Saturday, April 27, 2013

A Cool Card Trick

Bryant decided to ask Shannon Walker to prom this year.  I like the novel way he asked her at lunch one day - with a card trick.  Somehow he had her choose certain cards and in the end when they were laid out in a row, they spelled "PROM?."  I guess it didn't go as smoothly as he had planned though.  Shannon was confused by an upside-down "M" and wondered what "PROW" meant.  Really? It was a novel way to ask and unforgettable nonetheless! 

Oh, and she said "yes!"

HCSC scholarship and DODDS-Europe Honor Choir

A week or so before Lissie left for her week-long music seminar with the DODDS-Europe Honor Choir, we attended the HCSC (Heidelberg Community Spouses Club) banquet where she and about 20 other Heidelberg High School students were awarded academic scholarships for their upcoming college freshman year. We're so glad the scholarship committee recognized the hard work and dedication that went into the academic record and extracurricular achievements.  (I hope to be able to add some pictures from the banquet later.)

We were also so proud of Lissie for being chosen (only two choir members were from Heidelberg) to participate in the DODDS Europe Honor Choir this year. The selected students spent a week learning from Dr. Geoffrey Boers, Director of Choral Activities at the University of Washington in Seattle, and rehearsing for the excellent concert they performed at the end of the week.  It was held in the lovely Friedrich von Thiersch Saal in the Kurhaus Wiesbaden.


These lovely girls are all dressed up and ready to sing!

It was truly and honor and a privilege for Lissie to be able to participate in such a 
fabulous musical week!

Sunday, April 14, 2013

Spring Break in Belgium and "Cats"


Taylor Harris, Bryant, Jenna Kirchhoefer, Ezra Clark

Bryant was invited to join the Clarks on their spring break trip to Belgium this year. They had some extra space in their car and cabin for him to join in all the fun (so nice of them to let him tag along). They played games and music, had a fireplace to keep things cozy, and spent some time at the beach too. He had a wonderful time, and even though we missed him, we're glad he got the opportunity to be a part of that fun trip, especially since Tracy and I had to work off and on that week.


On the other hand, we did get some fun in with just Lissie. She was glad to take a break from her busy school and dance schedule. We had a "period piece" movie marathon that lasted at least a couple of days . . . we watched the likes of Anne of Green Gables, and BBC's Wives and Daughters (one of my personal faves). We then headed up to Frankfurt for a day of shopping (we found their "Fussgaengerzone" and it was fabulous), dinner at a quiet Italian restaurant, and then on to see the musical "Cats."

Sunday, March 31, 2013

Rock the Ballet

We knew we wouldn't be all together for spring break this year, so we decided to do something special together a couple weeks prior. I found tickets to "Rock the Ballet" which I thought might appeal to the inner rockstar and dancer in Bryant and Lissie. It was definitely fun to watch ballet set to rock music. They even played some of our favorite tunes. Here are Lissie and Bryant all dressed up and on the edge of their seats anxiously waiting for the show to begin:

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Winter Formal at Schwetzingen Palace

Keeping with tradition, Heidelberg High School's last Winter Formal was held at the Schwetzingen Palace again this year.  Lissie and Bryant both went with a group of friends.  They and Tracy had to orchestrate it all while I was in the states meeting Henry and sending Christian off on his mission.  That might explain why we have NO pictures of Bryant from this event! 

Lissie and I found this dress on the H&M sale rack and then made a few changes -- narrowing and shortening the sleeves to 3/4 length and then adding some lace to extend the hem. I love an easy dress remake. Doesn't she look lovely?  Wish I could have been there to see her in person.

 Renee Duvall and Lissie


Renee Duvall, Elisabeth, Brianna Bronell, Mishell Rodriguez, Rina Ferreras



You all look so lovely!

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Temple Blessings


Christian went through the temple (Frankfurt, Germany) for his own endowment on January 12, 2013. It was such a special day for us. He seemed to take it all in and enjoy his time there. I was impressed that President Berghahn took the morning to teach and guide Christian (and another young man also preparing for his mission service). It seems individual attention from the temple president is one of the benefits of going through a small temple.

It was a different experience for me too since I have only been able to guide daughters through the temple thus far. I felt peace and gratitude for the blessing of being able to be there and of having such a fine young son.

Here is a picture of Christian with Lissie, Bryant and Tracy one week later. They got to do temple baptisms: Christian as the baptizer, Lissie and Bryant as baptizees, and Tracy as a witness. I couldn't be there because of my work schedule, but I'm so glad they all got to go together, and I love this picture!


Monday, January 21, 2013

Snow Fun

Santa made good on his promise and sent us all on a trip to Garmisch after Christmas for some fun in the snow.  He even delivered Matthew Steffen to us from Texas.  After a three hour drive, and a quick Subway dinner, we checked in just in time for the kids to spend some time at the pool before it closed, and then we all tried to go to bed at a reasonable hour (is that before or after midnight?).  We were up early the next day for a hearty breakfast of pancakes, eggs, sausage and orange juice (yum!), and then the kids were off to rent their skis and take the tram up to the Zugspitz for some alpine skiing with fabulous views.  Their ski day included some fog and snowfall though -- which converted some of our kids to the idea of goggles. They ate their lunches outside (so cold!) near the lodge, but were treated to a warm crockpot stew (Thanks, Jeanette) and brotchen once they got down off the mountain.  They still had time for more fun in the pool and karaoke at Zuggy's that evening where Lissie and Christian sang a duet of Payphone, the new song by Maroon 5. 

The next day we walked around Partenkirchen, got some hot chocolate, did a little window shopping, and then went ice skating.  Garmisch has two large rinks right next to each other - an indoor and an outdoor.  Funny that we didn't even know until this year that the outdoor rink existed.  Tracy and I enjoyed watching the kids chase each other around the rink, and even get some impromptu lessons from a middle-aged Japanese skater.  She looked like she knew what she was doing and gave our kids tips on how to skate backwards.  We ended our trip with a stop at Pizza Hut for their half price Friday take-out pizza.  So we ordered several (maybe 7?) and enjoyed our meal up at the Hausberg Lodge cafeteria.  What a fun time to be together in Garmisch again.  Thank you, Santa.  And thank you, Clarks, for letting us spend Christmas AND Garmisch with your family again.

Here is a sampling of pictures:

Lissie at the skating rink


Bryant, Lissie and Christian - ready to skate:


A "cold" lunch up at the Zugspitz:


Matthew S. and Bryant with their snowboard gear:


On the tram:


Matthew S., the cowboy from Texas:



Ezra, Bryant and Matthew