York

On Halloween weekend we decided to take the kids to York.  We headed for the train after Trick or Treating and stayed for two nights at the Marriott.  Wonderful hotel with an indoor pool for adults and a kiddie pool.  Above is a picture of Belle and Caleb at Cliffords Tower.  

Above is a Moorland Cross.  Not many of you know, buy my mother's maiden name is Moreland, and this is where her root name comes from.  On the North York Moors, there are over 30 named moorland crosses.  This is a unique concentration not known anywhere else in the country.  The crosses are usually found on or near ancient trackways and they believe they may have been used to mark the way for travelers over the bleak moors during the medieval period.   This particular cross is at the Castle museum, and is enclosed in glass.

Belle and her policeman on the "fake" street at the Castle Museum.   They had a Victorian street that you walked down with shops to explore.  The light dimmed for night and day every 15 minutes or so.  

  

A people street in York.  Notice the Christmas decorations.  

York Minster.  The largest Medieval Cathedral in Northern Europe.  I am so glad that we didn't see this one first.  I think it would have ruined all the other cathedrals for me.  This is like the "daddy" of all cathedrals.  It was huge inside.  They have an Undercroft and Crypt to see also.  Much of it has been turned into a museum and you can see the artifacts found on site, Roman plasterwork can be seen, as well as foundations of the nave walls.  We attended an evensong service which was so beautiful.  We didn't get to see everything, so we will go back!

Purple man on a shopping street in York.  What a way to earn money!  Yes, that is Belle with the funky hat on.  Bought that hat in the states while home in October.  Covers the nose, but not the mouth.  She loves it!  Just wish it came in pink!

Belle and Caleb on the Victorian Street at the Castle Museum

The above and below picture is the York's version of the London Eye.  In sight only!  The thing went as fast as a normal ferris wheel, but twice as high.  They would stop to let people off and then we were stuck at the top and the wind was blowing with rain, and we were rocking!  This was the last day it was running and then they were taking it apart the next day.  That is the only reason why we rode it.  Did I mention that we only made it to the second go round, and then we pressed the "yellow" button, which screams "GET ME DOWN".  I admit I was freaking out.  There is a reason I don't enjoy those high fast rides anymore, (old age) and poor Belle had her hands on the door banging away as we flew past the people at the bottom the first time around.    We then hit the button and they got us off and boy was she upset.  

Below are pictures of the train museum.  Really cool place if you get the chance to go.  This was the largest area of trains in one area I have ever seen.  It was huge.  They had shops, displays, simulator, and video's about the trains.  They also had a miniature train village set up inside, behind glass.   It wasn't working when we were there, but I bet it is really cool normally.

Belle and Caleb with one of the wrench things that connect the wheels together so they all go round at the same time.  Sorry, can't remember the name!  But they were huge!

Belle and her new dew!

This is an interesting story.  We went to Toys R Us to get a few things.  Belle found this pink wig.  She already has a Hannah Montanna wig, but since she has long hair, it doesn't change her looks that much.  She loves her pink wig.  She wore it all day and when Dan came home she told him she had her hair cut and dyed.  He, of course, was like, wow, so cool..... On the way to dinner, (yes, she wore the wig to a nice pub) I was talking about the wig.  In the back seat, Belle starts crying hysterically, because I told her dad that it was a wig!  Can you believe that she really thought that he would be accepting of hair like that and she thought that he really believed that it was hers?  First, I would never do that for her, and second, if you all know Dan, not in his lifetime!  

FALL AGAIN

Belle had her friend Lauren over this week.  They cut flowers in the backyard and yelled Hannah Montana songs!      Larry, Ben and Dan at Heather's wedding.

Great family picture!  Now only if Ben wasn't  in the corner and Jacque wasn't hiding behind me!

 Ben

   Pam and Heather

Molly, Heather and Dawn

Caitlyn and her brother Deven 

I can't believe that it has almost been 2 months since we posted last.  Not much has been happening.  The kids are back in school for the fall.  We haven't been traveling much.  The first two weeks in October were spent unexpectedly in the US.  Dan worked, while the kids and I visited, ate and drove around visiting friends and family.  We were able to attend my nieces wedding, we chose Ben's senior pictures, attended the UofI with him for a visit day, and had our yearly bonfire!  Just like we never left!   We had a great time.  

Now the fall is upon us here in England.   The kids are off for the week on their term break.  I am taking them to see the Sound of Music in London on Wednesday.  It will be the first time that I take Caleb and Belle by myself and we should have a fun day together.  A little scary, knowing I am the ONLY adult, but I plan to have Caleb have cash on him also.  Just in case.  Friday is Halloween and we will be visiting the people of Nassington with another school family.  We turn our clocks back this weekend and so it will be pitch dark pretty much by 4:30.  At 6:30 we are headed out the city of York, and will spend the weekend there exploring.  There is lots to see and I will be posting pictures of our trip there.  Looking forward to it!  There is my update.  

Below is a video of Belle and her friend rock'in it out.

Burghley Horse Trials, Burghley House, Stamford

That's the man!  Isn't he adorable in those wellies!  I guess you can tell who publishes the blog now!  Couldn't resist.  We arrived at Burghley House ready to watch the Horse trials.  

The Queen's granddaughter, Zara Phillips.  

Saturday we spent the day at the Burghley House watching the Cross Country Horse Race.  We packed up our wellies, and our brawly's (umbrella), food and drink, and headed off.  Of course being England, we had sunshine, then rain, then sunshine, then rain.  Normal stuff for here.  There were lots of people there to watch, and guess what?  We were all dressed the same!  lol  Everyone brings their dogs also.  England is a big dog country  anyway, second to the rain! There were 90 competitors and 2 of them were from America.  Some came from Sweden, Australia, Belgium, Ireland, New Zealand, just to name a few.  We even had some competitors from the Olympics here.    The first place  purse was £50,000!  The events start on Wednesday, and end on Sunday.  They bring in a small village of "shops" with everything from bridles, saddles, clothes, jewelry, furniture, crafts, homeware...... it goes on and on.  If you get the chance to go, GO.  It is a fantastic event and right here at our front doors!  

