Ravenna, Rimini, and San Marinio

July 14-15, 2007

This weekend we took a little overnight trip to Ravenna, Rimini and San Marino. Our main destination was Ravenna to see the 1,500 year old Byzantine mosaics. We LOVED Ravenna! It is a great little town. We went to Rimini and San Marino because they were close to Ravenna. Rimini is a seaside destination but we went there because Jason wanted to see the Roman arch (Arch of Augustus built in 27 B.C) and the Roman bridge (Tiberius' Bridge from the 1st century A.D.). San Marino interested us because it is the third smallest country in Europe (only Vatican City and Monaco are smaller). All three places were about an hour away from each other.


The Basilica di San Vitale is the most famous site in Ravenna. It was completed in 548 A.D.


Mosaics in the Basilica di San Vitale in Ravenna.


Inside the Basilica


Detail of the Dome


The Mausoleum of Galla Placida dates from 430 A.D.


Inside the Mausoleum of Galla Placida.


Mosaics of the Mausoleum of Galla Placida. It dates from 430 A.D.


Mosaic of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, with his flock in the Mausoleum of Galla Placida.


the Basilica of Sant' Apollinare Nuovo dates from the mid 500s A.D.


Mosaics in the Basilica of Sant' Apollinare Nuovo.


Dante's Tomb is in Ravenna


A kitty on a sarcophagus in Ravenna



The Mausoleum of Theodoric was built in 520 as the tomb for Theodoric the Great. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996 because it is a rare example of an early Christian monument in the Gothic style that owes its design to neither Roman or Byzantine influences.


The Basilica of Sant' Apollinare in Classe which is in Classe, a town just outside Ravenna, dates from the mid 500s A.D.


Mosaics in a the Basilica of Sant' Apollinare in Classe which is just outside Ravenna. It dates from the mid 500s A.D.


detail of moaic - I really liked the sheep which represent the 12 disciples


Arch of August in Rimini


Tiberius' Bridge


San Marino


a view from San Marino

Our last days in Huntsville

June 27 - July 5, 2007

Our last days in Huntsville were mostly spent at Sissy and Pappy's house in the pool. Lee Anne caught up with a few friends and we went to a 4th of July band concert. It was a great finale to a fun trip!


Wren liked the pool toys.


Trying out the goggles.


This is Wren's smug, "look at me" look.


Wren loved playing in the shower.


Wren with Sandy and another little friend, Elise, at the 3rd of July band concert.


Wren and Elise in front with a pretty sunset.

A Visit with Friends

June 23-26, 2007

On our way back to Huntsville from the beach, Wren and I stopped in Atlanta and Birmingham to see two of my closest friends, Caroline and Latricia, and their families. Caroline is my oldest friend and really more like family Latricia is a friend from college (we spent a semester in London together) and she was matron of honor at my wedding (I was in hers too!). What a great time we had catching up with each other!


Wren and Caroline's son Nash. Nash was born in November 2006 and is a year younger than Wren.


Happy Boy!


Wren liked Nash's baby swing.


Wren and Latricia's boys.
Forrest is in orange, Corry is in white, and Parker is in green.
They were so good with Wren!


You can see Parker's face in this one!

Wild Dunes, Isle of Palms, SC

June 18-23, 2007

We spent an entire week at the Wild Dunes resort in Isle of Palms, SC. The whole gang was there - the Robbins, the Fryes, the Edwards, the Samples (Stu and family included), and me and Wren. Unfortunately, Jason had to return to Italy. But Wren had a great time! It was her first real beach experience. (We took her to the beach in Hawaii on our adoption trip but she didn't like it and she was still in a bit of shock I believe). The weather, the sand and the water were all great!


First Cousins Ryan and Wren playing on the beach


my little cutie patootie, Miss Ryan


Wren, Ryan and 2nd cousin Wesley


The whole gang!
Wesley, Wren, Caitlin, Emilee, and Ryan


A day of fun at the water park.
The guy in the back is my younger brother Stuart.


More beach fun


Pappy and Wren take a walk

Story time!

They are such good cousins!


Beach Portrait


Another beach portrait


We met this family on the beach. They are from Atlanta and adopted their daughter at 19 months in January 2007.

Savannah

June 14-17, 2007

We spent the weekend in Savannah with our friends Brian and Sandy Allbee. It was great fun to spend some quality time with our friends and to also see a city I have always wanted to visit. Among other things, we took a city trolley tour, ate at Paula Dean's restaurant, took a tour of the Mercer House, went on an entertaining night time ghost tour, and walked around the lovely downtown and historic streets and squares. Right after the Savannah trip, Wren and I drove to SC for a beach vacation with my extended family and Jason rode back to Huntsville with the Allbees and took a plane back to Italy the next day.


Fun on the trollery


Peek-a-boo!


Sandy and Brian on the trolley



the fountain in Forsyth Square


The Mercer-Williams House from the Midnight in the Garden... book/movie.


an historic home


A typical Savannah Street


The First African Baptist Church in Savannah is the oldest black congreation in North America. The church dates from 1777 and this building is from 1859.


stained glass of past ministers of the First African Baptist Chuch

Bryant Family Reunion

The Bryant Family at the Speedway home of Grandpa Bryant


June 8-10, 2007

Just two days after the baptism we took our annual trip to Speedway, IN (Indianapolis area) for the Burgess-Bryant family reunion. The turnout was small this year but it was nice to see some family members. Of course the highlight of the trip is always the nice visit with Jason's grandfather, who turned 86 this summer. Every year, the reunion is held at Turkey Run State Park in the same pavilion and on the same weekend. Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures of the family members except for Jason's grandpa! I'll do better next year.


Wren liked the pony at Turkey Run.


Four generations of Bryants hangin' out at Grandpa's


Jason and his grandfather as Pop look on.


Wren and her great grandfather, John William Bryant

Baptism

June 6, 2007

We hit the ground running on Wednesday night with Wren's Baptism at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Huntsville. St. Thomas is the church I grew up and which my parents still attend. Jason and Lee Anne also got married there. Wren was baptised by the Rev. Kee Sloan who also married us. Her lovely godparents are Patrick Bryant (Jason's brother), Michelle Huffaker Little (Lee Anne's childhood friend), and Sandy and Brian Allbee (Lee Anne and Jason's good friends). The baptism was attended by the godparents, Lee Anne's parents, and Lee Anne's brother and his family. Unfortunately, Jason's parents were out of town at the time. After the baptism we all went back to the home of Lee Anne's parents for pizza, cake and a dip in the pool. Thanks everybody!


Wren and Rev. Kee


The godparents, Patrick, Sandy and Brian

Sweet Home Alabama

June 5, 2007

After a very long plane ride that took us from Milan to London to Chicago to Huntsville, we finally arrived on the evening of Tuesday, June 5. I was happy to be home! When we flew in, everything looked so green. It felt good to be back in Alabama