Sandringham

Upon our return to England from Ireland, we took my Aunt Denise to see Sandringham Estate.

Sandringham is a 20,000 acre estate where the royal family stays at Christmas. We visited it once before on Christmas Day but we weren't able to tour the house as it was occupied. By the Queen. 

No pictures were allowed of the interior (I swear that phrase makes me die a little inside every time) but I promise you that it was beautiful and gilded and so very fancy. The type of fancy where you feel a little silly wearing wellies inside. I guess you can kind of tell that from the outside.

But anyway, I looked into the mirror that the Queen uses to fix her hair before she goes outside and I also saw the table where she does her puzzles. Did you know the Queen likes to kick back after a long day with a puzzle? I do now.

We also stopped by the museum where they have a lot of relics on display as well as the collection of royal cars (including toy electric cars!). I have never seen so many Rolls-Royces in my life.

We ended the day quite fittingly with tea and scones. And that is probably what I will miss most about England when we leave. Who knows where you can find a decent clotted cream in the states?

 

This is an adorable little car used by the royal children. 

The only thing I was disappointed with at Sandringham is that they didn't let us tour the upper floors. At most estates we have been able to see the state bedrooms and sitting rooms, etc. I thought it would be very interesting to see, but I guess the royal family doesn't think so.

Can you imagine growing up in a place like this?

Christmas with the Queen

This Christmas was a little different.

We went to see the Queen.

I don't really understand why England still has a royal family, but it was still fun to see them. We spent a total of eight hours driving and waiting (mostly just waiting) at the Sandringham Estate. I had a really great view until  a lady on a scooter with unnecessarily tall and puffy hair zipped in at the last second. Right in front of me. If I hadn't been standing in the freezing cold for four hours when she decided to show up, I probably would have been less upset about it. I still managed to snap some pretty great photos despite the puffball. 

We had some false information and arrived more than three hours early so we ended up at the head of a line of about a thousand people.

I really enjoyed how this man was standing. 

These were a couple of the royal family's guards. I theorized that their umbrellas are actually hidden swords.

The woman in red wasn't actually with us, but she did an excellent job pretending.

All the children with flowers lined up to present them to the Queen. It was really sweet and made us wish that we had brought a child. 

 Camilla was also accepting flowers.

 

We returned from our excursion to finish our day more traditionally. Of course, when all of your family is 5000 miles away, traditions are a little more difficult to practice. So, in the spirit of all things British, Christmas crackers were pulled with a loud bang and crowns were worn all around! 

Forrest, having recently acquired an enormous smoker, decided that Christmas was the time to break it in. And break it in, he did. We had the most delicious turkey and ham in the history of Christmas. That man really knows his way around a smoker. 

Despite the worry and stress the past couple of months with all of Forrest's medical grief, this year has been the best one yet. I am so thankful for my husband and his strength. He is the most valiant and determined person I know. 

I am so excited for all the years we have ahead of us and all of the experiences that are just waiting to be ours.