The Greg Jones Family Blog: New Baby in Germany

Our daughter Rebecca and her husband Taber and their children have been living abroad for several years, first in London, England and now in Karben, Germany. One of the advantages of serving a mission in Spain is that during the weeks the temple is closed for cleaning we are able to travel within our temple district, which is currently comprised of all of Spain and Portugal, and part of France and Italy, but during the past temple cleaning we got permission to travel even further--to Germany to visit Rebecca, who was expecting their seventh child.

This isn't Spain!

Ella can almost hear the baby's heartbeat.

While there Grandpa got to tell "Ralph Q. Puppydog, Private Eye" stories, and walk the younger children to school.

Wait a minute. This isn't about Ralph!

Milena and Gideon challenge Grandpa to keep up.

We got to hear the kids practice their music.

Sofronia, Simeon and Ella get serious about the guitar.

And I got to tell "Travels with Twinkle the Magic Star" stories, and help bake chocolate chip cookies.

Chocolate chip cookie making time.

Taber is manipulating the giant marionette.

Taber, Sofie, Becca and Inessa on a different kind of teeter-totter

Milena tight-rope walking with the help of Grandpa.

We had a wonderful time at a family-fun park in the woods.

It was hard to tell them good-bye.

Taber Johnson Family Portrait with Grandpa and Grandma Jones

In early August three very kind friends covered for me at the temple so I was able to fly back to Germany to help Rebecca with the new baby, a little girl they named Darya.

I got to watch the family fun when the kids discovered "angry birds" on my tablet , played the Wii, played in their little swimming pool, and put on a play (Goldilocks and the Three Bears) for me. They also did a good job of cleaning the house on house-cleaning day, and we all went for a walk in the woods to see the damage after an exciting wind/rain storm. A good time was had by all.