This week Katie took part in a Theater Camp. The goal of the program was to work on singing, dancing and acting and to pull together a production to be performed on Friday afternoon at 3pm. The production was Grease and Katie was already casted at Sandy! As the lead of the play, there was no way that on Wednesday morning she could go in and say she would miss Friday! A friend was also in the program and it was decided that I would juggle the girls and my friend Anita would take the boys to London to the event. I had a few ideas to help juggle Friday so I would be able to go to London too. We had to be in Regent's Park by 9:30am (it takes about an hour and half with all the trains and walking to get there) and would be done by 1:30. The camp program started at 10am. We needed a babysitter from 7:30-10:00 who could drive the girls to the program. Every call I made was a dead end. I was losing all hope until I called a friend for names of her babysitters. Her daughter was too young to go to the event and she just offered to help. I was overjoyed.
At 6am the alarm startled me from a very deep sleep. After a moment's hesitation, I managed to remember where I was and turn the alarm off. There were few grumbles from the kids. They managed to get dressed, eat breakfast and get ready at the door by 7am - 10 minutes early! I walked the dog and we jumped in the car. The drive to drop off Katie was uneventful as was the quick drive to park at another friend's house for a walk to the train. I really LOVE that this expat community is so friendly! Really, just one year ago I was crying in my wine as we were preparing for our move to England and here I am referring to several friends who keep my life bright and sunny in this generally dismal English countryside.
Our group was assembled and we were able to actually jump onto a train that left 5 minutes earlier than the one we had planned to take! With little trouble organizing with the greater TASIS group and then through security, we were on the event grounds by 10am and there was a serious Backyard Party going on! Nickelodeon was one of the hosts. NBC Today show had a set up and Al Roker was reporting! Apollo Ohno was the NBC Sports interviewer walking around and talking to athletes. There were areas set up for kids to try out sports. Manchester United had a soccer area. Hoops for Heroes had a basketball skills area. USA Track and Field was running relay races and Tug-0-War contests. There were field hockey and tennis areas as well. Since Nickelodeon was there, Spongebob was on hand for lots of photos! The boys really enjoyed the Field Hockey area. We may have some players there!
Since the event was hosted by Mrs. Obama, she was sure to be on hand as well and we all flocked around her like flies on honey! It didn't hurt that she was being escorted by David Beckham...eye-candy for all the moms!!! There was a delegation of olympic embassadors on hand. I knew that Brandi Chastain would be there and pushed Cameron up to her to sign a photo card for Katie (It was a 4x6 Cheerful Print card from the Creative Memories collection with a wallet sized photo of Katie in her soccer kit...yeah, I'm still a scrapbooking nut!!! But she has it hanging in her room already!). I met Bart Conner (gymnast) and Sarah and Emily Hughes (Ice Skaters).
Apolo Ohno interviewing Dikembe Mutombo
Jacob getting Mutombo's autograph
The Wanted were there to sing a few songs!
David Beckham being interviewed by Al Roker
Brandi Chastain walking in with David Beckham and Dominique Dawes in pink!
Mrs. Obama runs in!
Michelle Obama addresses the group. Jacob isn't so happy about her comment to turn off the TV and eat healthy foods!
Grant Hill is here too (oh, that's the Ambassador's house inthe background)
Brandi Chastain takes on Mrs. Obama
Brandi Chastain takes on Becks!
Sister Olympians! Sarah and Emily Hughes! (figure skating)
At the end of the event, Mrs Obama was being interviewed by Al Roker for the Today show and Cameron was right behind them and was aparently on air the whole time! A few friends in the US and in England (with "sling box" technology) saw him! Jacob was behind Mrs. Obama when she was being filmed for a few TV spots on Nickelodeon for the DAY OF FUN (which I think is tomorrow). He is wearing a Captain America T-shirt, so you should watch Nickelodeon and look for him.
As much as we wanted to hang out and try to shake hands with Michelle Obama, my friend Anita and I realized we really had to get going to be on time to see the girls girls in the summertime production. We walked swiftly and managed to catch a tube with no trouble to Waterloo station. (This is important as we have been warned since April that the Underground will be packed and have waits due to capacity crowding during the Olympic Games and today is the real start yet we had no issues at all. Let's hope that continues.) In Waterloo, a quick check of the board and there was a train leaving in 3 minutes. Yes...we RAN! And we made it!!! Even got some seats though not together. Cameron was on my lap and a woman next to me got up from her window seat and moved to a middle seat in the row ahead of us so he could sit. Then a man across from him gave him an extra popsicle he had! Cameron declared it to be the best train ever! We arrived at the school for the performance 15 minutes early...even with a stop for take-out at McDonalds.
Mrs. Obama was actually asking us to STOP taking photos for the interview time!!
Summer Lovin'
"You're a Fake and A Phoney Danny Zucko!"
"Tell Me About It Stud!"
