tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16474902863902174632024-02-21T03:50:55.279+01:00Life as a Military Wife and Special Needs Mama Air Force Wife, VEPTR & Autism Mom
Brittneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04428213046094726010noreply@blogger.comBlogger123125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1647490286390217463.post-20618047614572667442018-12-09T13:23:00.001+01:002018-12-10T16:20:28.588+01:00 “I See You” <div>A friend sent this to me and it touches me my heart. There are so many things that I feel that sometimes I don’t know I do, until I read a blog of a special needs parent. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve felt isolated for some reason or another, and as it is hard, I was okay with that. I can’t take the joys away from parents whose kids are meeting milestones or performing in school plays just because my child cannot. To be able to go to the park and sit on a bench and chat with other moms while our kids played? It simply doesn’t happen. I cannot take my eyes off Ethan for a second, as he may run. With his titanium ribs, I’m also very cautious so he doesn’t hurt himself. I only wish more people would understand and be sensitive to our situation, as the person was who wrote this:</div><div><br></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“Dear Special Needs Mom,</span></div><div><p style="margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I want you to know that I see you.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I see you running your child to therapy when your friends are running their kids to Little League.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I see you slipping out the of conversation when your friends are all chiming in about milestones and test grades.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I see you juggling appointments and meetings, always making sure you do the best for your child.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I see you sitting at your computer for hours researching what your child needs.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I see you cringe when people whine about the petty things that pale in comparison to your day.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I see you spread thin, but still going the extra mile for your family, and managing to do it with a smile.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I see you digging for depths of strength you never dreamed you had.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I see you showing appreciation to the teachers, therapists and medical professionals who serve your child with you.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I see you reluctantly rising early in the morning to do it all again after another chaotic night.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I see you when you’re hanging on to the end of your rope for dear life.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I know you feel invisible, like nobody notices any of it. But I want you to know that I notice you. I see you in the trenches, relentlessly pushing onward. I see you keep choosing to do everything in your power to give your child the best possible care at home, in school, at therapy, and the doctor. What you’re doing matters. It’s worth it. On those days when you wonder if you can do it another minute, I want you to know that I see you. I want you to know that you’re beautiful. I want you to know that it’s worth it. I want you to know that you aren’t alone. I want you to know that love is what matters most, and you have that nailed.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">And on those days when you have breakthroughs, those times when the hard work, pays off and success is yours to cherish, I see you then too, and I am proud of you.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Whichever day today is, you’re worthy, you’re good, and I see you.”</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Taken from: </span><a href="https://www.lovewhatmatters.com/i-know-you-feel-invisible-i-see-you-running-your-child-to-therapy-when-friends-take-their-kids-to-little-league-i-see-you-cringe-when-people-whine-about-petty-things-that-pale-in-comparison/">https://www.lovewhatmatters.com/i-know-you-feel-invisible-i-see-you-running-your-child-to-therapy-when-friends-take-their-kids-to-little-league-i-see-you-cringe-when-people-whine-about-petty-things-that-pale-in-comparison/</a></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">❤️❤️❤️</p></div>Brittneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04428213046094726010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1647490286390217463.post-13028695494329076302018-12-08T16:29:00.000+01:002018-12-08T16:30:20.003+01:00 Current Happenings <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Northern VA has been COLD! 22 degrees this morning, we’ve loved having our fireplace going. </span><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Ethan has been doing well in school, which is a relief. The beginning of the year was rough. It was the same class he has been in, but his classmates were new. Ethan’s day pretty much depends on the day of others. If others are crying and upset, he will be too. He still has a hard time when other kiddos cry, but by the end of last year, he was doing better. The new kids must have triggered this reaction again. He was so anxious and always on high alert, even when he wasn’t crying, which was causing him problems with concentrating. Our aba provider went to observe one day and recommended that I pull him out of school because the anxieties she observed were pretty bad. This was hard. I honestly never thought he’d even be able to go to school because of his fears with kids, but the school was so great helping us work up his time there. He will go to kindergarten next year and I was so worried that we’d have to start all over again if we pulled him out. Instead, I wanted the school to help. They are legally obligated to meet the needs of your child and if they cannot, then they can pay for a private school or other place that could meet his needs. Some time passed and the other kids in his class started doing better, so he did as well. Now if someone gets upset, it’s not as startling to him and most times he won’t cry. They did get a new student in last week who is now adjusting, so Ethan’s been nervous and upset again at times, but I think he’s getting there. We also put in his iep that of a child is crying and upsetting Ethan for more than 5 minutes, they need to remove Ethan from the environment. There is a girl in his class that has meltdowns that last a while. It terrified him and you can bet he brought this behavior home and tried it on us. We ignored the behavior and luckily it was short lived. He’s such a visual learner so it only makes sense he would try. His first round of school pictures was heartbreaking. He was crying and red and blotchy. We just got his retakes and they were much better! </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><img id="id_3ca8_cc25_2878_9984" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FmY8G1CR0wM/XAvikCexlJI/AAAAAAAAHik/QsgfxL7sNCknwdLTAfoPGMdCSFrOtLOTQCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"></span><br><br>Ethan goes to school Mon-Thurs, times vary. Mon and Wednesday he goes 9-1230, then we have ABA therapy <a dir="ltr" href="tel:1245-245" x-apple-data-detectors="true" x-apple-data-detectors-type="telephone" x-apple-data-detectors-result="0">1245-24</a>5. Tuesday’s and Thursday’s he goes 9-2, on Tuesday’s we head to OT/speech after from 230-330. Then on Fridays we have OT/speech <a dir="ltr" href="tel:0830-0940" x-apple-data-detectors="true" x-apple-data-detectors-type="telephone" x-apple-data-detectors-result="2">0830-09</a>30, then aba therapy <a dir="ltr" href="tel:0945-1145" x-apple-data-detectors="true" x-apple-data-detectors-type="telephone" x-apple-data-detectors-result="3">0945-1145</a>. Sometimes we pick up extra sessions on Thursday afternoons, but most times, we keep that open. He was going to OT/speech on Friday mornings before we had school, we just wanted to keep our therapists that we have on that day, so I never rearranged that time and we just keep him out of school of fridays. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Here are some recent pics of him in OT/Speech. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><img id="id_472c_4880_df0_1874" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YsdN-ROnyHI/XAvikDOD2TI/AAAAAAAAHio/FFXvdO3MuMMkmQsJPTqJtaCzLQEOC2L7gCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_6796_9e22_cdfe_e1f7" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jrDDmKodAsI/XAvilEi2tUI/AAAAAAAAHi0/zxn9Y9r9oXMlvSRfOHzMQ1PECdKWTKMRwCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_727d_ef29_79d_93cb" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6kRqc4RWc2k/XAvikQ0HuKI/AAAAAAAAHis/bhWwQVrAsxcFvgI5TGYxyve9FxZ4WNYyACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">His therapists here are all wonderful. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We will be heading to Florida soon for our yearly visit. That’s always a great break for us. We love the warm weather and Ethan loves the water. He tends to come back refreshed and makes a lot of gains in therapy, so we love that! </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season! </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><img id="id_f830_75b8_d63d_7fe5" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RsuWfYztoVc/XAvilBjVTHI/AAAAAAAAHiw/5krOd4qJtWYxD9inZxIO7wR2dDGyCubwACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_98bb_e0d_fd9f_3161" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4JryesGWFOE/XAvilmzCKDI/AAAAAAAAHi4/7DBXJmfFLTMPzk1i2IJO01jWL4kd_tBMwCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div> Brittneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04428213046094726010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1647490286390217463.post-9064405886918017262018-12-04T01:28:00.001+01:002018-12-04T01:43:19.828+01:00Paris, Venice & Rome!<p dir="auto">I can’t believe I never blogged about Paris! So, this will mainly be a photo blog.</p><p dir="ltr">A few months before we were to leave Italy, my friend Heather and her husband, Todd, came to visit for their Anniversary. Before they came, we had probably been to Venice 25 times, Rome 6 times but hadn’t yet been to Paris. This was one thing we waited on them for since we knew that was one place they wanted to visit.</p><p dir="ltr">It was February and freezing, but man we had a good time! It’s truly like a fairytale. I’ve loved looking back over our travels and with our move back to the states, this post just never happened.</p><p dir="ltr">A tiny elevator that we barelt fit in at our hotel.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIDmVwBe5sOFXmNb5VWlJLlbjglsCiSZ12aGepSEfqVjl0Jvred5TBIH0BESJZgq-KLMb8PqH18_vAMTl7-6x3_tGERmroOcedjP2IFLytv3299xsVHJuV48ro6DaR-D8JnNmiJd2LzHk/s9999/paris47.jpg" width="640" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><p dir="ltr"><br>View from the top of the Eiffel Tower</p><p><br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWDphovglnF2u6Qf1CGJfkA8RyukTdkPBvvx-VvEVK8lBXN1cDjHpk6oINeJmnVEgsX549o4LZYEe-FnDKdCwBm_c65eBXpM56wlXnv4sHUNCgfvHpf1ep1VCombEYd5W20hQd1NZ0ppI/s9999/paris3.jpg" width="960" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-vK2kvbFc5aJT9apHfd9zo6I1xoZ5Sxpa9ybcgkJz_UMD5iP_hv3jPrryyhZQMXTQUYTGAISt0sgzvhF2Zk2caLxA5s8PhomYTaPurc0NRpKQp0p6JQzdXUMzrwqtcXr3sY4EXElH8Rc/s9999/paris5.jpg" width="636" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0uU_UpOp2yRitkIpx5ISTKqb2iMo792yF2fyKoLECRSnEXeEveEZJ8DNrQZADWIcVT5p8523vxCnxwzBomS6Ypgk2g9l47p2AC9reI6glT9dyOJ4HsSTZ5zmo7nFXY-czLR1lqoUxxxE/s9999/paris50.jpg" width="479" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><p dir="ltr"><br>Lunch at Le Zinc</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAV4AlrTWMnx-iqpi0HTYZmoVYMmBa5UN7Lgy2BXYBgWAmNSgxHbdOoUors80QNYW11TCES3PHLEUztIOVO176XCTrYeJ66Ytp_lGKOm1MsVS8aFDkjmhQv69PqPWF58W1waTUPgmXJfA/s9999/paris.jpg" width="960" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4lRRcTlpt-GLgR-SSRlAk8fGf38S5-1DeUV40lLyjITCzzkMsJUGfVu67ouPPDQOv_9SHrwoTQggHHyVP4czpz53ACzeeS9MpjDDJfwSjh4IThmeGVumJ1etFGQ7SH84fG7d0uigYKbw/s9999/paris2.jpg" width="960" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><p dir="ltr"><br>Trying Escargot…..When in France, right?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgumkpEjV_lpH2ju9leGYKhgnZrHOBV8plAOby_tijSkdvrlBWcpeqFrw1f9FVjk3GVgLzTyr5R6BQ5PfaX-tZyvh_j540F6_1CFP7jUZjYdpydplXTu6t7-_2eYJvCxUsb8dxSmsD-kfw/s9999/Paris31.jpg" width="960" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIHohfIEd_i2it8VG-xGzr9Nk6tqWGAokEjJcg3yib3rZu9aIp1Q5bVZZx_H6eMv9hTmxpTW49JoNkDG9x5-SHoPt1CHAtz4-8KMxBeU9zfisFkY5B9eTGJy2FDsO42wCNx_nN0sKFkUI/s9999/paris32.jpg" width="960" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><p dir="ltr"><br>Arc De Triomphe</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX6ARkf_Np5zrpDZtjh3B-Yw3IvNR1xm0OLrf3u2mjkDmE5UaQHCCXkzWIUrFcxkOI73aHbfNrme-1ITT-uh_P2iIIzkaPWPcEYBvX9iDYWMn95Xo1GTBHX0H3b1nVSG2fQDYAhXOQzNY/s9999/paris6.jpg" width="636" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><p><br></p><p dir="ltr">First night in Paris</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilRlBmc4FDUuTBxs1rjffTAgQONlzrtTitA1UnCQOHopz4MDPhjJFvhYjIVLK0WU70OgTsnnUZyLrQZ-6dkDUYbsR86gFWzEeEAa_KeZo6DC-vPO3YA3GMJEdxbz-loDFELi0wrFIVeC8/s9999/paris7.jpg" width="636" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieGZZmN7_RNQeIn6vt-tpO-SStE3ZQzPII-6VTsJ4BU_Dx935K0BgdltZzz3-Zs8kqgjaewvoAZq39kOYA-pptiiG8zIaQIkbgFNsGdv_rmJT9bDU6bxGBR2syZnLIXt_22ZBdDKSTOSk/s9999/paris8.jpg" width="636" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM2GKyB_jtbBEdUy1R_iX0WshKUOsjJ98Q2FoFIT9f3GkOxfbBq2DR0HtYNQe5vNQASN-9pyzzu9gK527SbAiU1vPyBpZw5T3hE28kRv_ylTjl3c5DB-IKQdoRBQz6YroSoKN2MY3FoKs/s9999/paris9.jpg" width="636" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><p dir="ltr"><br>The Louvre</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg773DlXb3-AXhfdPUgaFZb0rkBD2P1EEAGr3ILcCh1j-4uzAx2mgxdiXU4dj4-exLr7SdUd-uAeF-ahbIhW4wyLL6pfAiIviD76B8-me1sk5124xfbbCR5ND3BGO2jjpzPHmFhuzWXcPo/s9999/paris10.jpg" width="636" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWQGbI6TrJnoltNHO27opaTh6XB0j1rcnAKuCKRfDcMiH6xXSca5a2q0wP3yb7IEwlJIjUrTAmK04vVUH6HoCW-9hJO95JuXMOkjMfjWPEO6pIQHZNbIYTdxtUpv_frivbJ1lc7t-dwzQ/s9999/paris11.jpg" width="636" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzXIdehKKqAXEeiK7wmALyy1bz1D3CXlzF9jveqNDjWpaIyjkQIQvuCwUHm4zXySXF9JbffSHTJt3_wz4bba5BFyvLKi2EmtsZ1ywM8kJ3uQVZMlvqxFflOD44dc9jhFROoVov02Hcv04/s9999/paris12.jpg" width="960" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><p dir="ltr"><br>Notre Dame</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTIlYMTK8ALG3LCaA04w5xXiv1ISyOVWN9UHCuTeXM6G9-EZ5MLmyQ0SgiDH7cvWtwf-eiPUUH8pIU3zSs-0IiMbqUF6UN8xaYvTzN8p9anFBWj0QOaTWwZui5jZ0erQ1lG7Rp3WzwgHs/s9999/paris13.jpg" width="636" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjshGnDH-9vpHxXPnTnyv_jNwhraNxgU3DGQA0W3t716c5Ciq26Y663kvKJV7okWVHzTref8TzKxBWaT__tAgzYz6xuw07KlZrZB2TgciAeZZDu_FfkR0Td4GEZVq9zatyGkmCPtx6k4u8/s9999/paris15.jpg" width="636" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><p dir="ltr"><br>Second night in Paris, it was snowing.</p><p><br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw8gxKo4llOYynow6-d4Gey9sawML2DpeXl0WyVHG5BkNQ4wNygp5PkZNDQ6SigC7KSMnBmvkJTFq5kND_8ajk3CIAn_2kOXeMQ6PGiL7qb0ixFl8X6rKTcx6sXVqS5_bHla6ZWwMVoK0/s9999/paris19.jpg" width="960" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY4V6V-2x2HMj2XCK-R4RVw20HXOPGSTsliawymwVMLYmVOty7MttWdkEGNiB9o3NVlBpJZgS6xfKVqUszWvIr8j6uMxL6YJsOUsxneQB4pFTP4zt7L9mSQLqR6SP6qopEMclpqgV1QiU/s9999/paris20.jpg" width="636" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDLWGVJSZx4LfrN3yCAtrUrcA3jBzkIqLMdmf0ogV5Dmy81SmS7YOzSggfEStB2t_iCiDR-pYmrNlY1gvIWK8YJQoeuehCd6wRoqFZjomZ_g35LgIbDUGWraZZu9AojK5bKybWZPvlkw8/s9999/paris21.jpg" width="960" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVZp8p4CCmrBLzyU14uNfGCCYA-hFJdPCMpOryzBZ999JnVi31R9GzW7zU8NtcGyng5IRO2TxjIEWJ2gsMnNQqkj5rbdArdIJfVsY5N5QFsmJe-L0D-gBcwNomLghAzW8Dp5tnG0wUFxs/s9999/paris22.jpg" width="636" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><p><br></p><p dir="ltr">Palace of Versailles</p><p><br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCjABK_d0XdoKOM3jTY9TkqlECmHuA73iWjRvCad9QUR8F4ZlxHrx98AvQLTVmRkCPeji9l-swxph1nXqHWJvK88Gy7tYua9tIJYegybOXKZ9iT2ehz8TM_2gy0B5sOBNuFL5HqjscHy4/s9999/paris23.jpg" width="960" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpL7EQVkTxqAkty6O5bbdDStVJHS9xCoeXqYF1BegdbpjyjL10TXhFW3wgVT4Dlm5jfvPdZ2vLkahyTIQQj4o24mfrjdPCriEwP4Bn37cGQppfEQ34ka8aTW6E9d-KQN2AN4s0vOokBhM/s9999/paris24.jpg" width="960" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCnxx0VZRwdZ4aJpT2Q8jHDmOlFuoUuyBbgMDjLVhTDEBqXdTqy7xkARcjtkYqSc7VLW7Ts8ARd12YJr2XV3ZDAdAIjoTKfFnsOkU1G0yoCc_pc4tP_VoNKG7BlWRYQ3HPFz6QxUfrgJo/s9999/Paris25.jpg" width="636" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVifygdzPnRNOUILCh2xPFrK-QlPMzMK_akJ5g1VXZpDGRpfvOkEIyHl2hEgXndPSTHzyyQT6zTmE1Dyn50R9bYERDl1YfmHkB5s6BGAhh8DJt2Nrnqk8NGrdWfFONsQvi3x6yUPP_1Aw/s9999/Paris26.jpg" width="960" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHLmZyfBB4bhNYi8PLtNL5qnA_Wx307KKG2rqhui_Vva7yF9L0wQ391RjsvrEh6Ntp7Xv3QcBbgur65R9hkt6UMqubKtr5FvaJgm9YWj7bFICeIZk5Ps8XxRMvETHsdIdgqLs370mEMM8/s9999/Paris27.jpg" width="636" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMLkS7YbP6GIXpMj7WPyrhR_gYwmBPjH0dbzCnjjJV8XxM1cji73STzIoRROwqkMmFibzYQfGbeAv8i2DrzG2AQy3_Zk73zisAmZh4eexms9-Rr4RePNmkWT7dNUynx2ZvQkBHdLbirXw/s9999/Paris29.jpg" width="636" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizYfadMqXayUgxS4nIVfN_4RlP4mwkISOvHa9CfdWaJAAy0s3BuL29qxT2n0RUrHifV0FhIRQsSDKRaPTBI6aaaaZFEsY5QdqNYyzTvQP5r4u3ss5owZbUd14foFcvMhO1kVZuW5lGwQw/s9999/paris30.jpg" width="960" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><p><br></p><p dir="ltr">In the last photo above, Heather and I mimicking the asian tourists….they love their peace signs.</p><p dir="ltr">Finally a sunny day!!!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghufdcgroxriR3lvHXmz_RatU-hR90R1KdTRjU94H-BxxISbuXfpZGCHDf1Nj3sHTUJ30LtDZhPdHCUijmoKpOB_fDRpojYh2apNHYAo3BaZ15h0RiEDcNPmvr8MlcT4F_NdyWoFdowyQ/s9999/Paris33.jpg" width="636" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWRlDmR0Spq8CIVMuglHKNZDsuN977TiT2kUTjDxXfZ3f-NR94OlSkEj0CGhzmHgzoiPrV89zLHCUU-YQoo3ww6qMRG5dxf4vhOBm0P97IoLsLIX4jTJ6BDDkPovsDY3no84G2lzKAPyI/s9999/Paris34.jpg" width="636" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdvLvE1rmL0We_Jub9ZbPrsKMTLV99kevLC5TuDUw8bTEWMm808a6Odggdj5hy_AyuY4sEDXFNNQ8BZmjWdBswS4BxhIg6wtc3eJGkpbfS93fIPGcupTm61g1B0AOqLWl9vb8ti9pfI1w/s9999/Paris36.jpg" width="960" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQE2I0_COQbo4LPsjVGuZ6zIi4nDBeCX6Ah1H1UxBDzr7ELPWAjNIVOoEPbU5-FNg8_BGEqX3HYQsWgXYEpSITY01R2tH2oCgYI6fw05nPg839lXLwzBakV0xLTidaCW21W-7JCm7rdU4/s9999/Paris37.jpg" width="960" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdZ2wVh21EQ03KOpaPynxCxy-VluYoGcnJbdbNJOejBIUlxidoa33Uj-BpeX0h0f8y45a_hCQEHDQup4r-XXpbbnTGuomdv66_Z3LD3vmqV0t3AfWuAz3y4TxbnNIX_tbq0Xsd3eyRXSY/s9999/Paris38.jpg" width="960" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><p><br></p><p dir="ltr"><br>And our last night in Paris…. we loved watching the Eiffel tower light up!