Making time for Friends and Family

My time home this summer was spent...
1. relaxing from the school year
2. shopping for 1 year worth of "stuff"
3. spending most of my time with friends and family!!!

Four weeks in America may seem like a long time, but in reality, it's actually very short!  Thankfully I was able to spend most of my time doing what I love...being with people I hadn't seen in a long time!  There's nothing quite like coming home and spending time with those you love!!

Granddaughter Dinner

With Beautiful Baby Elise

Family Dinner

Family Night at the Musical 1776

Dinner with old College Roommate, Mary

Loving the Time with My Dad

For Father's Day I decided to take my dad out to Santa Cruz's Boardwalk for the night.  Since he was the first person to introduce me to 50 cent night (it's now 1 dollar night), I thought it would be appropriate to go there for our "Father/Daughter Date."  Because I had only been able to spend a short time with him for Christmas, it was WONDERFUL being able to have some "us" time before I went back to Vienna for a new year.  My favorite part of the night was just being with him (although beating him in the ghost shooting game was really cool too).  I'm so thankful that God gave me a father who is there when I really need him, but also a man who taught me how to handle things myself.  Even though the lessons my dad has taught me over the years haven't always been easy, I'm thankful to have a wise, godly man who I can call Daddy.

Final Score: Dad-1550, Mandy-2140!

View of the Boardwalk

Giant Dipper...Best Wooden Coaster EVER

Keeping up with the Fam

Every year my family joins the Romberger side of the family for our annual Mount Hermon Christian Conference Family Retreat.  This year marks the 28th trip since my birth!  Unfortunately I had to miss two of the years, but I've been at every other year. :)  This year was a wonderful time of catching up (I hadn't seen anyone for at least 6 months), relaxing, and enjoying time spent with family!

BBQ on the Lawn

One of our speakers-Dr. Barry Corey (DBC)

Pancake Breakfast

Train Day

The two wonderful grandparents who take us every year!

Game Night

S'mores night!!!!!

More train pics

Annual Spitting from the Train on the Bridge

"Attacking" each other in the Tunnel

Me, Mom, Dad, Joshua

The "Adult" Group

Joyous Baseball Game: Dodgers vs. Angels

One of the first things I did upon returning to California was attend a Dodgers/Angels baseball game.  It was a fun time of family bonding, American culture, and wonderful entertainment.  Being a Dodgers' fan (like my dad) I especially enjoyed the outcome of the game...a Dodger win!!!  My mom and grandpa were not quite as excited as I was being Angel fans.

The Ticket

View from our Seats

Angel Fans (Grandpa & Mom)

Dodger Fan (Dad & Me)

Final Score: Dodgers-5, Angels-0

End of Game

Fireworks Extravaganza

I Love London, but NOT the Heat

Shortly before returning to the states for the summer Amy and I took a short trip to London.  I had been twice before, but this was Amy's first experience there.  The sights were exciting as usually, but the heat was NOT!  I ended up getting a sun burn during our hop-on-hop-off bus tour. :(  Our hostel also had showers that did not allow you to determine the temperature of the water.  The shower was set at one temperature...scalding.  It was scalding even without a sun burn!  All in all, we had a great time together.

Portobello Road Market

Buckingham Palace Guard

Fun British Cars...I'd love to have a scooter like that!

View from our "napping bed" in the park

Scary experience, but loads of fun!

Changing of the Guard

British Firetruck

Memorial that Amy wanted to climb until she found out she had to pay in order to go up.

Cool museum about the War

Tower Bridge

Tower of London Tour

How to Drive a Stick Shift

Teaching my sister Amy how to drive a stick shift in Austria was a fun, yet very interesting experience.  We spent about an hour in a Eurospar (grocery store) parking lot one evening near Linz working on this new skill.  After many bumpy starts (and a few stalls), she was finally able to figure out how to start and stop smoothly.  Good job Amy!