Banoffee is still super tasty

Jeremy has been very excited to go golfing at an authentic English golf course.  Bruce was able to score a tee time the day at West Hills Golf Club.  Both boys were hoping for a certain level of snobbiness to really round out their visit.  When they came home they were pleased to report that they snubbed their noses and scoffed appropriately.  They had some great shots, some not-so-great shots, and these action shots to share with me!  

Two dapper dudes before they hit the course.

While they were golfing Leesa and I took the girls grocery shopping for the first time.  The first surprise were the trolleys that had casters that took them every which way.  Every one of us ended up with bruised ankles from trying to steer them.  The second surprise was the free fresh fruit for the kids to munch on while we shopped.  The third surprise that Nutella comes in glass jars.  Unfortunately we learned that the hard way as it slipped from Cambrie's hands and shattered on the tile floor.  The fourth surprise was that Daxton has surprisingly strong fingers and that the yogurt lids have no chance against them.  He poked holes in three or four containers before we made it to the checkout line!  The fifth surprise was that Macaroni and Cheese was in the World Food section of the store.  The kids were ecstatic and I was relieved to find a lunch staple they'd eat, even if it is rather exotic.  It was a little bit...a lot bit crazy.  It may be awhile until we take all four kiddos to the store again!

It was my birthday and I was hoping to have banoffee pie for my cake.  It was a dessert I had last time I was here, but I didn't realize that it was so hard to find.  To solve that problem we made our own.  We found a recipe online and Leesa did a stellar job preparing it.  The girls were super sweet and surprised me with flowers, a decorated table, and cascades of balloons down the staircase.  They eat also made me a picture frame and small vase of silk flowers.  After a quick round of Happy Birthday and a quick bite of the banoffee pie (YUMMY!), Bruce, Jeremy and I took off for the London Temple.

We made it in enough time to enjoy the sweet spirit there before our session, and had time afterwards to walk the grounds.  The landscaping was beautiful.  It was nice of the sun to cooperate and give the sky a lovely glow as we took a picture.  32-years-old is looking pretty good.

The kids found a fun local park that I think we'll be spending a lot of time at while we're here.  There was a huge swing, zipline, teeter totter, and plenty of climbing equipment for wiggly kids.

 

Stones at Stonehenge

Good morning UK!  I brought my bike out so I can do training rides while I'm here.  Luckily for me, Jeremy and Bruce wanted to accompany me on my first ride, which I'm very grateful for.  Between riding on the other side of the road, narrow shoulders, roundabouts, winding roads, and getting lost, I was very glad to have company.  Our goal was a nature preserve.  We did really well not getting lost until we were just about a mile from our destination.  After three miles more of riding we realized we had somehow turned around 180 degrees and were now heading home.  Oh well!  We took advantage of the detour and rode passed Hampton Court and Bushy Park.  We ended up with a little more than 30 miles of riding and it felt great.  

When we came home the kids were all ready for an adventure too.  We loaded everyone up, packed some snacks and headed down to Stonehenge.  It was a long, rainy drive and we were all very excited to get out of the car but I think the kids thought the drive was worth it.  McKenzie helped Jeremy and I try to pull one of the stones.  According to the pull-o-meter, it would only take 80 of us to actually move it.  

While we walked around the stones we learned about where the stones came from, a little about why they were there, and a lot about the other surrounding sites related to Stonehenge.  

Truthfully though, the kids were still a bit off from our flight and it was tough getting everyone to smile, so instead we did real-life pictures of goofy faces, shoulder rides, and Cambrie being dragged off to the sacrifice stone.  

After we had our fill of ancient ruins we drove into Salisbury for some fish and chips.  Unfortunately the place Bruce and Leesa wanted to take us to was closed for the day so we ate at the Cloisters instead.  

Don't worry, we only took one wrong turn around a one-way roundabout.  Save yourselves!

This place definitely had character.  The wood inside dates back to 1250.  Holy moly that's old wood.  Cambrie tried lamb shank for her first time, Kelton slept through dinner, Daxton kept trying to escape, and McKenzie decided that cheese on toast with to-mah-to soup was pretty tasty.  

We explored the town on our way home and thought that the cathedral and surrounding city wall were just so picturesque we had to snap some photos through the car windows.

See how much Daxton enjoyed the view?

Church, geese, and noggins

Our second day in England was a lot more chill.  First we went to church, and I have to say that 10:00 church when you're still jet-lagged is rough!  We are going to the Addlestone Ward.  It's not huge, but they do have their own building.  In fact, when I went to drop the kids off in Primary they were missing teachers and I ended up teaching Kelton and the one other Sunbeam.  There were only about ten other kids in the ward.  It seems like there were some on vacation because of the bank holiday, but the Primary leaders are excited to see more faces on Sunday.  We also learned that we're going to have a unique opportunity to sing for Elder D. Todd Christofferson in their Stake Conference on June 18th.  How cool!?  