</p><p><br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVst5axu3YaN6JdE58IRjFI3djOGKH1eq_Es2B8gZcfop-F66PVOTNZiiPPGXJpIwIdybwb2-6mBQvudVOsfDH04KPR-9YX1MnfDcS4tV6zp4On7gEgl5AlHTE0LgkSg0tUFOrPIq5a_Q/s9999/paris39.jpg" width="636" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq1Q57DRs6-68ba2jwvjCNBYUwrF81eF1umS9BTSx_v0YSr6pF4Q307vEK-QiFNJ1u7GIQEZPybrHhB3FUX71dDtBLfwHMT1Vug300Ra6zMyMJbKXqn3NLfAqvY4A8371iVpjPs6JcNVc/s9999/Paris40.jpg" width="636" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBmnpnDhQXLsrcgxjRfOiC3NU3eF14Izf_E1xPfO7OeHwgqUjmgjRncYc9MMVTM3DsWfvH_KjxngRhyg5wWTARPda_vnHAZEkGuziv0GfJXPo0UVb0tynbuf2tnDjND2SpLjY5xMKrbGk/s9999/paris41.jpg" width="636" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Rqa7Q5gtxSpMURzNAGiOB6gAWekYOIw0EVfKHz6oDvpvFkx3N4BX6ZrW1tZzWU3aF6cyY8V7FRIn3gwijzcHMs4Pcq7CoYwzBXMj7Uz5ToEGujlOognXBng-T7X30Ris0NRV3ffi91c/s9999/paris42.jpg" width="960" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT6mPPJdaOKX9KEpyDNJ9i-bo39TfguCf9LLMoj5k4leBfvobiF8hKhvMFD5oBvxViVA_FyzIsMshrFwhQ2EgA7C9OlZuapt7flOVlG-e_uHHoVZab-KNlHLu7Ju3Y3J8k2JF-rqEOxqI/s9999/Paris43.jpg" width="636" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><p dir="ltr"><br>We had a wonderful time, even though it was cold, it was empty! We essentially had Paris to ourselves :)</p><p dir="ltr">We also went to Venice. Here are some pics from the day trip. Out of the 25+ times we’ve been to Venice, this was BY FAR the most beautiful we ever saw it. So amazing.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtRb2mlxzhXbMuaQdADYXdv6Wu2F31JALJmcyLXKodtRpnkZ6zDn6S9DNQPgkxHtNPUKVHokur8FcY3yvixXAxgbwQjWKXSO8Mdus_qlyl9PcykVvpN41SPi4yIm3ydm9n3H31Na7Z_gc/s9999/venice1.jpg" width="636" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><p><br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBtHLFy0_aMl8YrDyNIN5Jb__GWdZUmvQFbU5dxASBX98BFnQLdvYyMVi09_jiZXOr63eE5u2ItzagwZJi4YTd9cwDqUqAjQhSsJ2r46nLNvxHPlCQXX2B2VvTnxNju5nu_wdrBU0UzIE/s9999/venice2.jpg" width="636" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn97HdABnzwaT4nGRPMcP6G41bxxbylu62Z-2dU-DjguMfPy7_E9Xluav3YA4z1krdIcZvpObojRDHCOx8W4qOb1fFrH62D27DgWfWA9Np5KKx8_iEHvouZdf4a9IcnZ0VkFQtF_w9ZlM/s9999/venice3.jpg" width="960" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEbNlw6VqUev_UoMiOvr23XLHD86XwX-2d1QH2dMmnKANlajeV-6VUbMV6pz0kXDcT90pjNL47rqHUyuAdwQD5dyhDkb1EjdyjWti9OCQNj9UH783NF2Q-xoEGoZI9hP2kcoPJb30Fp1I/s9999/venice4.jpg" width="960" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtaRwHPcHCNjyoFJrguLrDT5ygaxZe7LqGgSyIf2gCs1vleJ7QjSsonDkPwycIi8KRzOHUzXC3-NqaK5NcQ6-rEvuNte-2zjyKwKlhOUT_9iMVOWtpVFopaaxKO3xSJ9BVl15cZbYXgcQ/s9999/venice5.jpg" width="960" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPaQ2c3ClIezS-YcSO0mwHYBi32e0AvpaoMJPWYZlOyAoy_lqj_bGpEoJl9_aOG8LMS9P7KenL_3P_qV1B1aaaYPq_rx08-GZAbmLg_wZYwpl0szPzK2ywi1Th4C8YahmlN9xaWcIY9Zc/s9999/venice6.jpg" width="636" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkhw5M07_yTjg5q95qSZTlTKbSBvpq2ZRdByJzUVMJet_tKOhsWeC6jrzQBbro-v_kEf0NWPI2tC8iPOx3fuCv6vANYuNP5aUazHdKMcuQSWiy8peh8B5Muu_OWCwMbqmfN7KHH4QMQs4/s9999/Venice7.jpg" width="636" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO162dkR1FzBd2ELRa1-5o9zEaCueeuKvUFz0vFqEF5BMCjUV2ZiWGvkfCzISXtzwxEWfO_YlO-ANXDeJyMlQMx40ezjEikvOTcoCARa9_Bj0w4Opub129J5PDk13ytXUjNCnaHt3b-pM/s9999/Venice8.jpg" width="636" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV1P-E9xy4IF7Kjd2awHt4Y-OMZjXHMvKzxUi-j5ygb-Lcnf9iUG5ZTfW5LhrxXnpJUvWc4IYPFchYxt3d5jOB80h4xbXTsq3JLVLjUr37mO7nzXRGYkv5TGTPUrrQDVmApiRhyphenhyphentZ06l8/s9999/venice9.jpg" width="960" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><p><br></p><p dir="ltr">We can’t forget about Rome!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX2ANs15EPEWobWknMrqeDfQCHfqUlqX0By3sN5P0BkDBMmivJf5JaXmgK9Us66DWgc1esw6l4SbFXH6AeZC2Xfw60RGzYuhUURr6US1GuBWK9sfBnB1vExwOHxDzbDxWQlSfExxO-TMA/s9999/Rome1.jpg" width="960" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><p><br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_0esYAWGrv9pIn5eirbXki0SQK54fWtC-Fn_h727XKjDPKAvBBOuIYfytmgpp2EpGdn6XORg-SlGi0uNoOke_jUNaJmjRAAMT2ONyDI8k_Sq5V4NSvT1KS1jO7-Nc57F4S_hpNsZL1E/s9999/rome2.jpg" width="960" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtAVLGsRZGRuZy_pX6oy4-qqf7EfWsG6nFvhDkhLbizjspKkRza9dZDEqFzcYEXf4-9bD7jCvhk8gst5NpJVnY5S-ZrGvuZrqh523KCntG3qwdH6jDV_Plcb8VBUh9FsIMUqEIxaxyeF8/s9999/Rome3.jpg" width="960" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQoonnDELtq3Yo-CT_QdkoUxv4zcYFIaxKzLWN4TfWA4R0Zy1f0M6Gjj94dFNxg4gNxV3OQNnCCHxxwuk4UyTPAXPOqGIwx9JUDmK6lhUNKdZQ9eXG5RMtKfIZAx7RCxuW6tlGTSvo9Mk/s9999/Rome5.jpg" width="960" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJX-X3eoq895I53jECHOp63-wb8xdPh_tlsUm-YLQtl7KoUnznI6DE1w2WQIqPhSCcYZAfw3or7l2KxsfeHLU-LfYU5VBYkqTP0tWGQwiO7DaEvTSalMWcCpWR_RXHRqXvMyqsEQzEsi4/s9999/Rome7.jpg" width="960" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLuFif9w46Bswj3spbHnzzSpwgPDiPHXW9-07jApncOzp28tdgQS0fWb4lFEWLglC7VXNicvPE5yZOQeEPZbsox7_GIiDFlJnRxdW4p2VtWdOCd_4-X6VJzO9HzZyc8fduXZ1r2P-XV_4/s9999/Rome8.jpg" width="960" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVAC5Eb4_IrrPAYiE6pREa371dr-iK9fiTX6sUcLbWduwl0IdZkMO0tTUUK5vb9MG4h-n4dKN8B1lbL_b8JSGYnBDF-ZSolfrihjEb68cpeV5ZvOnrmb7_hmEpkBK-njEz78xGpgm0ZhE/s9999/rome9.jpg" width="960" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtVaOF8y-pOjt5-kJVj6EUvMichHeGGb2gAhhiaszYg8bCSA6rSEngJHS2Pm40gd617UH_p6tcN0ncDLy4hOVfvXl26mKGTo-C4dEKT7gBJsNf6JucAPtDc9QH4OkN8JiKh_4RTsa0Frk/s9999/Rome10.jpg" width="960" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH8kwb5lw4IfEfsmD_XqLNoDW9o92BeY1QPm9KaymwHAqAQla2p1qtO90B3yI6ZGBhd5rUt3WUMKwNN39qyNiTJ2HFYF5EuTJRBxk3hmqH3ohwG2G3E5U9srOP7fj29MGZPYoV3XPh0-4/s9999/Rome11.jpg" width="636" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKD4rb89yycf1OSbjtIbHejlh1CC9Znq8qs32KB3g3nXMKBvHLoDx5XgEbWPwJlFOvZ-Nhw916MZSJ2SjC5uxwfyA_LuaJU8o6pXJP3p2Rd5SxVa9mknnD8d1OJZ_3KumeFAXuSN9Hcms/s9999/Rome12.jpg" width="636" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFtEyVAmuPn4uAEFLMzqXVY5ypXhvnSjIechSuzfTQAq27CRd8W2xgxn0DMbZ8gziBIJTTEtcS7T5mb0lP09dO5qt8Ul2uKDcUm3qP20awkcJBdBhOKAjn4155PO623YSpvZLRdHkHZRQ/s9999/rome13.jpg" width="636" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8-fIfQolv5zSONDOsi1yjyCGbKGO4F2z5kcqdE_2vE_JdrDTdPCo5uvQwRRPbYiMFJu8B5bnTnQo4g9YZTs5Oe_Meol6eNPY-5HS7azH7yUt54atxulMIxArFzed3OeNNQW0ZtNfHUJs/s9999/Rome14.jpg" width="636" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIVW8mWpASQx2ezQt-C-uHgI2zdeLFVjUUS6YpY4sKbUJETCHT2-wntxoForc4DIH6JkNvQrkFlxhc54pk-uhT_Yf7KQazFqQvBAip8Ayhp9t44gfudItjGkAGe8wIFW_m6-BPA3MGzRY/s9999/rome15.jpg" width="960" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQvLfkMI58I0CYTppmfpjXqzdqGjaTn23i39uxIBv1Llr7FE7mwXFIBHR4C92FkfgPdscfUFB6rr2XItVcZ8jgeoFMiCmeESmkX4wsGe4ZUCzWL3PBdcg5hfz3pPdD1N2HymJYmaqEAvg/s9999/rome16.jpg" width="960" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><p><br></p><p dir="ltr">We visted a few other places while they visited, but I will leave it at that. We have a wonderful time with them, our house was literally packed up days after they left and we left Italy on April 4th, 2013….worst b-day present ever. I was excited to be getting back in the same country as our family and to start a family. We had a lot to look forward to, that’s for sure.</p>Brittneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04428213046094726010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1647490286390217463.post-12657915373633412182018-11-29T18:43:00.000+01:002018-12-01T02:25:33.402+01:00Remembering my grandma Rinner Yesterday marked 6 years since my grandma Rinner passed away. It weighs heavily on my heart each year, I wish she were here to ask advice. I wish she would have been here when I had Ethan and I wish she could have been able to meet him and hold him. When Ethan was born, there were a lot of unknowns. It was the happiest and one of the scariest/saddest moments in my life. I had much of the happiness that most experience when having a child, replaced with fear...fear of the unknown. It was hard for my family, they didn’t know what to say but they tried and I love them for that. I think often of the advice I would have gotten from my grandma. And of course today, if I could go back, I would tell myself not to worry as much as I did, kind of hard when doctors were stumped and preparing us for the worst. <div><br></div><div>I wanted to write a post about her, a place for old photos and just something to be able to look back on it future. Spending the summers in Ohio were some of the best of my life. When I think of childhood, that’s what I remember, our summers in Ohio. We spent every day with her, our dad would go to work and me and my sister would ride our bikes across town to go to her house. We’d go back to my dads for dinner when he got off work to eat, then ride back and spend the evening there until just before dark when we rode back home. Some of my fondest memories with her were sitting on her front porch with her on the swing and my head rested on her arm. She would be doing crossword puzzles and I’d just want to swing with her. We could play cards, go to the lake and get root beer floats on the way home, go to the reservoir and fly kites..just such wonderful memories. She often sent us to the store 2-3 times a day to pick up something she needed and had a bell on her porch that she rang when she needed up for something. I have to admit, it was a little annoying at the time hearing that dang bell go off when we were out playing with our friends, but looking back, it’s something that I giggle about when I think of it. </div><div><br></div><div>Some photos of my grandma and grandpa. In the first photo, they are the couple on the right. They were married in a double wedding. </div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_f917_7fc8_e91b_3f64" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TzR5Frdyjos/XAAkvBJqp9I/AAAAAAAAHbA/GKrGt7rsRckeb1s9_zcW8ckbQt4DVDeEwCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_824f_2dbf_2d5b_89fd" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aBGrqok-0H8/XAAkvWE7XDI/AAAAAAAAHbI/MFXVRzmwS8MbZwnic2MTLZ0TK4jM_iBvwCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br>Some photos growing up. First photo is my grandma holding me. Second is me, my cousin and my sister playing in the leaves with my grandma behind us..in her curlers. She was so sweet. </div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_1bd1_771d_16fb_deb4" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RcjRVKGhAQc/XAAkvVx-VkI/AAAAAAAAHbM/3HjWroqK7r4p2SJt-ZHUzp8sW24s0HboACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_9a84_eea2_4e5c_c2f9" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vtbls7oRZAM/XAAkvVIZdGI/AAAAAAAAHbE/RoO6mqOVhKsB4K43FEEWlbc0_gEdgokiQCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><br>I believe the photos below were taken the last summer I spent on Ohio. I want to say I was around 17 or 18 in these photos. First photo is with my grandma and second is with my grandpa, who also passed a few years after my grandma :( The photo of him makes me smile, he was always a grumpy guy but we loved him dearly. <br><br><img id="id_a1f3_46bb_b887_50e7" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-XBhWJprkJpU/XAAkwYq3VrI/AAAAAAAAHbU/iRO2QWU7zd8Vj9E8klNa6btgklug-Pp1gCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_bec2_99ec_186b_45d8" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xkHRhANMrFM/XAAkweQBNLI/AAAAAAAAHbQ/DxbZUGOnZbgdpNPgFYWp6w9yQ1hZFUyAgCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br>My Dad, grandparents and aunt were able to come down when we graduated high school. This was the first time they all met Dan. </div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_fbfc_e4ce_685e_2b77" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LKD8rA-UayQ/XAAkw6b0vDI/AAAAAAAAHbY/pz7B3bln75gaa2LN8PY5x-kXkqFqTrxdwCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_548d_13d3_f7db_b751" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_A3S73RHE98/XAAkw5e6QoI/AAAAAAAAHbc/Umx54jPW_UYXscdM9tT8Pi4vjsA6b5QZwCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_8ffa_dff6_81ec_9749" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uS-Wf9dF9KU/XAAkxnbMMQI/AAAAAAAAHbo/C__9xSd-OZc5Rm6HXop7he0eAb-Qn_ThQCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_bde6_828a_b2a2_e647" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-82A23iO15vw/XAAkxZnoDYI/AAAAAAAAHbk/cfRzoHMrU04k7yQ8Jz1E_kLsKIO4HhI6ACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_79d9_ccf9_fee7_aff3" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-37Nxmz5zNfM/XAAkxUaDhPI/AAAAAAAAHbg/3nvcF8ToyAc8cUpvGoR4cIFSLXXcutd2QCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br>Dan and I also took a break from school and went to Ohio in the summer of 2006 for a break and we got to see my family and grandparents then. </div><div><br></div><div>Dan and I got married in March 2010 and my grandparents weren’t able to make the trip from Ohio to Florida for the wedding due to their health. Dan and I didn’t plan a honeymoon because we were moving to Italy only a short few weeks later. We figured a three year honeymoon in Italy would have to do ;) So about 4 days after our wedding, I flew to Ohio to spend some time there and see them before moving across the pond. </div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_3119_74e5_576b_1c69" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fsEA5vO2uOw/XAAkxwt5YKI/AAAAAAAAHbs/RsEdJXiNdOUkRd7JO5kzMTiKwEq3PUQLQCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_3ff2_751_2e3a_83dd" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-N8kD5d5m0vg/XAAkx8rZ6qI/AAAAAAAAHbw/1aiuPVwYQ_0gPNkOGHry0u3pkqusa_huACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_80c6_c46b_4d12_3231" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eklRIKRm8TU/XAAky-sapAI/AAAAAAAAHb0/dA5BuCsotRAWUt5rwFOI7_8vYrwv_DE6QCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_2fd6_7064_9bf8_4711" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5v0gQ9QvfKQ/XAAkyzZMulI/AAAAAAAAHb4/VkotKaoUQjgwChNgGBtb2laVK74ejM-eACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_b0f4_e9a7_84af_39e8" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-I4iXxZuM6Uw/XAAky5udHOI/AAAAAAAAHb8/hrXiz96kl5oOwsHkAqr-lwLx4rxSdnqGACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br>I remember leaving this day and so so sad. I remember my dad had tears in his eyes as well, we both knew this may be the last time that I saw her. It was heartbreaking but I was so glad to have to gone and spent time with her. This wouldn’t be the last time I saw her, but it was the last time where I sat with her and had a conversation face to face. We talked over the phone when we lived in Italy when we could, the connection was just horrible. Our internet there was so so slow, FaceTime or Vonage rarely worked. I wish we could have found a place to live that had better internet, I wish I would have flown back more to see them. The only time I came back to the states from our time in Italy was about 5 months before we were due to move back. Flights were pricey but I wish I would have paid and come back more often. I came back because my grandmother wasn’t doing well. It was November 2012. I was able to visit with her, sit and talk and tell her how things were going, but she couldn’t talk back and at the time, I wasn’t sure she knew who I was. I came at meal times to help feed her, I sat and held her hand and just spent time with her. This also fell over Thanksgiving, we had thanksgiving lunch at their house with my grandpa and other family, then headed over to the nursing/rehab center she was in. It was nice for her to have us all there at once. My dad made a comment about how he was always her favorite kid and as we all were laughing, she grinned a little and rolled her eyes. I was so glad for that because in that moment, I knew my grandma knew was there. </div><div><br></div><div>This was the first time I saw her this trip. It took all I had not to break down and cry because how she looked. It absolutely broke my heart. </div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_79a2_7d57_805c_3079" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KGdP68ivyls/XAAkzXIIvUI/AAAAAAAAHcA/x4bZ3_LqJacwEPAtKKUEaIQXjux1A7SRgCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br>Some more photos I took while we were there. This first one melts my heart. They spent 64 years of their lives married. So glad I captured this photo. <br><br><img id="id_7f26_dc52_aaec_7a89" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Sn5eRfji3nk/XAAkzm4sptI/AAAAAAAAHcE/Um3aCopiGE4Vb6bXO120C_jW_aqZ0TpDACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_6c58_1261_8330_5b48" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cewjBaDIx4c/XAAk0C2NPNI/AAAAAAAAHcI/B8HPVO-AzH8AjuAYQfAhn0qXGU0nFci7ACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_fd6_e4ae_73c4_94bf" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bLROa0DcJIE/XAAk07BNIsI/AAAAAAAAHcM/2yqHylQEpEQeWRD9pLQb3tab4BRBjjQcwCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br>This sadly, was the last time I saw my grandma. It absolutely sucked to leave. She had been on a downward spiral for quite some time but I hoped that when we were back in the states in less than 5 months, I hoped to be able to see her again. By the time I got back to Italy, let my dad know that I made it home safely, he had told me she was doing worse and he was heading there to be with her. My heart broke. The next day, November 28th, 2012- she passed away. I’m so thankful I was able to made it back before she had gone, but to this day I am so so sad when I think about her and that she is no longer on this earth. </div><div><br></div><div>I love you gram, with everything I have and I miss you dearly. </div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_ef09_9223_fb1a_c4ac" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0eowjV5_PqA/XAAk0_cocbI/AAAAAAAAHcQ/lbx45YuDsBcB-3Xn_kyKWTawJBYEn-nawCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_538b_3545_769f_29c1" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-c1ZTwRVdSAs/XAAk1cZ76aI/AAAAAAAAHcU/GU1wC10TU6ISvLZfI78fTr0clf3nXzndgCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_3d0b_baa1_9836_ba13" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0nsdy95rxN4/XAAk13SjNtI/AAAAAAAAHcY/tVySp2KjJG8LP5n94wAbJfkz0ukng3jJgCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div>Brittneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04428213046094726010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1647490286390217463.post-73472536716914934182018-11-28T15:52:00.001+01:002018-11-28T15:53:33.304+01:00More wedding pics Jennifer finally got her wedding photos back and as promised, here are a few :) <div><br></div><div><img id="id_1d65_a847_d687_4e3c" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JaF_PlUFkTI/W_6rnIt-SII/AAAAAAAAHZ4/acTuTzCZoGQExrSsIVzTN4VQLVZ5f7eIgCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_a620_72a2_ba92_12a8" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qqEOzUb8fTA/W_6rnCssTgI/AAAAAAAAHaA/TWlaqbSOzyUZChYufef81o--iNFv498BwCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_4404_268c_7de2_dd57" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3gb2kl18Vxk/W_6rnMukc9I/AAAAAAAAHZ0/gkBWXzQxXL8FdxZx918teuJ3n7-UkffXACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_c2bf_6d27_8be6_6959" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-R-veQ2YGS6c/W_6rnKM-UeI/AAAAAAAAHZ8/_nByFKSJIsILY-N7_k_ob0zFp7fp2peLwCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><br><img id="id_8ef2_993e_1d35_31fe" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-keBhecW2vr4/W_6rng3vS9I/AAAAAAAAHaE/eVPlr_H0LuE7phA9Wav1JvGydM8nJ3OrwCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_6915_d5bd_4f55_90a3" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheOGNaH97s65tHfXiLbeIdoLFEr8P-z9eMqYgWoFl4ZHzeRsgoCLj_8t3sQQVJqDSEob3-D1csD-HGImSnfixHJlMkxKVQtd_w6GvGdWpNEnfCkdC46Gl-DXOe3AGuuyYiWtcV7tSkDYk/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><br><br><img