Hair today...

"Trevor Sorbie Hair Salon for Children," said the voice on the end of the phone.

My husband's voice, in fact. The same husband to whom I'd casually mentioned that morning, "I wonder if we should cut Paige's hair. It's getting a bit scraggly at the back."

I'd merely called to let husband know I was on my way hime, and instead learned he'd taken my throwaway comment as a request. An order, nay. (Why that doesn't happen when I, for example, I just as casually mention "the laundry needs doing" or "the bathrooms need cleaning" is beyond me...)

As I was on a crowded train, I refrained from shouting any expletives down the phone (though, to be fair, I'm not really an expletive-shouting person; I would probably have refrained even in an empty carriage). Instead I just laughed and thought, really, how bad could it be? And she did need a trim...

Hmm... when I got home I discovered it was a little more than a trim! But it is cute. Ish. And besides - it only took 19 months to grow, so by the time she's 3, the mullet may be back...

Fabulous family weekend

Wish we could have been with the rest of the family in Vermont, but at least we did have an almost as great non-celebratory 3rd-4th of July weekend here in mother England...

Saturday saw us venture out for an in-town adventure... one that due to timing would mean NO SCHEDULED NAP for Paige. Eek! How would she fare??!

After a typically early wake-up call, we hit the road (well, Tube) by 8:45. Destination: Science Museum. Our mission: To check out the kids' area I'd heard about. Oh, and enjoy some family time in sunny London.

We got to the museum about 5 minutes early, first passing a MAMMOTH queue for the Natural History Museum, and about 7 people lingering outside of the V&A. (Why does the NHM always have such long lines? I have absolutely no idea...)  We were a bit nervous when we saw what seemed like another crowd waiting at the Science Museum doors... but it turned out most of those people were for the next-door Natural History Museum, and we got right in about 10:01.

And... then spent about 15 minutes trying to find the basement 'garden', first taking the wrong lift, to the 'lower ground' (turns out that's a different floor than 'basement'); then waiting at yet another lift, until we saw the sign saying 'lift does not go to basement'. Finally, right hallway walked and correct lift taken, we arrived at the 'garden'. And I have no idea why it was given that name, as there are no plants and it's not outside... maybe because it's a place for little children to grow, with the hands-on exhibits.

Paige went first to the simulated canal system, where she had fun splashing about, though I'm not *quite* sure she understood the point was more than how wet she could get us all. Ashley decided he must be within the stipulated 3 - 6 age range, as he commandeered the giant Legos. And then once Paige had her fill of the water (or, rather, once Mommy got a bit tired of being splashed), she found the drum machine, and I think might have stayed there all day had we not insisted she let others have a turn.

Overall I was hugely impressed by all of the features, and think Ashley and I had just as much fun as Paige did pressing buttons, playing with puppets, re-designing canals and locks, and don't forget the Lego.

After that we headed off to the V&A to do something I'd looked forward to doing, 'when Paige gets a little older' (something I find myself saying all the time, and amazingly enough, occasionally that future age becomes her current one). Yep, I finally have a child old enough (and a day sunny enough) to splash around with in the V&A's (large-but-shallow) garden fountain. As we expected, Paige loved it, squealing at the fountain jets and splashing up and down the stairs. We finally dragged her away with the lure of a sandwich, and fortunately it was warm enough to air-dry, as we'd remembered a change of clothes, but not a towel.

Paige fed, dry, and changed, we continued our adventure, wandering slowly up to Kensington High Street, regularly checking the pram to see if Paige would fall asleep. And when she did, continuing our regular checks to see if she was still asleep. She managed about 1/2, and we managed some shopping, and Paige didn't have a major meltdown later, so lesson learned: it *is* ok to occasionally miss a formal nap. Note to self: must loosen up...

We continued to meander in the general direction home (ie, west), making one last (unscheduled) stop at the Brook Green play area before finally getting the Tube home. We were home by about 3, Paige still fresh and ready to run; Mommy and Daddy ready for a nap of their own!