Anna Maria Island- Family Vacation - 2012

This year we had decided to go to Anna Maria Island for our annual family vacation.  The timing was difficult because we were set to leave ten days after Tony's passing.  After much thought, we decided that the timing was perfect.  This was the perfect time to huddle together as a family and support each other during the difficult days.  We convinced Emoy to join us for a few days.  It was hard to get Tony off anyone's mind.  He was an avid cook, and the year before had enjoyed himself cooking for all of us in Marco Island.  I, for one, kept thinking how different it would've been if he had been there.  But in a way, he was.  We made the best of a difficult time for all of us.  We laughed, we cried, and we remembered.  We know he would've wanted us to go on and enjoy ourselves.  Tony, we tried.

Twins learn how to swim

This summer, the twins had their first swimming lessons.  They both did very well.  Ania seems to feel more comfortable in the water, while Aila seems more cautious.  Either way, they both learned the basic skills and God forbid, if they were to fall in deep water, they have both been taught and have shown that they know what to do.  Ms. Tracy was their swim teacher, and it was funny how Aila would scream when she heard the doorbell, first thing in the morning.  She knew it was Ms. Tracy!  Little by little, they both got more comfortable in the water.  I'm hoping that by next year, they will feel more confident and I will be even more relaxed knowing they can swim.  Although we never let our guard down, (or our baby gate), it does give you a great sense of relief to know all my girls are good swimmers.

July Birthday Girls, Anel and Ciara

Anel and Ciara have birthdays 5 days apart.  They usually are together on their birthdays.  This year Ciara was with us on her birthday.  We went to lunch and then surprised the girls with a couple of days at the Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne.  They had so much fun, although I was missing my sister who had joined us the previous year.  We made the best of it though, and I think what they really loved was room service.  What is it with room service and kids?  They were looking forward to the one night I allowed them to order.  They enjoyed games by the pool, dinner at the Italian Restaurant, and even our walk to the local Winn-Dixie!

The Ritz does a great job of making their guests feel like royalty and the girls got a kick out of that.  I kept reminding them, if you like this lifestyle, you will have to work for it!  Go to college and educate yourselves!  I think this experience taught them that!

End of School Year and Summer Recital

The girls finished school in June and had their yearly ballet recital shortly thereafter.  Anel has taken ballet and dance lessons for about ten years now, five in this studio.  She received a "5 year" trophy, which she had been waiting for for about five years!  This year she began pointe lessons and is very excited about it.
Alia has been dancing for 4 years, and will get her trophy next year.
They did a fantastic job and really enjoy their recitals.  I hope they keep these memories of their dance years close to their hearts.  And of course, the twins began this September their first ballet classes!  And they are loving it!  Not surprised.  With a house full of girls, ballet slippers, leotards, tutus and tights abound in our home!

Alia and her violin

Alia decided about a year ago that she wanted to learn how to play the violin.  Basically, the idea came from her favorite show, The Fresh Beat Band, which, we happened to go see in concert earlier this year.  She's been playing for about one year now, and does very well.  She participated in a mini-concert at the school where she takes the lesson.  Ms. Marcee, her teacher does a great job of making the learning of a new instrument great fun.  Alia looks forward to her weekly class and Ms. Marcee even mentioned she's learning very rapidly and really well.
We hope she continues to pursue this interest.  She is actually pretty good!

Father's Day!

Just so my husband doesn't complain that Father's Day goes unmentioned, we DID have a Father's Day celebration.  The older girls prepared a manly breakfast for him and we gave him the best gift of all.  SLEEP!!!!!
Here are a few pics of that day.

Summer 2012

 This summer we went to Virginia again, by car.  I guess I must be a masochist...
It actually went very well.  I keep my expectations low and realistic, and I wasn't disappointed.  We break up the trip by stopping in Savannah on our way to and from. It's basically an 8 hour drive the first day, and about a 10 hr. drive the next.  We stop about every 4 hours, depending on the condition of the divas.  Anel hates the car trip but loves it when we get there.  Alia and the twins do very well.  Their notion of time is different, so they are not so frustrated when I announce, "Only 10 hours to go!"

We visited our friends and former neighbors and enjoyed our time.  We were there approximately 10 days.  A visit to Georgetown Cupcakes is always in our agenda.  We also had dinner with the Ashurkoffs a couple of times and with the Darrs.  I got to see my friends Lori, Veronica, Jen and their beautiful families.

On our way back, we stopped in Gainesville to spend time with my sister and Tony and picked up Ciara, who usually spends a good part of the summer with us.

It was a good trip, although mentally I really wasn't there.  My mind kept going to my sister and Tony.

                                   Outside Georgetown Cupcakes

                          Enjoying lunch at the American Girl store

                                        Jen, myself and the twins

                                       With Marina at the movies

                          With the Finamore's, eight kids between both families!