10 months.

My little magic man. It feels as if everytime I blink another month has passed by; a month so full of life and joy my heart can't seem to remember what life was like before you entered our world. You are my constant emotional physical and mental reminder to live life fully, and I feel honored to be able to be the one to introduce you to all the many wonders of this beautiful life we've been given.

This month has brought on a new level of exploration. I am in shock at the little tornado you've become. If you can reach it, it will be licked, shook, and thrown to the floor. I watch as you study my face for a reaction to learn whether or not I'm happy by your discovery or if you got away with something. You have a new half smile half stare when you are trying to troubleshoot your current predicament, and I can't help but laugh everytime I see that silly face.

I am in awe at how quickly the desire to please those around you enters. Nothing makes you smile bigger and laugh harder than when dad and I clap and yell "yay lincoln" "you did it". I can't believe how much you already want to please us. I feel raw as I try to carry the weight and impact I will have on your life. I pray that you will know that my love is unconditional not matter the choices you will choose, because there is nothing in life I want to give you more than the confidence to make your own choices for yourself.

You are a determined ball of energy. Our favorite game is to start up your train, and watch dad try to get in your way of crawling to the train. Pillows are thrown, you are flipped over, bodies have to be crawled over, but you get the most serious little game face and fight with all of your pint sized might.

That determination has also followed you into every bit of your relatioship with dad. Oh how I laugh as you already know how to wrestle. I was in shock the first time I watched you put your shoulder down as you crawled into dads face trying to get him to flip over the way he flips you over. What i love most is watching the way you two look at each other in these wrestle sessions. Both of you have a hidden grin and sparkle in your eye. I think this alone is why you are always choosing dad over mom. When you're sad or hungry I am needed, but when dad is around you want to be playing with him, or getting in between mom and dad cuddling.

When dad leaves for work there are mornings when you cry after he walks out the door. I love that even at 6 in the morning your little heart hates to watch him leave just like me. You've found a new perch at the front door and when dad comes down the stairs after work your little hands start flying around and hitting that glass as quick as you can. Oh how I love you two.

My favorite "our" time would have to be in the early morning. After I feed you we lay in bed together and you talk and talk as you roll your head backwards, still tired from the night, and content as can be from your big breakfast. You always lay your head on the pillow beside me with your face smooshed against mine. Your little hand holds my face and rubs my cheeks. I occasionally get major slobbery kisses. If I could bottle those morning moments I would keep and treasure them forever. Time is so fleeting, and I can't stand to think of your first year of life coming to an end.

You love when I crawl ahead of you around our bed, and then jump the bed and sneak up behind you. You giggle with such excitement. The funny thing is that when we are charging at you, you never run away. You always smile and come at us at the same speed...even if dad is doing a scary face, and growling / roaring at you. You never run away.

That pesky little tooth finally popped through on the 21st. YAY!!!! Who knew teething was such a process. We were not prepared for the months of gum rubbing.

You are beginning to stand, and have figured out how to bend your knees and slowly lower yourself from standng in the middle of the room. I can't believe just a couple short months ago you would climb up on things and then cry for us to come save you because you couldn't lower yourself back down. Now you've figured out how to do it from a solo stand. How can you be changing and developing so quickly.

You are loving to walk with the car. If I slowly lead it through the house you will hold onto the wheel and walk with it. Your grin through the entire process shows me that you know you're growing up.

Church is all about you. Sacrament meeting consists of you turned around looking at all the faces that came to church to watch you. Oh I could die as you ham it up with your biggest smile- which typically has some little cracker puffs in it because those are our sure fire way to keep you happy during church.

Your personality is getting so sassy and hilarious. I can't believe some of the humor I'm seeing in you already. You know I think you're funny, and you love how wrapped I am around you.

This month I was cleaning up our Christmas tree and I couldn't stop you from fisting a handful of pine needles into your mouth so very stearnly I said "Lincoln Schreiner do not put those in your mouth". You had never heard that tone from me, stopped mid action, and little tears welled up in those beautiful blue eyes. My heart broke a little bit, but the moment taught me to remember to use that tone when it matters because you listened.

