May June 2008

We have had a lot of fun this summer. We spent May just getting unpacked and decompressed from our travels. Mikelle, Trevor, and Aaron went back to Edgemont for the month of May and Jeff jumped in to teaching 3 classes (9hours) in Spring. Spencer and Rickey took advantage of being checked out of their classes (with not enough time to actually get credit in their classes) and went to visit Grandpa and Grandma Shumway in Tonga for 3 weeks. (pictures below)



Spencer's friends did a tie-dye party that everyone ended up joining in. Ammon and Aaron Smith from Austin, Texas, are in the back right and Thomas & Mary-Kate up front. We enjoyed having Mike, who grew up with Jeff in Hawaii, and Shawna Smith stay with us for a few days in June 08.

Here are some of Aaron's cousins at his birthday party. Taylor & Dallin Remund & Mckay Shields (all cousins), Aaron & Trevor.

We rented the Power Tumbling gym and let Mikelle celebrate her 11th, Trevor his 9th, and Aaron his 7th all in one big party.

Mikelle, Kirsten Dahl, McKaylah Murdock (cousin), Kesley Rumsey, Rebecca Dow, Marcie Ahlstrom (cousin), Joanna Remund (cousin) and Mariah Crowley.


Front: Danny Bradford, Mosiah Murdock (cousin) Luke Simpson, Trevor. Back: Gage Murray, Brett Pulham, James Remund (cousin).





Spencer got his Driver's license June 08!!! Here he is passing his driving test.

We've had some issues with our fridge's egg holder lately. This summer alone, we broke about 8 dozen eggs on our kitchen floor--most of them were Kathy's fault too!! Trevor discovered it's quite cool to add flour to the eggs yolks. It makes quite the concoction.




Getting ready for Jeff's Latin American history asado (Argentine barbeque) that he puts on each time he teaches a Latin American history course. On the right is is the main asador (cook), Crhristian Saez and Jeff's TA, Josh McDaniel. We usually have about 60-70 people.


Post-barbeque siesta (somewhat posed) with the Saez and Wilson families and Grandma Shields.





Camaflauge shorts on Trevor's Birthday.






A large portion of the Shields clan at our home for Mothers Day.


Putting the kitchen to good use on Mothers Day.


Heidi always tells an enrapturing story.


At Grandpa Merrill's viewing in Salt Lake City in June. He was 95 years old.


When Spencer and Rickey arrived in SLC from Tonga, they ran into Elder Van Dyke, a missionary they had worked with a lot in Spain. He was just arriving home from his mission in Madrid. It was fun to see him reunite with his family.

Rickey and Spencer arriving at the Tongan airport with Grandpa, along with cousin and Isaac Mckee.


Beatiful sight from the airplane in Tonga.




Spencer and Rickey enjoyed a day of fishing, including spear fishing.


A tongan catching an octopus.

Spencer Writing: My grandparents' secretary died while I was in Tonga, and her family didn't have anywhere to keep her body, so Grandpa and Grandma let them keep her body in their garage for three days. We were the guests of honor at the funeral, and following Tongan custom we kissed the woman on the head. It was a unique experience. We were wearing our black tupenus (what looks like a skirt, which is the formal way for men to dress in Tonga).
From right to left, Rickey, Isaac McKee (cousin), Spencer, and Daniel McMurray (mission president's son) in Tonga.


With grandpa Shumway, president McMurray, and a Tongan elder.

Farewell to Austria

Kathy got pretty good at making peanut-butter sandwiches "on the go." Who needs a table?



Spencer and Rickey enjoyed their bike tour around Vienna.


With Phillipp and Kehau Malzl, our wonderful hosts, just hanging out and enjoying the beauty at a park in Vienna.


Sweet Sarah picking flowers.





Our final bus ride in Vienna. A sad day.




This was Jeff's sister Emily's favorite gelato shop during her mission in Vienna. It became our favorite as well. Remember Schwedenplatz is the subway stop if you're ever craving it.



Delicious weinershnitzel the night before we left. "Excuse me, we ordered the large." Jeff''s double was only 6.50 Euros.


Spencer helped out on many occasions carrying heavy loads around on his back. Thank you! Here we are waiting in a crowded Austiran airport to fly home. Timothy was always a hit with people around him.

Austria Here We Come

We barely made it out the door of our town home in Spain as we were throwing the sheets out to dry from the washer as the taxis pulled up. We've finally decided to put some photos of all of the luggage and stuff. It's not a pretty sight. Jeff refused to get a skycap even though Kathy was begging him. We managed!

The caravan of luggage. We were lucky we traveled before the days of charging per piece of luggage!

Here are some family shots in Salzburg--Hellbrunn palace.

Fortress in Salzburg.

At Church in Salzburg

Beautiful Stephensdom church, Vienna.

Our expert tour guide (Ph.D. candidate in Art History, Philipp Malzl) at the Kuntshistorisches Museum, Vienna. We may have been examing a work by one of the Ninja Turtles (Rafael, I believe).

A park alongside Hellbrunn (Archbishops's residence), Salzburg.

Yes, we rented a Mercedes....but not the kind we think of in the USA. It was a nine passenger van with standing room, and a big advertisement on the side.

Salzburg backdrop from atop the fortress. Notice that Timothy is enthralled with the Audio Tour.

"You are sixteen, going on seventeen." Yes, this is the Sound of Music gazebo (Salzburg).

Overlooking Salzburg and the fortress.

Some street urchins waiting for the gelato run, Vienna.

Museum Quarter subway stop, Vienna.

Beneath the Habsburg matriach, Maria Theresa, Vienna.

Sarah and Timothy on the bus, Vienna.

We enjoyed the street excitement in Vienna. Check this lady out. Spencer ran back to see her when he heard about it.

End of our European Journey

A family picture on the beach near Santiago de Compostela. Ask Spencer what he did for entertainment at this beach next time you see him.









Here's another photo of the students jumping for joy.

Here we are enjoying one of favorite fast foods--Doner Kebabs. They saved us as they were affordable and delectable.