Sam's New Haircut

Sam got a new "big boy" haircut yesterday and was sporting the faux hawk. He was so proud of it! He's getting so big!

Sheryl made a birthday cape for special occasions. It's really cool! Ella was modeling it for us last night.

My three super heroes! All growing so fast.

We had a great night at Arrington Vineyards with Ryan and Sarah Williamson. http://www.arringtonvineyards.com/ Ryan and I have been friends for more than 20 years. Sarah and Sheryl lived together while at ACU. Our daughters, Maddie and Sydney, are the same age and best friends. Their friendship is the fiercest of loyalties...and they've already informed us all that they have plans to room together at ACU (they're only going into 2nd grade).

It was a beautiful night. I have been in a tremendous amount of pain with my back (having an MRI this week) but being out there was a nice distraction. We are all going back out there in September for the Loggins/ Messina concert. I am SO EXCITED about that! http://www.logginsandmessina.com/

Dinner--fruits, cheeses, YUM!

If you go out to Arrington, be sure to do the wine tasting.

Sunset...gorgeous night!

Tonight Ben and Eve English brought over some dinner and their cute little kitties. Bless their hearts (the kittens). Our kids had to have almost given them a stroke. Serious sensory overload! We are blessed by our dear friends. Blessed and thankful.

Rome--continued

First things first...Sheryl has some new pics of her work up now as well as some great links for cakes and photography. Check it out... http://www.sherylthomasflorals.blogspot.com/

Secondly, I wasn't able to post the pictures I wanted to of Rome...just haven't had time to go through them. And, Ryan Hunt sent a DVD full of pictures from our day there that I loved so I'm adding some of those too.

We got up super early that morning and headed to the bus that would take us to the train into Rome...

Ryan and Tiffini on the train

Breakfast is still important...good thing I packed a nutritious one! :)


The Vatican--coming into the square there was overwhelming. It is all so massive it's hard to really capture it in pictures.

The entry way to the cathedral is covered in ornate gold design...this is a close up of one of the squares...squares like this covered the entire ceiling of the entry way.

Pieta (Michelangelo 1498-1500)

All the Popes had a sculpture of some sort built in their honor...some of them were really amazing

This bronze and gold altar in St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome is called the Baldachin Altar (Altar Baldachin). Supposedly located directly above the tomb of St. Peter, the alter and canopy is a Gianlorenzo Bernini masterpiece that was built between 1624 and 1633.

inside one of the domes

Main alter

Another beautiful monument outside the entrance to the cathedral

After being hot and tired we happened upon an outdoor market...with some really awesome dried fruit.

LUNCH!

Originally a temple for all pagan gods, the temple was converted into a church in 609. The Pantheon contains the tombs of Raphael and of several Italian Kings.

Inside the Pantheon

TREVI FOUNTAIN--The Trevi fountain is at the ending part of the Aqua Virgo, an aqueduct constructed in 19 BC. It brings water all the way from the Salone Springs (approx 20km from Rome) and supplies the fountains in the historic center of Rome with water. In 1732, Pope Clement XII commissioned Nicola Salvi to create a large fountain at the Trevi Square. A previous undertaking to build the fountain after a design by Bernini was halted a century earlier after the death of Pope Urban VIII. Construction of the monumental baroque fountain was finally completed in 1762.

Trevi is also famous for tossing in a coin for good luck---and inspired the song "Three Coins in a Fountain"

The Column of Marcus Aurelius was built between AD 180 and AD 196 as a gift by the Senate and the people of Rome and erected near the emperor's own temple, the Temple of the Deified Marcus.

The one landmark dominating Piazza Venezia is Il Vittoriano, a monument dedicated to king Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of Italy.

The Forum Romanum was the center of life in imperial Rome, evidenced by the many remains of triumphal arches, temples and basilicas.

THE COLOSSEUM--Emperor Vespasian, founder of the Flavian Dynasty, started construction of the Colosseum in AD 72. It was completed in AD 80, the year after Vespasian's death.
The huge amphitheater was built on the site of an artificial lake, part of Nero's huge park in the center of Rome which also included the Golden House (Domus Aurea) and the nearby Colossus statue. This giant statue of Nero also gave the building its current name.

What an amazing day and incredible experience!

Florence, Italy and Cannes, France

Last week we rode the train into Florence one day. It was a fun experience just riding the train--THERE (the return trip was just too hot). This picture was taken in the train station.

Ponte Vecchio bridge in Florence (one of only six bridges in all of Italy spared by the retreating German army)

David rubs the boar for luck

taken on Ponte Vecchio bridge


Ponte Vecchio




this was taken outside where the real "David" used to stand (it's now stored inside and this replica stands in its place)

The best meal I had in Europe

Ryan took this shot...I think it's so cool

David Loudermilk (one of the dancers)

Santa Maria del Fiore (also known simply as the Duomo) was designed by Arnolfo di Cambio in 1294 to be the largest Roman Catholic church in the world (although the design was later reduced in size), with the first stone being laid on September 8, 1296.

Duomo

Tiffini, Jamie, David and me

Meanwhile, that night back on the ship we had a cast dinner. Everyone was there except Hannah who was sick.

Cannes, France--home of the infamous international film festival--the biggest events had just happened a couple of weeks before this

This was in a park right down from the theater in Cannes on the beach. I thought it was cool that it was a double decker.

Cannes

We were in Cannes with the NCL Jade. We also produce the shows on the Jade (I've put clips on my blog before...Smokey Joe's Cafe, Shout, etc)

We met up with some of the cast from the Jade--in this picture:

Adrienne, Kwame, Megan, Jamie and me