Newcastle vs Norwich

On Saturday, some sweet people from church invited us to go watch the Newcastle vs. Norwich match in Newcastle. This wasn't just an ordinary football game though…thanks to the company that our friend works for. We not only got to sit in the posh VIP section of the stadium with it's soft chairs and carpeted floors, but we got to have a 4 course meal beforehand (you know, the kind where you have like 4 forks, and the butter is shaped like flowers), as well as listen to a player from Newcastle speak to us. There was even a dress code! Daniel and I were like giddy little kids, we kept saying to each other, "is this real life? How cool is this!" I didn't even bring my camera, because I just wanted to enjoy the evening, and of course had to play it cool you know? The game was wild, the stands packed with Geordies who literally worship this Newcastle team, and we watched some of the best soccer we have ever seen. During halftime we got to go back inside, where hot chocolate and fancy cheese and crackers were waiting for us at our table. And after the game we went back in to have more food and drinks and listen to another player speak. 

This was not a bad way to see our first premiere football match! It was fun to be treated a little like royalty for a day. We felt so blessed that these friends chose us, two americans, out of all the people they could of chosen.  It's going to be hard to go back to watching a football match any other way! 

USA vs Scotland

As soon as we found out the US was playing Scotland in Glasgow, we knew we had to go. It would of been a sin not to, since we only live 2 hours away! I was a little bit nervous about wearing US colors in Glasgow..it's a pretty rough city and they LOVE their football, so I didn't quite know what to expect. We stood in line for what seemed like forever...got our tickets for the American side, and sprinted to our gate, since the game had already started 5 minutes before. What we saw when we got to our seats, brought tears to my eyes. Red, white, and blue EVERYWHERE. Guys with their shirts off with USA painted on their stomachs, little kids all bundled up with USA scarves and hats, and an awesome biker guy with a cut off bald eagle shirt and American flag do-rag. What a sight for sore eyes I'll tell you! As soon as we started chanting "USA, USA" more tears came to my eyes. I felt at home again! We were able to yell and cheer as loud as we wanted without having to worry about people hearing our American accents...and oh how nice it was to hear the American accent again! We struck up conversations with random strangers, asking them where they were from-Michigan, Minnesota, Texas..and more. Not to mention, we were in awe that we were actually watching the US soccer team play! Beasley, Jozy, Tim Howard, Eddie Johnson, Brek Shea-they were amazing! And Jozy Altidore is massive in person! I knew DaMarcus Beasly was a crazy hard worker, but WOW he is so good, and Brek Shea comes off the bench and fires up the team! I could go on and on, Daniel even more so. Daniel was like a little kid on Christmas day, and had a sparkle in his eye the whole night! Aside from the amazing football we witnessed, I realized something. All of these US fans sitting around us at the game, were all in the same situation as we are...they all miss their home land just as much as we do! There were students, military families stationed there, and people who just had to relocate for their job. It made me feel warm inside, and comforted! Don't get me wrong, I love our little England home to death, but I miss our home country sometimes, as anyone would. It just felt good to relate to people, and know that we are not alone in living abroad. 

I'm SO glad we went to this game in Glasgow...and not just for the amazing soccer.

Life via Iphone

1. This candle was by far the best purchase we have made since living here in England. Also our first purchase that wasn't a complete "necessity." It smells like spiced apple cider, and brings back so many memories of fall/winter in Idaho with family. But best of all, it takes away the musty smell that has built up in our flat from mold. Yes, mold. I guess it's just a thing here in England?? Everyone has it apparently. I hate it. But thanks to this life saving candle, we can't smell it at least!

2. Right before our little road trip to Scotland. (it's been a while since I have uploaded pictures from our phone)

3. Liverpool FC stadium. It was a sold out game, so we couldn't get in, but we could dream right?

4. Belle's fish n chips, aka: Heaven in a Box.

5. Funny story about this one. We were trying to find this Brazilian restaurant while in Liverpool, and had typed in the address into our gps, and it took us through this super long tunnel that was a few miles long! We didn't think anything of it, when all of a sudden Daniel says, "uhhh babe, look," and points to the gps, which was completely blue-showing us that we were crossing a large body of water. After a brief panic attack thinking we were on our way across the sea to Ireland, the tunnel ended, and we realized it was just a small bay we had crossed. Too bad, Ireland would have been fun.

