Spread To The Wind

Ok. Since it's just my family that reads my blog...usually. This is old news. Yet I find it something extra-ordinary. And this is it...
We have SIX kids. And starting this summer they will be in SIX different states of the USA.
Utah, Washington, New York, Texas, California, New Jersey.
Add New Mexico for my Mom.
And it looks like we will remain ex-pats for another year. Gotta love Belgium.

So when/if we get to take a home leave, which state should we visit???
New Jersey is out. Texas is for Christmas. Washington, New York and California are all new moves and could probably use a couple of extra helping hands. However, the Utah crew we won't get to see this summer if we don't go to them. And how much longer do I get to have my Mom around??? Oh, this is tough!

Time to buy an RV. Right.

When Pop is around, it's always fun!

Oh, the photo is of Bryn and John Koffe who was over for dinner. They became good friends.

Pop and I successfully babysat Bryn and Isabel while the parents went to Rome. We went to the library, and to the park, and did projects and read stories and took walks, and played games and watched movies and had snacks. Well, as Bryn said,"we had a grand day!"

Thank goodness for Pop. He is always fun to have around. And saved the day this morning as I was trying to get to church on time to teach RS....let's see, the diaper bag has to have diapers, wipes, toys, food, my lesson, my big hymnbook so I can play the organ and see the book! and more toys and food and diapers. And still be on time. Sure.

Just don't let the parents know how much lucky charms and ice cream they had!

And we are on our way!

I figure with Natalie and Noel around, I can lay my camera aside and just steal the good ones from them!
We had a super week-end. Fun to be outside. It warmed up to 17C but today it's raining and back to 7C. Fine. We'll take naps. Gotta love the Sabbath.
So far one of my favorite parts: last night Natalie gets out her yellow pad of paper and writes down everything she wants to be sure to get done before she leaves, "Ok, I want to walk around the neighborhood. Then I want to go over to Tervuren. I for sure need to go to Domus at least 3 times! And I hope to get a waffle at least a couple of times each week. Etc." She was trying to figure out how to make the most of each minute of every day. Noel has to work some of the time, so she had a column of what to do when he is free, and another column of what she and I can do while he has to work. Another column for when Dad is available. Another for Belgium, and one for Rome and another for Southern France.
She is impressive!
But it just made me smile inside to know she loves being home so much.
Oh, and Isa already likes me. We are on our way!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

From the pub of Kelli O'Sheay's!

silly clips

The Creation

I was asked to teach the RS lesson today. It was on the Creation. We were talking about the fact that this earth was made for us to "please the eye and gladden the heart" and to "strengthen the body and enliven the soul".
Then when I asked people in the class what their favorite part about nature is, I saw smiles come across every face. "Mountains" "The sea" "the sounds" "snow" "sun" "flowers" were some of their favorites.
Those of you that helped to beautify this earth, you did a great job!
Well, Tom and I felt like we were in nature paradise in the Dolomites. Seriously, it was stunning. Truly it did please the eye and gladden the heart. I'm so grateful to have been able to ski even though my foot is still broken. We just slid down those beautiful slopes and it was easier on my foot than walking!
Sorry all the pictures have me in it. Tom was the better photographer on this trip. Don't you love the hut named Daniel? What a location! We had a super lunch there with a dessert of apple strudel smothered in vanilla sauce that was divine.

Sassalungo

Here are a few shots of the famous Italian Dolomites, in South Tyrol. This is the Sassolungo, which we have a dead-on view of from our balcony.
Our first day we had beautiful blue sky and eagle eye views. We took the 'Sella Rondo' which is a circuit of chair lifts around this massive range of rock. It took us SIX hours to make the circuit. It was incredible. And it seemed we were in a constant state of 'jaw-drop'.
We were glad we did that on the first day, because the next 2 days the circuit was closed due to high winds. So the second day we skiied to the highest mountain and took a 10.5 kilometer run! We thought it would take us longer, but we did it in 25 minutes. Non-stop skiing for 25 minutes.
No wonder my foot is swollen at the end of each day! But it is holding up, so I am very grateful.
Finish the day with an Italian pizza and the day is complete. Oh, and just so you know that it's not ALL perfect. We do have to ski in MINUS 16C. Brrrrr! Although today it warmed up to a lovely minus 11C. And this is March???

Sunshine

It was a really good day because we were warm, and it was sunny, and the sky was blue the entire day. I really needed that dose of sunshine! We had a fun boat ride out to an island and hiked to an abandoned fort. Marseille is a working port so it was always interesting to observe. We had a great view of the port from our hotel and sat by the pool for most of the morning, basking in the sun and counting our blessings!
However, we drove to Carcassone in buckets of rain. Arles was a rainout (Van Gogh's hangout for a year and where he painted lots of my favorites). In Carcasssone we had drizzle but we survived. I did get stinkin' sick to my stomach. Too much chocolate maybe? The profiterals were divine.
Charlotte and Brenda were my traveling companions. Thanks friends!