European Vacation

We're back! We spent 16 days in Europe seeing the sites and visiting with our wonderful German family and friends. It was so great to see everyone! We took over 200 photos. Here are just a few. If you are interested in seeing more, click here.
In Hannover (we were there and back again a few times)
Uncle Michael and Rebecca had lots of fun together.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Being spoiled by Tante Berit at the Christmas Market.
Cute Annalie on her blessing day.
In Milan, Italy. We spend 2 days and 2 nights there. Berit came along too!

I had to add this picture. Poor Rebecca never adjusted to the time change, and being dragged around everywhere. It was hard to get smiles for the camera!
Here we finally got a smile. She loved that store window.
We spent a day in Holland where Jorg did some business. I didn't get many photos but it was beautiful.
In Bremen (Berit's City). It's so charming!
Ever heard the famous story of the Bremen Town Musicians? Well it's about animals. When you put a coin in that drain, the animal sounds come floating up.





Shopping with Kristin and Annalie! She is sooooooo cute! And such a good baby.

Jorg with the two cousins. MY...Rebecca is big!
We had an overnight layover in Paris! (and don't be jealous but we ate baguettes and drank Orangina)

This picture cracks me up and shows the way we all felt by the end of the trip!

Though it was a challenge with our cutie, we really did have a good time. We are so lucky to have had the opportunity to go! Thanks for hosting us and spoiling us, Kristin, Michael, Berit, and the cutest baby Annalie.
We miss you already!

Rebecca and Annalie

Rebecca loves her new cousin, Annalie! She says, "BabY, babY!" all day and always wants to see her. She likes to coo at her and tries to touch her and climbs up on the couch to be near her. Once she even said, "mu-babay" (my baby). So cute. Annalie is just darling and is starting to smile a lot!

This is the night we arrived. Rebecca was tired and just climbed up there.

Here is the happy family on Annalie's blessing day!

You can see she is holding Annalie's hand here.

We Like It!

Let it Begin!

Hope everyone is having as much fun as we are with the decorations and festivities.
Happy Christmas-ing!

Once Bitten Twice Shy Baby

We had so much fun!

Love One Another

My grandma's funeral was on a perfectly sunny day! The program was wonderful, touching, funny, and there was some toe-tapping music. I imagined she and grandpa were sitting there, watching it together, and just smiling. Thanks for the picture, Carm.

At one point, the grandchildren stood to sing the hymn, "Love One Another". It was written by one of grandma's dear friends, Luacine Clark Fox. Hearing all the voices in unison, I was overwhelmed with the feeling that LOVE is what grandma stood for, and would want her posterity to remember and emulate.

I like this picture because my mom's brothers and sisters are all sitting behind her (except Aunt Heather might be hidden). Rebecca is smelling the flowers. And you get the feeling that this is a pleasant occasion, as grandma would have wanted it to be.

Here is my handsome husband.

Grandma and Grandpa McKinlay are buried right next to my Nana and Papa Aldrich, Uncle Van, and sister Rebecca. The cemetery is on a hillside, overlooking Provo Valley.

Emily (sis-in-law) took more photos from the day here.

The next part of the post is unrelated, but I uploaded all pictures together and so...that's how they will stay!
Rebecca & Friends: Here are some photos from this week.
Rebecca and Abbigail are cute little friends. They light-up when the other comes in the room. They play independently, side-by-side. Rebecca is learning to share toys. I think...

Here is Rebecca's cute cousin, Natalie. They're just outside the Body Worlds exhibit (too bad I couldn't take pictures in there, it was so stinkin' cool!). They are looking at Uncle Joel. He knows how to make them smile :)

We went to the library yesterday for music and movement with Natalie & Sophie, Rachael & Kennedy, Devon, and Taycee. Rebecca was such a pill that day! She even ripped a library book! But we forgive her because...she's very little, and...she's breaking 2 teeth! Poor one. That would hurt BAD. She was back to her sweet self today. . .so glad. I thought I was going to go crazy. Here is Rebecca with Sophie.

And here is Sweet Sophie's sweet smile.
We Like It!

Our Mini-Vacation

We spent last Saturday in Brigham City with Birgit and Jim (Omi and Grandpa). We had a great time! Here are some cute pictures Birgit sent me:

Jim told her to look at the moon in this picture. That's her "excited" face. I love it:

Merry-go-round at Smith's = a big happy smile!

Thanks for the fun memories!

Silly, Part VIII

Here is Rebecca showing off one of her best dance moves - running in a circle! (and please pardon my singing along...this is one of my FAVORITE SONGS...ahem...)

Sidenote: Isn't it funny how moms give up their pop entertainment? Natasha Beddingfield turns into Silly Songs. And Rachael Ray turns into Sid the Science Kid. Gotta love it!

