The First Day of School

Another summer is over and another school year begins! I love summer, but this one was a little harder for me because I was working full time. I felt like the kids and I didn't get to do all the fun things we normally do in the summer! With that being said, I was ready to have my school routine back again! Tag was so excited for school to start and kept asking me, "when do I get to go to school?" Ty was a little excited, but he knows what it is all about now, so I think it was as exciting as going to kindergarten was! Tenley couldn't wait for pre-school to start and was a little sad she didn't get to go to school the same day her big brothers did.  Ty is in 1st grade this year and his teachers are Mrs. Pulsipher for home room and then Mrs. Jones for reading. Tag is in kindergarten and his teacher is Mrs. Sobrio. Tenley goes to pre-school and has Miss Jenny and Miss Gail as her teachers! The kids were excited to have their dad meet them at school and send them on their way! When I picked them up after school and asked how their day was, "Tag said it was AWESOME, but long!" and Ty said, "It was so awesome mom!" I wish I could say that excitement has continued on, but it is already wearing on them! They do not like having homework every night and I just try and get through it with happiness and words of encouragement! Some nights I fall short miserably, but I am trying! Tenley on the other hand LOVES pre-school and is always so excited to go!  I must admit that I am happy to have 2 in school because when this baby comes in January it won't seem so crazy around the house!

Happy 3rd Birthday Tenley

 She thought her dad needed hairbands on him too!

How we love our little Tenley! It is hard to believe that she is 3 years old! She is such a joy to have her in our home! She is so full of energy, silliness, love, craziness, and drama! She is all girl, but isn't afraid to get a little dirty! She gives her brothers the "what for" and keeps them in line! For her birthday this year, she really wanted Tinkerbell stuff! Our old babysitter, McKenzie, made her this AWESOME Tinkerbell cake and let me just say...it was a HIT! Tenley was so excited about her cake!  We got her a Tinkerbell piggy bank and costume. She has been dying to get a Dora backpack like her friend, Anna, so she got that too and is so excited to take it to pre-school next year! Then she got some fun little skirts so she can dance around the house and make them twirl! Tenley is always showing me her tricks and her dance moves! She brings a lot of laughter into my days!  We celebrated her birthday a couple days early because I was going to be gone for her actual birthday! We had the Nelson's, Greig's, and Wolfley's and Uncle Jacob and Aunt Karen's family over and all the kids had such a great time! She also had another birthday celebration up on Mt. Trumbell at the Bundy Reunion. Josh took the kids this year and he said she had a blast! We love our Tenley and know our family wouldn't be the same without her! Happy Birthday Tenley!

Pre-School Water Day

Miss Gail is always so much fun! Showing the kids how to blow bubbles with her cool goggles!

Tag had so much fun with all his pre-school friends

Tenley got to play too!

Tag had so much fun at pre-school this year! He loved everyone in his class and couldn't wait for school. At the end of the year they made these cool bubble blowers out of water bottles, wash clothes, and soapy water! The kids absolutely loved them! They also got to play at the splash pad and it was so fun to watch them and see those big smiles on their faces! Thank you Miss Jenny and Miss Gail for a great year!

Europe July 2013

EGER, HUNGARY

My beautiful little sister, Rikki and her husband Sebastien at dinner in Eger, Hungary

This is an old Catholic Cathedral in Eger. They ran out of money, so it was just recently finished.

Norby was our tour guide for Eger. He is a member in the branch my parents served in. He was a really nice guy and a great tour guide! He only gave you the important information instead of boring you to death with all the details!

One of the cannons inside the castle in Eger. The Turks took over the castle and destroyed alot of the outside of it and the rest was covered by sand! They have been excavating it and this was in the underground passage we explored.

Seb and Mike playing around on the little kids playground at the top of the castle. It was quite entertaining

These two pictures are taken from the top of the castle looking down!

This isn't the best picture, but it is of another castle in Eger.

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY

This is a piece of the wall that was taken in remembrance of what the Nazi's did to the Hungarian people. It is outside "The House of Terror" a museum that tells of the horror that happened to the Hungarian people from both the Nazi's and the Russians! It was so very sad!

Touring in Budapest with Rikki, Lauri, Mom, and Mike! We walked all day long which wasn't in the plans. Mom and I wore the wrong shoes and by the end of the day, we had blisters on the bottoms of our feet! I have never been so tired in all my life! I kept thinking about the pioneers and couldn't imagine how they kept walking! Lauri kept singing the song, "Pioneer Children sang as they walked and walked and walked!"

The Great Synagogue...the 2nd largest one in the world. The largest one is located in New York

Rikki and Seb in front of another Catholic Cathedral in Budapest, Hungary

I couldn't believe how ornate these cathedrals were. I thought of our Temples and how sacred they are and how different it is from all the cathedrals we were able to tour. There were always so many people in these cathedrals and I was so thankful that we have our Temples where we can go to find peace and solitude...not tourist.

That is one big organ!

These next pictures are of Budapest from the sky. We rode a ferris wheel and got some cool pictures that overlook the city

The Hungarians admire Ronald Regan for what he did for them and that is why they have this statue in Budapest.

