family business

I think my mom and little sister (who I missed so much) have been looking for an excuse to come to London for a while now, and when they realized I'd be finishing my program right before Christmas, they were so on board. 

I suspected I might want to be home for Christmas, and so I convinced them to come over Thanksgiving break! 

It's been such a blast!

First off, they arrived Saturday morning and told me to come meet them at the flat they are renting for the week. 

I arrived there, walked inside, and set my stuff down....

and then I was attacked. By none other than....

This is Anne. She's my cousin. If you don't know her... you should. 

She's a handful.

My reaction to her and her mom surprising me by coming with my mom and sister could not have been better. I had NO idea!

I've been the unofficial London tour guide for the last 5 days, and you would not believe what we've done. 

But a picture's worth a thousand words... right? 

Saturday

Portobello market

Piccadilly Circus

Fortnum & Mason

Covent Gardens

Sunday

(jet lag + not seeing these ladies for two months=staying up later than we should have=not waking up in time for church)

Portuguese ward

V&A Museum

  (hollywood costume exhibit is the COOLEST)

Wagamamas

Westminster Pier

Monday

A run through Kensington gardens

Westminster Abbey

Changing of the Guards

National Portrait Gallery

Oxford Circus

St. Pauls

Singing in the Rain

Tuesday

Globe theater tour

Tate modern (I HATE MODERN ART)

Borough Market

Walk along the Thames

Tower Bridge

Tower of London

London Eye

Sarah is the BEST at making cute artsy crafts, like this bow. If you want one, she's your girl. 

A mirror and a blank piece of paper shaped as an octagon apparently qualify for art these days. 

Still not over it.

The only picture that proves these two were actually in London.

Wednesday

Coach tour of...

Windsor Castle

Stonehenge

Oxford

Disclaimer: if we look like we're doing something weird, it's probably Harry Potter related... I guess we were a little excited about the Great Hall. 

Who wouldn't be?