Also! I talked to my cousin Keri on the phone today! She is such a gem. I felt so grateful that she would take the time to have a phone call, answer my questions, tell me that she is willing to do my makeup, and so much more. I was just impressed that she would have the integrity to set a time with me and keep it, true and honorable for me, someone who it not a paying client. Yet. I love family and I’m so grateful for mine ❤️

August and Odette were rolling down a tiny grass hill while we watched Christian play. My mom came to watch them tonight, which was fun.

While we were in England in the Fall, Jack told us how much he wanted to be in the school play. I wasn't sure it would work out since we were out of the country, but I just wanted to give him the chance to audition. When we saw that he was cast as the prince we felt like it was going to be the perfect role for him, however, I was concerned when we then learned that we would again need to be in Europe during the first of the year. At this point Chandler and I wondered why I let him audition for the play if it was possible that we wouldn't be there. A little while back I posted a quote from Elder Bednar that said, “You don't have to recognize that you are receiving revelation in the moment that you are receiving revelation." I definitely didn’t realize it in the moment I let him audition that all of these things would fall into place. It was an extremely tender mercy to find out that all of the dates that Jack needed to be there for rehearsal, we would be in town. Seeing Jack up on the stage as the curtain opened was the highlight of this adventure. Through all of this, I've learned that the spirit can quietly lead us, prayers are answered and little boys dreams do come true. (at Springville, Utah) https://www.instagram.com/p/CrPm9SlM5hqttFqS9CTybd9_jIuXgMST7Kh5Ng0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Fun trip out. Oh! And the kids got free soccer balls from RC Willey!

These two dancing together 😍 and to a singing bunny 🤣 I love the quote from Come Follow Me that says that Jesus came to relieve our burdens. We all have them. I’m so grateful that with His gospel He will lighten them and help us through them ❤️ https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp_4dHDsmaf4ayomBV-7RqacHpTxOoVwDAVW-40/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Oh and how can I forget. That adorable video of august and Odette dancing. I love it so much. Grandma put out her Easter decor and the bunny played music and entertained these two for a long time.

Markette came over too and we chatted with her for a while which was lots of fun.

We love being near family again. The kids are meeting new cousins and loving the chance to hold and take care of these sweet babies. August surprised me by being very thoughtful about what kind of toys the baby should have that were safe. Chandler made some temple appointments for us today and we took turns going in. Odette and I went to the ice cream shop and enjoyed the sunny day when it was Chandler’s turn. We passed someone as we were walking back to the temple and he looked at Odette with her pink skirt and her ice cream cone in her hand and with a smile on his face said, “now that’s a good day!” And it was. Odette made sure we stopped to look at this statue at the temple and enjoyed being the leader of our walk back. I have noticed how much I miss our every day adventures now that we are back in school and work routines. I think even the kids miss being with each constantly. Christian paid Jack $0.75 to wear the same clothes as him. August didn’t need a bribe 😂 (at Provo City Center Temple) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpmcoXxuWiB0sDT8u72YkLvNx5R7FH2AnfQ33E0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

On the last day of our travels I got a note telling me that my cousin, Taysia, had been killed in a tragic car accident. Taysia was only 6 months younger than me. I used to go to her house to play and we would color for hours and do other art projects, we’d play with barbies, and pet her soft bunnies. Yesterday we got to celebrate her life, because that’s what she would have wanted. Her mom said that she told Taysia that everything in life wasn’t always fun and Taysia responded by saying, “well it should be.” And that’s what she did was make life fun. She was always smiling and loving others. Just a few weeks ago I was thinking about Taysia and the amazing artistic talent she had developed and am inspired to act now to persue my passions. Because of Taysia, I know that: Life is too short to be grumpy at my kids and I will say yes more when they ask if I can play. Life is too fragile to be careless. Life is too precious not to be intentional. President Hinckley once said that “Life is meant to be enjoyed, not just endured.” So I am going to live like Taysia and make life fun, help others feel loved and important, and to smile. I love you, Taysia! (at Leamington, Utah) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cpk0ctrOd3n8MQkSAOTtqJLzfdZxgko1TcUiwU0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

When we got home tonight I got a text from karlie telling me that my cousin Taysia was killed in a car accident. Her car slid out of control on some ice and she hit a semi. I’m so so sad about this. She was my age. She hadn’t loved enough life yet. What would I do if I was called to die at this time? Would I be ready? No where near it. Oh 😩😭😭😭

For about four days straight we were riding three to four trains everyday. We would ride two trains then stop and see a city and ride two more to get to where we were staying for the night. These kids are resilient. I keep telling myself I’m pretty lucky to have them and that they are big enough to haul their own suitcases and carry their own backpacks on and off of trains and around lots of new cobblestone sidewalks. Chandler and I both often ask August if we can help him lift his onto the sidewalk or up the stairs but he always responds, “I can do it!” And he does! If our stop is not the last stop on the train we have to prepare early to get all of our suitcases down and over by the door in time to get off before it leaves again. We’ve had delayed trains requiring us to eat quickly in train stations. Often our connections are so short we take our bag of food and eat on the trains. And we’ve only taken one train in the wrong direction 🚞 We’ve seen lots of beautiful scenery! https://www.instagram.com/p/CpIUB7LNCqMUwx0vX4q6lcbQ4uJxa4AV68raVk0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

We leave this apartment in the morning and I’m not ready for it. We have wet laundry and a mess to clean up. And we have to figure out how to got to church on top of everything.

We are just getting the tiniest taste of these beautiful places and it just leaves me wanting more. Austria was darling. We made sure to get some strudel and it was 😋 (at Innsbruck, Austria) https://www.instagram.com/p/Co5w97wtg8fsX10J1hXOmzC0BMfuAztEHQJVLk0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Venice was so fun to tour from the canals in the ferry buses. The kids could live on pizza and gelato. Christian said, “Aw pizza in Italy.” 🤤 Our kids also loved the confetti and all of the costumes from Carnavale, although they weren’t sure they wanted to dance with this masked person who invited them to join. (at Piazza San Marco Venezia) https://www.instagram.com/p/Co4dNKxN2R_-IlgP1FSxY8WS9VcoGwYW-dvSvM0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

We really enjoyed travelling through Nice. The Marché au Fleurs, the Promenade des Anglais, the rocky beach, and Cathédrale Saint-Nicolas is the largest Russian orthodox Cathedral outside or Russia and that was really beautiful, the the favorite part for the kids was seeing the little bunny hopping around the grounds :) We seem to have been following the carnaval all around Europe too and saw fun celebrations happening in Nice. And of course our kids lived on baguettes and croissants from all the cute boulangeries! (at Vieux-Nice) https://www.instagram.com/p/Co3GHuTNMmy77sYs-8O04Fb4f6TPXS4hrx3ziM0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Marseille is a charming city by the port and we all enjoyed our time there. The kids might have liked our Airbnb more than the walk around it, but that’s fair enough — it did have an old school arcade game and that’s hard to compete with. (at Marseille (13)) https://www.instagram.com/p/CovkxMAogGUWZnSRWf9IEVKHP_BUnaFW9PJYMg0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=