New Students

Where are "my" students? Every day before dinner we have a devotional as a group. We spend 15 minutes together in the parlor as Rodger and the rest of the staff give announcements, there's a spotlight and a spiritual thought and then a prayer for the dinner. Yesterday we met for devotional with our new group. It was really strange...our "normal" students were gone. It was kind of emotional. I love my other students and am missing them.

But today at dinner we had a really fun time getting to know some of the students who sat with us. Our family of seven takes up most of the table so we usually don't have very many sitting with us. Well, because we have more students this term, there were extra chairs. Three very outgoing guys sat at our table plus two girls. They LOVED our kids and even got shy Heather and Laura to talk. Something the previous students NEVER did. They didn't really try with Heather and Laura. And that's OK, I just thought it was cool that Heather and Laura were laughing and talking a little so early in the semester.

I asked the guys to "collect" my kids when they go out to play soccer or baseball. We have all the equipment so they have to come up anyway. It was refreshing to have such outgoing and funny guys here. I loved my other guys, but they were so different. Maybe it's just partly because it's spring term?? Anyway, I'm excited to get to know these new people in the center.

Tomorrow: The Museum of London and St. Paul's Cathedral. Here we go again!

Laura's Birthday and Chessington World of Adventures Park

We celebrated Laura's 13th birthday with Grandma and Grandpa Cooper. How fun it was to have them visit. We also went to Chessington World of Adventures park just for the fun of it. There were no crowds at all. We just walked on the rides with no lines. Daniel was so proud of himself because he went on the Run Away train (big thunder mountain type of ride) probably 5 or 6 times. He LOVED it!

Leeds Castle

One of the benefits of having stranded students is we had an extra coach trip day to keep them occupied. We were able to take a trip to Leeds Castle in Kent. The ride down was a TOTAL drag as all three of my boys and one student tossed their cookies more than once! The route through London took over an hour! I mean just through the downtown area. Lots of traffic on one way streets. Bumpy with tight turns. I was queasy and so were some others. But the castle and the castle grounds were beautiful. There was a difficult maze, an aviary which we missed, a wild bird show that was really good, and lots of other birds and Tulips everywhere. This is their Tulip Festival time.

Susan Howe helping Daniel feed the peacock

Albino Peacock

                                                                            

Black Swan couple and nest

Looking at the sun dial

Daniel with British Preschool Boys during the bird show

It's Official

Well...we're definitely not going to Italy. Heather is really bummed. She wanted to go back to Florence so bad.  The airlines made it official first then Scott made it official last night as he canceled our apartment bookings. It's sad, but I also feel relieved. We will have some family time this week though. Scott and some of the kids will go ice-skating to finish celebrating Laura's birthday and tomorrow we'll go to a theme park outside of London. (like Bush Gardens) The kids are excited about that.

The students have been troopers about their canceled flights. I think having some "normal" routine things like devotionals is helping. Also knowing they have a place to stay. My instincts are to make a HUGE batch of cookies and read stories to them! I'm such a pathetic and protective mom! I'm actually glad to have them around a little longer. I hope the airlines start flying again for their sakes though. I know it has been stressful for some.

We're stuck!

Actually that wouldn't be a bad thing. Because of the volcano eruptions in Iceland all the airports here are closed. We have a trip to Italy planned starting next Tuesday. It's possible things will be up and running by then. It depends on the volcano and the wind. But scientists are saying they don't see an end in sight. Scott and I are so traveled out right now, it's nice to think of not having any commitments and just resting up before the new term starts. It's going to be even more travel intensive because Spring and Summer terms have less time to do things.

What is really sad right now are seeing these 19-20 year old students stuck here. Some have parents here too. Their parents aren't staying at the center though. But all flights have been canceled. The girls were in tears and basically not coping well at all. I think they had visions of becoming homeless on the streets of London. It's interesting what the mind can do to a person and it's like a chain reaction. As soon as two or three start crying, then they all do. Some have been really freaked out.

In fact they stopped cleaning up after themselves and now the mice are back. One of the dorm bathrooms was left such a mess that the house cleaners refused to clean it. I won't elaborate. Upset parents called the BYU president. He was livid that they called him! Weird. Scott compared it all to The Lord of the Flies. He was exaggerating of course.

They had a meeting with the students this morning telling them they won't become homeless and that they can stay for a while. But they still need to find a way home. Scott said there are extra funds that can be moved from other budgets to help pay for food. The students are going to need to eventually train it to the south, like Spain, and fly from there. But they are waiting first to see if things clear up here.

What a mess. I'm glad we're not trying to get home. I might be in tears too. Actually, if I wasn't so tired, a trip to Italy and Greece sounds cool too!