January has been a month of blissful sleep for our entire family. After some serious sleep training in December everything stuck and I think we've had maybe 3 nights this month where you didn't sleep 10 hours straight. What a new world I have entered. I forget sleep was my old constant reality...and when I missed it...it was personal choice. We've gotten on such a wonderful schedule which allows for flexibility but also keeps you feeling like life is pretty constant which you are just flourishing in.

I know I am bias but I don't think you could be a better fit for our family. Your personality meshes so well with our desire to see the world and experience life. You're laid back and calm, but always up for an adventure with mom and dad....in fact if we are indoor all day long you get a little stir crazy.

Your language is getting so diverse with so many new sounds and so many things you want to share with us. You still prefer to say "dada" everytime I request a "mama", which is keeping your dad as happy as can be. You're learning to wave, roll the ball to us, and mimicing our every move.

Your favorite thing is loud music and dancing with mom and dad. I will never forget the grin on your face as we danced many nights this winter around our lit christmas tree to "rocking around the christmas tree". Your heart can feel our happiness, and how glad I am that you know a bit of the happiness you bring in my life.

I love you my little Lincoln Man. Happy 10 months. So glad we get to experience life together.

5 months.

Somedays I look at you, and the memory of life without you seems to get hazy. It's amazing how our entire world seems to have centered on you, and the happiness you bring to our lives. 5 months, how can you already be 5 months old. Oh how I wish to pause you at this age for at least a year. Your personality is emerging in leaps and bounds and we are more than obsessed.

Smiling is almost constant now with mom and dad. I am literally amazed at the way you smile with your entire face. Every single time I see it, I can't help but smile.

Your favorite thing right now is when we sit you up on our bed. Each of us kneels down at the foot of the bed and pounds the bed while we get closer to you. By the time we reach you the excitement is so high, and your smile is so big, you end up burying your face in the pillow next to you...as if you can't take it anymore. I could die.

The only sure fire way for mom to get things done around the house is while you're in your jumperoo. You have taken jumping to a new level. Best $15 I've ever spent. I put you in front of the mirror and you jump, notice yourself, smile, stop jumping...and repeat. When we hold you now you think we are also a jumperoo, and you try to jump in our arms.

Bath time is still your favorite, your splashes are getting bigger, but I'm still amazed at the way it calms you instantly. When I'm tired mid afternoon sometimes I just put you in the bath because I know you'll be content for 30 minutes. I just sit beside the tub and watch you discover the world around you. I could watch you explore all day long.

Walks around the capitol happen almost nightly during the week. You love to look up into the sky, and stare at the leaves. You have been licked by many dogs on these walks, and we always have to pry your fingers loose from their fur.

You have now figured out the perfect screech/scream to use whenever I'm doing something that annoys you which is usually getting the booger hanging out of your nose or clipping your nails. The tantrum lasts maybe 5 seconds, but every time it makes me happy to see your voice and opinion emerging.

Standing up against the white couch makes you feel oh so independent. It's the perfect place for you to hold on and practice standing. I can't believe how strong your little body is.

You can now sit on all types of surfaces. Your favorite spot is in the grass so if you forget to balance yourself you can grab the grass to catch yourself. My favorite is putting you in front of the mirror. It's like you discover your face and that you can sit in the same instant, and you smile for at least a minute straight. I love watching you gain confidence as you learn.

To say you NEVER stop moving is an understatement. Your legs are always bouncing. Your body is always wiggling. We are starting to get worried about what we will do when you can walk and run. I'm afraid I might not have enough energy for you.

Rice cereal now happens almost daily. You eat it, but we are still getting those faces of disgust. Can't blame you I don't think I'd like the stuff much myself. We usually feed you in the bathtub to eliminate part of the mess.

