Snapshots from Christmas

Charlie bought Uncle David a police hat...

Dem's big gift - a camera!

Uncle Moon and Charlie having fun

My beautiful sister

Grandparents got army face paint

Dad

The big gift: a swing set from Grandma

and Grandpa. They got it set up despite

freezing cold weather. Who-hoo!

The Beach

John's boss generously let us use their Outer Banks House for the week.

We had a blast! The weather ended up working out

(we needed that rainy day to finish season 2 of The Andy

Griffith Show) and we had a great time as a family.

This guy is so happy because Mom forgot to pack his underwear!

His dream finally came true!

We had to collect shells...

And read in the hammock on the porch...

And build sandcastles...

And now we miss this.

More pics from the beach...

Sesame Place part 2: The Water

While I did the twirly rides, John

braved the COOOOLD water.

It did NOT bother these kids...

Needless to say, this girl was lovin' the

water... and it wasn't just her

pink water shoes.

About here was when the cold hit...

Sesame Place part 1

The crew:

so excited half of them

can't open their eyes...

The first ride was the roller coaster.

Charlie was the first to brave it with Daddy.

Then Mach went with me and finally Dem

consented to go with Daddy. John bravely (I guess?)

sat with her in the front.

John assigned me all the twirling rides.

After the fifth ride I wasn't feeling so good...

Unfortunately some were just getting warmed up

What my kids did on Spring Break...

So what happened to my peeps while I

was gallivanting around Italy?

They did crazy things like face paint.

My dear parents had tickets bought within 24 hours of hearing about

my opportunity to go with John. They fed, clothed, bathed and entertained

these four kidddos for a full seven days.

(This includes having friends over to play, birthday party duties,

and snow playing).

AND they were still smiling at the end.

What can I say? I have amazing parents.

Thanks Mom and Dad!

Who I went with on Spring Break...

The girls:

(l-r) Kathy S., me, Trish T.

The guys (l-r):

Charlie S., Sales Manager, John L. Wine Manager,

Charlie T., owner.

Me with the Wine Manager...

Where I went on my Spring Break...

About a month ago, John surprised me by arranging

for me to accompany him on his upcoming trip to Italy.

So last week I was able to visit:

Florence

Montecastelli (a rural town in Tuscany)

Seina

Pompeii

Positano (a small town on the Almafi coast)

Even though there was a good bit of rain, we

had a wonderful time, me relaxing and traveling,

and he working... more pics to come....