Europe is over - - - -

Psych! . . . . . . . . Not!

Fooled ya, right? Well, I'm bringing a good "Psych" or "Not" back into business! I have missed you old friends. The other day, I had a gentleman in at work and the whole time he was talking I wanted to interject with any sentence that could let me use "Psych" - - maybe something like, "Your bill is going to be thirty percent off . . . . . Psych!" or even, "Yup, you have windshield coverage . . . Not!" So folks, I now declare that you can go back to using our dear old friends, Psych and Not. Use them wisely and sparingly because, if not, you could find yourself out of a job or sitting home alone with no friends . . .

Waiting for the Pope - - -

Thousands of people, thousands of pick pockets . . .

Notice the white canopy, he will appear there soon - - -



This court jester-y guy is part of the Pope's special forces -they are called The Swiss Guards, I so want to be one, if only for the outfit!

so surreal . . .

Look closely - - - there he is. He came out in a car to circus music and drove around the people before being driven up the steps and dropped off. He gave a two second blessing and then sat down while his bishops read psalms in different languages. It was interesting, I'm glad we happened to be there on the only day he comes out - Wednesdays.

This is the Sistine Chapel. The picture is kind of blurry because you aren't suppose to take pictures and if they catch you they throw you out - I couldn't resist, however, because it was to amazing for words. This main front mural is of the last judgement and if you glance at the top of the picture you can see the famous "Creation of Adam". This goes on my top ten places ever, worth every long waited minute and euro payed . . .

This is in St. Peter's and is the alter, it was an incredible place that also carried a sad feeling - all of the marble and statues were stolen from the forum and the Colosseum to build up the Vatican, so sad, especially when you come from ruins of those great places and wonder what it would have been like had they let them be.

La Pieta - One of the most beautiful works of Michelangelo - look up the history of how he carved his name on the statue, so cool . . .

The ruins of The Forum -

The mouth of truth - don't stick your hand in if you are a liar, you'll never get it back

One of my absolute favorite pictures of the trip - Peter looking out onto the square

Mussolini built this during his regime -

My mom's favorite painting from our hotel, our night doorman painted it - just shows how everyone in Rome is artist - - -

Goodbye Rome - taken from our dashing taxi in the early morn . . .

Stay tuned tomorrow for Egypt - - - Psych! It will actually be Barcelona . . .

Good Morning . . .

This is where my heart is today - - -

Saturday mornings with the Chards . . .

The following is what happens when you get such an athletically inclined family out in winter . . .

We go snowshoeing!!! Watch out winter! Here comes Papa and Lela -

Ah, the passion - Susy wants to overtake him - but can she? Just you wait and see -

On your mark, get set and -

Susy takes the lead!!!!

But don't count Doug out,

He's got skills - romancing his snowshoe partner and . . .

standing victorious while we witness the first fall of the day.

The field is no match for the two of them - -

I think the Olympics will soon have two new participants! (Is snowshoeing an Olympic sport?)

One who likes to yell - - -

and . . . . fall!

But a champion is never a champion if they can't get up every time they fall. She got up and we witness the glory of snowshoeing!

And also sometimes - - - - - the fighting:)

We can definitely see which child is Doug's favorite, now can't we . . . .

Winter can't get us down -

Mt. Everest has now been conquered - - -

By the both of them . . . .

Stay tuned for what adventures next Saturday morning will bring, I think I heard them toss around the words, "professional" and "skeet shooting" - - - - now, THAT would be awesome . . .

New year - new snow!

I love winter, especially Peterson winters - - - - - - thank you snow!

Hand me a life someone!

Isn't it hard to be connected to blogs and facebook sometime? Maybe it's just my ultra crappy mood but I think I might need to hijack someones ultra cool and hip life and replace it with my existence!

Now don't go lecturing me about gratitude and such - - I know; I only feel that everyone deserves a "just sayin'" moment every now and again and this is mine . . .

*disclaimer - - - - above pictured cute nephew is in no way connected with my crappy mood - he is just way too cool for that . . .

"Shirley, Dont call me crazy!" er, um, not funny?

There are moments in my life when I think I am sooooo funny (admit it, you do it too) and then I am sorely mistaken, the post title just happened to be one of those moments. The other day an idea just came to me - love when that happens - and now I am thrilled and excited. I have been very blessed in my life by parents who knew the importance of children gaining experience and exposure. They exposed us to the two different worlds from which they come, they tried to incorporate the best of both cultures. We grew up with a Christmas and January 6th (wise man day:), our home was filled with literature, history, music and language from both lands. But they didn't only want us to know about these things, they wanted us to experience them.

My mother was stubborn enough to say that she would never go back to Argentina until she could afford to take us all. When I was 15, that time came. We still couldn't afford it but we went anyway. It was one of the greatest experiences of my life. I experienced a new world that helped me to understand how small my world in Morgan Utah really was and what was out there, if I wanted it.

I want to give that kind of experience and exposure to those that I love the most. I have the coolest four nephews that can be had on the face of the earth - Samuel, Mason, Ethan and Jacob. I am constantly amazed at who they have already become and cannot wait to see them grow into their immense potential. I also know that there are more nephews and hopefully nieces that will join our crazy lot and I extend this to them as well. This past week I started a savings account with it's sole purpose being to house the funds for what I will call "Our Adventures". When each of my nephews or nieces turns 10, we will set aside a week of our lives to go anywhere they want to go in the United States of America, their choice. It can be -

San Francisco - - -

The Grand Canyon - - - -

or even . . . North Dakota (this is a picture of their HIGHEST point, by the by)

It will be their choice - they want the beach, I'll find them a beach; mountains, they can have those too or even a city with lights and adventure. They will gain an experience and we will have a blast, memorable for the both of us. The next part of "Our Adventures" has to do with them turning 15. When they turn fifteen we can decide together about a week - - - anywhere in the world that they want to go -

Australia - yeah, sure!

Russia? there too - -

or even . . . China! Samu already said that this sounds like his kind of country:)

Some might say, "you are crazy!" "that would be spoiling them!" And why I for sure agree about the crazy part, the spoiling thing - not so much. This is an opportunity, one that we share and work towards. My only rule for the world trip is that during their years from 10-15 they find a way to earn something, there isn't a minimum amount, to put towards the trip. I am excited for this and although my first 10 year old doesn't happen for 4 years, it's best to be prepared (and also I think I'll need that time to save up the cash:). I love them, I love what I have been given and I can't wait to share it!

Let's hear it for "Our Adventures!" - - - - Bon Voyage World! Well, in four years and from then on out . . .

Once upon a birthday tale . . .

There once was a little girl that was born in the far away land of Argentina . . .

Her name was Susana and she was loved by all - - - Susana grew and grew until she became a

beautiful young teenager. This teenager never imagined that her life would be lived anywhere else but Argentina, that was until she met a handsome young missionary named . . .

Doug. He swept her off her feet and after a year of letter writing she decided to leave all she knew to come to Utah to - - -

marry the love of her life. They were happy and soon were joined - - - -

by four outrageously cool and gorgeous children - -

Gabriel,

Mia,

Mario and

Marcos! Life was not complete however until three beautiful other daughters came along -

Marcela,

Wendy,

and Danielle!

Susana is the best Lela there is, just ask Samu and Mason and Jacob - - -

and lets not forget what Ethan thinks! He loves his Lela because she loves

to bowl and can always be found

having fun or

traveling Europe!

So three cheers for the birthday girl - - -

Hip, Hip

Hooray! Have the best birthday Mom, you are loved . . .