Mimzy and Pop Pop

FINALLY!!!  Mom and Dad completed 18 months in the Democratic Republic of Congo!

They arranged for their flight to stop in Frankfurt so they could have some time with us before going back to the states.  

Anticipating their arrival!  We could hardly wait!  

Snow capped trees welcomed them as we drove into our village.

They had lunch with Sam at school and went to recess. 

 HIKE:

They called their Stake President and got released as missionaries over Skype!!!

They would have paper airplane wars every night.  

We took a trip to Luxembourg and Belgium

AMERICAN CEMETERY

GERMAN CEMETERY

German Cemetery

CASEMATES

Changing of the Guards at the Grand Duke's Palace

Our little Belgium cottage with playroom in the attic!  

Battle of the Bulge Museum

Fox holes dug in the middle of winter

It was absolutely freezing with cutting winds.  It helped us be able to imagine how cold the soldiers were here when fighting.  We also thought a lot about my grandpa Butzie (Jay Lees) as he fought in this battle.  He drove his jeep, that he named after my grandmother (they were not yet married), over a landmine and it landed on his arm.  He was taken to surgery and it was thought he would need an amputation.  Luckily the surgeon was able to save it with steel plates and shortening his arm.  He would tell me this when I was a child and I always thought he was joking.  I never understood what he went through.  

Belgium Cemetery

On the way to Church

Family Home Evening included a Puppet Show by Sam and Luke

Congo Presentation to Sam's Class

Tearful Goodbyes

Seeing Brady and Elizabeth

Brady and Elizabeth had a 6 hour layover in Frankfurt just before we were to pick up Mom and Dad, so we got there about 8:30 a.m. and wandered the streets of Frankfurt.  It was so fun to hear about their trip to the Congo, Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya. 

Fun with friends

Sam's school had a Health Fair.  Here they are boxing.

with Isaiah

Charlote and Teddy came over to play

Valentine's card with Blow Pop

Fasching: German holiday/ school dress up  and Party day

Our home

Some random pics to remember our German house.  

I finally got some curtains and new pillow covers.

Little by little it is coming together. 

Flash

Flash is the newest member of our family.  Once he was left at the library for a week.  Luke missed him something fierce.  Daddy went to look for him at the library and didn't find him.  We thought he might be lost forever.  Luke would cry at night without him.  We went to the library AGAIN and there he was, hanging out with the other stuffed animals.  We think they all played together and read books at night when everyone was away.  Lukey is so happy to have him back.