Hi all, I am trying to figure out how this works so I hope you can see this. When I was growing up I had a friend named Brad Duckworth. He was a year younger than me, and was a good guy. He sent me this link to a video that was put together by his son and friends that commemorates a triathaloner who was killed in a bike accident while training. It is well done and, since we have some triathaloners in the family, I though it was worth sharing. Great Message: youtube/h8RS2WXypSs. I love you all, Dad

I Shall Listen to Meema

It looks like young Eli shares his sister's knack for song-writing:

She has a first birthday, SING HOORAY!

OK, I had decided with the last two birthdays, (Mark and Ben) because I was so incredibly busy,  I was going to stop the birthday blog posts because frankly I had NO TIME, but I realized I had never done one for Harper. We are getting ready to leave Montreal in a couple of days but I could not resist.  So here goes. I know Mark and Ben you won't mind. I don't think anyone reads them anyway. 

 It all started here, sweet Harper....this is your mama and you are that little bump on her tummy.

 Here you are baby girl with your beautiful mama and your handsome daddy who love you sooo much. Happy First Birthday Harper. You are in SLC now and will spend your birthday there.

 This is you on daddy's arm sleeping like a baby cub in a tree. SO precious.

 And even sideways, cause Mema forgot to straighten this picture, you are beautiful, happy, sweet, curious, strong, have a strong voice, can soften any heart with your beautiful blue eyes and your smile is infectious to all who are blessed enough to see it.

 This is just after you were born. You were so beautiful Harper. We love you so much.

 Well, are you listening to your heart beat here in this darling picture of you? With all the medical knowledge between your dada and mama, it makes sense you would know how to use a stethoscope before you could walk or talk.

And lastly, here is your mema and pepa holding you at your home in Rochester, N.Y. on our last visit with the eye Dr. there. So glad we could visit with you and give you lots of oxoxo's. Happy Birthday sweet Harper. We love you so much. We will see you in a few days. Hope your day is happy.

Did I not get the memo about Mont Tremblant? Why have Nels and Shirin hid this amazing gem their whole mission? And, more importantly,when are we all going back to 'visit the mission' after they are done? 

There's something for everyone here - even Ben who hates adventures and anything to do with yurts. (Ironman North American Championship this year).

Can't wait to check this place out! 

Happy Mother's Day!

Dearest Mothah,

Video doesn't work?! Click here instead!

Made a little video with random pictures of you with your grandmother, your mother, with your children and husband, and some of your grand girls and boys. (Sorry siblings they are mostly of me and mine, it's what I had on the computer. Dane we also used your song and hope that is alright.)

Just wanted you to know that I love you to the moon and back! We all do. And we can't wait for you guys to come home! Even if we have to share you with all those adoring missionaries. ;)

Thanks for showing me how to be a wonderful mom and grandma. Just yesterday Clara said a few times, "Remember when Mema and I made those little squishy meatballs? That was so fun." And yesterday she also said, "That is from when Mema and I found leaves and glued them on the paper." It is amazing how the love you show and the attention you give is remembered for so long!

We love you so much, thank you for being the best momma and now grandmama! HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!!!!

Happy happy birthday Evelyn dear....you are one today!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET EVELYN....WE LOVE AND MISS YOU AND CAN'T WAIT TO GIVE YOU SO MANY OXOXO'S. TAKE CARE OF JESSIE FOR US. HAPPY DAY DEAR.

 Happy first birthday my sweet...

Dadda loves you sooo much...

Mommy and daddy love you....

I love everything about you even your sticky uppy hair when you were a baby baby.

 I love you with you lay downy hair now that you are a year old....

Daddy loves you, even in this stylish chucky cheese shirt...

 Pepa and Mema love you even if you don't recognize us in this picture....

 Your beautiful mama loves you so much...

 There is nothing sweeter than this Evelyn smile. I love you dear.

Can't wait to see you. 

love,

Mema and Pepa

Happy birthday Mema! we love you!

deutschland

let us introduce you to our new adventure...coming late summer 2013...

ANSBACH, BAYERN (Bavaria), GERMANY

i will be assigned to the 12th combat aviation brigade, aka 'the griffins'. my specific unit is the 3rd battalion 158th assault helicopter regiment. i will be their flight surgeon. my unit just returned from deployment in afghanistan last week.


but the important part:

--finally!!! a schwimmbad!!! http://www.myaquella.de/aquella-the-pools/water-park.html?L=1 (wave pool, hot tubs, lazy river, water slides, saunas)

--our ward is joint german/american including Ansbach, Heilsbronn, and Rothenburg ob der Tauber

--the famous medieval town, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, is in our ward (half hour away)

--places less than three hours drive: Prague, Czech Rep; Munich, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Frankfurt, Heidelberg, Berchtesgaden, Germany; Liechtenstein; Strasbourg, France; St. Bartholomew's Church on Konigsee; Ludwig's Neuschwanstein castle; and much much more

--RYANAIR: flies out of Nuremburg (half hour away) and Memmingen (1.5 hrs) with SUPER cheap flights to: Pisa, Sardinia, Portugal, London, and Mediterranean coast of Spain; and Greece, Rome, Barcelona, Sicily, Stockholm, Ireland, Scotland, Marrakech respectively http://www.ryanair.com/en/cheap-flight-destinations

--Christmas Markets! 

--bakeries, gummis, autobahn, train travel, european culture, mild barley beverages, bundesliga soccer


smack dab in the middle of europe:

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start saving and planning now! come visit us!

outfits by acadia

 acadia is a fashionista...here are some samples of her latest styles. leg warmers are a hot item--on legs and arms!

 and on a separate note, rainy turned 6 months today!

toilets and tall trees

well, we thought acadia was ready for potty training. she was really excited about all her new things: underwear, toilet seat, treats!

excitement quickly digressed. and after one pee on the stairs...the toilet seat became a hat, and undies were just one more thing to throw in the wash--certainly not for wearing!

and the small potty became a bucket for toys--not for poop!

after six hours, two urine accidents, and one large TURD sans diaper, mom and dad realized that they were the one's not ready for potty training. so we took to the woods...

and walked down to the beach.

(panoramic feature on phone)