Hi!

Greetings from Geneva. Our guests have left and we are getting back to our normal lives. It was great to have friends in town, but exhausting. We went canyoning on Saturday, weather turned out to be fine. We were all a bit nervous as it was very cloudy and they warned us that we might not be able to see where we were jumping into, ha! But, all clear, just cold mountain water! I dont have the pics from the canyoning yet, they are being put on CD, had a disposable waterproof camera. Will give a detailed description when I get the pics back.

Anyways, here is a pic of us in Chamonix, France with one of John's best friends Mark, he was one of his best men at the wedding. This is where we went mountain biking a few weekends ago, its super easy to get to and just a nice place to walk around. Its busy all year round with moutain bikers, river rafters, rock climbers, etc. And another pic of us at the baby beach here in Geneva, its about a 12 min walk from our place. Its not a beach like you would see in the Maldives or in CA for that matter, but it does the trick, a place to go for a dip and get some sun, but strange to be looking at the mountains and regular trees, not palm trees.

Hope everyone is doing well, cant believe how fast this summer is flying by, John and I have a few free weekends that we are def taking advantage of by not doing anything!

Lots of love

The Melsom's

I am so excited to share my engagement photos with the family! Here is a sneak peek...
or you can check all of them out at www.barnetphotography.com, click on "weddings"...then click on "clients"... and enter the case sensitive passcode:
Hecht engagement

Love,
Di

Hi Family

Here are a few pics from our weekend mountain biking in Chamonix. Chamonix is a big skiing area near Mont Blanc in France, its about an hours drive away from us in Geneva. The only snow left was on Mont Blanc and the other glaciers that have year-round snow. There were 6 of us, John and I, Gavin (another partner in Johns fund, wore the kilt at our wedding) and his gf Vicks, and Gav's friend from Scotland Lindsey and his gf Susan. We had a guide who had very high expectations of us or he misunderstood our skill level and experience. He said that the difficult trails meant longer (lost in translation), so we decided to do those, ha, there were some uphill trails where all of us had to walk our bikes up, only the guide made it, we would only make it so far and then stop. It was pretty intense and as the guide said, 'technical.' Most of the uphill parts I could manage, but there were some that I didnt even attempt, after watching the boys make it up a few feet, I decided I didnt want to fall off and hurt myself.

So. . . what goes up, must come down, I was super slow on the downhill bits, but John loved it. I would try to go down at a normal speed, but if I was going too fast for my liking, I would get off and walk my bike down, I want to keep all of my teeth, my parents did spend a lot of money on braces and such. John has broken his 2 front teeth mountain biking when he was younger, he has falsees now!

Anyways, it was a great day, we were both pretty sore after, I did make John come shopping with me for padded shorts the day before, heheheh, we wore them under regular shorts. I cant imagine what pain we would have been in had we not worn them. But, we are well now, no more pain and discomfort.

This weekend we have friends coming into town, we are hoping to go canyoning on Saturday, weather permitting, forecast doesnt look good, so we will see. Will def have some pics to share with you if we go. The canyoning would be in Les Marecottes in Switzerland close to Verbier, another big skiing area. Johns parents have a chalet there. Fingers crossed the weather is ok. Lots of Love, Dana and John

Hi Family

Love seeing all of the family news, especially the videos of the babies, makes me laugh, they are all so cute, definintely looking forward to having a family of my own some day. Anyways, still busy out here in Geneva. Since my last post, John and I have been back to London for a friends wedding (which was really nice, despite the rain, never can rely on UK weather) and I started an intensive French course, Mon-Fri for about 4 hours a day, goes until the 31st of this month, so still a ways to go and last weekend John took me to Rome for my 28th bday!

