The last of our 2 week break.

 Beau took Thurs. off and we rode the top of a double decker bus from Ripon to Harrogate.

This is Ripon's town center market day all covered because of the drizzle. When Kaela comes out to take our family pictures, I want them in front of those three phone booths.

Next stop on our travel day - a train to York.

To arrive at the York train museum.

Aubry and Emmy would much rather stand in front of Thomas waiting for however long it took them to be bumped around on this little guy than walk around to see different types of trains old and new until it was free.

We took a 5 minute ride on an actual coal/steam train

And ended at pizza hut in Harrogate. I only blushed twice. The first time when our waitor caught me stealing cadbury eggs off everyones ice creams. The second time when he grabbed a paper cup and filled it with the eggs from the sundae bar and told me not to tell his manager.

On our way back to our bus in Harrogate, we discovered that they do indeed have their own "feed the birds" lady. She had a homeless type of mentality, but looked fairly well kept. I saw her staring at birds eating bread. Then further down the way doing it again. Some of the girls were trailing behind us. A little after we passed her - she yells at the girls. Apparently they lifted their arms to scare the birds away that she had just fed. They were just a little freaked out at being yelled at for something so innocent.

Fridays trip was to Harewood house. This estate home is the original home of England Queen Elizabeth's Father's Sister Anne's home. Since she's a woman though it is actually the Earl of Howards home. The servants quarters were so similar to Downton Abbey's. There was also a gallery of pictures of the queen with young Charles and his sister. Also of the Queen with young William and Harry.

These trees remind me of the game we all loved "the enchanted forest". Beautiful gardens, no?

Our poor warped children that get to see all these naked statues.

Their favorite feature - this amazing play area with sections for 7-14 year olds. That tube slide you might be able to make out in the back was probably 20 feet up.

A bird aviary. Aubry and Emmy were most excited about the parrots.

The older girls liked the flamingos the best.

So glad we ended our easter break on such a high note.