Someone has to work...

As the old saying goes, "behind every traveling and entertaining Mom

is a hard working Dad picking up the tab."

Oh, that isn't a real saying? 

Well it should be.

This is what Cam's summers have always been like.

The kids and I go play while he stays and works. 

He's a good sport about it, even though I am sure

he thinks I get the better end of the deal.

Most days I would say he is right, but we all know 

that things can turn on a dime.

The great thing about Cam's work here in Hungary 

is that often it collides with his family time.

Sometimes it is a bonus and with 3 young boys

sometimes its not. ;)

We all got to tag along to a WWII wreath laying ceremony

in Szigliget. There is a memorial sight there for a US B-24 bomber

that crashed there during the war.

 Every year there is a group of WWII re-enactors

that dress up in Hungarian and US military uniforms from that

era and arrange for this event to take place. 

It was a honor to be there and pay our respects

to some of America's heroes.

With the reenact-ors.

Super nice of this Hungarian trumpeter to swap spit with Cal.

Cam has also had a big summer of travel, 

although it was the work kind I tell him it still counts because

he gets to have time where all he has to think about his himself 

and to any Mom we know that is vacation. 

During one of his trips the promotion list for

05 or Lt. Colonel came out and we were

grateful to see his name on it!

Actual pinning on date always comes later.

A gift really, 

you now have a future post to look forward too. :D

We wanted to celebrate big the only way we could with

him being gone, so the boys came up with the 

idea to make a congratulatory battle scene 

on our table for when he got home. 

I am not sure when the difference

of Air Force and Army will kick in for them,

but right now they definitely think Army Soldiers are way cooler.

Luckily, I know how cool he is and I am sure proud of him.

We had only one weekend available all summer between his work trips and our family ones that we could fit a date in and we jokingly-but out of reality- are calling it our 16th anniversary date.

  It came in the form of attending an air show. 

Isn't that the Traditional gift for the 16th year? 

If not, maybe we can add it to the list of Modern gifts.

I could have brought the boys but then I wouldn't have been able to have the pleasure of

 arriving in style courtesy of the C-12 or being able to chill in the VIP tent Hanger.

Plus, the heat was so unbearable my kids would have been miserable. 

This scenario worked out better for everyone. 

Cam has seen his fair share of VIP tents at air shows and he informed our crew that is was in the top 3. 

Way to go Hungary.

Cam has never been allowed to have family or friends as passengers before in his military aircrafts.
That means I haven't been in a plane piloted by him in over 14 years.
Although it was work related it made for a fun date.

It's cute watching him work. Funny thing is though, he knows it and plays it up. 

Looks like I am not his only fan...

Hi and Bye Indy

Our house is no stranger to amphibians and reptiles.

Which really shouldn't shock anyone when you realize 

how many boys live under this roof.

I like to call us my boys (Cam sometimes the biggest offender)

equal opportunists when it 

come to our hopping, speedy, scaly little friends. 

Although you may not believe me, I do have my limits

and I have to draw the line somewhere. As my boys 

can attest to I DO IT ALL THE TIME.

If I didn't, could you imagine what would

be creeping and crawling around my house 

Sick!

This summer we had a brief roommate that we caught on 

July 4th and fittingly named him Independence (Indy) 

for short. The irony however was not lost on Cam

when he pointed out that the poor little guy lost his independence that day. 

No worries though it was short lived. 

We only kept him a couple of weeks

then we released him back to his native home our yard. 

building his habitat

Before his release, each kid wanted a picture with Indy to remember him by.
Oh, don't let the smiles fool you, there were some tears shed when the long dragged out deed was finally done.

Look at Indy, realizing he is outside again and trying to twist his way to freedom.
Which I guess he actually did as Callan just told me when he came in and saw this picture on my computer screen.
Oops, sorry poor fella, I hope he didn't injure himself too bad on his fall.

Thanks for the fun Indy... I am sure he didn't actually have any, but oh well my boys did. :)

Croatia

To me NO summer vacation is complete without a trip to the beach.

