Day Eighty-Eight: Edward Died In November Buried Under Robert Grahams House

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Today has been a whirlwind of a day. 

The boys went to school and I came home with Taters and got busy. I packed us all up, which is like the best workout ever apparently. I got a TON of steps on my FitBit from the packing/cleaning I did this morning. I then went and ran some errands, picked up the boys from school, came home to Todd home and we all caught a cab to the train station. 

We trained it to Gatwick airport and after going in the terminal and walking all over for what seemed like forever looking for the EasyJet check in place, we were told we were in the wrong terminal. Lovely! So we high-tailed it over to Terminal 1, and checked in. 

Don't you love flying with kids?! Oh...right, I don't. It is such a royal pain in the bootay. After getting stopped in the security line for a changing of their staff for 15-20 minutes, all the while Tate going berzerko, and the boys starving for dinner and letting everyone hear about it who was waiting with us, I was ready to call it a day and just go home. We finally got through security and into the main part of the airport. 

We found a little place to sit down and eat, ordered and waited for our food. And we waited, and waited and waited, oh yeah and...waited. After 30 minutes we realized that if we didn't leave right then we might miss our flight! We told our server and she assured us that it would be right out. It wasn't. Then she told us she would box it all up. I was like, "uh yeah, no!" Can you even imagine that hot mess? Trying to feed the boys a huge hot meal on the plane? So we just left!  We were like "peace!" I am sorry but it was CRAZY. We all ran Home Alone style down to our gate and boarded the plane. I was so done it wasn't even funny. I was like, Scotland Schmotland by the time we got on that plane. 

By the time we got settled on board and the kids turned on a movie on the ipads, everything was okay again. We ordered food for everyone, ham and cheese toasties and crisps all around. We ate and flew and before we knew it we were landing in Edinburgh. 

Here is part of the troops (Tate is with me...can't see him) hauling our loot to catch a taxi to the hotel. 


Thanks Edinburgh! Don't mind if we do! 


We caught a cab to our hotel and the cab driver told us this little ditty to remember how to spell Edinburgh, since Todd and I were spelling it all kinds of weird fangled ways. He said in primary school he learned, "Edward Died In November Buried Under Robert Grahams House". We got a kick out of that and the boys were saying it over and over and over again all night. I don't think I'll ever misspell it again.

At 11:00pm before getting into bed, I looked out the window and saw that it was still light! I mean it wasn't sunny, but the sky wasn't dark, it was like duskish looking. SO WEIRD! We googled about Scotland and the sun in the summer and sure enough, sometimes it never gets pitch black. So cool. But not so cool too, because this staying light business until weird hours of the night, and then getting light again at about 3:30am is really making my sleeping habits all weird. I have been having insomnia and it is no fun at all.

Well I'm beat, can't wait for a day seeing Edinburgh tomorrow!


Add a comment »
Labels: , , ,

Days Seventy-Three - Eighty-Seven: Catch Up...

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

So...I've been bad and let the blog get behind as life got ahead of me. I got called as our wards Primary President and getting started and rolling has sucked up the last few weeks, and blogging took a backseat. Now that Primary is up and running I thought I would catch up on our blog!

We have totally settled into our life here and have many routines. We had the weekday school routine of walking to and from school, Tate and mom hanging at home and playing and getting things done. We then sometimes playing at the park, and other days Thatcher has after school martial arts and football, and homework and bedtimes and all that good stuff. 

We have our Saturday routine of cleaning and outings and spending time together as a family. Our Sunday routine of getting up early, rushing out the door, catching a taxi to church, church, and then coming home and resting. 

We even have our travel routine. You'd be amazed at how efficient I have become of packing up our entire family for our trips. I have it down to a science! 

It is funny how fast you adjust to new ways of life without a car, Target, or a big house. But we are loving our life in London!

Here are some things we have been up to so far in June...

LOTS of Tate and Mom playtime...


This boy just gets cuter every day and makes us laugh all day long...he has the funniest personality! 


He loves to carry this little shopping bag on his arm like this...mama's boy fo sure! 


"what did you say about me?"


While the boys were out of school the first week of June, Tagg wore himself out with lots of late nights and early mornings of play. This day he was so grumpy I told him to go take a nap in my bed because I couldn't take his grumps anymore. He told me he would take a nap in my bed ONLY if I would put essential oils on my hands and give him a massage while he listened to peaceful music. Ayyyy! This kid has some nerve. But I did it, so I guess he knows where he has me.


We have had boys who think they are hilarious at church rearranging Tate's church quiet book. We were waiting for our Taxi after church and Tagg came to me hysterically laughing showing me that you "obey the word of wisdom by eating missionaries!" Nice. 


We've had Tate learning perfecting the skill of taking selfies in the cab ride home from church...






We have had lots of egg in the hole breakfasts' in the mornings...


We've had two scootin' fools around St. John's Wood. 
We got the boys scooters to officially make them London kids...
every kid from 3+ ride scooters here!


The first few mornings were ROUGH on the scooters. They knew how to ride them, but they were bumping into everyone, cutting people off, falling...it was INSANE and super stressful for me. But they stuck with it, and now they are pretty much pro's.


We've had Tate doing a lot of this...
(PICK ME UP!)


