European Vacation/Bauma

Dave was asked to go to a huge construction/mining show held every three years in Munich called Bauma. We decided to take a few days before and go exploring as neither of us had been to Europe before. We arrived at 10:00 am and met Wen from Chicago getting off the plane. He helped us exchange our dollars for Euros and buy tickets for the train.  We took the S8 to Central Station and the U2 to Josephplatz. We met Rachel and she walked us to our apartment and gave us the key. After a nap we took the train back to Central Station and walked through the mall. We found a buffet on the top floor and ate some soup, salad and a potato quiche dish.  We were asleep by 9:00.

View out our window. You can see the little grocery store bottom right and the train station was about two blocks from the store. Very convenient location.

Little kitchen with the mini-fridge. We had apples, toast and cheese for breakfast.

Thursday we took the train to Marienplatz and saw Peterskirche. We waited in the central plaza to watch the clock tower and climbed a tower in the church to see a nice view of the city (through the fog).

                                         Clock tower in Marienplatz

                                    Climbing the tower

                         View of Munich

Shoulder Surgery aka The Life of Bryson

Due to enjoying sports such as snowboarding, football and dirt biking, Bryson needed to have shoulder surgery on March 24.  The surgeon, Dr. Curtain, had to take a piece of bone, move it and put in two screws to hold it in place.  He was pretty miserable for a couple of days sleeping in a recliner and taking pain meds. He is now back to school and feeling pretty good but unhappy about having to wear the sling  for four more weeks.  He is doing physical therapy and it seems to be healing nicely.   Bryson will be very glad to put the whole episode behind him.

March Moab Madness 2010

Here are some pics of Dave's trip to Moab. Brothers Bob and Chris went and also friends Tryson and Delmar Gray and Ken Brown. 

                                Dave on Sovereign Trail

                         Slick Rock overlooking the Colorado

                           Dave and Tyson Gray on the Ricky Lee Trail

With Jett in Mesa

Chantal's mom usually tends Jett while she is teaching sixth graders, but Marilyn had to leave town for the month.  I am here for about nine days. Jett is almost six months old. He likes to chew on everything and spends his time on his tummy playing with toys, in his exersaucer, eating rice cereal or napping. He tolerates lots of kisses and likes to go for walks with Buddy-dog in the park.  This picture is of Dave and Jett while Dave was down here on business.

Wearing a hat Dave brought for Ben

Looking cute and smiley.

Bryson J. Howell Age 18

Saturday we celebrated Bryson's 18 BD in McCall. Mike Bell, cousin Sam and Ryan Belnap were there along with Uncle Chris, his friend Steve and some people Chris invited up. Fri night we watched a movie Chris brought called The Ranger, the Cook and A Hole in the Sky.  It was a good one. The boys went skiing/snowboarding at Brundage. The rest of us ate lunch at My Father's Place and then went snowshoeing on the Upper Payette Lake.   We came home had Bryson's BD dinner, cake and ice cream and opened presents.  Then we all headed for Gold Fork Hot Springs.  Here are some pics...

                                  Something in the water???

                                   Ryan, Bryson, Mike and Sam

President's Weekend 2010

For President's/Valentine Weekend we drove to Utah and met Matt, Kristen and Sawyer who flew there from LA. Annie and Phil were nice enough to let us all crash at their house in Lehi. Friday Kristen, Matt, Dave and Bryson went snowboarding to Park City and I babysat Sawyer.  Rosemary came by and took Sawyer and I to lunch.

Saturday Bryson went back to Park City and Dave had a business lunch, so Matt, Kristen and I went to lunch at Zupas (soups, sandwiches and salads, yum).  Saturday night we met with Donna and her kids and some of Annies (Metta, Claire and Daysa) and had pizza.  It was great fun.  Here is Daysa and Tanner looking on while Janna, Bryson and Daysa eat dessert.

Sunday we went to church, had a big turkey dinner and everyone came over for games and treats.  Sawyer was very patient with all the relatives and had a big smile for everyone.

Monday Kristen, Matt, Dave and I took Sawyer swimming at the Legacy Center.  What FUN!  He is a little water bug!

Idaho Falls and Romania

                         Playing Five Crowns while Linda tries to read.

                            My dad shoveling snow in his Sunday Suit.

Saturday the 30th I dropped off Dave at the airport (India this time) and Linda and I headed for Idaho Falls. Brielle was talking at church on Sunday before she leaves for Romania on Feb. 10. (actually she will be in the MTC for 3 months and then leave).  Saturday night Jeff came in to my parents house and the five of us (our original nuclear family) went to Smitty's for dinner.  It was strange but fun with just the mom, dad and kids. It snowed all Saturday night, but we were at church on time Sunday morning.  Brielle did a GREAT job. She talked about the Plan of Salvation. She mentioned that her family had read the news about two missionaries dying in Romania right before she had to talk and had us in tears.  Then Jeff had to get up and sing in a men's choir while still gathering his wits. He pulled it off...they sang "Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy".

We played Five Crown's while waiting for everyone to arrive at their house and then had salads, different breads and cookies. Since it was still snowing we decided to drove home Monday morning.  We enjoyed going over and playing with those Eastern Idahoans. Good luck Brielle - send lots of emails on your adventures!