we know... big ben.... parliament!!!!!!

I would find it hard to believe if there was anyone out there who has laughed harder and has sweeter memories of the movie European Vacation than my sister Amy and I do.

Leaving Dublin was painful - literally - because we had to meet in the lobby of our hotel at 5:45. Yes, that was in the a.m.

Anyone who wasn't in a middle seat looked like this:

 

 

 

 

Notice I took pictures, because I was one of the only ones NOT sleeping.

 

 

 

 

 

We were SO pleased to check into our hotel and find this. What a romantic getaway!

Don't worry. Anyone who knows my husband knows he is not one to argue with. After one night in these beds I witnessed one suave sales pitch to the desk clerk who argued that he doubted the manager could get a different room that night because they were so full. Hmmmm....

We had a king size bed that night and the night after.

That night our group of six slept catnapped dozed nodded off a little sat in the nosebleed seats and enjoyed the musical "Wicked." I had read about 100 pages of the book for book club a few months ago and quit because the writing didn't appeal to me.

The musical was amazing. The script was humorous and the story made sense. The songs were mesmerizing and I wish the London cast had a soundtrack available because I liked it that much.

I won't spoil it, but our professor on this trip summarized it this way, "She was an animal lover who joined PETA and got in trouble with the local law enforcement."

Sidenote for Amanda and Carrie:
Do you notice that I'm NOT wearing the red coat??? I bought a lambs' wool sweater in Ireland (my little splurge, yes in my color) and ditched the coat for nearly the rest of the trip!

Unfortunately for my feet, we were ALL OVER London in the two and a half days that we were there. Here are some of the highlights:

Just for you Amy:

Yet another show on our second night: The Lion King. You know the story, no need for me to write a review.

Let me also tell you how fun it was to watch the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace with about 5,000 other people.

Cute hats boys, but I couldn't wait to get out of there.

Kenyon and Dylan had this bet about who could kick trap a pigeon. They would have done it here, but they were afraid the Queen might have been looking out her window.

Big Ben, Parliament, and the London Eye all in one shot.

Honey, remember when we made out in the middle of London?

Trying to soak up some sun on the lawn of Westminster Abby after a week of cold and rain.

The Tower Bridge taken from the Tower of London grounds. This was the last day of our trip.

Are you sick of cheesy grins in front of major tourist attractions yet?

Another pigeon incident... hubby claims he was an innocent bystander:

These men are all graduates of the Westminster College MBA program, so we had to stop in the corresponding tube station to get a group picture.

Congratulations guys!