Arriving in Oxford

This post starts the chronicle of our trip to England.  Paul was originally traveling to London and Leeds for work.  We decided it would be fun to make it a family trip since Mary Frances is not yet two and we didn't need to pay for her own airplane ticket and also Paul's cousin, Chris, and his wife, Amber, live in Oxford.  So, we very quickly formulated a plane for Mary Frances and I to accompany Paul on his work trip.

Family picture at the Atlanta Airport

We took a Saturday night plane from Atlanta to London.  Mary Frances was a champ and slept pretty much the entire trip in my lap.  Every once in a while she would wake up, but was easily put back to sleep.  She is such a scheduled child and has always enjoyed sleeping in her bed.  While this makes for a really great sleeper at home, I was worried what having to sleep in my arms would do to her on the plane. Fortunately she adjusted and was fine.  Paul and I, on the other hand, did not get much sleep at all.  Having a sleeping toddler in my arms really didn't allow me to relax and do much more than close my eyes, but we made it all in one piece :)

Mary Frances and me at the bus station in Oxford

Once we arrived in London, Paul and I had planned to part ways.  He was going to stay in London to work and Mary Frances and I were going to travel alone by bus to Oxford.  After talking with Amber and heeding her well traveled advice, we decided to take the bus over the train because I was going to be alone and if we took the train, I would have to load/unload all of our luggage by myself, with a toddler and a stroller.  However, if we took the bus, the bus driver would do all of that for me.  Decision made!  Thankfully, Paul and his boss helped me get to the bus stop and load up.  With all of this luggage there is NO way I could have made it through the airport by myself.

Waiting for the Ferebees at the bus station in Oxford

Since some time had passed between landing and getting on the bus, I was hoping Mary Frances would snuggle up in my arms and fall asleep for the hour and a half ride.  No such luck, but she did relatively well considering all of the traveling we had done in the past twenty four hours.  Once our bus stopped in Oxford, the bus driver unloaded our luggage and Mary Frances and I hauled it over to the closest sidewalk and waited for Chris, Amber and Maddie to pick us up.  A short bus ride later and we were at their flat!

The Ferebees were so kind to let us invade their flat for an entire week.  Maddie, who is three and a half, was such a trooper to give up her room to Mary Frances and myself.  Amber had arranged to borrow a pack n play for Mary Frances and I slept on Maddie's bed.  Maddie slept on an air mattress in Chris and Amber's room.  It was a full house!  Regardless, we had a great time talking, letting the girls play, and seeing what life is like in Oxford, UK.

Mary Frances and Maddie at the bus stop Monday morning.

After the plane ride, I was most anxious about how Mary Frances would adjust to the time change.  Fearing the worst, I had anticipated a sleepless night our first night there.  I put her down about 7:30 pm, Oxford time, and after very little time she was fast asleep.  Success!  Or so I thought.  I went to bed shortly after Mary Frances and at about 10:30 or so, I woke up with some sort of stomach bug and spent the next several hours in the bathroom.  Apparently, when I put Mary Frances down for bed, she had interpreted it as nap time and decided to wake up during my stint in the bathroom.  Since I was solo parenting, I decided to let Mary Frances snuggle in bed with me and watch shows on the iPad, figuring she had already been exposed to whatever it was that I had and laying in bed was the best option at that point.  Thankfully, Mary Frances went back to bed within two hours and I was also able to sleep.  After that Mary Frances was able to adjust to the time change very quickly and we had no more problems with it.  And, thank the Lord no one else got whatever bug I seemed to have that first night!

Okay, I think that is probably enough for one post.  Sorry for all of the details!  I will try to make the next posts more pictures than words.  I just want to be able to remember our trip!

Love,
Katy