Papa and Grandmere did a great job watching our other babies while we were away and making sure we got to see all of their fun antics.
Ace, Liam, and Josiah worked hard building a retaining wall.
Papa cuddles were good subs for Mama and Daddy hugs.
Ceili Rain did a wonderful job helping with Emmie. Word has it, she was able to get her to sleep for naps.
While visiting, Josiah was able to celebrate his birthday with Papa and Grandmere.
After a very sad good-bye, we headed back to Kyiv and then to Austria. We planned a 24 hour layover to check out all things Vienna and squeezed in as much of their culture as we could in that time.
Riding the train from the airport to City Centre.
Our first glimpse of Vienna.
Riding through the country side is quite beautiful.
We probably spent way too many hours trying to find a hotel in Vienna. We decided on a art boutique hotel (reasonably priced of course). Our room’s air wasn’t working and there were dog paintings on the wall that made us giggle. I know. I know. It’s art. But it was fun art and that made us laugh.
Our main stop was Schonbrunn Palace, the hunting palace of the Hapsburgs. This wasn’t a fake backdrop. Nope. It was the real thing. A large, beautiful, proud Austrian piece of architectural and interior design. We toured and were able to walk where Mozart and Napoleon walked. Unfortunately, no pictures were allowed inside the palace.
A small metal model of the palace grounds.
The gardens were fair game for picture taking. And just as gorgeous as the inside!
Roses were in abundance.
On the way back to the subway, we couldn’t pass by a golden Mozart street performer without taking a picture.
Speaking of the subway, we enjoyed the art. It was fairly clean and easy to navigate. 
A beautiful statue on the way to our hotel.
For supper, we headed to City Centre. We saw St. Stephen’s and just basked in the beautiful architecture.
And the crowds. It was so busy!
Every side of St. Stephen’s included a beautiful piece of art.
Trip Advisor gave super good reviews for Aida and was right in the city centre. And ya’ll, the desserts did not disappoint. Yes, supper was good…but dessert. Oh my!
Vienna was beautiful and we fit in as much as we could in 24 hours. I would love go back and see more one day.
After we had our appointment with the ministry in Kyiv, we headed to visit Silas. He was at summer camp which gave us a bit more freedom in spending time with him (school days are pretty structured). We were able to see him for four days in a row and stayed from lunch to late afternoon.
We made sure to bring a few toys that would be fun to share and goof around with. These silly glasses were a hit.
Silas almost always had a friend with him. We enjoyed getting to know D. His English was okay and he enjoyed trying to talk to Zoe.
There was a river across the street from the camp. 
Mark got in the river one day and they had fun. Zoe and I both forgot our swimsuits and purchasing them there was not really an option.
I managed to get some snuggles in between venturing everywhere.
One day, the older boys took us to a lumber yard area (Zoe said it said something about animals) and they convinced the owner to let us come look. We walked over to the gate and saw a forest of boars. Lots of them. From giant ones to little babies. Lots of fun to look at and all the boys were super excited to show us.
Silas writing his letter stating he wanted to be a part of our bunch.
We brought our lunch each day but the director of the camp was insistent that we eat with them. We were able to try some very interesting and authentic food but we all agreed it was very yummy.
Before
After
One of the best things about summer time are the blueberries. We don’t have apple trees or pumpkin patches or even public peach picking places (they’re all commercial). But we do have strawberries and blueberries. And we love to pick blueberries every summer. With eight kids, our blueberry picking takes approximately 30 minutes. That is for about 10 lbs of blueberries. We do two trips to ensure we have enough blueberries to last us through the year. I bet my kids wouldn’t mind being hired out as blueberry pickers…for a large fee. It’s hot out there ya’ll.
Anyway, the cost to pick at this local farm is phenomenal and well below what we would pay in a grocery store. That makes this mama’s heart even happier.
Emmie’s first year to actively participate. Translation: She probably ate more than she picked but she was so cute doing it no one would stop her.
Ceili Rain made sure Emmie grabbed the ripe ones.
Bryant decided he needed some shade and donned Emmie’s pink hat.
This girl can pick some berries ya’ll!
Absolutely one of the cutest pictures of the whole day. I love my girls.
