You're all welcome

From Betsy

Rolling Betsy

She gets her rolling abilities from me. She did it like 6 times before getting a little tired out.

It's Ballet Betsy

Sorry the images are a little blurry...

Westminster & Croissants

I finally saw Big Ben today! I must confess though, I really thought it'd be bigger. Nonetheless, it was a fun experience and it was pretty cool walking out of the tube station and finding the giant clock standing there right in front of you. Fun Fact: Big Ben is the name of the giant bell inside the clock tower. It took 2 weeks to cool when it was cast, and weighs about the same as an elephant. Also, the clock is wound 3 times a week and the clock keeps ticking due to the gravity that pulls down at the weights on the cables attached to each set of gears. There's also a pendulum that keeps the gears rotating to maintain it's speed, the clock engineers add or remove to the base of the pendulum. That's all I know. Now go impress your friends.
I walked across the bridge to get a better view of the Houses of Parliament and found myself in front of the British Film Museum and the London Eye. Wanting to save the Eye for another day, I opted for the 'Movieum,' as it's nicknamed. Apart from my amazing photo op with Hans Solo and a storm trooper from Star Wars--it was probably the worst 10 pounds I've spent in London thus far. Kind of like a very bland British Planet Hollywood without fries. Halls and halls of Excalibur memorabilia, Charlie Chaplain photos, and proof that America beats London in the field of entertainment ten times over.
Oh--but one tidbit I did find interesting...The Hollywood sign on the hill was originally constructed in 1923 to advertise a new housing development and read 'Hollywoodland.' The 'land' was removed in 1945....one of the misplaced facts in the Chaplain expo. He was in the biz before the sign was even built.
Then it was off for a quick view of Westminster Abby and a lot of walking--cause when it came right down to it, this day was mostly about eating. Kate told me to visit Patisserie Valerie--this cute pastry cafe and had gone on so about the awesome croissant grilled cheeses, that I made it a point to mark the nearest location on my map. When my feet hurt, I decided to brave the bus system and hopped on my first double-decker! I was feeling so proud of myself until I realized that, a) double-decker buses make me sick--all the stopping and the winding streets, etc... and, b) I was headed in the complete opposite direction I had intended to go. When I figured this out, I hopped off as quickly as I could and found myself smack dab in front of a Patisserie Valerie shop...very lucky. I proceeded to enjoy one heck of a croissandwhich and an apple tart--that I must say, would rival my own...if mine ever came close. After a while of getting lost, finding my way back and picking up my weekly dose of Indian from my friends at Bengal, I headed to FHE where I, and 5 other people spent 2 hours wrapping one shoebox for a 'Christmas in Romania' service project. It was just as fun as it sounds. I did meet some very nice girls and one boy, who I think only talked to me because I told him what I was studying and he was an illustrator looking for work....
So, now I'm very full, and very tired, and looking forward to falling asleep as soon as this post i
s finished.

