Cheers!

WARNING:  THIS IS A LONG AND LIKELY BORING POST

So my (Michael's) parents finished their two-year long service in the England, Manchester LDS Mission and the whole clan (Anna and me, eight siblings and seven spouses--17 of us) got to tour the UK before escorting them back home.  Another once in a lifetime experience filled with many great memories.  19 people, two vans, first stop: LONDON. 

We experienced most of the public transportation common to London: train ride into Victoria station, the tube (subway), and even a double decker bus.  We got to see Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Parliament House, Westminster Abbey, and the Tower of London, complete with Crown Jewels and all, and no one was mugged, lost, or jailed, so a pretty successful first day.

Westminster Abbey was the most impressive, mostly because of all the history buried there.

"He didn't!  Oh, how scandalous, darling. You must tell me more... The noise?... Oh, just your everyday hustle and bustle of London traffic...."

Thought about getting this apron, but the feminine apron/masculine armor dichotomy was a little too much to overcome.  Maybe it's not so weird here in London.

The London Temple grounds were very charming, so Anna fit right in.

Stonehenge was incredible, and yes nearly every casual shirt I own whispers "rise and shout..." Get used to it.

Bath was also impressive.  Forgetting herself, Anna nearly made a splash of her own.  Notice the form: I'd say strong to very strong.

At Anne Hathaway's cottage (William Shakespeare's wife).

I told you not to jump into the water at Bath! (Outside Warwick Castle)

Warwick Castle's great hall.  Very cool, especially for all things Y chromosome.

From the castle wall looking out onto the town's cathedral where Joan of Arc was condemned to meet her maker. 

We spent a few days on the Isle of Man where Mom and Dad stayed the full two years.  Great people.  The country emblem suggests that wherever they are thrown they will land on their feet.  We saw the town and cottage where Waking Ned Devine was filmed, the TT motorcycle race course, and played some mean laser tag with the local ward.  Great people.  Best part of the whole trip.  Good-bye Isle of Man fairys (myth, not slander).  Did I mention the Manx are great people?

(My sister Kim and Anna getting into the Manx spirit.)

Irish Sea and Peel Castle in the background, eating some very good Davidson's ice-cream.

Back in Liverpool we saw the docks where several of our very own ancestors left home, family, and country, and got on a boat with little more than a few pounds to their name and their strong faith, to go to Zion.  This seemed a sacred spot to us.

After a session in the Preston Temple, we were given a personal church history tour around Preston and Chorley.  This was where the first baptisms in Europe took place, where many early apostles and prophets served and taught and where President Hinckley also served as a young missionary.  This memorial, hidden by flowers and flanked by five brothers was a monument to missionaries everywhere.  Could have gotten parents and two sisters in there as well, but this was a brother shot. 

The first baptism outside of America occurred at the bend in this river close to where the tree is.  Cool, huh? We thought so, hence the picture.        

This fountain, if functional, would resemble a well hydrated child.  Reminded us of James, really.

Another sacred baptism site where a whole town, converted by early missionaries joined the church.

 

This is looking out of the church in Downham, where many of the congregation was baptised, and left for Zion.  The hill in the background is said to have ancient religious significance as well.  Anna and I sang a couple of hymns to ourselves and enjoyed the acoustics.

Thought I'd throw these in there since we saw green pastures, sheep and stone walls throughout the entire trip: England, Isle of Man, and Scotland.

 On our way up to Scotland we stopped at Carlisle Castle where brother-in-law Gabe's g.g.g.g.g.... grandfather King David ruled Scotland. 

Then we just had to see Hadrians Wall. It was incredible to walk on this 2000 year-old wall and check out the roman fort ruins.

(If you look closely you can see the wall extend over the ridge.)

This ancient hunting lodge for Scottish royalty was converted to a youth hostile overlooking Loch Lomond.  It was a really neat place to stay.

A scenic rest-stop in the Scottish highlands with pipers and all.  Spectacular and enchanting. 

Also spectacular and enchanting: my very own, very bonnie, highland coo... wanting a kiss.

Another castle (Urquhart) on the famous Loch Ness.

 At Culloden (last and deciding battle rubbing out Scotland's claim on the throne and attempt for independence), this fine gentleman from Ohio takes his heritage very seriously. 

 Inverness was one of our favorite spots.

"Aye laddie, and the haggus is good, too."

 And the Loch Ness was cold...even before we got into the water.  All appendages were accounted for, though numb. Nessie must not have been too hungry this time, and left us alone.  Crazy Americans!

 Some less crazy than others.  Still very cold.

 And beautiful.

From Inverness to Edinburgh.  One pit stop in St. Andrew's, the birthplace of golf, and home of the most prestigious university in the UK.  Here Mom, Dad and I are at the "Old golf course."

