From Bad to Worse

Let me tell you about Control Technique. You have to take your car once each year. If not, your insurance is invalid...so you have to, bottom line.
Problem is you have to go and wait in an unbelievable line. Which I did. Over an hour.
Then they test the car to be sure it is safe. Which mine isn't so it flunked. Fine. Oh, and pay 56 euros for them to tell me that.
I take it to the garage and they fix it. Only 386 euros (what is that in dollars? Well over $500)
I drive directly back to control technique.....wait one hour in line again.
And flunked again! Pay another 11 euros.
I was mad as a hornet. Called the garage and they told me to drive right over. The owner called control technique. Oh, they said that the garage hadn't really fixed the problem. New tubes on the brake line or something. So I have the garage estimate what that would cost to repair. 857 euros....well over $1,000. No kidding.
And this is the condensed story. In reality I have been to control technique 6 times in the past week because of the 2 cars. And the result. I'm out a bunch of euros. Neither car is drive-able.
I'm trying to see the positive side of this story. So far I haven't come up with anything.

Oh, maybe there is a positive side here. We have to buy 2 new cars.
Of course for Tom, that's still bad news.

Poor Honda

It's not been a very good week so far. Poor Honda, served us so well and then I go and get in a crash. A very hefty fender bender. And really, it's just the tip of the iceberg. But alas, we have to deal with it. And such is life. I just wish it would have been Tom instead of me. Let's see, I totaled the first car we had here. And now as we are about to leave, I do another hum dinger.

Luckily Tom says he will stay with me to the end. I really did get lucky with him. So I'll just count my blessings....

Look at Kate!

Really, it looks like Kate is waiting for G-ma Grape to make her next move! Kate just knows she has the winning card! She is even holding it high so no one can see what she is going to play. Oh we have a game player in the making.

Colie's 24th b-day

Amazing what photos you can find on a camera that you don't use very often....

Has your 24th year been fabulous Colie???

LV is last

Just one more picture. We stopped in Las Vegas on our way back to SD. It was my first visit. Seriously. We have always just driven through it before.

At first it was sensory overload. Then it grows on you....and by the time you have to leave, you do so reluctantly. We stayed at Caesar's Palace....they have a monstrosity for their pool. Well, actually they have eight pools! I'm standing on the deck above the pool area where you can gamble! Oh yes, you might want to do that while you are out for a swim! We stayed in the bldg. just at the end of the picture...on the 14th floor with a superb view.

We also saw the show "Donny & Marie" and we were very impressed. Those two are in their 50's and can still sing and dance with the best of them.

And now we are home in Brussels. Good 'ol Brussels. One day it won't be home anymore, and that will be sad. In two years, I wonder where we will call home?

There is More

Colie's fabulous house. The patio they are on belong to the '5 guys' and the top two balconies belong to the girls. She has a sweet deal there. (dig the 'U' flag)

In her living room. Look at all that light! They had just painted and it looked great. They have grand ideas for decorating....now if they just had more money!

Colie and Gerry. This lady is a character. We are soooo glad we got to meet her. Nicole lights up that place and they all love her. It's no wonder really, who doesn't?

These guys had fun dissecting the BYU game. Ryan actually flew in JUST for the game! Jerry is doing as well as can be expected. I'm glad we got to visit.

At our Sunday dinner. It's fun to see my mom interact with this crew. It's love/love across the board.

Steve-o called. Brauer LOVES Steve-o. I just had to get a photo of the two having a good chat. Doesn't Brauer look like he is really into this conversation? He actually wanted to get away from all the chatter inside the house so he could hear better!

I was trying to get a photo of Zane. He kept escaping. Finally Lara grabs him and holds on...Zane pretends to be mad. Then he admits..."I like it when my Mom holds me tight!"

Bedtime: "Indian Bob"

Jordan River Temple with my Mom and Suzanne....Suzanne took the photo and then said, "Natalie would tell me I have too much sidewalk in the picture!" .....hey, she really listened to your photo lesson Natalie.....

So it's fun not to have your laptop with you and make posts as you go because you come home and post and then get to relive it all over again!

We went to Farmington (no pictures) and spent a couple of nights with my Mom. She is amazing. I love her to bits of course. We got our pedicures at the college. We took her to dinner. "Mom, we want to take you to dinner, where do you want to go?" "Red Lobster!" she replies without a moments hesitation. We ordered all you can eat shrimp and had to roll ourselves home! Tom and I took a walk around my childhood neighborhood...even walked past Aunt Mary Jo's old home where we were married! My only regret is that we didn't get to visit Scott/Lynise.

Next we drove up to Utah (with Mom). Lots of action there. Saw BYU play horribly :). Stayed at Lara's and loved our time with the kids. Lara invited us all for Sunday dinner and Colie brought friends to join in. Great fun (thanks Lara!). Some time with Suzanne/Jerry and my Mom. Had a nice FHE at Suzanne's and Steve and Renee/ Becca/Janine joined in. Temple. Visited the Heber House...which is in desperate need of TLC, but luckily we have hired on a property manager, so things are happening there. Tom and Larry recorded. Talk about cramming a month of activites in 4 days!!!

On our way out of town, we stopped at the Greens so Tom could record one more morning. Robyn and I took a bike ride up to Bridal Veil Falls and beyond.

I'll tell you what. There is nothing more beautiful than a crisp fall day in Utah. If only every month could be like September!

Brent and Sandy

To continue my on-line journal....our next stop was at Brent and Sandy's. They have a granddaughter named Kaitlyn as well! She loved yelling for me, "Aunt Aniiiiiiiiiiita! Come and play with me!" She knows she is thoroughly loved so she is very confident.

We got to see Diana's house as well. About a 5 min drive from Brent & Sandy's house. It's cute. She is looking for a roommate, but only wants one that holds LDS standards. Diana is nothing short of a miracle.

Marianne had just had hand surgery but was recouperating well. Jason walks on water....he is a gem. We also got to meet Dan's girlfriend, Bailey. She is planning to wait for Dan. I hate to tell her, it's a pretty long two years. She might do it though, they are madly in love!

Brent and Sandy are enjoying the MTC, but are itchin' to get to the Philippines. They leave next Monday. They are sure in store for an adventure. It was great to see them.