Stonehenge to Liverpool

Stonehenge....one more picture of this amazing place!! I really just loved it there and had to throw in one more picture

After some more driving, we went to Bath. I loved it! I have decided that I would love to Honeymoon in Bath. So, I either need to make more money or marry someone who can take me there!!! : ) It was gorgeous just driving though. It's one of those secret places up in the hills that of course a lot of people know about but it is just so beautiful. These pictures are great but still don't do it justice.


We did go on a tour of Bath but it was really boring. We could've done the comedy tour of Bath for a 5 pounds or the regular tour for free. Well, what you pay is what you get. We tried to skip out on our free tour and got caught!!! Who does that??? They actually caught us! We were trying to eat at this restaurant which was the oldest house in Bath. The food was not great but it was all about the experience. We went on a little bit more of our tour and then told him that we needed to leave. That is what we should have done in the first place. It was a funny experienceWe left Bath about 10 pm. We had about an hour and a half to two hour drive to our hotel in Birmingham. It was a nice place and it was nice to be in a room where I didn't have to wear my flip flops everywhere! I liked Birmingham and would've liked to see a little bit of it but we left pretty early in the morning to go to Warwick Castle. Warwick (pronounced Warick) Castle is the best medieval castle in England. It was so fun. We could've spent all day here!
Me and Mindy in the tunnel of fear. It was very short and just a small walking space but we had fun going through it and pretending that we were scared!!
Taking my turn at being an archer. It's been a long itme since I've shot a bow and arrow. Maybe since Mr. Toynbee's Hunter safety class in 8th grade!!!


After some time in Warwick, we headed up to Liverpool. Once we got there (it was a bit stressful) we finally went and got something to eat and then walked around the docks. It was a really neat to think that there were thousands of early saints there getting ready to come to America. They sold everything they had to go just so they could be with other members of the church. It was awesome. Of course, I had some mission memories there too as when I was serving in the Liverpool Stake in Warrington, we would come to Liverpool for Pdays.

We missed the Beatles Museum but we did get into the Beatles Store. It was fun! At least we got to see something Beatles. Mindy and I ran to check the car in while Melissa, Kaylin and Allyson went to the Caveman Pub which is the first Pub that the Beatles played in.

The last six months of my mission I served on a tiny island called the Isle of Man. I loved it there and had some really great experiences there. I was excited to go back but a little nervous. We loaded our car and then got on the "Mannanan" a fast ferry to the Isle of Man. This is how they had us park our car. The guy told us to pull up and we were sitting at this funny angle and the car was still going and I was just waiting. Then he came up and said, "Mam, this is where you are parking" It was hilarious.
The boat rides are always fun. It was a little rocky but we had some ice cream, played Clue in Manx (an old language of the Isle of Man) and slept a little. Well, maybe five minutes. I read a little but it was quick getting there.
We were so happy to finally land and be on the Isle of Man. The Promenade was as beautiful as ever and I couldn't wait to get off that boat and go see everything again!

And the journey began....

June 16 began with an early morning and a rush to get things ready. With very little sleep, we were ready to go. England, here we come. We were all happy smiles and excitement. This is me and Kaylin in the Salt Lake airport waiting for our plane to Dallas.

Me and Mindy on the Skylink in Dallas. Our flight to Dallas was fine. I didn't want to sleep because I knew we had a LONG way to go!

We arrived in London after a long flight. I had a few hours of sleep but poor Kaylin and Mindy didn't sleep at all! So, some of us were going on 36 hours with out sleep. We finally figure out how to get to our hostel. We couldn't check in until 2:00 so we decided to go see something. England maps are a mess and there were were trying to find a museum. Finally, we found it but were just exhausted.
Buckingham Palace. Pretty cool but not all it's cracked up to be! The guards aren't even wearing the tall red hats! Sad day! : ( But, it was a beautiful building and the surrounding areas were also georgous.
Big Ben- probably my favorite part of London. I took about a million pictures of this!!! Ok, not really but I did snap quite a few. I loved Big Ben.
We rode the London Eye which was quite expensive but totally worth it. It is just a very slow ferris wheel but it shows you London from the sky in about a half hour. It was really fun and definitly worth it.
We took a cruise on the River Thames. It was fun to see a lot more on London. I liked London but was ready to get out and see more. Big cities are fun but it was good to get out and see more of England.

Our first leg of the trip.....Stonehenge. After a little bit of confusion with the car, and some crazy driving by yours truly, we made it to Stonehenge. I absolutely loved it. It must be the history geek in me but I thought it was fasinating.

Considering a lot of pictures were taken, I will be documenting over a period of time. So, stay tuned!!!! And hopefully it won't take me too long!

A year of change

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!! Okay, I am really not obsessed about my birthday like my dear roommate, Allyson. To me it is just another fun day but I just get to be celebrated and receive a lot more attention than normal. So, all in all. Birthday's are fun. So, admist my packing mess, I sit here on my bedroom floor and blog about this last year.

