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

Greece

May 16 - May 23

It's been a long time since our last post and we promise to go back and fill in the blanks soon; but for now, we want to share with you our pictures of our trip to Greece. We put a few of our favorite ones here for you to enjoy and if you are interested in the rest then you can find them here. It was quite an experience to see for ourselves the Acropolis with the Parthenon standing guard over the city of Athens. We also enjoyed our day trips out of the city to Delphi, Corinth, and lots of interesting sites in between. Lee Anne loved the island of Santorini and wants to go back to the Greek Islands to see more of the beautiful views.


The Acropolis with the Agora in the foreground.


The Parthenon


The Caryatids Balcony, Acropolis, Athens


The main street of ancient Corinth


View of the ruins of Delphi


The Treasury of Athens, Delphi


Santorini - the town of Fira


Jason and Wren in the town of Oia on Santorini


Oia, Santorini


Fira, Santorini at night

Ferrara and Italian Bunny Lovers

May 4-5, 2007

We went to the town of Ferrara to attend an Italian rabbit rescue gathering. The group is called AAE Conigli which stands for the Association of Exotic Animals - Rabbits. They are trying to become the first European chapter of the House Rabbit Society and we hope we are able to be of some help to them in their endeavor. (Note: In July, AAE Conigli became approved as a HRS chapter.) While we were attending the event, we decided to take the opportunity to explore the sites of the town. I hope you enjoy our pictures!


The Romanesque cathedral of San Girogio was consecrated in 1135


The Castello Estense is in the center of town and is surrounded by a moat. It was built after 1385.


Jason and Wren in front of the castello (from another angle).


This is Lara on the left and her friend on the right who translated for us. Lara is one of the managers of the Italian chapter.


These are some of the bunnies brought for the bunny parade.


Look at the crows that their even drew! Fantastic!


Another shot of the event!


A cute coniglio di Italia (rabbit of Italy).


Of course the Italian group has their own wine label!