id="id_aeb2_eee7_e2c7_60c5" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tRTp73vRU7I/W_6rocsYHvI/AAAAAAAAHaI/FBrwY8vy4XUohg0E7I2U86ItDakQS-ijQCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_9c4_4e1f_653b_d2af" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vu7iABvsRFg/W_6rpAkFikI/AAAAAAAAHaU/8MRVdyx4byAZDIl_fkbWnhXzfVYkh52ogCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><img id="id_cebd_3c85_ee65_a925" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Ipuv9ITeSDE/W_6rpOX3zQI/AAAAAAAAHaQ/ciGMoYikpoUr-ftUkQVRqaOEzNQJs61IwCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><br>I was the lighting tester for the photographer ;) <br><br><img id="id_96b3_2d4c_1a9b_f42d" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GM3WNUtv52s/W_6rpCTNURI/AAAAAAAAHaY/9CtJ1qO4_GcoGXRBpZEU8r2ui2aaEjFQwCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_ca2a_4297_e507_5111" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Nx76tIjIwgA/W_6rp_-hc_I/AAAAAAAAHag/kScnXmNtxkAtwD017yHO_1tc0RbaSAckgCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_3261_4e60_233e_60f4" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mvvtpQuKzWk/W_6rpx0E9TI/AAAAAAAAHac/ydlGyZJdhQ0mHxdSpVfc5d8uDgbHPiMoACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br>Such a fun day. I wish Dan and Ethan could have been there with us to celebrate but I was able to give my full attention to my buddy. </div>Brittneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04428213046094726010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1647490286390217463.post-72419525595020799502018-11-27T16:59:00.000+01:002018-11-27T16:59:04.823+01:00Autism in our Household<p dir="auto">Autism is an interesting thing. It's not something I ever thought we would have to worry about. I didn't really know many people who had kids on the spectrum and I remember distinctively remembering, what are the odds that we'd have a child with autism? Many probably don't think about this before having kids, but I have a friend who had kids already and it was always a concern of hers because it is becoming more prevalent and she did know people who had kids on the spectrum. When Ethan was born with congenital scoliosis and missing/abnormal ribs, autism was the last thing on my mind. Despite everything, he was SUCH a happy baby and SO expressive. When I started noticing a change around 14 months, my heart broke. I remember calling early our intervention coordinator and expressing my concerns, I was bawling on the phone to her, wondering how on earth we can possibly handle another HUGE obstacle when we already had our hands full with surgeries every 4-6 months until Ethan is done growing. I hate to admit how scared and upset I was by it, like ugly crying into my pillow and sobbing, but I knew he was on the spectrum. I saw the changes- not responding to his name, perfectly happy playing on his own, sensitive to kids crying, not pointing and starting to have eating issues, not sharing his excitement in things he did, no words and limited babbling. His eye contact was okay... it wasn't great, especially with others, but there was some. After paperwork was completed, we were on a wait list to have him tested and at 20 months, he was diagnosed with autism. We wondered what that would mean for him or if it would get better or would things get worse. I think I always felt that things would get easier as he got older because he would continue to grow developmentally and socially. In some ways it has gotten easier, but in many ways it’s gotten harder. Since Ethan was diagnosed, his visual stimming has worsened and he spends quite a bit of time in his own world stimming on items or looking at things in a different way. He now makes clicking noises when he stims. His eating habits have worsened, he doesn’t feed himself and his variety in foods are now very limited. He gags at the sight or smell of food or when you make him try a new food, or even a food that he once enjoyed. He thrives on routine and structure and at almost 5 years old (in Feb) he still doesn’t talk. He is getting better with echoing sounds if told, but he also has apraxia of speech, so even though we’ve heard words, they disappear because it’s like his brain doesn’t know how to remember them. He used to say “Up” and now when you ask him to say it, he can’t. He tried, but his muscles don’t form his mouth the correct way and his brain doesn’t remember. Right now we are using a communication device through the public school system and he is doing well with that, but he won’t carry on a conversation with you, or even tell you that he wants a drink or is hungry. I always have to have a drive available to him and offer food and snacks often. He is not potty trained. This is something we are going to work on once we get home from Florida after Christmas/New Year break. Our ABA therapist has the program ready to go and we are going to hit it hard once home in Jan. It seems like a very daunting task, only because I think, how on earth is he going to tell me when he needs to go to the bathroom when he can’t tell me he wants a drink? Or is he’s in pain? Or tired? I actually didn’t change his crib over to a toddler bed for this very reason, I felt he’d get out of bed and hurt himself climbing on something or that he would never sleep. Luckily, he never tried to crawl out of his crib until he saw a video of toddlers doing it on youtube. Dan was deployed and I was worried, but I converted the crib to his toddler bed because I didn’t want him falling and hurting himself. He was SO excited and wanted to go up constantly to play in it, but I had to put a baby gate back on the stairs because I wanted him to know it was a place for sleeping, not playing. He did AMAZING! For naps he would get up and roam around, but at night time, he wouldn’t get up at all and when he woke in the morning, he just laid there and waited for me. I’m glad I’m a light sleeper so I can hear if he gets up and also because he doesn’t make much noise when he wakes up, so him moving around in bed when he wakes up is what wakes me up. After Christmas last year, my mom came back with us and I found a bed on facebook marketplace that someone was giving away. It’s a twin bed from IKEA that can be a loft bed or flipped and on the ground with a canopy, which is how we decided to have it. We painted it Gray and it looks amazing in his room and he absolutely loves it. He still does amazing in his bed, so fingers crossed that the potty training will come easier than I’m expecting it to.</p><p dir="auto">I’ve been feeling a bit down lately, I think because of the holidays and how it’s a reminder that things are different for us. Halloween for instance, Ethan won’t dress in anything and doesn’t understand costumes, so I got a little onsie type dinosuar outfit thinking he would be okay in it for his school party. Nope. I’m not going to force him with going door to door to get candy because he doesn’t understand that concept. If we knock on someones door, he expects to go in and when we don’t, he gets upset…so imagine him having fun with that…not possible right now. And I hear, “Well, it is a strange concept, going door to door asking strangers for candy”, which i get….BUT… it makes me sad because even though a weird concept to us, for kids it’s amazing and it’s fun and magical and they get candy. It’s something they can enjoy and they love dressing up.. it makes me sad because he misses out on that. He doesn’t get to experience that joy and have that experience that most kids get to enjoy. The same goes for Birthdays and Christmas. He doesn’t really play with toys, he has to be taught to play with toys. In therapy a car in given to him and the therapist says, “Ethan, do this” while showing him how to take a car in his hand and move it back and forth. It breaks my heart that my child has to be taught how to play with things and I do wish things came easier for him. My family asks what they can get him for Christmas and it’s literally a guess game. I try my best and most times we find stuff for him that he likes, but again, he needs to be taught how to play with toys. He doesn’t experience joy when opening gifts on Christmas morning and he doesn’t get excited when that gift is opened and he sees it. These are things I wish I could change for him, the ability to have joy and experience things as most kids do. Ethan is a pretty happy kiddo, he does show joy in other things, which we LOVE, I just wish we could see it more.</p><p dir="auto">I read a blog recently on Finding Coopers Voice about how she always knew her son would talk. She hoped that one day it was going to happen, but it hasn’t yet and he’s now 8. She wrote how lonely it was not being able to have a conversation with her child, how quiet car rides were when it should be the child talking nonstop about their day. About how much she didn’t know about her son because he couldn’t tell her. I can relate so much, so many times I’ve gazed down into Ethan’s blue eyes wondering what he was thinking about. He has many moments lately where he just starts laughing out of nowhere. He will wake up laughing and laugh in bed until I go get him, he will be on the couch and start laughing uncontrollably and he’s been doing it at school a lot. I know he’s thinking of something funny he has seen, but I SO wish I knew what it was.</p><p dir="auto">I’ve met many other families and moms with autism since Ethan has had his diagnosis and they have been a godsend. There are times when you feel left out, either because your child doesn’t give a friends child what they need in a friendship, so the play dates stop or just because they assume you are busy, but it still doesn’t hurt to ask, that isolation can be tough. Ethan used to have a really hard time with kids, for a year he would breath hold and pass out, kids scared him so much. He’s getting better, but still has his moments. We try not to put him or ourselves in situations where we are set up to fail. We don’t go out to dinner because we know it would be hard for him to sit there in an overstimulating environment. We do try to get out and do what we can because we don’t want to make things worse by keeping him in the house all day. He is doing so well and actually loves to be out and about.</p><p dir="auto">Surgeries and autism combined SUCKS. There’s no other way to say it. They. Are. Horrible. Luckily, we have somehow been able to wait longer in between surgeries and he hasn’t needed them every 4-6 months like normal, THANK GOD. He’s had 4 surgeries so far, each one worse than the last, but he should really be on 8 or so, so we are so very thankful for that.</p><p dir="auto">We are getting a service dog in June for Ethan, it’s been a long time coming, but I know it will be so worth the wait. We will go to Ohio for 2 weeks June 10-21 for training and to bring our dog home. I know this will help with many things and I can’t wait to see the joy this dog brings him. He deserves the world.</p><p dir="auto">With the holidays here, I just wanted to share some thoughts, how autism is in our household and just get some feelings “on paper.” 4 day weekends to most are a dream, but our reality is a bit different. Being out of routine and stuck inside because it’s cold and rainy out make for very long weekends and lots of meltdowns.</p><p dir="auto">I think the hardest thing of all is seeing a younger kiddo doing things that Ethan can not…and effortlessly doing so. Wondering if I will ever truly know my sons thoughts and dreams. If I will ever have a conversation with him. I’ve often wondered how I can miss what I’ve never had, but I do, more than anything. I love my son more than life itself, but I do wish things could be easier for him. I love being Ethan’s mom and will do anything for that boy. He is my light. I hope he will be able to share his thoughts and dreams with me one day, but if he can’t, I will love him just the same…I just hope the world can be as kind to him as I am. He is a beautiful soul and I’m so very lucky to be his mom.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5HGUPj6sDJ5PF-U0FRVeCUPA34yQ1eh-oaqPXB17D_5gSF3qwjUW-wJuNCzsm8jmElFJQvGS6kGSTH3flMaOsavLFVef5MojSi5ZxgMcAzCc1Pse2c9ryN7WDv8pZOGWBUDjtfXTotmU/s9999/IMG_0120.jpeg" width="1536" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3gBsvraielejfUWViEZByg4r9W1U1LR6sEzqWqm4eELTrDHo-y-4fatLJLFYQBefZkumbxD8oaWJCCQCdp5Tg_JX3iBwYaZCReF6oUdb0OlXIaxBNLHgXgzmOS49TK1jpjMha3Uskosg/s9999/IMG_0158.jpeg" width="3024" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguA1UeQuLTPn6-867kLXY6FyNTbNYP8kI20bT1z3td37Rnh-Lxg8jeA5c08v8zOeIpKxsxVGeheFwkRZZB-YvqrNSXfStgDjDlyASGtBP7vXJRslhGw_ky56K7df6yIl9RX6ZnPvXAxes/s9999/IMG_0226.jpeg" width="1536" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSwz_IWqSm3SUnuqDCQsdUE4gwBRngLy-3ioVp9HaCwVXg1_XwVOM2-YvhAXVaL_6n74wpUEjDOjBi8zuv3e2pEcmSzCO7YI9xeipBK8eue_s1omcDAoeBsjpALxe-QNmIHO1UbT34zyo/s9999/IMG_0388.jpeg" width="4031" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlcsYiewH62vOa1As7htAdF7s0-n0XtiE0FtfERm8hsKT6vswv2zl44tKW0EWQSt1VS6QGQskwjJofZBzK2-gqARbkS_4yU4vYDUDaGSHmVzeKduiV-NGNAgfICk9_4_ZYlm0Lh6A7iLY/s9999/IMG_0418.jpeg" width="1536" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKpmBNoOZlZdxCEHY8zg4PBKoWlLzR4GgvtrDGUIguMhJG8gAfnZae2jMhXjE7P-zhlyztuJm41RZHOpl4gQUTOZDfMTvImhkvY7M6ztyLnuJZwLvX8cLN1EyGpEg5fo_bidL7Fc5NABc/s9999/IMG_1048.jpeg" width="1536" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPOPM5i5I73N-KHGvpXP1Jum4wBMRm5AH2qbJ1xzh4N5DzHNhZDmXuhT2J7Wkt4AkSdQrCvGDgBA8QWL1B2dNFhaB8KBM78McdPpA8WjmxIKKXuBQoy8uU_zkTcUgP_J7c7p_FUXFCHRY/s9999/IMG_1338.jpeg" width="1536" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXs-HZZ3Pdo4e8a6l7NZjnfaRaLO8xCOLPKGr5CmnlQCbqSXg39OY1oumSFB9Sli0R1ZGZf0ul6f-oWPNEPY-RY0dA3PgyAhwua9AlpFIu0OFv0RE9VNi9BtXJL9gkTkVFRQ47-s2eIsk/s9999/IMG_2040.jpeg" width="2316" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCf5KJqp-D5AW1M2MvYtqvbKj0xKNjw5i2LtJoUn6Jd8p4Urxg-akej27mh_Uw1NKjSLvc_MBonGiB-DwzDzcnLjd-sOqrNXc8w2kbcSdhYEtO91I_flZW4DvWDqi6b_pM6zUnZBimL5g/s9999/IMG_2073.jpeg" width="3023" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><p><br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHtbyZmAub770LxkSbU8f5nljRDu6f8s4HIG7JdnSKNPi6BW7XSl4mSrj51mOD3yHa0gUJYk3nzaNBFZTkPC0q9ZjRKGSso8vqJMcMfcrFSKfT3PwR8t9MqjvhL8pgkZt7tfaaZDZuLGc/s9999/IMG-1126.JPG" width="2316" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-5o8NPiLm4L7yZMcEVPdaJC9xAxNYkAVBJJQKZEjjUTCLf656Nu0H7iQsOIoetOxfQe2UwvnpP6aPcX3Rnc1Lup5PBcwpGX5j6n3IkHvhqmDV6UUGV4DVrHRFUUIU2kPQaKQqlHt1KBI/s9999/IMG-1319.JPG" width="3023" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><p><br></p>Brittneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04428213046094726010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1647490286390217463.post-51471525189623774752018-10-10T22:17:00.000+02:002018-10-10T22:17:15.709+02:00One of my Besties got hitched!
About a month ago I flew to Tallahassee for a quick visit with my friend, Jennifer, for her bachelorette party. I got in late Friday night, we stopped at their local hangout and had a drink and did lots of catching up. Saturday we went for lunch, stopped in to see an old friends we worked with when I was in college, then we got matching tattoos! This was my second tattoo and it was for Ethan as it is an autism awareness tattoo. Jennifer is such a good friend, she wanted one as well because Ethan also holds a special place in her heart. I got mine on the inside of my left anke and she got hers on her arm. pic below, mine is on the left and hers the right.
That night we had her bachelorette party, which of course, was also fun.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh98J-3DJO1t8gQZ1uUJPBduz4YYIEWEYyC1cFVeTyssZgBO5eMBqkEjJZPJh9FPPoejWBj3Tc1OcH1mTZ8nIeF1eUZngUIpZl8iS1lZIfzWDujhkImCdP85jW0uu-zbo3oJU1CzDt3diE/s1600/jennbrit7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh98J-3DJO1t8gQZ1uUJPBduz4YYIEWEYyC1cFVeTyssZgBO5eMBqkEjJZPJh9FPPoejWBj3Tc1OcH1mTZ8nIeF1eUZngUIpZl8iS1lZIfzWDujhkImCdP85jW0uu-zbo3oJU1CzDt3diE/s320/jennbrit7.jpg" width="320" height="320" data-original-width="960" data-original-height="960" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5VVbI5aEu6Y7QHSC2M33WHWN-Yvsqihjdu3QuUELrNGc4QeGaGjJgyAEtleCuQ8ZIa_3zOgU9R4VLAb3QrxtX6FWb4hzOxwZfC-g05Vwl8t5uJjU8k98Jp-T4NGy4w0SP9SMtwQh6ztk/s1600/jennbrit8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5VVbI5aEu6Y7QHSC2M33WHWN-Yvsqihjdu3QuUELrNGc4QeGaGjJgyAEtleCuQ8ZIa_3zOgU9R4VLAb3QrxtX6FWb4hzOxwZfC-g05Vwl8t5uJjU8k98Jp-T4NGy4w0SP9SMtwQh6ztk/s320/jennbrit8.jpg" width="320" height="240" data-original-width="960" data-original-height="720" /></a></div>
A few weeks later, I returned for her wedding in Pensacola. It was so amazing to be able to attend and be her Matron of Honor. Jennifer and I met while I lived in Tally. We worked together at a doctors office while we went to school. We’ve been friends ever since and even with our many Air Force moves, we’ve always remained in contact. She even came to visit me in Italy when we lived there and spent about 2 weeks traveling Croatia, the Amalfi Coast, Rome, Venice….it was fantasic. When we lived in NM she came out for the international Balloon fiesta and we also went to the Grand Canyon. She’s been such a good friend throughout the years and I love her dearly. Here are a few pics from my wedding back in 2010.
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Her wedding was perfect. We had a blast and got pampered. I’m so glad she found her hubby and excited for what life has in store for them. Here are a few cell phone pics taken from her big day….I’m sure I will post more once we see the professional photographers photos.
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Ub-2scshdGEpqBEyjF7RoaYQszF8-p8tk321XZb_BjJnSf6efHD-qUUlPfDaP9EPeXZ15zrsnZlT-NloEnJ4hQMzztAj6pznOwGrEDPYW9PXW4-SwVoPnhXC1-7uZKh8mDn5y3N5y6Y/s1600/IMG-4970.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Ub-2scshdGEpqBEyjF7RoaYQszF8-p8tk321XZb_BjJnSf6efHD-qUUlPfDaP9EPeXZ15zrsnZlT-NloEnJ4hQMzztAj6pznOwGrEDPYW9PXW4-SwVoPnhXC1-7uZKh8mDn5y3N5y6Y/s320/IMG-4970.JPG" width="240" height="320" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZHMthTaSMLUZec8gquCMLVQdXRVxpaEuhiU-GUSIQPHVu03s1wGaKFhiiVIalhi3QskrLzkiIHc9Bt-lJ01X2-1b5gzMpsExEiL68UkTVjo8ewB7BSeFVvo1fUCAKUoprYDE2uLFkaSA/s1600/IMG-4983.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZHMthTaSMLUZec8gquCMLVQdXRVxpaEuhiU-GUSIQPHVu03s1wGaKFhiiVIalhi3QskrLzkiIHc9Bt-lJ01X2-1b5gzMpsExEiL68UkTVjo8ewB7BSeFVvo1fUCAKUoprYDE2uLFkaSA/s320/IMG-4983.JPG" width="240" height="320" data-original-width="1200" data-original-height="1600" /></a></div>
We’ve been hanging out as a family, we went to King’s Dominion amusement park and trying to have as much fun as we can with all of this rain and school/therapy.
We just got back from a trip up to Philadelphia, Ethan’s surgeon wanted to see us when dan got back from his deployment. So we went up Sunday, which happened to be the 5th annual thoracic insufficiency syndrome reunion at chop. We got to meet other veptr families and kiddos we’ve only known from the veptr kids Facebook group. We got to celebrate the amazing doctor who invented this device and gave our children a chance for life. Pretty amazing.
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During the appt Dr. Campbell mentioned he wants Ethan to have x Rays in 6 months and we’ll see if he’s good to wait longer for surgery. He said it may even be another year or two until he needs surgery next, which is unheard of! Waiting a year like we have is unheard of, but waiting even longer is just plain amazing. Ethan does horribly with the surgeries, so any extra time we can wait is an absolute blessing!
We are now back home, Dan is off this week and will return to work next week. He will be starting a new job at the pentagon and on Capitol Hill. We are so excited to be able to enjoy our summer without a surgery lingering over our heads.
