Our Trip to Italy

It has been a crazy month for us! We traveled to Italy at the begining of the month, and had a blast (you'll read about it in the following paragraphs). The week we got back, I was busy with the School Portraits. The next week we had quite the scare with Kedric getting pretty sick with ITP (Idoipathic Thrombocytic Purpura). His platelet count dropped dangerously low and had to spend a week in the hospital. He's doing a lot better now, back to the Kedric we know-- always wanting to eat and getting into everything! We just have to have blood work done every week for a while. Thank you all for your prayers! We know they helped not only him, but us too. This past week, I've been a lot more busy than I wanted to be with Sports pictures, and School retakes-- I'm glad it's behind me now!

Well, after all that, finally, I've put together a slide show of our adventures in Italy. But pictures don't even do justice. To view the pictures follow this link: www.designedphotography.com/ItalySlideShow

We traveled to Venice, Pisa, Florence, Rome, the Vatican City, and the Cinque Tierre. We LOVED Venice. It is such a unique and picturesque city, and want to go back for sure! We had fun in St Marco's Square with all the pigeons! Reilyn was scared to death of them-- but it'll be a memory for her. It was awesome to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa. It's leaning a lot more than you think when you just look at the pictures. We had fun making pictures of us holding the tower up! Reilyn was so funny-- she was really worried that it was going to fall on us! In the slideshow, you'll see the pictures of her face when she first saw the tower.

We drove down to Italy and the drive in Northern Italy is so beautiful. You don't want to drive too fast because it's just stunning with the majestic mountains, and beautiful vineyards in the hills with castles peeking through each turn. We also loved driving through Tuscany. I kept looking for turnouts to stop and take pictures, but never saw any-- so I'm sorry I didn't capture any of that beauty. But I did get some pictures of the pine trees that don't have any branches except at the top. I loved those trees!

We were able to see the statue of David in Florence-- again Majestic. No pictures of that allowed, but you all know what it looks like. Very impressive. I think James enjoyed Rome more than I did. It was neat to see the Colliseum and all the big ruins, and of course the Vatican City, and the amazing artwork in the Sistine Chapel. It was just hard to have the kids with us, plus I had some nasty blisters on my feet! Plus the city itself was just so busy, and hot and dirty. They drive like mad people and don't really stay in lanes (you'll see a picture of this). James says you're not a real man until you've driven a Scooter in Rome! I think all the smoke and polution has affected their judgement. Most of Italy is like that. A good place to visit, maybe not so much to live.

We loved the Cinque Tierre, 5 little villages right on the Mediterranean. We didn't have the chance to hike around them too much, and will definitely return someday. It was so fun to see the fishing villages and enjoy the tempting smells of fresh foccacia bread.

Well, I hope you enjoy the pictures. There are several, so you may get bored. But I did set the show to Italian Classical music by Josh Groban. We listened to his CD's while we were driving to set the mood. Enjoy!!

The Past Week

Reilyn started preschool on Monday. She goes everyday, so it's almost like she's going to Kindergarten. She loves it! She comes home so happy and loves to tell me all about her day.

This is a picture of her on her first day of school. She wanted to wear a tank top and a skirt, but it has been so cold here lately, so we settled on this outfit....

This is Reilyn on the second day of school because I didn't bring my camera with us to her school on the first day.

This will be the last year that this school will be used since the base will close in June.

Reilyn's teacher, Ms LeBough

Kedric doesn't know what to do anymore now that his buddy is gone all day. He's been really clingy with me, and a little mad at Reilyn when she gets home. Hopefully he'll start getting used to her being gone. This is him watching Baby Einstein.

All tuckered out in the high chair.

We took these pictures today after church. Kedric got so messy and had food all over. He looked so funny with his hair sticking out, I had to capture it.

He looks like Harry from Dumb and Dumber in this one. James says he's "Jerry's kid."

Reilyn wanted me to take a picture of her too.

August Pictures of Reilyn and Kedric

Our trip to the States

I'm not sure why these pictures turned out all pixelated on the slide-show, but you get the idea. We had so much fun spending time with our families. We miss everyone already! There are several pictures on this slide show, so if you get bored watching it we won't be mad. :) Enjoy! Thanks Marta for the idea of the slideshow!

May Pictures

Spring time in Germany is absolutely beautiful. It's so amazing to drive through the country and see the beautiful colors. There are "fields of gold" intertwining with the greens making it look like a big quilt. Here's a glimpse of the beauty.

James was able to get eye surgery at the beginning of the month, so we've been back and forth to Landstuhl quite a few times this month. This is a picture of James the last night he had to wear glasses. (yes, he is giving them the finger)

We went to see Toby Keith in concert on Friday. He came to one of the US Airfields over here. This is his 5th tour for the troops. It was really warm, but we had a good time.

Kedric thinks he is so cool when he has Daddy's sunglasses on.

Cute Kiddos!

We went the a park last week that had some huge slides. I don't know if you can see how tall this one was in the picture. But we had a lot of fun! It took me a couple minutes to go down one of them that went straight down! Reilyn was really brave and went down a couple by herself.

Yesterday, the base had the "Kinder Olympics." Heres of few pictures of Reilyn doing some of the events.

We made Reilyn's hair really curly for church today. She looked so cute. It was a little frizzy-- but I had to take some pictures of her.

And then there is cute little "Chubby Cheeks." That's what Reilyn calls him. His first tooth finally came in this week and he's been feeling it with his whole fist. I love this first picture where he is flaring his nortrils! In the last picture, you can kinda see his little tooth. It's a little white spec. :)

Frohe Ostern!

Happy Easter! Here are some pictures from the past week and Easter!

Kedric has outgrown his little baby bath, so we've started putting him in the bath with Reilyn.

We took these pictures after church today. You can see Reilyn's little Easter dress. Kedric didn't get a new outfit, because we couldn't find one cute enough.

Earlier this week, the base had an Easter Egg hunt. We had to take this picture quickly because the Kedric was too heavy for the Easter Bunny!

Reilyn's preschool teacher, Ms Marigia. They adore each other!

Easter Morning! Reilyn was pretty excited when she found some money in some of the eggs!

Kedric's basket was hidden in his Exersaucer.




Kedric with grass on his head!

A few pictures from March

Here's a few pictures from the past month. We've had an interesting beginning of Spring. It was sunny and in the 60's one week, then snowing the next! This week, we're returning to Spring with warm weather. We had a baby rabbit born right outside our window a couple weeks ago. It's mother left it, and so I took Reilyn out and we left a piece of lettuce for it. I don't know if you can see the rabbit in the picture, but it was so cute and little.



Last week, our kids were sick, and I snapped this picture of them sleeping in Daddy's lap.

We let Kedric try to feed himself. He had a ball!!

Santa Came to see us!

We had Santa come and visit our home on Friday night. Reilyn was hyperventilating when she opened the door and Santa was there. She was literally shaking. Santa knew her name and what she was doing in her life-- she thought that was pretty cool. She asked Santa for the Little Mermaid DVD, and when she opened the present he brought her she was hysterical! It was a lot of fun. We had some friends of ours come over with a little boy Reilyn's age. They were so funny to watch. The last picture is of them doing their "dance of joy." Merry Christmas!