You are a nursing champion now. I loved those first months of your life, but it is nice to be able to feed you in 10 minutes. If there is something going on you try to get a couple good gulps and then look around so you don't miss a thing. You're just like your momma in that way. It's only at nighttime or when you're alone with mom that you'll actually nurse and cuddle with me.

I wish I could read your mind, because watching you it feels like its going a million miles an hour trying to process new environments, people... You still stare people down when you meet them for the first time. Once you've "figured them out" your smile starts to emerge.

Reading time each day is getting better and better. Your main interest is no longer just eating the books. When dad and I read to you animated... in anyway at all you are glued to our faces and the pictures of the book. We can now read a story or two without your wiggles protesting a break. Your favorite book is the little blue truck.

You are trying so hard to talk, and I'm hearing new sounds everyday from you. My favorite is the look of concentration as you try to tell me something. I can tell you're frustrated, and I watch you try to move your tongue in different ways and attempt to make different noises. You are dying to communicate with us. Some nights we sit on the couch and talk, and you'll look from Kenny to me depending on who is talking and jabber right along in the conversation.

When dad gets home from work you recognize his face and smile instantly because you know hes been missing during the day. Dad is so proud, because he has no conditioned you to loving being thrown high into the air. You smile the entire time instead of looking like you're in shock.

You experienced the ocean for the first time this month. It was far too cold for you, but you loved the sand. Your little toes curled over and over again in the sand. I think your favorite part though was the cool ocean breeze and being outside all day. We had a campfire on the beach and of course you couldn't look away for a minute.

You got to play with your cousins so much on the trip, and its amazing to watch how much you love them and want to play with them. You loved smiling for Crosby, and he kept giving you so much attention. When you were upset in the car he would pat your head and say "it's okay lincoln we're going to go to the beach today." The first night with Gwen you two shared the sweetest moment. You didn't look away from her or her from you for at least 5 or more minutes. She was trying to talk to you, and you both just stared at each other. It was amazing to watch you connect.

There were so many special milestones this month, but one of the dearest to my heart happened last weekend while staying with grandma and grandpa. It was time for nightly family prayer. It's tradition in the Burgon household for Grandma lizzy to try and get everyone settled for prayer, and for grandpa to be trying to stifle his laughter. Well this all to familiar scene was happening. Before the prayer started I was noticing you were in almost a slap happy mood--which I pray happens frequently. I kept smiling at you, and your smile was almost bigger than any I've seen before. The prayer started, and I kept eyeing you with smiles, and sure enough your giggle emerged. The entire prayer you were giggling. It was the first time we've really heard consecutive giggles like that, and I was in tears because of laughing so hard. It was one of those moments that blows my mind to think of how perfectly you fit in our family. I love that with all our effort to make you laugh your giggle emerged in the stifled-laughter-tension of a Burgon family prayer, because you felt the happiness we were feeling. It's amazing to watch how you are cuing into other emotions. After we put you in bed that night your dad and I were still smiling. Being your mom and figuring out parenting beside your dad is the greatest thing I've ever done in my life. I can't believe the happiness it brings me.

I love you my little Lincoln. Thank you for being the brightest part of each of my days.

4 months.

Lincoln the way your eyes light up when I walk into the room, or your gaze when dad sings to you is almost more than I can take. You are becoming so animated as you interact with the world around you. I told your dad last night that you are perfectly fit for our family. I know sometimes I complain that you struggle to slow down and cuddle with me, but you remind me of what your dad and I strive for most in life... to really be living the moments you are given. Literally you legs and arms don't ever stop moving.

I love the way you want to interact with faces. One of your favorite things right now is to pull in one of your favorite faces and feel/grab cheeks, noses, hair, and give an occasional suck on the nose.

When you are finished nursing you have started to pull off every 5 to 10 seconds to look up into my eyes and smile. You will do it over and over and over. You love that I think you're hilarious so you just keep it coming.

On Sundays if we don't get you to sleep before sacrament meeting you want to stare at the people sitting behind us. You are busy smiling and cooing at everyone around us. When the sacrament is passed your gaze follows the deacons up and down the isles as they pass the sacrament.

