Here it is . . .

Well, here is the picture from the Europa Park Fun Day that I promised I would post ("the boys are flexing and the girl is screaming!")

I only wish I could see your reaction when you first set eyes on it!

You're probably wondering about the boys' shirts . . . I think it was a combination of:

1) Not wanting to get (the shirts) wet and
2) Wanting to show off!

It was the perfect picture to remember a wonderful day which was spent mostly on

ROLLER COASTERS!

"Lissie and The Sailors"

Somehow Lissie is able to get these guys to pose for pictures, learn new songs, make music videos for her blog, wear matching outfits . . . and even sometimes speed walk, jerk step, and cartwheel to the park and back!

Really?? What an amiable/cooperative/good looking group!

Obviously, they've ALL got me charmed. I know you've probably already checked out their latest music video -- "Lissie and the Sailors" playing and singing the Good Life by One Republic (if not, you can find it over at Notesshewrote) . . . but you might not have seen the kids' EFY talent show videos yet. Here they are performing the same song for the 300+ International EFY crowd in Blaubeuren, Germany last week:



And then Matthew Steffen and Bryant got another chance to wow the crowd with their Grieg duet:



ENJOY!

The Fun Continues . . . at Europa Park

Well, the fun continued with more band practice, playing soccer, watching the women's World Cup soccer match at the ice cream shop (GO USA!), a trip downtown for shopping and more pictures, swimming and making music videos, but the highlight was an entire, beautiful, uncrowded, rainless day at

EUROPA PARK!

Christian just had to get his picture taken with the princess when we arrived:

(that is one lucky princess!)

The kids rode EVERY roller coaster -- some several times!

Well, actually, Lissie and Ezra went out on their own a couple of times while the others rode

Blue Fire and the Silver Bullet

(and I was thinkin' along those same lines for almost every roller coaster choice)

Hey, it was Ezra and Lissie that got the cool pic out in front of the Blue Fire!

There were opportunities to GET WET!

. . . and plenty of reasons to SMILE,

. . . or to be caught OFF GUARD!

Here they all are at the end of the day -- just a little more tired. I'm thinkin' roller coasters can cause some wear and tear! Ezra and Bryant weren't so sure they had the willpower to pose for just one more picture. In the end, though, they proved to be characteristically cooperative!

Christian, Lissie, Taylor, Matthew, Ezra, Bryant

I have one more pic to add to this post once I get it scanned. It is from the Poseidon roller coaster experience . . . the boys are flexing and the girl is screaming -- most definitely worth checking back in later!

More FUN to follow . . .

The Fun Begins

The long awaited arrival of Taylor and Ezra Clark has come

(and Christian, Lissie and Bryant are elated!)

Here is a rundown of the first day's happy reunion:

1. A jam session in the band room for a couple of hours -- this seemed to be their first priority!
2. A bit of eating and sleeping in preparation for the forthcoming evening/night activities.
3. BBQ and water games (after heavy thunderstorm!) with the Heidelberg Ward Youth.
4. Double Feature of Harry Potter 7 - parts 1 and 2 -- Premiere midnight showing.

They got to meet and greet some of the HP characters (Deatheater and Hogwart's students?) before the start of the show:

And here they all are with their 3D glasses anxiously awaiting the start of the first movie:

Matthew, Ezra, Bryant

Christian, Taylor, Lissie

Notice all the lighting bolt scars?

We got home about 2:30 a.m. which was still normal waking hours for the Georgia boys, and I let them all sleep 'til noon the next day. Hey, they needed to recover and rest up for the remainder of the upcoming week's activities, right?

More to follow . . .

Birthday Bash in Berlin

So, turning 18 should be memorable, right?

Christian just turned 18 last week, but when he was first born I remember thinking that every year his special day would be "heralded with fireworks" (because his birthday eve, aka The Fourth of July, happens to be a rather "celebrated with fireworks"" occasion). This year we not only enjoyed birthday eve fireworks, but additional festivities in the form of a pre-birthday bash in Berlin.

Consider the following sampling of memory makers:

-- A "Fat Tire Bike Tour" through the city of Berlin complete with knowledgeable guide, pouring rain, and ponchos!

-- A visit to the Pergamon Museum to see (among other antiquities) the impressive and marvelous gates of Babylon. Imagine us conjuring up images of King Nebuchadnezzar and Daniel.

-- More rain.

-- Some public transportation challenges -- construction, detours, and other subway and strassenbahn mishaps.

-- The Beatles Musical -- All You Need is Love at the Berlin Estrel Hotel (despite the mishaps, we arrived just in the nick of time!)

-- A little more rain.

-- Sunday morning church in the Berlin-Dahlem Ward.

-- A Sunday afternoon walk through the city of Hof -- one of Tracy's mission cities.

-- And some more rain.

-- Our arrival back to Heidelberg -- to SUNSHINE!

Remnants of the Berlin Wall and a sniper tower:

Jewish Holocaust Memorial and the Brandenburg Gate

Imagine Babylon in Old Testament times:

Before and After Church:

Christian's facial expressions tell a little more of the story:

Public transportation woes . . .

Poncho complications . . . and museum contemplations.

The Beatles Musical was the highlight for Christian.
All You Need is Love!
This picture was taken right after the performance.

And finally, the birthday boy, on his actual birthday, getting ready to eat his favorite meal.

Happy Birthday, Christian!

Red, White and Blue

I apparently made those red and blue bow ties just in time for the patriotic season. Lissie was able to talk her brothers into wearing them (and matching her) to church last Sunday. At first the boys were both a little hesitant, but their sister's charm eventually won them over.

Really, how could they resist?

Happy Fourth of July Everyone!