We also traded in the Land Cruiser for a Lexus model that's much newer. It's sooooo nice, we love it! Lots of things happening, but all for the best! Brittneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04428213046094726010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1647490286390217463.post-49079266892213611132018-03-16T21:37:00.001+01:002018-03-16T21:37:54.437+01:00Always waiting for the other shoe to drop<p dir="auto">Do you ever feel that way? I don’t think I generally do, but I’ve been bad about that lately. It’s Murphy’s law…when your husband is deployed, anything and everything that could go wrong, does. </p><p dir="auto">Last week Ethan and I went to Ft. Belvoir to have his back x rayed. He’s been putting his hand on his back a lot, but not in any pain, so we just wanted to make sure everything with his rods looked good and this would tell us if we could wait until this summer for his next surgery. No task is easy for Ethan, it breaks my heart. Stepping on a scale at the doctors office completely sets him off and he’s just terrified. X rays were no exception and they ended up having to take double what they needed because they couldn’t get clear images with 3 of us holding him down. I got the disk and mailed off to Philadelphia and have been waiting to hear. The nurse wrote to tell me she got them and would ask Dr. Campbell what he thought, but mentioned how he has grown, asked when my husband will get home from his deployment in case surgery needed to be moved up and that she would ask the doctor and get back to me. Today she wrote back saying that Dr. Campbell reviewed the images and compared with his last and he doesn’t think he will need to have surgery this summer, but wants to see us when Dan gets home. First thing I think is that’s AWESOME! But then worry sets in…why does he need to see us? Does he need to tell us something else? It’s WILD. I think it was just the way it was communicated, there was no reassurance that everything looked great and this was great news, it was just, “may not need surgery this summer, but you need to come in.” The nurse practitioner called to set up an appt and I just got a weird vibe. I’m sure at that point she was just trying to assure me all was well, but it all just seemed a bit off. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s to enjoy each moment, so I’ll shove these weird feelings in the back of my mind and keep on keepin’ on. It’s hard to do, you always have that next surgery looming and creeping into your thoughts. I started worrying about this next surgery shortly after Thanksgiving. He does not do well with the surgeries at all and this next one is a bigger one with his rods needing replaced. His VEPTR’s don’t bother him right now, he’s all boy, jumping, crashing, completely wild and I love it for him, it doesn’t slow him down. WIth a replacement, they have to take everything but the anchors out and replace it all, it’s so much involvement with the skin, muscles and moving his shoulder blade. Much more pain than an expansion, which he doesn’t do well with either. I worried they would damage a nerve or that he would be in pain all the time. It sucks. So much. I do feel relieved that we can push this surgery back even more. Dr. Campbell invented the VEPTR devices that Ethan has, it’s been amazing going to him and being under his care. Not sure when he will be retiring, but I’m hoping we can find someone like him that takes Ethan’s unique situation in mind. Most docs won’t wait longer than 6 months to do surgery, he waits a year and this go round, it looks like it will be longer. Just so exciting and hope this continues throughout the years! Ethan is super tall, so I was literally thinking he’s grown out of them. So great to get good news. </p><p dir="ltr">I am very thankful for my little boy. Times get difficult and we have our struggles, but there is always so much to be thankful for! I also can’t wait for warmer weather and Dan to be home and our family to be complete again. Ethan misses his daddy. May can’t come soon enough! </p><p dir="ltr">-Brittney</p>Brittneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04428213046094726010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1647490286390217463.post-29908752480711891462018-03-14T00:11:00.001+01:002018-03-14T00:11:44.107+01:00Update on Life<p dir="auto">Man..where to start? Life has been busy! I wish I would have kept up with writing on here, but I’ve at least kept up with writing emails to my kiddo that (I hope) one day he will be able to enjoy. </p><p dir="auto">I’ve not written much since we moved back from Italy, honestly. We had our son and his medical issues kept us busy, I took the time to enjoy every moment with him. Albuqueruque, believe it or not, will always hold a special place in my heart. We bought our first home there, had our son, met some amazing people that will forever be apart of our lives. Being away from family and not knowing what was going on with Ethan was incredibly hard, but my coworkers were absolutely amazing and I miss them every day. </p><p dir="auto">We’ve been in northern Virginia now for almost 2 years, which sounds crazy, but we like it here as well. We are closer to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia for Ethan’s surgeries, the services for autism are also good here as well. Ethan started a preschool autism class last February, which was a huge obstacle for him. After a little over a year, he is doing so, so well there. We love our BCBA that comes to the house for therapy daily and also his OT/speech therapist as well. </p><p dir="auto">Dan deployed in October and things have been interesting around here. Ethan and I have settled into a routine, but nights and weekends are the hardest since it’s cold outside and it limits us to what we can do. We went to Florida for the holidays and spent 4 weeks there, which was amazing. It’s always nice to take a break from therapies and thaw out for a bit in the middle of winter. Ethan turned 4 in February, so we had some friends over for a little celebration. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxNMwrdvsdkkrFohkFX6XsaChSEmZHGeQjd3fMM8pI087eOxDPaO05zw3Fmba2OT2lJLx1UTFrgLIf0_2dDf0G7Qi3t1iETiNQiK3RoPSEhjQwVv7-fmaxsIrajfLpyvvR1jHoF_G-hlM/s9999/DSC_1521.JPG" width="4013" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><p><br></p><p dir="auto"> We’ve been having issues with our heat and discovered we have an oil leak, so waiting for the landlords to get their ducks in a row with that and dog up the tank and contaminated soil. I got a 20 gallon fish tank set up for Ethan and he LOVES it! Right now I have to salt and pepper cories, glofish and a gourami. </p><p dir="auto">I started a ketogenic diet mid November and have had great success with that. I feel great and have lost a lot of “stress weight” that i’ve carried since having Ethan. Even with a month stall, I’ve lost 34 pounds! Crazy! I love it :) I was looking thru some pics today and I can finally tell in my face that I’ve lost some weight, which is always a good thing! I also chopped my hair off! Got a long bob cut, the lack of carbs killed my long, healthy hair, but I do love the new cut. This is a pic from last week, me and my sister were posting pics on snapchat and thought this one turned out pretty good. Why can’t snapchat filters apply to real life, minus the flames coming out from my head? ;) <br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3fQxtFfYgQ3qSmtnxOhUXv2_qQiwwsshePJfs13426oYCRrps2INCs4ux9rnGb0y3PCuCeUk7Dn5x-nLwRMu-M56yHEGI7p6SSaL1wYaQxUQHXFlsbZlk65XM9pPObYhiWQRhAaB_rE4/s9999/brittney1.jpg" width="749" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><p dir="ltr"><br>Life is pretty good, considering. Ethan’s having some adjustments, which are always hard, but we get through them. We had x rays last week, which is a chore because he is terrified of everything, to make sure his titanium ribs look okay and to determine if we can wait until the summer for his next surgery, just waiting to hear back from CHOP about that. We will get his service dog in about a year, which makes me SO happy! I truly think this will help him so, so much and many people in our lives are invested just as much as we are, so I know this will be an exciting time. </p><p dir="ltr">That’s all I have for now! Dan will be back in May, so we are very close to the end of his third deployment and excited to have him back in time for the nice/hot weather. </p><p dir="ltr">Until next time, </p><p dir="ltr">-Brittney</p>Brittneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04428213046094726010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1647490286390217463.post-31522396590646323932017-12-03T19:19:00.002+01:002017-12-03T19:19:40.012+01:00Dancing Orchids!<p dir="auto">I was recently approached to write a post for a product review, I got to go on their website and choose anything of my liking for a neutral review. I love color and I love orchids, so I chose the dancing purple orchid!</p><p>When I was browsing their website, there were so many beautiful things to choose from. Any holiday or season, you name it! I chose purple because it reminds me of our wedding colors, especially the beautiful bouquets we had. It was hard to pick, I will admit, there were so many amazing things on their website, I wish I could have gotten more. To check out their site: <a href="http://www.silkplantsdirect.com/" target="_blank">www.silkplantsdirect.com</a></p><p dir="ltr">I wasn't sure what to expect when it arrived, since I don't have many fake plants in my home, but when I opened it, it was such a beautiful piece and adds so much color to the room. The quality of the piece is very good and looks good on the floor or on a table. I actually had it in both places, but I like it most on top of our wine rack that we brought back with us from Italy, loaded with Italian wine, of course! <br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_LR_br56XE2HwTtfVc5zqe5qVldDznes6pzGdiZ0Cl6zkH6rHDc27gUSA8K3PW92krh3GDshNw5gWuaDGtQjiLztZLxK0Qg3Vr9URorBr5E-Y5W9nS4ZNpBHtKN9ahO8hwSMQIHhi0MI/s9999/DSC_1121.JPG" width="4013" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV7RUFL56aKVdvvNL9seFF7yjv2LQiXtKbVTWKenmUtfvQIim5PWmHp1vm0aU7W_jbNVg_jXCNDCbfOoNBskNbJi9hjY0aANMeyDSDcYfnMxWvg2WaZLfqfjMtkRlUGGgwwirvD8IX5CE/s9999/DSC_1123.JPG" width="4013" style="max-width: 100%;"></div><p dir="ltr"><br>What do you think? Beautiful, right?</p><p dir="ltr">This is the sister company of <a href="http://www.commercialpalmtrees.com/" target="_blank">http://www.commercialpalmtrees.com/</a> , so if you are needing any custom fake palm trees, this is the site to get them!</p><p dir="ltr">-Brittney</p>Brittneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04428213046094726010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1647490286390217463.post-39494298426315190322015-06-10T23:42:00.000+02:002017-11-04T18:57:22.461+01:00Congenital Scoliosis Awareness MonthI was contacted a few days ago asking if I would share Ethan's journey on a blog that informs people on congenital scoliosis. Of course, I didn't mind, I love helping people out and giving what information I can to help anyone along this journey. I have 1-2 people a week write me on Facebook or Ethan's VEPTR page asking for info and trying to get care for their child. It's great to be able to help others out, especially when VEPTR moms were all so helpful to me in the beginning, it's a scary thing.
There are many types of scoliosis, but congenital scoliosis is when a child is born with something structurally wrong with the spine that is causing the scoliosis. It's not what you remember getting tested for in gym class when you had to wear the bathing suit to school. Most times, it's caused from hemivertebrae, generally more than one, which offsets the spine and gets worse as they grow. Surgical intervention is usually required, whether you get the hemivertebrae removed and the spine fused, or, if like Ethan, you get VEPTR implants because it's already affecting your lungs.
So, I wrote up our story, tried to keep it short and to the point...and here it is! He's a few stories down, Ethan's Congenital Scoliosis and VEPTR Story.
http://norasjourney-early-onset-congenital-scoliosis.com/faces-of-congenital-scoliosis/Brittneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04428213046094726010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1647490286390217463.post-50799322431223921112015-05-02T17:55:00.001+02:002015-05-02T17:55:39.579+02:00T-shirts!Finally finished designing shirts for our little guy. A friend from middle and high school drew up a few different ideas and we combined two of them and came up with our logo. <div><br></div><div>I've seen other VEPTR Momma's that have shirts created for their kiddo and have people wear them on surgery days to show their support. Ethan has a long road ahead and I think it's a great idea to show him all the support he has with each surgery. </div><div><br></div><div>Here is the link to order shirts, if you would like to participate. <a href="https://www.booster.com/ethanveptrstrong?share=651430518637740" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">https://www.booster.com/ethanveptrstrong?share=651430518637740</a></div><div><br></div><div>The idea is to post your photo on surgery days, or any day, with #EthanVEPTRstrong so all the photos will go to the same place. </div><div><br></div><div>For anyone wanting to follow Ethan's journey on facebook: www.facebook.com/ethanveptr</div><div><br></div><div>Thank you for your support! </div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Brittneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04428213046094726010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1647490286390217463.post-30646387490834306392015-04-28T05:40:00.001+02:002015-04-28T05:55:31.303+02:00Blogger app!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>I've just discovered the blogger app! How neat. I haven't blogged in a while, mainly because I got a Mac, which I love, but I can't use windows live writer on that. It's just a pain to write a blog on the Mac and put photos in, so...let's try with this, see how this works out. <div><br></div><div>A lot has happened since I last wrote over a year ago. Ethan is growing up so fast and is quite the amazing little boy. He's a great sleeper, happy when he's awake for the most part and just a joy to be around. </div><div><br></div><div>My last post stated docs here in ABQ thought Ethan would be good. After his pulmonolgy appt at 4 months old, he also was very wushu washy with everything. Ethan now had good head control and when I held him under his arms, I could tell his left shoulder felt higher and I couldn't feel the bottom of it. I got online and started researching doctors who specialized in chest wall deformities and sent emails with his records to the chop in Philadelphia and also San Antonio. Both places called back stating they thought he needed the veptr (vertical expandable prosthetic titanium rib) and that we should be seen. We decided to travel from NM to philly to go to the chop, as Dr. Robert Campbell, one of the inventors of the veptr, was there. In August at 6 months old, Ethan got many scans and saw many doctors and it was established- he needed two veptrs and was officially diagnosed with thoracic insufficiency syndrome. His left shoulder blade was inside his chest cavity attached to his lung! His left lung capacity was 60 cc's when his right lung was 211 cc's. So, we had to now get weight on him for the surgery (because he breathed faster, he burned more calories) and he was scheduled for November. In November he got two VEPTR implants and surgeries will occur 2-3 times a year until he is done growing in his teens. The surgery was rough, but he's doing so well. He get pt weekly, OT biweekly, sees a mandala biweekly and also an infant massage lady biweekly. He's very sensitive and is hyperaware of everything going on around him. These therapists have been doing so well with Ethan. Next surgery is scheduled for August. </div><div><br></div><div>I am no longer working and stay home with him, which I love. I am active on many pages on Facebook- congenital scoliosis, veptr kids, sprengels deformity, military efmp and I try to help out when I can. Almost every day, a new person finds out their child has congenital scoliosis, missing ribs, sprengels deformity...and reach out for advice, where to take their child for care and posting x rays to try to understand better what lies ahead for their child. I've become friends with many women on these sites and connected in a way that I cannot connect with anyone else, because they understand. I am so thankful for Facebook and these groups. When I first researched VEPTR, I was trying to find anything I could. I found blogs and if I could be of some help for anyone searching and comes across my blog, I think that's a win. Check my about me for my email and email me any questions you may have. </div><div><br></div><div>I will end this post for now and try to be better about updating now that I have the blogger app on my phone. I'm interested to see how the layout is once I post this, might not be pretty. </div><div><br></div><div>Hope all is well out in the blogger world. Here are some photos of the little guy. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Ze2FkJNJUDMSk597n4MygQZzurO__K5qeP163gSlTzQtK9F_I2aMDwLCSKjaDM4WLcVokNYKAUYW2zCbf_jt0wFMrxcxVzcQeaPZ5yoZf3_CbrgUx5Sss-lS9N4_Z3w_wpXkFJDGheQ/s640/blogger-image-596571900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Ze2FkJNJUDMSk597n4MygQZzurO__K5qeP163gSlTzQtK9F_I2aMDwLCSKjaDM4WLcVokNYKAUYW2zCbf_jt0wFMrxcxVzcQeaPZ5yoZf3_CbrgUx5Sss-lS9N4_Z3w_wpXkFJDGheQ/s640/blogger-image-596571900.jpg"></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEZcD-cCMhR5gUA1V9pXbSRxpAixy1FjN8ynSNMHNzVvjSFvrhAJ2lV-wpfrWHF0DcF3_x_JQTufFkZCmsIUPaZgX4SaAkTwvJ0qqr8nCSyJkET6MYRkHgq62YdS7GFv1NfaObxRekDjk/s640/blogger-image-1609173768.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEZcD-cCMhR5gUA1V9pXbSRxpAixy1FjN8ynSNMHNzVvjSFvrhAJ2lV-wpfrWHF0DcF3_x_JQTufFkZCmsIUPaZgX4SaAkTwvJ0qqr8nCSyJkET6MYRkHgq62YdS7GFv1NfaObxRekDjk/s640/blogger-image-1609173768.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSGfAhiA2OpXQEFCyeBN50olJUQI2fWnEAT5x-oLiP5hGCZ9YwcQ6-3XjSPSSQMw2_rQXF3MV2tr7mIolpEywJmiI4DO96AyCeACXtUdyX8OhZuoaEbB6uL5oJLSS1JqAF3mR1zsy9IXs/s640/blogger-image-661373475.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSGfAhiA2OpXQEFCyeBN50olJUQI2fWnEAT5x-oLiP5hGCZ9YwcQ6-3XjSPSSQMw2_rQXF3MV2tr7mIolpEywJmiI4DO96AyCeACXtUdyX8OhZuoaEbB6uL5oJLSS1JqAF3mR1zsy9IXs/s640/blogger-image-661373475.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Brittneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04428213046094726010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1647490286390217463.post-8364493015477599112014-03-11T22:01:00.000+01:002014-03-11T22:09:43.213+01:00Update on the little man<p>
I haven't written on the blog in a while, but I figured this would be the best place to update those who want to know what's going on with Ethan as of now. I probably won't continue to post on here, but it's too much for a facebook post.
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Around 27 weeks they saw something on the u/s that looked different with the spine. The next week they wouldn't see it, the next week they would. They ordered a fetal MRI which came back normal, but when we saw the perinatologist he was pretty sure that Ethan had a Hemivertebrae of the t11/12 area and that he was missing some ribs. This information sucked, not what we wanted to hear and the fact that the doctor wasn't all that helpful with the information made it worse. He wanted to wait and see once he was born and get an x ray and go from there.
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Because of the single umbilical artery, when Ethan was born they wanted to do a renal u/s and check for reflux (urine going back up from ureter into kidney). Around 21 weeks on the u/s, it showed that his left kindey was dilated, but we were told that it resolved around 28 weeks and every time they checked after that, they said it was good. The u/s showed that his left kidney was still a little larger, but the reflux test was negative. The Urologist wants to see Ethan back in April and he will get another u/s at the end of this month to see if it's getting better or worse. They say it's common in boys and generally resolves on it's own. When they did the u/s they also noted a small diverticulum on the bladder.
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The x ray showed that there is an abnormality with the thoracic spine (T3), so not where the Perinatologist thought. Because of this abnormality, it caused issues with his ribs as well and because of location, it's affecting the ribs over his heart and lung. Even though we had an idea that hemivertebrae may be the diagnosis, it was like it was all new again because of the location and it being worse than we thought. The doctors thought that because of that and the kidney issue, that Ethan had Poland Syndrome or Vacteryl/Vater syndrome. It was pretty devastating as a parent to be given the greatest gift in life and then be told of these things and not know what lies ahead for him. It was heartbreaking.
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We got discharged and the pediatrician set us up with the geneticist at UNM. We saw the doctor there and were told that he does not believe that this is linked to a syndrome, but from the two vessel cord and lack of blood flow to the area during development. He felt that blood testing and everything else were not needed and that it wasn't linked to anything chromosomal. He feels that everything else about him is normal, which was wonderful news.
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A week or so after that, we saw Orthopedics at Carrie Tingly with UNM. They did more x rays on his spine but couldn't see exactly what was going on with it yet. What we do know is that his spine is already curving from whatever is going on around the T3 area, so he is diagnosed with Congenital Scoliosis. We also know that his first 3 ribs and 5th rib on his left side didn't form correctly, there for leaving them looking abnormal and that the 4th rib isn't there. Because of the first 3 ribs being abnormal, they formed differently and arch more, making it look like he's missing more than just one rib. The main concern at this point with this issue is how to protect his chest (heart and lung) since he's missing the ribs that would normally do so and as he grows, will those ribs continue to grow allowing his lung and heart to grow as well or will they restrict growth in any way. The Orthopod told us that we would assume Ethan would be tall because of Dan's height and my height, but because of the scoliosis and issue with the spine, he probably won't be as tall as we would think. I asked him if he thought that there would be issues with those ribs not growing, restricting growth of the lung, he said he didn't think they would grow fully, but didn't seem to think there would be any issues with the lung not growing. He said they may want to do an MRI in the future, but they wouldn't do that until he was 2 years of age and that most kids who do require surgery on the spine because of scoliosis, that's usually not done until around 3 years of age. So, at this point, we are waiting. He wants us to bring him back for a standing x ray when he's walking and wants to see us back next February.
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We also have to see a Pulmonologist on May 5th. I think he will be able to answer more of our questions regarding protection and how he thinks those ribs will/will not grow and what to expect. I think like what we learned from the other appointments, we may just not know until he grows, so it may just have to be something that's monitored. It's hard not getting answers right away and having to wait, but in the meantime he is doing great. His left shoulder pops a lot, the orthopod said it's probably from his anatomy issues on the left side, but doesn't seem to think it's anything serious and it doesn't seem to bother Ethan at all.
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This is the x ray they took at the orthopedic office. Breaks my heart to see it, but you can see what's going on with the spine and ribs.