This picture looks fake, but I was standing close to the fence when he came flying by.  Didn't realize he would come quite that close!

Competitors jumping the creek and the treasure chest.  The jumps are so much larger than you think.  Some of the jumps were truck beds filled with flowers or hedges that were 4 feet wide and 5 feet high!

Another picture of a competitor jumping above.  There were quite a few of these men on horses that we would see occasionally making the rounds around the course.  The picture was too perfect not to snap.  Below, another rider heading for the next set of jumps.

Like I said, Dog country.  There were quite a few brutes there.  I believe this is a Great Dane?  Wonderful dog. 

I felt comfortable enough to approach this man and ask if this dog was a Chinese Powder Puff.  He laughed and told me I was close.  This is a Chinese Crescent.  These are dogs that are hairless, except for the hair on his tail and head.  What can I say.  I knew about these dogs because they DON'T SHED.    This family also has a Chinese Powder Puff that was there.  

Belle in her new wellies!  And of course with rain, comes mud.  Now, mind you, this was grass on Thursday!  That is how much rain they got the night before.  Everything was covered in mud or mud slop!  

Bella's Pony Competition Day - August 31

Bella went to her first pony competition day.  We had a great time.  I made sticky toffee popcorn for the bake table and we were off.  Sabine, the owner, had many competitions set up so her "students" could show off what they had learned and compete against each other in fun.  They had dressage, jumping competitions, gymnastics on horse, and then racing games that all ages were allowed to compete in.  Belle was the youngest there that day ready to ride in a race competition.  The older girls treated her like a little sister and she had a great time.  I started with this picture, as she is holding her first place rosette, which her whole team of 6 received.   Belle rode Friday, and he behaved well for her.  

Belle on Friday getting ready to take her place for the run.  The pony directly in front of us,  is Freckles.  He is a new pony and a great ride.  Belle rides him also for lessons.

This young ladies name is Beth and she is riding on a horse from the stables.  This horse was very skittish approaching the jumps and Beth was thrown later from him.  He took a jump and then continued to buck and she flew off of him.  She had the wind knocked out of her and a bad bruise on her hip.  I am sure she was sore the next day.  She later got back on a different horse and continued competing.  Our hats off to Beth!

Another young lady in competition.

Same young lady sitting on her horse waiting to begin.

Beth on her horse sizing up the next jump.

We met this young lady a year ago as a friend of Abbey Mullins.  Her name is Hazel and we have not seen her for a while.  Guess who takes lessons with Sabine?  Hazel!  Belle was so happy to see her and Hazel took care of her like a little sister.  
The picture above and below is a sample of the gymnastics with horses.  You know, running beside them, jumping on while they are moving, doing twists and turns.  Belle did not show any interest in this, thankfully.

This young lady, Emily, won the jumping competition that day.  The horse was wonderful and they worked really well together.  

Another competiter on Friday.  Did I mention that they were all girls?  Boys do take lessons, but they weren't there that day.

Belle is on Friday getting ready to compete.  She has a rain coat on as it started sprinkling.  Go figure.......

Remember when I said that Friday needed prompting sometimes?  This is Hazel out front and she is pulling Friday along as Belle is kicking and yelling "GO FRIDAY".  

Racing competion involved racing in and out of the buckets, over a log, jumping off the horse and running back with the horse to the start line.  

Belles group getting their horses together. 

The Heights of Abraham

Dan and Caleb on the Cable Car crossing over Amber Valley.  You had to get on one of these to get over to the Park.  At the park they had two underground caverns that you tour, an ice cream shack, a restaurant, exhibitions, fossil factory, gift shop and two play areas.  The Heights of Abraham opened in 1780 and visitors from all over the world come to ride on Britian's first Cable Car.  I know that in 2008, the Henderson's, the Americans,  were there!
The Cable Car up close and we are on the next ones in.  Going over is an uphill climb.  Not to bad of a trip.  Beautiful scenery of the Amber Valley and the village Matlock Bath.

Caleb and Bella in a small impression in the rock outside the cavern.

The beginning of our 1/2 hour walk through the cavern.  It was mostly downhill to begin with and that means....... stairs to get out!  We had 160 stairs total.  The last 80 are all at one time!  Daylight shining at the end of the staircase keeps you going!

People coming down on the other side of the Cable Car.

Dan and Belle headed back down the walk to get to the park after exiting the cavern.

The view outside the cavern on the side of the hill.  Notice the castle on the opposite side?

Yes, Dan is bent over at the waist.  I have to say that while we were walking, he was bent over most of the time!  I love situations when being short comes in handy.  I, of course, did not have to bend over once, nor Caleb, but he didn't like that being pointed out to him.  He is still "not" patiently waiting for his growth spurt to happen. :)

The Village of Matlock Bath!  Wow!  There were so many shops, cars and motorcycles!  Looks like a great place to spend the day shopping.  The picture below is another picture of Matlock Bath.

Caleb in the Cable Car heading down this time.  It was quite fast and much scarier than going up the cables.

I must say, it didn't make my stomach woosy, but it was much more disturbing riding on this small cable, going downhill, at a fast rate of speed.  It was over fast, and all we could do is imagine all the different positions that Dan's mom (love you mom) would have found in the car, trying to hide.  She doesn't like heights, bridges, fast boats...... that kind of thing.   If you are timid about heights, at all, this is not for you!