Summer of Fun-Week 7

Now that we got Daddy to blog his awesome trip, we will catch up on some of our summer activities for this month. 2 weeks ago, Gwen started the week out not feeling very well. She had a couple of lazy days with her favorite show, Care Bears as she rested and recovered. Adam and Tessa were good about entertaining themselves while we were home bound and even did some school work.

 These kids love playing dress up! They got Gwen playing one afternoon and dressed her up as Mary Poppins. Tessa's favorite part about this monkey costume is the bum. 

 On Wednesday, Adam started Basketball Camp. He lives for these 3 days!! I tried not to be the obnoxious mother with the camera, but I had to get some pictures. He had a blast!!

 Warm ups

 Practicing defense

 At the beginning and end of each day, Travis Hansen talks to all the kids about becoming leaders and not followers. They really try to teach the kids about character and becoming good, smart people. Basketball is secondary. I love hearing Travis talk to the kids about the importance of reading and showing gratitude and being leaders. He will call kids out by name and ask them if they are leaders or followers. 

 After camp on Wednesday, the kids and I headed up the canyon for a picnic and to play in the waterfall. It was a great way to spend our afternoon together!

 Before we headed home, we took a long detour up to American Fork and went to a candy factory. The kids had fun watching some of the workers make decorations for lollipops. 

 Wednesday evening (it was a long day), we headed to the Fair Grounds and met up with the Riley's to watch the Flag Retirement Ceremony. Adam wore his scout uniform and actually got to help retire 3 flags. He thought it was awesome to get to help the soldiers!

Saedree, Tessa and Anni

 Adam, Boston, Gwen and Saedree

 Adam is one of those scouts walking a flag to the soldiers.

 Then he ran out and did it 2 more times!

 Gwen just wanted to play with Anni's hair and run everywhere. Thankfully, Daddy was with us. Chasing Gwen is his job these days. 

 Thursday was more Basketball Camp. The girls and I ran some errands and got back just in time to catch Adam helping with the service project for this year. 

 Adam and Charles Abuo

 On Thursday, Adam got picked to participate in a free throw contest and he won! He got a little nerf hoop as a prize and was over the moon thrilled!!

 Thursday afternoon, we met up with Presley and Cooper at Nickel Mania for some arcade fun. Gwen just wanted to ride the horse the entire time. 

 Thursday evening, we checked out the Provo Food Truck Roundup and were mighty impressed!! Eric and I didn't try what we were really wanting cause we let the kids pick a couple of things. Tessa was in heaven with this giant bowl of macaroni and cheese. 

Friday was the last day of camp. Adam got picked for the dance contest. I loved his break dance moves!

 Some one on one games!

 Uncle David came a couple of days to watch and cheer Adam on. 

 Adam and Travis Hansen

 Friday we had Ares here to play with the kids and then we headed up to Orem for a Wanlass Family Reunion. We had a yummy BBQ and then played a fun game of baseball. That's something we always did when we went to the park with Grandpa Wanlass. The kids had so much fun and then ended the evening with a water fight with Uncle Matt. 

 Waldo (Uncle Bill) even made an appearance.

Saturday we took the kids to the movies and saw How to Train Your Dragon 2. Eric likes to tease the kids and call it, How to Drag Your Train 2. They filled up on popcorn and we had a nice afternoon together before heading up for more family reunion time. Another good week of summer!

London 2014

Almost exactly 12 years after my first trip to London I was able to return.  The first time I went was right after my mission.  After 2 years in sweltering Brazilian heat the "frigid" 70 degree London weather felt horrible. This time it felt great.  The 1000 ft tall tower behind me in the picture on the right didn't exist in 2002.  It's nicknamed "The Shard". It was started in 2003 and finished in 2013. 

FBE May 2014

Thames river tour April 2002

In 2002 I went with my mom and dad.  Dad had a business trip and we stayed in the flat that his company was leasing in Canary Wharf.  The trip was about 2 weeks long.  I didn't have work or school or any itinerary so I kind of went wherever I felt like each day. Some days I would get on the tube (subway) and just get off at a random station and see where it took me. 

The Chapel at Windsor Castle 2014

me at Windsor Castle chapel in 2002

Even though this time I was on a tight schedule with a group of 25 other people, I was still able to visit many of the same places.  I got to see Les Miserables again.  I got to visit West Minster Abbey, Big Ben, Windsor Castle, Buckingham Palace, St Paul's Cathedral, The Tower of London, and the British Museum.  There were a few other places I would have liked to revisit but we only had two days in London and we visited HSBC (international bank) and Honeywell (manufacturing conglomerate) during those two days

me and dad at Windsor 2002

Les Mis 2002

Entrance gate to Windsor Castle

outer wall Windsor Castle

The old castles in England are centered around a cylindrical Keep.  The Keep is the old castle built by the Normans when William the Conqueror invaded England in 1066.  The rest of the castle was built up around the Keep over the centuries.  The castles are mini cities. To this day Windsor castle still has permanent residents living there.

Inner wall and Keep at Windsor

me and Mom - Windsor Castle 2002

Buckingham Palace

Palace gates

There was a changing of the guard ceremony when we went to Buckingham Palace this time.  It was packed with crowds.  There was a band on the inside of the gates that played the "Imperial March" from Star Wars.  I'm sure they were full aware of the irony. In 2002 I didn't bother going to Buckingham Palace.  I walked by gates on my way to St James Park. They do tours but you have to book it weeks in advance.  In 2002 I figured since I couldn't go in there wasn't much for me to see.  I'm glad I went back this time and spent more time outside the palace.

In 2002 I got to spend a lot more time in Westminster Abbey. I got to attend a performance by the choir called Evensong in which they sang some of the psalms.  It was absolutely beautiful and made gave me a greater appreciation for the psalms in the Old Testament.

  

This time we really only got to see the outside of Westminster Abbey. I actually got inside this time but only for a few minutes.  I split off from my BYU student group and wandered in with a group of German tourists.  Inside the famous Cathedrals in England there are tombs and memorials to national heroes.  I snapped this picture before they told me I couldn't take any pictures.  Which was unfortunate because they caught me right before I could snap a shot of Winston Churchill's burial plaque. I had to get back out quickly anyway because I didn't tell the BYU group where I had gone and there were waiting for me outside the front entrance.

We went to The Tower of London but just like at Westminster Abbey in 2002 I got to spend a lot of time touring the inside but this time I just snapped a few shots from the outside.  In 2002 me, mom, and dad took a full tour of the Tower of London. It was amazing. We got to see the prison, we saw where Anne Boleyn was beheaded, and we got to see the Crown Jewels.

The Castle Keep in the Tower of London

The entire castle is referred to as the Tower of London.  Just like Windsor, the castle is like a mini city and is centered around the ancient Keep which was built nearly 1000 years ago.

Tower of London with Tower Bridge in the background 

Tower Bridge 2014

Under Tower Bridge on the Thames river tour: 2002

me on the steps in front of St Paul's: 2014

St Paul's in the background: 2002

The last place I got to visit was the British Museum.  Just like when we visited the Louvre I only had about an hour and a half to go through the museum.  The British Museum is massive.  In 2002 I almost skipped going to the British Museum because it sounded boring.  I thought it would be a museum about modern British history. I don't know why I thought that but the museum is like the Louvre or the Smithsonian.  It is a massive network of connected galleries with exhibits and artwork from around the world and throughout history.  I half jokingly say that the British Museum has all the stuff they looted from everybody they conquered over the centuries.