While we were in Europe, the kids partied!

We were so, so blessed to leave Lily and Ryan with Mama Baer, Papa, and the gang while we went to Europe. Looking at the pictures, I don't think they missed us one bit. Somehow they still came home with us. 

Here are some emails we got of the kids while away and pictures taken by Diana.

From Diana: 
So glad you are all having a great time. We are all having a great time with Lily and Ryan. I have to tell you the cutest story.

On papa's birthday we were in the midst of making dinner and talking about celebrating his birthday when Lily said, "we don't have a cake for papa!" Papa spoke up and said he didn't need one and Diana said we could make one the next day. Lily of course could not be consoled and threw herself on the floor, "but papa needs a cake for his birthday!!!!" Luckily, Mama Baer had already decided to pick up some cupcakes for papa (aka the kiddos). So I told Lily I had a secret. She popped off the floor and ran over to me and I whispered that mama Baer was bringing cupcakes for papa's birthday. Lily got all excited but I told her she couldn't tell papa. She was trying so hard to not tell papa. And papa was trying to get her to tell him. You could just see her little 4 year old mind trying so hard to keep the secret! Luckily mama Baer got home within about 7 minutes. Papa said, "Look- mama Baer is home!" And Lily yelled out, "Yay! Mama Baer has a cake for papa's birthday!" We started laughing and Lily realized that she told the secret which was really funny and papa acted surprised so it was awesome! We proceeded to put candles in every cupcake and only had to sing and blow out candles like 6 times. It was a fun birthday for papa. :)

Anyways, the kiddos are having so much fun. We went to the swap meet at the church today, to the park where we road bikes and played and then got wet in the fountain, played outside, and just wore ourselves out! A great day.

Glad that you are all having such a great time! We look forward to your emails! Today Lily was looking at the mountains and asked if spain was over there. I told her that Spain was across the ocean on another continent. She had to think about this for a long while and then she responded, "Wow that must be really far away. I hope they brought their suits." Meaning that she thought you swam to spain apparently planes are boats now? Anyway they are having a great time! Lots of laughter and lots of silliness!  

From Sarah: Sounds like an awesome trip, but you'll probably need a vacation from your vacation! The kiddos are doing great! We are having lots of fun with them. Lily came to my primary program to watch me with "my kids." Amazing she wanted to go back to church after already being at mom and dad's ward and watching their primary program! My kids did fantastic. According to the stake primary president we are the smallest primary but the loudest! Monday the kids went shopping and to the park. Tuesday they were home with Diana and spent most of the day outside running through the sprinkler. Today mama Baer, Diana, Lily, and Ryan visited me at my work and then went to the butterfly pavilion. They loved the butterflies. Tonight Lily did Diana's and my hair with some fun clips! Tomorrow they are off to the zoo with papa and Diana. Can't wait for you to see all the fun we've been having! We love you!

Butterfly Pavilion.

Putting clips in Diana's hair. 

Lily cannot get enough time in the sprinklers. This is her happy place.  

Playing catch.

About to race and Lily making sure Ryan doesn't start before her. 

Organizing hair clips with Sarah. 

Nothing like shorts, a t-shirt, and snow boots.

Lily loves her nana.

Ryan hasn't figured out how these things work yet. 

Checking out the butterfly up close. 

Some helpful pirates out shopping.

Such a cool photo Diana took. 

I think Ryan might be nervous about being attacked. 

Ryan had the box of clips taken away and was not happy. 

A cupcake to celebrate Papa's birthday. 

Having fun at the park. Lily is always so safe to keep her helmet on at all times. 

Fun finding butterflies. 

The perfect cake: full of hearts and pink. 

Visiting Sarah at her work, they were so excited to see her!

Lily helping Ryan blow out his candle. 

She loves her bike!

And she loves her clips. 

The butterfly pavilion. 

Diana said Ryan soon learned that giving flowers to a girl is a compliment but hitting her with a flower is not. 

He lost the sword fight with Lily. 

Happy the candles blew out!

Diana said that Lily mentioned she hoped Nana was going to wear a yellow shirt that day...in other words she wanted her to wear a minion shirt too. 

Relaxing with Sarah. 

I wonder if Lily loves Diana. 

Ryan wanted to pet this spider...what? Luckily it was just a preserved and not a real spider.  

Craft time! 

Feeding the ducks.

Ryan got a bee at the butterfly museum at held it all the way to the store.

Papa's birthday!

Replenishing in the house in the shade. 

Craft time with Mama Baer.

Max loves his Papa..seeing him before leaving on an airplane. 

Playing some soccer. 

Tired out after a long day of running the sprinklers. 

Papa is a good swing buddy. 

Lily wanted a picture of her hands. 

Ryan has a hard time holding still for photos. 

Ryan is my little minion. 

Everyone comes out so beautiful after visiting Lily's hair salon

Ballet dancing. 

Diana named this photo: Driving Miss Lily. 

Lots of love pictured here. 

Lily loves the zebras the most, but only spends about one minutes looking at them. 

This is at the park after he got wet. For some reason we didn't have a shirt for Lily so she borrowed Ryan's and he was happy to go shirtless. He was going to ride his bike, but decided to walk :D