June 17 - July 1 ... EUROPE!!!!!

Ok, since Europe is AMAZING. And I took, literally, 1000 photos, here's me summing it up in 10 photos and just a few paragraphs. If you want to see all the photos, they're all on

my facebook profile, if you don't have facebook, ask a neighbor

to assist you in your viewing needs, they have it.

It all begins in: The Beginning

We spent a day in England after landing. The next day we drove down to Versailles, near Paris, in France. We stayed in a super hoidy-toidy hotel there for a few nights. We spent a day viewing the Versailles palace where Louis the XIV-VXI lived up through the Fr

ench Revolution. We spent 8 hours there. Did two separate tours. And still didn't even begin to see everything. These French royalty types, man do they know how to live!

The Not So Beginning, But Not Even Near The Middle Of The Trip Bit

We drove from Versailles down to Southern France to visit some old family friends, Peter and Karen. Peter renovates super old and super cool houses and barns. So we stayed in their renovated, amazing, barn. They had 2 horses, Cody and Billy, and a swimming pool. The photos I took were amazing. It's such beautiful country. I literally cried when we had to leave. This is where I want to live, for forever. Ooooh, French country side, how I love you! The first photo is of Peter and Karen's house/renovated barn, and the second is a photo I took while driving out to the forest one day for some horseback riding/dinkidy-dooing.

The Middle, Oui!

Paris! We spent just under 3 days in Paris. The first day we saw most of the sights: Eiffel Tower, Musee D'Orsay, Notre Dame, Bastille ... we were so tired that night! We climbed up part way on the Eiffel Tower... 655 steps up, and 655 steps back down! But the view was spectacu

lar! My calfs were sore for days.

The second day in Paris was spent at the Louvre. We saw so many beautiful pieces of art. This is my favorite. The Winged Victory of Samothrace. Plus we saw the Mona Lisa. Pretty cool stuff!

More Of The Middle... The middle drug on for almost a week, ok?

Next up was Salisbury... Michelle's favorite Cathedral! Salisbury was beautiful. We drove up to Old Serum and played around on the ruins up there for a few hours. It was fun seeing some sights while being outside and allowed to be loud and run around, we're good at that. We took a lot of photos, a few naps in the grass, we're also good at that, and even cut a finger on one of the super old 12th century rocks. After that, we moved on.

We also saw The Stonehenge and then another not as famous Stonehenge. The not so famous one was cool because we got to frolic in and around the rocks, which was also fun. We took a lot of photos there, but again, we're doing this in just 10 photos, so bear with me there.

The Last Leg Of The Journey!

Sunday came, and since we spent the last one swimming and going to an open air market in France, we decided we'd make up for our sinning by going to church and then church history sights. We went to Dave and Grace's old ward and saw a lot of their friends. After a brief catching up lunch with friends we headed out to see Gadfield Elm, Benbow Farm, and Herefordshire Beacon. All three are important stops for us LDS folks. Here's a photo of Gadfield Elm... I even got to color a picture while I was there, awesome! I came here when I was 8, the last time I was in Europe, at that point it hadn't been restored and was missing a few walls, and well the roof, and such... so it was really amazing to see it restored!

It's The End, All Too Quickly Did It Come!
Our last two days were spent in London. We saw the Tower of London, and sweat to death. It was mid 90s the both days we were there. We'd be on the train, elbow to elbow, sweat to sweat, with a lot of strangers... and let me just say that for the record: American men smell a lot better than both English and French men.

Our last day was spend 1/2 at the British Museum looking at all the suite mummies and what not, and 1/2 shopping for the pair of shoes I HAD to have before coming back to the states. Yay mummies!!! Creepy... I saw one outside of the wrapping.. too graphic to my eyes that's for sure... sick! But kinda cool... hehe.

It's Over

After 2 1/2 weeks in Europe it was time to fly home. Although I was excited to sleep in my own room, use my own shower, not have to share a bed, not have to tell everyone that I'm changing so they can avert their eyes, and not walk a million miles every day, I did not want to come back. Europe is amazing. Better than I had hoped. And France, ooooh France, how I love me some France! I would live there for at least many a year of my life... it's so beautiful, and peaceful, at least the southern country side bit. Honestly, I have so many pictures worth looking at, and I wish I could put them all on here, but I can't, and it pains me so! Go to facebook and look at them all. It's such a beautiful place. But, it's good to be home. We got back and left for Montana just a few days later where we'll be, my family and I, until mid-August. This summer is an amazing one!

