8th Grade is Behind Us!

Hello all to the Summer Blog 2014! We are starting the blog this year with a perfect-hair-day! This year Thomas will bring his friend Conor as a companion on our adventures. We can't wait to show him around. Thomas has finished 8th grade and he and his friends are ready for High School. But first we will explore Europe. Stay tuned for news from our travels!

But first a little recap of the last school year. In August of 2013 we came home just in time for Thomas' birthday. He was happy to see his cousins. 

 Thomas got some great presents.

After Labor Day Thomas started 8th grade.

Thomas and his friends went out trick-or-treating on their own. No more Mom in tow.

Captain Andy took Grandpa and his friends on a spin with the USS Chancellorsville.

Thomas played Winterball.

We celebrated Thanksgiving with our family.

In the night from December 13 to 14th my Mom died
and I went home to be with my family.

But I actually remember her like this: always busy, great at math, giving people her last shirt, and most of all the kindest heart in the whole wide world. That's her on the right.

Mom died during the same night as my best friend Christine 23 years earlier. 

I believe they share a cloud and are watching out for us.

 That was us at 17!

But as life has it, while I was home in Austria 

my little cousin Susanna had a big healthy baby boy:

Fred!

 I can't believe she's a Mom now!

In February Thomas and I went skiing to Big Bear.

On the way home we stopped at Huntington Library in Pasadena 

and checked out their wonderful gardens.

 Then Andy and Thomas went to Spring Training in Arizona.

Finally Baseball Season started!

For Thomas this year's baseball season was cut short when he broke his wrist.
He did make the play at first base, though. 

 He wore his cast for 5 weeks.

 Guess who found the golden egg at Easter?

Aunt Joni came to visit!

 Jake had his first communion.

Brett had another birthday.

The kids decided to pose for a photo or two.

 We got new "old" windows on our house.
Hey, we're bringing it back to 1927!

Thomas went on his class trip to Yosemite.

And Tyler graduated from 5th grade.

It was a busy year.