Christopher's Christmas Eve Present

Christopher chose this gift as the one he would open Christmas Eve. Soon after opening it he ran off to find his helmet and army shirt to start playing. 

This is cool!!

Christopher was excited to get more army toys to add to his collection. 

Christopher wonders.......

Will this be the bazooka set that I asked for? (Yes, it was). Notice Tom's new toy in the background, 42" plasma TV.

Playing Santa

Wearing the Santa hat with blinking stars that Christopher got while we were in Rome, he takes a break from opening gifts to pass out presents. 

Gifts from Santa

These were the gifts that Santa left for Christopher in his stocking. 

Merry Christmas 2005

This was taken Christmas Eve, Christopher was dying to open a present. 

Christopher and Santa Claus

Christopher was thrilled when he got called up to sit on Santa's lap & get a present. We were at one of Tom's work parties.

Sheila and Christopher at the Colosseo in Rome

Completed in 80AD it once was the site of duels between gladiators, now it is a haven for pickpockets and bandits of all types (mostly tour guides). Learn more at Rome Link . The gladiators in the background will pose for a price.

Christmas Time in Rome

This was taken in front of St. Peter's basilica in Vatican City, the first time in three tries I've seen this church without a shroud of scaffolding around it. We spent the weekend before Christmas in Rome to see what the Eternal city was like this time of year. We were rewarded with unique and interesting Christmas markets and lots of decorations throughout the city much like you would see in the U.S. The weather cooperated, we ate a lot of good food and we walked for many miles.

Cape Town and the Juhnkes

Sheila Christopher and Tom with Table Mountain and Cape Town in the background. We decreed that we will come back again.

Rhino Family

A mother and baby rhino take a drink.

Pilanesburg National Park

Giraffes enjoy breakfast.

The Lions seem peaceful

The next two pictures were taken from our car in a lion park. The rule at this park was windows had to be rolled 1/2 way up. Sheila tended to favor 3/4 - 15/16. They looked so dosile it was a bit tempting to get out of the car and go lay amoungst them.

My camera has a zoom but I didn't need it for this picture!

Getting close up to the king of the jungle. We were able to get REALLY close to alot of lions this day.

Probably the high point of the trip for Christopher

Christopher playing with some lion cubs at a lion park near Johannesburg.

Wild Penguins

Sheila and some South African penguins. They are molting this time of year (spring) and there were piles of feathers all over the place because of it. These penguins call South Africa their home and do not migrate to the South Pole like some other varieties do.

Not a sign you will see in the Northern Hemisphere!

Penguins often slip into the parking lot at Boulders Beach so one needs to take care not to squish them when leaving as the sign warns.

Christopher spies the Indian Ocean for the first time

Christopher on Table Mountain, Cape Town South Africa, overlooking the Indian Ocean in the background. About 40 miles down the coast behind Christopher is the Cape of Good Hope.

Moms' afraid of heights..Moms' no where to be found.

Christopher on a platform on Table Mountain overlooking Cape Town, South Africa. We were 3000 feet above the sea level in the background.

Sheila in the "Cheetah's Den"

Sheila takes a turn petting a young cheetah at Cango Wildlife Ranch, Outdshoorn, South Africa. Cheetahs are one of the few big cats that purr and Sheila stated that it sounds like more of a rumble but at least the beast was happy.

Close Encounters

A cheetah giving us the "eye" at Cango Wildlife Ranch, Outdshoorn, South Africa.

Tom and Sheila at Boulders Beach in Simon's Town South Africa, home to a colony of penguins.

Ouch! he pecks hard!

Tom feeding a particulary mean and aggressive ostrich with Christopher a safe distance away.

Ostrich Farming

Christopher and some baby ostrich at a ostrich farm in Outdshoorn, South Africa, home to 90% of the worlds ostriches.

Indisputable Visual Proof

Our group in front of the the most photographed sign in southern Africa.

Baboons in the wild

Baboons on the road to the Cape of Good Hope near Cape Town South Africa. We saw these guys crossing the road and followed them up a mountain to get these shots.

New Addition to the Family

After the Ford died we happened along this Volvo V40. Sheila really likes it, especially the heated seats.

Christopher and Tom at Dover Castle.

Watching the changing of the guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

Stan and Judy Thompson at the cathedral in Ely.

Tiger Cub Christopher, showing off his uniform with all the patches Grandma sewed on for him, with a scout salute.

Sheila, Stan and Judy (her parents) at Warwick Castle.

This was at taken at Christopher's pack meeting where he was getting his Whittling Chip badge. They wanted to see his fingers to see how many he had left.

Holocaust Memorial Berlin

The new Holocaust Memorial which just opened in May 2005. Some of the concrete blocks are very short and others very tall. As you wind your way thru and watch others around you disappear as they go around the blocks, you are reminded of what the Jews went thru, as their friends and family disappeared from their lives.

Kaiser Wilhelm Church

Sheila and Christopher in West Berlin near a church that was bombed by the Americans in 1945.

Relief as we get back to West Berlin!

Tom and Christopher getting ready to cross into the American sector of Berlin at Checkpoint Charlie. Christopher is not looking too good here, he's not sure if all of his papers are in order. Tom might have to smuggle him in.

Humboldt University Library

Humboldt University in Berlin. This is where Einstein taught and where the Nazi book burnings took place.

Berlin Ground Zero

Tom and Christopher at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany.

Ely Cathederal, one of Oliver Cromwell's home base's in the 1600's

Christopher in front of Ely Cathederal on a canon captured from the Russians in the Crimean War (1854-1856)

Warwick Castle Desperados

Caught!! 2 bandits. At Warwick Castle.

Linda in Warwick Castle, England.