The Changing of the Seasons

To all of my multitudinous blog followers -- for some reason I'm still stuck at the end of summer. The storks started disappearing sometime in September, the leaves started changing colors soon thereafter, and this week we had frost in the morning as we stepped outside on our way to seminary -- I am nonetheless still in denial. Obviously, I am a step behind the changing of the seasons. But, of course, that also explains why I am behind in my "monthly" blog posts. That and the fact that all of the pictures I want to post are on other computers which are almost always occupied by "other people" (aka C, L & B). Now I have decided that I should do blog posts without the accompanying photos -- aka "Fotos to Follow!" Maybe.

Anyway, here is what I might have written about in September and October:

1. Brace Yourselves for the Unexpected -- You guessed it -- Bryant AND Lissie both need braces . . . Bryant is completely missing a permanent tooth, and Lissie has a permanent tooth that wants to permanently stay up in her gums! And seriously, their teeth DO NOT look crooked! So now we are thinking of creative ways to pay for the unexpected.

2. Paris Here We Come! -- Actually, we backed out of this Paris trip. There was simply too much unrest (strikes/terrorist threats) in the "City of Love" this week and we decided not to be stupid about it. Lissie and I went to the movie and had a limited shopping spree as consolation. Yes, we love each other!

3. A Two Bathroom Home and Family -- Well, we got the upstairs bathroom tiled, but we are still waiting (and waiting) to have the sink and faucets, etc. installed. It's nonfunctional (which is better than dysfunctional) and gorgeous!

FOTOS TO FOLLOW . . . Maybe!

Gifts of Love

Some of you know I have been working on a couple of big projects this year -- A quilt for Lauren and Steve and a crocheted coverlet for Emily and Jake.

Both projects took so much longer for me to complete than I originally expected (when will I EVER learn?), but I am finally done and they turned out beautifully. I just wish I could have been present when the surprise packages recently arrived in the mail. I even had to be satisfied with a delayed telephone response since they arrived in the evening which was the middle of the night for me -- but the girls and I still had some delightful conversations the next day.

Here is my first ever "real quilt" complete with an attachment of handmade lace (I made the lace for Lauren several years ago) . . .



And I chose this beautiful crocheted daisy pattern because it reminded me of Emily . . .



So . . . I think I am done creating heirloom wedding gifts for a while. And 401 daisy squares later, I cannot possibly crochet again for a VERY LONG time! Good thing Lissie has determined that she someday wants a QUILT as her wedding gift. Just give me about TEN years, okay Lissie?

As Summer Comes to Close . . .

We have had such a memorable summer -- A trip to Italy and Bavaria with the Clark family, World Cup soccer, summer jobs, girl's camp, scout camp, and EFY in Nottingham, England. And this past Monday Christian left for Berchtesgaden for a week with the young men of our stake at Camp Helaman (a missionary preparation and adventure camp).

Here is a quick recap of the kids' fun EFY experience: 15 hour bus rides, ferry rides across the English Channel and a glimpse of the White Cliffs of Dover, a taste of British food (granola bars and Goldfish to stave off the near starvation), late nights and early mornings, wonderful new friends, British accents and idioms, scripture and gospel study classes, winning the dance competition (Bryant and Lissie placed first and Christian and Stephani Ray second), performing I'm a Believer in the variety show, dances, game night, morningsides and devotionals. And finally . . . having to say "cheers" until next time.

Here is a YouTube link to their enthusiastic variety show performance (just copy and paste if it doesn't connect):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9IwHJVlTbw


It was such a wonderful blessing for our kids to have had this experience. Thank you Kaiserslautern Military Stake and the Area Presidency for making it all possible!

In the next the couple of weeks we will be back into our school and seminary schedules along with soccer, ballet and ballroom dance.

SO LONG . . . Summer of 2010!

I'm a Believer

In preparation for their EFY experience, the kids put together a band number to audition for the variety show. I've posted a YouTube link to their practice run of I'm a Believer by The Monkees. Lissie plays the tambourine and sings, Christian accompanies on the guitar, and Bryant is on the keyboard.
Br. Togisala (our dream band coach) is in the background on the drums.

Here is the link to the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9y8vAagSbQ

So, from the #1 fan of CeLeBration! . . . Good Luck CL&B at the audition!

I'M A BELIEVER!

Home Alone!

I was going to label this post as "Goin' to Camp," since in the first picture Bryant is sitting on the step at 5:00 a.m. waiting for his ride to Camp Freedom in Ansbach; and then six hours later (notice the light of day difference) Lissie poses on the same step clutching the remainder of her camp gear. She was on her way to Jugenddorf Teufelsfels, Schneppenbach, for girls camp. They both enjoyed a week of camaraderie, activities and RAIN! Bryant says they were completely rained out the first night and "allowed" to sleep in the cars. And even though his sleeping bag didn't dry out until Wednesday, he says it was an AWESOME week. Lissie is especially grateful for cabins and covered pavilions!




Tracy and I drove up to girls camp on Thursday to attend the hoedown dinner and testimony meeting. Then we spent the night and helped bring a carload of girls back. Yes, we left Christian HOME ALONE. But aside from it being really quiet at home, he only encountered one mishap . . . he burned his frozen pizza and still had to eat it!

And speaking of being "Home Alone," Tracy and I are on our own this week . . . Christian, Lissie and Bryant all left last evening for Nottingham, England, for an Especially for Youth (EFY) program. We were there to wave goodbye as they drove off (three busloads totaling about 130 youth from our stake), but the hardest part was coming home to our empty house . . . we miss them!

Then and Now

For the past four years, Lissie and Christian have been in the same ballroom dance classes learning the likes of waltz, cha-cha, tango and swing . . . so I wasn't too surprised when I came across this picture from 1997 in my files (Lissie almost 3 and Christian age 4). . .


Here they are 13 years later with a little better form . . .



And speaking of evidence of things to come, take a look at this page out of Bryant's baby book entitled "A Style of His Own" (notice the natural baby mohawk) . . .



And 13 years later with a very similar look . . .

Birthday Bliss in Garmisch

What could be better than a week in Garmisch spent swimming, watching movies, alpine-sliding, hiking, paddle-boating and tree climbing with the Clark Family? How about topping it all off with a birthday celebration? Bryant turned 14 during our vacation, and since Christian's 17th birthday is just around the corner, we celebrated their birthdays together . . .

We started out with a big buffet breakfast at the Edelweiss Lodge . . .



Then we were ready for the real excitement of the day: KLETTERWALD! This is a climbing park (ropes, ladders, wooden platforms and other similar obstacles) set up in the trees. After being equipped with climbing harnesses, helmets, and a safety course from trainer Heike, everyone was ready. Bryant liked to lead out and even did the most difficult courses twice! Imagine swinging – Robinhood style - from platform to platform, or skateboarding and bicycling up in the tree tops. Balance and strength were certainly the order of the day.

Here they are . . . all dressed up in their birthday party gear:

ERIN


CHRISTIAN


TAYLOR


LISSIE



EZRA



BRYANT


RACHEL


JESSICA


Christian leading Lissie through the black course (aka Monkey Heaven). . .



In the leafy treetops . . .


Robin and his merry climbers . . .



And the birthday boys at the end of the day . . .



Happy Birthday Guys!