PRAGUE (jn no particular order)

FRANKFURT, GERMANY (look how surprised my mom is!)

We're back from our trip abroad. When I saw "we", I mean some of the family. Evan and Eric stayed in Madison while I strolled the streets of some of the most beautiful cities in the world. I took TONS of pictures...and I think the way I'll sum up the trip is with a few separate posts. This post will highlight a few of the aspects/details of the trip. After that, each post will have pictures from each city we stopped in.

a) This trip has been planned for awhile, but at the last minute I decided to go baed on two important facts: my dad said he'd pay and Eric told me to go :) How great is that? Two very generous guys. So, I joined my mom, dad, sister, brother (who also was a last minute add), aunts, uncles, and cousins.

b) We kept it a secret from my mom and that Brady and I were going...so we concocted this elaborate plan to jump out at her in two different spots in the Frankfut Airport (they were coming from Ireland where they had been vacationing for the previous week). She screamed and laughed and cried and yelled and...that's enough of the details.

c) My cousin Jeff saw Method Man in Prague.

d) We got kicked out of the garden in the Vienna hotel because we were drinking our own beverages.

e) I think everyone got sick of me asking to take group photo shots...but really, I didn't ask that often. Maybe twice a day.

f) The weather in every city was great...sunny for the most part and mild temperature.

g) For 12 people traveling together, all the planning and options that go into it, I must say that the trip went smoothly. We were up early and out exploring almost every day and saw so many beautiful things, ate great meals, and enjoyed the company of family. I'm so glad I went, but couldn't wait to get home and give my guys a big hug! I missed them A LOT :)

Check out the next couple of posts as the pictures will hopefully speak for themselves. I don't have the patience to label them individually!

The Easter egg hunt was great - Evan had such a good time (he especially liked the eggs that looked like soccer and basketballs). Everyone met at the beginning of the bike trailer where the Easter Bunny met us and we continued down to the park for the hunt. There were TONS of kids and parents that participated, and again I felt extremely thankful to live where we do.

a busy weekend.

Lots of running around and getting stuff done. We also played a lot - building a bird house at Home Depot and a neighborhood Easter egg hunt. Pictures from the egg hunt in the next post.

Yesterday Evan and I took Kate to the Park-N-Ride to catch a bus to O'Hare. Where is she going? Europe...for over a YEAR! She'll be exploring for about a month (England, Ireland, Austria, Switzerland...) and then landing in Germany to be a nanny for 14 months. Evan is going to miss his aunt, but it will be a great experience for her and we're very excited for her! And as you're big sister, I must tell you to please BE CAREFUL, ok?

Evan has decided not to eat unless he has his own fork/spoon. This can make for some funny moments, and, Wrigley loves it since now she gets even more food that has dropped to the floor. Here is Evan doing his best to eat a banana with a fork, and as you can tell from the mohawk pictures, some banana managed to get in his hair. We both found it hilarious.

Sunday afternoon Janelle, Darrin, Matthew & Mackenzie came over to, unfortunately, watch the Badgers lose to Xavier. At least we were able to get outside and play some games.

the park.

Wednesday night we went over to the Ripple's house for dinner and walked across the street for some basketball and to play on the playground.