Jeff says it wasn't a family "vacation" or a family "holiday." It was a family "trip." It was amazing and exhausting and wonderful for the four of us to visit Europe in April! Below, we've listed favorite memories and included miscellaneous photos.
LONDON
Dickens Tour, British Museum, Tower of London, Hamley's Toy Store, Riding in cabs
Such a treat to see "Wicked" with our Utah friends who just happened to be in London at the same time we were! ...Ceci and Kate
John waiting for the train to take us from London to Paris via the Chunnel
PARIS
Eiffel Tower, Easter, Kate to the Doctor who spoke no English, the Louvre, Versailles, Jeff leaving his passport at the hotel and having it delivered by taxi to the airport (where fortunately, the flight to Pisa was delayed by 2.5 hours!)
Church in Paris
CHANTILLY
PISA
Climbing to the top of the Baptistry, Campo Santo (medieval cemetery), Pizza, and of course...
FLORENCE
The ART!!, Making Florentine paper, Pitti Palace, Boboli Gardens, Electric cars, Gelato
Laundry day!
The Renaissance equivalent of the drive-through window
ROME
Sistine Chapel, Seeing mozzarella cheese made at Eataly, Catacombs, the Forum, the throngs of Catholic pilgrims in the city (nuns from all over the world, everywhere we went!) for the creation of two new saints
Church in Rome
LDS Temple construction site
LONDON
The Virgin Atlantic Lounge where we spent about 7 hours awaiting our flight home
It was an awesome trip!!
IN OTHER NEWS
SA held democratic elections a few weeks ago. The ANC again won the majority, so the embattled Jacob Zuma stays in power.
Jeff continues to work hard, travel to Angola, and build self-reliance programs at Church. He has helped build job pipelines that have employed over 200 people in the last 3 months. Yeah!!!
Michele serves as a Relief Society counselor at Church and as the parent organization leader for Kate's school. She's made great friends and is learning how to get things done in this very different culture.
We enjoyed visits from the Patches and the Nelsons in April. Thanks SO much for coming to see us in SA! Kate enjoyed having Peyton join her on a fieldtrip to the Lion Park. Kate continues to sing, dance, and smile her way through life. She is doing better than ever at school and loves the climate of Africa which allows her to be outside in all her free time.
Kate with her "big sister" Rea at the General Women's Conference
John served as a camp leader for Young Round Square students from all over the world for a week. He is on his school's debate team and often receives "best speaker" commendation. He turned 14 last week and got a new phone (if you can't What'sApp here, you are SOO last year!) and new contacts.
Here is John being embarrassed by our friends, the Kazeh-Anfos who were at Spur the same time we were Monday. (That's them looking over the booth). John is surrounded by people chanting and drumming and singing "Happy Birthday". No, Jeff isn't doing work emails; he's trying to get his phone to take a photo!
Our beloved friend Jaydene left for her mission in Cleveland Ohio/Kirtland Visitor's Center on Sunday. She asked us to come to the airport to see her off.
