The Energizer Bunnies from Idaho!

MIMI and PAPA!

Okay, so my parents came to visit and it was a party for an entire month! I'm not kidding when I say I had to run to keep up. My mom prepared for her trip by reading lots of books, watching a few British movies and reading travel books ~ so her "To-Do" list was quite impressive... If these next few days look like we did a lot...we did! :) lol

 We welcomed them with our first snowfall of the year- People were pretty excited around here. (It's been around 2 years since the last snowfall.) 

The kids were so excited to have them. 

 We started the week off with Book Club at my house. Fourteen women came over from the AWBS women's club and we discussed Elizabeth Gaskell's "North and South". 

My mom was prepared for the discussion and we had a really nice time
 and had a lovely lunch afterwards. 

 First Stop! Tower of London! Each morning we would get the kids off to school and then jump on the train and head into London for the next great place to visit. 

 Waiting for the train

 We went on a live tour with the famous "Beef-Eater Guides". Historically, Beef-Eaters were guards of the king who tasted the King's food before he did incase it was poisonous.  These guides are the rather notoriously grumpy men wearing their navy-blue & red on-duty regalia with the E II R (Elizabeth II Regina) logo on their chest. They are loud and boisterous as well as quite descriptive in telling all the
 historical events that took place at the great White Tower. 

 The Great White Tower

Our tour guide

Walking through the Tower's streets, passing the infamous "Traitor's" or "Trader's" gate.

 I don't think I'll ever tire of seeing Tower Bridge. It is so spectacular. 

Kensington Palace

 The next day we went to Kensington Palace - This is where Queen Victoria grew up and Lady Diana lived after her divorce from Charles. 

 Victoria and Albert

 This was Queen Victoria's dress! She was so tiny and petite! 

 We were able to walk through half of the palace - it took us almost 3 hours. Still, there were 400 rooms closed to the public for the royal's private residence living! It's so huge...

 One of the dresses ladies wore to parties with the famous whale boned skirts. 

Very "Marie Antoinette!" 

 It's hard to appreciate this pub we went to for lunch by this picture, but it was very fun and quaint and extremely crowded. It is SO tiny and around 60 people were crammed in there for lunch. My parents loved it! They had fish and chips. 
The pub was called "Elephant and Castle" located in Kensington. 

 Portabello Market Street Shopping

Walking past Buckingham Palace

Scotland

Ike and Ben Jose at a basketball tournament in Scotland

The middle school basketball team went up to Aberdeen, Scotland for a basketball tournament for two days. (I know! What?!) They won their first three games and lost the championship game. Ike became extremely ill and could not play the last game against ASL (whom they'd already beaten twice. Arghhh!) But Ike said he had such a great time though and got to stay in the nicest host family's home, (Dana House). Ike said she was "SO nice."  She has a sweet Texan accent, and as he was moaning in bed with a fever, Ike said she kept calling him "darling" and "honey."  (Watch out Texan girls! You've got a fan!)

 I'm so grateful for amazing people who will be there for our children when we are unable too.

Relief Society Meeting - A Night in Jerusalem

 Our stake RS put together a beautiful night for all the women in the stake. It was a night in Jerusalem. They had transformed the cultural hall into a "wedding feast". It was complete with a false ceiling, hanging lanterns, vines weaved through the cloth and along the center of the tables and each table was filled with around 10 different authentic Middle Eastern food. It was so delicious and felt very special. 

The colors of the food were brilliant and beautifully displayed

 Then the RS planned to end the evening with a spectacular musical rendition of the 10 virgins. It was spiritual feast and very moving. Most of us were quite teary by the end. It was an absolutely wonderful evening and I am so grateful for people who would spend so much of their time sharing their talents to bless other's lives. 

Shopping in London 

 Mom and I headed into London the next day for a "shopping day".

We went through some of the most high-end shops and department stores and browsed through endless walkways of stunning, over-the-top, over-priced merchandise! It was so much fun. We just giggled and enjoyed all the beautiful displays. How appropriate is the "red carpet" walkway through the shops?! 

Fortnum & Mason

 I took mom to Fortnum & Mason's and she absolutely loved it! 

It was incredibly displayed with over-sized flower pots, chocolates, 

and over-sized chandeliers everywhere. 

 Mackenzie Childs anyone?!

Selfridges

Selfridges Department Store 

 Piccadilly Circus on our way to Harrods

Harrods

 Ahhhhh....Harrods 

Windsor Castle

 We drove into the city of Windsor and toured the castle and grounds. Wow! I had no idea how absolutely huge it was. Over 500 people work on these castle grounds. It's like it's own little city. We learned it is the favorite castle of Queen Elizabeth II. She is there most weekends and they have a special flag that is raised when she arrives.

 Main entrance into the castle for the Royals

 This part of the tower and castle was built by William the Conquerer after he, the (French) Normans, invaded England and beat the Saxons that was then lead by King Harold II at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. 

This part of Windsor Castle was built to intimidate invaders. 

 St. Georges Chapel 

 The spectacular castle grounds

King Henry VIII's Gate

Korea

 Spencer was traveling in Korea this week and really enjoyed his experience there. He said that Seoul is reported as one of the safest cities in the world. 

Winston Churchill War Museum

I became a Churchill fan today. A remarkable man who lead Britain, and the world, through one of the worst wars this world has seen. He was a transparent leader, who worked very hard and cared about people, qualities I respect and admire in a leader..

 The famous enigma machine decoding the enemy's messages - a turning point in the war

 Winston Churchill

 The underground office of Churchill and all the people who ran the war-stopping efforts for nearly five years - especially during the blitz on London.

 Well, even though this infamous broadway musical portrays outrageous blasphemy about members of the church, it also has created an amazing interest from viewers, "So what is it that Mormon's really believe?" The missionaries in our area told us they get questions about the church all the time because people have either seen the play or heard of it. 

 After Ike's game at ACS Egham! Yay! Family watching in the stands!! 

 Papa playing Cat's Cradle with Anne

Mimi's famous "mani and pedi" night with another happy granddaughter! 

Touring Parliament 

We agreed touring parliament was our favorite tour together in London!

Touring parliament gave us such a better understanding for how the Monarchy, House of Commons and House of Lords all work together. I have often wondered why Britain even has a Monarchy. However, after this tour we gained more of an appreciation for the British legal system. We learned that although the Queen doesn't have any real "say" in the laws of the land, she is responsible to EVERY bill and the note from law-makers meetings each week. She then has an opportunity to meet with the Prime Minister once a week for an hour and they together discuss the events of the country. She is able to give council and perspective. She is to represent the people unbiasedly. The tour guide said the Prime Minister said it is his most "looked forward hour of his week." Think about the fact that she has been in her role for over 50 years and can give a much wider and deeper perspective than someone can who's only been leading for a few years or so. It was really interesting to understand. On top of that, the House of Lords and the House of Commons represent different aspects and give more breadth and depth to their system. I just thought it was very interesting to learn more about.

 Mom and Dad bore the weather with enthusiasm and gusto! 

 A few pictures of Spencer in London filming the international "training program" 

he's been developing with his team. 

 The kids are learning to play in the rain!

 Sunday dinner

 We got to have dinner with Yu Chen and Elders' Harris and Bradshaw 

Anne and Ty working on their "handshake"