Kids....

 

Kayla, Julien, Gabi, C'Jay, Kynadee, Addie, & "Bella".

Christmas Day....

 

@ Aunt Sue's.

Mom....

 

 

Kayla, Julien, Gabi, Addie, & Carli.

Christmas Eve....

 

Christmas Eve....

 

at Jenn's. Pajamas, finger foods, gifts, & fun times.

Mary strikes again....

 

Mae Mae....

 

This Angel's room was right next to ours, so when my sister needed to do laundry....we got Addie time.

Enjoying pool time....

One good thing about taking pictures....I don't have to be in them. :-) That's good for YOU & ME!!!

 

Progresso....

 

 

COZUMEL....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12 Metre Regatta Yacht Race....

 

This was probably one of the highlights of our trip. Toni, Kayla, & I went on a Yacht Race excursion. We were on the sail boat with another group from Alabama. We each had a job to do to help sail the yacht. We did not win....but we sure had fun trying.

 

Sunset....

 

                            One of my favorite pictures, taken from the balcony on our cruise.

 

 

Leaving New Orleans....

 

New Orleans....

While in New Orleans we walked to The Gumbo Shop for dinner then decided since it was just the 3 of us that we would retire to the hotel. The next morning Toni & I walked to Café Du Monde for beignets and hot chocolate....YUMMY! We were super excited seeing the cruise ship waiting for US!

 

Deep sea fishing....

 

Kayla, Toni, & I left several days ahead of our family's cruise. I won a trip to Panama City Beach so we went there for two nights, then to New Orleans for one night before leaving on the cruise. I decided to book a deep sea fishing trip because Kayla LOVES to fish. Toni & I were riders. We packed for beautiful cruise weather....not freezing cold, rainy, deep sea fishing weather. All three of us were in shorts....bad move. Thankfully Toni brought a blanket with her and we hid inside the boat as much as possible.

Gulf World....

 

                                My free trip to PCB also included free tickets to Gulf World.

Photo Book

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Hammond, LA

 

Gabi & I went to Hammond, LA with a good friend to pick up her nieces. We had a blast....ate some good food (gumbo, poboys, beignets, etc.), went to the swamp to look for gators and brought back some yummy veggies from the garden. Thank you LFA for getting us out of the state of AL for a minute.

H.B. Gabi....

We celebrated Gabi's 10TH Birthday at Do-It-Yourself Crafts. The kids did tie-dye t-shirts and had cupcakes and ice cream sundaes.

Grandma's....

MARCH 2012

 

Our bus driver Luigi (pictured above in the sunglasses with Uncle Bruno knew of a great little place out in the middle of nowhere. He had called Grandma the night before and ask her if she could accomodate 50+ of us for lunch and she said "YES"! So off we went, Grandma even agreed to come upstairs and show us how to make homemade fettuccine. It was awesome, as was dessert! And let's not forget to mention the wine, white and red.

Also pictured above (below Luigi & Uncle Bruno) is Mrs. Miroff....she's the one we traveled to Germany, Switzerland, and Austria with in '08. What a blessing to be able to travel to Italy with her this year, she's awesome. And the picture on the bottom right is the few from Grandma's front porch....I could have stayed there forever.

More pics from Pisa....

 

A few pics from the top of the tower and inside the baptistery.

PISA....

MARCH 2012

 

We traveled to Pisa, a city in Tuscany in Central Italy. I LOVED PISA! This was not on our itinerary so when the opportunity came to go I jumped at it. As soon as we got there we purchased tickets to go to the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa....297 steps up and 297 down. Our time was limited but I knew I would probably never get the chance again. The view from the top was gorgeous.

Glass blown demonstration....

 

Our first stop in Venice was to see a glass blown demonstration....very neat to watch and amazing to see the outcome (which is the horse in the middle picture on the right). The bottom right are the earrings that Kayla bought while we were there (at the group discount rate, of course).

Heading to Venice....

MARCH 11, 2012
 

From left to right....Kayla & I waiting to board the water taxi to Venice. Morgan, Lauren, Anna, and Kayla waiting to do the same. A view of Venice from the water taxi. A lighthouse that I was super excited to see. A view down one of the canals. The Rialto Bridge. Our gondola ride on the Grand Canal. Another view from a water taxi Kayla & I took in Venice. The Doge Palace. Kayla at the Doge Palace. And an amazing sunset as we were leaving Venice.

Venice was the first major city we toured in Italy....absolutely breathtaking (nothing like the stories I had heard). The friends that traveled with me made it that much more amazing. We kept saying to one another...."we're in Italy". We had to pinch ourselves daily.

Post graduation....

Graduation....

Kayla graduated from high school tonight. Holy smoke, where did the time go? I am SO proud of her. She had an amazing turn out of family and friends to watch her accept her diploma. CONGRATULATIONS KAYLA!!!

Senior Prom....

 

Kayla....

only needed one credit to graduate so she only has ONE class this semester. She's home before 10 each morning. Tomorrow she'll turn in her cap and gown order. :,-( She'll be spending her Spring Break in Italy as her graduation present. It's hard to believe the time has come....I'll not take the walk down Memory Lane just yet.

C'Jay & Kynadee's B'day Bash....

Today we went to Skate 280 to celebrate C'Jay & Mari Kynadee's birthdays. Can NOT believe C'Jay is 9 or that Kynadee will be 6 soon. The kids had an awesome turn out. Gabi was a great help to Addie, she was more than happy to keep her boots on & assist someone else on the rink.

Carlisle....aka Carli....

This spoiled girl stayed at a resort while we were out of town....OMG did we miss her. Called & checked on her while we were gone and could not wait to get back to her.

Another visitor....

This kitty shows up from time to time and depending on Carlisle's mood she'll either bark to protect us from this ginormous monster or she'll....










run and hide between Mom's chair and ottomon until the coast is clear.

Award's Day & Upward....

Gabi received 5 awards today, 2 for perfect attendance the first and second 9 weeks....2 for A honor roll the first and second 9 weeks....AND a good citizenship award.

Although I was not able to make it to her first two games I wanted to throw a pic in of her in her cheerleading outfit.

Leaving Gatlinburg :-(