Park City

 Chloe and Olympe are cousins.  Chloe on the left is the daughter of a friend of mine, Genevieve.  Genevieve was my French tutor in 1986 when I lived in Paris for a semester.  Now she lives in Lyon.  Genevieve is the kindest person, and her husband and family are just as kind, as well as her sister, who is Olympe's mother.  Both families hosted Golda and Ruby last summer, and they were wonderful!  We are thrilled to finally be reciprocating the kindness that was shown our girls by the Laveissiere and Neyrand-Roux families in France and the Altieris in Spain.

First stop:  Park City Olympic venues.  Really neat to see.

 They look like they're fighting over the torch.  Ha ha!

 I sent this photo to Victor's parents and said, "Don't worry, that's not Victor!"

 But that is!  The Alpine Slide is great because you get to ride the ski lift, see the views, and slide the slide.  Golda, Ruby, Olympe ane Victor dared the ride, while Chloe and I stayed at the bottom with Tolly and Tizzy.  Poor little Tolly was the kid from heck all morning.  His mouth still hurts from the dental work, and he was a huge whiner.  He was driving me nuts!  I finally got him a Park-City-priced sports drink, and then he sobbed because it tasted yucky.

Heaven is Cafe Rio poolside.

Perfect afternoon for two jetlagged girls, as well as the rest of us.  Aaaahhhh!

Ruby, Chloe, Golda, Olympe with Deer Valley in the background. 

Olympe looooooved the jacuzzi!

This is a great group of youngsters, I tell ya.  They have a good dynamic.  They're fun, easy-going, funny, and just fun to be with.  

When we had had enough sun and water, we cleaned up in the condo and I dropped the teens off to Explore Main Street.  The littles and I played at the Park City park and soaked in a gorgeous night.  On the way home, we swung by Burger King for a late-night snack.  I ordered a few things off the dollar menu and the Europeans were shocked at how cheap it was!  Yep, that's why we eat fast food.  Easy and cheap.  Sad but true!  We did have fresh Cafe Rio for lunch, so my guilt was asuaged somewhat.  And those dollar burgers and fries weren't too bad!

Chloe and Olympe brought us some chocolate and candy from France.  Amazing craftsmanship on this chocolate!  I almost don't want to eat it.  Almost!

This is our kitchen late at night, and I couldn't be more happy.

From the looks of it, Ptolemy agrees.

Sunday Drives...and Flights

 Sunday morning, Scott took the kids to the Conference Center to see Music and the Spoken Word.  At 30 minutes long, it's a nice, uplifting way to worship on a Sunday morning.

 A missionary from Chile took them all on a tour of Temple Square.  Afterwards, Victor said, "That missionary was certain I would become Mormon." :)  Victor's Aunt Gema, my dear friend, lives in Chile, so it was a fun connection.

After church, Jim got out his old Model A and took us all for a spin.  Gema had asked Victor to send photos of cool American cars for her little son, Danielito.  The Model A is about as cool as it gets!

 As classic as the car they were in!

 Sunday night, Olympe and Chloe arrived at 10:30 PM.  We have had all summer to prepare for their arrival, and I was still making their beds right before we left for the airport.  Oh well!

 I love the arrival board almost as much as I love the departure board.  Airports just thrill me.  We were so happy to see the girls and to begin the next phase of our adventure.  Victor joked that he wouldn't get any attention once the new girls came, but all of them have clicked famously.  They all have an awesome group dynamic.  We couldn't ask for a better group of teens!

Something Blue

The stage was set yesterday for the King shower.  Yep, in case you hadn't heard, Trajan is getting married!  Everyone is thrilled!  We love Micaela and already feel like she's part of the family.  The shower invite said "Something Blue," so we went with a blue theme.  (I sent an evite this time...still not convinced I'm ready to give up the old paper and stamp ways of the past, but it was easy, I'll admit.)  Once we got all of our blue food and decorations in place, Ruby said, "How can we make this look less like she's having a baby boy?"  Something to think about if you ever do a "Something Blue" wedding shower!  Also.  I shouldn't tell you this, but this morning, I uttered the words, for the first time in my life, "Green poop!  Fancy!"  Yes, Tziporah demonstrated the after-effects of the Something Blue theme quite descriptively.  Too much blue punch, perhaps?  Note to self for next time: blue containers, regular-colored food.

Xanthe and Esmae worked all morning Friday at Coco's house to make this banner.  I think it just added the perfect touch to the event.  It was so cute, Micaela's mom rolled it up at the end to use for another wedding-related BBQ.  Thanks, girls!

I wish I had gotten an "after" pic of the bulletin board, with cards from the guests stuck on it.  I used my friend Tiffany's wedding cards.  They're beautiful!  I also had each guest write her address on an envelope, then gave them to Micaela with thank-you notes and stamps.  Best shower idea ever.  I stole it from someone years ago, and I use it at every shower.

I was tickled pink by this blue car on our front porch, and the fun idea to put the "Just Married" sign on it.  Thanks for the execution, Golda!  It did confuse some people.  No, Trajan and Micaela aren't married yet.  They were tempted to elope while they were in Europe, but they didn't!

I told Ari to arrange the water bottles on the table, and I turned around to see this.  OK.

The second-to-last layer of the jello didn't set up, proving to me once again that recipes are important.  I think I forgot the gelatin on that layer.  I vaguely remember thinking it wouldn't matter.  It did.

Coco prepared byooootiful salads!

It had to be blue....

Still loving the car!

My friend Michelle did this multi-media canvas.  I thought the girl looked like the perfect bride for the occasion.

"One must not trifle with love."  

"One must always include a quote about trifle when one makes trifle in pint jars."

"One must also thank one's sister-in-law for the use of the jars."  Thanks, Nik!

Natalie, Micaela and Maryanne, sisters

Golda, Mary, Xanthe, Emily, Esmae, Julie (Mic's mom) and Micaela

Aunt Marla, Kylie, MAx, McKenna, Karen, Baby Ellie and Nana.  Nana looked quite spunky and stylish in her sunflower hat.

Tricia and Micaela.  We're so glad Tricia is here from Miami for all these festivities!

Allison and Ellie, Karen's baby

Mary, Circe and Samantha.  When Samantha walked in, she looked at me and said, "Ooooh, Circe's having a party...on her head!"  Tee hee!

Mary and her good friend, Elayne Finlinson

Kiser family tradition: the groom gets to kiss the bride once for each ribbon.

Three "sisters."  The family is complete!

Happiness abounds!  And there's more to come!