May 1st - June 12th ... Back in Seattle!

SEATTLE!

Well, I decided I just couldn't stay away from the place I love most... yup, Seattle! I decided to go back to Seattle for the first 6 weeks of my summer break. And since my boss' at Market Street Shoes are terribly kind, they let me come back to work for as long as I was in town. So, I finished my last final, packed up my bags (which, can I just say, I packed for 6 weeks in 1 suitcase and 1 duffle, never in the history of Jen has that even been thought of... I have to have at least a dozen dresses with me no matter where I am!) and I flew up to the land of trees, s

mall cars, bus riders, and bearded men. I spent my time one various people's couches, and if you're one of those people then seriously I can't say thank you enough. I stayed mostly on my old couch, which Autumn now owns, seeing as she lives in my old apartment. It was weird being back there. But so fun partying and playing with all the old roommates. We even got

to go see the shins! I also stayed with Sarah, Melanie, and Elise. Not to mention the hundreds of times my awesome family drove up to get me for a day or two of me visiting down in southern Seattle. And I got to go down to vancouver and visit my mom and her man. Since it's been awhile, I'm just going to throw in a few pictures, and sum it up!!

This is me and the girls, Sarah and Elise, enjoying a day at the "beach". I didn't have sunglasses, so Elise let me use a pair she got for free at this event... they weren't the cutest things ev

er on me... but they did the trick! Plus I didn't have shorts... so I wore Nick's (Elise's

boyfriend's) basket ball shorts... thanks nick... although I don't think he even knows. Heh.

Very rarely do we all get any days off together, but somehow we managed one, on an 85 degree day too, so what else are you to do?? Yup, tan! Or in my case... burn.

Here are Autumn, Charlie, and Scotty in the kitchen. Charlie and Scotty painted a lot, and Autumn and I bugged them a lot. Ahh the basement apartment. Thanks guys for the use of both your couches... even though Scotty would always try to watch movies at 3 am with me sleeping on the other half the couch... super rude. Especially when I'm half asleep begging him not to put on Wall-e and so he puts it on and turns it up just to make me mad. But hey, free place to

sleep... so no complaints!!!

Here's Molly! She was pregnant the whole time I was there, so rarely did we actually call her Molly... I called her Miss Prego Pants. But the pregnant nicknames were many... poor thing probably felt quite self conscious. She had the kittens a few weeks ago, and as far as I know they're all doing fine, and are super adorable!!!!

I got to go out to dinner a lot with all my friends. Here's a photo of me and Topher and a show we went to one friday with a few of our other friends. Topher and I are best at taking photos of the two of us. We just go together! TJ and JT. He's my hero, and one of my best friends.

Me and the girls all had an annual girls night. We're good at getting together one night outta the year to eat a ton of food, watch a lot of movies, and laugh so hard we cry, oh and dance... we always do a lot of dancing. These girls are the best people ever! Elise, Melanie, Sarah, Autumn, and me! This photo is of me and Mel.

On my trip down to visit my Mom in Vancouver, I said goodbye to Carmel, and it was really rough. I knew it'd probably be the last time I saw him, since he was 14. He passed away on June 23rd, while I was away in Europe. He was such an amazing dog, he did so much for my family. I'm very thankful I got the chance to see him and tell him I love him. I would do a dedicated tribute to Carmel entry, but I think that remember Carmel is above putting him on my blog. He was my best friend. And I think that's all that needs to be said about him. He's so happy now, and I'm happy for him. He was a very selfless being, and I think we can all take a page out of his book. World's best dog: Carmel Joshua Russell.

I had so much fun in Seattle, it was really sad leaving. I got super sick the last 2 days I was there, we had a going away party, but I ended up just bailing and falling asleep on everyone. Sorry guys! I had to say goodbye and fly home with a fever ... not one of the more fun moments in my life! But I knew I was flying to Europe in just 3 days... so somehow I managed to pull through. Haha. I miss all my Seattle friends and family on the daily. They're the best people I've come across to date, and I know that Seattle will always be my home.