China Doll

Asenath "Bugsy Lu Lu" Passey McKinlay

She was also known as Sann, mom, Grandma, Tutu, DeGams...She was born in 1911. She passed away yesterday. She lived a wonderful life!
Grandma made me and all of her 38 other grandchildren feel like they were her "favorite". She made everyone feel special. And always made sure that we knew she loved us. She showed it with everything she did, and said it with words every chance she got. Even until the very end of her life. I understand my Heavenly Father's love better because I have a grandma that has loved me with a perfect love. Thanks, DeGams for "loving me first".
In this picture, grandpa is holding my angel sister, Becky (Rebecca's name sake). No doubt it was a joyous reunion for Becky and Grandpa and Grandma. We miss those we love! And I am so looking forward to seeing them again. I also look forward to Grandma's funeral: a celebration of her life! And recounting memories of this precious person with my cousins, aunts, and uncles. See you soon, McKin! xoxoxo

P.S. I can never say enough good things and thank you's to Auntie Heather and Aunt Soogie who took such good care of Grandma, every day, these past several years. You two are angels.

Techno-Savy

Jorg and I were cracking up the night we took this picture. We love how serious she looks (acted) and her cute little feet sticking out!

The bump on her poor squishy cheek is from a bench that she pulled over. She always seems to have some wound on her face...the little monkey...
I was at my computer desk and I turned around to peek at my girl. I found she had lined up some of her favorite animals on the bench and had dragged in one of Jorg's homeless keyboards so that she could have her area to type too!
(Again, her cuteness gave me an excuse to make a page.)

We like it!

Happy Day

Jorg called from work today and our conversation went like this:

J: (in an inquiring voice) What day is it today?
E: It's Monday...um...the 3rd.
J: Oh. Is this a special day?
E: Yah, because it's November and they're playing Christmas music on the radio?
J: And..whatelse?
E: OH! It's November 3RD!

We first "met" 3 years ago today. Well, it was a virtual meeting. Jorg checked out my profile on ldslinkup.com. He saw I was online at the time and sent me an instant message. Opening line of, "How YOU doin'?" We "chatted" for 3 hours that night. We met in person two days later, on the 5th. It was my last first date, followed by my last first kiss (well, like 2 weeks later), followed by many more last firsts, and first lasts.

Tonight we will read through our first chat (printed in our binder of love letters), and go out for a late dinner.
Even though "You've Got Mail" has always been one of my favorite movies, I was shocked when I realized I was going to marry a boy I met on the internet. That's not a very romantic love story!
Or, is it... ;)

Halloweeeeen

These took me forever. It's 1:18 A.M. And I feel like I'm coming down with a cold. What am I thinking? I'm addicted to scrapbooking. Again. And she's just...so cUtE! Must. go. to bed. xoxoxo

Fun at the Farm, Part II

The weather was so gorgeous on Saturday, we wanted to take our gal out to have some fun. So we ended up at the Thanksgiving Point Farm Country again. It was a hit!
We can't get her to smile when we're doing "posed' photos (see above), because she resents the fact that we just pulled her away from something really cool or fun, just to look at a little box. She is too busy for that nonsense! I always show her the pictures after, thinking maybe she will pick up the concept that the box is actually taking her picture, and maybe she should smile. But, no luck yet. In the meantime, we get to see her cute smile in those candid shots.She made friends with a polygamist boy! He was darling. There was a whole group of them there. Here, she stopped smiling again because the boy's parents were trying to get them to look for a picture.
You can see part of the family in the background.
I talked with the little boy's parents. And I wanted to ask them, "Don't you LIVE on a farm?" But all I managed was, "He's cute. How old is he?"

P.S. Thanks for the Halloween shirt, "Auntie V.I.V."!

Happy 18 Months

I can't believe she's 18 months old! She'll start nursery tomorrow at church. It will be her third time there, but her first time without mom or dad. She'll do great (we think). She's so sweet sitting on those little chairs, singing songs, and eating animal cookies with the other kids.

Rebecca really is girlie. Today at Walmart, we let her walk around a little, and she headed straight for anything that had the Disney Princesses printed on it. And she'd say "Rella", for Cinderella. Obviously, I dress her in pink a lot. I also introduced her to Cinderella. I like that my girl is prissy, like me :) But I'm glad she has the athletic side too (unlike me). Such a cutie.
I've started referring to her as Becca, at times. It's easier for HER to say when she talks about herself. She says it so cute too.
One of Rebecca's little friends (Abbigail) fed herself with a spoon in front of Rebecca. Now Rebecca wants to use the spoon too. As in, she will not let us spoon-feed her anymore. And when she uses the spoon, the food ends up anywhere but her mouth. Therefore, Jorg and I will be modeling spoon strategy for the next few weeks. And she will be eating finger food. She is a determined little gal.
She loves to crawl into bed with us in the mornings. She loves the 'tent' game. And she cuddles with us, giving lots of kisses. What could be better?Happy 18th months, Rebecca! Thanks for being so sweet.