It was great, did lots of sightseeing and ate lots. Anyways, we left on Saturday and returned Monday. Stayed at a beautiful hotel - Hotel de Russie - very close to the Spanish Steps and Piazza de Popolo. After we arrived and checked in, we did a lil sightseeing on our own around the hotel, it was really hot, so didnt go too far. Had dinner at La Terrazza at Hotel Eden which had great views of the city. John had booked a private tour guide to take us around on the Sunday, so thankful he did that because it was so hot we would not have enjoyed the sights as much if we were doing it all on foot or public transportation, was great to hop out, take some pics, have the tour guide show us around and get back into the AC! The tour was really great and we were able to see a lot more than we would have doing it on our own, and of course learn a lot more too!

To recap the sights, we went to the Catacombes of Priscilla, the Christians said that all the dead bodies had to be buried outside of the city walls, so a woman had a labrynth underneath her home, so they used that as the catacombes. The Romans were very small, despite their large depictions and stories. You can tell that they were small from the size of the catacombs, 2 stories deep and 14 km all around. Then we went to the Crypt of the Capuchins. The Capuchins were friars in Rome in the 1600s. Here they arranged the bones of 1400 bodies (from deceased friars and poor Romans) all around the walls to remind us that there is life after death. It was a bit creepy to see all of the bones everywhere.

The other sights were the Pantheon, Piazza Novona, Palantine Hill, the Forum, Colosseum, Arch of Constantine, Vatican (Museums, Sistine Chapel, St Peters Basilica, etc.) Trevi Fountain, various churches and Piazzas. Saw the Pope on the big screen on Sunday giving mass inside St Peters. Its incredible how old these things are, was in awe! Wont go into too much details, but it was a great trip. If I went into detail on every place we would be here for a while. Later that night we had dinner at the hotel in the gardens, beautiful spot and then Monday did a lil more sightseeing and then flew back to Geneva. Back to things here, French class in the morning, John is working and we are off mountain biking this weekend. Hope everyone has a Happy 4th of July! Lots of Love, Dana & John

This is a pic of the UTAH EXPLOSION. They have done pretty well earning the gold at the Western Regionals as well as the silver at the Nationals.

Chris was picked represent the USA at the Paralympics in Bei Jing in August. Hope they do well. The USA is currently 3rd in the rankings

Quinn, Lewis, Herschel, Chris, Marty, Nick

Travis and I just got home from our wonderful vacation in St. George and Salt Lake. We had so much fun and it was so awesome to see everyone. We went to visit Great Grandma and Grandpa and I was able to catch a few pictures that I think are priceless!

Herschel in the news.

Herschel just competed in the National Goal Ball Tournament held in Utah this year. The Utah Men's Team took Silver, losing to Florida last weekend.

Goalball is a sport designed for the blind, the article explains more about the origins and play of goalball. Herschel was introduced to Goalball last fall when he started blind school and was fortunate to make the Utah Men's team earlier this spring, despite the fact he's only been playing a few months compared to the other blind athletes that have been playing for years.

Here is a link to the article spotlighting him and another teenager that just graduated and were able to make the Utah teams. There's also video that includes a short interview if you're interested.

http://www.heraldextra.com/content/view/270948/140/

Here is the announcement for our son--RJ will be 8 weeks old this Tuesday and is such a chunk. He is over 12 pounds and is wearing 3-6 month clothes. He looks just like his two name-sakes. He's obviously named after his dad and it's almost creepy how similar their baby pictures are--almost clones. His middle name is after Grandpa, and he has his Elwood hammer fist. There's a whole blog with almost daily posts if you want to see more (probably more RJ than you'd be interested to see unless you are his grandma), thanks to Steve for adding the link on the side.

We are doing well, Rhett is taking board exams this weekend, so he's half way done with med-school! We are moving back to Utah in a couple weeks for the next two years where he'll do the rotation portion in the hospitals, and I'll work as much as I can in Radiology. If everything goes as planned, he'll graduate in 2010 and start residency--the current plan is Pediatrics and most likely we'll move out of state again at that point and at this point we could end up anywhere.
We're excited to move closer to everyone...we've learned we're not the biggest fans of Missouri and right now the desert sounds really great compared to the humid bug infested mid-west.