6. Bolton FC stadium, our first ever pro football match in England. It was wild.

7. We were driving somewhere, and I must of thought it looked pretty?

8. A little too full from our Brazilian feast.

9. A pretty fall day out our window.

Football

I sacrificed my poor fingers to take these pictures. It was SO COLD. And I hate taking pictures/video of sporting events, because it makes it so hard to actually watch the game. But I knew I had to take some for our families back in the states.

So proud of Daniel and all his hard work this season!

The Streets of Durham

A long walk to city centre today with Daniel was the perfect way to start out the month of november. Since it's the month of thanks, today I am thankful for this beautiful place we live in. Aaaand for delicious fish and chips smothered in salt and vinegar (we are turning into Brits!).

We found the cutest little milkshake bar while walking around downtown and learned that when you order a milkshake here in England, it is not ice cream, it's just flavored milk... no ice cream added. Make sense though right? You live and you learn. 

A BABY VIDEO

One of the hardest things about being so far away from home, is missing all of the big events like babies being born. Our sweet niece Brielle was born this month, and thanks to my AMAZING sister in law, who is also an incredible photographer (see her here and here) for taking all of the videos of baby Brielle, and sending them to me so I could make a little video. I can't wait to meet this baby girl someday!

Preston & Liverpool England

Daniel has some sweet photography skills.

At the MTC in Preston, where my brother Cole was standing just a few months earlier.

You know it's going to be a good weekend when you wake up and your husband says, "let's go on a trip today." We got ready as quickly as we could and made the 2 hour drive south to Preston. The drive was absolutely incredible. Green rolling hills and stone walls as far as you could see, sheep everywhere, and little cottages dotting the fields. When we arrived in Preston we found a random restaurant that was on our sat nav, and it turned out to be the cutest and most quaint Italian restaurant I have ever seen. It was in the upstairs of a small penthouse, and no bigger than a large living room. Hanging lights everywhere, cute wooden tables and chairs, and delicious pizza and prawns. It was a success. We stayed the night in a hotel, and I TOOK A SHOWER! You have no idea how sick I am of taking baths all the time, so staying at this hotel that night was a big deal. I forgot how wonderful showers really are.  The next morning we did a session in the beautiful Preston temple, and felt so refreshed afterwards. It is amazing how we can be so far away from home and family, but feel so close to them when we are in the temple. It's a little bit of heaven. The MTC (missionary training center) is right next to the temple, so we got to go see where my little brother was just a few short months ago! (he is now in London serving as a missionary). We then drove a little more south to Liverpool, which is the coolest city. We kept saying it reminded us of a lot of the big cities we have been to in the states rolled into one. It had a good mix of DC, Philly, Rochester NY, and Pittsburgh. We ate lunch at a Brazilian churrascaria, which was quite possibly the best Brazilian place we have ever eaten at. The pao de queijo was the best I have had. I ate way too much of it. Daniel was in heaven, and speaking Portuguese to the waiter every time he brought us meat. We left that place too full of rice and beans, too much meat, guarana, and of course the pao de queijo. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.  Afterwards, we tried to get into a Liverpool FC game, but it was all sold out! We were so bummed, but it was amazing to just be surrounded by so many football fans, and see how football is really a religion over here. We decided we still wanted to see a game, so we found another team a few miles away called Bolton FC, so we were able to get tickets to that and have our first professional English football experience! It was WILD. People here are SO into the game, and it was just amazing. Bolton is just in the championship league, which is the second best league here, but still a better level than the MLS in the states! We want to go to a premier match SO BAD. We are trying to decide when and what team we should go see first. After the match we drove back to Durham, completely satisfied with our temple trip weekend. I'm SO grateful we have a temple that is only 2 hours away!