The rest of July

We went home to Utah from the 15th of July until the29th. It was a quick two weeks, and no one wanted to come back home. We even tried to extend our tickets, but found out it would cost more for the extension than we paid for the original tickets! Mike and I really enjoyed being able to see all our parents and siblings. We're really grateful for all the sacrifices everyone made while we were home so that we could spend time together! It honestly was a perfect vacation, and Mike is so glad he got to see everyone before he has to deploy.

We spent our time hiking, jumping, swimming, going to the movies, winning giant stuffed monkeys, enduring the heat, standing in lines, learning that Samantha likes roller coasters, eating some REALLY bad food at KFC (thanks to Marlon and Mike), shopping, going to the zoo, painting, and so much more!

July so far

We've had a busy month so far! The 2nd was take your kids to work day for Mike. Samantha ran the 1.5 mile fun run without stopping or having to be carried. The little kids stayed home with mom and got to "sleep in" until 7. Kate and Samantha went to work with Mike in the morning, and got to see what Mike does on a day to day basis. If you ask Samantha what Dad does at work she'll tell you "he walks around all day and makes sure that people are working"! He took them to see a humvee and lots of other big trucks. The day ended with them decorating cupcakes. Now Kate is convinced that Daddy eats cupcakes at work all day long, and anytime we have to stop at his work, she cries for a cupcake!

We took a spontaneous trip to Garmisch for the 2nd-4th of July. We swam for hours, went on a hike, and took a row boat around a lake. The girls did NOT want to leave, but mom had to get back to volunteer in Bamberg for the 4th of July party. We took the kids to see Toy Story 3 when we got back on the 4th, and I wish that Ethan would've let me sit through the movie, it seemed like it was going to be really cute!

On the 5th, after doing numerous loads of laundry and dishes, Mike loaded us all up in the car and announced that he was taking me to Poland to buy pottery! A definite sign of true love! I've caught the bug again though, and am already hoping to go back again soon!

We've since been to Rothenburg, made iron on T-shirt pj's with the girls, and spent the last few days inside due to some serious heat! Poor Ethan is living just about Harry Potter style. Not under the stairs, because I don't have a room under there, but we've moved him to the storage room in the basement because his room just gets WAY too hot. The girls have been having sleep-overs on the air mattress in the living room, right next to the AC. We're really excited for our trip to Utah later this week, we're all convinced that life will be so much more enjoyable with central air!

Pics of various July events!

girls outside of Crystal World in Austria

There's a Mermaid Down There!!!

Row, Row, Row your boat

Poor Mike had to carry two kids while I held the camera...

Miss Nancy sent the girls the cutest summertime bags full of stuff to do! Nancy is also a mother of 2 girls and 1 boy, so I think she understands my insanity at times!

Mike posing with the girls for his T-shirt
Kate's picture that's on her T-shirt

Samantha just being silly...

and Ethan being BIG!

Kindergarten Days

It's hard for me to believe that my little girl has already finished kindergarten! She is growing up too fast, and we treasure every moment with her. Samantha is turning into the cutest girl, and is such a joy to have around. She's learned so many things during the year, and matured so much. We started the school year with just the three of us (Samantha, Katherine, and Mom. Dad was at far away work) and ended the year as a family of five! She's a fabulous big sister and friend to Katherine and Ethan, and the biggest helper for Mommy and Daddy. Great job this year Samantha, we are so proud of you!! I'm posting pictures of her on her first and last day of kindergarten, I hope you all enjoy them as much as we do!

Samantha on her first day of school

September 7, 2009

Second day of school, with the traditional German schuletute!

Samantha with Mrs Emery on the last day of school. She was the best teacher ever!

Walking Samantha to her last day of school

Showing off her new sunglasses and pen from Mrs Emery and Mrs Martinez!

Getting ready to walk to her FIRST day of school!!

The morning of her last day of Kindergarten! June 17, 2010

The beach and Happy Birthday Katherine!!

I've been begging Mike to take us to the American Beach in Italy for a long time. He came home for lunch on Friday and said that if we could get a hotel room he would come home from work early and we could go. We drove the 9 hours to Livorno, and pulled up at 2 am. The kids did GREAT in the car for so long without a DVD player. We went to the beach Saturday morning, and just spent the weekend relaxing. I don't think that anyone really wanted to come back home on Sunday. Mike's even said that we can go back again this summer if we wanted to. People, this just goes to show you that begging really does work! Mike really is the greatest hubby and daddy!

Jump!

My boys sleeping in the sand

E and Me

Kate loved the beach...

so did Samantha

Katherine's birthday happened to be over Memorial Day weekend. Mike had a long weekend, so we were able to do some traveling along with Kate's birthday! The highlights include: Disneyland Paris, the girls shopping at the big PX in Ramstein, seeing Shrek 4, and having yummy Chili's takeout and an ice cream cake. The kids did really well with all the driving we did, and everyone had so much fun.

Yummy ice cream cake!

Ooh! I want that!

Waiting in line for Snow White

It's a Small World

Tea Cups with Mommy

Vacation

We absolutely LOVED having Grandma Vala come to visit us! It was great having someone to take pictures of our whole family! The last weekend she was here, we were able to visit Southern Germany with her. We went to Munich, with a stop at the Dachau Concentration Camp on the way, and walked around the main square. We stayed the night in Garmisch at the Edelweiss Lodge and Resort. Our girls call this place the "swimming pool hotel". They love the pool there. In the morning we drove to Neuschwanstein Castle. The girls were convinced that Cinderella lived there, and were quite upset when she didn't come out to play. My cute nephew Thomas sent us a Flat Stanley that got to come along with us on all our adventures!

Grandma

Grandma Vala came to visit, and we are all so excited! The girls wanted to dress up to pick her up from the airport. They love wearing their flowers that Miss Gerryn made for them. Grandma bought them the cutest new spring jammies, and they've worn them non-stop. Plus, Grandma seems to catch the best pictures of the baby! We're loving having her here, and will be really sad when she has to go back home.

Palace Picnic

Last Tuesday Samantha had the day off from school (both random and annoying) and the weather was actually good! We packed a lunch, and took Grandma to see the Memmelsdorf Seehof which is about 5 miles away from where we live. The girls loved eating outside and running around the lake. Ethan loved sitting in his stroller and being held.