A visit to ISU!

Our last day in Ames we visited our Alma mater - Iowa State University!!  We love taking our kids there and telling them about college and where mommy and daddy met!  In case you didn't know, Campaniling is an ISU tradition where you become a true Iowa Stater once you've been kissed under the campanile while the bells toll midnight!  Well, of course I had to become one, so there was a "mass campaniling" night my freshman year and Josh and I actually got photographed and published in the paper campaniling!!  So embarrassing!!  We took a lot of heat for that one!  Great memories, though, right?! ;)  Anyway, we were showing our kids this, so they decided they would try it too, ha!!!  So young and innocent!

 Under the campanile with grandma and grandpa

 on central campus

 we also had to feed the swans (Lancelot and Elaine) at Lake Laverne!  Another tradition!

 We came home, had dinner, and made some s'mores.  Lance opened a few early birthday gifts as well!

Having fun with cousins

While we were in Ames with Josh's side, his sister Lis and her two kids, Stella and Graham, stayed to hang out with us.  We went to the local pool, played at parks, and just hung out.  Some fun cousin memories!

 having a snack at the pool with Stella

 being cheesy!

 Stella modeling the hat we got her

Baby Graham

Back to visit the Good Ol' USA!

At the end of last June/early July we traveled back to visit our families.  We were only gone about 2 weeks, but it was a jam-packed, full of fun, 2 weeks!  We first landed in Des Moines, and stayed in Ames with Josh's family.  We then traveled to Cedar Falls, celebrated my dad's retirement, and quickly drove up to the Wisconsin Dells to spend time with my family.  We finished the trip in Minneapolis where we saw more friends and family and then flew out of there back to Sydney.  Whew!  And to think we're doing it all over again this year!!  ;)  One of the highlights of our trip was meeting our new cousins/nephews.  Ben and Jill had their 2nd little boy, Elijah in June, and Lis and Josh had their 2nd, Graham in June.  It was fun to be able to see them while they were still so tiny.  We also have lots of birthdays in June/July on this side of the family!  We had a mini celebration for Ben, Stella, and Lance with some of Josh's Aunts, Uncles, and Grandma Stella.  Here are some highlights of that day.

 Elijah and Graham

 The birthday cake for everyone!

 Lance is ready to blow out those candles!!

 A picture of all of Grandma Stella's great grandchildren on the Malin side.  (We've since added little miss Quinn (Andy and Erin's first), so will hopefully get another picture this time!)

 4 generations!

 Grandma with her 4 Malin grandchildren - Josh, Lis, Andy, and Ben

Stella, Graham, Elijah, and Jonas

Athletics Carnival

Every June their school has an athletics carnival (like the swim carnival, where if you do really well, you move onto the next level, etc.)  "Athletics" here actually means "track and field" to us!  Funny how they call athletics just one thing where that word means ALL sports to us!  Anyway, Grace was hesitant to participate (since running isn't really a big thing in our family! ;) ;), but of course I made her "have a go" and give it a try!  What do you have to lose??  In the end, she got 4th place in the girls 400m and 2nd place in the girls 100m!!! WHAT?!!!  We wore both a bit surprised, but she was pretty happy she "gave it a go" in the end!! ;)  Great job, Grace!

 chilling with her friends while not racing

 running!!

 This is her team name

 the girls taking a break

with her 2nd place ribbon and 4th place certificate - way to go Grace!

"The Play"

Last year, Grace took a drama class at our church.  This was their first play they performed half way through the year.  It was called, "The Play", and Grace was the Manager.  She loved it and did an awesome job!!  Takes after her mommy..... ;)

 performing

 taking a bow

 her costume

 Lance wanted to try it out as well - too cute!

Sydney Laser Light Show

Well, after a very LOOONG hiatus....I'm trying to get back into my blog again!  Unfortunately, those of you reading this, may like to hear/see more about our Vietnam trip which we just returned from.  However, I am a WHOLE YEAR behind on this blog/journal so instead you're going to hear about the Sydney laser light show we went to almost EXACTLY a year ago!!!!  Maybe I'll catch up one day......

We went into the city with some friends last May where the annual Sydney Laser Light Show was being held.  I think it runs for about a week or so, but artists have interactive light exhibits that they have been working on all over the city for the public to view.  It was a really fun night out and fun to see this beautiful city all lit up with so many cool and different lights, and how they used them.

 the gang

 You peddled a bike and the energy you created made a movie that you could watch!  Once you stopped peddling, the movie stopped - kids thought it was really cool!

 Giant chandelier on the harbour

 cool lights to walk through

 In a light igloo made out of recycled materials

 Of course they have amazing colors, pictures, etc. constantly being projected onto the Opera House.  It was really cool!

This building is by the train station and normally just a solid gray.  All the colors and pictures you see are lights.  (Erin: this is the building the four of us had dinner together on your last night!)