North of England 5 day trip

What a whirlwind of a trip! But it was so cool to see so many things in just a few days. I'm learning so much about British history, authors, and I just LOVE the English countryside. I think that's one of my most favorite things here AND everywhere! The kids are troopers. Yes they whined and complained, but not as much as they used to. Heather is actually taking more pictures and looking at things more than she did when we started waaay back in September. The coach rides were long, but no motion sickness this time! Yay! Usually one or more of my boys gets sick so it was nice to not have to deal with THAT. Here is a list and pictures of the places we visited:

Day 1: Chatsworth House, The Bronte Home, spend the night in York.
Day 2: York Wall, York Minster, Fountains Abbey, spend the night in Durham Castle.
Day 3: Durham castle and Cathedral, Hadrian's Wall, William Wordsworth home (Dove Cottage), spend the night in Hawkshead in the Lake District.
Day 4: Hike to Beatrix Potters home (Hill Top Farm), Preston (Church History and Temple) Spend the night in Liverpool.
Day 5: Liverpool and drive back to London.

Day 1
What a fun day! The drive was kind of long, but it was worth it. In case you haven't noticed, I like Pride and Prejudice. So visiting the Chatsworth House was a treat. This is the house used for "Pemberly" in the 2005, Kierra Knightly, version of Pride and Prejudice. The Duke and Dutchess of Devonshire have lived her since the 1500's I think. Obviously not the same people. The gardens were beautiful and there was a dress up area for the kids to goof off in. These are one of the more wealthier royalty and it shows in the house.

 Where Mr. Darcy runs down to get Elizabeth

 Entry room

Library

Sculpture room

After the Chatsworth House we drove to the moors where the Bronte home is. (Charlotte, Emily, and Anne) The house was just a house but it was set in a beautiful area. Unfortunately people there died at an early age. The average life expectancy was 26. The water was contaminated with raw sewage, but they didn't realize that was the problem. Sad. we enjoyed a walk in the moor area, but never made it to the area that Emily Bronte wrote about in Wuthering Heights. It was too wet and muddy.

Bronte home. how would you like to have a "yard" like this?

Church across from the Bronte home. This style church is all over England.

Heather with the horses as we walked to the house.

 Turn right to go to the moors. Cool pathway and just as it was.

The pathway to the moors.

Day 2
After the Bronte Home we drove to York. We didn't have time to do anything in the evening except eat a late dinner. In the morning we walked along the York Wall which was built in the Middle Ages to protect the city. It took us close to the York Minster. We had a guided tour of it which turned out to be really good. My favorite part was when the guide told us about the mischievous builders who, instead of making normal ornate touches, put things like fighting unicorns, funny faces on the carved men, etc. in the "secular" room where the clergy conducted meetings.  He also encourages tourists to lie on the floor to take pictures of the ceiling. He keeps track of how many so we had the students lie down to help him with his contest.

 Fighting unicorns(it's just supposed to be carved leaves)

Man covering mouth of woman

Students taking a picture

In case you're curious--this is what they were taking a picture of

After York Minster we drove to Fountains Abbey. This Abbey is in ruins even though it was built during the Middle Ages with all the rest of them. it was abandoned though and not taken care of.

Then we drove to Durham and stayed in this castle. Durham Cathedral is behind it in one of the pictures. We were lucky enough to watch and listen to Even Song

The lighted upper windows are to our common room.

Our common room

 Exploring the castle

Day 3
On the third day we drove to Hadrian's Wall which is an ancient Roman fort built back in the days of the Roman Empire. This was Scott's favorite place to visit. It was sooo biting cold, windy, (so windy you couldn't really hear people talking) and snowing. Everything was wet and slippery. Daniel and Jacob cried because they fell and were freezing. And of course Scott wanted them to see everything. My protective instincts kicked in though and I rescued them. Scott was just excited about it and it is cool to see how the Romans lived and how advanced they were, but enough was enough. Scott enjoyed it alone.

Heated floor system using hot water that heated

the tiles and up to the floor.

Here is Daniel crying and wearing my scarf to help keep warm.

Huddling down to keep warm

After Hadrian's Wall we drove to the beautiful Lake district to the poet William Wordsworth's home called "Dove Cottage." Then on to his second home nearby.

Dove Cottage

His second home to accommodate a growing family.

View from second home

Day 4 Beatrix Potter's neighborhood then to Preston for some Church history and then to the Preston Temple.
 I LOVED Hawkshead, near Beatrix Potter's home. It was so pretty. I love the Lake District.  We stayed the night in a pretty hostel and were able to take a walk around the area that evening. The kids got their wiggles out climbing and running around. It was fun to see so many sheep grazing with their baby lambs. These sheep. "Beatrix Potter" sheep are a breed that almost died out. But Beatrix Potter "saved" them and she also bought acres and acres of land to protect it from being developed. It kept farmers in business and now we have a beautiful place to visit.

Preston was just OK except I liked the Temple. The church history sites weren't very interesting or exciting though.

These stone walls are only in this part of England.

Beatrix Potter's home, "Hilltop Farm." Pretty humble for someone who was so wealthy.

Our Hostel

 Preston Temple

Day 5 Liverpool.
I thought Liverpool was kind of seedy, but it was neat to see where our ancestors emigrated to America from. In the picture, the kids look bored listening to Scott explain things to them, but they actually asked questions and showed interest. Still...we laughed when we saw the picture. Especially Scott.

 The Beatles museum that I wanted to go in

Why I didn't.

     You can see that Daniel had had enough.

 Feeling Better.

Scott teaching the kids.

Out to the Atlantic

Statue donated by the Mormon Church of an Emigrating family