Trip to Snowmass, Colorado

We spent a week in Snowmass, Colorado with Lori and Bryan.  The kids enjoyed playing in the snow since they don't see it much in Dallas.  It snowed several days while we were there so we had great ski conditions.  Andy skiied and Bryan snow-boarded 5 days while Lori and I skiied/snow-boarded 4 days.  Matthew took ski school and he skied 5 days.  He caught on after the first couple of days and was able to go further up the mountain instead of the small bunny hill.  Andy skied with Matthew on the 5th day and they both enjoyed that.  Matthew didn't fall at all and he had nice control.  Kids pick it up so quickly!

 Sledding

 Making snow angels

Audrey Bear all bundled up

 Riding the Skittles

Sisters ready to hit the slopes

 Time for smores around the fire

 Swimming in the outside pool - heated, of course!

 Hanging out with Aunt Lori

Lori snowboarding

Riding the skittles

 Playing in the Tree House

 Look at Matthew go!

 Building forts

 Andy is hiking up Long Shot and carrying my skis

 puzzle time

 riding the bucking bronco

 In front of a waterfall

 JoAnna and Andy

 Matthew with his teacher Sevy

 Enjoying a drink at Sneakys after skiing

Happy Birthday Andy

Matthew counted 41 candles for Andy's cake. We spent the day going to breakfast, going to the park, making cards for Daddy, and playing with the new Christmas toys after a long nap while it was raining.

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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Merry Christmas from Turks and Caicos

Just before the snow storm hit Dallas on Christmas Day, we took a flight to Turks and Caicos in the Caribbean.  We were hoping to take a vacation in October but we were never able to get away so we decided to take the trip over the holidays. We checked the flights to see what was available for standby travel and decided to go to Turks and Caicos and booked our condo at the last minute.  The weather was in the mid 80's and perfect for going to the beach and swimming pool.  

We took an underwater submarine (of sorts) to view the coral and fish.  The kids enjoyed looking for sea turtles and fish.  Matthew kept thinking he would see Sponge Bob Square Pants down there.  We went to the park one day and then took a boat ride to Salt Cay for some snorkeling over a sunken pirate ship.  We also visited Iguana island and Matthew enjoyed that.  It was a great trip for the entire family.     

 

Ready for the beach

Lounging at the pool

Bedtime

yellowtail snapper (I think) swimming in the coral 

Sea turtle

Audrey loves to swing

Matthew looked like the first mate with his sailor hat

A crab that we stumbled upon at the park.  I touched it thinking it was fake.

Audrey said "no touch" and then it moved.  The kids were intrigued.

Audrey loves to eat Daddy's yogurt

Dinner Time

 On the beach at sunset

 Iguana island

 "The hole"

 "The hole"

 Boat ride to Salt Cay

 Iguana

Building sandcastles

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Papa Guido's Funeral

Last Saturday, during our birthday celebrations, my grandpa passed away at 92 years old.  His health started to decline around Thanksgiving where he had an infection in his legs and became bed-ridden, which resulted in pneumonia and ultimately moved out of his apartment and into a hospital.  His quality of life had become difficult so it was time to move on.  

Serafino Guido led an interesting life.  He was born in San Fili Cosenza, Italy.  When he was 2 year old, he took a boat to the US into Ellis Island.  He told me the story of how he didn't have any money and ate the scraps of food in order to get by.  His family settled into Port Chester, New York.  He had 3 brothers and 1 sister.  All of his family proceeded him except for his younger brother, Patsy.  I met his sister and younger brother in New York five years ago when I was in the New York area for a work project and it was neat to see the neighborhood and church where he grew up.  Papa joined the marines just before he turned 16 years old but lied about his age in order to get in.  

When he was stationed in San Francisco area, he met my grandmother, Bertie, on a trolley.  It is a bit ironic since Andy and I met at a bus stop.  They married and then my mother was born in Sacramento and shortly after they moved to Arkansas where Bertie's family was from.  They had another baby, my uncle Joe, and at a later point divorced and he moved back to New York.  In the 1980's, he moved back to Arkansas to be close to Joe and his kids, JP and Lauren.  

Papa was a master sergeant and served in WW2 and the Korean Conflict.  I remember the stories he used to tell me as a kid and I wonder how he survived since the marines are always on the front line.  I have a lot of respect for our military men/women and I try to make a point to tell them that anytime we see them in uniform at the airports.

Uncle Joe coordinated the funeral service in Arkansas on Wednesday.  Matthew and I went to the ceremony along with my family.  Matthew remembers Papa Guido and we mention him in our prayers often.  I thought it would be good for Matthew to see a funeral so he tagged along.  He was a good traveler.  The funeral was very nice with the military three-volley salute and flag presentation.  We think Papa would have liked it.

My siblings: Lori, Mike, Greg, and myself

Happy Birthday Audrey

Since we didn't do much for Audrey's 1st birthday, we decided to have a big party for her 2nd birthday.  We invited all her friends from school, neighbors, and friends with kids around the same age group.  We held the party on Saturday morning and the weather was unusually warm - which worked out nicely for a December birthday party.  

 The birthday girl!

 The spread included chicken nuggets, mashed potato bar, cereal, donuts, brownies, fruit, string cheese, and cupcakes

 We hired a balloon clown to twist balloons for the kids - it was a hit!

Davis

 Audrey and Hazel

 The kids played a flower game

 Jojo

 Hazel and Audrey

 Dora pinata

Pinata fun