Summer in the USA

Somehow I let 2 months go by without a blog update...I blame our 2 month old and having too much fun, and too little time, in the USA!

Our flights to America went well!  Ellie is a pro-traveler and Isaac slept and ate the entire time...Francis was a little wilder and harder to control.  Here's Isaac on his first flight - Vienna to Paris.  (On all European flights, lap infants are required to wear a seat belt that attaches to the adult holding them).

4.5 weeks old

The kids slept on the layover in Paris...which meant they were awake for the 8 hour flight from Paris to Pittsburgh!

Highlights in Steubenville with Brian's side of the family included...

Children's Museum of Pittsburgh

Ellie & cousin Megan

Brian's Dad's 80th Birthday Celebration at Austin Lake

Francis & cousin Peter

Isaac's Baptism at Holy Family Church in Steubenville (same church where we were married)

Brian's sister Tara and brother-in-law Toby are Isaac's godparents

Oglebay Park Good Zoo

Dad, Francis & cousin Jake's back

Lots of time with Grandma and Grandpa and seeing most of their 31 cousins on the Kissinger side

Grandma and Grandpa Kissinger with grandchild #34

Highlights in Iowa with Courtney's side of the family included...

Shannon and Andy's Catholic Church Wedding

Courtney's sister Shannon, brother-in-law Andy, and 2 of their 8 kids

Family picture before the ceremony

All 12 cousins on the Ridge side

Fourth of July

LOTS of swimming

Isaac's first time swimming!

AirFX Trampoline Park

Princess Ballet Camp

cousin Phoebe and Ellie

Ellie's FIRST ever haircut 

4 years and 5 months old

Lots of time with NeNe and Poppy and all of their cousins

NeNe and Isaac

Poppy and Isaac

Isaac and cousin Ridge (who LOVED his fellow "orange"-haired buddy)

The flights home went very well!  We flew from Cedar Rapids to Atlanta, Atlanta to Amsterdam (we were able to get the bulkhead seats with the baby bassinet), and Amsterdam to Vienna.  Followed up by a 2 hour drive back to Gaming.  

9.5 weeks old

After 7 nights of Francis waking up and demanding things like Goldfish, Mac & Cheese, sausages, playing downstairs, turning on lights, and screaming...he finally slept through!  Given it was a 7 hour time change from Iowa, it seems pretty accurate that it takes the same number of days to overcome jet lag.

All in all, it was an amazing trip home - getting to see so many loved family members and dear friends!  We miss you all!  So come and visit :)