S-O-U-T-H (drumrolllllll) South's!!!
My heart's a little full right now as we get to have Jenn and Jason and the boys (Mitchell, Reggie, Robby and Will) stay with us for an entire week. We get to have them all to ourselves! I didn't quite expect the tears to come when the ARRIVED! lol But it only took a second and we were all laughing and talking so fast trying to catch up. Nobody could really hear each other at first as we were all talking so fast!
Jason, Reggie, Jenn, Robby, Me, Anne, Mitchell, Ty, Ike, Will and Josh
Spencer had to go to a meeting (Don't feel too badly for him. Elder Holland was the speaker.)
Together at last!
Then...we got on the underground train and rode it to East London.
Spencer had to go to a meeting (Don't feel too badly for him. Elder Holland was the speaker.)
Funniest thing...Jet lag hit and the boys were O-U-T out! They could not keep their eyes open!
I made reservations at a really delicious breakfast restaurant called "St. James Bread and Wine".
We had their famous bacon sandwiches with secret catsup sauce.
Handsome Rob
We walked around Spitafields Market and the kids just loved being together.
Because it was Robby's birthday, I asked one of the Beefeaters if they could tell us some fun stories about the Tower of London. Boy did we ever score! He took us into the area by the Queen's Royal Residence (if she should ever have the desire to stay there) and talked and talked to us about the history there. People were watching us, some tried to get in by us to hear, but he promptly shooed them away.
As he animatedly told us gruesome stories of past events, he started in on one about Guy Fox. He asked, "Does anyone know which King he tried to kill?" At first, nobody knew, Ty and Anne guessed, and then out of the blue, Josh pipes up, "Oh, it was King James." He got a big chuckle out of that! Love those British history classes!
I swear these kids could not have been any cuter! Just look at all those handsome boys
and one little princess! (I KNOW...I'm slightly biased...)
But they were so good and it was just pure joy having them with us.
Yep! They even had a selfie stick!
Ty and Will sporting their English hats
We took the train to Greenwich and they kids just could not stay awake! My kids seemed to have "sympathy sleeping sickness" and joined right in the rest periods between stops.
We saw the "Cutty Sark" and then walked up to the Royal Observatory and saw the clock
where they measure time, at 0 degrees longitude.
Walking with my wonderfully amazing sister Jen, up to the Royal Observatory
Prime Meridian
Standing on the "east" and "west" side of the world with half a foot on each side!
I've learned that no matter what you do, or what "cool" places you take kids, ours seem to be happiest just playing outside together with their cousins and friends. The kids spent as much times as possible playing out on the green space together.
They didn't care if it was raining! They just played and played outside on the green.
Sunday after church and dinner we went on a really nice walk together to see Windsor castle and the King George statue. We were greeted with dignitaries going off to Ascot for the races.
Queen Elizabeth II
Buckingham Palace
Reggie on the square in front of the palace
Anne and Will climbed every statue permitted to climb!
Playing at the Science Museum hands-on exhibits
Natural History Museum
Fossils never looked so cool
Wellington Arch
It's true...boys have to compete on EVERYTHING! lol
Anne and Will posed with an officer
I think the South boys were missing their sister... haha
Inside the Natural History Museum
Mitch in front of National Gallery in Trafalgar Square
Will claims this to be the highlight of his trip - "Climbing the lions at Trafalgar Square!"
Forest School
Meanwhile, Joshy was enjoying their Forest School end of the year celebration.
Roasting Smores' - can you see why my kids never complain about going to school?!
Coasteering "Cliff jumping"
at Swanage along the Jurassic Coast.
Spencer took the next day off and drove 2.5 hours south to the Jurassic coastline and took the boys cliff jumping. Ike has been wanting to do this for a while and since the boys were here, and it was Ike and Robby's birthdays, we thought they might get a kick out of it. Spencer said they had an absolute riot.
Lunch at Corfe Castle
Seriously! How cute are these boys?!!
