london

Shelby, Mike and I met my grandparents in London to fulfill my lifelong dream. The only problem is now I want to go back more than ever :)

I literally cannot even explain how much I love London. When I first found out we were going to Europe, I wanted to travel all over. London was definitely not at the top of my list. However, because we were there with my grandparents, we stayed in London with a day trip to Paris mixed in. I was sorely wrong and quickly fell in love with London. It feels like a home away from home and somewhere I want to visit again and again.



It was so fun to see old friends of ours. They have visited us a number of times here in the U.S. but we were so happy to finally meet up where they live. One of our friends is the President of Purdey so we spent some time in their store. They outfit the Royal Family and Shelby and I were SOOO disappointed when we found out Kate Middleton was in the store getting fitted for a new gun the day before we were there. We had to settle for seeing a piece of her wedding cake that the Royal Family gave to Purdeys.

We shopped till we dropped on Boon and Regent St., stuffed our faces with the yummiest food, drove around in the best taxi cabs in the world, marveled at the architecture (during the trip Mike kept commenting, "why can't the U.S. be cool like this?!"), and so much more. We explored the greatest city and saw all the historic places its famous for. We practically lived in Harrods (super convenient that we stayed one block away). We watched James Bond (it made it even that much better because we were in London). Saw Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera and Scrooge, and I can say my life is forever changed. We grocery shopped where the Queen does, at Fortnum and Mason, in the fanciest grocery store ever. Hung out in London's own Time Square (Piccadilly Circus). Saw the Christmas lights on Oxford Street (Because they don't celebrate Thanksgiving, London was already in full Christmas spirit!). Visited Selfridges (although Harrods wins hands down). Bought antiques at Portabellas. Rode the double-decker red buses. And of course saw the Kardashians walk the red carpet for their new line in Dorothy Perkins. 

I'm so happy my sister was there with me! She made the trip even better and I was grateful to have a picture buddy :) I wish I would have written everything down when we were there because my head is spinning just trying to recap the best trip of my life. Here are some of the many pictures we took.

Mike may have brought more stuff than me ;)

Flying in style! New Zealand Air is the BEST!

Our friend Tony at his amazing Thai food restaurant.. Three Point

We stayed in a flat a block down the street from Harrods

The Church is true no matter where you are. We even ran into a friend from Mike's parents' ward!

Best place ever. Mike swears he is going to open one in the U.S. one day

Our home for two weeks

Our nightly stop at the Deseret Room in Harrods

One of the gargoyles that "guard" the city

In Purdey's famous room that has hosted royalty around the world

Plays and European candy go hand in hand... I promise it wasn't all mine!

A slice of Kate and Will's wedding cake

Harrod's food hall is a busy place weekend nights

Stroll home from church

Best steak Mike has ever had

Harrods has the best desserts I've ever had

SkyFall at the Odeon Theater where they have movie premiers

Purdey's made a pair of mini guns for a past King and kept one. It completely functions as a normal gun and even has bullets!

Harrods had the most amazing Disney displays in the windows. Each had a fancy designer gown.

The Crown Jewels were amazing!

We were so sad to leave. Two weeks was not long enough!

These pictures do not do London, or our trip, any justice. 

Mike's sleeping habit was the joke during the entire trip. I barely experienced jet lag because I was good about sleeping on the way over and forcing myself to stay awake when I should and go to bed at the right time. Mike however, stayed up all night so he spent most of his days sleeping. He fell asleep pretty much everywhere. We captured just a few of these times :)

On the train ride to Paris

On the boat ride down the London river

At our flat

On the bus

In the taxi

Before dinner

During plays

I should have known he was in trouble when he even fell asleep in the airport BEFORE we left the U.S.