Days one and two

So here goes.... I can't put in all of the details but here are the basics.  We started out tired since we landed in London at 11:00 p.m.  They did really well on the flight despite not getting a good sleep.  With all of the boys, everything takes so long!  So between getting our bags, and getting the rental car, etc. We left the airport at 12:30 a.m.  Only to get lost on the way to our first hotel for a REALLY long time.  During that journey, we went through some really cute little towns.  We saw two deer, an owl, a fox, and about forty rabbits.  They were cool to see but we would have much rather been sleeping comfortably in a bed.  I'm not even going to say when we finally got to the hotel but lets just say the sun was coming up.  So after a short sleep, we had to get up and get going since we had lots of things to see.  Already too many details, I'm moving on to pictures.

First stop...  Stonehenge:  Such a cool place. I got to go there 13 years ago with my parents but I knew Nick  and the boys would want to see it.  It really is mind boggling to see the rocks in their form and think of how they got that way so MANY years ago.

After Stonehenge, we drove up to Warwick Castle.  I was so excited to take my boys there.  It's was like heaven for them.  I knew they would love it and they did!

This picture below, Nick took from the tallest tower of the castle.  It's a lot of steep steps going up but so worth seeing this view when you get there.

Then on to Stratford Upon Avon to see William Shakespeare's home and the church where he was buried. The boys were so excited to eat at Pizza Hut since we don't have that in our little town of Rota Spain.

We had a busy first day and still made the drive up to Nottingham where we stayed our second night. We had a traditional English breakfast the next morning.  I love the beans on toast but I don't remember having stewed tomatoes when I lived there.  We drove by and saw my apartment I lived in when I was there.  Then we went in to the city center as I told the boys stories of when I was a missionary for the LDS church.  It was so great being back with my boys. We went to the Nottingham Castle which they loved since they are way in to Robin Hood.  Since the new movie of Robin Hood just came out with Russel Crowe, it was a big deal there.   They had a display that we weren't allowed to take pictures of in the castle.  They were the original clothes that were worn in the new movie.  So now I'm excited to watch it and know I saw the real clothes they were wearing.

England

We just returned from a trip of a lifetime.  England.  I love it there so much.  I served a year and a half mission there 13 years ago and I've missed it ever since.  Thanks to Nick, he made my dreams come true to take my family back there again.  We did and saw so much, you'll have to bear with me as I post new pictures here for the next while.

May is a great time to visit because everything is in full bloom.  The rolling fields of green and yellow go on for miles.  I hate to admit that there was more than once I got choked up and overwhelmed with emotions as I overlooked the beautiful scenery.  I know, I'm a dork, but my heart was so full!  The pictures won't do it justice either.   Here's just a peek until I can get all of my pictures transferred from the laptop.

This is actually where we went our last day there, but I had to post pictures.  I'll go in order from now on and will explain what this beautiful place is when I get caught up.

Oh, Lebron

This is sort of a random post but I felt like posting this little video.

Anyone who knows us knows that we are Lebron James fans. We were in Cleveland before he arrived and "witnessed" how he transformed the city after his arrival.  For Clevelanders it is about much more than basketball. There have been countless reports on how much his existence in Ohio has meant for the state.  The amount of pressure he must feel to bring a championship to a place that has seen nothing but disappointment for so many years is incredible.  Again, we are huge Lebron fans.  However, that doesn't necessarily mean we are die-hard Cavs fans.  So now that the Cavs are out and Lebron is going to be a free agent this summer, the frenzy is about to begin.  It has been a topic of discussion for the last two years and now it is upon Lebron and Cleveland.  It is touted to be one of the biggest free agent summers in the history of sports. So no pressure, Lebron.  Cleveland acts as if they may not be able to go on as a city with out him.  Mayors, coaches, and other players are all chiming in.  It will be entertaining to say the least.

This is a video that Cleveland has put together to sway Lebron. It is called "We Are Lebron".  Again, no pressure, Lebron!


We Are LeBron Video - Watch more Funny Videos

Fun and Busy Saturday

T-ball and Baseball have now started.  This is Jake's first year in t-ball and it was hilarious.  He is such a character and he didn't disappoint in the the entertainment factor. I love t-ball since the kids are just figuring it all out.   Caden had two great hits and caught a fly ball in the outfield.  Max didn't have a game but got dressed up for the opening season ceremony.  They dedicated the field to a fallen Marine who died in Iraq.  He used to live here and helped with the high school baseball team.  So they flew his wife and son back to for the dedication.  It's times like this when I feel proud to be part of the military and be among people serving the USA.  Anyway, it was a nice morning of ball.  

After baseball we went to Feria in our little town of Rota.  Feria is just like a county fair except the Spanish women dress up in beautiful dresses with flowers in their hair.  The men have on handsome suits and hats.  Each town around here has their own Feria on different weeks, so most people go to each of them for the month of May.  It was so fun.  They love to party so much that they take the monday after of school off and call it "Hangover" monday.  Anyway, the fair food, the rides, and people watching were well worth the cultural experience of Feria.  If anyone wants to visit and see a cool cultural event, May is the time to come.  

Sleep

Yes- We are getting sleep.  These two good boys have been sleeping through the night for about three weeks now.  YEA!  For whatever reason the seven month mark has been consistent with all of my boys.  All five started sleeping on a great schedule at seven months.  So these two are following the trend.  I can't take the credit this time though.  Our schedule before was that I would go to bed at 9 and Nick would stay up and give them their 10:30 feeding. Then he would go to bed and I would take the 1:00, 3:30, and the 5:30 so he could be rested for work the next day.  Well we were tired and done.  So one night- I told Nick I was going to bed and he had to stay up but skip the 10:30 feeding. I hate hearing them cry hard but I know that's what it takes sometimes.  Thank goodness, Nick took over and spared me the pain.   Of course they woke up expecting food but Nick just gave them the binky instead.  He said they cried for about an hour and that is it!  Total!  That's all it took.  All we had to do is skip that 10:30 feeding for one night! We've had a good night's sleep for three weeks now.  So good job, Nick for  helping them learn to sleep and good job, babies for being so wonderful!  Love you all!