Switzerland-20th anniversary

 Brent and I finally got to celebrate our 20th anniversary by going on a trip to Switzerland (even though it was 21.5 by the time we went).  My kids have told me that our Italy blogposts are too detailed and long and boring.  So, I am going to just mention the highlights and spare you from all the insanely gorgeous landscape photos.  

We spent a few days in the city of Lucerne, which is a lakeside town flanked by massive mountains.  We explored the city, the mountain tops and enjoyed the amazing views. 

Riding a ferry across the lake

Just an insanely green forest hike we did

Using google translate to figure out what kind of chocolate to buy at the end of our chocolate factory tour

This structure on the top of a peak is where a James Bond movie was filmed

No, we are not standing in front of a painting.  This was gorgeous and you could hear the cow bells from across the mountains

The famous waterfall where Sherlock Holmes died

The second half of our time was spent in Muren, a small village at the top of a mountain above the Lauterbrunnen Valley.  This was our favorite location.  We had to take a tram, then a bus, then a gondola, then a train just to get to the city.  There were no cars, but we woke up each morning to the sound of cow bells as the local farmers ran their herds through the streets.  

We spent most of our time here hiking and exploring the valley (which contains over 70 waterfalls)  The first day, we just started walking down the the town below us.  We kept stopping and just staring at the valley below.  Absolutely gorgeous.  I am convinced that this is the most beautiful place on earth! 

 We stumbled upon a hostile with amazing pizza, who was just about to host a wedding with this view in the background WOW!

After this meal, we decided to just keep walking down.  We didn't realize how many miles and how steep that hike was going to be.  After a few miles of this, my knees starting really hurting. It was a long exhausting hike down and my knees hurt for the rest of the trip. We ended up needing to modify a few hikes and I rented hiking poles to help.

I started walking sideways to help with the pain

One day was spent in the valley, exploring the waterfalls, riding bikes, and getting rained on

Breakfast at the top of a peak, eating in a rotating glass-walled restaurant.

There are clean water spigots everywhere to drink from

 I think a highlight for me, was this hike.  

Stopped to pet a cow

We found a restaurant in the middle of nowhere, serving hot apple cinnamon donuts.  We ate outside listening to the cowbells and enjoying the scenery.  I honestly, could have stayed there for hours.  It was amazing!!!

Hiking Aare gorge was really fun

This was the best bratwurst Brent has ever had (say that three times fast)

Our trip was a smashing success, and we just kept saying how badly we would love to take the kids some day.  Words cannot describe the beauty and majesty!  It was so much fun for Brent and I to share it together.  20 years is definitely something to celebrate. Happy Anniversary to us!!

Graduations!!!

Taylor and Sydney  both graduated!!  

Sydney is done with high school and Taylor is done with middle school! Sydney graduated as the 3rd in her class, earned a 1/2 tuition scholarship from BYU, won the Science Senior award, was only one of four Red Wolf Scholars, was awarded a scholarship from a local women's group and even gave a speech at graduation!  Talk about achievements!

Her hat says, "To the world we dream about and the one we live in now."

Her speech was soo good!  She talked about pros and cons of high school experience. "Pro, spending two years with Aiden, my brother and favorite soccer player.  Con: the way my car smelled after picking him up from practice."

We are not only proud of all her accomplishments, but of the person she has become.  Sydney is unfailingly thoughtful.  She is an amazing sister (Aiden and Taylor are really going to miss her).  She is a hard worker and very self disciplined.  This girl has had some ups and downs during her high school year and it is so fun to see her finish on top!

Taylor also had her middle school graduation.  I don't know why, but I feel like Taylor is still too young for high school.  She sure is looking grown up these days!

Taylor is really going to miss having Hannah at school.  They are still the best of friends.  Hannah got special permission to skip class and come see Taylor graduate.

Grandma was in town for Beauty and the Beast (and graduation and Tanner's baby lol) so she got to come celebrate Taylor too.

Taylor has had a great group of kids during all her years at GEA.  I am so so grateful for good friends.  

With Taylor leaving GEA, it is the end of an era for us. It is crazy to me to think I won't be on this campus anymore.  I won't be driving kids to/from school.  No more need to pack lunches.  GEA has been good for us over the years.  It's not a perfect school (they are constantly changing how things are done), but it has been a great fit for our kids.  They'd had some amazing teachers who have loved/invested in them.  They've met some great friends and had amazing opportunities like band and theater. I have loved the small community feel and how all the adults know my name and the names of my kids.  I made the kid recreate this photo from Taylors first day of Kindergarten.