You take a couple naps a day now, and all are on your tummy. I think it's your favorite way to sleep now. When you are calm I can just lay you down, and just pat your back till you doze off. Sometimes I'll lay beside you and you'll stare into my eyes till you start to drift off.

This past month you've mastered rolling over. You are trying so hard to crawl that sometimes you will try that for as long as your energy will allow, and when you are finished trying to scoot forward you will eventually roll yourself around. Your arms are getting so strong, and of course your legs are as strong as ever. Sometimes I prop you up against the couch and you stand there for a couple of minutes.

Your favorite toy is your ball. You've figured out how to use your feet to bring it forward to your hands. I could watch you trying to eat it for hours on end. It's adorable.

You are sleeping a little better, and on a good night we can get about 5 hours straight. You and I usually hang out every night around 3-3:30.

My favorite moments lately have been just laying on the bed with you. There are moments where you'll be content to stare into my face for over an hour. We'll blow bubbles at each other, I'll tell you stories, and you chime in as if you already know what I'm about to say. Your grin is constant. All I have to do is smile at you. I really can't get over the way your gummy smile melts my heart. If I could I would keep you this size forever.

Dad took you on the biggest slide at the park last week and you cried and cried and cried. I had to take you in my arms to calm you down. I love being your safe place. I hope to always be that for you.

You love the swings, and usually they will keep you smiling for a good 5 minutes before the back and forth begins to lull you to sleep.

We take you into the mountains a couple times a week, and you cry when we turn you away from the fire. Being outside is probably your favorite thing.

You love hair. You can't stop grabbing my hair with your hands and your toes. You love to grab onto uncle durgs beard (auburn beauty), and you will stroke grandpas arm hair over and over and give it a tug at the end of every stroke. Grandpa says it hurts, but he lets you do it anyway.

Grandma Lizzy comes to play every Tuesday with you while I work. You love bath time with grandma, and for your naps she never puts you down. She just cuddles you like crazy. You love the songs she sings you, and she always gives you cold things to help with your teething.

Great Grandma G. comes over every time she sees our car at grandmas house. She will fight anyone who comes in her way to hold you. Your great aunts love you so much, and Deanna cries almost every time she sees you because of how quickly you are growing.

Aunt Whit and Uncle Durgs started calling you linky bear. The nick name has stuck. Those two are just buying their first home, and Uncle Durgs promised a guest bedroom set up for you to have sleepovers.

Crosby held you a lot when they came to visit, and you wouldn't stop smiling at him. I can already tell you two will be friends.

Nathan and Benjamin call you baby yincoln. Most of the time you stare at them in amazement as they run around the house, but occasionally the kid noises are too much and you screech at them or throw a little tantrum because of the noise.

You gave your first high five to Jack at the beginning of the month, and he is obsessed with making sure you are okay. While at the park every time you cried he would come running wanting to hold you and make sure you were okay. He loves to ask you star wars questions and wait to hear if you coo at all for your answers.

I love to smother you in kisses. You are getting so ticklish. Your thighs are just starting to get rolls, and when I eat or squeeze those rolls your mouth opens into the biggest grin. Sometimes I tickle you too much and you give me your stare, and if I still don't stop you'll start to cry.

We love to give you little licks of popsicles, and watch your face try to figure out if you like it or not.

I love how selective you are about your smile, mainly because when you're with just me and dad you don't stop smiling. I love that you share a little bit more of that piece of yourself with us. We were beginning to wonder if you thought we were crazy with all those scowls and raised eye brows. They are still around, but most the time your eyes dance to be with just us. Being a family with you feels like magic.

Your favorite person to play with though is always dad. He doesn't think you're fragile at all, and will put you on his legs, roll you onto the bed, throw you into the air, and fly you around our apartment. Most the time you look at me in shock while dad is taking you on an adventure, but the minute it starts to slow down your grin comes out. You smile biggest for your dad. You also give the most worried looks to your dad. When you hear his voice after he gets home from work you smile instantly. Watching you recognize us gives us a high we've never felt before.

