… apparently today is a pretty good day to get married.
I'm so glad we did.
Hey, love…
Mr. E. Bunny
Are you tired of seeing eggs yet? What's a few more? 🙂
Sunday morning, E. Bunny stopped by and left a web of crazy string around the house. At the end of each string was a small bundle of books wrapped up just for them. Oh the joy that new books bring!
It was quite possibly the quietest Sunday morning we've had for a year. Jeff and I had to go looking around many times to see why it was so peaceful. Because, you know, peace usually means trouble here.
I'd peak around a corner expecting to see wet toilet paper strung around my bedroom, but instead I'd find little bookworms curled up on my bed.
E. Bunny, I think I love you.
Happy Hunting
They woke up early one morning last week and wanted an easter egg hunt in the backyard. Unprepared for their requests (read: begging), I tried to scramble a few eggs together…well not really scramble…for fun.
Then I went outside and hid them while they double-thumb promised to stay inside without peeking. Double-thumb promises must be serious business because they didn't peek once. Not even close. Impressive. I probably would have peeked if I were them.
When I gave them the green light, it was all screams and squeals.
Dallin had only one request. Make it hard, Mom. He said.
So I did.
After all eggs were accounted for, dumped out, and candy was gobbled, I overheard this from him a few times.
Best Easter Egg Hunt Ever!
Not bad.
Maybe next year I'll hide them on the roof.
One day more
We had just one more day.
With a little more than 12 hours left, we set off that morning hoping to take in as much as possible before heading home. On the bus ride into town, Jeff quickly nodded off while I sat there contemplating. Feeling the pressure of time. I wanted to slow it down. Just for today. Slow it down just enough for me to experience this place I had no idea if I would ever see again.
I think time heard my thoughts.
Jeff playing Where's Waldo at the British Museum.
Bloomsbury Square
The Tower Bridge
And the Tower of London
I was looking forward to seeing the famous Beefeaters when I saw one walking towards me on the street. I asked if I could take a picture and he obliged…then asked me if I had an entrance ticket. When I said no, I think Mr. Beefeater became a Death Eater. Oops.
A break for fish and chips
I don't think I took enough pictures of Big Ben. 😉
Around Westminster Abbey
Interesting to find a statue of Abraham Lincoln there.
One of my favorite images from the trip was this man painting across from Westminster Abbey.
At the end of the evening, we decided to catch the theatre show of Les Miserables. Then Jeff indulged me by walking another two miles just to see Big Ben at night. I kind of like him. And Big Ben too.
With tired feet and long way back, we caught the last subway train home. This time we both sat nodding off blissfully content with our one more day…one day more!
The story in the city
We awoke in a dark hotel room, our bodies unsure of the day or time. The curtains were tightly closed only letting a sliver of light in through the folds. I turned to Jeff and asked what time it was. 10:00 am. Ouch! So much for getting off to an early start. We rushed to get ready, knowing there was much awaiting us as the day unfolded. He had business to do. I had a city to explore. Somehow, we'd get both done before the night came again.
Just the evening before, as I was flipping through television channels, I saw news reports of a protest that had turned into a riot downtown. Fires, vandalism, and police lines pushing back and angry crowd. This should be interesting, I thought. I wonder what we'll find there today.
While my mind was teaming with finding adventure in the city, Jeff had something a little more pressing on his mind. We did come for business after all. I loved watching him do his thing. Which he does…so well.
After that, we jumped on a bus and settled in for a ride into the heart of town. I stared mesmorized out the window at country manors, churches, chimneys, and "Harry Potter rooftops" all passing by in an instant.
Oh how the driver on the other side of the car threw me for a loop every singe time. I'd glance to my right and see a girl reading a newspaper or a little boy staring at me and freak out. Who is driving the car?! And then I'd remember…they are on the other side. Whew.
Remnants of the previous night's hullabaloo were still here and there.
And another group gathered in Hyde Park at Speaker's Corner. This time just a bit more peaceful.
When the night fell, the city had no doubt shared with us an unforgettable story. With one more yet to come.
So…London?
He sat down next to me on the couch after a long day of work. After tapping around on his phone a bit, he turned to me and asked a question, So…do you want to go to London? I stared at him with a puzzled look. I've been asked to speak at an event there. If it all works out, do you want to go with me?
Do I want to go with you? Do I WANT to go with you?! There was no question with regards to the want but could I leave posed the bigger issue. It wasn't an overnight decision. But after a lot of help and a lot of preparation, the conversation evolved from You. Me. London? to You. Me. London! followed by a giddy grin escaping both of our lips.
The immortal city was all I had expected it to be and more. Alive with history, royalty, beauty, and life. Oh how I love the pulse of life in a big city. It was as if a book was unfolding before my eyes and I couldn't drink the words from its pages quick enough.
Beginning with the royalty…
And on to parliment. I can't count how many times Jeff felt the urge to say, Look kids! There's Big Ben. Parliment. And then he laughed to himself. every. single. time.
The views from the River Thames
And more coming soon…
a hop, skip, and a jump
The past couple of weeks have been full of adventure.
A hop up to a wedding.
A skip over to conference.
A jump across the pond.
I can't wait to share it!
The view from spring break
We couldn't have asked for anything better!
going camping
This little guy is going camping in his tent. A crib tent.
I have never needed one for my children until now. And oh, do I ever need one.
He keeps me on my toes, this one does. Just a few days ago I found him in the bathtub with the water running after he had ever so sneakily jumped out of his crib during a nap. Just as I walked in the bathroom, he slipped and fell in the water and came up gasping for air. Holy heart attack!!
So with him almost running out into the street and having close calls in the bathtub, one might think I'm not very good at my job. Believe me, I've felt that way on more than a million occasions.
The more I've thought about it though, maybe I'm not so bad at my job.
Maybe he's just really good at his.
The B List
She loves to write lists.
Maybe she got that from me. Yeah, pretty sure she got that from me.
I like writing lists. It's as if I'm flushing my brain out onto paper. And then I can carry it around in my hands.
Her latest list has to do with a proposed Birthday Celebration. She's turning 6 soon. But I explained to her that this year is the off year. No big party. Just a celebration.
She agreed. Then wrote a list of rules for the Birthday Celebration. It reads as follows:
List of Rulus (List of Rules)
1. No tatletalen (No tattletaling)
2. No scraching (No scratching)
3. No hiten (No hitting)
4. No poleing shirts (No pulling shirts)
5. No eating others foods
I had no idea she was planning on a Birthday Brawl instead of a Celebration. But whatever works.
Love that girl.