Amsterdam, Prague, and St. Wolfgang Austria

Natalie and I got a girls away trip for one night.  We had a blast.  Love Amsterdam.  Finding a hot stroop waffle was our challenge and we did not succeed.  Guess we better go back!

Beautiful sunset in Prague.  This is the balcony of my friend Sharon Wilkinson, who let us stay in her house!

Boating on the St. Wolfgangsee.  It was very hot and the lake was cold, so it was perfect.  

Our view from our balcony in St Wolfgang Austria.  Gorgeous area.  Did it really take us 24 years to find it?  Guess so.

Tori at the actual home of the Von Trapp family in Salzburg.  It is now a hotel that opened up in 2008.  Previously it was in the hands of an order of nuns, and could not be seen by the general public.  The top balcony in the center of the house is Maria's room.  (another scene in the movie where Georg is looking at Maria and the fiancee realizes he is not in love with her....has to have been inspired by this balcony)

Just wonder if the girl on the right read Pres Monsons advice to be obedient?

Finding shade in Salzburg.  The bridge in the background was in the Sound of Music movie.

Noel and I found this castle area kind of tucked away.  Salzburg is loaded.

Natalie and Noel took some awesome pictures where the Sound of Music was filmed/and or actually occurred in these places.  However, Tom and I found this cemetery where they filmed the section where the family hid behind the tombstones.  Well, at least it inspired the set.  This is in Salzburg.

Halstatt Austria.  We did rent a boat here and swam in the refreshingly cool lake.  Much needed after Tom and I had just hiked straight uphill for 2 hours previously.

Tom and Tori.  Salzburg castle in the background 

UT and CA

We attended baseball games and dance recitals.  So fun!  

I turned 57!  Dan treated us to breakfast.  Colie/Jed made us dinner.  Suzanne/Jerry treated us to lunch.  Tom went on a hike with me & Colie to the 'Living Room'.  We went to Cafe Rio and frozen yogurt with Jed/Nicole and Steve/Felicia. I don't remember being with so much family for a birthday in a long, long time.  It was FANTASTIC.  Thanks for all the spoiling and phone calls.  It was a great day.  Top it off with a show in Las Vegas (KA) and this birthday was in the top 10!

Heber House.  It is starting to look like a home.  Colie took off a whole day to come with us, that was a treat.  Tom can't wait to change that exterior facade.

DONUTS.  You just gotta do that at the beach.  Tradition!

We stayed at Green Valley Resort & Spa in St. George.  Now that was relaxing at the end of the holiday.  What a place!

This kid should be European.  Takes to a bike like a natural.

Sedona AZ

Taft man is quite the hiker/climber.  Not much fear and lots of energy.  Plus he can always spot the dinosaur tracks!

The rock formation in the background was the destination Tom and I had one morning.  We made it very close to the top, but got to a point where we looked behind us and realized that one false step and that would be the end of us.  Wisely we turned back and are still here on earth in one piece.

Tom now has a new place to look for real estate.  Not that he wasn't busy enough with Monterey Peninsula, and Coronado.  But now, Sedona AZ is on the list.  It really is a fabulous place for hiking and biking.  Problem is the heat.  However you have pools!  

Birthday and Wedding

I know we all have a zillion pictures that we wished we would have taken.  Luckily we all had our cameras out at different times, so between all of us we kind of remember all the special moments and adventures that we experienced.  This last photo of Scarlet and Zane kind of say it all.  It was the most memorable, amazing, fun filled, momentous slice of life.  Just put 28 people together that really like each other and that's what happens.  Add a wedding, add a birthday party....I'm still a bit speechless.

Ha, not the only one behind

My mom's house for a picnic.  Practiced the flash-mob dance.  Enjoyed being together.  Didn't get great pictures of the crew but this is a decent sampling.  When I was 18 years old, did I EVER think that my family would congregate in this very backyard?  Never.  What a miracle.  It was so. much. fun.

PS.  The blog postings are getting way backed up.  I think Mel is the only one up to date....

German Ambience

We had a great family trip to Germany.  Loved being together and seeing the sights, eating the great food, admiring the gorgeous scenery, soaking in the ambience.  I hope it 'filled up' Steve & Felicia enough that they feel refreshed and ready to take on school & work in the Fall!