I love you Lincoln. I can't believe the way time is flying, and in the same moment it feels like I've always known you. Thank you for letting me be your mom. Spending my days with you makes me happier than I've ever been.

mr. schreiner

I have about a million blogs half finished, and waiting for me to seal the deal, and yet I can't get my mind off of a happening this week.

Kenny somehow happened to have all 6 midterms land on this week so it's been -almost- finals week around here. Wednesday night is our only weekday night together so he decided to come home a little earlier. 8:00 rolled in, and I was anxiously awaiting my man. I could see the two bright lights of the front runner train approaching, and my heart was literally excited. I spotted his walk/bod before he was close enough for me to see his face. He was almost to the car when I glanced up into the rearview mirror and realized I was grinning.

He makes me smile without my consciousness clueing into it. Who even knew that was possible.

the countryside.

Today I fell in love with the countryside. It was the most beautiful day...but I have to rewind because the days started out horribly wrong.

We woke up early, and caught the train for our 1hr ride back out to Hatton Cross so we could pick up our car at Sixt car rental. We arrived showed our booking information, and were told we needed to pay the young driver surcharge because we weren't 23. The only reason I booked with Sixt is because I called them twice and they told me both times they don't charge the young driver surcharge. They advertise that on their facebook page and website, but apparently it is different in Europe. I explained I told the guy when I called I was picking the car up in Europe, but to no avail we were given a 90 GBP charge for the young driver thing. Which just about doubled our entire payment for the car. Did I mention I turn 23 while we have the car...still nothing could be done. We finally agree to pay the amount, and then they check our drivers insurance. We have insurance back home, but because it doesn't cover over some crazy amount they needed to charge us for the insurance which was another 90 GBP. Then there was the VAT tax, british office tax...etc. etc. etc. we were money rapped etc.

Then we discover Kenny doesn't have his credit card, so we have to take a bus back to Feltham where Elder Price lives to find the Credit Card or else Kenny can't drive the car blah blah blah. We get there think it is lost for about the next 40 minutes of searching. I call Doris to see if we've left anything...she wants to know where I am, and isn't understanding my questions.

We eventually find the Credit Card. Call our insurance company to discover Europe requires some ridiculous amount of insurance so insurance from America doesn't cover it so we need to pay that insurance.

Long story short we end up back at Sixt car rental, and pay way over 350 GBP which is like $600 for a blasted car rental. We arrived at the car rental place at 8:30 and didn't get the actual car rented till almost 1. So we were charged like crazy and lost most of our day. We were pissed at this point...in fact I'm still pissed thinking about it. Maybe someday it will turn into something we laugh at, but I'm still not there.

We however got on the road, and I was instantly calmed. I could die in these rolling green hills. They are unbelievable. I was literally obsessing. It was like every period drama timed in England was coming to past right before my eyes, and it felt incredibly romantic. I've been dreaming of this place for almost ever. How can you not picture Mr. Darcy walking up the hill to Pemberley when you see hills like this. I was in a crazy romantic dream world. I think I told Kenny like 10 times how I've been romanticising English countryside my entire life, and it didn't disappoint one bit. I'd like to thank Jane Austen and my mom for making me watch the 6 hour version of Pride and Prejudice for that.

To pay her a tribute we stopped at her house. Absolutely beautiful. I think I could actually write books like hers if I lived under such conditions...okay maybe not, but she really grew up in the most beautifully quaint town.

Afterwords we plugged in the gps coordinates for StoneHenge. We were busy gabbing away not really paying attention, and we came up over this hill in the middle of literally nowhere. Settled in the most beautifully green lush landscape sits StoneHenge. I think I gasped it was so beautiful. I really didn't have any expectations for StoneHenge and I was blown away. I think I was obsessed mainly because of this setting, but I have never seen anything remotely like it. It really does have a spirit about it, and it how those rocks got there is beyond me. I loved the place. I would highly recommend it to anyone. Completely surprised me how much I loved it. I think the sheep grazing around it were just the cherry on top to my obsession.

