my parents came to town in the middle of june. they were on their way to give a speech in russia and had a few-day layover in london. i feel so lucky and happy that my parents can and do visit us pretty often. it is always sooo great to have them around. 

we decided that this time we would all take a little overnight trip together! they had never been to the cotswolds – an “area of outstanding natural beauty” northwest of london that is peppered with the most darling, perfectly british villages … so we took them there! we stayed in a 17th century cottage right across the street from arlington row, which is dubbed “the most beautiful street in england” and is lined with the oldest inhabited buildings in the country. we arrived in the village of bibury just as the sun was setting and the golden hour was delicious. we spent the next morning wandering around the charm and then stopped by two other cotswolds villages: bourton-on-the-water, which has an exact-replica model village that was so fun for our boys, and castle combe, where we got caught in a crazy hailstorm and took refuge in the 13th century church. it was so fun to be with grammie and grandfather and just soak up england, a place we all six adore. 

^^ arlington row as seen from where we parked our car outside our cottage. ^^

^^ this garden, a few doors down from our cottage, bleeeew me away. these pictures don’t do it justice – it was so gorgeous. ^^
 
^^ grammie and moses // the old cottage we stayed in! ^^

 
^^ arlington row, as seen from up the hill past the houses… ^^
 
^^ of course the picture that is in focus is not the one where he’s smiling cutely, haha. but the clear photo shows off his “there’s a dog!!!!” screeching face perfectly. love this little boy so so much. ^^
 
 
the model village in bourton-on-the-water! i just thought this was so cool and fun. 

 
 
^^ there’s just nothing like flowers in england in the summer, popping up wherever they possibly can! ^^

^^ after the hailstorm in castle combe! ^^
 

we spent a day and a half back in london with grammie and grandfather before they took off for russia. we took them to battersea park, attended church and celebrated father’s day together (so fun for me to be with my father and the father of my children – can’t believe i didn’t take a picture!), and walked across westminster bridge to say hello to big ben (which is covered in scaffolding!). 

so glad for another wonderful visit from my mom and dad. i love them so so so so so so so so much!