After church Jeremy and I crashed hard.  The kids refused to yield and stayed up watching a movie and eating popcorn.  They are going to be soo tired!  Let me rephrase, they ARE so tired.  

Early morning breakfast with Papa.

After everyone woke up we put on our walking shoes and walked down to the Thames to feed the geese.

  The kids thought it was so funny watching the geese chase the bread crumbs, especially when they threw them at their siblings and watched them swarm.  Daxton had no fear of the geese even when they were the same size as him, at least until one nibbled the roll he held in his hand.

    

Bruce fed them in an unconventional way, with his lips.  

After the geese polished off the bread and rolls, we walked down the river to look at the boats.  It was just pretty and relaxing.  

Of course, too much relaxing means Jeremy has a tendency to become mischievious and helped McKenzie spring up from the ground on weeping willow branches.  

On the way home, Leesa surprised the kids with Kindereggs-toys hidden inside chocolate eggs.  It was a pretty tasty mid-walk snack.

Just when we were putting the kids to bed and thinking that it was a pretty good Sabbath day, Daxton fell and cut his head open on a random TV stand drawer.  It was deep and bleeding pretty badly so at 10:00 at night Jeremy, Bruce and I headed to the emergency room to experience socialized medicine first hand.  On the drive there Daxton fell asleep, and actually slept through the entire visit.  Since the bleeding and slowed and he was sleeping he was low on the triage list and we weren't seen until a little after 1:00. Luckily they determined he didn't need stitches and we're just going to keep it bandaged up until it heals.  That was an adventure I didn't want to have while we are here, but it definitely could have been worse.

Getting here and Hampton Court

What began as a random hope and small suggestion has actually happened!  My family gets to live in England for six weeks!  Bruce was transferred to England for the year in a residential position and Leesa moved out to be with him during that time.  Well, it simply wouldn't do for them not to see their grandchildren for an entire year so we had to come out and visit.  We had originally talked about renting a house close by not knowing what kind of space they would have available, but luckily their home is large enough so we can crash with them.  We are incredibly lucky that they are willing to host us for most of the summer.   Step one was packing.  Packing for six people for six weeks is not a simple task.  I'm thrilled we were able to fit everything we needed in these bags, plus a bike bag for me.  

I don't think the kids really knew how long we would be spending on a plane, but they had their own personal entertainment systems which was enough to stop any complaining about being bored.  It felt like I was cheating, but those quiet smiles were fabulous. 

 

Despite everything going really smoothly it's still a long time to spend in one spot, especially when it's time to sleep.  All the kids had a hard time finding a comfortable spot so no one really slept well.  

When we landed at Heathrow we were all ready for a nap but it was only 7:30 in the morning.  Bruce and Leesa met us with huge hugs and then loaded us up to take us to their home.  

We have so much space it's ridiculous!  The girls have a room, the boys have a room, Jeremy and I have a room, there are rooms waiting for the Kings, Dantley, and there's still an attic where the girls have decided to set up their castle.  (More pics to come of that when it's done.)   I think they're happy to be at our destination.

Soccer in the backyard!  This is how you retrieve a ball after it goes into your neighbor's hedge, just have your dad lower you down into the hedge on the other side of the fence and hope your arms are tall enough to reach him when it's time to come back over.

After a quick nap by Jeremy and Daxton we hopped in the car and went on our first adventure, Hampton Court.  McKenzie was thrilled to see a real castle for her first time, especially since it was one she recognized from her Palaces book my mom gave her.  She ran around giggling looking at the roses, the gold everywhere, and the gardens before we even entered the Palace.

First we explored some of the grounds, specifically the maze.  I think that Kelton will enjoy that when he's actually awake.

We found the center with just one wrong turn.  Not too shabby!

As we wandered we also found the Master class where we learned how to be courtiers.  

McKenzie was chosen to be queen and was dressed by her ladies maids.  

Jeremy was the court poet and read poetry for us.  

I was part of the royal hunting party and rode my horse to help capture the stag and the hounds hunted him down.

After class we all headed back to the castle to explore inside.  

While McKenzie listened intently to her audio guide about the grand staircase...

Henry VIII's apartments...

The Great Hall...

 

The Great Watching (sleeping) Hall...

And the Georgian apartments...

The rest of the kids took turns sleeping in the buggies and resting in the courtyard.

 One castle done, a dozen to go!