Arrived!~

I departed Frankfurt, Germany flying direct to Denver, CO

where I then caught a short flight over to Utah.  Chandra and

Tyler were there, with great hugs, ready to pick me up.  

We stopped for a quick bite to eat and had a fun chat 

before arriving at at Bob and Kelly's.  Chandra and Tyler 

stayed a while to visit with Bob and Kelly's family.

 The next day we all attended Bob's ward for church then

came home to a delicious meal and fun conversation that

included sharing some funny memories.

As usual we pulled out Settlers of Catan, only it was

the Seafaring-long version this time.  The game

lasted a bit to long with the extended version.  

We decided the normal version is more to our liking.

Nathan won this round!

On Time?~

I'm at the Frankfurt International Airport in Germany.

Each time I travel through this airport I love to look

at this humungous flight board in the Frankfurt airport.

I remember the first time I ever saw it, so many years ago and

was just amazed at it's size and intrigued by it's functionality.

I LOVE when all at once many of the individual panels will

start clicking as they turn over to show updated information,

 almost like a domino effect.

SCORE!~

Before heading to the Frankfurt airport on Saturday

Jim and I were able to watch Cody play basketball

on the BIS Boys Basketball Varsity team at the

Frankfurt, Germany International School.

It was so convenient since the Frankfurt airport was

only an 11 minute drive away from the school.  If

we had known before we left Cody's game that my

flight was delayed by 45 minutes we could have stayed 

for Cody's whole game instead of leaving by halftime.

 Start of the game.

 Cody setting up a play.

 Cody- Number 25

 Some defense.

 I couldn't catch the photo but the referee is holding up his

his fingers giving 3 for the 3 POINTER SHOT Cody hit!

First points of the game! 

Cody's nice layup for another TWO!

GO CODY!!

BIS went on to win the game!

It Costs HOW MUCH???!!!~

Gas costs for the Volvo that Coreen drives.

Tank size:  Approximately 45 liters (12 U.S. gallons)

Price per Liter:  1.47 Euros (U.S. dollar value $2.01
or 7.614 per gallon)

Price to fill tank:  67.00 Euros (U.S. price 91.12)

Carnival Fun~

One little German house decorated for the upcoming

Carnival celebrations.

People come to parades and parties dressed up in

costumes, wigs, glasses or all three.  

It's similar to creating a halloween costume.

Carnival is celebrated just before Lent which is when

many, supposedly, give up something they feel is a 

sacrifice for 40 days.  The sacrifice is done as a reminder

of the fourty days Jesus spent in the wilderness.  The 

celebration includes costumes, masks, and parades.  In

all the cities there is one person asked to be the King. 

This Carnival Kings duties begin in Novemeber and

he usually speaks to groups including students in the

primary schools to get everyone excited about the

upcoming Carnival celebrations.  The official start date

 for this area of Germany is March 3 and lasts one week.

Once again, I am missing this event by traveling to the U.S.

According to some of my friends at church it is a good 

thing that I'm gone, I guess things get a bit too wild  and

crazy the whole week of Carnival.

Valentines Sweety's XO~

 Happy Valentine's Day!

Cody was thankful for the yummy chocolate's his mom gave
him and also thankful he didn't have to be exposed to too much
 mushy love stuff!  Cody happily escaped to basketball practice while
Jim brought home beautiful roses and sweet gifts for his Valentine.  

We enjoyed an evening meal together in Bonn.

Coreen was pleasantly surprised by the wonderful gifts, but was even
more surprised by the early hour in which Jim was able to come home!

6:30pm on a week night!  Might be a new record. :-)

Cookie Crashers~

We had TOO MANY COOKIES from the cookie exchange!!!

Mom invited (begged) Cody and his friends to come home

today and eat as many cookies as they could!

They hardly put a dent in the pile. 

I'm sending the rest with Cody to school tomorrow.

Whew!  Not a good idea being home alone with

all those cookies sitting around being a temptation.

Cody, Nash, Melanie, Ally

EAT UP!!!

Too Much Of A Good Thing?~

Mary Ann, a friend from school, decided

to have a Valentine's cookie exchange.

Delectible choices!

 Cookie trays for each person to take home!

MORE than enough. :-)

 Talkin and eatin...

Eatin and talkin...

No More Play Days Left~

Well, the last day to have Kent with us has arrived.

Mom's not particularly happy about it, the house

will be quieter without Kent to keep her company

during the day.  No more playing and eating out

as much, and watching movies when we feel like

it such as the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy.  It's been

a real treat having Kent be here with us for the past

two weeks, we will definitely be missing him!

 Dad and Kent contemplating and talking all

about the Super Bowl game taking place later 

TONIGHT-for us.  

They plan on staying up to watch it...

We shall see, it doesn't start until 12:20 am our time!!

 Cody and Kent getting in some last wii and guitar hero

time that will have to make do for the next two years!

GERMANY!

Cody-17- officially in 16 days!

Kent-19-EXCITED TO GO a on mission in 24 days!!!

Coreen and Jim-Just some happy parents of great kids :-)

New Presidency~

The Bonn Ward has a new Relief Society Presidency,
since last fall.
We just now got around to taking the picture.

Ingrid-1st Counselor, Nicole-President, Coreen-2nd Counselor

WHAT A MATCH!!!!!!!!~

Traveling by train and tram brought Dad, Kent,

and Alex to the Cologne/Bayern Munich game.

 Arriving at FC Cologne Football Stadium!

 Alex and Kent with their official game tickets!

 Jim and Kent with their official game tickets!

 Watching the teams warm up!

 Alex, Kent, Dad

Kent is wearing his new FC Cologne scarf!

 The EXCITEMENT!!!

Look at all the fans cheering and the flags waving!

 FC Cologne wins 3-2 in an exciting second half comeback!!!

(Cologne was down 2 to 0 at half time.)

 More congratulation handshakes!

 Fifteen minutes after the game has finished 

the fans are STILL celebrating in mass!!

 Team on field thanking it's fans after the game!

Kent and Dad's souvineer scarves!