Phase 10 -- Phases of Living in London -- Experiences
Oh, Baby! (Girl, that is!)
Such thrilling news! Ashley and Chris' baby-to-be is healthy and growing -- and we found out at the ultrasound at a London doctor's office, she's a girl! Jackson has maintained from the beginning that this baby was, in fact, a "Sis"! Right he is and we're all delighted and thankful all is well.
Drawing upon their recent time in Spain, and since she is their second child, A and C have nicknamed this baby "Dos" for the Spanish "2". And, based on that ultrasound photo, I can already tell she's just beautiful -- and you know Grandma's aren't biased! ;)
It was such a special time to share that appointment with them as we saw her and listened to her heartbeat. What a miracle and a gift. . . . Now, pink stuff here we come!
Harry Potter, Sir!
Warner Brother's Harry Potter Studio Tour was a "magical" wander through amazing movie sets, props, Quidditch brooms to ride, butter beer (alcohol free, yahoo! It tastes like butterscotch soda) and peeks into how some of the fantastical special effects were accomplished in the 10 years the Harry Potter movies were filmed at this location.
It was like being in an entirely different world as we traversed the sets of the boys dormitory, Gryffindor common room, Dumbledore's Office, potions class, Hagrid's hut, the Burrow, Malfoy Manner, the Ministry of Magic and Diagon Alley. There were also insights into how the sets, green screen effects, and animatronics were created. We were intrigued with the thousands of props, full-sized costumes, photos, video chats with directors and producers, and the actual Hogwarts Express train. We passed the cupboard under the stairs and entered into the Great Hall to begin our journey and it was unbelievable how this entire world took shape throughout our tour. The surprise at the end was the enormous and intricate model of the Hogwarts Castle, where real gravel and plants are used for landscaping and trees, everything is perfectly hand-sculpted to scale and fiber optic lights simulate interior torches.
The imagination, writing abilities, artistry and technical skills needed to create the Harry Potter series is incredible. I know I sound like a total HP nerd, here, but it was absolutely fascinating to see how people used their talents to transport us into a believable place where we cared about the characters and became invested in their world. Such creative gifts!
These books/movies have particular meaning to our family, too. . . Ashley discovered the books initially and got first read (while the rest of us were dying to know what happened next) then she read them to us -- performing all the voices, no less! We may have even driven around an extra hour or so on one particular road trip so we could listen until we could get to a good stopping place!
Yeah, we were those fans who burned the midnight oil in front of the bookstore waiting in line to get the newest editions from the bookstore, pulled the kids out of school to go see the movies on release days and spoke Harry Potterish for ages. So it was especially neat that we -- minus Elder Tyler :( (but we took lots of pix for him) -- got to go experience HP's world together! Good times; good family-togetherness memories.
J.K. Rowling said: "The stories we love best do live in us forever, so whether you come back by page or by the big screen, Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home." We felt welcome! Now, we gotta get reading and watch those movies again ;)
"Oh, The Shard"
Day and nighttime visits to the tallest building in Western Europe -- the Shard -- have provided thrilling views on super-clear days/nights (we lucked out with the weather!). The up-to-40 mile views are a panorama of activity and lights that is unequaled and the building's sleek, contemporary design carves quite a swath in the London skyline!
Our daytime trek there, riding elevators that go so fast and high they make your ears pop, was with Ashley, Chris and Jackson. Our little Paddington Bear (a.k.a. Jax) had his traditional peanut butter sandwich in hand and found a comfy corner to plop and take in the sights below (especially the choo choos and diggers). The howling wind and angelic, piped-in music at the very highest platform, complete with large open-to-the-sky places made us feel like we were among the clouds, indeed!
Now everytime he sees it, Jackson remarks offhandedly with a somewhat blase tone, "Oh, the Shard." The phrase stuck and now that's what we say, too. Who is teaching whom to talk?!?
Striking nighttime vistas greeted Justin, Elise, Mike and I one evening after eating dinner a few floors below the Shard's top and wow! were those shining lights below us, and all their reflections in the Thames river something to see! Wind whipped, the stars twinkled above us and we were witnesses to a man down on one knee proposing to his sweetheart just a little ways away from us. (She said "yes"! How romantic!) It felt quite magical up there with the whole city below and the heavens almost within reach. . . . We are all fans!
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