Arriving Home - May 16, 2014

So while we were in the air flying over the ocean and the United States, many preparations were being made:

All the goodies the kids know we like

Beautiful bouquet of flowers

Welcome home sign - flowers in the flower pot

And the promised marigolds from Targhee.  Monica and Targhee worked really hard to have everything all clean and spit spot for us and it truly was.  Allison and Tabor came a few days early and gave some assistance along with Melanie.  I think Natalie and Tiffany took their turn helping Monica with what needed to be done.  We appreciate everything everyone did.  We truly felt welcomed home.

Two cuties waiting at the airport
Annie and Leilani all grown up

TJ grown up too

They knew I would do that!  We thought we'd look festive in bright African colors when we arrived - the kids loved it

I think everyone was cheering because Annie is holding her ears

We finally got to see and hold Caleb Adam Ramsey who was born while we were gone

Even though he didn't know us, he let me hold him because he liked my necklace

Hugging Leilani

Hugging TJ

Alyssa, Jeff, Sheridan, and Grandma with TJ

Grandpa and big tall Cade - he grew a ton!

Hugging Allison, Ammon holding TJ, Sheridan

Grandpa and Annie


Hugging Monica

Hugging Melanie

Grandpa and Allison

Hugging Natalie

Grandpa and Monica

Grandpa and Dallin

Hugging Natalie

Meeting Josh, Brooklyn's boyfriend for the first time

Hugging Preston

Hugging Tabor

Hugging Targhee,
Monica, Tony, Leilani, Annie, and Tabor

Meeting Tony, Natalie's new husband
Tony's daughter Alicia

Aww, I've missed my recliner

And this is how we were for the next few weeks.  I'm sure I'm asleep somewhere

We didn't know who would be there to greet us besides our Utah family but we were pleasantly surprised to see Allison and her family and Melanie

Josh, Preston, and Dallin eating the food the girls had prepared for those who came to the house.  Ross and I were in a daze and don't remember much of any thing that happened the weeks after we got home.  Jet lag and after mission fatigue are true ailments

We brought home souvenirs for everyone - Annie and Leilani are modeling their skirts and necklaces.  Everyone got a Book of Mormon with an African map on the front made of animal skin.  They were cool

Our first request was to go to Garcias for dinner.  Front to left:  TJ, Caleb, Allison, Annie, Tabor, Alyssa, Jesslyn, Natalie, Tony, Sam, Nathan, Isaac, Alicia, Grandma, Grandpa, Melanie, Targhee, Leilani, and Monica
I think it was yummy but I don't remember

It was Annie's birthday a few days before so they sang to her

Then she opened presents and we had birthday cake on Sunday

She turned a big three

Our welcome home was held the Sunday right after we got home.  The table clothes and pictures are from Africa.  The girls did everything - I just did what they told me

Targhee and Aunt Leslie

Laura, Allison, and Tabor

Tony Leavitt talking to his relative, Cecil Leavitt who was with us on our mission, Ross, Betty Rae, Sister Leavitt, and Steven Sparks, one of our missionaries from Plain City, Sister Day from Roy, Elder Day was still on  mission

Jesslyn, Jordan and Alicia Leavitt, Alyssa, Caleb and Sam Leavitt and Cade

I'm hugging Elder Day's mom

Aironn and Gary Bishop, Allison and Amy?

The Baxters and Blakes from our mission

There's plenty for the kids to do in our back yard.  The yard was all green and mowed and trimed so nice.  Monica and Targhee lived in and took care of our house while we were gone and we are so grateful to them.
These were pictures of just a few of the people there.  We weren't able to talk with everyone but we appreciated all those who came and supported us:  Coleen and Albert, Vera and Doug, Jay and Annette, Floy and Tom, Nada and Riley, Leslie and Laura, Gary and Aironn, Kevin and Amy, Scott and Christy, and Lance and Celeste.  All of our family were there except Callie and Tara and we would see them in July.  I'm sure I've forgotten others but I was still in jet lag daze and don't remember much.  It took time to adjust to being home but there truly is no place like home.
We truly were blessed while we were gone and our family was blessed but it was good to be home.
Since we weren't able to talk to everyone who came, the next week we started visiting as many of our family as we could.  Ken and Venice didn't come  because Venice was very sick.  Ross felt like we should go see them first.  We spent a lovely afternoon with Ken and Venice and six weeks later Venice past away.  We were very grateful that we had that time with her.

LONDON!!

We loved London - after we figured out the train. We stayed in a motel not too far from the airport and then walked to the train terminal.  You could go anywhere and see anything if you understood the train system.  When we did, we just sailed. 

I loved the quaint streets and fun restaurants and shops.  We ate our first fish and chips in a corner shop like this

It rained the fist day but we were prepared.  This was our first stop - Kensington Palace

Then on to Big Ben and the Parliament House behind it

(don't remember anything about the dude with the green hair)

Does the architecture style remind you of anything?

I'm reminded of the Salt Lake Temple

We heard Big Ben gong every hour

Westminster Abby.  We spent quite a bit of time inside but you could spend days and days

The other side of the Abby

This place is called Bag of Nails and is where we had Fish and Chips - yum

The ornate gates to Buckingham Palace

Fountain and statue outside the gates

Buckingham Palace

The famous guards.  We didn't stick around to watch the changing thereof - too much else to see and too little time

The park next to the palace was so plush and green

This was called the Mews where they kept the carriages and horses used by Royalty

And fancy cars

This carriage is made of solid gold and is only used for coronations.  They have to remove a wall to get it out of the building

It is pulled by four horses.  I could swear I saw one of the riders blink they look so real

Our next stop was the Tower of London

I took this before I realized I wasn't suppose to take any pictures inside.  It's somebody"s throne:)

Another part of the Tower

And another.  There is so much to see here - we only touched a fraction of it until our legs and backs gave out

Armour extraordinaire

The Tower Bridge

The bridge from the boat.  We took a river tour - beautiful

Scenery from the boat.  Don't know what this was but it was cool

Same with this building

A different view of Big Ben

The Eye of London - the most popular tourist attraction in London.  Ross wanted to ride it because of it's amazing engineering structure.  We did but I thought it was over rated and over priced

Another view of Big Ben

Trafalgar Square 

We saw Wicked at the Apollo Victor Theater at the West End

We were so proud of ourselves that we found our way to Windsor Castle - you had to transfer trains quite a few times but we did it!

We had ear phones and did a self guided tour

The St. George's Chapel- again we saw all we could see of the castle and cathedral until our legs and backs were done

The guard at Windsor Palace - they look very young

Last but not least - we saw Les Mis in this theater