Catching up....DisneyWorld!

The kids knew that I was training for the DisneyWorld Marathon,

but they didn't know we were taking them along until they opened their last Christmas present.

I can't even describe how much I love Disney--

and getting to combine a fun trip with a race made it even more awesome!

We hit the Magic Kingdom our first day, but I was late getting there since I had to pick up my race packet.  Paul has the first day there photos!

We also had a great time at Epcot (despite Nora's face)

Hollywood Studios was a big hit this year too,

especially since the big kids loved Rock 'n' Roller coaster and we finally convinced Matt to go on the Tower of Terror.  He's got a lot of his mom in him--that one is not our favorite!

Paul discovered a great drink spot behind this truck--they put flavored syrup in your coke for you!

Headed over to the big rides!

We also loved Animal Kingdom.  Everyone except Nora could ride Everest, so she liked to hang out and have an ice cream bar!  Not a bad way to pass the time...

Matt & Afton with Everest in the background...

 One of the best things about going to Disney on this trip was seeing the new part of Fantasyland!

Ariel has a new ride and castle backdrop...

Belle has a new story-time in the Beast's Castle.

We even got to take part in the story...

Nora was Mrs. Potts and Afton was Chip.  I played a scared Maurice, "shaking" behind the tower bars!

It was so cute and the kids each got a picture and bookmark from Belle at the end.

 These girls love the Magic Kingdom almost as much as their mom!

 There was a cute new backdrop for the newest princess, Merida.

She was so cute and the girls loved her!

 And our favorite tradition--lunch at Cinderella's Castle!

You get a yummy meal and the princesses come around to your table-hard to beat that!

We've seen this Sleeping Beauty there before--she is adorable!

 And an afternoon Dole Whip!  Perfect break from the activity.

 We stopped in the final Picture stop to make sure we got all our princesses in-

another fabulous trip to DisneyWorld and we can't wait to go again!

Summer Vacation

This will be a long post as I attempt to capture our summer fun!

Despite our normal swim, golf, play, relax and hang with friends, we had so much going on...

In June, we headed out to Utah to visit family.

First up was a fun trip to Lake Powell with the Bunting side-

 Nora L-O-V-E-D playing on the beach

Halle loved swimming with all the big "kids"

 Still being Mom--making sure all equipment is good to go

Paul is ready for fun with the kiddos....

Afton and Matt loved the jet-ski almost as much as Paul!

All-out water fight!  I've never laughed harder

Matt gets what's coming to him from his two uncles

Heather's protecting herself

Garrett caught his first fish--not as excited as we all were!

None of us were excited about this!

(poor Heather)

Troy's been watching too much Baywatch!

We also celebrated the 4th of July (sans Fireworks due to the ban)

Grandpa, Luke and Halle

Halle & Nora ready for their pics!

Nora getting fancy with the blue chalk

Poor Jordie

Roasting marshmallow in the heat

The only way to take a picture of Matt

(wait until he's not looking)

Afton enjoying her roasted marshmallow

Nora gets even messier with her s'more

Heather and Scott on their way to a Real soccer game

Troy's representing for Chicago

A marshmallow mishap

Grandma's got the sparklers!

Sparklers and Marshmallows, side by side

Doesn't get much better than that!

We also had fun swimming and hanging out with the Walker side...

Fun in the pool

Uncle Spencer, Ella and Nora

We love Uncle Spencer and Aunt Brittany!

Our Bathing Beauty

Josh-Man is a swimming maniac too!

Nora's trying to keep up with all the kids

Sweet girls Ava and Ella playing with the toys

Aunt Sarah, Uncle Andrew, Ava and Josh

Aunt Brittany and Ella

Matt loves to hang out with Uncle Spencer!

Another fun summer trip to Utah--we love seeing family and are already looking forward to next summer!

Germany & Austria

Paul was invited to do a presentation in Munich, Germany to the different Franklin Covey offices in Europe, 

so it seemed like a good trip for me to tag along!

It was a short trip, but we were able to see and experience a lot!

On our way from the airport, we pulled off for something else and saw the signs pointing to Dachau.

We decided since we were so close, we should go.

It was so interesting and sobering to be there and know what happened 60 years ago.

This camp started as a prison for political opponents of the Nazis and only later held Jewish occupants.

The entrance gate that ironically states "Work makes you free"

 there were many monuments and tributes dedicated to all those who had perished, promising that these atrocities would never happen again

 Looking back at the entrance

 The "camp road" that divided the rows of barracks

 the fence and gate leading to the crematorium area

German students are required to visit a concentration camp 

and we saw many students here who were laughing and joking in the camp.

I think it must seem so far removed from our daily life that it's hard to process what happened.

Paul and I were starving after seeing Dachau,

and we followed a misleading sign pointing to a McDonald's

(Paul prefers familiar food)

Instead, we found this charming, authentic restaurant for our first meal in Germany.

 We were actually staying in a resort outside of Munich.

While Paul had meetings, I braved a two hour drive by myself to see this:

Neuschwanstein Castle

I also braved walking out on this bridge which spanned a deep chasm in order to get my picture

I was so proud of my accomplishment in spending the day entirely on my own in Bavaria--

not many English speakers until I got to the tourist area.

Although, the music on the radio was all American--made the drive easier!

This was the beautiful area we stayed in on Tegernsee Lake

We then drove through the alps to Salzburg!

I LOVE Salzburg!

Salzburg's favorite son--Mozart

St. Peter's Church

Inside

St. Peter's cemetery

The plots are all beautifully tended--and rented!

The cemetery sends you a bill every year and when someone's descendants have all passed on and no one is left to pay the bills, the plot is sold to someone else

 We took the tram up to the fortress which kept Salzburg from major invasions until WWII

The main shopping street with their adorable ironwork signs

Even McDonald's!

 Mozart's birthplace!

The next day we took the Sound of Music Tour

Cheesy and lots of fun!

 The gardens where Maria and the kids sing and dance

 The movie is always showing the fortress in the background

 More garden dancing scenery above

and the "dwarf garden" they sing around

 This is the exit to the theatre when they "escaped"

 The movie used two houses for the Von Trapp residence.

The one above was used for the back.

We drove by the yellow house used for the front, but they don't allow tourists

"I am sixteen going on seventeen"

 The opening scenes of the movie fly across these beautiful villages

We stopped and had delicious apple strudel with ice cream.

(I hummed "These are a few of my favorite things")

The movie used the outside of the Abbey on the Salzburg fortress,

but used the inside of this church in Mondsee for the wedding

 Traditional Bavarian dress--isn't it adorable!

We then drove back to Munich,

right into the championship soccer match between Bayern (Bavaria-Munich) and Chelsea

It was a madhouse (even 3 hours before the game)

so we snapped some pictures and got out of there before the already drunk and rowdy crowd got any crazier!

We saw these Maypoles in all the little villages.

I just loved the culture and traditions of this beautiful place!

It will definitely be on my "return" list of places to go!