Back-to-School, already?

It's back to school.... already?  Where has the time gone?  Evan and Tori started back to school a few weeks ago and, it's crazy to think this, but they are both in high school now.  My babies are growing up so fast.  (Yikes, don't tell them I call them my babies.  They do not like that at all!)

Each year I like to take a picture on their first day of school.  This picture has been getting harder and harder to take as they both try to avoid pictures strenuously.

Evan was kind enough to slow down and let me take a quick picture.  Love that boy... so handsome! He's now a junior, driving, working, and just a well-rounded, wonderful young man.

Tori wasn't so patient with the idea of a picture.  This is the best I got.  Still love this girl of mine.  She's now a sophomore, very excited to get her license, and has a very active social life. 

I'm excited to mention that Spencer is also planning to head back to school the end of September.  A great decision to get his degree beyond high school.  Good job Spencer! 

Yet another year gone by and yet another year full of blessings.  We have been blessed to have three wonderful children, they are the light of our lives. 

End of Summer

It's tough saying good-bye to summer.  Not that I don't look forward to the lovely fall weather every year, it's just tough knowing that yet another season is over and life is moving forward.  Sometimes I feel it moves forward much to quickly.

Before we say good-bye to summer, our family made it to lovely Jordanlle Resevoir for our annual camping trip.  We just love Jordanelle for it's beautiful, clean, cool resevoir and the excellent campground.  Their campgrounds have clean bathrooms and private showers.... I'm not the camping-with-no-running-water kind of gal.

We also enjoy Jordanelle because it's never overly crowded, like many local lakes.  Here's the view from our camping spot, that's our boat.  Isn't it peaceful?

Evan enjoyed tending the fire.  Todd helped get a good blazing fire going, just like a good firefighter. 

Tori brought along a friend and they spent much of the time together, avoiding the camera.

We had a wonderful time, up until the last night when it started to rain, and rain, and rain some more.  Then the winds picked up, then the thunder and lightening, oh, and some more rain.  Our tent, our strong, sturdy tent, was wonderful..... until after three hours of rain and it just couldn't take it anymore... and started to leak.  What a fun, fun night for us all.  So, our wonderful time ended a day early because we were all very tired and cold and wet the next morning. 

That's ok.  We loved our time the two days we were there. 

Stonehenge and Farewell to England

I can't believe we're standing in front of Stonehenge.  It always seemed as one of those far off places that you always read about but never actually visit, to actually be there was a thrill for both of us.

The history of Stonehenge has always been fascinating to me, or I should say, the unknown history is fascinating.

Our tour guide pointed out that so much of the history is unknown but Stonehenge is believed to have been used by a variety of cultures over the history.  A very long and ancient history, since it's believed to have been created as early as 5,000 BC.  Just amazing to be near so much history.

Stonehenge was one of the many highlights of our visit to England.  Before traveling we talked with many people who had visited England and they gave us many tips to help us navigate this country.  Quite a few people said they didn't think Stonehenge was worth the visit, as you're unable to get close to the stones and touch them.  I so glad we didn't listen to their advice.

My advice.... visit Stonehenge!

Since we're talking advice.  Did I mention we attended Phantom of the Opera?  Did I mention it was amazing?  Ok, so on to the advice.... If you're planning to visit the West End to take in a play, purchase your tickets at the box office.  Don't purchase them online and definitely do not purchase them from a ticket agent in London.  We were given the advice to visit a certain ticket agent for tickets to Phantom of the Opera, which was AMAZING, and discovered the prices were more than doubled from what was available at the theater box office.

I loved every minute of the play, a play that has been running for 25 years straight in London.  It was incredible.

So, this is farewell to England.  Farewell to an amazing adventure.  My final piece of advice.... visit England some day. 

Windsor Castle and the Town of Bath

Our final days in England.  Such an amazing experience!  Before we traveled to England we knew we really wanted to see Stonehenge.  Although we had heard conflicting pieces of advice, some saying it wasn't worth the time and effort and others saying it was wonderful, we knew we couldn't pass up the chance to see this piece of English history.

We jumped at the chance to take a day long bus tour visiting Stonehenge, along with Windsor Castle and Bath.  I'm so glad we took the tour.  This tour was the highlight or our busy visit to England.  We fell in love with the city of Bath and could have spent all day soaking up the history of Stonehenge.

