Rehearsal

On Friday, June 16, things started to get a bit more busy with out of town guests starting to arrive for the big day on Saturday!:) My "older younger" brother arrived from Los Angeles with his family at 2 in the morning because of a flight delay!  They looked pretty awake when they met us at the O club for lunch.:)

Mom, Dad, Guy, Greg, and my cute nephew, Connor.:)

My sister-in-law, Julia, and my niece, Natalie.  I think you recognize the other two cuties in the picture.:)

Then, we were off to the chapel for the rehearsal...

And then, later, was the rehearsal dinner...

Lizzy and Hima:)

My little brother and my mom:)

Uncle Andrew and Hima gave Jeremy a gift for helping out in the wedding:)

Here are a few pictures from the special evening:)

My little brothers!:)

I can't believe these are my two "little" brothers.

And then even later that evening..there was a 'meet and greet" for all of the out of town guests!:)

Mom and her little sister.:)

Andrew standing on a table making the announcements about the timing of everything tomorrow:)
The Academy has taught him well.:)

Dad and his big sisters!:)

It was a great day seeing so many of our family members and meeting Hima's wonderful family as well.  We were all off to bed early so we could be up with the birds in the morning.:)

Annapolis and Crabs!

So, just a few weeks after getting back to Groningen from our holday in france, we were off again.  This time we were United States bound to celebrate the wedding of my youngest brother to his beautiful fiance, Hima!:)

Jeremy relaxing on the giant bear in Schipol airport:)

We flew into Washington D.C. on Wednesday, June 14...which also just happend to be my parents' 42nd wedding anniversary!:)  And on Thirsday morning, while Guy ran a few stateside errands, my dad took the kids and me for a tour around The Naval Academy at Annapolis.:)  ( Both he and my youngest brother, Andrew gradutated from the academy...30 years apart from each other.:))  Needless to say, I did not inherit the smarts from my dad!:)

A few Hesiman Trophy winners graduated from Annapolis:)

Dad was in his element...explaining the finction of turbines to the kids!:)

Dad's graduating class in Naval Architecture in 1975

Andrew's graduating class in Naval architecture in 2005

Largest wave pool...tests the effects on waves on Naval fleets

Dad sharing some more of his knowledge with Lizzy:)

Crest for the class of 1975

Naval academy chapel..where Andrew and Hima got married:)

Crypt under the chapel where John Paul Jones,father of the Navy, is buried.
You can read more about John Paul Jones by clicking here.

Dad also took us on a tour of the chapel to show both Jeremy and Elizabeth where they would be walking to take the offertory gifts to the altar during the wedding.:)

We picked mom back up at the hotel that afternoon and went for lunch at the Officer's Club and then did a bit more touring.:)  Below is a picture of my parents with Tecumseh. Tecumseh is an icon at the academy and is "decked out" a few times a year. you can read more about this academy tradition here.

Bancroft Hall...the dormitory for all the midshipmen.

Inside Bancroft Hall is Memorial Hall. This hall honors all the active duty men and women in the Navy who have lost their lives in battle and maneuvers.  The flag with the words" Don't Give Up the Ship" is displayed prominently in the hall.  The words "Don't Give Up the Ship" were the dying command of James Lawrence in 1813 aboard the USS Chesapeake.  You can read more about him here.

And then, that night...it was time for Jeremy and Elizabeth to learn how to eat crabs east coast style...

Andrew and Hima met us :)

And the night was topped off with Jeremy having another Ferrari sighting!!:)