Florence

The Leaning Tower of Pisa - it was just so weird that they are really leaning. It was hard to take pictures because you would find yourself trying to correct the tilt in your picture and make it straight. There are 3 buildings there and they all tilt....but different directions.

This picture is the best thing I think that I have ever eaten GELATO!! Can you believe that presentation. Florence had the best presentation, our favorite place was Blue Ice in Rome. My favorite flavor was Coconut. YUMMY! The nice part was you always got at least two flavors so you could pick your favorite and still try something new.

Over looking Florence.

Beautiful!

Florence is all about the Arts. Most of the things we saw in Florence we weren't able to take photos of, bummer. The one thing that I did find in all of Italy, but really in Florence was the amount of nudity...whew! It is especially weird when you go there with your Bishop. This is one of two replicas of the Statue of David by Michaelangelo.

This Cathedral in Florence is pink and green. It was very ornate and pretty gaudy in my opinion of course. Thanks to the 3 people that actually read our blog you are very nice.

Madison's Birthday

My 'Twilight cake'. My Mom did this isn't this cool, with the cover of the book 'Twilight' on it.
See if you can find the Vampire bite marks?
Hint:(look at the corners)

Italy, Italy!!

These are the Greek ruins in Paestum. Like most of what we have seen I can't believe that it is all still standing....the day was nice, but the flies were horrible. The weird thing about this place is this family from France let their 1o year old daughter walk around the whole time without a shirt on. WEIRD!

This is the view from our room. Awesome!The church in the town of Amalfi - if you really look hard you can see Susan and I sitting in the middle of the stairs. We did some people watching here and it was very enjoyable.

This is the Piazza del Campo in Siena. It was beautiful. We went early in the morning and could have stayed all day, but we were on our way to Florence and just trying to see as much as possible. It doesn't really show in the picture, but he brick pattern on the ground is awesome. It was fun to be there early and watch the place come alive.

I am sure this is boring....but I am having fun reviewing my trip. It really was the trip of a lifetime. I am so glad that we did it! Don't wait - Go!!

More Italy

This is the Colosseum - WOW! Can you even believe that it is still standing. We got to eat lunch in a restaurant right across the street, talk about a Great View!

This is Pompeii. It looks a little like an Oasis, this is where they are still digging and finding more artifacts. Matt in the court yard of Pompeii, you can see Mt. Vesuvius in the background. It is so fascinating here, so much has been preserved by the volcano it is amazing. In the bakery it looked as if you may even still find bread baking in the big ovens.

This is one of the many mosaics that were in some of houses. These tiles are only about the size of a pencil eraser....so tiny. The amount of patience needed are way beyond my capacity.

More to come.....

Rome Italy

As many of you know Matt and I took a once in a lifetime trip to Italy and Germany. We saw soooo much that I have put off posting anything because I wasn't sure how I wanted to do it. We have over 600 pictures and there is NO WAY that I would want to make anyone sit through that ordeal. I have decided to break our trip up into the different cities that we visited and show you the hightlights. Enjoy!

This first picture is Michaelangelo's Moses.
Inside the Vatican

This is the Vatican. I love the street lights that guide you right in. The one thing that was just amazing was how many other tourist were there. I was hoping for more of the 'Roman Holiday' feel.


The Pantheon was just so old, I can't believe it is still standing.

The Trevi Fountain was incredible. The time period that these beautiful things were built makes everything that much more amazing.

We got off the plane and took a train right into the city where our hotel was. It was about 9:30a.m and we hit the ground running. That first day about killed us. It was hot, hot, hot and humid. We hadn't slept for nearly 48 hours except for the plane (who can sleep on a plane) and we walked about 9 miles. We didn't have time to eat and that made it easy to never have to find a bathroom. We did finally stop for dinner, by then Matt and I had about 3 blisters each and we were so thirsty and just getting a glass of ice water is not possible. We did manage to find and try Gelato (Italian icecream). Wow! I am addicited! We made it back to our Hotel at about 8:00 p.m. Where we all fell on our beds fully clothed and didn't move. I did finally get up after about an hour and clean myself up and turn off the lights. Hurray for a nice bed.

I have been tagged - Madison usually posts our blog, so lets hope I can get this right.

8 Favorite TV Shows:

1. Without a Trace
2. Amazing Wedding Cakes
3. Friends
4. House Hunters
5. CSI
6. Yes Dear
7. Biography
8. Criminal Minds (but it totally scares me, so I have to watch it while standing in the kitchen or listening from the laudry room. I know, total wimp!)

8 Favorite Restaurants (I can only think of 6):

1. Si Casa Flores
2. Olive Garden
3. P.F. Chang's (we don't have one in Southern Oregon)
4. Rosarios
5. Mucho Gustos
6. Red Robin

8 things that happened yesterday:

1. I volunteered in Abigail's class
2. I tended my friend's kids
3. I went to lunch at a ward member's house
4. I made dinner early! (weird)
5. I took Madison and Abigail to Piano
6. We went to our friend's Piano recital
7. The UTES won
8. I went to bed at 11:48 - We are usually up until after midnight every night.

8 Things that I look forward to:

1. Matt coming home from work
2. The weekend
3. Putting the kids to bed
4. Finishing the book of Mormon as a family (we are only 20 pages away)
5. Reading books with Carter
6. Christmas (I am just like a kid and can't wait)
7. Getting a video camera
8. The Primary Program

8 Things I love about Fall:

1. Color, Color, Color
2. Raking leaves
3. Halloween and Thanksgiving
4. Cool, crisp weather
5. Snuggling up to watch movies
6. Hot Chocolate
7. Carter and Madison's Birthdays
8. Pumpkins

8 things on my wish list:

1. Raising children that make good citizens with a strong testimony.
2. Going on another trip...maybe to Greece
3. Making wise financial decisions so we have a good retirement
4. My kids keeping their rooms clean (the full-time cook is more reality than this)
5. Having a full-time cook (right...but a girl can dream!)
6. Having my children get along
7. Laundry would do its self
8. Losing 20 pounds without having to change what I am doing.

I know that 4 -8 are actually not realistic, but what are wishes for?

5 people I tagged

1. Angi
2. Stephanie
3. Madison
4. Paige
5. Cydney

Carter

Kissing the spider.

Mr. Serious Carter.

Here's a big smile.

Carter being very silly.

More Pumpkin Patch

Carter finding pumpkins.

This is such a funny picture of all of us.

Carter and his pumpkin. Carter is so silly.

Pumpkin Patch

Abigail riding a pony. She is having so much fun.

Carter not sure what to think on such a big tire.

Carter and Daddy having fun digging in the dirt.

We had so much fun at the pumpkin patch.

Carving Pumpkins

Carving Pumkins (Matt(dad), Abigail, Carter, and Madison)
Finished Pumpkins

Pumpkins in the dark

Carter's Birthday

Mom and Dad left for Italy

Today Mom and Dad left to go to Italy it has been hard on everyone, but today while we were at school Carter was sitting next to the front door and grandma said "Carter what are you doing?"
And he said "I'm waiting for Mommy to tume (come) home." That just broke our hearts to hear him say that. So sad I know.

Ward camp-out

Carter throwing rocks in to the water at the ward camp-out
Jared Hill made this pancake just for Carter!!!
Carter and his friend shane putting their hands in the water.
Abigail, Carter, and Madison at Lake of the Woods.