 Edinburgh castle.  Ominous, and impressive.

Edinburgh to Amsterdam, then on to Portland.  During the last flight we experienced the strange sensation of having it be 11am for 10 hours.  Home at last where we had Josie Grossie eagerly awaiting our return.

I know it was long and travelogish, but that is what most of you fans were chanting for.  Thank you Mom and Dad for setting such a great example to us and our children in serving so honorably and for making this priceless trip possible.  We had a smashing good time and a lovely experience.  Cheers!

Takin' Taiwan

As you know, gentle readers, two of my brothers have been in Taiwan serving 2-year church missions: Pietr in the north, Adam in the south.  It is unusual for two brothers to go to the same place at the same time, and they have loved it.  Here's one reason why...

Adam
4/4/11:  There is a boy that Pietr taught several times in Taibei that got referred down here!  He said he had met with the missionaries there a couple times before coming back south for school.  I asked him where in Taibei and he told me Shi Lin!  I couldn't believe it.  I asked him who the missionaries there were and he said "it is actually rather strange, he was also named shen zhang lao."  Yeah, that is certainly a miracle.  He (his name is Joseph Lin) is a very smart kid.  He has been going to various Christian churchs with friends and such, and though he says he has felt the spirit/God's influence, he says he is not sure from what source it is coming.  I asked him a lot of questions to understand [him] and in following lessons we focused on his concerns.  Our last lesson was especially intense... One of the most epic lessons of my mission.

4/18/11:  Joseph, the boy I told you about that Pietr taught, passed his interview this week with flying colors and will be baptized next week.

Art Lessons

At the close of sacrament meeting yesterday, I looked over and saw Jacob with his arm around William, trying to console him.  Will was very sad because he couldn't draw monsters very well.  He had been trying all through the meeting and just couldn't get it right.

When we came home Jacob announced he was having a special monster drawing class especially for Will.

Lesson 1: The Lizardworm.  This one especially appealed to Will for obvious reasons.  (Jacob's demonstration drawing you will find on the bottom right.  This was the goal.)

Certificate of Completion for Lesson 1 drawn up by the instructor, filled out by the student.

Lesson 2: The Flying Eyeball (again, demonstration on the bottom right)



Certificate of Completion for Lesson 2.

Lesson 3:  Make Up Your Own Monster--the Final Test

William decided to play it safe and combine the two monsters he had already learned.  He called it simply "Death."  Each version of Death has a different power, he told me.  If you look closely you can see them dropping, squirting and shooting various things.

Certificate of Completion for Lesson 3 and graduation for the course:

These are as good as legal documents to William who has been so happy all day, feeling a new sense of accomplishment and ability.  They now hang on the fridge alongside 100% spelling tests and Student of the Month certificates. 

I have always appreciated what a kind and thoughtful brother Jacob is to his siblings.  He is a natural leader and example, and has been a gift to his parents since the beginning.

Babies holding babies holding babies.

Sleep

Will said he only wanted a banana for lunch.  I gave him the banana, we said prayers, then I finished making the pb/js.  By the time I had trotted over to the table to serve the other midgets, this is how much he had eaten:

"Will?  Willy, are you there?"

So I carried him bed.  Jimmer (as he is now called by his brothers) and Audrey finished up and I sent them up to bed.  I tidied up from lunch then went to check on them.  Apparently, this one couldn't summon the strength to get all the way there.

And finally, Michael saw this picture that Clara took of her sister and said, "Yikes, isn't that that possessed doll from those horror movies?"

Conversation

Shortly after Christmas, a conversation with a friend went something like this:

Friend:  "How was your Christmas?"
Me:  "It was actually a pretty stressful season for me this time around."
Friend:  "Yeah, I noticed you didn't get to the Christmas cards this year."
Me:  "Nope.  I got half-way there, then devoted the rest of my Christmas card making time to a nervous breakdown instead."
Friend:  "I'm sorry to hear it.  We were all waiting on pins an needles for the announcement of another Allen.  It's about time, isn't it?"
Me:  "Well, let me announce it over the phone then..."

May I introduce Heidi, the 1 1/2 yr old greyhound/collie (technically a lurcher).

How is Seamus the guard cat with her?  He was tentative at first, but quickly warmed to the benefits of a friend with a penchant for cat food.  This works because he prefers dog food.

How have the kids responded to the added work of feeding, and caring for a dog?

They have embraced it.  Half the blanket closet was lining her bed the first night.  We've since had a little talk about the role of fur...

How has she responded to six lively kids having never had exposure to children before?

 No problems.  I think we struck it rich with this girl.

Friend:  "Was she the cause of your nervous breakdown?"
Me:  "Ironically no.  She was the result."