-Spent 2 weeks in Washington DC!
-Decided I was done with Turnberry and the H-4...found a great house in Holladay and moved houses and wards
- Made many new friends
-went on lots of dates (some not great,others fabulous!)
-Got a huge calling that sometimes drives me crazy!
- saw my little brother's high school football team win the state championship!!! GO SAVAGES!
-completed my second year of teaching high school alive!
- bought plane tickets to England in February
-will be leaving for England in less than 20 hours!

My year in a nutshell....Well, sort of. I have learned so many things this past year. I have learned to trust the Lord much more. To depend on Him for everything. That my parents know almost everything and always have the right answers. That the PRAXIS test is horrible and needs to be discontinued but won't, so I do it again! I have learned that life is great and meant to be lived to the fullest. As a 26 year old, I tried and now, as I turn 27 I will try to make this year even better than the last. I am sure it will be full of changes and experiences and I am ready to embrace them all!

Why, oh why, is it so cold in June

I am refusing to turn on any heat because it is June for crying out loud. Yesterday, just wanting to enjoy a nice lounge in the chair reading a book (yes, the life of a teacher) and there I was, my hoodie, my sweats and a blanket!!!! In almost the middle of June. For some reason, this is really bothering me and I can't wait for warm weather!!! Utah has decided to take on Seattle/England weather and rain almost everyday for the entire month. I think it is time Utah remembers what it is supposed to be like in June and get there!!! And hopefully July is much better...

Red Phone Booths, Fish n Chips and Double Decker Busses

5 days and counting!!! I can't believe soon I will be in England again! We have waited so long for this day and now it is here!! We bought our tickets in February thinking this day would never arrive and now, here it is. All I've been singing is "Leaving on a jet plane!!" of course, I know when I will be back again. 2 short weeks!




We will seeing the entire country, some of which I have, most I have not! I am so looking forward to this trip and all the great memories that I will make and the memories that I have that will come back




There are so many places that I can't wait to see. LONDON, Stonehenge, Bath, The Isle of Man, Scotland, Cambridge! So many places!









I can't wait for this trip!!! Soon, 5 days, I will be boarding a plane and heading back to a country I feel in love with 5 years ago! England, here I come!!!

Miss Stokes' Top Ten of 2008-2009

Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

As the 2008-2009 school year comes to a close, I look back with smiles and a few tears. It has been a great year but also a challenging year. I was given new challenges and opportunities to grow as a teacher. Graduation is tomorrow and I will say good bye to many students that I had last year and also that I worked with this year. Congrats class of 2009 and best of luck. Here, is my top ten list of 2008-2009....

10. Trench warfare marshmallow game! A favorite among many students
9. Homecoming....running around like a crazy woman. No cars for the candidates until one hour before the game, threat of rain but it never came and a great football game with a win. What could be better
8. Parent Teacher Conferences: I love them. Not only do we get a recovery day, I love talking with parents. And boy do I talk....I always have the longest line and the principal just laughs every time she walks by my table
7. Movie days and Forrest Gump: How many "I love you Carrie's" did I get from my class trying to convince me to let them watch Forrest Gump. I am known for not letting my classes finish movies. They only finish about the 3 the whole school year but watch "clips" of many. Finally- I gave in. I don't think I will watch Forrest Gump for a long long time though!
6. My new technology! I love it so much. Power points are my new best friend as well as funny emails and songs at the beginning of class. I feel like a real teacher now...forget overhead projector
5. My wonderful boss....having failed the PRAXIS test for the 6th time ( I think anyway- I don't even remember anymore) she immediately got on the phone and called the director of personnel. She was going to do anything she could to help me pass this test. She is great!
4. Students...always make life interesting and exciting. Whether it is fancy drawings on the board or rumors floating around about me, they always have something new for me. I am so easy to get off topic and they try every day to get me off. They are so funny and such great kids! I've loved teaching them all this year!
3. Friends: I have great friends at Hunter High. It is good to have some adult interaction every day admist 2300 high school students so, thanks to you friends who help keep me sane! Most of you, I will see next year! Yea. Others I am sadly having to say goodbye as they move on and retire.
2. Great Student Body Officers which made this year busy but fun. With this job, I also had my first tears ever during the day! Flopped assemblies but then very succesful ones. Many tears but even more smiles and good times!

1. Another successful year! A yearbook full of nice notes and happy summer wishes! Students getting As that at one point would not even look at me and those who finally figure it out and pass my class! An empty classroom and 3 months of recovery before it starts all over again!!

The Countdown begins....13 days

13 days and counting until I board a plane and head back to the country that I love! ENGLAND! I bought new luggage tags, a converter and my list is getting long of what I need to do before the long flight and 2 weeks there. I feel like it is Christmas, I am so excited to go!!!