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd2C69Oqe9gkIoF1Q09fJpglSEwV3S2-vTl2LKZgboU2Ew66UPlL8yK5smqhPiJOxkOc0-kM69zYrIonH6eOlOoCPrvLIq3yG3-8kjHLwpX_sztcbf3COOXqiTraqGO8Ixe0XMQEaqo4c/s1600/photo(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd2C69Oqe9gkIoF1Q09fJpglSEwV3S2-vTl2LKZgboU2Ew66UPlL8yK5smqhPiJOxkOc0-kM69zYrIonH6eOlOoCPrvLIq3yG3-8kjHLwpX_sztcbf3COOXqiTraqGO8Ixe0XMQEaqo4c/s320/photo(1).JPG" /></a></div>
<p>
A lot of people have been asking, so I figured this was the best way to inform those who wanted to know. Continued prayers are always appreciated. Brittneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04428213046094726010noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1647490286390217463.post-89924577370309304612013-06-15T16:00:00.000+02:002013-06-15T16:00:02.188+02:00Budapest, Hungary<p>From Vienna, we drove to Budapest. This is a place that I have wanted to go for a while and it didn’t disappoint.  I think Budapest makes the list for one of the top places we’ve visited.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-MpaIQZ7ih_0/UboFHDZjsCI/AAAAAAAAFDA/RhPIgMvy4NI/s1600-h/184%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="184" border="0" alt="184" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-9CghEPTSKbk/UboFHuVAFQI/AAAAAAAAFDI/fhl8FxbhK9s/184_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-37fX75wEmiw/UboFILswXMI/AAAAAAAAFDQ/dMYEsTB7nB8/s1600-h/185%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="185" border="0" alt="185" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-DBCVonsqu5U/UboFISzVScI/AAAAAAAAFDU/IZ7BFuB5gaI/185_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="291" /></a></p> <p align="center">St. Stephen's Basilica</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-uOLv8BcNLKg/UboFIiqP8VI/AAAAAAAAFDc/UVs72fB6Mg4/s1600-h/Budapest%2525201%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Budapest 1" border="0" alt="Budapest 1" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-4ZaKc31vhqM/UboFI3Sa5tI/AAAAAAAAFDo/uDzEIvBLIWU/Budapest%2525201_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="291" /></a></p> <p align="center">Dohány Street Synagogue</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-puTzTls_5dE/UboFJac6aiI/AAAAAAAAFDw/NM1Qn82NAn0/s1600-h/189%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="189" border="0" alt="189" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-OZNVitHvIGY/UboFJqCKjlI/AAAAAAAAFD0/xlClWij2EfA/189_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="291" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-xtbriVUEo38/UboFJ6rGjLI/AAAAAAAAFEA/NR0hcWw1a9w/s1600-h/192%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="192" border="0" alt="192" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-3qMRz4jgH28/UboFKf2zJYI/AAAAAAAAFEI/GyBuOPiRenE/192_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-7XMaLNxotBo/UboFKqQ6B1I/AAAAAAAAFEQ/a2gVON4vYRw/s1600-h/196%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="196" border="0" alt="196" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-gnfGLSaP6RI/UboFK56BuTI/AAAAAAAAFEY/HPFV6EvFe2U/196_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a></p> <p align="center">Castle Hill in the background </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Xa0XrLPaf1I/UboFLPoG3VI/AAAAAAAAFEg/sqlq4SZEzmQ/s1600-h/200%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="200" border="0" alt="200" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Tb3FGr4t55I/UboFLgI6G8I/AAAAAAAAFEo/oj046-EByEU/200_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="291" /></a></p> <p align="center">Parliament building</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-8JzYdMDkeIQ/UboFL1uRlgI/AAAAAAAAFEw/2njGmonfrjY/s1600-h/210%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="210" border="0" alt="210" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-dUM2tiO3aM0/UboFMG9D0zI/AAAAAAAAFE4/dzoft5CQXfE/210_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ds5Ji6Q59rQ/UboFMTXq5vI/AAAAAAAAFFA/Mjx9y5IMUAE/s1600-h/Budapest%2525207%2525281%252529%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Budapest 7(1)" border="0" alt="Budapest 7(1)" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-OEvhTFiLnJU/UboFMm6hFnI/AAAAAAAAFFI/1Nsp1Gg3xwA/Budapest%2525207%2525281%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="216" /></a></p> <p align="center">House of Terror! Sorry, they wouldn't let us take pictures inside. It was here where people were detained, tortured and killed during the Hungarian Revolution</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-GcknWmKloew/UboFNMc33MI/AAAAAAAAFFM/nksbJUDgFAM/s1600-h/242%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="242" border="0" alt="242" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-IeS8P2YheP8/UboFNSMnLyI/AAAAAAAAFFY/MR-Qdy175ro/242_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="291" /></a></p> <p align="center">Heroes' Square</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-CVjcOokN9jA/UboFNufDZWI/AAAAAAAAFFg/HGEWXOtahg4/s1600-h/245%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="245" border="0" alt="245" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-6k3pr1gcgjI/UboFODVjVWI/AAAAAAAAFFo/8lsYfLkg3lw/245_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-U5pGcJu2BPM/UboFOZciOtI/AAAAAAAAFFw/GPXXP-8qvhs/s1600-h/252%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="252" border="0" alt="252" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-keBSJm0zCO0/UboFOr1ilxI/AAAAAAAAFF4/VKsjTjKelXw/252_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a></p> <p align="center">Vajdahunyad Castle-Built in 1896 for the Millennial celebrations, this large complex houses 21 exact replicas of the most magnificent and historic buildings of Hungary</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-PU0c0R7tBSU/UboFO33tYCI/AAAAAAAAFGA/ZEkyAplwtg0/s1600-h/Budapest%2525208%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Budapest 8" border="0" alt="Budapest 8" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-j-ygSMsXuPQ/UboFPX-zo4I/AAAAAAAAFGI/VHiFZTdawF8/Budapest%2525208_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-h4plTpwuXVE/UboFPh9sUtI/AAAAAAAAFGQ/TYbvnJiTzrs/s1600-h/Budapest%2525209%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Budapest 9" border="0" alt="Budapest 9" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrvaah94YggWxjVWITiICwYoE46Uu2K4jrlQpGDZR4EomYfSw3OCZaPTzC7zyjhd008xxnAFcdpiY1OOTdnRx8KK8QXhMcqdDvCuKW8BKfBzc1iCdEATSAnjmJ43t0Y1HPC0QHubW9O5w/?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Ldxvc5YN1VQ/UboFQczYTwI/AAAAAAAAFGg/H6US6IsLfB0/s1600-h/Budapest%25252010%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Budapest 10" border="0" alt="Budapest 10" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-spsaFzE9MBc/UboFQ8-49bI/AAAAAAAAFGk/pviwPgVW6sU/Budapest%25252010_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a></p> <p align="center">Fisherman's Bastion</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-oyX6qc40R4Q/UboFRGhoeUI/AAAAAAAAFGw/ZhQr7McEyw4/s1600-h/279%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="279" border="0" alt="279" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-rT-6ERsuT5A/UboFRSHER2I/AAAAAAAAFG0/H-r22HSEzCg/279_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a></p> <p align="center">Views of the City from Fisherman's Bastion</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-IH8Mz_B3_Wc/UboFR9j8EAI/AAAAAAAAFHA/uYO5PeFeFnY/s1600-h/284%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="284" border="0" alt="284" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-TyBDFXlaPmk/UboFSMUEDrI/AAAAAAAAFHI/UfPCY6u-tUs/284_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxB7ErvRdYelPd4F_wiwRQkrIGvpC5xa-eIsmEiivg3Bgrj-yMqMMXuFYJ71GHVHjE9Kdx9g_sEOkV39XGoymeJuQRJPiLAsWD9qgR5qlDrWgoPmQLSgFpj2O4Gb0VasVRgYFUx4lu3Ns/s1600-h/286%2525281%252529%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="286(1)" border="0" alt="286(1)" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-MXiBPBbvsIk/UboFS6yaLVI/AAAAAAAAFHY/cQiQuKLV6uw/286%2525281%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-oOT6I7cdZF4/UboFTOl45RI/AAAAAAAAFHg/t8of78z1Dts/s1600-h/Budapest%25252011%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Budapest 11" border="0" alt="Budapest 11" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-iTbwkg-DqYs/UboFTbp_CmI/AAAAAAAAFHo/MCNTzMfA-_M/Budapest%25252011_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4LZ2on6ANuUzyc2To3PjNgKwwnoq90YSlKnrlTU4mU_rgBFOKE98zL6TqSD0E4wX4Y-7o-R6jjMPZrmxWpPNphgZgNuT_69MOuvESGpplKaZdQvGJyC7dpt4ebRQDMP6OU8dpUJo_akA/s1600-h/Budapest%25252012%2525281%252529%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Budapest 12(1)" border="0" alt="Budapest 12(1)" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEUHc7Tg2HotyFbu695UzQJO5qk1LWZMWc8vBLDsuGRf4e2_eOrbQAD9JU6Z959ehhFbLPLqjClIYHPqTvW_4HVSXG0GuMwdwa7hmX2-t_M6RtShyphenhyphenXGL5bTNBEtFNMiPVfgf6V7qxA108/?imgmax=800" width="191" height="291" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-18tajs0_UvU/UboFUdNjlOI/AAAAAAAAFIA/C8zvPWS8ixg/s1600-h/Budapest%25252013%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Budapest 13" border="0" alt="Budapest 13" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-CrAIg4_8kuQ/UboFUpnilYI/AAAAAAAAFII/ClaMZHkMFL8/Budapest%25252013_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ePrDMpPYZtY/UboFU5EVGpI/AAAAAAAAFIQ/xMIXY9ybaQ0/s1600-h/287%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="287" border="0" alt="287" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-hJf_4XvDFJQ/UboFVWCorWI/AAAAAAAAFIY/sdzHoX_BwLE/287_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="291" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-oemKLNM-low/UboFVumu_mI/AAAAAAAAFIg/OLX2gWoPjX8/s1600-h/294%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="294" border="0" alt="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghf4-MKsO5SLedxe3kGrUtsTVs-DpQBLF6jILxE0ejvVRzkzs4YziK6FWKmZpM7t-TLGGgk4vgKXZMEDqEQ91mkZ4emWxy0mYK4Kg5rHX5QsTaAUMKGBpPcGHJ7GN54u7j8KreiUw4Mbg/?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a></p> <p align="center">Matthias Church</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-_dEYCNIhvNs/UboFWQXs2PI/AAAAAAAAFIs/TvYiRNN5Rek/s1600-h/301%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="301" border="0" alt="301" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-gfwQRg3tlus/UboFWoxgCZI/AAAAAAAAFI4/_1HRThroJxc/301_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="291" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-WtIPuAON2ug/UboFWxbv29I/AAAAAAAAFJA/oyPE3uEo9Zo/s1600-h/306%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="306" border="0" alt="306" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-NVpGL_2J9mg/UboFXBuN_xI/AAAAAAAAFJI/gqb0eiBjCXg/306_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="291" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-mxTJEtCbC2Q/UboFXsIRSKI/AAAAAAAAFJQ/ejkEukE62Xo/s1600-h/308%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="308" border="0" alt="308" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-symZCFBpCWE/UboFX7kfz8I/AAAAAAAAFJY/FS4V9VlBW3w/308_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="291" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-0YaS8H8GmzQ/UboFYCoXs7I/AAAAAAAAFJg/wjnt2bj-n6s/s1600-h/315%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="315" border="0" alt="315" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-qF8qdrECQKM/UboFYevjHpI/AAAAAAAAFJo/dvA14-L3wYc/315_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="291" /></a></p> <p align="center">The Hospital in the Rock.This hospital was used when Budapest was under siege from 1944-45 and in 1956. It was upgraded and extended to a nuclear bunker in the early '60s because of the Cold War. They just made it known to people in 2002. They wouldn't allow up to take photo's on the tour</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-TYqpIKzikbc/UboFYkT77WI/AAAAAAAAFJw/CUxMEzWPeZw/s1600-h/316%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="316" border="0" alt="316" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-_lH2-y0xjmY/UboFZGK-3cI/AAAAAAAAFJ4/GCcxdP44_VI/316_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a></p> <p align="center">From this location we walked down the hill and across the Chain Bridge</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-xMyIzvNeDeo/UboFZaZa9zI/AAAAAAAAFJ8/bZNGbD149RU/s1600-h/327%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="327" border="0" alt="327" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Gd4j-z-uDa4/UboFZ1kfsmI/AAAAAAAAFKI/SD-DL0omfDI/327_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a></p> <p align="center">I LOVED the Lions at the beginnings of the bridge</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-gBlUtrk0L_0/UboFaADoQiI/AAAAAAAAFKQ/XOBqFbnKatA/s1600-h/347%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="347" border="0" alt="347" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-4XP3S1YINvU/UboFaZJqCCI/AAAAAAAAFKU/PT_SlCYISaI/347_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="291" /></a></p> <p align="center">Why they call is a chain bridge</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-GC8ehy-FgwA/UboFa6e7OqI/AAAAAAAAFKg/kwF4FDc6vcs/s1600-h/351%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="351" border="0" alt="351" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-KcW0CKeHdxA/UboFbPnHHXI/AAAAAAAAFKo/j-tGYTaPKW0/351_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-71UngjfhVjY/UboFbXLMtMI/AAAAAAAAFKw/I59ukxkLi3M/s1600-h/354%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="354" border="0" alt="354" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Ogdtft6Qqww/UboFboJshUI/AAAAAAAAFK4/1MSINdZcD6Q/354_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="291" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-pkSHX9Tp6HE/UboFb8SfMLI/AAAAAAAAFLA/D5mxT9Gfs7Y/s1600-h/Budapest%25252016%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Budapest 16" border="0" alt="Budapest 16" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-zLnD0NFIV2U/UboFcSDeBJI/AAAAAAAAFLI/a4h-kTydoHk/Budapest%25252016_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a></p> <p align="center">This thing was delicious! Dough that was placed on a wooded rolling pin like thing, the set in a rotating oven, then covered in Cinnamon sugar...they had other options as well. They call them Kürtőskalács, if you are in Budapest, get one!</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-g36IVa4qCjI/UboFcuNr90I/AAAAAAAAFLQ/LTCLx9lwTPo/s1600-h/356%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="356" border="0" alt="356" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-zqD_MtWT9-U/UboFc4QAGEI/AAAAAAAAFLY/SwGU1YcSxW4/356_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="291" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-5OopHIlVI_8/UboFdNeDpnI/AAAAAAAAFLg/JBpPBW6kieE/s1600-h/Budapest%25252017%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Budapest 17" border="0" alt="Budapest 17" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxylYnxqyn3aWWx6RRNjWpx0IucgVJ6CyUuMd77XMjRw8-qCd5KUEDGE2eZrwYByWrb6Vht2k7F4fGfngTsTGKK9z5SvtbBrs9zhmwezxdsZfrNtK-ODCdg4HgmP4N8OlXRO59chyJcyg/?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a></p> <p align="center">Such an amazing city! </p> Brittneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04428213046094726010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1647490286390217463.post-67445793510779664102013-06-14T16:00:00.000+02:002013-06-14T16:00:04.721+02:00Vienna, Austria<p>After Croatia, we took a few days off and went back home to Italy before heading to Vienna then Budapest.  It was very cold here, but we liked the city.  At first I felt it was too big and too modern, but once we started exploring the old palaces, that went away. </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-otfYLAF3zCE/UbjFwQyHe6I/AAAAAAAAE-o/5vqRpdLKYT0/s1600-h/001%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="001" border="0" alt="001" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-rBdDZy6m8Kc/UbjFw2jzUII/AAAAAAAAE-w/PvUF_TcDG3M/001_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-emb8dly-GIk/UbjFxPFKTHI/AAAAAAAAE-0/Yx4rXrVkiKQ/s1600-h/003%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="003" border="0" alt="003" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Y6GNYXq9afg/UbjFxaDnrlI/AAAAAAAAE_A/1fFlM_wlb8E/003_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="291" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-I9_ye7N3m7A/UbjFxlMiRRI/AAAAAAAAE_E/ZXdJVg3VIMM/s1600-h/004%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="004" border="0" alt="004" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-f22PhZtOu6Y/UbjFyO8WuyI/AAAAAAAAE_Q/O4mX0EIi55Q/004_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhow0n3KyUMsoNpWk-WRgnEHHYuL6aBIqx6TBJaQVJlSEZo5M3cZ3scOL2UCiEIXHSHQQjbZXiUHh0fjCoZPJg2bg3nLalT83yWL6NSIqSI7SlZGXbHNvXU3ENmTc-dloxMsfFBOZBmV0U/s1600-h/Vienna%2525202%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Vienna 2" border="0" alt="Vienna 2" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-8PeTGM8Abjg/UbjFzE-yx-I/AAAAAAAAE_g/RCI_b8yzplU/Vienna%2525202_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-wOCfu1ddR3s/UbjFzb_kZVI/AAAAAAAAE_k/bimtnxOR3MU/s1600-h/Vienna%2525203%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Vienna 3" border="0" alt="Vienna 3" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-eNcVr-6xRzY/UbjFzt4btmI/AAAAAAAAE_w/0QGXP7aKtME/Vienna%2525203_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-WlexDKivG-w/UbjF0D9dlTI/AAAAAAAAE_4/KfYHnhxcqN8/s1600-h/036%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="036" border="0" alt="036" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-KiGtNvOfka8/UbjF0WAHf7I/AAAAAAAAE_8/1Ridv-K15oA/036_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-81ot2EqL03g/UbjF0--vG5I/AAAAAAAAFAI/RF7_TazsnHw/s1600-h/042%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="042" border="0" alt="042" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-5Ui93o1dPKU/UbjF1FSxKrI/AAAAAAAAFAM/TebRfovk4Lk/042_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="291" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-MV3nwz8mDUk/UbjF1ZntKgI/AAAAAAAAFAY/RXc2Jw2fVGg/s1600-h/048%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="048" border="0" alt="048" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-G9NfnEdkWAU/UbjF14oXVNI/AAAAAAAAFAc/UV3XnKKUXSs/048_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-nSngSsn1Ttk/UbjF2MvcN2I/AAAAAAAAFAo/FzSUlvmbxho/s1600-h/083%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="083" border="0" alt="083" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-DuxHAlVI2KE/UbjF2qCF3-I/AAAAAAAAFAw/mNUEKtlG0zQ/083_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-T7ZZ-kywgVw/UbjF20qT5MI/AAAAAAAAFA4/-pv_eUvhDGs/s1600-h/084%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="084" border="0" alt="084" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Q5DDSk98Ov8/UbjF3DQFt1I/AAAAAAAAFBA/1p8TQHVjM6s/084_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="291" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ROL_YH2-U28/UbjF3nHsdnI/AAAAAAAAFBI/-SYL6x0PmZE/s1600-h/088%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="088" border="0" alt="088" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-daq-Jxfrf-c/UbjF4AoSY0I/AAAAAAAAFBQ/Q0cNVvAfT4k/088_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="291" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-m-wATLGjHNw/UbjF4a4MJnI/AAAAAAAAFBY/YKhpXD-wlQ4/s1600-h/098%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="098" border="0" alt="098" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-mFlB9uejW9U/UbjF4kf0aPI/AAAAAAAAFBg/iVf_8FbkGn0/098_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-5A2b2SaQJbY/UbjF4_Qr18I/AAAAAAAAFBo/xezJxUAzOU4/s1600-h/106%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="106" border="0" alt="106" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-QhxZHp3vRmM/UbjF5SjAfoI/AAAAAAAAFBs/MwJzn6H9vJA/106_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="291" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-1TMxc2d2zNA/UbjF5koAr6I/AAAAAAAAFB4/dNyeHm8UMaI/s1600-h/128%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="128" border="0" alt="128" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-niFl7ZLLd4s/UbjF6OZY2zI/AAAAAAAAFCA/XjbBZF9VKgg/128_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-TV7TiLZgBSo/UbjF6QdqsPI/AAAAAAAAFCI/KQjtyp5m4k8/s1600-h/135%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="135" border="0" alt="135" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-B2fNO67UYwc/UbjF61fqTUI/AAAAAAAAFCQ/OR5GzRsig2I/135_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="291" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-YcoG2vKACIc/UbjF7OWYifI/AAAAAAAAFCY/eURV4CiifVQ/s1600-h/138%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="138" border="0" alt="138" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-rO3dSq3_T-M/UbjF7bJwPRI/AAAAAAAAFCg/UYDYJmHOjjA/138_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-tiP0jDsIQ3k/UbjF72Wp_yI/AAAAAAAAFCo/mZcdA7arb2w/s1600-h/139%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="139" border="0" alt="139" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-bI7U4DotTMI/UbjF8LFoZfI/AAAAAAAAFCs/QtWcPQ5Y2mw/139_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a></p> <p>We went all over, museums, crypts, palaces, churches and can’t forget the zoo!  I bet the palace gardens are much more beautiful in the spring/summer, but I’m glad we got to see Vienna!  </p> Brittneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04428213046094726010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1647490286390217463.post-81165407743879410992013-06-13T08:00:00.000+02:002013-06-13T08:00:09.840+02:00Plitvice National Lakes Park, Croatia<p>Dan and I left Dubrovnik and headed to this beautiful place.  It wasn’t the best weather, but the water was still a beautiful color and because it was the end of October, there was barely anyone there.  