Marine Ball - Tallinn, Estonian, November 2014

Every year Marines all over the world celebrate their birthday.  It wasn't any different here at our Embassy in Tallinn.  This is the only Black Tie even  and everyone looks forward to attending, celebrate and have a great time on a dance floor.

R&R back to the States. Ellies and Blakes christening. October 10-17

It was great to come back home to visit family and friends but the real visit for this trip was for our newest family members Ellie and Blake's christening.  There is an interesting story related to this christening.  The Rohde family has a family loom christening gown that has been worn by boys for around 100 years.  We used it for our boys and when movers came we automatically packed it and put it in storage.  So long story short, Chris had to call the government to get approved to go into a wear house where our whole house is stored for then next 3 years and look for his "needle in a hay stack".  After many boxes he found the christening gown and Blake was able to continue the family tradition.

Here is like "Deja Vu" -  six years later we are christening another most precious set of twin in the family.

To make this visit official uncle Ben took Tadas and Magnas to a Terps game:

 Cameron got a treat to go to Redskins game with uncle Ben as well:

We also did an early Halloween dress-up with cousins.  Thanks to Grandmamma for treating us with new costumes:  Cameron is a Gangster with a cigar:-) Magnas is a Police man and Tadas is a Max Steal. We were so happy to be able to dress up for Aunt Jean, uncle Sal, Great Nana Snyder and for uncle Phil and Cat.

Fun day hanging out with with new twins

We took a long car trip to Pennsylvania to visit family and friends.  First stop Hazleton to have lunch with aunt Dolly and uncle Joey.

Got a very lovely visit and dinner at Sarah's, Sophie's and Andrews new outdoor kitchen. Mr. Andrew put on his chefs hat and apron and got to work on his Mongolian grill.  There was shripm, chicken, fried rice and vegetables for dinner.  Special orders only:-)  Wow - that was the most amazing outdoor entertaining designs we have seen around.  So happy for the Halford family and can't wait to have more parties in their back yard when we get back.

Fun times with aunty Val: looking for fish (shirtless), playing soccer and frisbee and of cause lunch at our favorite place by the river.

A visit home couldn't be with out a Maryland Blue Crab feast.  We are so bless and happy our boys LOVE eating crabs because at some point Tadas was convinced that crabs made him sick one time and he didn't eat them for some time.  Even Sammy tried and loved them.  It's the most messiest meal you can ever have but it's the most unique and must have in Maryland:-)

While still in Maryland we went to see Michael Gero play high-school football game.  Our boys are so proud to have such big and strong cousins. In Pennsylvania we had fun at Wiele's house and did a coal mine tour with Poppop Gelgot and had most amazing pierogies made by Gigi Gelgot:-) 

Pop Pop Rohde and MiMi's visit

The first day of the visit - walking on the beach and enjoying a beautiful scenery. 

We also visited Patarei Prison.  This was the most strange and emotional sight.
In 1828 Nicholas I of Russia mandated the building of the sea fortress of Patarei. Completed in 1840, it is located on area of 4 hectares (10 acres). Over the years it has had different functions – in 1867 functioning as barracks, in 1920 as a prison and since 2007 as a Culture Park.

 Visiting boys school is always a treat.  Having both grandparents as educator and hearing a positive feedback about the school our boys attending gives you a comforting feeling :-)

We took a trip to Palmse Manor and Jägala Waterfalls.

Nowadays there are about 200 manor houses in Estonia under state protection as architectural monuments and 100 in active use. We have only 99 left to visit:-) Jägala waterfalls are magnificent and we hear they transform into a giant ice sculpture in the winter.

Tallinn is an old city, and like many old cities it has its share of secrets. Stories of ghosts, buried treasure and hidden tunnels add to the atmosphere of the medieval streets.

For a couple of years, one of those secrets was revealed when the city opened up the Bastion Tunnels. These corridors were built by Estonia’s Swedish rulers in the 1670s and ran under the earthen bastions that protected the city. 

Not to forget - we went on a guided mushroom picking excursion.  What a fun and educational trip we had.  Our tour guid owns Mamo vegetarian restaurant in town.  She is also a mushroom expert and gave us a great explanation on edible and deadly mushrooms and we found all:-)