What's Goin' On...

Today, September 28 is Amelia LaRee's 3rd Birthday. It was so fun to be back home and have our family here to celebrate with us.

Happy Birthday Millie,

We LOVE You!

When Mill woke up we opened presents with her Nana. She got her a fisher price MP3 player. She will LOVE it! She always asks to listen to her music. I can't wait to get it loaded up. Brady and I got her the Vtech Camera. She likes it, but I think it will be more fun in a few months when she understands how to use it a little better. Then we went to church and she got to make a birthday crown in nursery. Next we headed to my parents for homemade tacos, cake, and ice cream. My cute mom made her a Cinderella cake. Millie LOVES her princesses. My parents got Millie her first trike. It's a pink RadioFlyer. It was so cute! It's going to take a little practice, but I know she is going to ride all the time. My sister and her fam got her a water color set and some paints and silly Lilly, re gifted a Barbie she didn't want and a ball Millie had left at their house. Cyndell made her a really cool jewelry hanger, she has already put her hair bows on it! Mill couldn't have been more thrilled with everything. When we got back to the Flamm's to go to bed her aunt Carly gave Millie a new blankie. Hers is nearly a rag. I was a little nervous she wasn't going to accept a new blanket, but she really liked it and took it to bed with her. Thank you so much to you all for the wonderful gifts and all the love (thanks to Bryan and Kim for the fun gift, she has been having a great time painting the last couple days)! Millie is so lucky to have so many people around her that love her so much.



Now, what else have we been up too?

long boarding

playing soccer (sort of)
helping my sis lay their grass
and trying to keep the kids out of the way.

Going to my sister in laws baby shower. It's A Boy!

Swimming with aunt Carly

Making Cookies with Nana.

Going for walks with Grandpa Jeff to see the baby bunnies

and Partying with some old friends. (pictures to come later, I forgot the camera). Our sweet friends Jeremy and Amanda Reitz threw us a Welcome Home party with all Brady's high school buds. It was great to see everyone and to catch up!

Thanks again to the Reitz Fam!

UTAH

I miss England so much but I am so happy to be home with my family and friends. I feel like we have been on turbo mode ever since our plane landed! Things are finally slowing down some and life is feeling somewhat normal. It's really strange not being able to go to my house because there are people living there. Until Brady and I know what in the world we are doing we're going to be doing there is no point moving back in or buying a new home. At this point we are staying at my in laws house. They have been so kind, not only do we live under their roof, but we drive their cars, and eat their food. We are sure lucky to have such an amazing supportive family.

One of my first days back my sister invited me to go tour the fire station. They had to book a date a month in advance. It was pretty cool, but the kids lost interest fairly quick. We still had fun though.

Fireman Bob (I don't remember his name), Grandma, Oscar, Lindsay, Oliver, Jager, Me, Millie, Kristin (one of Lindsay's best friends) and her little boy Issac

Grandma Jager with Oscar and Oli

Millie driving the truck

The boys: Oliver, Oscar, Jager

Millie started playing on a soccer team, well so far she has watched her team play soccer while she picks grass on the side lines. I'm so bummed. I really thought she was going to love playing, but she was mad when she realized that Brady and I wouldn't be on her team. She had her second game tonight and her coach got her in for a few minutes playing goalie, but she wasn't thrilled about it. Hopefully she we get more comfortable. I know she would love it if she would only give it a try. What to do...

The Graduation Ceremony

I'm starting to fall behind on my blogging! I just realized I never posted pictures of Brady and his fellow MBA grads. I always loved it when Brady wore his traditional subfusc. It just wouldn't be Oxford without it.

The Merton Boys (Gareth Australia, Brady USA, Tony USA, Sven Germany)

Brady's greatest Friends (Gareth, Steve, Brady, Tony, Sven)

Brady, Noor (from Saudi Arabia), Johannes (from South Africa)

Brady and Stephan Chambers, Director of the MBA program

We have had such an amazing year! It astounds me that it's over. Really if anyone out there is thinking about an MBA and you want to experience something that you absolutely can't get anywhere else, come to Oxford. There is so much history and tradition. There is nowhere quite like Oxford and I will miss it. It has truly been a once in a life time opportunity and I am so appreciative of Brady for taking us.
One of the keynote speakers at the ceremony read the poem by Robert Frost that we all know and love,

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

I am so grateful that Brady and I chose to take the path less traveled. This past year we were able to not only enjoy living in England, but were able to travel through Europe. We have both learned so much about ourselves and each other. We put ourselves in an unfamiliar situations and it was life altering. We chose the path less traveled and were blessed immensely for it.

Here's to an outstanding year.

