London

 I spent Tuesday-Friday in Kettering Enlgand at an Autism course. Four other teachers and myself were sent by ICS to attend this course because we all either have Autistic children in our class or help with them. Why the course was held in Kettering, I am not sure. It was in the middle of no where and took us eight hours to get there once we left school. And we did fly there! We had to make alot of train connections out into the middle of no where. At least we found the one spa in town to stay at which was very nice. I would not recommend visiting Kettering if you are in England. There was literally almost nothing in the rest of the town. We ventured into town after the course one night to eat dinner and literally couldn't even find a restaurant to sit down and eat in. So luckily the hotel was nice to hang out in and had a very nice restaurant we could eat dinner in.

Friday, after the course I took the train into London. Zann had flown in that morning and spent the day eating fish and chips and relaxing at the Grosvenor House (sponsored by Keith Sullivan). Friday night we went out for some excellent Indian food then just relaxed in the hotel.

Saturday morning it was so freezing out so we decided to take the bus tour around the city so we could see everything but not have to walk outside. We got off the bus a couple times to see things and take some pictures.

 Big Ben

 Prince William outside of Westminster Abbey??

 Westminster Abbey

 Walking across the rive with the Eye of London in the background

 Freezing outside of the Tower of London

Warming up at lunch in a pub.

After lunch we got back on the bus and it took us about an hour and a half to get back to the hotel. There was a big protest in the city so the traffic was terrible. We finally got sick of being on the bus and took a nice walk arcoss Hyde Park back to the hotel. If visiting London, I would not recommend the bus tours. It worked out ok for us becuase it was so freezing outside but when visiting in nice weather I don't think it would be worth it.  It was very expensive and you can easily get to all attractions by public transport.

 

 Saturday night we met Liz D. and a couple of her friends for dinner at a pub in Kensington. Liz and her room mate moved to London from Paris to open up a boutique. So look out for Gatsby opening up sometime in the fall in London.

 Sunday morning we headed to Buckingham palace to see the changing of the gaurd. It was packed with people so we didn't have the best view but we got a glimpse of the parade.

Outside Buckingham palace.

We had a great little weekend away and will look forward to returning to London hopefully in warmer weather for the 2012 Olympics!

Be back soon!

We have lots to catch you up on like our trip to Charleston over Christmas and a trip to London last week. But all that will have to wait because we will doing alot of relaxing here...

 Ko Samui Peace Resort

And doing some sight seeing and experiencing some Thai culture here...

Bangkok

Happy New Year!

Happy New Years from the Sullivan's in Arizona!

 The girls spent New Years Eve day shopping while the boys played golf at TPC. Then we went to one of my  parents friends houseand had nice evening ringing in the New Year. 

We had a VERY relaxing New Years day watching football inside and out with lots of eating!

Then it was off to Charleston on the red eye.

We LOVED visiting Arizona so much and I am so happy it is our new home to visit!

Christmas Break in Arizona and DC 2010

As always traveling home at Christmas was a bit of a nightmare. Airports all around Europe were either closed or having major delays due to a snow storm. With little hope of getting out of Zurich, Zann and I decided it would be best for me to try taking the train to Frankfurt. So, after a 4 hour train ride to Frankfurt at 5 am I made it to the zoo at Frankfurt airport where they had cots set up everywhere for the people that had already been stuck there for days. After some other crazy travel mishaps I made it just in time for the Sullivan Family Christmas Party! Which made all the hectic travel worth it! Except that Zann had to stay in Zurich to work until the 28th.

We spent Sunday at Nanny and Grandpa's for Christmas with the Sullivan's then went to Uncle John E and Aunt Kristin's house to see the boys and Gaga and Papa. 

Then the flu hit and I didn't see the outside of Susie's room for 4 days so those are all the pictures of DC. 

Then off to Arizona to the glorious weather and view from my bedroom...