It was awesome. </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-3rrv4tm_Y1o/UbjDCceUwaI/AAAAAAAAE2Q/_6vtlgMIwIk/s1600-h/008%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="008" border="0" alt="008" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-0p_R_Q7u4s0/UbjDCiHmmHI/AAAAAAAAE2Y/dshQtyniPHQ/008_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-R7b8zGw05RY/UbjDCxSefLI/AAAAAAAAE2g/zuFHCD5Atc8/s1600-h/024%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="024" border="0" alt="024" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-oIsjeGHHRnU/UbjDDZ5ACDI/AAAAAAAAE2o/xMKSCc43HpQ/024_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_B9Dfh5hpppDAN7JZ4SU27Yy0qFGpLD4dlT6QO-mhbJmL8i0k5IXAcbIjuQKyXO4TsdRe9K6ZHVVp7VZRMJKa2L7oH1BHiwC6oOPW2XEyYVw10NeIWbDgABQxETNraBUs0ZSaFIUYMPU/s1600-h/032%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="032" border="0" alt="032" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-aHdGpdoTfGE/UbjDD3BfySI/AAAAAAAAE24/3jvinsuR2Q8/032_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="291" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-41DT6Pn01tU/UbjDEUagN6I/AAAAAAAAE3A/U0GH3MgQl-w/s1600-h/055%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="055" border="0" alt="055" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-VjUEpSZtQG4/UbjDFDlJ_dI/AAAAAAAAE3I/L8zE-_d4_bI/055_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="291" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKxIqzio6zYESRJNA-3byRneDs31wChv9FAjrhYDKWJC9ASNADh8E0URg7cBL6Q5gD6B1rtjfcWhvm-Nu5M3AuuTL5WZ68yVh08Ho1Avj7sAJMWystM2ECcSVPD93Royv-H_T3hRhqhdU/s1600-h/062%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="062" border="0" alt="062" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-sv44Ow2zy-I/UbjDF3elQXI/AAAAAAAAE3Y/Txu6AuBbNZQ/062_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="291" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-QQQzvM_6rDI/UbjDGORcOjI/AAAAAAAAE3g/0zwZn8wwwIQ/s1600-h/Plitvice%2525201%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Plitvice 1" border="0" alt="Plitvice 1" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-rHQgr2ff3BA/UbjDGfX1SNI/AAAAAAAAE3o/H8N6BTykbb4/Plitvice%2525201_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="282" height="430" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-o-jJYObBEW4/UbjDG8CdMFI/AAAAAAAAE3w/BjBkDZP7tds/s1600-h/Plitvice%2525202%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Plitvice 2" border="0" alt="Plitvice 2" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-IIj6MF02IqA/UbjDHHVwtJI/AAAAAAAAE34/9KYo0AKmO-I/Plitvice%2525202_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="291" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-gQ9ZLfxlLPE/UbjDHc5HrJI/AAAAAAAAE4A/5i9MjtiGYbU/s1600-h/Plitvice%2525203%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Plitvice 3" border="0" alt="Plitvice 3" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-LNa1cgbDWGc/UbjDHuSbCPI/AAAAAAAAE4I/2Jym4rp7EZo/Plitvice%2525203_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-fKNuLtNOCzM/UbjDIKWWYjI/AAAAAAAAE4M/dO-BY16gTCQ/s1600-h/Plitvice%2525204%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Plitvice 4" border="0" alt="Plitvice 4" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-T_cu5kFBBHg/UbjDIZX6XZI/AAAAAAAAE4Y/dzsSgLdCnVY/Plitvice%2525204_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="291" height="444" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-TrO9RzOpI8E/UbjDIzJaoLI/AAAAAAAAE4g/s-wDMkr1G4k/s1600-h/Plitvice%2525205%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Plitvice 5" border="0" alt="Plitvice 5" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-XlbPmsGqKWo/UbjDJKiXKqI/AAAAAAAAE4o/3cORLQA5QpI/Plitvice%2525205_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6qtMxAzIZFrPtcBq49C57gTd4J7XtL36vNmxmjLwCCT4Eik8_PojH4mEXefbmaOuqbnIBv8aAMEghJu03myd1N24utZE-QxBRUp_YeGSkqok9t34dFB9Jfx-lyL5KMPEWvDfqbn-5leY/s1600-h/Plitvice%25252012%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Plitvice 12" border="0" alt="Plitvice 12" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-qvX4OTSc-18/UbjDJ1PnlzI/AAAAAAAAE44/Q3u6xTFv5HU/Plitvice%25252012_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="291" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-TbluAzHS0zc/UbjDKYcnywI/AAAAAAAAE48/TOoKAR5HSxk/s1600-h/Plitvice%25252013%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Plitvice 13" border="0" alt="Plitvice 13" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-jtHD1Qr0fkU/UbjDK4CP0sI/AAAAAAAAE5I/D5zSgVQcX3s/Plitvice%25252013_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="291" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-pq1W2PfcI4k/UbjDLJxjkyI/AAAAAAAAE5Q/pfjoMhqk2Wg/s1600-h/182%252520%2525281%252529%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="182 (1)" border="0" alt="182 (1)" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-htdBx32NyL8/UbjDLsvvCEI/AAAAAAAAE5Y/lL75qtavkN4/182%252520%2525281%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-1xZVDGEd60E/UbjDMDxNFqI/AAAAAAAAE5c/Ml9ZqpVW6Fw/s1600-h/Plitvice%25252014%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Plitvice 14" border="0" alt="Plitvice 14" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-d5Jr6hQUycA/UbjDMd9jF_I/AAAAAAAAE5o/DjnDMF41qdU/Plitvice%25252014_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-i0uhGOt3pQA/UbjDM-3hD_I/AAAAAAAAE5w/3CF1XSubQNk/s1600-h/Plitvice%25252015%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Plitvice 15" border="0" alt="Plitvice 15" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-QKO4ewFrt0c/UbjDNUWTNoI/AAAAAAAAE54/1tyDO1cWSV0/Plitvice%25252015_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8A4oEcG7Cs4/UbjDNkFla6I/AAAAAAAAE6A/12HqHaovBy8/s1600-h/Plitvice%25252018%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Plitvice 18" border="0" alt="Plitvice 18" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--0jQl6w7Szk/UbjDOI7ravI/AAAAAAAAE6I/TN7Who1Dh3o/Plitvice%25252018_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-spRde315ho8/UbjDOYdFcrI/AAAAAAAAE6Q/Eoiw8WRPzQA/s1600-h/Plitvice%25252019%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Plitvice 19" border="0" alt="Plitvice 19" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-g7XeP3M-1oU/UbjDO_yDP2I/AAAAAAAAE6Y/rGi_0sO9-SY/Plitvice%25252019_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Hx9spVlZ4Xo/UbjDPTCjgEI/AAAAAAAAE6g/V_cddXPaB9k/s1600-h/Plitvice%25252020%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Plitvice 20" border="0" alt="Plitvice 20" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-lOT-AIORsaU/UbjDPl4HNXI/AAAAAAAAE6o/BQilDUGmwqg/Plitvice%25252020_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Jj0yXeKAs8c/UbjDQCHS9AI/AAAAAAAAE6w/tWEAFe-IdbY/s1600-h/Plitvice%25252021%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Plitvice 21" border="0" alt="Plitvice 21" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-06pX46AoCOU/UbjDQdyDgpI/AAAAAAAAE60/LH1B55hMKH0/Plitvice%25252021_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="291" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-PBZu8-7b73A/UbjDQg5jGiI/AAAAAAAAE7A/mEoOadKrtoM/s1600-h/Plitvice%25252022%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Plitvice 22" border="0" alt="Plitvice 22" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Binx373nGBA/UbjDQ8xw_SI/AAAAAAAAE7I/m0sQa_Nlf90/Plitvice%25252022_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="269" height="410" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-xHGFY0Z5NjE/UbjDRRJ5soI/AAAAAAAAE7Q/CgtwFT83LF0/s1600-h/Plitvice%25252023%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Plitvice 23" border="0" alt="Plitvice 23" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-FEqZ4NpQEWc/UbjDRlMmxqI/AAAAAAAAE7Y/SikoNgvnCXQ/Plitvice%25252023_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="291" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-9bkVYYhHO9U/UbjDSN07JcI/AAAAAAAAE7g/Y3V4aidf7yM/s1600-h/Plitvice%25252024%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Plitvice 24" border="0" alt="Plitvice 24" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-fvPb1rGItGs/UbjDSkQEy_I/AAAAAAAAE7o/mzwmrAB3FGI/Plitvice%25252024_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="262" height="399" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-KFuNjXNIaPs/UbjDS8McyEI/AAAAAAAAE7w/NOSOd_AVFoQ/s1600-h/Plitvice%25252025%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Plitvice 25" border="0" alt="Plitvice 25" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-BQ_5ERDUdz4/UbjDTIpObyI/AAAAAAAAE74/g_5RuSAr8jo/Plitvice%25252025_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-1zUye5djz8o/UbjDTQG3G0I/AAAAAAAAE8A/B7KNh8_2iVk/s1600-h/Plitvice%25252027%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Plitvice 27" border="0" alt="Plitvice 27" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-bgD60dY6hlc/UbjDTxc5IaI/AAAAAAAAE8I/fsVzW6V5N5E/Plitvice%25252027_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-gIndDZdYXfc/UbjDUD2XtLI/AAAAAAAAE8Q/14oY2CPGP74/s1600-h/Plitvice%25252028%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Plitvice 28" border="0" alt="Plitvice 28" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-xbumO0QxNsk/UbjDUbCETQI/AAAAAAAAE8Y/mjDMPWXin7U/Plitvice%25252028_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="291" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-gz1ZJ5hFs2o/UbjDU-OFNlI/AAAAAAAAE8g/pyunJKeobVk/s1600-h/Plitvice%25252029%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Plitvice 29" border="0" alt="Plitvice 29" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-wNSKLIS71P0/UbjDVGTuMGI/AAAAAAAAE8o/BRaxxipYbCE/Plitvice%25252029_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="291" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-s5Ss4zJVR3A/UbjDVQA3_dI/AAAAAAAAE8w/yaH_UKHJM_I/s1600-h/Plitvice%25252030%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Plitvice 30" border="0" alt="Plitvice 30" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-hx8c8LcfIl0/UbjDVyDehvI/AAAAAAAAE84/elMbOcgR4Vo/Plitvice%25252030_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="253" height="385" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-cGaH5hQrRlM/UbjDWBfiT6I/AAAAAAAAE9A/hOpIPDRpBwA/s1600-h/Plitvice%25252031%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Plitvice 31" border="0" alt="Plitvice 31" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-yACFwl4QkCs/UbjDWlaCx2I/AAAAAAAAE9I/skaCUvv9gos/Plitvice%25252031_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="291" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-GM4O_QTfTzg/UbjDXWfTtwI/AAAAAAAAE9Q/Mrti_PvhR9k/s1600-h/Plitvice%25252034%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Plitvice 34" border="0" alt="Plitvice 34" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-TxRbB_7bMOI/UbjDXqVmV7I/AAAAAAAAE9Y/7QdnqcDQ8ZU/Plitvice%25252034_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="291" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-1ibNGFj81Yw/UbjDYO_Wi1I/AAAAAAAAE9g/ezN1duhj7rc/s1600-h/Plitvice%25252041%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Plitvice 41" border="0" alt="Plitvice 41" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-TNrrzc4po-s/UbjDYQ9HbSI/AAAAAAAAE9o/zPfOcDtiaDU/Plitvice%25252041_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-qb_Ao95PANQ/UbjDYsBZTLI/AAAAAAAAE9s/cRMNsQ5WkPA/s1600-h/Plitvice%25252043%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Plitvice 43" border="0" alt="Plitvice 43" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-qgeJr1TPnWc/UbjDZO9iEWI/AAAAAAAAE94/pY0DXlULe8M/Plitvice%25252043_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="291" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-NcJ1BgfrfSo/UbjDZchWvQI/AAAAAAAAE-A/xFmi80FiZRk/s1600-h/Plitvice%25252049%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Plitvice 49" border="0" alt="Plitvice 49" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-KqK_tVvrI_Q/UbjDZkolMQI/AAAAAAAAE-I/8NoLFo3uhts/Plitvice%25252049_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Kd0B_Y3p1BU/UbjDaNaQnrI/AAAAAAAAE-Q/l4a2YStcBB8/s1600-h/Plitvice%25252051%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Plitvice 51" border="0" alt="Plitvice 51" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-aZxtufnRmGI/UbjDaaC_zQI/AAAAAAAAE-Y/ilJcMOJg7fw/Plitvice%25252051_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a></p> <p>If you ever have the chance to go to this amazing place…GO!  You won’t regret it! </p> Brittneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04428213046094726010noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1647490286390217463.post-91637654621580143822013-06-12T20:19:00.001+02:002013-06-12T20:19:23.314+02:00All Settled in!<p>I know, another few months…what can I say..I’m a slacker.  </p> <p>Dan and I arrived in Albuquerque, NM on April 17th after visiting out family in Florida for a little bit.  It was great seeing family and friends that I haven’t seen in years.  </p> <p>When we got here we stayed on base in TLF for a month and hit the ground running looking for a house. We decided to buy since we are going to be here a while and it’s time to start investing in something.  We had a great realtor, which I’ve been in contact with even when we were in Italy, he’s been wonderful and still calls and texts me to this day to make sure things are well.  </p> <p>We found a house and moved in on May 16th. The whole house needed painted, our realtor had a contact for that, he did the whole house, ceilings, baseboards and all in a week and a half.  He started before closing, the seller was really nice about letting us do this and he finished a few days before our stuff arrived from Italy. It looks great, he did a great job.  </p> <p>This move only took us 2 days to get settled and on day 3 we had stuff hung already, the house looks great and came together really nicely.  I haven’t taken pics yet, but I will and post them on another blog.  </p> <p align="center">Some pics from our hikes</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-L5iE6_g6fUQ/Ubi7lmIevJI/AAAAAAAAE0A/QpjPLwVCD1k/s1600-h/255614_10101553118256114_1316501198_n%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="255614_10101553118256114_1316501198_n" border="0" alt="255614_10101553118256114_1316501198_n" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-7WT7GEeXtp4/Ubi7l3aPaEI/AAAAAAAAE0E/SUDeovFRe6c/255614_10101553118256114_1316501198_n_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="511" height="345" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-QARvtRYqWuQ/Ubi7mIAK3kI/AAAAAAAAE0Q/_RIz8tnyJI4/s1600-h/247463_10101553118156314_1514456193_n%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="247463_10101553118156314_1514456193_n" border="0" alt="247463_10101553118156314_1514456193_n" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-3sEK_1lem1k/Ubi7mVxmTAI/AAAAAAAAE0Y/gkaIUmetDJk/247463_10101553118156314_1514456193_n_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-mvlhCGii8BA/Ubi7m3KPiEI/AAAAAAAAE0g/sivpxOL8Zrc/s1600-h/abq%252520pan%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="abq pan" border="0" alt="abq pan" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-L2VC1RVyjbw/Ubi7nD76H2I/AAAAAAAAE0k/O5C2NDoLTRw/abq%252520pan_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="545" height="175" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-YlUoYBSc6jQ/Ubi7noSv9pI/AAAAAAAAE0w/ObPdYi5e9qQ/s1600-h/tentrocks%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="tentrocks" border="0" alt="tentrocks" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ggNnpdMycjk/Ubi7n8IdfJI/AAAAAAAAE04/se680gYhDnA/tentrocks_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="175" /></a></p> <p align="center">These pics were taken in/from the back yard. Shae loves to lay out in the grass and a pic of the Sunset.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-kJxV0oUiYlM/Ubi7oFJ9OGI/AAAAAAAAE1A/olC9TJmDGRA/s1600-h/923254_10101574417387484_1559728745_n%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="923254_10101574417387484_1559728745_n" border="0" alt="923254_10101574417387484_1559728745_n" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-gBmMuiWLw3A/Ubi7ouYkbfI/AAAAAAAAE1I/WtS7MEvCOLI/923254_10101574417387484_1559728745_n_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="387" height="291" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-3C-tMIYWNxc/Ubi7o1wyWNI/AAAAAAAAE1Q/TkZVywEh50g/s1600-h/sunset%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="sunset" border="0" alt="sunset" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-BUni2xofX_4/Ubi7pOgBoYI/AAAAAAAAE1Y/lgaXFPdVaac/sunset_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="387" height="291" /></a></p> <p>Here is a picture of the front of our house and a view from the guest bedroom</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-KdUrLp_HQTI/Ubi7pYP1O0I/AAAAAAAAE1g/iT0lPFrY2ik/s1600-h/315636_10101543737245734_203890926_n%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="315636_10101543737245734_203890926_n" border="0" alt="315636_10101543737245734_203890926_n" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-TERhcwI41f8/Ubi7pk9KBBI/AAAAAAAAE1o/HX1CIdZUUc8/315636_10101543737245734_203890926_n_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="387" height="291" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ynh5mZZCYp0/Ubi7p4gTHMI/AAAAAAAAE1w/sJHImstoqPY/s1600-h/310792_10101543737330564_1907462840_n%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="310792_10101543737330564_1907462840_n" border="0" alt="310792_10101543737330564_1907462840_n" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-FWeJn5b4k1Q/Ubi7qUpjWGI/AAAAAAAAE14/yvJGO2eWm9s/310792_10101543737330564_1907462840_n_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="387" height="291" /></a></p> <p>I am going to start writing blogs from the past trips we went on, they will probably be mainly picture blogs, but the pics are too good not to share <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" alt="Smile" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-nvwRK_4zf5s/Ubi7qhXGiJI/AAAAAAAAE18/gX9pKIFtuuk/wlEmoticon-smile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" /></p> Brittneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04428213046094726010noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1647490286390217463.post-72458141838459982472013-03-15T09:20:00.001+01:002013-03-15T09:20:18.907+01:00Been a long time..<p align="center">Once again, it's been a while since I have blogged, I am not very good at this.  When Dan got back from his deployment, we've been busy with traveling ever since.  I posted a few blogs on that, but still need to post on Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia, Vienna, Austria and Budapest, Hungary.  After those trips Dan went back to work and I went to Ohio to visit my family as my Grandmother wasn't doing well. I got to spend Thanksgiving there, it was great to see everyone. </p> <p align="center"> <br />We also found out in November what our next duty assignment would be, which is Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico. We were pretty excited about that, as it's the best base in NM to be stationed at and Dan has been there a few times for TDY's and enjoyed it.  I am looking forward to it because I've never been to that part of the country.  It will be sad to leave Italy, but such is life.</p> <p align="center">  <br />On the weekends Dan and I went to London, Barcelona and Munich, I went to Slovenia for a spa weekend with my friend, Monica. </p> <p align="center"> <br />Just a few weeks ago my best friend (that I've known since we were about 11 years old) and her husband came out for a visit.  They wanted to be here to celebrate their wedding anniversary and we had a wonderful time with them.  The day they got here we went to what I call Prosecco Land, it's a beautiful are just an hour away from us. The day after they got in, we flew to Paris, spent 3 nights there, came back here and went to Venice the next day. Then we headed to Rome and stayed there 3 nights.  It was a good trip and was great to spend time with them like that, as we have done that in many, many years.  </p> <p align="center"> <br />On Monday and Tuesday all of our stuff was packed up and taken away to be shipped back to the states.  Our apartment is pretty empty, TMO brought us a "couch" and a bed that I can picture Fred Flintstone sleeping on..it's rock hard.  We move out of here on March 25th and move onto base in TLF and then fly out on April 4th, my birthday! We are going to go to Florida and visit family there for a few weeks, then will fly out and head to Albuquerque on April 17th.</p> <p align="center"> <br />It's hard to believe we have lived in Italy the last 3 years and that we are leaving.  I will be happy to be back in the states, the land of convenience, but will miss Italy and traveling very much.  Excited for the next chapter in our lives though! <br />I will try and start getting caught up on all these blogs! </p> Brittneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04428213046094726010noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1647490286390217463.post-14134102173356464532012-11-05T09:00:00.000+01:002012-11-05T09:00:07.279+01:00Dubrovnik, Croatia<p>Dubrovnik was amazing.  We had to pass through Bosnia to get there which was neat, once again the drive was pretty easy and beautiful!  </p> <p>The old town is surrounded by walls, which you can walk on and walk all the way around the city.  Croatia declared independence in 1991, which led to an attack on Dubrovnik that lasted for seven months, but for the next 3 years continued to had random attacks.  It was neat walking through the town and seeing bullet holes and scrapes in buildings.  Looking at the town, the buildings with the brighter red roofs are the ones that had to be replaced. </p> <p align="center">My dog is such a good little traveler</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-hxz9RAZhYdw/UJVAZAwTdTI/AAAAAAAAEUk/yrj06Jghdaw/s1600-h/025%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="025" border="0" alt="025" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-SK7l3EpKJNQ/UJVAahcrolI/AAAAAAAAEUo/nrdXiRAnGFQ/025_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="387" height="291" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-rul4odTJTXM/UJVAbhm3LhI/AAAAAAAAEU0/rYfGTJY-HHk/s1600-h/068%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="068" border="0" alt="068" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-zr5ulOf5sSU/UJVAddsNKBI/AAAAAAAAEU8/LH9WGD8Imzs/068_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a></p> <p>We took a cable car to the top of the mountain for this beautiful view looking over Dubrovnik.  If you look close, you can see the walls that surround the city, we walked the walls the second day we were there, took about 1.5-2 hours to walk around and sightsee. </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-VCesClvsQjc/UJVAeZbbTXI/AAAAAAAAEVA/TiTFjYHBEb0/s1600-h/080%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="080" border="0" alt="080" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ac_NzZQ-sOs/UJVAgOCY1uI/AAAAAAAAEVM/0CI-F4Phdks/080_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-xUL3W2dJmus/UJVAhZ-hiBI/AAAAAAAAEVU/s_bdcz9nanM/s1600-h/099%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="099" border="0" alt="099" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ZgMyMe2TmVo/UJVAigVdMYI/AAAAAAAAEVc/2RXiGQAq5y4/099_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="291" /></a></p> <p align="center">An old wall that got damaged in the battle</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-xldYrOqj1RA/UJVAj2Z3gXI/AAAAAAAAEVk/Qeu5mEBMVJs/s1600-h/100%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="100" border="0" alt="100" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-zQxRNrVafzk/UJVAmVxrtoI/AAAAAAAAEVs/H2y_OzeJ_Cs/100_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a></p> <p align="center">Castle inside of the walls in the city</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-gB6Zkxp79jU/UJVAnqVB9NI/AAAAAAAAEV0/L3E0hn1VZvA/s1600-h/103%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="103" border="0" alt="103" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-SilvBP_OBy0/UJVAobFrEPI/AAAAAAAAEV8/cM872HvBPXg/103_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU4M2y49dnHWqgJYGZTjUJMBR6Poeqe_GHTSTq33GDyxglEvxzGs5iMMJkH-Wtax2HHwTBhYK0QS96JLOM83I6HgUpOgHDqz2BonceAKLP2C8eVHtmIVGV7Of2ppcRu0tG9D7KyTvqCEw/s1600-h/104%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="104" border="0" alt="104" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-gWllYImLEPw/UJVAqnsCMeI/AAAAAAAAEWM/RF0EPbhTFKM/104_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a></p> <p align="center">Walking down the streets of Dubrovnik.  The buildings on the left were the ones you could see all the bullet marks in</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-1RnM9Xk_-HA/UJVAsBbaD4I/AAAAAAAAEWU/7zZR81veck4/s1600-h/118%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="118" border="0" alt="118" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-9K-Etncizy0/UJVAtWkDJII/AAAAAAAAEWc/7ExW0skNHIg/118_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a></p> <p align="center">This is a picture of the city wall, so we are on a cliff outside the wall at a bar with the water right below to watch the sunset</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-_95bC3CsnGk/UJVAuQLIwNI/AAAAAAAAEWk/7czshZYdFV4/s1600-h/127%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="127" border="0" alt="127" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-57wc6rPfRfI/UJVAvgu1RTI/AAAAAAAAEWo/4Yi6ZcqwZxs/127_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="291" /></a></p> <p align="center">Of you look closely in the picture below, follow the sun down the picture about an inch…see the white thing on the rock?  That’s a cat curled up sleeping. Lucky little thing! </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-RxptUJtRplE/UJVAwbq0QJI/AAAAAAAAEW0/TnI-bvc3GoQ/s1600-h/138%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="138" border="0" alt="138" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ctX-5uIpxRE/UJVAxAV52cI/AAAAAAAAEW8/JY-kgdzEw_Y/138_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-2y0dj8udNGA/UJVAyaSszSI/AAAAAAAAEXA/svoUyrPvvwM/s1600-h/149%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="149" border="0" alt="149" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-aP5XXtsnZMk/UJVAzO4dkhI/AAAAAAAAEXM/uv8oX3VbTWY/149_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-y8TrtVvyOWU/UJVA0oYypgI/AAAAAAAAEXQ/JJrVTTIhwBQ/s1600-h/154%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="154" border="0" alt="154" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-GrhRlN6ikNg/UJVA1XLzxTI/AAAAAAAAEXY/vvLNdtTdG54/154_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-T1GeeHsiJjA/UJVA2sb8qGI/AAAAAAAAEXk/bRZXE7KKhMQ/s1600-h/164%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="164" border="0" alt="164" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-klWeSuQNOhc/UJVA4GS5Z7I/AAAAAAAAEXs/Mvy6fm0_1Tc/164_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="291" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-kCn87B0zDtA/UJVA5EAzxyI/AAAAAAAAEX0/3IE8MEUzsCc/s1600-h/165%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="165" border="0" alt="165" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8zuOxI2wG38/UJVA5_QzoPI/AAAAAAAAEX8/WLIkCBw-5g0/165_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-LfHKqqaZq1k/UJVA68qLiUI/AAAAAAAAEYA/At8y2F77978/s1600-h/174%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="174" border="0" alt="174" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-UwubttPot5k/UJVA7q6UmAI/AAAAAAAAEYM/98n7gMfigNw/174_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a></p> <p>Day two is when we walked the walls around the town, took a glass bottom boat tour around the area and explored the rest of the city. </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-A0RSQlwszRw/UJVA84TPnmI/AAAAAAAAEYU/1gp7KNmHNgw/s1600-h/184%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="184" border="0" alt="184" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-klM0lN4fOLk/UJVA97bUTRI/AAAAAAAAEYc/NzpRPQkqDSo/184_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="291" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ZRbJwUkgrqw/UJVA_brXwcI/AAAAAAAAEYk/FDrFSh5L8Jk/s1600-h/187%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="187" border="0" alt="187" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-HbOmkDzIh-s/UJVBAoo-F_I/AAAAAAAAEYs/VMXz2b-VKAc/187_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a></p> <p align="center">In this pic you can see the brighter red roof at the bottom of the picture, that is one that had to be replaced because it got blasted.