the biggest move

Believe it or not, we made it to London. It was a relatively stress-free journey, complete with Maya having her own seat on the plane, meeting our luggage at baggage claim, having a transfer service drive us to our new flat, stepping into a very old, large and empty flat and feeling completely displaced from our world and reality. After several runs to the store, hauling a lot of stuff down some busy roads (mainly Brett), our place is beginning to look and feel more like home. We didn't realize how much of a job it would be getting set up before Brett started school, but it has been one long week.

Brett has had a lot of meetings this week and orientation. His actual classes start on Monday. We all went to campus yesterday and it is so much different than any other campus we've seen. It is right in the middle of the city in some large buildings kind of spread out. Brett would show me the LSE logo on the front of different buildings in the area just as we were walking down the road.

Maya loves the hustle and bustle of the big city...the cars, buses, and she especially loves the tube. Yes, we took her on the tube. It really is entertaining to watch her talk to everyone around her and try to grab their newspapers or watches. Some people drool over her, while others do everything in their power to ignore her completely. She has definitely kept me sane while trying to adjust to this new lifestyle. I just look at how happy she is no matter what her surroundings and am reminded of how I should be :)

We're happy with where we live for the most part. It's just a really old house that has been converted into apartments/flats. There are 12 total and we are on the first floor. It is kind of off the busy roads and in a quieter residential type area. Everyone living in our building attends LSE. We've met some nice neighbors so far, even some with kids. There is so much diversity here.

All in all, we are adjusting and things are starting to fall into somewhat of a routine.

So here are a few pictures of our journey...

Thanks to all of our family for your help and support. We love and miss you!

Countdown UK: 1 week

We officially leave for London in one week. To sum up things going on around here: crazy! I'm really excited to be there, not so much for the journey...(a 7-month old crawling baby who doesn't like to snuggle and is into anything and everything within her reach doesn't make for a relaxing plane ride.)

An adventure awaits...

I'm more than ready to get away. I feel as though we've been in limbo since I found out I was pregnant. Now this is the first big step we're making as a family and I couldn't be happier. I even have a little papaya to keep me company while Brett slaves away at school. All I have to say is that I'm so grateful that my husband is a hard worker and is willing to do what it takes to provide for our family. He really is quite amazing and I consider myself so lucky.

On another note...Maya's world has been vastly expanding. She now can crawl and loves to discover new things. It is awesome watching her eyes light up from the most random things (i.e. a vent on the kitchen floor).

At just 7 months old Maya...

rode her first horse with cousin Colton;

saw her first BYU football game, and

can legally enter the United Kingdom;

This girl has been busy!

Until next time, from over the ocean...