On Saturday afternoon we made a last minute decision that Maddie and I would go to work with Kellen for the week! Well, not really physically go to work with him, but travel to London to relax and stay in the hotel with him. An impromptu trip to the UK? That's not a bad deal! We spent Saturday scrambling to book train tickets, pack, and write talks because we had to speak at church the next day. Sunday morning we went to church and spoke to the congregation. Here is Kellen and Maddie at church, he is such a great daddy!
After church we headed to Brussels Midi train station and boarded the Eurostar train to London. We felt especially lucky because Kellen had a first class ticket and Maddie and I were in coach.
We asked the train manger if Kellen could trade whoever I was sitting by to come sit by me in coach. Instead the train manager gave us our very own couchette- our own little room on the train! 
It was my first time going through the Chunnel and I was excited. But it is really nothing to get excited about. It basically gets very dark and your ears pop. But it still amazes me that there is a tunnel below the English Channel. After 2 hours on the train we had an hour cab ride to our hotel. 
It still seems strange to me that babies do not have to be buckled up in cabs. We finally arrived at the Marriott Hanbury Manor Hotel- our home for the week!
It is a beautiful old manor house- it reminded me of Downton Abbey- that has been converted into a hotel. It is set on a golf corse and epitomizes the beauty of the English countryside! They serve tea each afternoon in the main room on fine china and there is a library filled with many leather bound books that smells of rich mahogany!!
Sunday evening we walked around the hotel and played chess. It was the first time Kellen and I have ever played a game of chess and, for the record, I won- checkmate!!
On Monday Kellen headed into the office and Maddie and I enjoyed the amenities of the hotel. I especially enjoyed the babysitting service so I could leave Maddie for an hour and work out. The only problem is that they came to get me after about 45min because she was screaming: stranger danger has set in:(
Tuesday Maddie and I walked 45 minutes to the nearest town- Ware, UK. My first thought was where in the world is Ware?? It was a charming English town. We spent the day exploring and eating some fish n' chips!
We loved going to the pool and the nice housekeeper gave Maddie this matching teddy bear in a Hanbury Manor robe!! Like mother, like daughter, like teddy bear!
We had dinner that night at the hotel with a few of Kellen's coworkers. Here is Maddie all ready to go to dinner. Having a baby at a BCG dinner was a little out of the norm and she was very entertaining!!
We headed back to the hotel and met Kellen for dinner at a restaurant called Sow and Pigs! I got a homeade potpie and Kellen got sausages. We loved it and left very full!!
Wednesday we spent eating, swimming, exercising, and relaxing at the hotel and ended the night with a little room service. I always love getting room service!
Thursday, I felt pretty proud because I ventured into London all alone. I had to walk to the train station in Ware, then take the train and two different metros to reach Rachael Bishop's flat. She is a friend from Dallas and her husband is working for a year in London with BCG. It was so fun catching up and comparing moving stories! We went out with the kids and had a great Italian lunch. Then I stopped by Buckingham Palace before heading to meet Kellen at St. Pancras train station. 
And just like that our week was over. The best part of going to work with dad week was being able see Kellen every night!! Thanks for letting us tag along!
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