Our 4th of July was low key this year. And hot. After enjoying a traditional grill out and before fireworks, we enjoyed a yummy yogurt and blueberry treat!
All the miscellaneous pictures from June…Ready…Set…Go
Ceili Rain was the master zucchini grower this year.
Winter the Cat in her jacuzzi.
Doughnuts. Does it get any better than this?
Peek-a-Boo
Emmie learned to crawl in June. I thought that developmental milestone had passed. But once the braces came off and her neck wasn’t perpetually in a forward motion, she started crawling. Now she gets on all fours and declares, “I a dog. Arrrf.” and takes off.
It’s hard to see, but Ceili Rain colored my hair purple with an exploding purple paint pen.
My brave, cute and amazing girl!
And a silly dress up one.
Smudge declared this day was a computer free day. And enforced it.
Before
After
Cuteness? Of course.
It’s a triple see saw.
My doll.
Selfies with mom.
Showing Mama the pictures while we drive.
Goodness. These two are peas in a pod.
We got to see Ge and Granddaddy twice in June. One was for Emmie’s brace off appointment (those pictures coming this week) and the other was for MRI time. I keep telling Ge that we’ll actually come for a real-life visit that isn’t wrapped around a medical appointment. I promise.
Emmie discovered the joys of a water fountain to cool her feet off.
And Ge’s iPad was a hit! 
Zoe and I ran to Goodwill to look fro some summer clothes and came across this gem. 
Yep, a book about the Netherlands.
But when we opened it:
It was written in Mandarin Chinese (or Cantonese…I don’t know the difference)!
Emmie and I grabbed a selfie, because, no brace.
Enjoying a little Steak n’ Shake in style.
Pull out electronics and my kids will quiet down and gather around.
Emmie has come so far since August last year. Since it’s now July, I find myself constantly looking at her and marveling at what God has done in her little life this past year.
Emmie’s case is obviously very unique. When she got the halo on, we requested early intervention services. We wanted her to be able to learn to be as independent as she could. I held on to a hope that she would be like every other child her age, but looking back, I realize it’s not that big of a deal. We got her to the point where she could scoot. And climb stairs and pull up on things.
A week after the big hard brace came off and the cervical collar came on, her physical therapist came by. I had told Emmie that morning that we would work on going from laying down to sitting up. When her therapist walked in, I told her the same thing.
We got to the playroom and her therapist put her on her back. Without any prompting except our encouraging words she did this:
And she did it over and over and over. And I cried.
And just like that, our need for physical therapy is done. This is the best way to get kicked out of something.
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Our May photo dump will commence now.
Double piggies and a fun cooking apron.
First time swimming in nine months. This was one happy girl. We were glad to see her love for the water hadn’t changed.
We have Taco Tuesday every week. This one Tuesday, she decided she liked tomatoes. And grabbed the serving bowl. And dumped them on her plate and ate them all.
We were so excited that we had Mark’s mom, Grandmere on Mother’s Day. Having a baby close to Mother’s Day has its advantages. Malachi, our resident snuggler, was super happy to get cuddles during church.
Mother’s Day. Holding our baby close. It was a good day.
Papa snuck in some cuddles too.
Zoe and Mark made a yummy fruit pizza for a church fellowship. It was completely gone by the end of the night.
My lap was full.
Emmie loves to stack and build.
So does Ceili Rain.
First time riding facing forward.
And three out at the same time. A record.
Double piggies and patriotic. 
Puzzles are a thing around here. They like to put them together several pieces out and then put those back in. This was a difficult puzzle but with only a few pieces left, Bryant decided to tackle it. With great concentration.
There is always music (or some other noise) in our house. Always.
The plan was for Emmie to have a MRI at the end of May. Unfortunately, the day before the MRI, we were told she would have to have it under general anesthesia because of the spinal fusion. So, despite issues, we took our lemons and made lemonade and got in a much needed visit with Ge and Granddaddy.
Ge also got some pretty amazing pictures of Emmie with her daddy.
These two have a very special bond.
The boys set up “dominoes.”
Malachi got some cuddles.
Ace channeled the Bear (if you don’t know who the Bear is, you don’t know Alabama football).
Zoe enjoyed working crossword puzzles with Ge.
