Our Trip to Beautiful England

Posing for the camera!
Playing Peek-A-Boo!

Outside Temple Newsam
Woo hoo! We got our picture taken by the coolest telephone booth ever! lol
Temple Newsam
Alnwick Castle: The outside grounds were used for the Harry Potter movie's
My little cutie
Madison's mocking the dragon with that face! lol She was just waiting for him to come out.
Raby Castle
Whitby Abbey: Where Bram Stoker received inspiration for Dracula
From the graveyard looking towards Whitby Abbey
This was at Lightwater Valley Bird of Prey Center. I got to hold three of their many birds. This was the barn owl that I got to send off flying and then feed once it came back. Very cool!
Of course being huge Harry Potter fan I had to hold the Snowy White owl. His name was Chalky.
Living proof that I held Boris the Bald Eagle. He was so heavy but that put me on such a high afterwards!
Bolton Abbey
Side of Bolton Abbey
Madison meeting her Great Grandmother for the first time
Right outside my guest bedroom window, I couldn't believe how close it was!
Madison being silly at the Manchester Airport

We had the grand opportunity to go to England for 10 days. I was able to see one of my dearest friends Dondra that I haven't seen in a few years and also some family that lived there as well. We also had the privilege to see some amazing castles and abbey's along the way and of course the bird of prey center. The two I was most excited to see was Alnwick Castle for it's grounds used in Harry Potter and Whitby Abbey since it was referenced and used as inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula. Dondra and I share the same love of vampires and fantasy so of course she would take me there. :) We had an awesome time and as much as I'd love to upload the hundreds of pictures we took I figured this was faster. lol We're glad to be home but we miss England already.

Madison's 2nd Birthday Party

I can't take credit for the first 9 pictures. One of our dear friends Laura took these pictures with her camera. She really took some amazing shots of her!








Now from here on out are mine! lol Look at that cheesy grin!
Sarah Norris in the front, Kellie Sinner and Laura Fentress in the back
Bryan and his work friends outside chilling in the gazebo
Angie Barrett and her adorable little one Aurora
Little Miss Lucy Norris in the front and Paul Domm holding his son Tristan in the back
Robyn Morris, Sarah Norris and Holly Domm
The amazing cake!
My two loves!
My sweet little one being a goofball when it's my turn to take a picture with her lol

Madison doesn't officially turn 2 until the 9th but we celebrated yesterday so she could have all of her little friends over. The theme was Spongebob! She loves Bob-Bob as she lovingly calls him. We all had a great time socializing and watching her and the other little ones having fun. The families in attendance were the Barrett's, Domm's, Morris', Norris', Fentress', Sinner's, and our best bud Dylan. The cake looked great! Who knew the commissary could make such an awesome cake?! :) Madison had fun opening presents but there was some debate on whether Bryan was having more fun then she was. lol He was anxious! :) All in all, it was a fun night and we're so glad we had those amazing families to share it with. Enjoy!