The headless Chicken

What should be a long exciting post is getting turned into a quick blurb. I am so tired from the last couple days and things are going to get more exhausting as we leave Oxford tomorrow! We'll be staying near the airport Sunday night and then flying home Monday morning. We both have had a crazy week as Brady had his capstone and I have been getting ready for a move by myself, but I wanted to get in a quick post before we hit the states.

Monday was Brady's birthday and his SCP group surprised him with an Oxford coffee table book and an awe inspiring Hulk Holgen novel for the flight home. His Merton buddies got him a Turf Tavern Rugby shirt and I, well I got him nothing.

Brady opening his gifts. Larry is the one on the phone, he was in Brady's SCP group over the summer working on the Williams Formula One project with him.

Brady admiring the HULK

Last night we had a final Black Tie even. It was great to get to see everyone that had been gone for the summer working on their different project.

guy?, Sven, Oli, Tony, Brady

Showing off our moves on the dance floor

Today was Brady's unofficial Graduation (his actual ceremony is next year!). I have a ton of pictures and stories to tell, but I don't want to rush through it so you will just have to wait...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Happy Birthday Brady! Millie and I love you so much. We are so impressed with everything you manage to do in a day. You are an amazing man, husband, and an father. I can't wait to see where our adventures take us next!

Bonjour!

I love my husband! We had the most fantastic time enjoying the beautiful city of Paris. France is definitely a country I hope to return to in the future!

We arrived in Paris Friday afternoon where we checked in the hotel and then set out for the metro. The subway was actually really easy to use and WAY cheap. I would defiantly recommend it! It was raining but we didn't' mind since we spent the afternoon in the Louvre. What an extraordinary place! It really is overwhelming. We made a list of things we wanted to see and tried not to get distracted, and even then we spent several hours there. It is an incredible place. I have heard from a few people that the Mona Lisa was a bit of a disappointment, but I thought it was stunning and I was in awe of the mystery that is the Mona Lisa. I truly could have stared at her for hours if there weren't hundreds of other people trying to see her as well.

People were taking pictures of the artwork like CRAZY! I couldn't believe it. Usually there are signs everywhere saying No Photography. I only heard one person get yelled at and it was because they had left their flash on.

HELLO, priceless works of art, DON'T LEAVE YOUR FLASH ON!

After the Louvre it had luckily stopped raining and we wandered through some beautiful parks.

We had dinner at a delightful little cafe where I had Risotto for the first time (they always cook it in Hell's Kitchen) and we spoiled ourselves with some raspberry creme bulee.

That evening we went to the Eiffel Tower and watched the sunset. It was so beautiful and fun to see all the "love birds" around. It's amazing how Paris seems to find the romance in everyone.

Saturday we headed to the Orsay Museum, which was recommend by the fantastic artist herself, Mrs Ames, aka my college roommate that reeks from artistic talent. Both Brady and I weren't sure we wanted to spend time in another museum, but I LOVED IT. They had some fascinating art. I loved just about anything done by Pissaro and of course Van Gogh. I am speechless when ever I admire his work, especially his self portraits. You can really feel the sadness in his eyes. There were also some stunning Monet's and countless other outstanding artists.

Here's some of our favorites from the day...

Next we took a boat up to Notre Dame where we had lunch in an eccentric cafe and then saw the famous cathedral. Millie was sad she didn't get to come and see Quasi with us.

I tried to take pictures of us through the mirror but it didn't work out so well.

Why do I look so annoyed on my romantic weekend..my legs were so tire from walking all over the place and Brady insisted on climbing the Tower Of Triumph..I was not thrilled about the situation.

On the way up.

So I was kind of laughing at this guy that was wearing this ridiculous outfit and when he saw me smile at him he started to chase me. He begged me to do this silly dance with him. He was getting married or something and he had to get video dancing with 10 different people before he could go home. Brady started filming right when we were done, but you still get to see his outfit. It's also side ways so get ready to turn your head.

Our last stop of the day was at a delicious little bakery where we sampled a few savor treats. My favorite was the chocolate eclair. YUM. I had never had one with a chocolate cream inside and it was to die for.

I can't wait to go back! Thanks honey for a wonderful weekend and thank you to the Gotz and Swinton Families for taking care of Millie for us. She too had a fabulous time. Hooray for friends!

Not to brag or anything,

BUT

Brady is taking me for a romantic weekend in PARIS, Without Miss Millie.

We have AWESOME friends!

"Rainy Days and Mondays Always Get Me Down"

It's been a little gloomy the past week with everything coming to an end and the yucky weather here in Oxford, but Millie and I had a blast at the park with Owen and Danalisa. Millie and Owen were both so cute and funny with each other. It's amazing how close they have grown over the past year.

Millie is really going to miss her little buddy!

My silly one

Owen trying to climb the ladder rope with his fabulously prego momma helping him.

Isn't she big!

These cheeky monkeys kept hanging their heads over the back of the swing and laughing hysterically.