It was so nice to be in warm weather and see the sun! Cousin Drew came to celebrate with us this year because he was in California as the trainer for the Idaho girls basketball team and Arizona was a closer stop than Indy. It was so great to have him there with us. 

We went to Christmas Eve Church at the church where Mom has started working at the preschool. It was beautiful and Mom is loving her job!

Christmas lights in the yard look a little different...

We had such a great and relaxing day on Christmas but were missing Zann a lot! 

Grapefruit picking in the backyard before breakfast. 

 

We all got new robes for the hot tub with different mountains near Scottsdale. 

(Mummy Mountain, Squaw Peak, Mummy Mountain, Four Peaks, Pinacle Peak for Zann)

We ended the night with a great Christmas dinner followed by dessert with some neighbors. 

The rest of the week in Arizona was spent doing a lot of lounging in our new bath robes, 

feeding the Koi fish, 

watching football outside, 

 trying out some new restaurants. 

and having another day of Christmas when Zann arrived. 

The boys managed to play two rounds of golf even though the weather turned cold and the girls got in some shopping. 

More to come on Arizona soon! Blogger is not letting me put any pictures on right now :(

The Blog is Back!

Our blog is back after far too long! I can't believe I haven't updated since the summer. Lots to to fill you in on! My New Years Resolution is to update at least one a week and hopefully more. I will start with what we have done recently and catch up on everything else when we don't have too much going on. 

So here we go...

Wedding Bliss

Our first stop (after a night in Virginia) on our trip home was to Kent Island Maryland for Nicole and Philip's wedding. I had been anxiously awaiting this weekend since Christmas becuase all of our high school girls would be together again and I miss that so much!

We arrived Thursday early evening to BBQ with some of the bridal party. It was a perfect night on the Chesapeake to stare at the breath taking scenary and stay up and talk with good friends outside late into the night.

Friday Zann played golf while the girls got pampered at the spa and had a yummy lunch.

Friday night was also picture perfect weather. The rehearsal went smoothly and we celebrated the night before the wedding with a crab feast at the beach club. We saw great pictures of Nicole and Philip growing up and toasted to them coming together!

We watched a photo shoot of the bride and groom

And laughed until we about cried

After seeing the quality of the light in this picture is when we decided we needed a new camera but unfortunately didn't get it until the end of our trip.

And then the wedding day!

We woke up at the crack of dawn to begin the beauty process. It was so much fun to be at Nicole's house all day and see the process of the wedding being put together. And what a beautiful finished product it was! And everything was perfect from the ceremony,

To the bridesmaid dresses and of course the bridesmaids

the picture would not flip....grrr

to the flowers,

to the tent.

We danced the night away to the awesome band and loved every minute of the whole weekend.

And best of all got to see how happy one of my best friends is!!!

They did not stop smiling the whole night :)

Here are some other pictures of the festivities...

Hiking, Boat Ride, and a Picnic in Beautiful Weather!

Ahhhhh finally nice weather in Zurich (even though I don't think it is here to stay)!

Saturday afternoon we went hiking with my friend Jackie from ICS to the Pfannenstiel.

The trails near our house are so beautiful!

One minute you are looking at the Alps and Lake Zurich and the next...

a field of cows. The cows all have bells on their neck so walking hear a pasture you just hear the sounds of bells. It really makes you know you are in Switzerland!

It took us a little over two hours to hike to the top and reach the viewing tour. We stopped at the restaurant for a snack, ice cream, and beer! Then walked down to Egg and took the train back home.

Today we FIANLLY went on a boat ride. Part of the public transportation in Zurich are boats that go around the lake to make travel to either side quicker. We have been talking about doing this forever! We met Bridget and Ryan and took the boat on a 25 minute to a park in Kusnacht for a picnic. Something about being on a boat just makes me happy! We picniced and rocked in the hammock then went to the Beer Garden for some Movenpick icecream and a beer. Great day! Next time is the two hour trip to Rappersville with our own wine on the boat!

And we got to hang out with cutie Olivia!