Cora gets baptized and we visit Utah!

We are finally back in the United States!  We feel bitter sweet about this, but we are excited for our new adventures...although road trips in the U.S. just aren't as fun as Europe.  There are no Castles just around the river bend!!  Still, we are slowly getting readjusted.  The flight back to the states was uneventful.  We were on Luftansa and each of us had our own video screen with all the in flight movies free to choose from. It was smooth sailing!  Then we hit D.C. drove the 2 hours to our next digs, got our keys, unloaded some luggage and repacked, drove 2 hours back to D.C., hopped on another plane, and flew to Las Vegas, picked up a rental van, drove to hotel, and the next morning we drove to Utah. 

Sounds exhausting just reading about it!!

We had a great time while in Utah reconnecting with family and friends who most of us haven't seen for a couple of years.  One of the most exciting events during our visit was Cora's baptism into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  We are so excited for her that she made this choice!

Here she is on her big day!

Getting ready to be baptized, Dad is going to perform the ordinance.

3 down, two more to go...the next one will be a double wham!

After her baptism and confirmation

She looks so happy!

Our attempt at getting a group shot of the all the kids.

Jack wasn't very cooperative, not sure what his deal was this trip.  Every time we tried to get him to take a picture he would throw a royal tantrum!  I am chalking it up to jet lag?!

We had the awesome surprise of several of our dear friends (family really) we knew in Germany come for the baptism.  They all were either living in Utah now or visiting, but it made the day that much more special!

Here is the group shot of all the family and friends that were able to make it.

It turned out beautiful, and a special shout out in Thanks to all those that participated and made it such a neat event!

The next day we had her 2nd "White" pictures taken.  Yes I know there is a finger in the picture!  Anyway, somehow during the trip her feet grew like a size in a week and her white Sunday sandals didn't fit anymore...she was getting horrible blisters from wearing them.  So Aunt Trudy bought her this soft, fuzzy blue slippers to wear.  She loves them!

at the splash park near my parents house.

we spent some time visiting with Great-Grandma Gale

The girls added to the puzzle Grandma always has going.

She is a pro...look at that organization!

There goes Jack again with his anti-picture taking attitude!

We missed the 4th of July, but in Utah we celebrate the 24th of July as Pioneer Day and we can do fireworks.  So we had an awesome family BBQ and did fireworks with all our cousins!

One of the favorites are the strobe fireworks...everyone gets up and we have ourselves a 

DANCE PARTY!

When ever I am in Utah I try to get together with my three besties from High School.  It is so much fun for me to see them and reconnect, and to see their kids.  Everyone has grown up so much!!  We have been doing this for years, since our oldest kids were babies, now they are all teenagers or close to it!

There are 12 kids between us all, 11 are in the picture.

That's a lot of kids!

But what a fun day it was!!

About 5 blocks from where my parents live is the old Provo Tabernacle.  I have such fond memories of this building.  We would go there for church (Stake) Conferences, special events, concerts, and I graduated form my religion seminary class in this building.  Well, several years ago there was a major fire and the building was destroyed....or so we thought...

 The LDS Church has decided to restore this historical building and convert it into a Temple.  It has been an amazing process.  My family has been following it's progress in the news since we lived in a different country.  But during our visit we went down a couple times to see it.  They have gutted out the inside, but kept the outer, original brick walls in tact.  Then the supported the structure on stilts and dug out beneath and around it, to build the basement facilities and parking.  Simply amazing!

I can't wait to see it when it is complete!

How jealous (in a good way) am I that my parents will have a temple within walking distance of their home!

The closest we have been to a temple in the last 8 years is 2 hours...It would be heaven to be able to just walk to one!

It was a great trip, sure makes us realize how much we miss family!  Hopefully we will be closer again soon!

Our last trip in Europe!

We had one last four day weekend in June where we would be able to travel.  Of course we were going to go somewhere, so where did we go?

Cinque Terre

of Italia of course!

We love Italy and have been there several times during our couple of years in Europe. This trip we focused on visiting a couple of hill top towns and seeing the Cinque Terre.

 Our first stop was the hill top town of Voterra.

We saw a lot of Roman ruins while there, and discovered that Volterra is most famous for it's alabaster.

 Next on our list was the Hill top town San Gimignano

or Hill of the 13 towers.

 Of course we had to stop for gelato, and what more perfect spot to eat it then right in front of the Museum of torture that every medieval city has!!

