Italy

 When Kent and Melissa learned they would be stationed in Italy while Kent is serving in the Navy band, Seth and I thought we'd probably take the opportunity to do a little world traveling and visit them. We thought we had plenty of time to hop across the pond, but the Navy decided to cut their time short there and have them go back to Virginia by the end of 2022. Kent and Melissa let everyone know their plans, and they extended an invitation to family to come sightsee with them before they left.

Seth and I assumed we'd take that opportunity. We even checked our calendar and picked out a block of time. But then we counseled together and decided that it didn't feel right for the two of us to go: Instead, we needed to send Rebekah and Analee so the could have that experience.

Melissa had mentioned more than once that she'd love to have the older girls come visit her. And although it threw me into a state of panic imagining my girls flying halfway across the world and navigating international airports, we started the process of applying for passports, checking airlines for international travel requirements for minors, and buying tickets.

Early in the morning on July 5, we left our home and drove to the Salt Lake airport. I hugged the girls and said goodbye to them as they made their way to security. Their flight from Houston to Paris got delayed, so the girls missed their connection in Paris. They were able to get on a different flight that got them to Naples later than originally planned, but everything worked out okay. Seth, however, spent the longest night of his life checking in on the girls to make sure they were able to get on a different flight from Paris, only to worry sick about them when they lost their wifi and couldn't communicate with him for hours. Poor Seth imagined every possible horrible scenario that could have occurred while the unaffected girls watched "The Office" at their gate. 

Melissa was the best hostess imaginable, and she had to do it without spousal support. (Kent was on tour while Rebekah and Ana were there.) She gave the girls an unforgettable experience, and as a bonus, they got to spend time with their aunt and cousins. 

Here is the girls' itinerary (although they didn't make it to the Ufizi in Florence): 

And here are the pics!

Ana and Bekah safe and sound (unbeknownst to Seth) at their gate in the Paris airport.

In Melissa's car after the girls arrived safely in Naples. We breathed a huge sigh of relief when Melissa sent us this photo and we knew they were in her care.

Cheese boards at their first Italian restaurant. It was entirely open seating, and they never went inside a building. It was also very hidden, and you would never think that a restaurant would be down the tiny alleyway that lead to it. There was also a cat that prowled around.

The next day they went to Pompeii for the day. It was very hot, and Emma and Charlie were reluctant to walk around in the heat.

Inside one of the first houses at Pompeii.

Also at Pompeii.

Rebekah and a body cast at Pompeii.

Ana looking over the ruins.

Stepping stones in the streets of Pompeii. The roads had these essentially crosswalks periodically with gaps for the chariot wheels, but raised so the people weren't walking in the sewage running down the streets.

The next afternoon, they drove an hour or two to the costal town of Amalfi. The roads were very tight and winding, and our hotel was hidden and down a narrow, steep driveway.

On the balcony of their hotel room.

A little sitting place in some grape vines outside our hotel room. I think Melissa told them to laugh for the picture. Either that, or they're just in a jolly good mood.

On a ferry from Amalfi to Positano.

That evening we had lemon gelato, lemon ravioli, and gnocchi with raw prawns.

All the lights in Amalfi turned on at sunset.

Breakfast at the hotel the next day.

They then drove from their hotel down to find a place to swim. Once they found the spot, they had to drive another half mile to find a place big enough to park right along a cliff, then fold the side mirrors in on the van so cars would have room to drive past them. 

Swimming in the Mediterranean.

Sea glass and pottery Ana found in the sea.

Afterwards they went to an open air cliffside restaurant with a cat, and both our girls got gnocchi. They drove back to Naples and spend the next day at their apartment before heading off to Rome.

Waiting for our train to Rome.

They didn't take a tour of the Colosseum, but they saw the outside and it was very cool.

Some archeological work in Rome.

Bekah wearing her backpack as a fanny pack.

Streetside roasted chestnuts.

Trevi Fountain.

They then stayed at a hotel for the night and got sushi.

