London - Day Two - Saturday Oct 4

Today we took the Tube to Notting Hill and met Matt and Kim.

On the weekends, there is a giant outdoor market on Portobello Road.

We browsed for a few hours and the weather cooperated quite nicely, only sprinkling a couple of times. 

It's a very popular place.  Lots of crowds. 

In one of the shops, Matt dressed up in in this Middle Eastern get-up, reminiscent of his Afghanistan days.

Shwarma for lunch, then off to Harrods's for quite the shopping experience.  It's safe to say that there is none quite like it!  I was really tempted to buy the $12,000 shoes, or the $3,200 handbag, but decided against it at the last minute and instead got a toy for the kids.  No, not this giant teddy bear, it just wouldn't fit in the overhead bin on the plane! 

In the housewares department, they had a 'band of chefs' playing everything from a plastic baguette, to swiss cheese, to pots and pans.  They were hilarious!

John and Matt couldn't resist trying out the exotic drum set, complete with a set of wooden spoons.

It was almost creepy, but in the middle of Harrod's was giant shrine dedicated to Princess Diana and Doty (his is the family who owns Harrod's).

We finished off the evening with dinner at a cafe and a show.

Then, back to our hotel to Skype the kids!  I think they had more rain in California then we have had here this whole time!

London - Day One - Friday Oct 3

Woo Hoo!  We arrived in London.  That was a looooong flight.  I read a whole book, saw a movie, and slept a little bit.  I was actually quite envious of the people that seemed to be sleeping like a baby for hours.  How in the world can they possibly be comfortable?  Their seats must recline more than mine, or something like that (sleeping pills is probably more like it). 

We took a cab to our hotel.  Our taxi driver was the sweetest grandpa with such a strong cockney accent I sometimes had a difficult time understanding him.  Once he found out that this was my first time in London, he turned our ride into a tour.  So sweet.  I love the cabs here; they are so cute, roomy, and comfy.  

I think what has surprised us the most is the weather.  All the reports said it would be in the 60s, but there must be a heckuva wind chill because it is bitter freezing.  My cheeks were numb in no time at all.  

Because we arrived in the morning, we were at our hotel by 10:00 a.m. - too early to check in, so they stowed our stuff for us and had us go up to the Executive Lounge for breakfast, which was perfect because we were pretty hungry.  Then we hit the town - even though we were exhausted from the long flight, and really feeling the need to freshen up.

The hotel is right on the Thames, just across from Big Ben and Parliament, and the London Eye (ferris wheel) is just outside our window.

Standing on Westminster Bridge.  Cute taxi driving by!  Parliament is in the background.

On Westminster Bridge.  This was taken on our way back to the hotel, after walking for a couple of hours.  A Canadian on a bike snapped the shot for us. 

Had to get a picture of the classic red phone booth!  John was a zombie at this point.  If he sat down, he would have been asleep instantly.

This angle is from the front of our hotel.

This is taken from our room - that is part of the Eye.

We went back to the hotel about 1:30 and they had our room ready for us early - which was so perfect!  It gave us time to take a nap before Matt and Kim were scheduled to arrive!  We slept for a good three hours.  Much needed after practically going for three days straight.

Matt and Kim! All the way from Japan - How cool is that?

We went to dinner, then to the theatre and saw "Spamalot."

Aaahhh . . . back to the hotel where the bed was turned down, chocolates on the pillow, and comfy slippers awaiting my tired feet.

U.K. or BUST

I honestly didn't think I would make it on the plane.  I nearly turned around in the terminal and ran back to my car, as my dad was driving away with my two littlest.  

Probably because I didn't think I'd make to to London at all.  I don't know why, but leaving was one of the hardest things I've had to do in a long time.  Yes it was stressful getting everything done, but the hardest part was actually leaving.  

Tucking my children in bed the night before wondering if it would be the last time I ever get to do that (I was very nervous about this trip!) put me in tears. 

Saying good-bye to Brooke as she tearfully left for school in the morning had me in tears.

Thinking about how far away from them I would be had me in tears. 

Thinking about how long I would be gone had me in tears. 

I'm not an overly emotional person.

I don't cry that easily.  

Saying goodbye to Ashlyn at the airport put me over the top.

She didn't want to let me go.  

She didn't understand.

I worried the whole flight that she would still be upset.

I worried that Brooke would be weepy in her class.

I worried that my plane wouldn't actually land safely in London. 

I'm not a worrier, either.

I cried in line at the airport. 

