Well....
I can hardly believe it!
After about a month and a half since my last journal entry, I am finally home from the most amazing summer of adventures! It has been Fun, Busy, Adventurous, Romantic, Exhausting, Uplifting, and even more Fun...
And these pictures I am sharing here are only a GLIMPSE into the remarkable and unforgettable experiences that I have had...
I am excited to reflect on these times, and also to try and continue incorporating more memories throughout the upcoming months as they pertain to my family.
There is just no way to tell ALL of the things that have happened, but by sharing my highlights, these fun memories will last, which is ultimately what I want to accomplish here...to REMEMBER, and NEVER forget! So, here we go!
Clint and I went on a 2 week trip with our good friends Kevin and Laura Affleck to France and Italy, also on a river cruise...
First stop:
Paris France Temple.
This Christus statue is the same size as the one in the Visitors Center at Temple Square, but this one is outside in the gardens of the Paris Temple. The only one outside in the world.
The Eiffel Tower at night!!!
We climbed the stairs up this tower where I actually tripped and gave myself a nice "souvenir" bruise that stayed with me throughout my trip! :) Do you blame me though? The view was simply breathtaking!!!
We shared a little love at the cafe where we ate crepes in Paris...
It was yummy, but my favorites were in Venice! (You'll see... ;)
We were in the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles in France...
We saw cathedral after cathedral everywhere we went!!! They were all so very beautiful and made me appreciate how much people love God...
This one was in Conflans, which was also where I tried tartare for the very first, AND the very LAST time!
YUCK!
We had treats from the Boulangerie (Bakery) every chance we got!
(It was another highlight of our trip! ;)
We hiked up to a castle in Les Andelys, France...
...and saw more Cathedrals...
We cruised the River Seine where we went through lochs everywhere the river would go up or down...
We saw beautiful architecture and rich culture in all of the quaint towns, this town of Rouen was where Joan of Arc was buried...
We ate some of the most delicious pizza...(which also happens to be my very favorite food....;)
We visited the Jumieges Abbey and working monastery with monks that have lived their entire lives there
I just needed a little more of this boy... ;)
We visited the beaches of Normandy and shopped the quaint little towns...
We had a delicious and beautiful lunch in this hotel restaurant in Calvados Normandie...
This was the monument statue at Normandie...
...and one of the bunkers prepared for the planned attacks...
...and the American Cemetery for the 9388 soldiers who lost their lives on that beach...
It was a very emotional feeling being there, a very sacred and hallowed ground...
We visited the home of the famous artist Claude Monet...
...and the beautiful gardens on his property where he received so much of his inspiration for his artwork.
We rode in a water taxi to get to Venice! THAT was so cool! Everything on that city is surrounded by water! The pylons that hold everything up were staked deep into the ground below the water, tied together, and eventually over time have "cemented" together and have become petrified from all of the saltwater that encompasses them. Pretty amazing if you ask me!
We ate pizza in Venice, and this was our very first Italian waiter! :)
We stood on the Rialto bridge and felt like celebrities!!!
We wandered the city and were in awe of everything beautiful that surrounded us! It was almost like living a dream...
We walked through old prison dungeons and learned stories of early government corruption and torture that prisoners sometimes underwent...
We saw St. Mark's Basilica while we were in Venice (behind us), also St. Peter's and St. Paul's when we went to Rome...
We napped for a few minutes here and there in between all of the amazing places that we went...and I LOVE my sweet husband!!! Thank you for this amazing 25th anniversary celebration!!! You make all of my dreams come true!!!!
Especially when they are all followed by desserts like these!!! :) Canolli and red velvet cake! YUM!!!
And all my Pizza dreams came true over and over again!!! Yeeessss!!!
Venchi's Gelato was our favorite while we were in Venice...
AND...you can see why...:)
Gelato AND crepes!!! YES!!!
We cruised out to the island of Burano and saw these brightly colored buildings that would lead their fishermen home. They also make beautiful lace there and so of course we HAD to bring some home!!! :)
The town was small, happy, and filled with quaint little houses and shops...
We were also serenaded on a romantic and epic gondola ride in Venice...
