6/26/2026

Updates From Santaquin

I love being home!!! I love waking up in my own bed, knowing that my family is so close, & watching Logan and Emery interact with everyone. & I love the Santaquin mountains. So beautiful. 

Emery started to eat real food! She loves pancakes, cottage cheese, peaches, bananas, and eggs.


All of the Blauer girls were in town & came down with their babies to say hi! We all grew up going to elementary school, high school soccer practices, Young Women activities, and trampoline sleepovers together. It was so fun to be together with all of our kids. <3 


& the two cute boys below who snuck away from our picture. 


Emery made her first Costco trip & Logan loved his milkshake samples.


At this point in time, Justin's team had made it to the finals! Alba was playing their final games against Bayern Munich for the championship. Emery was willing them to victory.


Justin was raining three's and it was so fun to watch!!



Andrew and I got serious about cheering on our Team USA in the World Cup with jerseys.


Surprise Father's Day dinner for the best Dad and Grandpa ever. <3






Courtlyn's bridal shower!! With all of the ladies from our home ward. The room was full of so much love. Almost every person there had been either my young woman leader or Sunday school teacher. It was so fun celebrating the bride-to-be.



6/16/2026

HOME!!!

We're in Utah!!

The day we left Berlin Justin arrived home from his roadtrip at about 3 AM. It had been a long four days without him and I'm so happy he was able to come with us to the airport and send us on our way. 

Our last family picture in our apartment. 


These two were such angels (and were definitely being helped by angels) during our flights. Flight #1 to Amsterdam went smoothly. When we arrived however, I found out days earlier a new rule was made that banned carseats and strollers in the airport. I wasn't going to have Emery's car seat with us on our 10-hour flight to SLC. 

I was so discouraged and began the long trek with these two and our backpacks to our gate without the stroller to carry it all.

As we were boarding, I began to feel so sick. The first three hours of the flight were miserable and I texted Justin and my parents telling them I truly didn't know how I was going to do seven more hours. 

I got a text back saying everyone was kneeling down and praying for me. More texts came in from friends who were also praying. After those prayers I felt a little better. 

I also had the impression to ask someone for a blessing. I prayed that I would be able to find a member of our church on the flight who could help me. 

About 15 minutes later, I was in the small airplane bathroom with a nice couple from North Ogden. As his hands were on my head and he was giving me the blessing, I felt a peace wash over me and the nausea and anxiety went away. I was healed by God's priesthood power and the remainder of the flight went smoothly. 

During those first three hours, Logan didn't ask for anything. I was too sick to even look over at him. He was such an angel boy and watched his show and didn't mind as I was out of my seat often. 

Emery was also such a good baby as she was passed to the flight attendant many times. 


After a 16-hour travel day, we landed in SLC and I was so relieved and grateful to be on UT ground!


And I was so emotional when I saw these faces waiting for us through the international arrival sliding doors. Everything was worth it for that moment to be together... and to finally meet Hadley!! He and Courtlyn got engaged two days earlier.


Logan was excited to sleep in his big boy bed. 


& first thing in the morning, these cousins got to meet!! 


It was a pretty big week with lots packed in. The main event being Natalie going to the Provo MTC. One of her last requests was a Zupas lunch date. 


Logan is in HEAVEN with all of these fun toys and family at Gigi and Grandpa's house.


We were able to attend an endowment session at the temple with Sister Rowley too. That was pretty special. I hadn't been to the temple since November. I had missed it. <3



Wednesday we had lunch together and drove below the Provo temple to say our goodbyes. 



You got this, Sister Rowley!!!!! I am so, so proud of her. 


Logan finally got to go on Grandpa's big blue boat. The weather and water at Yuba were great. It was such a fun afternoon being together on the lake. 




Sara and Joe, our friends from Berlin who now live in North Dakota, were in Utah for the weekend!! They were so nice to come to Santaquin & we got to catch up over s'mores in the backyard. I love them.


The best, best week. Just missing our Justin... who is doing amazing in the finals! Let's go, Alba!


So thankful to be home for the summer. 

6/07/2026

Final Berlin Farewells

Justin was out of town for four days leading up to our departure. Logan, Emery, and I packed our days with visits to and from some of our best friends. 

The Aversas had just returned from Disneyland Paris and gifted Logan his new favorite shirt (with Lightning McQueen, Jackson Storm, and Mater).


Hadley came over and helped me put the kids to bed my second to last night and then we talk, talk, talked for over two hours. I love her. 


Our last day was spent with lots of our favorite Berliners! We said bye to Walli on a video call, who had just returned the day before from the U.S. 

& went downstairs and said goodbye to Marlies and Ludwig. They sent Logan off with airplane snacks.


Jennie & Levy stopped by to get all of Emery's things for their baby!!!


& Alex and Alex spent the morning with us for brunch. Logan was in heaven playing his orchard game and basketball. 


We felt so loved. & so sad. & it all didn't feel real. We've been blessed with the best of the best friends.