Our Trip Home!!!!!!!!!!!

The end of July found us going home for 2 weeks. It had been 2 years for Owen and 1 yr for me since we had been home and boy was it great to see family again. We flew home space available into Topeka where my sister Stephanie graciously picked us up and drove us home. (thanks a million sis). We had a great time. I got to see my sister, niece, and nephew show there animals at the fair and spend some quality time with family. Also while home we had a birthday party for Leighf and Zahara. It was a great weekend as more family came and we got to visit with them all.
Owen went on a 5 day camping trip with 2 of his high school friends in the Rocky Mt's. during our two weeks at home. They had a great time. I am posting those pictures in another blog. Then we got to spends some time with his family and hold the newest addition to the Walker family. Owen's brother Ethan and wife Lacy had a little girl the beginning of July and it was great to hold her and spoil her all that we could. Her name is Shy and she is so precious. We saw so many people while we were home but I am sure we didn't get to see everyone we would have liked to. Just remember we will be back to the states in less than a year now (around August 2010) as our time here is slowly coming to an end so if you are wanting to come over and visit you better do it SOON :) . We are missing everyone dearly and want to hear how you and your family are doing.
Miss everyone,
Sara and Owen

Fair Time- Zahara putting shaving cream on Shayla

Zahara when she was finished
Zahara-Bobbing for eggs
Leighf- bobbing for eggs
Shayla after her balloon popped
Zahara with her goats she showed at fair
Leighf with his goat at fair
Shayla with her crazy steer.
Zahara and Leighf's birthday party
'Zahara's new princess outfit
Zahara and Dad cuddling (so sweet)
Shy Ann Walker
Proud grandparents- Marc, Sylvia, and Shy
Walker gathering- family and friends
The Robey family-our Air Force friends in Wichita. We got to stay the night with them before we flew back home. It was great to see them, it had been 2 years and Luke was 2, Hannah was a baby, and Andrew was not in the picture. It was great to catch up and see how they have grown. Thanks again Kim:)

Owen's Newest Purchase

In June, Owen gave in and bought a motorcycle. He purchased it from a company in Germany, so that meant that he had to go there and pick it up. He bought an 08 BMW R 1200GS. He had a great time going down there and then driving it all the way back through some beautiful country. Below are a few pictures.

The bike

right after the purchase before driving it home (notice 2 miles on it at the bottom of the screen)


on the ferry ride back to England
total miles when he reached home 569 miles

Owen in Heidelberg, Germany

Our Mediterranean Cruise: May 9-16, 2009

Well it is finally here. I have sorted through all our pictures and got my act together so here are the blogs of our Mediterranean Cruise (our 1st cruise). We started out in Venice, Italy. We ported in Dubrovnik, Croatia; Kusadasi, Turkey; Santorini, Greece and Corfu, Greece. It was a 7 night cruise with beautiful weather the whole week. We saw so much and have discovered that if you really want to see places a cruise is the way to go.
We went with 8 of our really good friends, 6 who are here in England with us and the Hewes from Germany (friends from college and ROTC). We had a blast spending quality time with each other. It sure made for a wonderful trip. On the cruise we enjoyed shows, games, , the pools, the sun, the spa, wonderful 3 course meals every night, and 2 formal dinners. Almost everything you could imagine. It was well worth it.
So to guide you on your journey through our trip I have posted each day individually. Sit back and enjoy the pictures and the short summary of each day. We hope you enjoy and would like to hear from you all soon. Oh and by the way we are coming home the last 2 weeks of July and hope to see as many of you as possible (and hopefully little baby Walker :)). Owen has a big hiking trip planned for part of the time with a couple of high school friends so he will be around here and there. As for me I am planning on just spending time at home with everyone and taking in as much sunshine as I can.
Enjoy the blogs there are 7 total counting this one.
Love and miss everyone,
Sara and Owen

Map of our Cruise Picture of the front of our ship Royal Caribbean "Splendor of the Seas" Deck plans (our room was on the 8th deck) view of the elevators another view inside the ship The King and I dining area- we had dinner here every night table setting

Day 1: Venice Italy

We started and ended our journey in Venice, Italy. We flew into Venice and had the day of our cruise departure to do some sightseeing of Venice. We didn't really go in and tour anything in particular but did a lot of walking around viewing the area. The day we arrived back in Venice we went and walked through St. Mark's Basilica and went and watch glass blowing. Venice is a very beautiful city but requires a lot of walking. The only real transportation in the city is by boat taxi or gondolas. We didn't take a gondola ride, it was ridiculously expensive but looked like it could have been great at night.

Venice from the ship

Venice (notice the leaning building)

Venice - one of many canals

The cruise group
Sarina and Jake Houston, Christina and Paul Lamers,
Owen and I, Courtney and Jake Parker

more canals in Venice

St. Mark's Basilica in St. Mark's Square

St. Mark's Square

Day 2: Dubrovnik, Croatia

On day 2 we ported in Dubrovnik, Croatia. There we took a taxi to Dubrovnik's old town and walked the city wall's (dated back to the 13th century). The views were beautiful and I was just amazed at how compact the area was.

view of old Dubrovnik

on top of the wall- city in the background

view of old Dubrovnik and the wall

view from the wall

view from the ship

Day 3: At Sea- Olympics

On day 3, we were at sea for the day traveling to Turkey. To pass the time and enjoy the weather we decided to have little Olympics. Involved were rock climbing, mini golf, and shuffle board. We had a blast and the weather couldn't have been more perfect. I had a first and possibly a last that day. I was able to somehow overcome my fear of heights and climb to the top of the wall. I was shaking the whole way up and when I reached the bottom I was shaking so bad I was unable to stand. I am sure I could do it again but probably won't go out of my way to do it.
That night was also our first formal night. We all got to dress up and have an amazing dinner together.

Playing shuffle board

Paul, Jake, and Owen playing shuffle board

Owen on the mini golf course

Me after climbing the wall

Owen climbing the wall

Formal night (Captain's Welcome aboard reception)

Formal night sunset
Dinner on formal night
all of us together
top to bottom:
Dan and Meg, Jake and Courtney, Owen and I, Paul and Christina, Jake and Sarina

all of us again