We started heading to Wales, and we were within probably 40 minutes of it, but decided to not take the rest of the journey because it was already getting dark. I was so bummed and wanted to start cursing sixt car rental again.

We decided to drop in on Juliette so we headed up to Bidford on Avon. Kenny didn't have her number and she had no idea we were in England, but he still had her address memorized from the first day he met her. So we just drove there and hoped for the best. It was completely dark when we arrived, and he was positive it wasn't the right house until he saw a picture on the wall of Rebecca so we knocked, and I wish you could have seen their faces. Juliette and Rebecca both came to the door. Kenny had a shadow over his face, but the minute he stepped into the light they screamed Elder Schreiner!!! It was amazing. They were thrilled, and I was so relieved for a minute they weren't sure who he was apparently he has lost a lot of weight since he served in Redditch.

My heart was warmed to see Kenny's picture upon their shelf from their baptismal day. They said they were talking about him earlier today, and sent a package to us last week. So we came home from England to a package with a union jack tablecloth. So happy about that.

We had been there about 45 minutes when Kenny asked if we could sleep over. ha ha Nothing like dropping in right? It was wonderful to stay up late talking in the kitchen about the growth their family has had in the gospel. I felt so full of God's love listening to her share her story from the day she met Kenny, and the steps to baptism. What a beautiful gospel. God is so mindful of each of us. He picks us up right when we need it most.

Juliette shared of the struggles and triumphs she has experienced over the past 2 years, and she is planning to go through the temple this March. How I wish we could go through with her. She has the most beautiful conviction and testimony.

We finished the with pajamas on, hot chocolate, and laughing together. It felt like I had known her my entire life. What a beautiful night.

london exploring

We started the morning off exploring Kings Cross Station. I'm in love with the exposed brick here. Of course we bumped into platform 9 3/4. 

 

Our plan was to wake up early so we could make it to the tower of London for their first tour. We however slept in till 830- 9ish. We hurried to the London Tower to discover it was closed because of the new year.



To be honest I wasn't too bothered by it. We spent the morning strolling along the Thames River, walking the London Bridge, and just seeing London on foot. It was beautiful, and did I mention the sun came out?!!!

Next we got off at Buckingham Palace. The gates on this place are a bit too ornate for my taste ha ha but it was still interesting to see. The queen was in because the flag was raised on top of the house.

We walked along Hyde Park, and eventually made it to the shopping area so we could see Harrods. I'll be honest I walked in the front door, and exited the next door I came to. Too big, I felt overwhelmed by the entire place.

Next we caught the train to Camden Market. Seriously one of the best decisions. I absolutely loved the place. Crowded yet so picturesque with the waterway, millions of little stores, and all the authentic food.

We ate some asian food from a little booth, and took our seat on the scooter. Seriously one of the best ideas. 

 

In front of us was the waterway with a boat thing set up for concerts. If I ever live in England I will come to one of the shows played on that boat. Loved the entire environment of this place. 

If you've seen what a girl wants with amanda bynes and collin firth this is where they shop together and dress up. Okay so I've wanted to come here since I was a tween. Perhaps that is why I liked it so much. 

We bought the coolest little handmade double decker bus in one of the booths, and I also bought some amazing shoes for 10gbp. Couldn't be happier. 

We made a quick stop on the way home at Leadenhall market to see where they filmed a piece of Harry Potter...the diagon alley part.

annnd we stopped at Baker Street to see 221B...Sherlock Holmes House.

 

a london new years

Can I tell you living out of 5-6 suitcases is really the worst. I tried organizing them at least a dozen times and yet somehow the tooth brush was always misplaced or I would swear I left my deodorant in a certain pocket... I would just recommend if you are traveling for over a month try to stay in the same climate. That will be our goal for our next adventures.

We finally made it out the door reorganized and packed for our two nights in London. We picked a train at Hatton Cross station to London Kings Cross on the Picadilly line. A day pass for zones 1-6 is about 8.50 GBP...not horrible but by all means not cheap.