The Wallace Art Collection
Kings Cross Station
Platform 9 3/4! at Kings Cross Station
Middle School end of the year parties
Anne's Grade 5 party
Grade 5 teachers Ms. Lester, Rowena and Falkner
Celine, Emma C., Eleanor, Lara, Anne, Emma K. and Beka
Josh and Ty finding their art work which was on display throughout the campus
Anne and Josh at their after school violin performance.
They did so well. It was really special listening to them share their new talent.
Our violin teacher Yuiko Asada - incredible
The boys visiting ACS Egham for a day at school!
Anne's Grade 5 Graduation
Alice, Anne, Ava, Beka and Felix
Ty and James before they perform on their recorders
Anne's sweet baby picture at the Grade 5 Grad
It was so great having family there to see a school event
Anne in her Rockband.
Anne and Josh play their violin
Anne receiving her PYP (Primary years program) certificate
Anne and Ava got to lead the audience in different songs.
It was so cute and then I died laughing when Jennifer leans
over to me and said, "I feel like I'm in the "High School Musical Movie!"
They all loved touring the school's grounds
Ike earned the Bronze Award for Academics and the Leadership Award for Grade 8
Ike and Maciek
Pawan, Rob, Ben, AnnaMarie, Ike, Reggie, Louise and Bas
Climbing St. Pauls 528 stairs
Touring Windsor Castle and seeing the changing of the guards
Riding the train home from the show was part of the magic of our day together.
Look at how much fun they are having! Their expressions are so real.
Birthday Breakfast at the school with all his school friends and cuzin's
After the last day of school, we packed a fun lunch and drove to Great Windsor Park and waited with many other families for the Queen. She transfers from her Rolls-Royce to her carriage on her way to the Ascot Races.
Yep! That is Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Phillip
So it was fun to say we've actually seen the Queen of England,
but it was even more fun having a picnic together with our family and
many of our ACS friends on the last day of school.
Ike's birthday picnic!
That evening, we drove to the temple and went through a session with Mitchell. He is such an incredible young man and will be a fabulous missionary. He has the sweetest spirit and pleasant demeanor.
We made the coolest connection..Vanessa Russell, who is in our Staines Ward,
was taught and baptized by this man/missionary over 20 years ago and his
companion was our really good friend, Jared Randall from Grant, Idaho.
Matthew Russell and Mitchell
We had their famous bacon sandwiches with secret catsup sauce.
I think Reg and the other boys enjoyed their breakfast! So yummy
Off we went to the Tower of London
As he animatedly told us gruesome stories of past events, he started in on one about Guy Fox. He asked, "Does anyone know which King he tried to kill?" At first, nobody knew, Ty and Anne guessed, and then out of the blue, Josh pipes up, "Oh, it was King James." He got a big chuckle out of that! Love those British history classes!
and one little princess! (I KNOW...I'm slightly biased...)
But they were so good and it was just pure joy having them with us.
where they measure time, at 0 degrees longitude.
Swimming with Will at the clubhouse. He makes everything more fun!
But first, Anne and Josh had to perform for them.
Prince William and Charles
(My friend took these and sent them to me as she was on the other end of the events for Garter Day.)
at Swanage along the Jurassic Coast.
They did so well. It was really special listening to them share their new talent.
Anne's Grade 5 Graduation
It was so cute and then I died laughing when Jennifer leans
over to me and said, "I feel like I'm in the "High School Musical Movie!"
K, so Matilda is a MUST SEE!!! Absolutely the best musical I have seen. Loved it!
Ike turns 14!
Auntie Michelle, Keola, Le'O and Mealii sent Ike a birthday greeting!
Spencer's selfie with the queen lol!
but it was even more fun having a picnic together with our family and
many of our ACS friends on the last day of school.
Anne saying goodbye to a couple of her dear friends.
It's hard being "left" behind...
was taught and baptized by this man/missionary over 20 years ago and his
companion was our really good friend, Jared Randall from Grant, Idaho.
London England Temple
WOW! You've been busy! So much fun!! So happy that Spencer finally got his picture with the QUEEN! xo
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