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-NgDkUrQpeW0/UJVBBWVMKYI/AAAAAAAAEYw/C-aESQa3WPk/s1600-h/192%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="192" border="0" alt="192" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ML4OYvetlys/UJVBCSg48FI/AAAAAAAAEY8/QBI7V4YeRbk/192_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-NtD0Jaw6LGQ/UJVBDco7i-I/AAAAAAAAEZE/1qaGcXYwOLY/s1600-h/195%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="195" border="0" alt="195" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-hLJQ3AP7gkQ/UJVBFsgJb8I/AAAAAAAAEZM/TzLpY5XY4B0/195_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-PCmhTx-5ukg/UJVBGaN5tYI/AAAAAAAAEZQ/ADbXfsuqQd4/s1600-h/196%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="196" border="0" alt="196" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-S1rlTM1AfH8/UJVBHJHw65I/AAAAAAAAEZc/7Rf4JuYlgZY/196_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="291" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcoDxg79GSzUFkpoGO8Kh2xvhmjBgqnZR_QyDhdQsMVo-I44q0T-CGeYdCn_UakvVrCswf8Z4m5FdA9ylpb1b4ZOPAWag5H7iXBnF7Iac_xtwcyRsC9qJDWVGw5sn-AWOuw2sZlSjGPFI/s1600-h/218%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="218" border="0" alt="218" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-U75GvUfjyn8/UJVBJNntIrI/AAAAAAAAEZs/4o7v-cEeVho/218_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-2jjQBq0QxCM/UJVBKACU6zI/AAAAAAAAEZ0/YgYO19C8bEA/s1600-h/223%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="223" border="0" alt="223" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-crH0fmyGmSk/UJVBLjcTEjI/AAAAAAAAEZ8/8yh4lDVGn14/223_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="291" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ZuEF3sFkI-Q/UJVBNH0KidI/AAAAAAAAEaE/J9jktwmGB8U/s1600-h/057%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="057" border="0" alt="057" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-BRtixLxYWuA/UJVBOWZry1I/AAAAAAAAEaM/6kC-93hrghA/057_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="219" height="291" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-lQnYM3gTLbg/UJVBPb8WVqI/AAAAAAAAEaQ/drWxOEqOOME/s1600-h/063%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="063" border="0" alt="063" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-cuHf4hobUY4/UJVBQCCspuI/AAAAAAAAEac/RO_fk43p620/063_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="219" height="291" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-brjkZVOut2U/UJVBRvdbXFI/AAAAAAAAEag/ei9_ICK-J3k/s1600-h/232%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="232" border="0" alt="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBF4x2NS5BWOijyUiUMzcqM_dCIx5uz7cD5J9JNphOIzJodYfnfc23C_q2VznW0JOhzNao_eCUfXRi-si7fxOsbuFPcOA4zyntimlTNvXPWiOZoRE6jhVIxkWchJDd0ty49Dl2o8l__QE/?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-7_Wy5F9hszo/UJVBT3faWPI/AAAAAAAAEaw/Mqrtp-zhhBk/s1600-h/252%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="252" border="0" alt="252" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-XL_yeNf0Ei8/UJVBUgb5EDI/AAAAAAAAEa4/EEyFtbQUIcs/252_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-YpuCLqbEQhE/UJVBVouInlI/AAAAAAAAEbA/7su8oIxyk70/s1600-h/266%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="266" border="0" alt="266" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-48wVF6HCfZo/UJVBWuhmirI/AAAAAAAAEbI/rc6PGB_fuLM/266_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-IWayfsLTdj8/UJVBXtmmmjI/AAAAAAAAEbQ/7_6dLE1uuCA/s1600-h/294%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="294" border="0" alt="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibr78aFa2Ew1VqfRUBX0nK-OXSR6Y_yBdmZxjrxz63XkWj5wVk1lhBlHex31cWgPhhfdntcX03eb6QXmmJKY4JTcDVXaC0DiyZl2JkKqANqcMfw1tQt8aCn1BuOuZkNxAzbJsQINqsnx0/?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-LC68KRPYz0M/UJVBZsrjRYI/AAAAAAAAEbk/0S0SZzrtK00/s1600-h/326%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="326" border="0" alt="326" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-wtq_t638Xxc/UJVBaYr3RZI/AAAAAAAAEbs/BnZ9a8cLHGY/326_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-fpi3oZB5qBI/UJVBbWJfzQI/AAAAAAAAEb0/a_RtIeo3lFA/s1600-h/327%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="327" border="0" alt="327" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-NSIyGKdb-O4/UJVBctOS_mI/AAAAAAAAEb8/OrTE2y3LSn0/327_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="291" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-YhmZ2Rk1W6s/UJVBeMqQCkI/AAAAAAAAEcE/8JYPWoP4u2A/s1600-h/335%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="335" border="0" alt="335" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Gqc8Wyqg8i0/UJVBfeJt7jI/AAAAAAAAEcM/nAGc6LL9KZM/335_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="291" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA0kHfTBsBaFZ6XgtHpSk3mjqRZV8IpdpVZ-ZZ417Up5Ue-_Qt3EFDtmGJ8cQ1o_yO2Qp9dZdWCgOJL9pVcHkY7tm1pcMJ0UVc79wlxd6Fp8HAZ9MQ9kPfW1iQ6aw1tgv79qMEMaIFrkQ/s1600-h/343%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="343" border="0" alt="343" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Y5uYMQa6maA/UJVBhVrLX6I/AAAAAAAAEcc/rGVlcx-LiDU/343_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a></p> <p>We LOVED this area.  Once again, we got lucky because it wasn’t very busy. This is a big port town and there were only a few cruise ships in port, I can’t imagine walking the walls in the summer with all the tourists.  The weather was perfect too at 75 degrees.  Awesome city. </p> Brittneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04428213046094726010noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1647490286390217463.post-60328929005151739102012-11-04T08:00:00.000+01:002012-11-04T08:00:06.290+01:00Split, Croatia<p>First stop ion our trip was to Split, Croatia.  It took us about 6 hours to get there and was a pretty easy drive with not much traffic.  Below is a map so you can see where Split is located.  After Split we went to Dubrovnik, which is 3 hours South of Split, that post will be on another day.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-mQlMsu9x2PY/UJUzoXG-k6I/AAAAAAAAEL8/sZYnz8AMB_w/s1600-h/croatia-small-map-2010%25255B2%25255D.gif"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="croatia-small-map-2010" border="0" alt="croatia-small-map-2010" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-U8TXIhgqy0g/UJUzqHwu5fI/AAAAAAAAEME/cukO10WwWIw/croatia-small-map-2010_thumb.gif?imgmax=800" width="271" height="291" /></a></p> <p>Once we got checked into our hotel we decided to get back in the car and head 30 minutes to Trogir for dinner.  It’s a neat little town on the water. </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-YFNWq0xllww/UJUzrUvXFQI/AAAAAAAAEMM/uCkwDUMuJrM/s1600-h/001%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="001" border="0" alt="001" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-evrZKfsnnbw/UJUzuAnkfHI/AAAAAAAAEMU/uD5nwyh9NlY/001_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-NcvPLWt8geI/UJUzvjOLkJI/AAAAAAAAEMY/opBWvcnXbzo/s1600-h/014%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="014" border="0" alt="014" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-K2di1dxVhcs/UJUzwr37B1I/AAAAAAAAEMk/eyoq6Co76FQ/014_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-5iVWhUA4Vac/UJUzyHAj4qI/AAAAAAAAEMs/GwhzGhfeihY/s1600-h/015%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="015" border="0" alt="015" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-SGatrgyWkF0/UJUzzbCmdLI/AAAAAAAAEMw/mqrQoLAQK6Y/015_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="291" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-uhNmiHaQ6IM/UJUz0dGjy8I/AAAAAAAAEM4/56z30wXXLHA/s1600-h/020%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="020" border="0" alt="020" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-e98F_6_bQvY/UJUz1dpRsiI/AAAAAAAAENE/qTbumNoF8Sk/020_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-p1ZxB22bPqA/UJUz2ULpWWI/AAAAAAAAENM/nc0tq0TI89o/s1600-h/031%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="031" border="0" alt="031" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-hbEpGYQMBiI/UJUz3kr4MRI/AAAAAAAAENQ/Ol5H0i_Z9Io/031_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="291" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-cTiwWEnIZT4/UJUz4j3RyrI/AAAAAAAAENc/zbz7TbNB2Oo/s1600-h/045%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="045" border="0" alt="045" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-YuulOvDP23c/UJUz6XINTbI/AAAAAAAAENk/F_raEXXok_Q/045_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-fKluVQqk90s/UJUz7QibmXI/AAAAAAAAENs/DSlyQZaHcno/s1600-h/046%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="046" border="0" alt="046" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-a2aPWXTmKYU/UJUz8epgN3I/AAAAAAAAEN0/no8lk1oEItI/046_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="291" /></a></p> <p>The next morning is when we decided to see Split. Split is a very old City and it’s main attraction is the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diocletian%27s_Palace"><font color="#000000">Diocletian's Palace</font></a>, our guide book had a suggested walking map, which is what we did to view inside the walls. </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-POuKSHNfnPU/UJUz9vdr7sI/AAAAAAAAEN8/Sh0dRJ9d1ss/s1600-h/050%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="050" border="0" alt="050" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-QExVlIqP4zE/UJUz_BhWofI/AAAAAAAAEOE/JVA7VSVU-oI/050_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="291" /></a></p> <p align="center">Statue of Bishop Gregory of Nin, they say to rub his big toe and make a wish!</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-4wmVTjWGvBs/UJU0AeLWpVI/AAAAAAAAEOM/TsvNHcOlQdA/s1600-h/052%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="052" border="0" alt="052" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-OBD8Px05gBU/UJU0CH3sxeI/AAAAAAAAEOQ/xt3ha52_8SM/052_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="291" /></a></p> <p align="center">Inside the walls of the Palace</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-jKA5SSofk9k/UJU0DBykf3I/AAAAAAAAEOc/gYfdiSH75_g/s1600-h/056%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="056" border="0" alt="056" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-x-RW8-H5QCU/UJU0EWLtw-I/AAAAAAAAEOk/AG3zcsvySCg/056_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="291" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-86KEuaDORgI/UJU0FwB1FTI/AAAAAAAAEOs/5Yp6XezgV3g/s1600-h/057%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="057" border="0" alt="057" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-LZdipHidrG0/UJU0HcteAgI/AAAAAAAAEO0/7UNkPZPAfJg/057_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-GygEinjryxw/UJU0Ij44B5I/AAAAAAAAEO8/Kxe6JghidKs/s1600-h/058%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="058" border="0" alt="058" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-RaT-IRoKFH0/UJU0J9PwUVI/AAAAAAAAEPA/mUUgYtjvYxo/058_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="291" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-qTose_gg3NY/UJU0KmMhMsI/AAAAAAAAEPM/thBUhYIfOAU/s1600-h/059%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="059" border="0" alt="059" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-B-Al--qvedg/UJU0L1ahzAI/AAAAAAAAEPU/h4xU4KhWNtI/059_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a></p> <p align="center">The picture below is me climbing the tower in the picture above</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-MoDd9tzr7Do/UJU0MweWIhI/AAAAAAAAEPc/wqPWpGDFAPk/s1600-h/063%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="063" border="0" alt="063" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-0smoMVLccw4/UJU0OMrMsXI/AAAAAAAAEPk/5oMpMpzSQac/063_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a></p> <p align="center">Views from the top</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-xH4Vf72G1m8/UJU0Pd0eCSI/AAAAAAAAEPo/VnavgBu3oJs/s1600-h/069%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="069" border="0" alt="069" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-FuTS-iMB164/UJU0QllyEJI/AAAAAAAAEP0/KFIrmRFeCoo/069_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="291" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-TKyU9qAHLpk/UJU0RT0PIGI/AAAAAAAAEP8/_CLmoxZic2Q/s1600-h/071%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="071" border="0" alt="071" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ZILq7XX5se8/UJU0S9cPxsI/AAAAAAAAEQE/uZc-593YOBo/071_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="291" /></a></p> <p align="center">The outer walls, which hold businesses and line the water.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-SExlDExIDe8/UJU0T9YdX5I/AAAAAAAAEQM/KZtRAbwn9IY/s1600-h/085%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="085" border="0" alt="085" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-sP_xOfv3_zY/UJU0VFHWEdI/AAAAAAAAEQQ/XpM950yCvtg/085_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a></p> <p>We then hopped on a ferry to the Island of Brac, rented a car there and explored the island.  It was so much fun and so beautiful! </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-hLRBKNEIBw4/UJU0V6g7A3I/AAAAAAAAEQc/DqqbYpx4Dxg/s1600-h/086%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="086" border="0" alt="086" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_CC-EIzJDC0/UJU0XIgkrWI/AAAAAAAAEQg/-Av0ccFinTk/086_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-k_TdlsOr-RI/UJU0YV2DSaI/AAAAAAAAEQo/heVsIBtytx8/s1600-h/204%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="204" border="0" alt="204" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-pOAwxp0kzyg/UJU0ZZPxHFI/AAAAAAAAEQ0/H6xKBW7T78I/204_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="219" height="291" /></a></p> <p align="center">First stop was the town of Bol, which was beautiful! It had the clearest, most beautiful water I have ever seen.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-MutU00aUpUU/UJU0aR8d4qI/AAAAAAAAEQ4/r-OaF8VcwQE/s1600-h/108%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="108" border="0" alt="108" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmaTvKeUYcxvblN5iK5U3v0TlT9_T8TYzHsah7vpg07kZU2t07_r101uTXCCbYaio4Pr9e9TRJEOB17WHKQ-3S8Iec9exu3iURS7OY61TxXJKY7Ioi53yF1aoP03dtjknEgqgDiIxlZ3Y/?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-XJEMiU0c-n0/UJU0ch6tWCI/AAAAAAAAERM/1F4VF0YraB0/s1600-h/112%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="112" border="0" alt="112" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-EIPBz1zi-Sk/UJU0ehmRKyI/AAAAAAAAERU/7QtjnnU5_1A/112_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="291" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwqy3xkIX-ip8FDK2QJgoe9rOCBB7gDBmTCmDYuig0cKzGNEKGAuaN6qRf7v3RZcgH-QPbgI171XI32JIb9344WFnqj9HxEsVp0Pf-uHcEiq6hKyThbhS-njXAAlwkJwWyyZq25SVXN7g/s1600-h/120%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="120" border="0" alt="120" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-kSmzop65hjE/UJU0gaiCL9I/AAAAAAAAERg/I14fLCmH5ts/120_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a></p> <p align="center">Dan’s lunch</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-3LnlH91Jmj0/UJU0hYmJzeI/AAAAAAAAERs/NEgQpKhfsVE/s1600-h/124%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="124" border="0" alt="124" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-7HruM4ilxmI/UJU0jFlP-hI/AAAAAAAAERw/HbfvTVP4c1M/124_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a></p> <p align="center">Next stop was Zlatni Rat beach…they say that 90% of Croatia’s travel posters have this beach on them.  As you can see, we were there at the right time, barely anyone was there, it was great! </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-SlGOOTOTECM/UJU0kNSj5OI/AAAAAAAAER8/VqhVD6Dxv8Q/s1600-h/131%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="131" border="0" alt="131" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Ry5EVqyXYyA/UJU0lwmeqhI/AAAAAAAAESE/QOC1SZuhV8I/131_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-d-PRHWHltVs/UJU0mll9BzI/AAAAAAAAESI/pgfcqb_gQVk/s1600-h/137%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="137" border="0" alt="137" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-R2oyaPEg8TE/UJU0n0_kESI/AAAAAAAAESU/EYAL8iCwSP0/137_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="291" /></a></p> <p>We visited many other places on the island and took many more pictures, we spend about 4-5 hours cruising around, rental car pic is below. </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-gOa1y3HV_mc/UJU0pckNmVI/AAAAAAAAESY/tG4JpaF5Yek/s1600-h/148%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="148" border="0" alt="148" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-pRES-z3l0jw/UJU0qe7LnrI/AAAAAAAAESk/FGANRYmOuuA/148_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-EfwXPPKVRIw/UJU0ruiYUOI/AAAAAAAAESo/FJ54nmbxk40/s1600-h/156%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="156" border="0" alt="156" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-lPVW824LbkY/UJU0sn5lv5I/AAAAAAAAES0/vt_sQCP3Pfk/156_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Ev16HmCXVt4/UJU0tq7DpAI/AAAAAAAAES8/r32WRRqZTX0/s1600-h/178%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="178" border="0" alt="178" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-mvs1qUfcmgY/UJU0vFF5_NI/AAAAAAAAETA/wzCeHbGfXbk/178_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="291" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-4kSfo10peQ8/UJU0wFKZflI/AAAAAAAAETM/la171xnTknE/s1600-h/181%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="181" border="0" alt="181" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-npVBlLB5u5c/UJU0yXA2oaI/AAAAAAAAETU/QjnzYGS6BEg/181_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-s1AqInumT5A/UJU0zAPqKLI/AAAAAAAAETc/kKl9-7XQcIo/s1600-h/187%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="187" border="0" alt="187" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-9OFGF9n0e48/UJU00oeMthI/AAAAAAAAETk/2oT6j5CJDUE/187_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a></p> <p>We got back on the ferry and went to back to Split and ate dinner.  It was a nice little town, I guess I was expecting more to be in the town, but it was nice that there are other islands to explore as well.  We spent 2 nights in Split, had 1.5 days there, I think it was plenty of time to see all there is to see. </p> Brittneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04428213046094726010noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1647490286390217463.post-73458067625577245702012-11-03T15:04:00.001+01:002012-11-03T15:04:56.583+01:00Travelin’ Fools!<p>Dan and I just got back from our 2 weeks of travel.  He got 2 weeks of leave since he just got back from his deployment, so we planned to go and visit Split, Dubrovnik, and Plitvice Lakes National Park, which are all in Croatia.  Then we went to Vienna, Austria and Budapest, Hungary.  It was amazing and we had a pretty great time!  I’ve got lots of blogs to write on it all, but will get them done eventually!  Dan is back to work now, can’t believe we only have 5 months left in Italy.  Makes me sad!  We don’t know where we are going yet, but hopefully soon!  First post will be tomorrow on Split, Croatia! </p> Brittneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04428213046094726010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1647490286390217463.post-89573174931361285352012-10-17T21:29:00.001+02:002012-10-17T21:29:31.314+02:00He’s Home!<p>After 7.5 months away, Dan is home from his deployment! He got back on Saturday and I’ve been smiling ever since!  Tomorrow we leave for 6 days in Croatia, we are going to Split, Dubrovnik and Plitvice National Park.  We come back to Sarone for a few days, then head off to Vienna, Austria and Budapest, Hungary…so exciting!  </p> <p>We only have about 5 months left in Italy, so have to try and travel as much as we possibly can!</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-BA9TakQGq1A/UH8HA642i9I/AAAAAAAAD70/LGKeTD_2EYI/s1600-h/008%252520%2525281%252529%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="008 (1)" border="0" alt="008 (1)" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/--p05FGZXhdU/UH8HCpJDEZI/AAAAAAAAD78/icZz9yLy_3Y/008%252520%2525281%252529_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="398" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-37ZO_1m92cs/UH8HEiGSrlI/AAAAAAAAD8A/Nq-v9aTz9d8/s1600-h/016%2525281%252529%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="016(1)" border="0" alt="016(1)" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-xzqvzRhovAM/UH8HF8MUGzI/AAAAAAAAD8I/SNWaAs7so-U/016%2525281%252529_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="396" height="407" /></a></p> <p>I will write about our trips and post pictures once we are back!  </p> Brittneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04428213046094726010noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1647490286390217463.post-66032295754475165752012-10-16T14:07:00.001+02:002012-10-17T07:37:46.310+02:00Jennifer’s Visit to Italy<p>First, I should say that I should have written this a month ago, but it seems that I have had other things going on, it’s been crazy! I’m warning you now, this is going to be a long post.</p> <p>Jennifer and I met while we were in college, we worked at the same place and became friends and have been friends since.  She was in my wedding and despite being thousands of miles apart, we manage to keep in touch the best we can.  She arrived on August 24th and even though we hadn’t seen each other in over 2 years, it seemed like it was just last week that we saw each other.  Her trip lasted until September 13th and I think we did a lot of traveling and she was able to see a lot of Italy along with a little bit of Croatia.  </p> <p>The day after she arrived, we went to Verona, the city of Romeo and Juliet.  We first stopped at an olive orchard and we were able to taste different olive oils with the option to buy some as well. They also make soaps and shampoo’s and sell wooden spoons made out of olive tree wood.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-zimfuFqswf4/UH1LucJsz2I/AAAAAAAADrs/OutzU2PHZNg/s1600-h/008%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="008" border="0" alt="008" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-CT0qs7ENi_w/UH1Lv6q6u5I/AAAAAAAADr0/vtbgiUE9Qws/008_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="233" height="291" /></a></p> <p align="center">Jennifer and I tasting olive oil….interesting experience</p> <p align="left">Then we headed into the town of Verona where we had free time to shop and look around.  We went to the arena, Casa di Guiletta and walked around the city to shop.  We stopped and enjoyed lunch with some wine, overall it was a pretty good day in Verona.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-rRYrAbyY1p8/UH1LwuilIZI/AAAAAAAADr8/jiU_ZTxGd6Q/s1600-h/010%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="010" border="0" alt="010" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-QZ241Ig-ktE/UH1LzDlE5yI/AAAAAAAADsE/A8e6cviirXs/010_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="387" height="291" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-1pdyk4JI8cM/UH1L0VMR1lI/AAAAAAAADsM/VqDfKuHpADk/s1600-h/011%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="011" border="0" alt="011" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-RHS3VpE6BcQ/UH1L1wAf9VI/AAAAAAAADsU/NtFdtkeSMt4/011_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="387" height="291" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-hfhMZfD1JiA/UH1L2ku_hpI/AAAAAAAADsc/Gk8DzAXZRh4/s1600-h/017%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="017" border="0" alt="017" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-apq2CehVE8Q/UH1L386hjaI/AAAAAAAADsk/PNiwDMfsmSM/017_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="219" height="291" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Je0OxpO9J0k/UH1L5J2ctEI/AAAAAAAADss/fzC_JS71FAc/s1600-h/018%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="018" border="0" alt="018" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-VDcGkPHyGgk/UH1L6ZuKwzI/AAAAAAAADsw/i2ke-YPtOIo/018_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="387" height="291" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-j6SE-5mIMKw/UH1L7U-ATfI/AAAAAAAADs8/uuhOCHjE2JM/s1600-h/021%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="021" border="0" alt="021" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-zA7aVrZDKEc/UH1L8fKhh1I/AAAAAAAADtE/sR1IVjmv-oE/021_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="387" height="291" /></a></p> <p>After seeing the city of Verona we headed to a Medieval Times dinner.  