouth Disease. I have Googled, Wikipedia'ed and WebMD'ed like crazy to ensure this is in fact, the truth. I almost feel as though I should receive an honorary MD* degree at this point. (*Disclaimer - Just kidding - to all those real MD's out there.)

I question where Charlotte has picked up these illnesses - could it have been from one of the other 10 rotating toddlers at the creche at the gym? or from one of her two playgroups where these toddlers steal each others sippy cups? Music class where sucking on the bells is way more fun than ringing them? Certainly not from the wheel of her stroller which I found her stealthily licking the other day...

In lieu of this latest medical misfortune, we decided to postpone our much-anticipated trip to Prague. To do so, it only required two doctor visits, a letter request, two hotel cancellations, two separate Newsagents fax transmittals, and four phone calls to British Airways and we are now able to re-book at a later time. Anyone up for a trip to Prague before August 15, 2013?

I have been asking myself repeatedly, "When will all of these illnesses end?"... to which I clearly know the answer. This is merely just the beginning... ("wait until she starts school" is the whisper I imagine hearing from all of the parents reading this)

We did manage to get out of the house and into the city this weekend. Christmas Festival at Southbank Centre - yep, Christmas is everywhere here already!