Busy summer!

It has been so busy since we got back from our trip. We went on a river trip with Cade and Janelle, then Katrina came to visit. On my birthday Cade and Pernellie had a barbeque. We had garden burgers and Cade's home brew. Here we all are (except Ed, who took the photo):

Erin, Heather, me, Katrina, Cade, Chris, Nell, Adam, Shanda and Jennie

My family is so cute!!!

Cute little Bailey

Cade drinking some of his brew

Adam - I finally got him to smile for a photo instead of pulling a face!

The view from our deck

I'm headed to Chicago this afternoon for work, then this weekend we have Soni's wedding. Party!

Rome Day 2

On our second day in Rome Karena, Di, Rodney and Laura went to see the Pope. Shane, Ed and I went to the Pantheon, bought a few paintings, and met up with the group for a Vatican tour. The Vatican and St. Peter's Cathedral were amazing - over the top! We saw the Sistine Chapel but no photographs were allowed. It was incredible!

We headed for home the next day. All in all, a fantastic trip of a lifetime!

Courtyard of the Vatican

Walking back to the room in the evening
Italian Greyhound!
St. Peter's Square - this is where the group had their audience with the Pope
The guys with a Swiss Guard. Those guards are tough!
Inside St. Peter's Cathedral
Boys waiting
The fountain in St. Peter's Square
The courtyard of the Vatican. The face is Augustus Caesar
Cool statue
Mosaic floor
One of the ceilings in the Vatican

Rome

We docked in Citivecchia and we took a shuttle to the train for Rome. It was really a nightmare because we packed too much and had too many bags! Our hotel guy made a comment about "Americans" and he was right! The next day we went to the Coliseum and the Old City.

I THINK these are the Spanish Steps - not sure, I was confused!

This is at the Trevi Fountain -- we are throwing coins in to make a wish!
The tomb of Raphaelle

Me in front of a Smartcar. They have these all over Europe!

Overlooking Rome

People at the Trevi Fountain
Trevi Fountain
Look - I have a halo! I really AM an angel!

This is where the Emperor sat at the Coliseum. The Christian church put a cross there dedicated to the Christians killed in Rome. This is in the Santa Maria church. Inside the glass is a "piece of the original manger"
Santa Maria church
Hahaha!!! This is Dianna (but Ed made her do it!)
The Trevi fountain

Part of the Old CityOne of the walls in Augustus Caesar's house
Part of an arch
The Coliseum. You can see the underground chambers. The small part of the floor is just to show where the original floor was. Over 1,000,000 people and 1,000,000 animals died in the Coliseum!
Ed and I doing the "thumbs down" at the Coliseum. The loser's gate is behind us.

Naples, Italy (Pompeii)

On May 25 we took a bus to Pompeii. The ruins were incredible. We saw plaster casts of some of the bodies. Pompeii City was huge. We could see Mount Vesuvius in the distance. After the tour we wandered through Naples and had some pizza (and Italian beer, of course). Naples was my least favorite city - pretty dirty and stinky and loud. But we had a great day!

A fountain in Naples

Naples

Plaster cast in Pompeii - you can see his teeth!

Another plaster cast - I think this is sad
Pompeii
Italian beer!
A castle in Naples
The amphitheater in Pompeii
This was in the brothel. Each room had a fresco showing the woman's "specialty". Pompeii was pretty decadent!
This is a penis on the wall pointing to the brothel!
Here is a sidewalk sign pointing to the brothel!
Pompeii
Outside walls of Pompeii
The amphitheater
One of the streets
Stepping stones to cross the street when it rained and was muddy