Which makes no sense at all, because it's not like I have spent

very many summers in my life actually going to one, 

but still. I feel it is a must!

But first things first, we had heard about this small Croatian

national park and wanted to make sure it was on our stop before we 

Hit the beach!

Plitvice was probably the most incredible park I have ever seen. It isn't necessarily large, after a day of hiking we felt we saw most of all it has to offer. There are more waterfalls then you can count and the purest
green water you will ever see.

catching the abundance of dragon flies flying around proved to be very entertaining to my boys.

these photos are taken with my iPod, (I am a camera destroyer and I have no working camera anymore)
just proves how beautiful this place was.

After Plitvice we drove to the city of Split to board the car ferry which would take us to our
little paradise island of Hvar. 

teaching Callan to snorkel was so much gun. He did so great!

a daily ritual for Mack -and most days he would bring in his little recruitments for help- was to
 catch as much sea life as possible. The lengths they would all go to, to find their catch was borderline obsessive but
pretty darn cute at the same time. They drew so much attention from everyone else.
 After awhile I was tempted to tell them they should start charging admission to their little aquarium.
Crabs were his greatest catch, but shrimp, hermit crabs, and fish were also there vying for his attention in the bucket. 

just enjoying our breakfast view from our hotel room terrace in Milna. 

one night we took the scooters into the little town of Hvar for some dinner and exploring

our last day there we rented this paddle boat to take us out a little further for some deeper snorkeling and rock jumping.

at first I thought I would hate the rocky beaches, but I quickly realized they are way better then sandy ones.
They don't get as hot and clean up couldn't be easier!

Back in BP

For whatever reason coming back to Budapest was a little harder 

on me then I expected it to be. 

 It is what it is. 

So it was imperative that we got out

and remind me why I love this amazing city 

and all it has to offer.

While we were in the states this extremely large ferris wheel

was erected in the center of it all and it 

was a temporary attraction.

Realizing time was of the essence we took a family

evening stroll of dinner and experiencing this grand ol' wheel.

I had to swallow the fear and the rational side of me that says 

anything this size that is temporary - especially in a foreign

country is a mighty risk - and just go with it.

It was a beautiful sight up there at sunset and

worth any of the trepidation.

Oh Cam, those eyes...

icing on the cake

As much as I love my family time

 I equally love seeing our friends.

Some we have known since childhood and others

we have grown to love in our adult lives as we have 

moved all over the place.

Now what I am most disgusted by is that I am missing

MULTIPLE photos with friends I truly cherish. 

Please people don't let me leave your side without some

sort of embarrassing photo of us to document our time together!

I really appreciate all those who took time and made sacrifices

to get together with me. 

Muah! 

Love you all!

Wylie coming from Colorado to see me was beyond the call of friendship.

It's been way to long since we have seen the Hill's, as always such a joy.

The Fullmer crew hosted us at their sweet new soon to be pad and always know
how to show my kids a good time. 

Greatest group of high school pals a girl could ask for. 

Crazy, summer, family fun!

Quality time with family is something we don't take for 

granted at our house. When you only get to see them

once a year at best you tend to soak it all in.

The good, the bad, the crazy but more importantly

the love.

when I tell you that this was a coveted position to be in would be an understatement.
We all had to fight for time with sweet little Raven.

Rexburg finally upped their game and got themselves a swimming pool.
We had a great time playing there.

you know the drill, the new Uncle is very popular and as Cam puts it, is obligated to be
the kids playmate/jungle gym until he becomes a Dad himself.
 Kyson plays his role very well.

Hogle Zoo in SLC

 This picture gives the illusion that this carousel was unusually fast, which as we all know they never are. 

Baby Raven in front of her sign, the kids thought this was a must have picture. And too be honest,
I am corny and thought so too.

that's my Mack clear at the top, and here I thought death trap playgrounds only existed in Europe. 

Uncle Kyson doing his duty... ;)

Creed's favorite spot this vacation. :D