Kira Turns 5 (April 22, 2006)!

We had a Mulan themed birthday, this year. With Kira's grandparents and cousins in China...and the fact that she loves the Disney movies, it seemed appropriate. Here she is blowing out the candles with many friends looking on, and a shot of the Dragon (Mushu?) cake.

Mulan Memories

At Kira's party, she and her friends took turns having, "Lesson Number One" (Karate basics with Amber), "Mulan's tea" and Chinese food with Kristin, and "oriental fan crafting" with me. (Amber and Kristin are life savers!!!)

Europe Trip June 2006

I traveled to Europe this summer with a small choir. We participated in a festival in Germany and performed in other venues. It was an amazing adventure. Don't worry. The most dangerous part of the trip was probably the subway in the Atlanta airport between concourses (when they say hold on, they really mean it).

I have posted the highlights from the trip below. I posted them in chronological order for me, which means that if you read straight down, you will get the trip in reverse (which is OK, too.) If you are terribly interested in a place or in Dachau or Oberndorf, which we also visited, let me know. There are many more pictures where these came from!

To sum it up, it was everything I imagined Europe to be and more. Hopefully, I will go back someday.

Wunderbar Wien (Vienna)

As magnificent as Vienna is, it was actually a little bit of a let down after some of the other places we visited. The art and architecture is amazing, but it is a big city and feels a bit like other big cities. We went to a rather strange performance of Strauss' opera "The Gypsy Baron." And were serenaded by an accordian player at dinner before.

Scenic Salzburg

I loved Salzburg! Mozart's birthplace and the setting of "The Sound of Music." Much of the town really takes you back in time. The fortress on top of the mountain began to be built in 1044 or something. Here you see me singing for Mozart as he peddles his Chocolate balls, trying to imitate Maria Von Trapp singing "I have confidence" by the horse fountain, and enjoying the incredible view from the fortress!

Fairytale Land

There is a castle on a cloud... and it is called Neuschwanstein Castle. This is the castle featured in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and the one that inspired Walt Disney with Sleeping Beauty's castle. It was a cold and rainy day so some of us rode the carriage up the hill.

Passion Play Music Festival

This is the Passion Play Theatre where the residents of Oberammergau perform The Passion of Christ every ten years. It is a cool story dating back to the plague. This was where our festival was held. It was incredible, except for the near freezing temperature and occasional rain.
Our choir (minus a couple who had wandered away). I'm holding our silver microphone trophy (all of the choirs got one) after the awards ceremony.
I could not tell you about the festival with out including a picture of Prof. Eyebrows, our emcee. Yes. They are real!

Singing at the Festival

Our group performing, plus a couple of our favorite fellow performers: The Austrian yodelers--the real deal--you can see their leiderhosen, but you don't see the mandatory flasks in their coat pockets, and the choir from the Netherlands that sings Gospel music from the Southern US. You will notice their enthusiasm.

Oberammergau

Don't worry. I had to practice along time before I could say it, too. This is the charming town in the mountains of Bavaria where we stayed and had our festival on the Passion Play Theatre stage (see other post). We all fell in love with Oberammergau. The entire town felt as if it had been lifted out of a fairy tale.

Munich Madness

Our first day in Europe! The weather was much colder and wetter than anticipated. These pics. are in Munich. The bottom one is in front of Nymphenburg palace.

Family Portraits

My sister said she was sick of the Easter bunnies and that I had to make a new post, now! I actually have tons of pics to post (a little overwhelming) but am missing some of the first ones, chronologically. I will try to get the important stuff up here a little at a time, but in the mean time I thought you would like to see how beautiful our little family is!

Easter Bunnies

Happy Easter (a few weeks late)! I didn't think the Easter bunny could get so grumpy!

Snow in Arizona?

Yes! But in Prescott, not Phoenix. We were visiting Grandma in early April when we had a little snow storm. It wasn't much, but it was all the snow my kids saw this year. Ironically, just about three weeks later we hit the 100 degree mark in Phoenix.

Freeeezy!

Though the water was still quite cold, the kids were determined to get in the water at the lake and later at Grandmother and Grandad's pool. Trenton seemed to think the cold water made it more fun and enjoyed screaming and squealing as he splashed in and out of the water. Although he was turning blue, he still protested loudly when I made him get out of the pool.

On The Boat

The wind and mist made our adventure on the boat a little chili. We had a great time being together, but being bundled up and snuggled put both Kira and Trenton to sleep before we were done. (Aunt Kristin, too!)

Whose driving this thing?!?

In Early April we went out on a Pontoon Boat in Canyon Lake, with Barry's family. Trenton is excited about anything that goes "vroom" but both kids were excited about taking a turn as captain of the ship.

Baby Beethoven

Trenton is quite a pianist. He loves to make music, and truthfully, some of it isn't too bad. Apparently it sounds better without a shirt on.

Bonding

Grandpa and Trenton share a special moment while waiting for Amber's party.