Tate is growing so big I can't stand it, but I also love it. He is T-R-O-U-B-L-E (sang Taylor Swift style) and into everything! He also can say "hi", "bye", "yeah"(while he nods his head up and down), "cracker", and "cookie" and mostly "please" that we hear ALL day long when he wants something. He gives us big hugs, kisses, and blows kisses.  He loves to "sing", and when we are at church he loves to have the Hymn book and "lead" the music while he sings...often he is so loud with his "singing" that we have to take him out. He loves playing on our iphones and also reading books. He is the cutest little 16 month old around. 

Here he is just being a troublemaker...


The weather has turned really nice and beautiful here in London, so we went to the Swiss Cottage fountains with some of the girls from the ward after school one day. It's like a big splash area and all the kids ride their scooters in the fountains. The boys loved it...even Tate whose personality is very cautious.  

Here is the progression of Tate getting the courage to go out into the fountains...

"Hmmmm...I don't know about this..."


"Why do you do make me do these things?"


"Alright, I'll try it out, slowly..."


"Looks like those kids are liking it..."


Here he goes farther out now...


"Yay! It is fun!" 


 He likes it!


 Just after that, he walked out and got splashed big time by the fountain and was traumatized. 
He then spent most of the rest of the time by my side. He is so chicken! I love it though.


Here are the other kids playing in the water...


I blew this picture up so I could see the boys better...they had a blast! 
I especially love the boy in the speedo...


We've had a great couple weeks with some really fun things here and there going on...tomorrow we are traveling again, off to Edinburgh!!


Add a comment »
Labels: ,

Day Seventy-Two: Stonehenge

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Today we got up and packed up and left Bath early to head out to Stonehenge which was about an hour away. The boys had a few requests when we first got to London and told them we would be traveling around Europe a bit while we were here. Stonehenge was on their list of places they would love to see, so they were really excited about today. 

On our drive over we almost ran out of gas thanks to the English countryside being so quaint and cute and hardly any gas stations, or petrol stations as they call them here. We finally found one just in the nick of time and across the street from the station there were all these cute thatched roofed homes. I made Thatcher get out and stand next to one so he could have a picture of himself next to a thatched roof. 


We got to Stonehenge and after getting inside the building we boarded these little shuttles that took you out to the sight.  It was kinda a misty rain day, so everyone got their rain gear on, even Taters...


Thatcher listening to the guided audio tour on our way...


When we got off the shuttles you see Stonehenge in the distance...


I had heard that Stonehenge was overrated, and I guess if you really think about it, it could be. But c'mon, it is cool to be there and see it yourself and have the experience. We listened to the audio tour while we walked around Stonehenge, the boys were actually really interested. 

The five of us in front of Stonehenge...pretty dang cool! 


Two goof troops and a pile of rocks...


Stonehenge Thatch and Mom selfie...


Tagg and Todd listening to the audio tour...


Stonehenge is supposed to be a spiritual place, and even a place of healing so you get a lot of Hippy Dippies camping out and meditating. Here is one now, she is really feeling the power of the henge...


Looking back from the distance.


Dad and Tate selfie time! 








After viewing Stonehenge we went to the cafe inside and had soup and sandwiches and warmed up. We made a stop at the gift shop to buy our obligated Stonehenge souvenirs and then we headed home back to London. The ride home was good, but after a few days of touring and being in the car a lot, everyone was ready to be home!!


Add a comment »
Labels: , , ,

Day Seventy-One: Sunday in Bath

Monday, May 26, 2014

Today we slept in and then got up and had a yummy breakfast...


Church didn't start until 11:30, so the boys came back to the hotel room and watched Saturday's Warrior on Todd's computer while I was getting ready. It was funny to watch this movie again and see the boys response to it. I know it is cheesy, but it always gets me, I cry every time.


We found the church in Bath and when we went in the chapel was completely full, no empty seats. A member of the Bishopric saw us looking through the door and so he came off the stand and went and grabbed four chairs for us. The meeting was good, and afterwards everyone was introducing themselves. Such a wonderful friendly ward!

I am so moved every time we travel to a new area and attend church. The church is literally the same everywhere you go. I love that. I especially love the spirit I feel no matter where we are.

Todd and the boys in front of the church in Bath. 


After church we went back to the hotel to change clothes and rest for a bit, and then headed out to find a place to eat a late lunch. We were taking a drive around the area and ventured a little while out of Bath and found this little place, when I saw this sign I said, SOLD!


Family friendly places are hard to find around Europe. You should see the looks we get. 3 kids?!? Holy Hannah! It's like if you have more than 2 kids here you are INSANE, and especially insane to bring 3 kids to dinner!!

After lunch we drove to Highclere Castle, this is where they film Downton Abbey.  Unfortunately, the people there decided to be ridiculous and even though we got there 10 minutes after the castle "closed" they wouldn't even let us on the grounds to take some pictures. That is the one thing about British people, they are not flexible nor accommodating. Oh well. We will head to Highclere another time...at least we enjoyed the beautiful weather today and it was a nice drive.

We got back to our hotel and are settling in for the night. We are headed to Stonehenge tomorrow, something the boys are DYING to see. It is funny all the sights they already know about from TV, Movies, books, etc. It should be really fun!


Add a comment »
Labels: , ,
« Previous Entries
Next Entries »