royal celebrations

Here are some pictures of Harry celebrating his 8th birthday.  That was now a week ago today.  We have yet to have a "kid" party, but it is looking like we will take a few friends out to a movie and burgers and that will be the final celebration.  This year the boys' birthdays fell in busy weeks and on days that didn't lend themselves well to kid parties.  Still I think both have had nice birthdays.

Right after we moved to Hickory in 2002 we found out that we were expecting Harry.  Some parishioners used to call him Prince HAL.  It is interesting being part of a clergy family and adding a new person.  The parish took much ownership of his birth and really enjoyed welcoming this beautiful little person into the life of the church.  Both boys were celebrated and in both parishes it had been a while since a young clergy family had served there and so a baby was a fun change of pace.  It probably wasn't as fun to have an exhausted new father as you leader, but most probably never noticed.

It was fun on Friday to watch bits of the royal wedding.  Unlike many people, we were looking to see if we knew any of the clergy persons.  Seeing the nuns up on the ABC's side made me remember the lovely nuns who served at Lambeth when we were there.  I remember fondly all the pomp and circumstance we experienced and various ways we got to be part of the church community there.  So many things happened while we were there - September 11th - the deaths of Princess Margaret and the Queen Mother - the Queen's Jubilee.  I remember sitting in St. Paul's Cathedral for a celebration of Remembrance shortly after 9/11 and being just a row behind the royal family after struggling through a throng of people in the square in front of the cathedral.

We lived in Lambeth Palace which is not as glamorous as it looks on paper, but we had probably the best view you can get of Parliament, the London Eye and the Thames River.  It was a magical year and I am often amazed that was part of my now very mundane life.  And my Harry who just turned 8 started his life in a palace and a country where he has never actually put his feet down.  We didn't even realize he was on board until we came back here.  Oh how life changes and surprises you!

launching a piece of potato

Making slime in the classroom

Prince HAL in all his glory