Our Baby Turns 12

It really is hard to believe our baby is 12.  No more primary aged kids for us.  All three of my kids are now in the youth program. I really wish I could freeze time and stop Chandler from growing up. Chandler, loves football, he likes pokemon, He loves Flat hats, He is a Tenderfoot in scouts. His favorite color is Green. Of course he loves Legos.

I was super excited for Chandler's Theme this year.
We did a Lego theme and I had a lot of fun making lots of Paper Legos for Chan's door.

Chan's Lego Table

Brooklyn made this super cute Lego Sign.  We all came up with a Lego quote to go on his paper.

Lego Happy Birthday Banner.

Here is Chandler's awesome door.  It's too bad you can't see the 3D effect on his door.
I love it!!  His door reads, "Everything is Awesome Chandler is 12"

I love capturing his face as he opens his gifts.

I think he is super excited. 

Chandler was finding out where he was going for his 12th Birthday Trip. 

This is what he did when he found out he was going on a weekend trip to...
 LEGO LAND.
He was so excited, just a weekend with Mom and Dad.

Chandler wanted to go to Vapiano for dinner.  

His very own Carbonaria and Coke.   

I made a cute chocolate Lego Cake.

Chandler used his new Fidget spinner to blow out his candles.
Happy Happy Birthday Sweet Chandler.  We love you so much. 

Paris Temple Open House

We love to see the Temple.
We feel extremely blessed to be able to attend the Paris France Open house.

After a 4 1/2 hour drive and checking into our hotel we all got
changed and ready for our 7:00pm viewing of the temple.

There is always time to stop and smell the roses. 

Kayden, Brooklyn and Chandler in front of the Paris, France Temple.

The temple is on a busy main street in France.  So there is not a lot of space in front of the temple.
But I love how the Temple matches the architect of Paris.  This temple fits right into it's surroundings. 

Kayden, Brooklyn, and Chandler, learning all about Temples and why they are important and why we build them

Bastianclan and the Temple De Paris.

Inside the temple featured floral pattern motifs
based on local plants and floral designs from Claude Monet's work.
Lots of cornflowers, lilacs, hollyhocks, and several types of lilies. It was breathtaking.

The blue and green stained glass throughout the temple was just amazing.
I wanted to just sit on the stairs and look up to the massive stained glass skylight

Look how cool this lamp is in the garden.

I loved every single detail. 

More etched glass.

French gardens

Loved the etched glass and all the flowers throughout the temple.

This stained glass is in the visitor's center for all to enjoy.
Isn't it beautiful?

The Gardens has a couple fountains as well.
I'm so blessed to be married to this man for All Eternity.
What a lucky Girl I am. 

Kayden (17) at the Paris, France Temple.

Brooklyn (14) At the Paris, Temple.

Chandler (12) At The Paris Temple.

Holiness to the Lord,
House of the Lord. 

April 2017 is when we go to go inside the Temple.

Bastianclan in front of the Marble replica of Thorvaldsen's Christus statue.
It was crafted in Rome, Italy.
I love my family and I'm so happy we are Sealed for Time and All Eternity.

To get more information and to see the inside of the temple go to this Video
See the video here.

Monet's Garden

We took the kids out of school on Friday to go to Paris for the weekend.
I love living in Germany.  How cool that we can just take the weekend and go to Paris, France.

The drive to Paris was just beautiful.  

Our first stop was Monet's Garden in Giverny.
Look how pretty the little town of Giverny is.

We had to laugh at this little Stop sign.  

On the way to Monet's Garden we had to travel through these narrow streets.
It was a good thing there was not oncoming traffic.  EEEKKKK

So excited to see Claude Monet's Gardens. 

Claude Monet was one of the most Famous and accomplished French artist of all time. 

Bastianclan in Monet's Garden. 

There are two different parts to Monet's Garden.  A flower garden called
 Clos Normand this part of the garden is in front of his house.
And the second part is a Japanese inspired water garden which is located across the road from his house. 

I couldn't not even try and name all the different species of plants and flowers in this beautiful garden.

The Clos-Normand was modeled after Monet's own artistic vision.
He spent years transforming the Gardens.

I loved this little flower.  How beautiful! 

You can tour the interior of the house, and see the brightly colored rooms, and admire dozens of paintings.

All the rooms are filled with light and have a great view of the gardens.

Yellow Dining room

Claude wanted a blue kitchen so that guests would see
the right color in harmony with the yellow dinner room.
The walls of the kitchen are covered with tiles of Rouen

The Enormous Coal and wood stove kept the kitchen warm all year long.

There was beautiful artwork all over Claude's home.
None of the paintings were original for security reasons.  They were all copies or replicas.
This one reminds me of Anne of Green Gables.

Beautiful Brooklyn in front of the tulip gardens. 

We crossed under the road and when we came out on the other side
this is what we saw.  I think my favorite part was the Japanese inspired water Garden.  It was amazingly beautiful. 

Breathtaking right?  Here is the Famous Water Lilies pond. 

We had just started exploring this beautiful garden when it started to rain.
It started off with just a little rain and quickly moved to a torrential downpour.
We found shelter under some trees and just watched the rain.  It was kind of magical.

On one of the green bridges with the love of my life.

The rain just made the garden look magical.

Look at those beautiful raindrops on the flower.

This is the Green Japanese Bridge covered with wisteria. 

My Boys!

Close up of the raindrops. 

Kayden and the Gardens

Jer and the kids on the Green Japanese Bridge.

The boys searching for frogs. 

I love this man of mine.  Capturing several moments.

Chandler and the Famous Lilly Pond

My girl and me.  Pretty in pink!

Goals, I would love a garden like this someday.

Walking through the town of Giverny they had a little store blowing bubbles
Oh my goodness did our kids have a blast playing with these bubbles. 

Kayden trying to catch the bubbles. 

Brooklyn & Chandler trying to eat the bubbles.  

This was our hotel for the night.  Complete with a dog and a cat.

Our living room

The kids room

Can you see the Eiffle Tower?  Brooklyn was so excited.
Yes, it was kind of far from our hotel.  Brooklyn is so excited to see it in person.
We didn't have the time to see it this trip so she settled with admiring it from afar.

Here she is all lit up.  We love the City of lights.
Next trip Brooklyn, I promise.