I cried during our 10-hour flight.

John said, "Now you know what it's like for me every time I go on one of these long trips.  It's hard, isn't it?"

Christian tried to make it easier on me (he has been looking forward to grandpa staying for too long now).  He said, "Don't worry mom, I'll see you on the computer!"  It was no big deal for him.  Thank you Christian!

Our plane did land safely in London.  We arrived without incident to our beautiful hotel overlooking the Thames.  Now I'm looking forward to calling and skyping my children!  

London's Calling

Two more days and we're off on a long-awaited adventure!  

Yikes!

I hope all this stress is worth it.  

We leave Thursday afternoon, and arrive Friday morning.  

5 Days in London

3 Days in Manchester

2 Days in the Lakes District (don't quite know where yet)

I am super-excited and nervous at the same time.  I haven't been away from my children for that long ever!  I am so, so, so grateful for my family to come stay at my house and take care of everything here for me!  I seriously owe them big time!

Now if I can just find the time to pack, prepare my talk for Standard's Night (tomorrow!), combat this cold that's brewing.  No, nothing to stress about.

Stay tuned for updates!

Happy Birthday Brooke!

The Birthday Fairy strikes again!

This time with a room full of helium balloons.  The ribbons woke her up at 4:00 this morning tickling her face.

Brookie was a beautiful baby, with a gorgeous head of dark hair.

She must have loved life and her family so much that she didn't want to miss any of it . . . she rarely slept at all. 

Our little Sunshine.

Two Years Old 

Such a little performer . . . doing Good Ship Lollipop on stage at only two, and starting piano lessons at four-years-old. 

Brookie loves being active...even when it means an occasional boo-boo.

She is enjoying her 3rd year of soccer.

Brookie is a beach girl!

Nothing slows her down . . . even a broken leg.  Her leg broke while ding-dong-ditching!

Again, she is our Little Sunshine!

We love our Brookie Boo!

Happy Birthday to our Big Seven-Year-Old Girl. You are wonderful!!

Train Wreck

I'm sure most of you have heard about the horrific train wreck that occurred Friday afternoon.

Horrific is an understatement.

I used to ride that same train, nearly every day. 

To think that it was caused by human error, human negligence, is beyond comprehension.

Life is so fragile.  

My prayers are with those who are recovering, those who are mourning loss,

and those whose lives will no longer be the same.

This is a picture of my brother Steve (on the left) helping a victim out of the train.

- his expression is displaying disgust not for what he's doing, but for the photographers that were surrounding him . . . people were dying and yet there were many, many photographers just wanting to get the gruesome shots and not bothering to help save lives.   Although this picture is scary, it is nothing compared to the carnage he had to deal with that day.

My Mia Maids

I've watched these girls grow and change and learn and become more beautiful in the last two years.  I've had them all since they were just new from Beehives (12-13 yr olds).  Oh how I'm going to miss them!  This is one time that I'm glad that I need to get a babysitter for my kids . . . so at least I can still have any of these great girls over!  

I have been their Mia Maid Advisor (teacher of young women at church ages 14-15) for nearly two years and will soon be released (sniff).  

I love the Young Women; 

I love the fun;

I love teaching them; 

I love how they participate; 

I love the relationship I have them each of them;  

I love how they have matured spiritually.

But, I HAVE NOT YET BEEN RELEASED I keep saying. I am still going to teach this Sunday. I still want to go to mutual every Wednesday night. Can I, please, pretty please? Can I? It's so fun! It's like a party, an escape, and excuse for a night out of fun and laughter! And these girls are so fun! I also love my partners-in-crime, the other leaders. Such wonderful women from whom I have learned so much. 

Tonight they planned a class activity to come over to my house (John wasn't home so I couldn't attend mutual), and they brought dessert and we had a fun little sort of going away party because we know I will be released soon.  BUT I DON'T WANT TO BE RELEASED!  Did I mention that yet?

I bet you all are wondering WHY I will be released soon.  What new adventure awaits . . . Well, I'm actually excited about this, but I can't have my cake and eat it too, so they say, but who is 'they'?  

What makes me have to leave these darling girls and move on to another learning experience is  a great opportunity to serve, and learn, and grow as a member of the Stake Primary Presidency (in charge of kids aged 18 mos - 12 yrs old throughout the area).   Another fabulous group of ladies, including Susie and Denise and Michelle that I am looking forward to working with and learning so much from them.  They are truly amazing and I have a lot to learn!