London

This was the last trip we took while mom was here and we were all so excited to get to go!  London, England has been on my bucket list forever.  We spent four full days in London and I felt like we barely scratched the surface.  Because it's been 3 months since we went there are a few details I can't remember, for example what specifically we did each day.  I'll do my best.  Again, I didn't have my camera on this trip, we forgot it.  My biggest regret is not having my camer.  All I can think about is all the hundreds of pics I would LOVE to have.  We arrived around 8 am on May 22nd.  We arrived at our flat and dropped off our belongings and made our way to the London Underground.  Micah had been in London once before and knew how to get around using the underground.  By now we have been to so many countries finding our way around has gotten easier and easier.  It was especially easy in England because everyone spoke English.  Asking for directions is much easier when the person you are asking understands what you're saying.  We took the underground to the Westminster Abbey exit.  The first thing we saw when we made it to the surface was Big Ben and the Westminster abbey.  The boys were so excited to see Big Ben, we watched Cars 2 before we left for England.  :)

 Big Ben.

 Looking across the street once we came out of the underground.

 Mom and Tuck in front of Big Ben.

 I believe we are standing on the London Bridge.  I learned a few things while on this trip, one is why the song London Bridge is Falling Down was written.  Because this bridge was destroyed and rebuilt a number of times. 

 Looking down the river Thames.  (Pronounced Tims)

 I don't remember exactly what order we did things in on day one, but we did go inside the London Aquarium.  We bought tickets at the Aquarium to visit the Aquarium, Madame Tussaud's, the London Dungeon and the Eye of London.  We made sure to include lots of stuff the kids would enjoy since there was going to be a LOT of history we visited.

 The boys enjoyed the aquarium the most.

 All three boys.

 We got to feel the Sting Rays.

After the aquarium we went up in the Eye of London.  The view was amazing. 

Micah, Luke, and Tucker walked over to the glass to get better looks.  Not me.  No sir.  My legs froze and I stayed seated until the ride came to a stop.  For the most part I don't mind ferris wheels, the go around quickly a couple of times and you get off.  As soon as you're at the top you're on your way back down.  You're never at the top for more than a second, unless the ride stops to let people on.  That part does make me a bit unconfortable.  The London Eye goes as the pace of a turtle, it takes 30 to 45 minutes to go all the way around.  You are at the top for a LONG time. 

 Mom had no problem walking over to the glass. 

She may have even teased me a bit.

It really was an amazing view.

 The Westminster Abbey was one of my favorite places to visit.  You are given a head set that walks you through the entire chapel and goes in to great detail everything you are seeing.  There was a charge to get into the Abbey, but the head set tour was free.  I like free.  This was the most amazing chapel I've ever seen.  Everyone should google the Westminster Abbey to see what is inside.  There is no way to go into detail and explain or even attempt to explain what we saw.  It was incredible. 

 I believe this was day two.  I don't remember.  We took a walk through the grounds around Buckingham Palace and found these lovely chairs all over the place.  It seemed like a good place to stop and rest.  That is until a lady came by and asked for money.  Apparently there is a charge to rest here.  So, we hopped up and moved right along.

Buckingham Palace at the changing of the guards.  They were doing construction around the fountain for the Queens Diamond Jubilee, so we got to walk right up to the gate at the palace.  Luke was able to squeeze up all the way to the front to see and snap a few pics.

 You can see the fountain under construction.

The Queen's guard on horseback.

 Changing of the guards.

The palace.

Kensington Palace.

 Princess Diana memorial Park.

 On our third day we took the open bus tour.  I believe this is the Picadilly Circus. 

The tower of London.

 The London Dungeon.

 HMS Belfast.  Me, Micah and the boys took a tour of the ship.  The kids thought this was amazing.

 View of the bridge from the Belfast.

View of the Tower of London from the ship.

Tuck sitting on the huge anchor.

 Mom decided not to join us on the tour of the HMS belfast.  If you look closely behind the light pole you can kinda see mom.  She's wearing a yellow shirt and she's reading.  We yelled to get her attention, but she never heard us.

My favorite part of the day was the Madame Tussaud museum.  It was so cool!  Micah and Travolta "staying alive."

 Luke and Tuck found Shrek.

 Mom and Audrey Hepburn.

 This was one of my favorite pics!

 Mom was so excited to meet Diana.

What you don't see in this photo is Micah touching the Queen's bum.

 Me, Luke, Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I.

 Oh the Beatles.

 The boys posing like Spiderman.

We also found Captain America.  Not photographed here was the small ride that was in the museum.  It was kind've like riding It's a Small World at Disney.  There were little was figures.  The kids loved it.  The ride came after seeing all the wax figures.  Then we were separated.  The kids and mom went one way and me and Micah a different way.  Micah and I went to the part of the museum that held people who had been put to death.  There were wax figures of famous murderers, it was a little creepy.  They were behind bars though.  Apparently Madame Tussaud was commissioned to make the death masks for Marie Antoinette and King Louis.  After the Revolution she, along with her sons, made it out of France alive, and with most all of her works.  They found refuge in England.  Madame Tussaud and her sons opened a museum to show the masks.  The museum caught fire and miraculously none of the masks were hurt.  If this is true then according to the people at the museum the death masks we say of Marie Antoinette and Louis were the originals.  That was kinda creepy.
           This, unfortunately, is where the pics end.  We walked through Hyde Park and visited the original Hard Rock Cafe in three days.  My favorite part of the trip was going to see Wicked.  It was incredible.  The BEST. SHOW. EVER.  On our last day there mom had had enough.  She said she was tired and wanted to stay home.  She insisted on keeping the boys and letting me and Micah take the day to do things the kids would have hated.  She didn't have to tell us twice!  We hit the Tower of London.  At the top of every hour there is a 55 minute free tour given.  The tour is incredible and there was so much information given to us and all that had happened there.  We saw the Crown Jewels and toured every nook and cranny of that place.  There is a special memorial set up inside the grounds of the tower.  The memorial sits on the spot where the executions took place.  These executions were more private and only those inside the tower viewed them.  Anne Boleynn, Henry VIII's 2nd wife was executed on the site.  It was also interesting to see the gate where she entered the grounds for the first time.  According to the story she was hugged by Henry VIII when she arrived and he made a promise to her to protect her for the rest of HER life.  So much has taken place within the tower.  It's a must visit when visiting London.  After four busy days we headed out at 5 am Saturday morning.