Summers trip to France 1-8th August 2015

We took our family holiday to Fruges in northern France this year - we stayed at La Longere a lovely gite in the countryside...

We travelled through the Eurotunnel... We gave ourselves a lot more time to get down to Folkestone because of Operation Stack - a procedure set up to park or stack lorries on the M20 because of disruption caused by the migrant crisis in Calais.

We made good time ... When we arrived they managed to get us on a slightly earlier train. We were really impressed with the experience we had. 

We had a wonderful time together. We visited Dunkirk, Disneyland Paris, Paris, Utah & Omaha beach, La Coupole....

Disneyland Paris was scorching! The hotel we stayed at in the evening on the outskirts of Paris was an Ibis Budget hotel - never again. The windows wouldn't open so we couldn't get any fresh air. Josh, Ryan & Ethan were in a separate room to Colin, Soohie & I - Josh couldn't sleep. At midnight him and Colin were out on the streets looking for a pharmacy so they could buy sleeping tablets - shows their desperation .... They managed to get some sleep eventually. 

Whilst in Paris we visited Notre Dame, the Louvre (except we went on a day it was closed and the Eiffel Tower.... Ethan want feeling fab so we didn't manage to go up - the top was shut anyway sadly - a good reason to return.

 The journey back to Fruges took us around the L'arc de Triomphe - oh my! French Parisian drivers are crazy - it appears no one follows any road rules. Colin took a video - I'll try and post it soon....

It was a 4 hour drive to Utah beach - Josh had expressed a desire to visit this location - we're glad we went.... Very humbling experience....

Notre DameDisneyland Paris

La Louvre

Utah Beach

Calais

More pictures on my FaceBook page....

Moment spent with my family are the most precious and are stored in the receptacles of my heart and soul. Here's to making a many more memories together.

Rome August 23rd - 28th 2015

Colin and I took some time to take a trip together to Rome somewhere we'd both wanted to visit. While we were away Sophie was with my mum in Scotalnd then back in Swadlincote whilst the boys stayed at home (Ethan spending some time with Rochelle).

We arrived in Rome late Sunday night and returned to the UK Friday lunchtime.

When we arrived at Fiumincino Airport we had to find the train to Rome which we managed without incidence. We took the Leonardo Express. We had about a ten minute walk from the Termini to our hotel the Marcella Royal.

We had a wonderful time. It was very hot, but we made the most of the time we had there taking in the sites....

Like the Coloseum ....

And the Vatican....

Lots more photos on FaceBook......

Sophie's first youth Temple Trip - September 19th 2015

Sophie turned 12 in August this year and so has now left Primary and is in Young Women... She is delighted to be reunited with Emily Shaw and is relishing being in youth. She as given permission to attend youth camp this year just before her 12th birthday - Ryan & Ethan were at the same site. She loved it - made some new friends which motivates her to attend stake activities now. 

Colin & I had the opportunity to attend the Preston Temple with Sophie, Ryan & Ethan to assist them with performing baptisms. What a wonderful opportunity to be with them. 

Straight after we had to make our way to Cutnall Green for Elliot's Naming Ceremony - Lynsey & Stuart  asked me to act as a type of 'officiant' - I was honoured to be asked... Lynsey & I both got emotional as we were speaking. It was a lovely end to a truly wonderful day.

Where has 2015 gone....?

Oh my..... In a few days we will be celebrating Christmas. We have had the privilege of spending time with the Hill side of the family this weekend just gone and had a meal with the Summers side the week before. 

Sophie left for a trip to Malvern Outdoor Education Centre today - she's back on Thursday. She was off school last week at the advice of Dr Wong - she hasn't been 100% for some time now and was finally put on antibiotics this last week, taking her final,dose of penicillin last night. She'd have been devastated if she couldn't go so I'm pleased her health has improved enough to go.

Seeing as we're coming to the end of the year I should recap some of the experiences we've had this year since my last post.... I seriously need to get better at this - shouldn't be any excuse to update more regularly seeing as I now have an app on my iPad!!!

My best couple of posts will be used to fill you in on those moments..... maybe I'll work backwards..... Here it goes!