The Marsden Boys' return "home"

The first thing Sean said to me when I talked to him this afternoon, was "no matter how I pictured England it is more beautiful and amazing than I thought it was going to be."

Tim and Sean arrived in Yorkshire today. Tim had a hard time falling asleep after their amazing experience at the England vs. Czech Republic game. They loved it!! They were just feet away from the players. They even got a picture (for Megan & Lilian) of David Beckham with his shirt off. After the game, they walked to their hotel and Sean fell right to sleep (a gift Sean has always had), and Tim tossed and turned for an hour or so. However once he was asleep, he slept well (for about nine hours) so they only only had time to gather their things and head to Kings Cross to catch the train to West Yorkshire. Sean did take a picture of Tim trying to run into platform 9 3/4 in honor of Harry Potter! Once they arrived in Wakefield, Derek and Dorothy were there to greet them. They went to a favorite carvery for roast beef and Yorkshire pudding. Ending their perfect meal with Treacle Sponge (my favorite) and Sticky Toffee pudding (Tim's favorite). Sean loved them both. After dinner they took their things to Derek & Dorothy's and then went on a walk through West Bretton. Sean said he loved seeing the cows and sheep as they walked along lush green path ways. They walked until it was too dark to see anything. Tim said the weather is PERFECT!! Not too hot...not too cold. It rained while they were on the train and had been raining most of the day in Bretton, but had cleared before they got there. Tomorrow they are off to Haworth.

Having fun can be a lot of work...

I have a reputation among my neighbors and friends, and have so for a long time. When it comes to summer, I have a lot of fun...and I am gone a lot. At times it has actually become quite embarrassing because I am gone so much, and many people have given me the impression that I must not be happily married or neglectful of my husband. However, Tim is great to support my habit/hobby of summer fun!! Even though we do miss each other while we are apart, we have managed to work it out so it isn't too bad. However, we got to counting the days of time apart and it ends up in the next 6 weeks, we will be apart 31 days. Thirteen of those days are due to the fact that he and Sean will be gone to England. As for me, in the next 30 days, Megan and I will off having fun for 25 of those days. Tim & Sean will joining us for some of the time. Here is a run down of our activities. This week we will be going to Snowbird and staying at one of the condo that my parents have. Tim and Sean will join us for one night. Then I come home on Thursday, and I am giving a shower for one of my former Young Women that night. and leave on Friday for Youth Conference. Then I will be home for one day, and head to my parents cabin in Island Park for one week, and Sean and Tim will join us for four days. Then I am home about 12 hours, and leave for girls camp for four days. Then I home for four days, and leave for New York for almost a week. I hesitated to even report on my activities, because I am not bragging or complaining, it is just how my summer goes. I drive a ten year old van :), I don't have fancy clothes, purses, jewelry etc... Don't get me wrong, we have many many blessings, I am just trying to explain that this is where I put my priorities. It is so renewing to my soul to walk along the river in Island Park, watch the stars at night, smell the pine trees, and enjoy the wild flowers, laugh until I cry with my sisters and my mom, serve my sister Kathy in her wheel chair. Many of my greatest moments of joy with my children and husband have been playing together and vacationing together. Those memories help get me through the year!

I realize that summer as I have known it could be changing soon, as this could be one of the last summers that I have Megan to come play with me. I have just been really grateful that her job opportunity has allowed her to continue being able to take time off. Unlike Sean who is working hard to save money for school, and his mission etc..., and Melissa who is now married with a life of her own. I have always cherished my summer with my family and I am so glad that we have had so much time to play together. I am also very very grateful to Tim who works so hard and supports us with a great attitude and is sincerely happy for me that I am able to spend the time with our children and family. I recognize that a lot of husband wouldn't be so generous and gracious being married to a summer vacation girl!

But I must confess, it has been a really really busy couple of weeks try to prepare for the next month. It has been a lot of WORK. I started packing for girls camp on July 9th, even though I don't leave until the 28th. I needed to make sure we had what we needed before I take off. I have washed, weeded, scrubbed, shopped, gone visiting teaching, to the temple, prepared for my Young Women's lesson three weeks early, registered Megan for Weber High, paid bills, etc... trying to get ready, so that I can truly "get away" and enjoy. I will more than likely be taking a vacation from blogging too! I am excited for this time to enjoy and renew myself. I must admit, I do LOVE summer!! P.S. I was trying to add a picture of New York, but didn't have time to figure it out...So please imagine what ever picture of New York you would like...I'm off to play...

Georgia on my mind...

It is so beautiful in Georgia!!! I just wish I could bring all of my family and friends with me to experience how beautiful and charming the South really is. It is a true vacation for me, however, Tim is working during the day, but we do get to play at night!! We arrived late on Sunday after a rather bumping flight. On Monday, I took Tim into work and tried to get acquainted with my new friend - GPS. While I was driving Tim to work, she insisted we turn right and Tim told her NO, we turn left here. I was concerned how in the heck I was going to be able to get along with her, but I quite like her, even though Tim doesn't always agree with her "backseat driving" opinions. She is a life saver to me!! I came back to the hotel swam, ate a delicious breakfast at the hotel, got ready and headed out shopping. The shopping is amazing in Atlanta. When I have come before with Tim, the other wives want to spend the entire time shopping, and I have always been a little frustrated because I prefer to see things. However, I knew I needed some shopping time because I can always find things here, and the selection and price is amazing. I was able to find shoes, jean capri's, four shirts, and some really fun earrings all in the matter of a few hours. The last couple of years when I have gone on vacation, I try to find a pair of earrings that I really like to have as a memory of my trip!! On Monday night, we went to a great Southern restaurant for BBQ ribs. Then Tim and I went to see Indian Jones. It was a fun night, and we kept Tim's tradition of seeing all four Indian Jones movies outside of Utah. On Tuesday, I spent the day at Stone Mountain. One of my favorite parts about seeing different places is the history and those things that are unique to the area. Stone Mountain is a state park that is SOOO beautiful. It is huge and has a Disneyland feeling to it in that everything is so clean, and done so well. The mountain has the figures of three key civil war figures carved into the side of the mountain. My favorite part of Stone Mountain is the Antebellum Plantation Area. I was lucky because my friend Jeanie has a sister-in-law that lives in Atlanta, so she and her 13 year old daughter met me there. We had a great time walking through and taking our time looking at all of the Plantation homes, slave quarters, garden's etc... We also took a tram up to the top of the mountain, then they had to leave, but I stayed and took a train ride around the mountain, and then left to go pick up Tim from work. Tim changed and we headed back to Stone Mountain. We ate dinner at the most charming restaurant at Stone Mountain then walked around and stayed until 10:30 p.m. to watch the laser show and fireworks. It was great!