christmas//mission farewell.

This Christmas was one for the books! It was the first time everyone has been together since before Zach's mission, and it won't happen again for two years. I finally got to meet my nephew {who is the cutest kid you've ever seen} and I got to hang out with the rest of my nieces and nephews. It was great to have the whole family back together! We're just as crazy, and loud, and hilarious {at least I think so} as I remember. For Christmas Ryan, Tiffany, and Zach are digitizing all of the family videos so that made for a lot of quoting and memories {"MMOOOMM, can you movie me doing a little dance?" "Zach, buddy, that's not cereal, that's laundry detergent."} All around, it was a fun&laughter filled week.

Caitlin was Mary for our Nativity play! Cutest Mary, am I right?

Is it really a Christmas Eve program without Mom and Danielle's Sleigh Ride duet??

Then we had even MORE family get into town for my farewell! My Aunt and her family made it as well as a few cousins on my dad's side and my sweet Grandma. We ate lots of food {surprise}, played lots of games {surprise}, and talked {a lot. surprise.} and I loved it. I have the greatest family in the world!

A picture in which both Danielle and Evan are blurry. photography skills.

My awesome sister-in-law and cousin were the masterminds behind this hot cocoa bar! ISN'T IT CUTE?? Thanks Tiff!

And that is the {not so complete} story of how grateful I am for my family. It's going to be a bittersweet 18 months without all of them.

Utah & New Mexico.

My flight home from London was an adventure. Let's first remember I no longer have a cell phone and I was tired and had spent the first good chunk of the day crying {it sounds like I cry a lot... I really don't. just when I'm forced to leave the most beautiful city in the world} My flight from Chicago to Denver was super delayed so I missed the connecting flight to Montrose. My parents and I were planning to leave the next morning to drive to Salt Lake but the little guy at the counter was bound and determined that I couldn't do anything but get on the next flight for Montrose {which, by the way, wasn't until 11:30 am the next day}.

So at this point I haven't eaten real food for 32 hours, I've been awake for 23 hours straight, and I'm frantically trying to figure out what to do by iMessaging my dad since I don't have any American coins to pay for a payphone and, well... it definitely wasn't a high point in my life. But the good news is that the angry man sent me to the United help desk and that lady was my favorite human being in the world. She took pity on me and as soon as the airport was paging me on behalf of my parents, she told me "hun, I'm not letting your daddy's little girl spend the night in the airport! We're getting you home!" {United is my favorite airline now btw} And so I flew straight to Salt Lake where Danielle picked me up and I got to sleep in and it was lovely. {and my luggage didn't make it but at least I had a bed so it was worth it}

My mom and I spent Friday afternoon mission shopping {small town CO girls don't have the luxury of lots of mission appropriate clothing stores... so we had to get all the shopping done in 4 hours} then Friday night I went through the temple! I've always loved the Oquirrh Mountain temple and it was so special having my parents, Danielle and Jayson, and Zach there!

and if you can't tell, it was super, super windy and freezing cold^^

And Saturday we went to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir concert! This concert is seriously one of my favorite nights of the entire year and I can't imagine Christmas without going. Well, Cady drove up and went with us! I LOVED seeing her for the first time since July! I missed her. And 2016//2017 when Cady, Kayla, and I are reunited is going to be the best thing since sliced bread. And I'm pretty excited for it.

Then we finally made it home!...for two whole days. And we were off to Albuquerque for my cousin's wedding. AND I GOT TO GO TO THE SEALING. guys, someday I'm getting married in the temple and I am so stoked. Plus all my mom's brothers and sisters were there and quite a few cousins. It was so fun to see everyone before I leave!

After the wedding we drove to the valley for the reception and my mom thought Zach and I were crazy for laughing when we were driving through the snow. The exact quote was actually "how can you be like this when we're staring death in the eye!?" ...needless to say, we just laughed harder. and the good news is that we survived so it's all good.

and we also saw lots of big horned sheep...^^ 

and I'm convinced these kids know more about technology than me......

BYU London Centre {post-remodel}.

I've had quite a few people ask for pictures of the London Centre! The London Centre, 27 Palace Court, is located in the Nottinghill area of London near Hyde Park and Kensington Garden. It's made up of two Victorian townhouses built in the late 1800's.

Palace Court

Entryway

Entryway

Living room

Library {aka where I lived a lot of the time}

Dining room

servery... where we ate all our meals

just imagine 1 fridge and 40 people. good times, man.

coming down stairs. off to the right is the dining room and living room and to the left {which you can't really see} is the library

BEST ROOM

View from Room 2 window

And I somehow managed to not take a picture of the bathrooms or the downstairs. but that's the idea of it!

saying goodbye to london.

Wow, it's been so long since I've blogged. It's been pretty busy since I got home!

After finals were finally over, we spent the last couple of days wandering London: going to our favorite spots, eating our favorite foods, and trying our best not to be too sad about leaving.

The Hannahs and I spent the morning riding the buses and hoping off whenever we wanted to. We found muffles {marshmellow truffles}, macaroons {they said they were delicious... I don't think there's such a thing as delicious macaroons}, and adorable little streets. We also spent a couple hours in the Natural History Museum, which, by the way, is architecturally incredible.

my eyes are closed... #GoMe

Then we spent the afternoon with all the girls of room two. We rode the London Eye at sunset then headed to Covent Gardens for dinner {which didn't work out... who knew we should make a reservation for 14 girls (; ???} We were given the perfect last day... sunny and blue skies. Oh London.

until the Shard was built, the London Eye {giant ferris wheel} was the tallest point in London!

Then we walked along the Thames and through the South Bank Christmas market. And it was beautiful and really, really sad.

And later that night Zoe showed us this video which looked exactly like walking down the Thames towards St. Pauls and all 14 of us sat on one bunk bed crying and yeah, that happened. I miss those girls.

After dinner, Hannah W and I rode the bus through all the London Christmas lights. We admired the windows of Harrods and just enjoyed the last night in London.

And to end our night, we had one last Study Abroad meeting to all say goodbye {it was past 11 p.m. hence the pjs}

BEST PROFESSORS EVER. I loved Professors Underwood & Benfell and Mama Underwood and Mama B!