The Children are Nestled all Snug in their Beds...

… wearing their matching Christmas pajamas, of course!

Goodbye, LONDON!

LONDON: Day Eight

Well, only four photos from Sunday!  We began the day by returning to All Souls for the Sunday worship service.  Here we are returning to the flat on the Tube.  Before the trip, Mom had been telling the girls about the gush of air that comes through the tunnels over the train platform just before the train rolls in, and so here they are enjoying the breeze (it was very exciting):

After an afternoon of packing far too many suitcases (adults) and watching BBC cartoons (the little girls) on one of the many TVs (there was literally one in every room, with the exception of the bathrooms!), we took an evening stroll across Hungerford Bridge at the end of our street, across the Thames, to walk along the riverbank toward the London Eye (the giant Ferris wheel that was prohibitively expensive to ride, unfortunately).  On our way to the bridge, we walked on a raised path directly across the street from our flat.  Here are some of our flatmates saying hello out of the kitchen/dining room window on the second floor:

We happened across a popcorn cart, and when Avery asks for some popcorn what grandparent could possibly resist?

A view of Parliament and the London Eye pier from Southbank:

LONDON: Day Seven, the Wedding Day!

The big day had finally arrived!  It was a bright and sunny morning as April and I took a bus and a short walk to the private club where Rachel and the bridesmaids were to get ready for the day.  Steve left our flat early for breakfast with the other groomsmen, then they all spent the morning at Matt's place.  The three flower girls got prepared for the wedding with help from my parents and Aunt Becki, and then they joined us at the club to put on their dresses and ride in taxis to the church.  

The ceremony was at Matt and Rachel's home church, All Souls Langham Place.  In many ways the order of service was very similar to an American wedding; the bridesmaids even preceded the bride down the aisle as American tradition would have it!  One difference was that the bride and groom, pastor, and witnesses sign the Register on stage at the end of the service.  The Wilson kids' former youth pastor, Don, gave the charge and it was so special that he and his wife Jenny could be there!  I also have to give a shout-out to my cousin Bradyn, who not only carried Jane in the baby carrier all the way to the church, but also held her during the entire service and kept her quite happy the whole time!  

After a rather long taxi ride to the Institute of Directors for the reception, we enjoyed the most delicious cream scones and were able to mingle with all the English and get to know everyone a little better :)  Then it was formal portrait time, and then dinner and toasts in the fabulous dining room.  On the menu:  beef and mushroom pie, roasted root vegetables, roasted tomato gnocchi, green beans with shallots, and roasted potatoes.  Dessert was passion fruit posset (like a custard) and strawberry mousse with biscuits (as in, thin cookies).  Really delicious!  After the dinner, we moved to another room for tea and coffee, and then the ballroom was prepped for the "party".  More guests joined the close family and friends that were invited to the dinner, and then the party kicked off with cutting the wedding cake, dancing, and more visiting.  We were out until after 11pm that night, and the little Deterding girls were absolute party animals!  Especially that Avery girl.  If only you all could have seen her on the dance floor!  Of course, she had a completely pathetic break-down on the walk back to our flat (through Trafalgar Square and then only a few blocks down the road to Villier Street), but in all we were very impressed with how the girls held up that day.  And best of all, Aunt Rachel is now OFFICIALLY Aunt Rachel!  

The private club where the ladies prepped for the day-- the tan-colored stone building:

The view from our room:

 A nice breakfast spread including my favorite British phenomenon, the bacon sandwich.  Bread + bacon and that's all she wrote:

That brother of mine lavishing his bride with more jewelry:

Rachel's grandmother's reaction says it all!

Grace and Leah and Avery joined us!  They got sprayed by the hairdresser:

At the Institute of Directors; the guestbook was a vintage typewriter:

Avery wandered around the room singing songs to herself:

Grace and Leah with our favorite new friends Lucy and Alice!  These sweet girls made wedding activity bags for my girls and took care of them all night long!

Scones! 

This girl almost stole the show:

The cake, the traditional fruit cake, made by Rachel's granny:

All the grandparents at one table.  We are so glad the American grandparents were with us!

At British weddings only the Father of the Bride, the Groom, and the Best Man give toasts.  Best Man Ian:

Cutting the cake:

Matt informed everyone that it's the American tradition to feed each other a piece of cake after cutting it.  Rachel took it one step further and smashed it in his face!  

The Mums:

My mom, her Aunt Barb, and her sister -my Aunt Becki.  Barb and Becki were rockin' the fascinators!