--Jessica

Our flat is in the Old Town area, its super cute and there is a lot of history, here are a couple pics from Monaco GP. The first pic is of the drivers before the race, they go around the track to wave to everyone!

Here are pics of Geneva!

Hi Family,

Things have settled down for us, for the most part! We have been in Geneva for a while now, however, we have both been all over the place. After my last post, John and I were in Geneva for a week, then I flew back to London to then fly out to Austin for a friends bachelorette party and John flew to Barcelona for a friends stag do (bachelor party). We then both met up in London and went to a couple of friends weddings, which were really lovely, John was a groomsmen for both. Then we were back in Geneva for less than a week, then off to Monaco for the Grand Prix, not sure if anyone saw the race but it was really exciting and we had a great viewing spot, different from the previous years, lots of action since it was a wet track. Recovered from Monaco and then we met up with Johns parents the following weekend. They drove down from Baden (northern Switz) to Geneva, we walked around, had lunch and then 1.5 hours to their chalet in Les Merecottes and stayed there for the night. Went on a really nice walk and took some pics, attached. We are settling in our new home, the weather has been pretty good, sunny and bright most days and rainy at night, doesnt bother me. Last weekend I was in Nice for a Canadian friends bachelorette weekend and this will be my first weekend in Geneva - finally! We are off to London on Tuesday, have another wedding on Saturday, then we are back in Geneva for a while. That is about it here. Wishing everyone well and a happy summer. Lots of Love, Dana and John

Here is my latest painting I was commissioned to do for this guy, of his wife. Thanks to Uncle Scott!! Scott called me and told me that there was a guy who came into his shop buying some jewelry and mentioned that he wanted a portrait done of his wife for her birthday. Scott then mentioned that he knew an artist that would be good for the job and he gave him my number. That day I got a call from him and I told him to check out my art blog to see if he was even interested. So he did and loved my stuff and had me paint this beautiful picture of his wife on there wedding day. I was excited but stressed all at the same time to do this painting. It was alot of fun and it was also quite the challenge, but I did my best. Kudos, again to Uncle Scott!!! Hope you all enjoy it!

I'll try to describe last night - but words will fail.

Lynette and Drew were in Denver for a show. Drew is beyond description. One part outstanding musician, one part showmanship, one part magic - and his formula adds up to you being absorbed into his show. Before you know it, you're singing along with him - you're clapping and snapping and screaming. Perfect strangers next to you are singing in harmony - and that's when it happens - you are part of the Drew Danburry show.

All too soon it is over and the next act is on the stage. you could wish it would never end, but it wouldn't do you any good. it's over. but if your smart - and lucky - you can get your hands on his CDs and re-live that hour over and over again. I certainly will.



You can see his website here

I hesitate to post this... because I want you to see his show live... and then relive it with music and his videos after the fact - but I can't help it. I need to share. After all, it's not every girl that has a song written about her (she's in the video too!):

Hey Everybody - Check out the links to everyone's blogs on the sidebar. Send me yours so I can include it! Steve Stamps at gmail dot com!

Dean, Gidget & Adam.

Had a fun trip to Utah. Spent a few days with Adam and was able to visit Gidget our sweet dog that we adopted out when we moved to Florida...cuz we knew our resident alligator Albert would have eaten her alive like a "scoobie snack" had we moved her here. I was curious if she would remember me after 5 years (can you believe we have been in Florida for 5 years?) but she TOTALLY remembered me and it was so fun to see her. Adam is doing great, still in a band and loving his guitar and working for Musicians Friend in Draper and still dating Jessica (will be 2 year in August).

Hi Family,

Quite a busy time for the Melsom's. We just got back from a 2 week holiday in Dubai and now we are moving to Geneva, Switzerland! As most of you know, I was in California for almost 2 months in February and March, John was also in town, but for only a month, he was able to meet Grandma and Grandpa and some other family, lots of scum playing - it was great, think John injured his hand playing so much! I was also able to celebrate Di and Ben's engagement with them and the family, so that was really exciting.

