Dominican Part 1

Part 1 of a multiple part post due to the amount of pictures. This December, we went to Dominican Republic for my sister Karen's wedding to Pete. It was a great time and a wonderful escape from the Chicago winter. Nothing like a little tan, 80 degree weather, sunshine and ocean to take away the winter blues. And of course, a wonderful wedding!

We stayed at an all-inclusive resort so we didn't leave our little bubble or really the pool or beach side for that matter. Actually, Jeff went with Josh and Stephanie to have some local food which they enjoyed.

Karen, Colleen & Kyle waiting for dinner

Kyle & Emily were all about dancing. Here they are cuttin' it up with Colleen.

This is how naptime worked in Dominican for us. It was glorious! Instead of going back to the room, we brought naptime to the beach or poolside. The kids had their blankets, Deedee or Miko, dry clothes and a shaded spot and took some amazing naps. We're not talking short little cat-naps, but regular sized, 2 hour, sometimes more, type naps. It was great because then both Jeff and I could either relax with them, read, or hangout with everyone while they got their rest.

Mom & Tommy floating around

Jeff with Kyle & Emily

Dinnertime again!

Kyles first transaction

On the way home from Dominican, Kyle transacted his first purchase all by himself in the Miami airport.

Daddy, I'm going to buy this water bottle.  Thanks for the money.

Waiting in line.

I'd like to buy this water please.

Here's the dollars.

Thanks for the change.

Here you go!

Thank you very much!

Emily and Isaac

Emily is especially loving spending time with her little cousin, Isaac. He is 11 months old and is a doll. Emily loves helping to feed him and give him his bottle. It's really sweet seeing her take care of him. 

Bottle time!

Ike really likes Emily feeding him!

Yummy veggies!

Here you go Ikie, have some poofs!

Pedicure

Today, Emily and I went for a pedicure to get our feet ready for Karen's wedding in the Dominican!  Emily was pretty excited to get her piggies done with Mommy!  I've painted her toes before at home, but this was her first pedicure at a nail salon.  She joined me once before at a nail salon, when she was a few months old when Kristin and I went to get our toes done. 

Pedicures!

Emily in the big massage chair

Look I'm getting pink piggies!

And a flower on the big toes!

She can't stop smiling!

Drying the piggies under the fan

Peek-a-boo!

Emily's first pedicure ~4 months

Cuteness sleeps

This is how cuteness sleeps. We are at my mom's house and the kids' beds are set up at a 90 degree angle from one another. Somehow, though, they have a sense as to where the other one is and end up head to head, nuzzling one another.  Note Emily's pink pillow at top of her bed.

Blizzard!

So Madison, Wisconsin is where we really got to experience winter... 18 inches of snow in less than 24 hours!!  It was insanity!!  Most of the city was closed down that day.  People came out to shovel and play in the snow.  And the kids LOVED it!! 

The moring after / of the blizzard. 

Nearly 18 inches of snow in less than 24 hours!!

Josh and Stephanie's back yard was a winter wonderland!

We're not in San Diego anymore!

Davie really wanted to ride his car in the snow!

Kyle, Davie, Emily & Ben posing in the snow.

Kyle stops for a snow break before rolling more of the snowman body

Working on the snowman

Frostine the snowgirl! Emily and Stephanie found Frostine's features together. Her eyes are made of the plastic Easter eggs. Her nose, a carrot. Her ears are leaves. Her arms, tree branches. A scarf and a hat. And don't forget a necklace!  She really was quite an impressive snowgirl!

Cracker Barrel mmmmm

On the way home from Madison, we made a great meal stop, Cracker Barrel!! The kids and I had a great time playing the peg game, eating eggs, bacon, apples and hashbrowns in the middle of the afternoon. And it was good for them to get out of their seats and move around a bit.