cambridge with the padres

During my parents March visit, on a Sunday, after church we headed for Cambridge.  Ever since Jeff and I went there a few years ago I’ve wanted to go back and take the kids.  It so really so close to us, it was a perfect Sunday afternoon trip.

Kings college was amazing.  You feel so small, yet so powerful in there.  While we walked through my dad and I read the lyrics to the hymn “Jerusalem.”  Neither one of us can get through a piece of poetry that is touching without choking up and reading those powerful words in such a majestic setting just about did us both in.  I love that little genetic trait that we share. 

Jerusalem Hymn

And did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon England's mountain green?
And was the holy Lamb of God
On England's pleasant pastures seen?
And did the countenance divine
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here
Among those dark satanic mills?

Bring me my bow of burning gold!
Bring me my arrows of desire!
Bring me my spear! O clouds, unfold!
Bring me my chariot of fire!
I will not cease from mental fight,
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand,
Till we have built Jerusalem
In England's green and pleasant land.

The kids even appreciated the power of that place, they walked around, heads up, jaws dropped. My parents treated us to a punting ride down the Cam river.  Our tour guide told us a lot of interesting stuff and we took in the beauty and history and charm of that setting as we ate crusty bread and hunks of cheese. And, as you can tell, we took a lot of pictures.  How could you not? I love this picture of my parents taking pictures.   They are quite serious about it. Everywhere you turn there is something old and light filled and worn.  We walked through the streets trying to absorb some all of the intellect that has filled that air throughout history.

Every time I pulled out the camera Emmeline was ready with a pose.  She changes her poses fast as I hold the shutter button down and boom boom boom, you have this awesome series of pictures.  Not sure where she gets this posing thing from, but it is by far the cutest thing she does lately.  I need to make a giant collage of all her poses on this trip…..

Hazel also treated me to some poses, good thing because I was itching to take pictures.  The light and setting was so perfect.

Even Charlie tolerated a mini photo shoot.  I just couldn’t resist….the bow tie?  My little budding scholar? 

Here’s Charlie and my dad trying to take a peek into Trinity collage to see where they filmed that famous scene in Chariots of Fire.  Isn’t that the most amazing street?  Or maybe that’s the most amazing street.  Oh, we love that goofy grandfather!Buds just waiting to burst and daffodils in full bloom.I guess the only person who wasn’t part of the Cambridge posing photo shoot was poor Peter who was so congested while we were there that he could barely breath. 

Hazel has decided that maybe she’ll consider Cambridge now as one of her college options (along with Wellesley….but BYU is out in her book, mostly for aesthetics….. I’m thinking we need to either rethink our college savings plan or up our efforts at the BYU brainwashing plan). 

Full ride to Cambridge would be good too.  Can you imagine?