Madison celebrated her 5th birthday

on August 23rd, and she is so excited to

now be in kindergarten.  She loves her

class and her teacher, Mrs. Nelson and

comes home each day with new songs

to sing and stories about her day.  Madison

just started soccer with two different city

programs, and is so cute in her pink and red

outfit - thanks to her older brother Jordan's

prior soccer training she is already hitting

accurate goal shots and is an amazing

dribbler.  She is also starting dance class

just to round out her after-school education.

 

Jordan was fortunate to be able to go with

his parents and grandfather to Europe during August , and had an awesome time.  The trip

didn't start out so smoothly, when the airline

had mechanical problems and caused the trip

to start with a day in New York instead of

London, but after that it was one adventure

after another.  Jordan spent a few days in Rome, visiting the Vatican, absorbing the magnificence

of the Sistine Chapel and the Coliseum where 60,000 spectators watched the gladiators fight.  Then it was on to the cruise ship, with stops

at Monte Carlo, tours of Florence, Portofino,

Corfu and Taormina.  Two days in Venice,

then Paris and up to the top of the Eiffel Tower,

the Louvre, and even a few hours at a nearby amusement park.  One of the highlights

was the Science Museum in Paris, where

Jordan piloted a virtual training aircraft with

almost full instrumentation and did so well his trainer let him to night fling in front of a room

full of observers. Smooth landing and an unforgettable experience!  The last

stop was London, with the Tower of

London and the famous Crown Jewels,

The London Eye and of course 'The

Dungeon'.  Jordan was an incredible

ten-year-old adventurer, always eager for

sightseeing and the next adventure with

seldom a complaint - and with his 82 year

old grandfather Arthur and his dad (me) it

was special times for all three generations!