Next stop, Paris!

We were so excited to go to France! We took a train from London to Paris, the Chunnel, which was really neat. The whole ear popping thing? Happened to me. It's cool to say I have taken a train under the ocean. 

Once we got to Paris we checked into our hotel and then walked around. It included walking by Notre Dame, and then to the Gaykery (really a gay bakery called le gay choc). They have delicious breads and pastries that my sister discovered on her study abroad. That followed with a bus ride and walk to the Eiffel Tower! We didn't want to pay to go up so just laid in the grass until the sun went down. We also walked across the river and were quite entertained by some street performers. The night ended with a river cruise on the Seine. A perfect day to start in Paris. 

^^crepes, yum! 

The next day was packed. We went to Notre Dame, the Louvre, Musee d'Orsay, the Orangerie, the Arc d'Triumph all while walking the whole city. We were exhausted by the end to say the least. 

^first time seeing Mona

The third day we went to Versailles. It was spectacular and a warm, sunny day! The line to get into the house was huge and took forever, but afterwards we had lunch and rented bikes to ride around the gardens in. The bikes are awesome and I highly recommend it to anyone going to Versailles! 

^^how cute is my sister, Aimee! 

Cheers! Vacation stage #3 to London!

After California we flew to England! My sister and her family are living there this year so we decided to go and visit. It was the perfect excuse to get over to Europe and we loved our time there with my family! 

Our first stop was London! Some highlights include: Highclere Castle (aka Downton Abbey), Hyde Park, Harrods, the Harry Potter studio tour, Westminster Abbey, Tower of London, Borough Market, and much more! 

We then rented cars and drove to Stonehenge and Bath! We then spent two nights staying at a bed & breakfast in the Cotswolds. The next stops included Stratford upon Avon, Gadfield Elm Chapel, Bourton on the Water, Blenheim Palace and Oxford. 

England is so amazing! I was so excited to go back and show David where I studied abroad! We loved it and were so excited for France! 

Summer stop #2: California

After we spent time with our families in Kansas, we headed out to California with David's family! It was so fun. First we flew into LA and spent the day at the Santa Monica pier. 

Afterward we drove up to Santa Barbara, aka my new favorite place. Seriously though, I wish I could live there. We stayed at this fabulous place right on the beach and it was a blast. Plus the hotel had bikes you could take and ride around. It was awesome.

The next day we headed up to Santa Maria, where David's grandparents live. His grandfather turned 80 this year so the family threw a surprise birthday party for him. His family is awesome and he had no idea! Plus everyone in the family was there except one grandson on a mission, which is pretty impressive. The party was the cutest ever and now I want David's cousins to plan every event I go to. Look how adorable: 

 

The next day we went to Vandenberg AFB to go shooting (my first time) and then to the beach. Gotta love Cali! 

There's no place like home! Summer vaca pt. 1

This year's summer vacation was a big one, mainly because we were gone for a month and celebrated our anniversary on another continent. The first stop on our month long adventure was home. We flew back to Kansas for two things: 1) My sister, Aimee,  graduated from high school and 2) David's brother  Daniel, came home from his mission. It was a blast!

My sister is awesome:

 So excited she will be out at the Y this fall!

All of us after graduation. We are so proud of Aimee and excited for her next adventures in Utah with us!

The next week was when Daniel came home from his mission in Houston, TX that he served for two years for our church. Everyone was there and we were rocking the matching T's. (Daniel-Bob is his nickname)

Just Waiting:

 And he's home!

Since I don't have any brothers this is the closest thing I'll ever have to welcoming a missionary home. It was so fun being with the whole family for the first time since we've been married! Plus we had some great family photos taken: