July 16, 2008 We have arrived

The girls and I landed a little earlier than expected but we were happy to do it! Arrival time was 8:45, Kevin was to land at 8:15. We made it though customs and to baggage claim. We waited and waited for Kevin, finally we thought we had sat about 45 minutes that we were on our own. After going through another security point, there he was waiting for us! Thank heavens, I don’t know how we would have made it to the hotel. Although Michal was very confident. Kevin bought us train tickets and tickets for the tube for 18£! We took the train to Victoria Station to ride the tube. Our exit to our Marriott was Kensington Park exit. We did a pretty good job getting here. Brad and Andria were already here but the rooms were not ready so they were passed out on the sofas in the lobby. We sat with them till mom and dad showed up. Andria and Brad had taken the taxi to the hotel and probably made it in at least half our time but they paid 60£. While we waited for mom and dad we took bets as to whether they would ride a rickshaw, come by taxi or if dad would win out and they came by the tube. Brad, Kevin and I picked the tube (money rules) and Andria and the girls lost with picking mom and the taxi. The hotel messed up our sleeping arrangements so the girls and I pulled in with mom and took a nap, I slept on the floor while the rest of them took the bed. Kevin and dad went in search of food and Brad and Andria made it to their rooms for a nap and a shower. We all left about 3:30 to find something to eat and see some sights. First we got out of the tube at Oxford circus, near Bond Street. We looked for something to eat but didn’t see much. There was quite a bit of shopping but we were really too hungry to shop. We found a pub called “The Spread Eagle”, which we just found so funny! The food was pretty good but it was really a pub and service was kind of slow. After eating we walked a ton. We ended up in Hyde Park and strolled around and headed to Harrods. Harrods is huge and we plan to go back soon. We lost Kevin and Brad but found them about 30 minutes later than we had said we would meet. Brad’s tummy was giving him problems again. I don’t even remember much of the tube ride back home other than the train was so crowded that Kevin and I missed one of the trains with everyone, but the next one was empty so we were not too upset. Back in the room at 10:00 and we are all bushed!

Plan for tomorrow is to see how the weather holds out, we are either going on a red bus tour or we are going to a museum. Good thing I brought a rain coat! It is supposed to be between 60 and 70 degrees the whole time we are here in London……not sure I am ready for the cooler, I packed for Florida. lol

July 15, 2008 From Jacksonville, Florida

We left our house around 11:00 and Alison was nice enough to drop off us. I should have gotten a picture. We left after V and I took Sadie and Patrick for a short walk around the neighborhood. We met a really nice lady who had two larger dogs but Patrick was being a huge pill so I didn’t get to talk to her much. Kevin’s flight was cancelled, that was the first bad thing that went wrong. He was able to get it all taken care of and ended up getting to Gatwick before us, which was nice. The girls and I flew US Airways and Kevin Delta. Our layover was in Charlotte we landed at 3:14 and left there at 7:55 to arrive in London at 8:45 in the morning (their time). We had a really nice guy that sat next to us with the last name Godwin, he was going to visit his wife and stay in the dorms, she was going to get her masters at Oxford. His TV didn’t work so he left us an extra seat to stretch out on, which was really great. Mom said on their flight she was able to lay down on a row of seats to get some rest.

Summer pictures of the trip

www.hydesummer2008.shutterfly.com

We are going to download all of our pictures to this sight, I don't think we will have the time to say what you are seeing till we get home and can take the time to do it. We are so excited about our trip! Looked at plays in London and tours to take while in England with Kevin, Brad and Andria. See you in a few weeks!

July 4, 2008 Independence day!

Friday, the fourth of July Linda, John, Kevin and I went to camp to pick up the kid's things and listen to their singing before we had to take them away. The singing was wonderful and there was much hugging and crying so everyone took it to Chick-fil-a and they all ate and went out and sang and prayed and hugged some more. lol. Sometime you should ask V and Toogie about speed dating at camp! It sounded very funny! There were more girls than boys so Toogie doubled with another girl to meet the guys. lol

We had a slight snafu with the hotel we were supposed to stay in. Linda forgot that the kids would be with us the next night so we had to call the company she made the reservations with and make a change. You should have seen where they sent us. Linda had no idea! The bed was hard as a rock. LOL Anyway, we ended up at a wonderful place and it worked out well. I think this is going to be a joke with us for a while. After picking the kids up we took them to the hotel to drop off their things. Our girls took a nap and V took a shower. Michal didn't even want to go see the fireworks she was so tired, she ended up sleeping 16 hours! So the rest of us took off for downtown Ashville, NC. The fireworks were great! I would love to go through that town when the stores were open.