Entrance to the Vatican Museum.

One of the many rooms full of painted and carved ceilings, statues, and mosaics on the floor. They weren't allowed to take pictures in the Sistine Chapel.

That afternoon they went on another train to Florence and saw the Statue of David, then had ramen and slept in another hotel room.

Some sort of fancy door.

Basilica of Santa Croce where Michelangelo and others are buried. Although it looks like Ana is bestowing a blessing on Rebekah in the church, she's just fixing her sunglasses on top of her head. Ana would also like to point out that she is noticeably taller than Rebekah in this picture. 

Whole roasted pig at the place they got sandwiches for lunch.

Outside the Duomo on their last day away from Naples. They got to the train station and had Five Guys hamburgers and fries before they went back to Naples.

Then back to Naples and Melissa's place before flying home.

Ana and Melissa with the the banana cupcakes with burnt butter cream cheese frosting they made after eating Neapolitan pizza for dinner.

Fourth of July

 Our Independence Day celebrations were more low-key this year, due to Ana and Rebekah flying to Italy on July 6. We shot off a few fireworks that we bought from a neighbor girl as part of her dance fund raiser. Rebekah marched in the parade, and we watched. We enjoyed a picnic at Grandma Susan's house. Everyone went to bed early.

Bonneville and Hillcrest combined marching bands in the spring, so Rebekah got to represent the newly formed High Desert Marching Band as a drum major. Ana didn't march in the parade this year because the Bonneville ballroom manager didn't apply for the parade in time.

The girls lined up in the side driveway enjoying the fireworks on the evening of Sunday, July 3.

Rebekah is obviously enthralled.

Winnie fanning her cousin at the parade.

Rebekah in the parade.

Easton sitting on Miriam's lap during the parade.

Ana (and her fancy nails that she had a friend do for her), Andrea and Seth watching the parade.

Winnie tumbling in Grandma Susan's backyard during the picnic.

Seth's gigs at the Egyptian Coffee House

 One Friday when Seth and I needed something to do for a date, we found out about a little coffee house in downtown I.F. where they feature local musicians on Friday nights. We listened to an indie/folk-type musician and sipped our Italian sodas, and Seth decided to contact the owner to see about being one of those local musicians. He gave her a list of available dates, and she asked him to play three times: June 10, July 1, July 8. Seth prepared a set list and then adapted it to his whims and audience. He had friends from work, friends from the ward and stake, and family members who came to listen to his tunes and enjoy the atmosphere. I joined in on a couple of songs: "Red Moon Rising" (tambourine), "Resurrection Fern," "I'll Be There for You," "Lost in My Mind," "Blank Space."

Seth playing in the coffee house with the flyer advertising musicians.

Enjoying the gig.

Winnie and Seth at the coffee house. The girls and I got ice cream and enjoyed it while he played.

Winnie and Ana.

Miriam.

Rebekah, Andrea and Winnie.

Seth playing.

Last gig of the set. Dennis and Susan made it to this one after calling me because they went to the wrong coffee house and weren't sure where they were supposed to go.

Menan Butte

With dreams of climbing Mount Borah in mind, a group of us spent the morning on Friday, June 24 hiking to the top of the Menan Butte. Rebekah was still at FSY, Seth had work, and Miriam's bunion prevented her from spending time on her feet this summer, so it was my parents, Ana, Winnie, Peach and I who went to the top and enjoyed the views.

Ana in the parking lot.

Ana, Peach and Winnie near the top.

Winnie running back up after exploring.

Peach, Andrea, Winnie, Grandma Scott and Ana on top.

Grover selfie.

Whole group selfie.

Utah reception/Zermatt

 My cousin had a reception in South Jordan, Utah, on Saturday, June 18, so right after I got home from the band leadership camp with Rebekah, I turned around and went back to Utah with everyone BUT Rebekah (she went to FSY at USU). We combined the reception trip with our annual yearbook camp trip since they butted right up against each other on the calendar.