This was fun, I’ve never been to one, but the audience was divided up into 4 different colors and you cheer on the knight that matches your color.  I must say, I think our crowd was the best and the loudest, we even did the wave, but despite all this, our knight got second place.  It was a fun experience though, everyone had a blast. </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-NjT9JDlqtbc/UH1L9oMtk6I/AAAAAAAADtI/f_KyJD_F5dY/s1600-h/024%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="024" border="0" alt="024" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-5MBf7hZ0ZIM/UH1L_U2eJ8I/AAAAAAAADtU/UHQ2DblJ3nU/024_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="219" height="291" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-9Y0SjbpJjLM/UH1MAmijTcI/AAAAAAAADtY/XgT65psHBsw/s1600-h/031%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="031" border="0" alt="031" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-WkELaNds2Aw/UH1MB-XU_aI/AAAAAAAADtg/xLrMEOzxE-A/031_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="387" height="291" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-u-3HFl-bWeE/UH1MC9AJrvI/AAAAAAAADts/abdgNupRKiQ/s1600-h/032%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="032" border="0" alt="032" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_7TL5paXeeM/UH1MDwgxTlI/AAAAAAAADt0/JNTaeoIFWbc/032_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="387" height="291" /></a></p> <p>On Sunday we relaxed and on Monday we headed to the train station to head to Florence.  I love Florence, I like that it’s small and everything is within walking distance.  We checked into the hotel and made our way out to explore the city.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-LfD-cEATEXs/UH1MFaafjLI/AAAAAAAADt8/lRLGkwHsB1U/s1600-h/001%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="001" border="0" alt="001" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-cc1Ef7-ttZA/UH1MGpVcTDI/AAAAAAAADuE/Nj4QBR4aSMM/001_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="219" height="291" /></a></p> <p align="center">Where the cast of Jersey Shore worked while in Florence</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-DT8UmioZTQA/UH1MHu3fZqI/AAAAAAAADuM/zMl8M8wd6fI/s1600-h/001%252520%2525281%252529%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="001 (1)" border="0" alt="001 (1)" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-mBNql74oVqA/UH1MJLO-mII/AAAAAAAADuU/s3xMk50E5-Q/001%252520%2525281%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="219" height="291" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-w9dqkNDHK9s/UH1MLzjpbDI/AAAAAAAADuc/wih_voJJyXA/s1600-h/005%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="005" border="0" alt="005" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-_l4XX-Zhx_Q/UH1MM4DIiRI/AAAAAAAADug/TtS5Mb3VcDU/005_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="387" height="291" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-5ttexWczzGE/UH1MOmb-3MI/AAAAAAAADus/Ufoh8U8n8bc/s1600-h/008%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="008" border="0" alt="008" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-U48j_4zc-e8/UH1MQe6uNoI/AAAAAAAADu0/KO40zvP-wwI/008_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="219" height="291" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_jB9VYyNCzo/UH1MRe_PdBI/AAAAAAAADu4/boj7tIqDfpI/s1600-h/009%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="009" border="0" alt="009" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-DsmGcAuMY0Y/UH1MSlq1XvI/AAAAAAAADvA/xoj71OHy4qs/009_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="387" height="291" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-aBRG0E6CsSY/UH1MTwxUpjI/AAAAAAAADvM/f_zABI4VQWY/s1600-h/010%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="010" border="0" alt="010" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-bigoz9JYp8Q/UH1MU5UQ9tI/AAAAAAAADvU/qgX5mKBgL8c/010_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="219" height="291" /></a></p> <p>After a day in Florence we hopped back on the train and headed to Rome, where we stayed for 2 nights.  Thankfully, Rome wasn’t too crowded, we didn’t wait in lines, it was nice.  It’s hard to see everything in 2 days though, so we were busy trying to see as much as we could see in the little time that we were there. </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-V2dADxJA7J4/UH1MWG6Vy9I/AAAAAAAADvc/2_zXpzudDHk/s1600-h/027%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="027" border="0" alt="027" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-wG71lQaHPlw/UH1MWw9YIiI/AAAAAAAADvk/kjs4cj4Ln3w/027_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="219" height="291" /></a></p> <p align="center">Roman Forum</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-rfyg8GwJOXU/UH1MYbhcgsI/AAAAAAAADvo/mmHY6XGuK1k/s1600-h/037%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="037" border="0" alt="037" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ueCt0jCNptk/UH1MZ3MvGzI/AAAAAAAADvw/OOASH5tsFGY/037_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="387" height="291" /></a></p> <p align="center">Colosseum</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-UMcv3VpRhfE/UH1Max_xOZI/AAAAAAAADv8/ADV95B05Ls0/s1600-h/040%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="040" border="0" alt="040" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Bc2LRhiniP0/UH1MchZJNcI/AAAAAAAADwE/RbE1vxEWniY/040_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="387" height="291" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-eCxCUOgRpGQ/UH1Mdmr3r6I/AAAAAAAADwM/Qz5gQBcsDEc/s1600-h/041%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="041" border="0" alt="041" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-1G6gWIFhUiw/UH1Me4U4sGI/AAAAAAAADwU/e2kKD4vh0AU/041_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="219" height="291" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-5q9Pbfwy_s8/UH1Mfp5ywoI/AAAAAAAADwY/DROtPFtH59A/s1600-h/046%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="046" border="0" alt="046" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-XFC1cweWgQo/UH1Mg-JiSoI/AAAAAAAADwg/QwAqovT4dWs/046_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="387" height="291" /></a></p> <p align="center">View from our hotel window…our Hotel was in the PERFECT location.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-2EUFF7ajlTA/UH1Mh1WQ3jI/AAAAAAAADwo/HME0zhGJTSY/s1600-h/051%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="051" border="0" alt="051" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-1GUVPn2dA7U/UH1MjNduhVI/AAAAAAAADw0/FdvjGHJeHZw/051_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="387" height="291" /></a></p> <p align="center">Jennifer and I in front of the Spanish Steps</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-v-CMe-uUsoY/UH1MkNADeuI/AAAAAAAADw8/IeU3MyviyBU/s1600-h/3263_10102228870896703_447802761_n%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="3263_10102228870896703_447802761_n" border="0" alt="3263_10102228870896703_447802761_n" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-fwb1olGiv3g/UH1Mk9bou0I/AAAAAAAADxE/upbwdSc6kVQ/3263_10102228870896703_447802761_n_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="219" height="291" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-AXjDODMYHMM/UH1Mly80ZJI/AAAAAAAADxM/TTv-G2ebNzM/s1600-h/066%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="066" border="0" alt="066" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-9FKYU8to3KM/UH1Mm66uU-I/AAAAAAAADxU/tZXRnThSBiw/066_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="219" height="291" /></a></p> <p align="center">St. Peter’s Basilica </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-RSePCOEoWo0/UH1Mn62fZjI/AAAAAAAADxY/sQcwWyC1pPM/s1600-h/087%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="087" border="0" alt="087" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-V8Gffl6GB8M/UH1MoydB3II/AAAAAAAADxk/pq8Nst4g8Y4/087_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="387" height="291" /></a></p> <p align="center">Last night in Rome, at dinner, free drink on the house!</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-_JKmjm4UXvw/UH1Mp_lsx8I/AAAAAAAADxs/mMeoLNo4HvM/s1600-h/091%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="091" border="0" alt="091" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMOQtyuWgJHbtxQRH5tIu0Du13Xm0pjX4890gAstosXe6gRjypVA57efnPFKjbyDR021lXbP70zZgKEE1OGMMVUtM0lnt1gvXj6doGlqkq3GnEZwzadWB4LBHPRAMiXVZWvQxfZSeQ6Fw/?imgmax=800" width="219" height="291" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-BYO3_dSjTbk/UH1MsLYKwfI/AAAAAAAADx4/aW2z8PuW9Fc/s1600-h/092%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="092" border="0" alt="092" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-BdsEtuy8eVM/UH1MtCWIFiI/AAAAAAAADyA/8avnpRZVKi4/092_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="387" height="291" /></a></p> <p align="center">Our Dinner, pizza and 4 cheese gnocchi</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-IBoxiTJ76BI/UH1Mt-ozQCI/AAAAAAAADyI/iyP8sZdI5nI/s1600-h/093%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="093" border="0" alt="093" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-qI1ViuQld7g/UH1Mum7uhfI/AAAAAAAADyU/8jIlyJrpvl0/093_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="219" height="291" /></a></p> <p>After Rome we headed back up here to Sarone and had about 24 hours to relax before going on a trip with Nikki Travel. She organizes trips to different places, the one we signed up for was the Southern Italy trip, which was going to Pompeii, Capri, Sorrento, Positano and the Amalfi Coast.  We left at 8pm on Friday night on a bus and got to Pompeii the next morning.  We had a guided tour around the city of Pompeii, which was nice, I’ve been to Pompeii before, but we explored it on our own, so I learned more on this trip by having a guide. </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Ym6dqoSMLBM/UH1MvgUIgII/AAAAAAAADyc/u3mseHQAdX4/s1600-h/087%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="087" border="0" alt="087" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-kt_dAFSLMv8/UH1MxBhVP0I/AAAAAAAADyg/sL15MY9iGVo/087_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a></p> <p align="center">Cast of a body</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-f0I-WaY_HDc/UH1Mx-A_IsI/AAAAAAAADyo/MI9Gr2YJWuM/s1600-h/094%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="094" border="0" alt="094" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkb-eQ_MgyDDAKtRvhTWWDF3WOOYvMAuGFzA9d-SYa9pSZj3kExeNtSJ7mvccVP8pK13In-Dw-aQbqAFAU29gDyRNPbKWWmYNg6h8a6bapIUr5eMdS0Epsrd9Cyv4NMalWjh_XSvM8O4Q/?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a></p> <p align="center">Brothel with dirty paintings on the walls</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-9brEJeLHLyM/UH1Mz8othOI/AAAAAAAADy4/gpDYTh9HEHk/s1600-h/096%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="096" border="0" alt="096" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-tThfhW2JCkE/UH1M06qd-lI/AAAAAAAADzE/Eb77FQvIIhk/096_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-CW4FS8MmTqY/UH1M2JRHR2I/AAAAAAAADzI/4n_JyMTXKsU/s1600-h/097%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="097" border="0" alt="097" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-4TsqpTMtmuI/UH1M27PwXOI/AAAAAAAADzQ/yVK6jVCvKds/097_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a></p> <p align="center">Bed in the Brothel</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-pLH1iZMZYZI/UH1M4NGNzEI/AAAAAAAADzc/wJuDi04Owg4/s1600-h/099%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="099" border="0" alt="099" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-YsEy0Y-Gc4w/UH1M5JdjhFI/AAAAAAAADzk/g9dyjdlx_KQ/099_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="291" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-KduwCNjYOgc/UH1M6gxv2aI/AAAAAAAADzs/CMA5uRHMM0I/s1600-h/102%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="102" border="0" alt="102" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-f2H6gCFKCOA/UH1M7zirGZI/AAAAAAAADz0/jnqvhwWNijc/102_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a></p> <p align="center">The penis on the wall points the way to the brothels</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-sDyUgUL6xSY/UH1M9AUoPQI/AAAAAAAADz8/xud3-0kuZP8/s1600-h/103%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="103" border="0" alt="103" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-n8xN7OYuwes/UH1M-VRY-6I/AAAAAAAAD0E/5lvQQE1uViU/103_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a></p> <p align="center">Same with with penis carving on the rocks on the roads</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBHVJ2Eq7ZT4PLQRhJKH01pkys-YlRsjWxXO3Kn5pjJqxMOgittfPZl7K-DzVvMYm3r-bI8kcyGwrDPpkT9912yUOmGOcTOpqiVD3NzUyz_OcrHgAL_D5NzUzdZrEPvXoU8Qr3QQQZIYI/s1600-h/105%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="105" border="0" alt="105" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_c2hsOJiwYs/UH1NA-xtl2I/AAAAAAAAD0U/JfYLIx1fWW0/105_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a></p> <p align="center">Jennifer and I with Mount Vesuvius behind us</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Q6LL0bh6s48/UH1NB4DPUHI/AAAAAAAAD0c/CHed58aguf8/s1600-h/108%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="108" border="0" alt="108" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-YHcYs_D-5Os/UH1NDHQPumI/AAAAAAAAD0k/aWS0CGIRYvI/108_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="204" /></a></p> <p>After Pompeii we headed to Sorrento to get on a ferry to go to the island of Capri.  This is where it started raining and was pretty cloudy.  The boat that took us over was huge, but it was rocking so bad from the choppy water, people were puking all around us.  Luckily, we didn’t get sick, but it wasn’t a pleasant feeling being on that boat from 20 minutes. When we got to Capri, we got on another boat that took us on a tour around the Island, luckily, the water calmed a bit, so the ride was nice. </p> <p align="center">Bus ride from Pompeii to Sorrento</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-yCe28LZ-0yg/UH1NEnXAauI/AAAAAAAAD0s/2MkT3gLg2Kk/s1600-h/114%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="114" border="0" alt="114" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-SYLNfKSbZjI/UH1NFo1aE1I/AAAAAAAAD00/inX81GGd60M/114_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a></p> <p>Luckily, once we got to Capri the rain stopped and the sun came out for a little bit to get some pictures. These pics were taken on the boat ride around Capri</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Y5_slDn1aAM/UH1NHCEpbWI/AAAAAAAAD08/nrmwtqDISLs/s1600-h/134%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="134" border="0" alt="134" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-2HsR6dCSY1c/UH1NIAQNcUI/AAAAAAAAD1A/xnrgDk-N9MA/134_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="291" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-kWeh0lxyJrc/UH1NIxC51tI/AAAAAAAAD1M/BgAH212AyPs/s1600-h/151%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="151" border="0" alt="151" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-fhHrCqWwZek/UH1NJyOA8HI/AAAAAAAAD1U/4cIsmFZOQzA/151_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdihG5J3-DXisyWcomNODzICrpu0rlT_r_v5yneWHmiaN7nA4Xqa0cQbz2pMEKDpjOh93OJWjEi-MGA-Kp9qcb4tRD9mNpTla9gbZJJNXahkWiAaqATSXTSE2btQqWXdsyNvT0fdaNb5g/s1600-h/154%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="154" border="0" alt="154" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-VcmkuoScEuM/UH1NLyoi-wI/AAAAAAAAD1k/_P7zQy85oJs/154_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-6-Wenq7IXbo/UH1NMjJUV1I/AAAAAAAAD1s/B-PCksOeT1s/s1600-h/170%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="170" border="0" alt="170" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Q_v7CmoWMAY/UH1NNwU94RI/AAAAAAAAD10/Q2fGcXAXobA/170_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="291" /></a></p> <p align="center">Mount Vesuvius</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-fpP-WKX3gHk/UH1NO2caL8I/AAAAAAAAD14/az1Nk9ltr-A/s1600-h/184%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="184" border="0" alt="184" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-3TRigPxQNbU/UH1NP7DMMmI/AAAAAAAAD2E/IM9UORrtGX8/184_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a></p> <p align="center">Leaving Capri</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKLwioWYR8O0DB2Au-RnlMHv7y8eWiVB0dpKNPsqbwE2ztpQe14Ocebd3CUku2rEJgMDR2jZa9CYlmUPqR6EZDAlptpBtMvQZIsnvMc1p763D6efvwci13R1g6HEcZMEzH3wdfYSkgsr4/s1600-h/224512_10102277429355163_1290563536_n%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="224512_10102277429355163_1290563536_n" border="0" alt="224512_10102277429355163_1290563536_n" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpIA9cGAVTA0SvVzf7HE5LcN933pQrDe1tizneA-1CYLg8EH8EvX5_Oo7FfLk6XWb7m9anycAUOpBB1ZE_NqhkKpJeNM65gGBLPXgsOJ9k_vMbAJuBqU4BfHt8__mV3yHq682IDeM8j0Y/?imgmax=800" width="387" height="291" /></a></p> <p>The next day we went to Amalfi City and Positano and had a few boat rides from place to place, it was so beautiful! </p> <p align="center">Amalfi City</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-yKzr3WXawkY/UH1NTA5gAeI/AAAAAAAAD2c/Dr_f7ZTmiao/s1600-h/192%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="192" border="0" alt="192" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-gZRcUcIyEIA/UH1NUyBcvPI/AAAAAAAAD2k/t83RjSt8FhQ/192_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-jq6yfSo8eQQ/UH1NWibSYMI/AAAAAAAAD2s/PksHx-07rfc/s1600-h/194%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="194" border="0" alt="194" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-jpD20kP_2lk/UH1NYQwvURI/AAAAAAAAD20/UQ9nPF41gDk/194_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-QLeAjAVTXDI/UH1NZ1NCikI/AAAAAAAAD28/POwpwSoF5kM/s1600-h/195%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="195" border="0" alt="195" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-M4_K79vbs6k/UH1Ncd9vYlI/AAAAAAAAD3E/6VbNOEOXMWs/195_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a></p> <p align="center">On a boat headed to Positano</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Uv_g0ahjQHY/UH1NdZKd_mI/AAAAAAAAD3M/X-ZgHjrIgFE/s1600-h/210%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="210" border="0" alt="210" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-oT9xZP4rr24/UH1NeeO1tsI/AAAAAAAAD3U/GXCooozkTRc/210_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-yIWZDwE7fqM/UH1Nf9J6NsI/AAAAAAAAD3c/F5AljS4859M/s1600-h/211%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="211" border="0" alt="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHKPZ1G4N4ARPjSKusH9oJNJCEzb-uOzCSkIgO7_oB8_DbhOLhinX9KhcswQKYqO7WUPEQ2y3TmumGXwNofnCKv-AE_09M4QRWElUsBfPkBawoIgG1yh_k7q7PK_qSDGI9kPUpIqf6bp0/?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-SFSK88FKyfk/UH1NiF1M4BI/AAAAAAAAD3o/SutYqZfbgzw/s1600-h/229%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="229" border="0" alt="229" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-GhU65rvoJoY/UH1NjPuSRaI/AAAAAAAAD3w/Unehmzmw97s/229_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a></p> <p align="center">Positano</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-WLGIYulYIJk/UH1Nj-GXHSI/AAAAAAAAD34/m176Z3VPnMI/s1600-h/237%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="237" border="0" alt="237" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-y7tpYTs3JCw/UH1Nk1LOcVI/AAAAAAAAD4E/bTbjeQpBVmk/237_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-movgVQbZWuc/UH1NlzFc9dI/AAAAAAAAD4I/lqi7qI89eKw/s1600-h/238%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="238" border="0" alt="238" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-vG9_r3XzJtA/UH1NnTCYmcI/AAAAAAAAD4U/AoxXjYnoDco/238_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-XDhP0EU2J2c/UH1NoOu-mfI/AAAAAAAAD4Y/Mj7ML12vO64/s1600-h/242%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="242" border="0" alt="242" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-PyN0PrBjEeE/UH1NpKQVZ9I/AAAAAAAAD4k/7rD2TEvIays/242_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-31nUzQQiyB4/UH1NqYy04DI/AAAAAAAAD4s/sIRrqP98vdY/s1600-h/244%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="244" border="0" alt="244" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-JnNrXBWDfrY/UH1NrQGrh4I/AAAAAAAAD40/ajCQmmMsrAs/244_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a></p> <p align="center">I found where Santa Vacations! </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-jqmNv18u5Xc/UH1NsrQZtjI/AAAAAAAAD44/V2htYb3_hQc/s1600-h/247%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="247" border="0" alt="247" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-hL3ejFO7IDA/UH1Ntff5xVI/AAAAAAAAD5E/XZCS0b7tzmM/247_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="287" /></a></p> <p>We spent Jennifer’s last night in her 20’s in Sorrento, we went to dinner, to an Irish pub, then to a club called Fauna.  Good times!</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-IX5I3bXA_Wc/UH1NuJu4_YI/AAAAAAAAD5M/UNqCu1F-82o/s1600-h/048%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="048" border="0" alt="048" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-UKN5N8lykGE/UH1NvTAtJCI/AAAAAAAAD5U/4QjM5-LmLXE/048_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="249" height="336" /></a></p> <p>We headed back up to Sarone for a few days rest then went to Lake Barcis, Prosecco land, Venice and Croatia. </p> <p> </p> <p align="center">Lake Barcis</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-1NA8ISWkl64/UH1Nw_jeeEI/AAAAAAAAD5c/80CaCgsY1IA/s1600-h/002%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="002" border="0" alt="002" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-3pkXtLCUKiY/UH1Nx1dzdPI/AAAAAAAAD5k/BWQE3sBDhTg/002_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="387" height="291" /></a></p> <p align="center">Prosecco land</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-6W_3Rcx62to/UH1NzDH-YmI/AAAAAAAAD5s/fr7WDHLQvi0/s1600-h/015%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="015" border="0" alt="015" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-dUjoURhIlJg/UH1N0NmAHfI/AAAAAAAAD50/uU1TLdtDIOE/015_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="387" height="291" /></a></p> <p align="center">Croatia</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-gmn6Piy1RxM/UH1N1Ebjr1I/AAAAAAAAD58/8vsYSfc2AaI/s1600-h/043%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="043" border="0" alt="043" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-4cGJyjS1KVM/UH1N2SOkTII/AAAAAAAAD6E/X4kwm1WZ1uE/043_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="387" height="291" /></a></p> <p>Jennifer, Creighton, Mike and Myself. We met Mike and Creighton on the Southern Italy trip and they came along with us on the Croatia by boat trip that the base puts on.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuH0e015MUHF7tI_3uSo6DgB7gpDqru04Y2Mdum7jdVYx09BXtRsZEfgTMDGhiYbOt8pqZV10fhT2rXZG6SGFICoMvMbao2ZTuZtZL6HoEHwYKbNuhHuuUFq31NZLbHXsHMuCMx_ewmm4/s1600-h/056%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="056" border="0" alt="056" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-3NFYh4oNXzM/UH1N4f2AmLI/AAAAAAAAD6Q/4e4L-rvi3eA/056_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="289" /></a></p> <p align="center">Jennifer and I in Venice</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-W9Gws_j74_Q/UH1N5eNZVlI/AAAAAAAAD6Y/W5JNUGSJAaY/s1600-h/Venice%252520003%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Venice 003" border="0" alt="Venice 003" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-so6PH7eBc1s/UH1N6NjDpNI/AAAAAAAAD6g/JxtmVIEqhPE/Venice%252520003_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="277" height="362" /></a></p> <p>And we can’t forget about the motorcross team that came into a restaurant in Aviano one night while we were eating.  <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" alt="Smile" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-2yqXhOtB1gQ/UH1N6x-hiOI/AAAAAAAAD6o/XxrRBHQxtgU/wlEmoticon-smile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" /> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8VSHK4S8oKnRGjUjZHFcHktirFAU9GykxVJYcyJatOU9TNTh4gxN-J2Q_n8FiyAfmkTpMTa5GqYW1mDplXKqRlGdmdQLzXCys8jG_ZVVWrPdFst9YQiWNoFdRL0pfd35vKOiqScEf6eM/s1600-h/Venice%252520044%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Venice 044" border="0" alt="Venice 044" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-_YWDPSaLKK8/UH1N8wCHnOI/AAAAAAAAD68/csMNb_ubckM/Venice%252520044_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="387" height="291" /></a></p> <p>Overall, I think the trip was a success, it was good to see Jennifer and good to have company and it’s always fun traveling! </p> Brittneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04428213046094726010noreply@blogger.com1