PARIS!!!

Outside of Notre Dame Cathedral. It was so amazing. I can't imagine the time that it took to build this. The artwork is so intricate and just stunning. Pictures don't do justice.

While we were outside of Notre Dame, a choir of college age boys were singing hymns...it was so cool and made the experience so fun!

Mike outside Notre Dame...

Our FAVORITE thing to do...walk along the bridges of Paris in front of the Eiffel Tower...as dusk came...

while watching the Eiffel Tower light up...

Paris...where do I even begin? When Mike flew into Frankfurt, I picked him up from the airport and we drove to Paris. It was about a 5 hour drive from Frankfurt. Miranda, Ian and Eli stayed home to get ready for their big move back to the USA. They were so kind to let us borrow their car...and more importantly their GPS! Paris was everything I expected. I definitely could have stayed another week there but we did accomplish a lot in the 3 days we were there. My friend Amber who did a study abroad in Paris compiled a list of things I needed to do, how to get there, what to see while there...etc... The list helped us tremendously! We saw so much! And just FYI...we found that French to be extremely kind people! Here's PARIS...

As you can see, Scarlett really enjoyed Paris! :) This happened in every city! This was after a long day in the Louvre...

This is how all the buildings are...

Yep...some Michelangelo...

Recognize this???

The Nike of Samothrace Winged Victory was the most incredible piece of art I have ever seen in my lifetime. It was seriously breathe taking! I could have stared at it for an hour-seriously!

Yep...Scarlett and THE Mona Lisa! It was tiny! So much smaller than what I thought. It was cool to see...but still nothing compared to...

SO INCREDIBLE!!!

Nope...Scarlett wasn't asleep. She just loved the Arch. jk. She was just sick of picts! Can you blame her?

Picts of Wurzburg, Germany

Caught in the act... One of my favorite things about Germany is their "Eis Cafes"-little ice cream shops everywhere! I ate a lot of ice cream on this trip...

All of the buildings have so much personality!

Eli!

Eating outside...the only bad thing about this is that everyone smokes! So if you sit by a smoker...not fun!

Ian and Aida

It's kinda hard to see but there is a castle up there and a huge wall around it...

Fancy that...Scarlett likes marshmallows too! And yes...we did buy them!

The entrance into the city....My little monkey...

These pictures were taken at the most beautiful gardens...

Such a cute family!

Bestest friends!

I couldn't believe how perfect everything was! I can't imagine the hours and work this took!

We went to Wurzburg and Rothenburg during my visit to Germany. They are the most gorgeous towns and I fell in love with them! They have so much personality and the most beautiful gardens and architecture. I hate to say this...but it really does make the US look so plain and boring! I haven't been to a place in the US that even compares to these places! (But don't get me wrong...I do LOVE the USA and the freedoms we are so lucky to have!) Some facts about Germany- EVERYONE has dogs! It is the most dog friendly place...kids take a test in the fourth grade which determines their career-from there they are separated into schools for which they study for that career (yep, that means they don't get a choice!), they are extremely nice & most everyone knows English, it is green green green (forests everywhere), its also green as in go green-they are one of the most energy efficient countries in the world-recycling is the law, they have energy mills everywhere, no one has big cars-little tiny cars like mini coopers are everywhere-I only saw 1 truck the whole time I was in Germany-and it was an American soldier driving it who had it shipped from the States, if you get one-yes ONE DUI you get your drivers license away FOREVER (can you imagine how great that would be for the USA?)...just things I learned while I was there...

POLAND!

Random...I know! During my trip to Europe, Ian planned a fabulous weekend in Poland. It was about 5 hours away from Schweinfurt, where Miranda and Ian live. I didn't know this...but Poland is known for its pottery. So Miranda and I took advantage of this and came away with some beautiful Polish pottery. Sorry...I can't post any pictures of the pottery...the movers packed it up when they packed up their house...along with Scarlett's flip flops!:( These pictures were taken in the town square in Warsaw. It was so pretty and the buildings were amazing. They looked fake and they looked like little paper cutouts. I was amazed at how unpopulated Poland is. Driving into the country was beautiful-so green and the cutest houses. I'm glad I got to go to Poland because I don't think I'll ever have the chance to go back!:)

GERMANY...

Okay, I know I always say this but I am really so behind blogging. It has been a crazy ride with work, dance, cheer, work, baby, husband, work, baby, husband...etc. I am super busy, but I love it! I am busy...but I am not complaining! I think it is funny when people are complaining how busy they are because I heard a great quote in Relief Society a few months ago that I feel is so true...YOU ARE ONLY AS BUSY AS YOU PLAN TO BE. I love always having something to do...I feel like I get so much more accomplished that way. But if you know me I am a huge procrastinator...hence the blog. But...here it goes... April and May were crazy months! I had Britt's wedding in April and my little sister Natalie's wedding in May (picts to come as I get them....) Both weddings were amazing and couldn't have been better. Three days after Nat's wedding, Scarlett and I hopped on a plane to Frankfurt, GERMANY where we visited a friend for two and a half weeks! It was so much fun. I know, a lot of people think I am CRAZY for taking a 9.5 month old across the Atlantic on a 16 hour plane ride (by myself on the way over) But it was totally worth it! Scarlett did just great on the plane ride-I had so many people tell me what a great baby she was. We had such a great time and it was so good to spend time with Miranda, Ian and of course Eli. Scarlett already misses him! She loves to play with kids and just loved Eli! Besides Germany, we also went to Poland and when Mike came over a week after me we went to Paris. AMAZING. I LOVE to travel. I love to see different cultures and different ways of living. Germany is amazing. It is probably the most beautiful county I have ever been to. I didn't know I would love it that much. I have been there before but I had really only gone to Berlin. Miranda was able to take me all over Germany & I am so thankful for the wonderful host she was! I'll start out with Germany... (I don't know why it is underlined!?!?!) Me and Miranda

Yep...the whole time all Scarlett did was pull her bow out! She was so proud to show me & Miranda everytime she ripped it out!

This was at a beautiful garden in Dresden, Germany...

How cute are they? Ian, Eli and Miranda! Eli was not up for pictures and Scarlett followed suit...

Happy Easter!!!!

Easter was so much fun this year! Scarlett had so much fun Easter morning and she just loves her Easter dress! Mike and I made Easter dinner and had some friends over to celebrate since our families don't live here. The dinner turned out pretty tasty...but I was still missing Grandma Gene's food-nothing compares!!! I am still so behind in the blogging world...but what have ya? Here's Easter....

Scarlett was so excited to see her presents!

She loved her Easter card...

Scarlett loves cereal! She is little miss impatient though when it comes to me preparing her food! Once you do the sign language to "cereal" or "eat" or "milk"....GAME OVER!!!

What a princess!!!

She is still a mommy's girl and I LOVE it!!

Just chillin by her presents! She looks sooooo big!!!

Opening her present...

Okay, okay...she was not having the bunny ears. She thought they were fun for like one minute. She was totally scuzzing me and Mike! :)

Scarlett and her friend Tyce! Oh man trying to get an 8 month old and a 14 month old to hold still and both look at the camera at the same time...impossible!

After a long day....