Our accordion player was "Fabio" and our singer was "Matteo"
"When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie that's amore..." :) :)
We gained friends all along the way since we went on so many tours with a similar group of people...
Susette, Jodi, Francesca, Laura, and Connie
We rode on a bullet train across the landscapes of Italy until we arrived in Rome!
We went to the Rome Temple right away!
This is an old olive tree right there on the temple grounds...
We met amazing people that knew Carew! We did an endowment session and were completely in AWE of the spirit of this beautiful place...
To see these things and feel the peace of this beautiful country where our Savior and ancient apostles walked, AND where our son has been serving his full time mission for the past 2 years was simply indescribable!
We visited the Vatican and Vatican City.
And the amazing Colosseum!!!
We walked through the Roman Forum...
..and listened to stories of the fight to the death!
He was always my favorite thing to see though... :)
We ate desserts like this DAILY.
DAILY I'm telling you!
We visited the Pantheon and sooo many other amazing buildings, landmarks, statues, and historical sites...
The beautiful Trevi Fountain was PACKED with people!!!
What an amazing and beautiful place!!!
We saw so many cathedrals, and this one here in the heart of the city seemed to be a "His" and "Hers" so we assumed the positions... ;)
We ate at the iconic Hard Rock Cafe in Rome!
And ended each night in Rome with gelato.
It. Was. Amazing.
We left for the airport back to America at 3:30 in the morning and found out that with all of the city asleep, you can see everything much better including the Colosseum at night!
The day after we returned back home we took the family and headed to Idaho to celebrate Kierra's college Graduation from BYU Idaho! After starting her college career at BYU in Provo, she transferred to BYUI in order to complete her degree online since her marriage and Riley's dental school took them to Colorado.
I am so extremely proud of my baby. And she was BY FAR the CUTEST graduate and soon-to-be mama!!!
Then Kierra and Riley came to Utah to visit us!
Our days consisted of everything fun and lots of games at the park, with Hokulia shave ice for dessert. :)
He had baby showers for Kierra...
...and I officially received my 1st "Grandma" gift! It was a book to read to my little grandson. ;)
We hiked up to Doughnut Falls...
Visted family and celebrated 5 (almost...OK, 4 and 1/2) generations of love!!!
We had another baby shower given by Kierra's sweet aunts...
Tammy, Laura, Kierra, Ginger, and Cherie
I took the little girls on a trip to Mesquite to visit my mom while the boys were at Youth Conference in Wyoming and Clint got caught up at work.
They had a ball visiting Grandma!
We enjoyed being together and remembering my dad on the 5 year anniversary of his passing, July 31st.
I love you my sweet and beautiful mom.
We watched home videos and saw these neat pictures of my mom when she was a little girl!
Isn't she cute? :) The one on the left...:)
We spent SOOO much cousin time and went to the Hogle zoo...
...and Cherry Hill...
(Brier and Kambriella)
Then we also took the family to visit Kierra and Riley's home in Colorado!
It was SO fun for me to see Kierra in her element. She has created a beautiful home where you can FEEL the spirit. Her and Riley are going to be the best parents! And it makes me SOOO happy!
We went to the Denver zoo (which was way better than the Hogle zoo) and saw the most active animals ever! The tigers, the turtle, the elephant, gorillas, and orangutans!
LOVE these kiddos!!!
And Dallin reenacts THE LION KING... ;)
Our friend Goucho!
"More apples please???"
We went school shopping and spent a girls day in paradise at the American Girl Doll Store!
We hiked Castle Rock and LOVED being together.
I could spend all day everyday with my husband and kids...too bad we eventually have to go home and be responsible. ;)
Riley even taught the kids how to ride dirt bikes!!! And now...well, let's just say that they are all ready for their own dirt bikes! :)
This is one of our last pictures together from all of our summer adventures, and the only person we are missing is Carew!!! But GUESS WHAT??? The party doesn't end...He will be home in 4 DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!
And then we will all be back together again!!!!
I. CANNOT. WAIT.
I already have BUTTERFLIES!!!
And I have nothing but LOVE and GRATITUDE for everything that I have been blessed to have, see, feel, experience, and love this summer.
Thank you thank you for the life, the love, and the family that is forever mine!!!