 After a long day of touring hill top towns we needed some good R&R on the beach!

 The next day we spent in the Cinque Terre.

This is also known as the Italian Riviera, and so picturesque.  This area is on accessible by foot or by train.  There is a trail the connects the 5 small fishing villages that would be a dream to hike.  But with two small toddlers we knew this wouldn't be realistic...so we opted to use the train system.  We had planned to hike the trail between the first two towns, and then train to the 4th and 5th town.  Alas our plans were not to be, the first trail was closed due to a mud slide...so trains it is!

 We spent some time on the beach in the last town.  It was breathtaking... but so crowded!  It reminded me of the beach from the movie "Summer Rental" with John Candy...you practically couldn't walk to the water without stepping on someone!

 Our day ended back in town one, where we had amazingly been able to park our car!  We found some delicious brick oven Italian pizza and ate on the pier by the water.

 After dinner we walked up the hill above the pier and let the kids climb down and around all the rocks.

 And of course we found some Gelato along the way!

Oh how we will miss Italian Gelato, nothing compares to it in the U.S.

Sure they try...but honestly nothing comes close!

Farewell Italy!

We have enjoyed your shores and waters!

Hello Lost Friend...

It has been way too long, and I am sorry.  I have just been so busy.  Plus I have been without my computer since June.  It has been a whirlwind of busy-ness since the end of June.  We had the rest of our stuff packed and shipped, cleaned and moved out of our cute German house into a hotel, over saw an international move, arrived in Charlottesville to get our keys to our "new" house, left the next day for a two week "vacation" in Utah, My first Nephew on my side was born, movers showed up in 4 different shipments, lots of unpacking and cardboard, school started and I got to spend a long weekend with my brother and his sweet family in New York.  Whew!  So, now things might slow down a bit, I will have time to do a few updates.  I won't do them all, because I just don't have the patience...but I will do the most important ones! Until then, just know I haven't forgotten!!

Promotion + Birthday + Father's day= Matt week

The second week of June was quite the week for Matt.  He was promoted to Major on Monday, had a birthday on Thursday and Father's day on Sunday.  In between all that we took a trip to Italy.  I will blog about Italy later, for now we will focus on what we call "Matt week".

Getting ready for the ceremony to start.  We are very excited for Matt, and feel very proud and blessed that he has succeeded so well in his career of choice.  He really does love his job!

 Matt's boss is wonderful.  Here Col. Mendelsen is giving a short blurb about Matt.

The Matt blurb.

 Having his promotion orders read

 There were a lot of pins, patches and tags to change out.

I think he actually had 5, the perfect number for each of the kids to do one.

It was a mad jumble of kids!

Jack got to help put the new rank on Matt's berett

 being sworn in.

 He got me and the girls each a bouquet of flowers.  The girls loved that...I think they take after their mama.  The boys each got an army coin.  We have since lost one...

 So proud!

 I was insane and decided to have his promotion party right after the Ceremony.  Most people wait a few days, weeks or even months before they throw their party.  We were just getting so busy with the move coming up, I decided it was now or never.  So we went for it.  It was pretty stressful, and I don't think I will ever have a promotion party right after a ceremony again...but luckily I have some pretty awesome friends who helped me pull it off!

 I couldn't have done it without them!

 Then it was on to Matt's big birthday!

He turned 40 this year, over the hill, ha ha!

I actually put 40 candles on his cake...

He is going to get me so bad when I turn 40!

 Amazingly he blew out every single candle!  I am not kidding, every one!  We even have it recorded for Posterity on video tape.

 Can you see that plume of smoke after he blew out his candles?!!!

We also had a wonderful time for Father's day, hiking through the Cinque Terre region of Italy and relaxing on a beach.  I think he had a pretty good Matt week, it will be hard to top next year!

Tang soo do

For the past year or so Anya has been participating in a martial arts program called Tang Soo Do.  She has really enjoyed it.  Recently she had the opportunity to compete in the International Tang Soo Do European Championship.

 Receiving last minute instructions and tips from Master Oden

 Her Master, Master Oden, received his 5th degree in Black belt that day.

 Competing with her group in the creativity event.

They took Third Place!

 Then she went on to compete in forms and sparing within her Gup

 She did very well in both and got very good scores.  Although she didn't place, we feel like it was a great experience for her and she had lots of fun!

Here she is with the group trophy for third place.

Congratulations Anya and a very successful first competition!

We are so proud of you!