The new 20 Sijsjeslaan

This is the only part of the house that still looks the same

Just entering the living room.  New floors.

Dining room, no more display case.  No wall between kitchen/dining area.  Beam covered.  What happened to the old door I wonder?  Also heating units instead of the vents from the floor.

No wall between dining/kitchen/veranda.  The kitchen appliances will be along the wall.

This was taken from the dining room.  Free flow from dining into kitchen into the veranda.  Possibly an island in the center?  (b/c of the wires sticking up)

Taken from the corner of the dining area.  Foyer still the same, as well as the piano room.  Fireplace rock all covered up.  Heating units on either side (that is ugly I have to say).  The light fixtures still the same...I'm sure they will change. As I said, beam covered and no more old door.

From the kitchen to the veranda

Veranda now the eat-in kitchen area.  Really nice!

Veranda.  No fireplace, now a window instead.

Downstairs master bedroom.  The bathroom is gone, just this added space.  Nice new big sliding doors to the outside.

Once Dad's office/Steve's nursery.  Now a nice bathroom.

The sliding doors from the veranda (now kitchen/breakfast area) and notice no door into the old kitchen.

Looking up you would normally have seen Jake's bedroom door.  It's closed off b/c now it opens from the TV room. 

Finished attic with new skylight.

Nicoles' room/ Seth's room.  The sinks are gone.  Windows didn't change.

Dan's room.  Again sink gone/window the same.

Upstairs full bathroom.  No shower, just a bathtub across the back right under the skylight.

This is a big change indeed.  Remember where the computer was in the TV room?  Now it's a bathroom!  The guy in the background is standing where the small door into the playroom was.  The window is still there and that's where I am standing to take the picture.  You can kind of see the ceiling on the upper left side where I am in the cubby of the window.

Shower of same bathroom

This is Jake's old room.  No desk or built in bed.  I think it will be a walk in closet for the  new master bedroom.  You may ask how you get in there?  (next picture)

The door into Jake's old room from the TV room.  (from Jakes' room)

The door into Jake's room from the TV room. Probably just right of where the computer used to be.

Another shot of the removed stone over the fireplace

The side of the veranda is now a wall.  Should have been a wall 25+ years ago and then Aaron wouldn't have ran through it!  I'm sure they will cover over the ponds as well.

Shed still there.  

Here is a picture of the new owner. The new owner showed up while we were inside!  Freaked me out, but she didn't seem to mind. She is from Bulgaria.  The only common language was French so I really don't know much about her.  She moves in on May 1st.  Guess I better not trespass again!

New back of the house.  Small window where Dad's office/ Steve nursery was b/c now it is a bathroom.
Well, I hope you have enjoyed the tour.  It was fun to see the changes.  

Grammie and Pop in charge

After baths and Tom gets the boys dressed and ready for bed

Luke can't do it and is pretty mad about it

Pop and Taft figured it out however

Bishop's Office

Primary activity and Jonah and I spent our time in the gym

Balloons provide hours of entertainment

Primary Easter activity

Which day does Luke sleep in?  On Sunday when church starts at 9am of course!

Jonah's First B.Day and more

Look at that Chocolate Bomb!  Thanks Jonah for giving us an excuse to indulge.

Fun to destroy.  I think this was his first sugar.  There is no going back.

Three Generations

At first Taft was getting  just a so-so reception from his petting, and then wham! a huge hug.

At the top of the Drachenfels.  Didn't feel like Easter week-end because it was frigid cold.

Pop and Luke:  "you are a maniac"  "well you are a gob of spit"

Dreesen Hotel.  Definitely one of our favorites.  They have an awesome breakfast, large rooms with fabulous bed/linens.  Free wifi, free mini bar, free parking.  Right on the Rhine river.  Yes, I already wrote a recommendation on Trip Advisor.

It may seem like a month vacation, but Heidi still has to do Home School.  Taft is an awesome reader!

Kent Herway and Lava Hot Springs

Pop, Dad, Kent, Jed (let me explain:  Jed is g.pa in Arabic!)

The Priesthood circle:  The entire Bishopric and Jed plus the 2 grandpops.

Steve still wanted to hear the 'ahhhh' after the blessing so he held Kent up, just like they do in Sacrament mtg.

The Herway side of the family in attendance.  We were lucky that Nicole & Jed were available to come up as well.

Steve did a marvelous job blessing his first born.  It was a sweet, humble blessing straight from the Lord through Steve's pure heart.  I remember blessings of  charity, happiness, health.  Kent was quiet through his whole blessing.

Heading out on a walk through the town.  Nice photo of downtown Lava Hot Springs!  The Lava Spa Motel is one of the best motels in town.

Jed is carrying Kent.  This nice walk along the river is just behind the motel.  There is a natural hot springs where people were wading/swimming.

Another shot of the river behind the motel.  I think Kent is going to love it there....and Steve/Felicia as well!

Magical Monterey

Hiking in the Hills

Our highest was 17 hits.  We gotta try this again.  Surely we can get higher!

A  perfect place to chill

Wait for it, wait for it.....

And they held strong.  The waves were extremely strong.  They didn't always end up standing!

Beach site.  We literally had the beach to ourselves for the majority of the day.  Marvelous!

Just b/c it was beautiful....

The natural fauna is stunning.

Sure was fun to spend the week with the Dan/Lara Herway family.  Thanks for carving out the time to join us.  What a perfect week we had together.

Ahhhhh

We just love the Dolomiti.  So picturesque. Dramatic. Easy skiing for two older folks.  Lodges at every scenic turn. Stunning views.  Great snow.  We love it.

Unfortunately I didn't realize that  Germany and Netherlands had this week off from school.  Lines were horrible.  Horrible.  We had to find some out of the way chairlifts and we did manage.

homemade apple strudel fresh out of the oven with vanilla sauce.  Oh so yummy.  Only way to this lodge is by the cable car.  

How much fun is it to hang out with your best friend all week!  AWESOME.

the week after our ski week:

On our way back to Milan we stopped for a half day in Sirmione on Lake Garda.  

Catullus Grotto in Sirmione.  A new discovery for us.  Missed it when we were in Sirmione 25 years ago!

Catullus Grotto, not a real cave, but the remains of the biggest Roman villa in northern Italy. The archaeological area is on the tip of Sirmione Peninsula on lake Garda.