This is the Danube River. These shoes have been bronzed as a memorial to the Jews who were shot and then tossed in the river like they were nothing! This really hit me hard, especially when I saw the little pair of toddler shoes! It is so sad that people can be so cruel and just down right evil!

MARSEILLE, FRANCE

From this view you can see Marseille, France. This is where my little sister, Rikki, and her husband Sebastien live with their 3 children, Brice, Damien, and Lucy! It was absolutely a breath taking view!

This was a Roman Aqueduct that was built a really long time ago. It was HUGE and so neat to see.

Cliff jumping at the Aqueduct...Mike

Damien

Brice

Matthew....Seb's brother

Sebastien with his two boys

Even Jacques, Sebastien's dad, jumped off...pretty impressive

PARIS, FRANCE

Enjoying a picnic at the Palace of  Versailles.  This was the kings hunting lodge where he went to get away from the city! I could not believe how big the Palace grounds were. Crazy to think this was just a hunting lodge to him! This was as close as we could get to the palace for free!

I got these pictures from the internet...a little better picture

The great Eiffel Tower. We walked to the tower and by the time we got there, we had already walked all over Paris and it was 11:00pm. The girls decided they didn't need to walk up it, so we waited while Mike and Sebastien walked  up all those stairs. I had to go to the bathroom so bad, but all the bathrooms were closed by then! There are a million people there and they close the bathrooms!! I got the real French experience and found a bush and went! Us girls were just laughing as we guarded each other! How thankful I am for being able to find a restroom in America! This was so frustrating to all of us on this trip!

A very small part of The Louvre Museum. A few us went to the Louvre and saw the famous things! It wasn't really my thing and it was HUGE and there were people everywhere! I have decided that I do not enjoy being places where there are crowds of people! However, I can say I have been to The Louvre now!

 A much better picture of the Louvre and the Pyramind

 

Rikki and I on the river boat we were on for their Independence Day! The food was delicious and they always made it look so pretty, so we had to take a picture!  I must say that we experienced the best fireworks show ever. It lasted 45 minutes and it was AWESOME!

These are some pictures from the river boat. I just love the architecture and how different and old it looked!

Dad didn't really seem to be enjoying himself on the river boat. It was loud and he can't see anything, so I can see how it wouldn't be that great to him. However, when he and mom were dancing he looked so happy!

NORMANDY

My cute little nephews and niece that I only get to see every 2 years! The last time I saw Lucy, she was a little baby! I hate it that we are so far from them and I know our kids don't like it either!

Here are the Beaches of Normandy. It was absolutely beautiful. I was really wishing I would have brought my really nice camera, but was too afraid of it getting stolen!

This was a crazy looking bridge. I had never seen anything so tall!

Mom and Dad were snoozing it up on the car ride

The American Cemetry

I so wish you could see the inscription on this monument! It talked about why the Americans fought for the freedoms of others! I should have wrote it down!

You can't read it well in this picture but it says," 1941-1945

In proud remembrance of the achievements of her sons and in humble tribute to their sacrifices this memorial has bee erected by the United States of America

One of the bunkers that are still there! It was so neat to see all the bunkers that the soldiers used!

I can't say how wonderful it was to see the American Flag! I felt so proud to be an American, but even prouder of the men who gave their lives for the freedom of others!

I LOVE the quote on this monument

"We too born to freedom and believing in freedom are willing to fight to maintain freedom we and all others who believe as deeply as we do would rather die on our fee than live on our knees"         

Franklin D Roosevelt  June 1941

This is a crater that was created from the bombs during Normandy

I love my Lucy girl

Brice being Karate Kid

These pictures are all the many bunkers that still remain on the beaches of Normandy. I believe we were on Omaha beach

Monument for the Heroic Ranger Commandoes

                                                                             

Trying to show you the 2 bunkers behind me

The boys loved climbing out of the holes

This is the hotel we stayed at...it was such a cute little place.

Le Mont Saint Michel

when the tide comes in, it surrounds the entire bottom of the castle. It wasn't the right time to see it actually happen, but my mom and sister say it is pretty amazing. The tide comes in from 10 miles out.

Inside Le Mont Saint Michel

Being "Superstars" just for Lauri

BACK TO PARIS

This is a HUGE mall and it was very ornate!

The old Opera House in Paris

Notre Dame...it was a little too gothic for me

Arc de Triomphe

this was the best picture I got. we were in the car in the crazy roundabout and let me just say...i was so glad Sebastien was driving! That is just one insane roundabout

As we walked this is what was peeking through these two buildings. 

Basilique du Sacre

Once again we had to walk up a million stairs to get to this Basilique. It was so beautiful and worth all the stairs! Afterwards, we walked through the little village there and had some yummy ice cream

Grammy and Poppy are FINALLY home from their mission in Eger, Hungary! On their way back to Oklahoma, they stopped and stayed at our house! They took the kids bowling, to the arcade, and McDonalds! They really spoiled them and they were so happy to see their Grammy and Poppy after a long 2 years of being gone. We are sure proud of all the hard work they did in Eger and know they changed many lives. It was so evident in all the tears that were shed at their farewell party! I know they are so grateful for their time there and will always have a great love for the people of Eger.  I even think they are already planning on going back to visit!