We made an appearance at the reception and said hello to my aunts, uncles, cousins and parents, and then we appeased the girls by stopping at Scheel's and riding the Ferris wheel.

Seth and I on the Ferris wheel.

Winnie looking at the columns filled with fish at Scheel's.

The next day, we let the girls swim in the hotel pool, then cleaned up and attended sacrament meeting with my aunt and uncle before driving to the West Jordan and South Jordan cemeteries to visit some ancestors' headstones.

The headstone of Alexander and Catherine Beckstead, fourth great-grandparents, in the South Jordan Cemetery.

Winnie checking out the water feature at the South Jordan Cemetery.

Samuel Egbert's headstone (my third great-grandpa) at the West Jordan Cemetery.

Winnie, Seth, Miriam and Ana looking at the clouds at the cemetery.

Then we drove to Park City to meet up with the rest of the Camp Yearbook crew and then check in to our hotel at Zermatt and prepare for three days of shooting, editing and generally producing the video they show at the award ceremony at the end of the camp. Ana attended the photo track and learned more about her camera and shooting in general. Winnie and Miriam kept each other company.

Seth and Ana at breakfast the day the staffs come, register, and attend their first classes.

Miriam and Winnie at breakfast that same day.

Seth with his video editing setup in the hotel room.

Ana and Grandpa Scott. Ana attended the photo track (taught by Grandpa Scott) again.

Winnie, Ana and Miriam playing miniature golf during downtime.

Andrea signing the back of a girl's name tag. Seth and I played "I'll Be There for You" during the talent show (with Miriam on the tambourine), and this girl wanted our autographs. We signed them as though we were Friends characters. 

Car selfie on the way home at the end of the camp.

Rebekah is 17!

 Rebekah's actual birthday was on a Tuesday, so we held a birthday dinner (which also celebrated the birthdays of Seth and Aunt Jessica) on Sunday, June 12.

Rebekah got to hold her baby cousin Canyon for the first time.

The T-shirt Aunt Rachel got Rebekah. Rebekah also received cash from Grandma Susan and Grandpa Dennis, Swedish fish from Uncle T's family, black socks from us (I swear ... that's what she really wanted!), and an egg cooker from Grandma Scott. Rebekah LOVES eggs in any way, shape or form, and the cooker will go with her to college next year. 

The three cakes Ana made for the birthday havers. Seth had the banana. Aunt Jessica had the red velvet. Rebekah had the salted caramel.

The rainwater that collected inside our house that night. This was the second time we had major leakage through the roof, and it took some work, but it looks like the underlying problem has finally been solved. Since this incident in June and the repairs that were completed, we haven't had any more leaks. And Tobin was really good to not charge us (or our insurance) anything this time around. They obviously didn't fix it right the first time, so they made sure to do it the second time.

We planned to take Rebekah to Sushi Time, but they had too long of a wait. So instead we went to CupBop for Korean barbecue.

The day after Rebekah's actual birthday, she and I (and the other drum major ... Brad from Hillcrest) drove down to American Fork and attended a band leadership camp. And honestly, that's probably the best birthday present anyone could have given her. We left very early on the morning of the 15th. Rebekah and I stayed with my Aunt Susan in South Jordan, and Brad stayed with the Bonneville band director's grandparents-in-law in American Fork. They spent the days learning about how to be good drum majors, and I spent the days updating our blog (which is when I last got around to this), visiting with Ross and Susan, going to sessions in three different temples, shopping at a couple of D.I.s and hiking to Timpanogos Cave (but not going inside). Brad said about two words the entire time he was in the car, but Rebekah and I had some good conversations as we traveled. 

Selfie I shot and sent to the family. Rebekah and I shared the king-sized bed in Susan's basement after we kicked her granddaughter out of it to the bedroom upstairs. (I felt really bad about that, but Susan assured me that Kaylen would have had to move in a couple of days anyway because her parents were coming to visit, and they would need the basement bedroom.)