Leaky Charm: Walking Tours and Derby's

Walking tour with AWBS Women's Group

through Compton and Loseley Park

I signed up for a beautiful walking tour with the women's group I joined last fall.

The walk was stunning. This picture doesn't do it justice, but it's a little taste...

During the tour, I met more women from around the world and learned a little

about their lives. I also learned more about their countries and places we want to visit. One

of the ladies sent me an e-mail that day with a list of all the German food we should eat

when we go next month. It was a really fantastic morning.

This is Mary Fitzgerald from New Jersey. We have had a fun

time getting to know each other better.

After the walk, we had a delightful, quaint lunch in a pub. The food was delicious.

As you can see, this is a very popular pub stop for the locals.

"Exercise London"

When I was packing and getting ready to leave for London, my running friends had a little get-together for me to say good-bye. One of the girls, Kristin Weibe, gave me a pack of

"50 Walking Tours through London." I've been studying these little maps and finally strung six of them together, talked my friend Mary into coming with me after we dropped the kids off at school and we "exercised through London".

K, I know I shouldn't toot my own horn, but toot-toot! We had the best time! The weather, the maps, the history printed on the back of each card, made the day so much fun. We started a Waterloo, went around Parliament, into Hyde Park, by Buckingham Palace, through Kensington Palace gardens, and onto Kensington High Street. It was really fun to see so many beautiful places and get a better 'lay-of-the-land'. Thank you again Kristin!

This is a monument built and dedicated to the Women of WWII. The memorial is of different types of clothing hung up on hooks and portrays all the different roles the women were now responsible for when the men left for duty. These amazing women had to keep everything running at home. The monument is very ingenious and humbling.

This has to be the most unexcitable horse in the world.

It guards the residence of the Prime Minister.

The lake in Hyde Park..on one end, ducks were swimming in the water

and on the other, they were walking on the ice!

This black swan literally stood in front of me, walking toward me and

posing, just waiting for me to take its picture.

It was a little odd. lol

The front view of Buckingham Palace. This statue of of Queen Victoria.

She was the first sovereign to live in the palace.

This monumental tree is called "Reformers Tree". It represents the riots that took place in Hyde park when people were protesting needed changes in the governmental system.

The back gardens of Kensington Palace. This is again, another grand statue of Queen Victoria. She grew up here. She was only 18 when she became queen and chose to marry her sweetheart, Prince Albert, from Germany. She ruled England for 20 years -

the longest in England's history to date.

The absolutely beautiful streets of Kensington.

We ended our 8 mile speed walk with lunch at a delicious pub called "Elephant and Crown". We jumped on the tube to Oxford Street, then ran for the train at Waterloo, just to make it back in time to pick up the kids from school.

"Hide and Seek"

So as time has gone by, the kids know I "blog" and they love to see their pictures on the computer.

It was pretty funny when the little boys came running to me and wanted me to come upstairs and take a picture of them "for the blog!" (They are each taking turns hiding underneath their stuffies.)

Proof that we are trying to keep up on our dental care! :)

Spencer getting to catch up with his great friend Terrance 'T-Powell'

in Washington DC at their conference.

Jaguars vs Spartans

I don't know what we did right to deserve this again, but Yuchen came to Ike's game and took some fabulous pictures of him playing. Thank you again Yuchen!! mwah!

Ike's Young Men's leader and his wife (Andy and Azaria) also came. They were the couple who

came to our home on Christmas Eve. Ike adores Andy as a leader.

And I quote, "He's such a beast!" (That's a good thing.) Thank you for coming!

Ike sunk this 3-pointer! He had such a great game and they came out victorious!

Anne studying away at the game!

Cheese!

Josh gets into the games and is a great fan.

Spencer with Robert - his son Ryan is on the team with Ike

I know this picture was taken in Idaho, but isn't this the greatest picture?! Nanny cheering on her great-grand children. This is what I imagine when I sit and watch my children play at their games...all our family and friends gathered around, cheering each other on!

Spencer and I got to go to Ty's "Celebration of Learning" day at school. He got to show us all the projects he's been working on as they have been learning about the human body.

We were dying with the details he could spout off when we asked him about the different systems..It was seriously impressive.

PLAYDATE!

Ty and Josh had their friends, Antonio from Spain and Estavam from Brazil.

Anne had her two friends, Lara from the Netherlands and Eleanor from Australia.

We took them swimming at the clubhouse.

All of the children were really really great little guests.

Pinewood Derby Races!

Ty's is on the second row, third one from the right with the silver stripe down the front with a

lego guy on top and Josh's is next to his; the blue one with the yellow tinted window.

As always, we spent too much time working on these cars with the boys trying to make them just right. Josh came in 5th over all and Ty came in 11th out of 28 racers. As you can see from the picture, it's hard to come in after the little brother...

We had the Izzi Family (Nick, Nicole, Maggie and 2 brothers) over for a little family night.

Welcome Home Jessica!

Our darling cousin, Jessica, returned home to California after serving a mission in Denver, Colorado. Her letters and attitude were inspiring to read each week. We are so excited to see you over here later this summer!! Congratulations! We love you!

Ben, Darlyn, Jacoby, Jessica and Eliza Remington