Flakes Around the World

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Heroes of Humphrey Peak (12,633 ft.)

Justin and Dad. Mt. Agaszzi, Arizona's second highest, in the background

posted by justinian # 6:44 PM

posted by Mom and Dad # 5:04 PM

posted by Mom and Dad # 5:00 PM

posted by Mom and Dad # 4:53 PM

Da boys

posted by Mom and Dad # 4:39 PM

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

More evidence of our growing materialism

Tomorrow morning is the first day of our 3 day pack-out party, so we have been taking delivery of all of the last minute items weve been meaning to get since we have lived here. I almost cant believe it! Only 2 months! Unless of course Swine Flu keeps us here forever!

Lucinda, we LOVE our beautiful portrait of Natalya! Everyone who has seen it, including the guy who framed it, has gone nuts over it.

The family with me in the picture are our friends the Fernando's. The baby, who turned one yesterday, was the first baby in India born under the covenant. It was the Fernandos who made all the huge sacrifices to go to the temple (losing jobs, homes, everything, basically).

Oliver is standing next to his new gun case which ws delivered tonight. Beautiful and peaceful handcarved birds and elephants on the front, and spots for 4 big old animal killing guns inside. How ironic.

The little table is an end table for our living room and is inset with brass and copper. Only 60 bucks for all that hand work. I will really miss the deals we get here.

Amber

posted by Flakes in India # 11:47 AM

Monday, April 27, 2009

Eyo Festival

Here is a picture of a festival called the Eyo festival that is unique to Lagos and happend on Saturday. It happens every 3 to 4 years, and people dress up in white outfits with sticks and parade through Lagos. Part of the tradition is if you are not dressed correctly for the festival (for example if you are wearing shoes, or sandles, or a hat, or have a camera, or look at them the wrong way) they get the beat the H out of you with their sticks, no questions asked. One man I work with who went said he saw them beating an albino, I assume just becasue he was a Nigerian albino. And our driver said the last time they held Eyo festival it he was driving through Lagos not realizing it was the festival day, got out of his car and because he was wearing shoes they beat him nearly to death. Only in Nigeria!

Levin

P.S. Lincoln, I emailed you about our trip.

posted by Levin # 2:54 AM

Sunday, April 26, 2009

To Levin and Melissa

Kids,

We need you to be in country for five full days over christmas. Two days before Christmas we will put Siobhan and Melissa on a train to Edinburgh for a one night two day party there - we will splurg for a nice bed and breakfast for them (without infants) and then the two days after Christmas Levin and I will Ryanair-it to someplace for two days (maybe to Ireland to climb carantoohill of Italy).

What thinkest thou?

posted by Mom and Dad # 9:14 PM

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Wow

Amber, thanks for the photos. I have been thinking about you on that trip. I am glad it turned out well and you got home safely. What an experience!

posted by Mom and Dad # 10:46 AM

Hong Kong Trip

here are a few pictures from the temple trip I took the two Indian sisters on last week. It was a great trip!

The first photo shows Sister Nancy on the day she finally got her passport (she was made to wait for 10 hours at the passport office,they wouldn't let her leave), and knew that she could finally go to the temple! She had been saving all her money in this bank, and wanted us to have the honor of breaking it open. It was cool, and the kids loved helping us!

THe next one shows the great view of the table my cousin had reserved for our lunch. My cousin Jeanna lives in Hong Kong.

Next is her tiny kitchen... see the washer/dryer (same appliance does both)! I will never think of my kitchen at home as small ever again! SHe pays 2000 USD for a 500 sq. ft. apartment!

Next, Sisters Nancy and Sujata at the Hong Kong Harbor.

THen the laser light show where all the buildings light up and "move" to the music. Tacky, but cool.

Finally, the ladies at the temple. It was great. They were each able to get all their family names done, and Sister Nancy was able to do the work for her own mother. I saw some chinese names from 600 BC. The recorder said that he has seen them from 2000 BC.

It was a wonderful trip!

posted by Flakes in India # 9:47 AM

Monday, April 20, 2009

Jabba the Hut

Candy induced coma

posted by Mom and Dad # 8:17 PM

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Cousin Power

Wide eyed innocence

Diaper Duo

posted by Mom and Dad # 10:01 PM

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

More pictures

posted by Levin # 12:58 PM

Part 3

1. Herrenchimesse 16 years later. 2. The Bavarian Alps 3. Boat ride on the highest lake in Germany 4. Visiting the Salt Mines (notice even Leah is in a miners uniform)

The trip was so fun and scenery so beautiful. It brought back some sweet memories of Germany and we had a blast with lincoln. Many schnitzel and bratwurst were eaten and ice cream till we could eat no more. And yes, as Melissa explained we managed to find Bum-Bums, the bubble gum iceream with a bubble gum stick. It was awesome

posted by Levin # 12:42 PM

Part 2

From the bottom 1. Venice 2. Overlooking Salzburg 3. Ramsau!!! 4. Lincoln abandoning me on a tiny island via paddleboat. Everyone from the shore was singing "Fat man on a little island."

posted by Levin # 12:29 PM

Pictures from Awesome Europe Part 1

Starting from the bottom - 1. Newustanstein (I am in love with the panoramo feature of my camera) 2. Weis church 3. On top of a mountain oustide innsbruck 4. Ancient Verona Colloseum

posted by Levin # 12:14 PM

Blog Catch Up

We had an awesome time with Lincoln in Bavaria. We ate tons of food before Lincoln met up with us and I think even more after. It was a lot of fun to have him join us and I got a glimpse of Lincoln and Levin in their teenage years living in Germany - even their bubblegum flavored ice cream/popsicle thing. Best of all Lincoln took turns pushing the stroller. We couldn't have asked for better weather. We had some chilly weather to break up the heat wave we were having in Nigeria and then beautiful weather with only snow in the distance. I promise to post pictures soon, but for now I am plowing through mounds of laundry and emails. Leah was an amazing traveller and we only had a couple of moments where I wondered what we were thinking taking a trip with a baby.
All the girls look gorgeous in their saris (sp?). We watched Slum Dog on the airplane ride. I guess that is as close to India as we get. Good movie.
Siobhan and Lucinda are both looking so skinny. I have a lot of snitzel and gelato to work off.
Melissa

posted by Levin # 6:41 AM

Greatest Trip of All time

The photos will be forthcoming from Levin, but let me state here and now that our recent weekend Bavarian romp, was the most fun I've had in years! It was a total party, helped by cloudless weather, amazing, breathetaking scenery and fatty foods. it was a total party and levin and Melissa was very fun to be around. Their girl is very cute and well behaved. What a party!

posted by Lincoln # 5:42 AM