A Night at Catherines Palace

The Hermitage in St Petersburg

This was amazing to see and these are just a few photos. It is really sensory overload and we did not have the best guide. But what we couldn't get over is that with the original Da Vinci's and Monets and all the other priceless pieces, the windows were open, direct sun on these paintings and oil paintings behind glass. You did not have to wear the protective booties and the inlaid wood pictures were from the floor, yet we went to places with scared up wood floors and had to wear the booties.

Dinner in Moscow

Red Square in Moscow

Moscow

some explanation

On the pictures below the Vasa was a ship that sank right after it left the dock in Stockholm. Three hundred and thirty three years later it was found and pulled out of the sea almost completely intact. It really was amazing to see. We just kept saying this would not have been the time you would want to be the messenger to tell the king that the ship, that was suppose to come pick him up with a bunch of other high ranking people, had sunk in the harbor. We were told it was because they had added another level though the ship builders had told them it was a bad idea.

more Stockholm

Stockholm

London

London

My goal

So my goal this weekend is to finally get my pictures (some of them) on this blog. I'm putting them together by city and hopefully then to a slide show. I took this trip in June we went to London then flew to Stockholm where we boarded the Crystal Symphony for the Baltic cruise. Frank and I appreciate Lyndon and Peggy for arranging everything we realize we are two very lucky people not just because of the trip but because we always have so much fun with them. So hopefully I will get this right and anyone who wants to see (or maybe be bored) can view pictures from our trip.

Such a smart daughter

Suzanne is so good to me I could not figure out how to do the slideshow so she logged in and helped me out. I told her that Peggy and I were going to have to give her a retainer for all her help, LOL.
The slideshow really doesn't tell the whole story, so here is a few comments. The picture of Frank is at the Marriott County Hall after a long flight and we were waiting to check in. He was trying to stay awake with coffee, and I was just drinking water but we found if we literally blinked we were falling asleep. The other pictures just show the fun we always have with Peggy and Lyndon exploring.
They made London and the whole trip so great. More pictures to come, maybe tonight if I get my chores done.

Our Trip

best dessert

Yes I am spoiled. I came home from work and Frank had made me steak teriyaki, snow peas and sliced carrots in a honey pepper glaze with sticky rice and then to top it off this dessert. This was so delicious. I am so lucky.

Little boys

So you thought ice cream was all you ever licked out of a bowl, well when Sam couldn't find a spoon handy for his cake he decided to do it his way.

and Grandma just had to ask him to show me what was in the bowl...german chocolate cake.

And who says you can't get your head wet and keep the rest of yourself dry when you've got a dad strong enough to dunk you...even if it is ice water. Can't figure out who is the "little boy" here maybe its a tie.
At least Josh can catch Sam to hold him a little, Max is on the go when he is around his cousins and is like one of the "Incredibles" to try and catch him for a hug.