At Kings Cross we walked down to the British Library in the pouring rain. I kinda love the rainy English weather though. There is another free exhibit in the British Library, and it really was amazing. We saw so much. I really couldn't believe all they had in this one giant room exhibit:

• Jane Austin
• Jane Eyre
• A Gutenberg Bible 
• Tyndale's New Testament
• Wycliffite Bible 
• Beatles lyrics written on random paper or napkins 
• Handel's Messiah 
• Music by Beethoven, Mozart, Haydn, Schubert 
• Magna Carta 
• Charles Dickens 
• Leonardo Da Vinci study of mechanics, and notes on arithmetic 
• 7th century Qur'ans from arabia mecca and Medina 
• Captain Cooks journal 
• Shakespeares first folio and other manuscripts
• Sigmund Freud Manuscripts

Afterwords we walked to our hotel. We stayed in Kings Cross Tune hotel, and it was literally 5 minutes from the station, and right next to a bunch of corner shops. I think Kenny about died when he found his favorite pineapple coconut carton drink at the corner shop nearest to us. Over the course of the next 3 days I think we went through about 4 cartons. No objections from me...I loved the stuff. 

After we settled in we spent time shopping/ exploring Oxford street. SO MANY STORES. I really couldn't believe how much shopping there is available in London. Everything was lit up in Christmas lights still, and I was again reminded that Christmas actually happened while we were in Ghana. We found a nice Indian restaurant for dinner. Indian food is everywhere, and Mexican food is no where to be found. After dinner we caught the train further down Oxford, and started exploring. Somehow we ended up in Leicester Square, and the closer we got to the London Eye the more crowded it became. Seriously so many people.

By about 9 we made it to Big Ben area to find the bridge was already completely full and blocked off. I can't even begin to describe the amount of people. It was insane.

 

We found a perfect spot to see the fireworks and basically camped out for the next 3 torturously long hours. I mean squished standing 3 hours. We made lots of new friends especially when we pulled out the ipad. There were moments where I would think 30 or more minutes had gone by, and I would check my watch to find only 7 minutes had passed. hence the first picture below... 

 

 

The one perk to begin completely smooooshed in a giant pile up of humans was I was never cold during the 3 hour wait which was amazing. As we got closer to 12 you could feel the excitement in the air. People were lighting little fireworks. The crowd was screaming and cheering over practically nothing. Teenagers were struggling to get out of the crowd because they were going to hurl from all the alcohol, and occasionally a floating lantern was lit.

When the crowds were out of order a policeman came on a horse to calm things down. I about died the first time I saw them up on their horses...London did not disappoint my childhood imagination of  Europe. 

Eventually we were within 10 minutes of 12. Little lights illuminated the top of the crowd as everyone  tried to position their cameras for the big show. The lights on the London Eye were changing colors at this point, and the excitement was touchable. When 30 seconds hit the countdown began. Giant numbers were being projected onto a building behind the Eye. The last 10 seconds were the best. Everyone was screaming the countdown...10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1!!!!! 

The fireworks were unreal. There were points that you could barely look at all the blurred light in front of you because there were so many. Many were lit through the center of the London Eye, and really it was the best firework show I've ever seen. The only one that comes close would be the Olympics one is SL. So crazy. 

After they were over everyone kinda just stood there dazed, smiling, and still cheering. What a dream. I can't believe we were able to bring in the new year in London. Afterwords the police shut down all the streets, and herded us around like we were animals. We decided it wasn't worth trying to get on the train so we made the 2 mile trek back to Kings Cross. By the time we made it home I was complaining like a crazy person. ha ha The cold finally hit us, our feet were numb from all the standing, and tired was an understatement. Going to bed was seriously the best feeling in the world.

We welcomed 2012 in on the beaches of Puerto Rico, and said goodbye to it on the banks of the Thames River. Couldn't have loved the year anymore. Hands down by far the best year of my life. 

What a night. What a year. I have a good feeling about 2013.