Our first stop on the tour was Windsor Castle.

The beautiful gardens behind the castle wall, had to stand on tip toe to peak over the wall.  Lovely.  Oh, did I mention the Queen was staying at the castle during our visit?  Yes, it's true.  She stays there every weekend during the summer.  Although, of course, we didn't get to see her, it's still kind of cool to say we were there at the same time.

The guard almost looks fake, doesn't it?  Almost like a packaged, toy nutcracker.  (smile)  The guard actually did leave the protection of it's shelter and marched back and forth across the castle walls.

I'm thinking these guards had to have little mini, air-conditioners in their hats, cause, let me tell you, it was hot, hot. 

After lovely, Windsor Castle it was on to Bath; a gorgeous city of honey-colored buildings and ancient Roman baths filled with warm water bubbling from the Earth.

While we were waiting to enter the Roman Baths, we noticed an interesting cathedral across the street.  Along the spires of the cathedral there were carvings of what looked to be angels climbing a ladder, possibly depicting a ladder ascending to heaven.  The interesting thing was there were also angels climbing down, facing down, the opposite direction.  It seemed a little creepy and unusual.  Take a look.

What do you think?  It would be very interesting to learn the story behind this scene.

Now on to the Roman Baths.

The source of the spring that flows into the baths.

Leaving the beautiful town of Bath.  Todd and I fell in love with this beautiful, little town and felt like we didn't get to spend enough time there to see all it has to offer.  If we ever make it back to England, we hope to spend a week in Bath.

I had planned to include Stonehenge, but have run out of time.  Come back to see some fabulous pictures of our visit to Stonehenge.  Another favorite sight on our trip to England.

London Underground

I can't move on from the city of London to the fabulous sights of Windsor and Stonehenge until I mention the London Underground.  If you travel to London, the Underground is your friend.  It may not seem friendly if you take a look at the map that's available to help you navigate this system;however, once you figure out all the lines you'll find it to be a very convenient way to get around the city. 

I must give a piece of advice to go along with using the Underground.  Book your hotel room within the London circle, don't try to save a few dollars by booking a room outside the city... near the Heathrow airport for example.  I speak from experience.  Saving a few bucks on the hotel room was not the best decision on our pocketbook or our stress level.  We found that within London circle the Underground is easy and inexpensive.  Near the airport, you have to catch a cab to the train station and then on to the Underground, which is expensive, time consuming, and no fun at all.

Just had to share.  Next up..... Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, and Bath.

London!

Whoooo hooooo.... London!

So many incredible sights and experiences.... I'm just gonna start posting the pictures.

If you travel to London, you MUST take one of the double-decker bus tours.  It's a great way to see all of London in a day.

Yes, I'm standing in front of Westminster Abby just a month after Wills and Kate tied the knot!  A gorgeous cathedral.

A ride on the River Thames.... part of the Big Bus Tour package deal.  Again, highly recommended as a great way to tour London.  Ride the bus to one end of London and take the River Thames boat ride back to the other end.  Just lovely.

Another fabulous view of Big Ben and Parliament.

The fabulous Tower of London where the crown jewels are kept.  Before it was a tourist attraction and home to the crown jewels, the history of the Tower is infamous for the location of many be-headings. 

Wish I could show you a picture of the crown jewels and all the amazing gold and sliver additionally housed in the Tower of London; unfortunately, NO pictures allowed.  The English are just no fun at all.

Back on the bus for some more sight-seeing.

Do you recognize this view?  Buckingham Palace!

A beautiful fountain across from the Palace with a hot tourist posing for his picture.

So that's our whirl-wind tour of London city..... but don't think I'm done posting about our incredible trip to England.  Nope.  Still need to share our experience visiting Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, and Bath.  All three amazing experiences.  More fun ahead!

Happy Birthday to Evan

Time to take a little break from our travels to England and let's talk about Evan.  Happy 17th Birthday Evan!

Evan celebrated his birthday with friends a few days before his official big day.  For his big day, we kept things kind of low key and celebrated with cake, icecream, and family.

Here's Grandma and Grandpa Clawson, Aunt Carol, cousin Helen, and, of course, his sweet sister Tori.  We really missed Spencer and Ashley and other family that couldn't make it to celebrate.

The birthday boy with his proud parents.  Evan is a wonderful, amazing young man.  We love you Evan!  We look forward to watching you become a fantastic young man and adult.