Flew back to London, a couple days later, we flew out to Dubai. It was so hot, interesting place, lots of construction but cool restaurants and hotels there, and the malls are nuts, we went to one with a ski area inside! We didnt do much, lots of sleeping and eating. Went to the famous Burj al Arab for dinner and drinks (the sail hotel, that is supposed to be the most glamorous in the world) and went to the Jumierah beach which is the one shaped like the wave. For the first week we stayed at the Ritz Carlton, beautiful place and then the 2nd week we stayed at the Shangri La (guess George Clooney stayed there when they filmed Syriana). The Shangri La was really close to another famous landmark in Dubai, the Burj Dubai. It will be the tallest building in the world upon completion, it is nuts how tall it is. Our hotel had 42 floors and this was more than double in height. To give you an idea, the World Trade Center buildings were 1776 feet high, this is 2,064 feet high.

I flew back to London on Friday, meanwhile John flew to Nice. He had a friends stag weekend (bachelor party) and I had a friends hen weekend (bachelorette). Was lots of fun, we went paintballing and went on dirt buggies, was a very dirty weekend, but I really had a blast, was a bit nervous at first about the paintballing, but was really fun!

Im off to Geneva tomorrow, so have been busy getting things organized here. We will still have our flat here in London for a few more months until we figure out what is going on, we need a plan.

Busy month coming up for us. I will be in Geneva for a week, back to London, then off to Austin for a friends bachelorette party (im her matron of honour, how old does that sound) and then back to London, then we have 2 weddings on the next consecutive weekends (John is a groomsmen in both) then back to Geneva, so lots going on!

Will keep you posted on the Geneva happenings.

Lots of love

Dana and John

"people who say they sleep like a baby.....

usually don't have one"

Congrats to all the new babies in the family.

Miles is here!!! And it is NO April Fools Joke!!

Our lil Miles is finally here and he is as wonderful as we knew he would be. He was born at 12:19 April 1, 2008 and was 6 lbs 12 oz and 18 1/2 inches he's an April Fools baby. Congrats Stac and Rob and we love you!

Hi Family,

Not sure if grandma has spread the word, but Ben and I got engaged last Friday! He planned a romantic proposal at one our favorite restaurants, Crustacean in Beverly Hills. It was our anniversary on Thursday and Ben had booked me in for a manicure and pedicure and had dinner reservations on the Friday. He coordinated the proposal with my mom and Dane and the owners of the restaurant. Without my knowing, Mom, Dane and Ben met at the restaurant earlier in the afternoon and set up a hidden video camera to capture the proposal, make the table all pretty with the most beautiful floral arrangement of orchids and rose petals all over the table, they also arranged a bottle of champagne for us to celebrate. After they set up, mom and Dane went back to Ben's parents house where Dad was hanging out with Bens parents and they waited for Bens cue to head over to our apartment. I was so fooled. . .while we were on our way to the restaurant, Dane, Mom and Dad and Ben's parents went to our apartment and decorated it with tons of rose petals, chocolate covered strawberries, and sparkling apple cider. They even put a heart of rose petals on our bed with our initials inside it, they are so sneaky, I had no idea I was in for another surprise when we went home. Little did I realize, when I called them to tell them the news that they were already on their way to the restaurant to celebrate with us, it was such a nice surprise to be able to celebrate with our family.

Just wishing everyone a Happy Day! Does anyone have any exciting news...post it! Staci has created a new blog for Miles, http://milesofsunshine.blogspot.com/ so check it out if you get a chance. It will be full of fun things once Miles arrives! Everything in Virginia is going well. Travis, Adalei, and I can't wait for spring to get here so we can go do some fun stuff and see some cool places in D.C. and the surrounding area. Come out and visit we would love to have family! Love you all loads and loads!


Adalei loves carrots!