I love the first picture! Kevin, John, Linda and I walked to the top of a mountain. (well, we drove most of it) This is a picture at the top, as I said "three" John pretended to knock Linda off the ledge! lol The other picture is of us girls waiting for the fireworks to start! It was a nice cool night! It couldn't have been nicer!

I need to give TK a big shout out for taking care of my puppies so we could go and have such a great time! THANKS!!

July 3, 2008 Camp Courtney

Virginia and Michal before banquet at Camp Courtney.

Some of the girls in Virginia and Toogie's dorm. It was really funny! Without knowing it both Toogie and Virginia packed the same outfit for banquet! Even down to the shoes!
Virginia went with Matt Mountjoy (Mott), Todd and Rick's step brother to banquet. She said he was very nice.

This is Michal with Justin Partain going to banquet. Michal is planning on seeing him again at Kingsport TN bible retreat, July 11, 12 & 13. She can't wait to see him again. (this might be an understatement)

On Wednesday, Me, Kevin, Linda, John and Hayley Haynes took off for NC again. There must have been some trouble at the hotel we stayed in that night because the police kept watching us and asking the clerk if there was any trouble! lol

I think camp this year was wonderful for the girls! Although I don't have a picture of Danielle, Virginia's roommate, Virginia spent most of her time with Danielle. Danielle graduated this year and won't be back next year, Virginia is going to miss her very much. Michal on the other hand spent most of her time with Justin. He seemed like a really nice guy and came over to introduce himself to Kevin and I and then took Michal over to meet his parents. I hear he played guitar while Joel Sloan played banjo, at the talent show. (talking about Joel) It seems Joel tried to do the slip and slide with the kids and maybe bruised his ribs this year......ouch! As always singing at camp was wonderful and the kids hated to leave! We wish it was two weeks long every year!

June 29, 2008 FC camp

6:30 Sunday morning we started packing up the car to take Michal, Virginia, Toogie and Emily to Florida College NC mountain camp. http://www.fccarolinamountaincamp.com/ Kevin, Sadie, Patrick and I headed out for the 7 hour trip early that morning with the girls. (I took a picture of the kids in the car on the way and will try to post it when they get home.) I don't think they are allowed to use their phones as much this year so we will see how much we hear from them. Virginia said the subject this year was on prayer and she seemed very excited about it. We made it to Camp Courtney by around 2:30 so only 30 minutes before everyone else was to be there, so we could scope out rooms and beds early. Emily, Michal and I checked everyone in. Emily and Michal found out they were in the smaller kids cabins again this year and were not too thrilled about it. (maybe next year girls) We got everyone's things in their rooms and made beds. All their friends started filing in and there was much hugging and squealing (no squealing from Emily - I have NEVER heard Emily squeal) They all took off and I had to hunt everyone down in their little packs of friends to "collect hugs" before Kevin, Patrick, Sadie and I headed back to Jacksonville. Virginia texted me later to say she had to change rooms because hers and Danielle's toilet would not flush, hope she was close to Toogie and Hannah's room like she had hoped. Emily changed her room at the last moment as well. Everyone was all smiles when we left, it makes it so much easier to leave them that way. We made it all the way back home, about 11:30 Sunday night. Kevin and I are heading back at the end of the week with the Bensons and probably Hayley to pick them up and bring our kids back home and take the Bensons to the airport so that my other daughter, Toogie to dance camp in NY!

June 28, 2008 BE WARNED!

Friday, June 27 was Michal's show at SCAD and then we drove home. Michal and I made it back around 11:00 that night. Saturday morning Michal took her driving test, AND PASSED! I will try to get some kind of picture on here so everyone can see it. She was so excited, after she got it we headed out to the car and she informed me that she could ask me to sit in the back if she wanted to...... (hmmmmm???) And she couldn't wait to just head out by herself and get ice cream or Starbucks if she wanted it. I told her I didn't know she was so ice cream and Starbucks deprived. She told me she really wasn't but these are two things she is looking forward to doing on her own. It all just cracks me up! I can't believe they are so old! I have taken all of their old movies to have them put on DVD's so beware of that as well. I might submit everyone to hours of old movies soon.