Sundays & Mondays

So, it's 2:41 am and I'm still not asleep, so I decided to write you all and give the rundown of Mary in the UK.
I must admit, it's been a bit slow here, due to the fact that I have 2 classes a week, no social life, and I'm running out of tourist attractions.
My schedule usually starts around 3:30-4:30 am, when I fall asleep. (I don't know why--it's just how it works out here.) I wake up around 10:30-11:30 am and then I get out of bed around 12:30. I shower, clean my room, write a little, do some laundry if it's a Wednesday, and then walk into town to pick up a few sandwiches--(there's a place called Pret here that makes the BEST caprese and I think they're starting to notice the daily drop-ins.) After grocery shopping, I go to a class if it's a Tuesday or Thursday, but usually, I just take the bus back home because I don't like walking in the dark...and it's usually getting close by then because I don't leave my dorm until at least 1:30...(see timeline above.) I listen to music or audiobooks constantly, but find that I don't do a lot of talking out loud throughout my day unless I run into a flatmate in the kitchen and am forced into awkward conversation.
I eat, I edit my writing, I check Facebook ten times more than I've ever checked it in the last three years, and I watch a lot of online TV--onto season 5 in Bones...and I like it. I do this all in bed hoping that I'll get a bit drowsy and possibly nod off before the 3 am mark...but since I've been here, it hasn't happened. I'm currently looking for a job, or at least a volunteer project that will take up some of this time, but so far, nothing, so fingers crossed!
This makes Sunday and Monday especially exciting for me because these are the days I get to go into the real town. Sister Winn and I train in and then tube to the South Kensington Station to go to church. Church has been nice. It's in a tall building and houses several wards, so it's slightly confined--as in the chapel and gym are separated by a curtain wall. Makes sacrament interesting when the other ward is hosting their church basketball tournament next door...or so it sounds.
The people are very friendly and there's a good spirit about the young single adult group which is great because I get the practice talking to other people that I lack throughout the rest of the week.
Monday's are my favorite though, because I make the same trip into London, (minus Sister Winn--poor thing has class on Mondays--the idea!), and take the day to see whatever I want. These are the trips I usually report on: The Tower, Kensington Palace, Harrods, museum after museum after museum... I spend the day exploring--usually at greatexpense to my poor feet--pick up Indian food at this place Kate told me about--they also welcome me as a regular, or their only customer-- and then I go to FHE at the church building. Never been so grateful for YSA activities. It makes for a late night, but evens out my week a bit.
This Monday, I'm headed to either Buckingham Palace, the London Eye, the Sherlock Holmes Museum, or something else...
Last Monday, I headed towards the London Zoo, but was sidetracked when I got lost, found the scariest looking old abandoned hospital, and ended up running into Regents Park. It was a remarkably nice day and the park was SO pretty, that I decided to spend my day there.
In the middle of the park is Queen Mary's Garden, where there are about 330 different kinds of roses--absolutely beautiful, and smelled wonderful--Grandma O. would've liked it. Of course afterwards, I walked through town, passed crowds of tourists filing into Madame Tussuad's, looked down on them like a local, and made a mental note to return some day with a friend so I can get a picture with a famous wax person. I picked up my Indian take out and may have inadvertently flirted with my cashier friend, Fez, cause he threw in a free Coke. I then headed to FHE where I was warmly welcomed into a going away party for a set of missionaries I didn't know...but cried anyway while they were saying their goodbyes.
So, that's the news so far. I think I'll take another stab at sleep-it now being 4:23 am. If you have any suggestions, (books to read, music to download, places to visit, stories to write), PLEASE send them my way! Love you all!

Curious goat from Gardner Farms —love how the girl kicks...

Curious goat from Gardner Farms —love how the girl kicks...

Curious goat from Gardner Farms —love how the girl kicks him

Will talking about riding on old paint at Gardner Farms

Will talking about riding on old paint at Gardner Farms

Will talking about riding on old paint at Gardner Farms

7’s first horseback riding lesson on Patches —the...

7’s first horseback riding lesson on Patches —the...

7’s first horseback riding lesson on Patches —the $30k horse.

Happy Birthday Little D!

Happy Birthday Little D!: "

Happy Birthday Little D!

"

David's Birthday

Happy Birthday David.  We all love you and wish you the best  day ever!  Love you MOM

Jack's Pack Meeting

Jack's Pack Meeting: "

So we went to Jack’s first pack meeting. Jack got over the fact that we didn’t get to the Den Leader in time to make sure he received his badges just in time for the guest speaker —an SLC Arson Inspector.

This guy did a great job —very interesting stuff. However, some of the content (think *slide show*) might not have been exactly “age appropriate”. Here a few of my favorite “paraphrased quotes”:

1) Arson Guy: We call gasoline “Scout Juice” because some Scouts use it to create fires…but don’t do that.

2) Arson Guy: I hope nobody sees the dead body in this picture.

Scouts: Where’s the dead body?

Arson Guy: Well, you can see the charred black skull here (pointing). This guy was the victim of a chair fire. You can see he tried to get up but it was too late. He fell over in front of his chair where he died.

3) Arson Guy: This is a picture of a dual suicide fire where two people lit themselves on fire inside their car.

Scouts: Why would they do that?

Arson Guy: Well, they weren’t too happy with life.

4) Arson Guy (explaining a house explosion): This lady was sleeping right here and took the last ride of her life 10 feet in the air, then fell down through her floor to the basement. Then her roof fell in on top of her. She died.

5) Arson Guy (explaining investigative techniques): One of the things we look for is a tail. The arsonist leaves a trail of gasoline away from the target so it can be lit safely.

6) Arson Guy: Teenagers are very resourceful and inquisitive. They get on the internet and find out how to make pipe bombs, acid bombs, dry ice bombs, and Mentos bombs. All of those are illegal. Well the Mentos bomb isn’t illegal.

7) Arson Guy (wrapping up): So, if you don’t go to college and get a high-paying job —the Fire Department’s been good to me.

8) Jack to Arson Guy (after the presentation): Have you ever seen a house fire where there was gasoline all over the basement?

Arson Guy: Yep

Jack: No, I mean the *whole* basement —like *flooded*?

Arson Guy: Yep

Jack: Cool
"