USA gets the GOLD!

The past couple of days have been unreal. As you all know, the USA Women's team beat Spain in the gold medal game, making history by being the first ever women's water polo team to win in the Olympics. Not only did they win, but the dominated! The score was 8-5. Maggie Steffens, a 19 year old, scored 5 of 8 goals in the game. It was so inspiring to watch her and everyone on the team be so composed and bring everything they had in order to win. I am sure most of you guys watched the celebration on TV of them in the water, getting their medals, and the playing of the National Anthem. Their excitement and love for each other was pretty obvious. Being on a close-knit team myself, I know how strong a bond can be between teammates and I really enjoyed watching them be so happy with one another in celebration of something so big. When the National Anthem came on, I completely lost it. Its such an emotional and unbelievable thing to witness. I also couldn't control my tears when Dan looked up and waved at me and Natalie in the stands. I am so happy for him! I really felt Skyler's presence, as I do in most big moments of my life, and know that he is looking down on Dan also just as proud as ever.

After the game, all the families and players had a private room in a casino where we all got to celebrate together. It was so fun because I got to know the players more than I did before and just have tons of fun. It was exciting being in the presence of the gold medalists. The medals are awesome and also really heavy!

The next day Natalie and I slept in very late. We didn't really do much besides get ready for another night celebration that the sponsors put on for the team and families. It was a super fancy celebration and, again, I had such a fun time with the girls, Natalie, and Dan.

This morning we were a little slow moving, but we had some things we still needed to see in our last day in London. We got a cookie at this AMAZING place called Ben's Cookies for breakfast (breakfast of champs, I know) and then headed to Buckingham Palace. We checked out the palace and some of the statues around it and then strolled into Hyde Park. Hyde Park is beautiful and it was fun sitting and chatting on the grass. Dan met up with us in Hyde Park so, we visited while soaking up the sun on the grass and then headed to Westminster Abbey. Westminster Abbey was by far my favorite thing to see in London. We were debating whether or not to pay the money to go inside or not and I am so glad that we did. Its such a historic and beautiful church. It's where a lot of the Kings and Queens are buried or where their tombs remain. Everything from the statues, to the glass, to the floors, and the walls was so incredibly ornate. It amazed me that everything in their was so old for how intricate it all is. Of coarse I was also excited to be there because it's where Will and Kate got married and I do just love them. Unfortunately, you cant take pictures inside Westminster Abbey, so I can't show you all what I saw, but I am just going to have to remember everything inside my head. After we were finished there, we headed to the P&G house to get dinner and we watched the USA vs. Brazil Women's Volleyball gold medal game on the big screens. USA came out strong in the first match but then lost in four. It was a bummer, but I am still happy that they will receive a silver. After hanging out a while, Natalie and I headed back to our flat. We are all packed up and ready for our flight tomorrow morning. I wish I had more time here. I loved this trip and it seemed like it went by so quickly! I know that this was a trip of a lifetime that most people never get to experience and I will remember it and cherish the memories from it forever. I got to travel to London England, see the US Women's Water Polo team take the gold medal in the 2012 Olympic games, and also spend some really quality time with my future sister n law, Natalie. I loved her before, but now I love her on a whole new level. She is such an amazing and happy person and I couldn't  be more excited to know that she will be a part of my family forever. It's an exciting year for her and Dan with the Olympics and their wedding coming up and I want the best for them because they truly deserve the best. It is experiences like these, the Olympics and the wedding, that you want to share with people who really mean a lot to you and she really does. I am so glad we got to spend this time together on this amazing trip in support of Dan and Team USA. I am sad its over, but these special memories will stay with me forever. Thank you so much to my family that financially allowed me to do this. I cannot thank you enough and I am excited to see some of you and spend some time at home. See you soon.

Kelsey