Sag Harbor and Montauk

The picture of the town is Sag Harbor.  It was such a cute, sweet town that i thought i would show what it looked like.  The other picture is our beach house in Montauk, NY (at the end of Long Island) and this is the first time we have gotten a picture of it with snow.  I drove out to check on it before heading home.  

Friends in Sag Harbor!!!

So here is the story...I used to babysit for these guys when they were 7 in Nashville, TN where i went to college.  That is a real pig that is there pet...one is having a book written after her (since her parent is an author) and the other is new and I met pinky for the first time.  I also got to see how the kids are now TEENAGERS...where does the time go.  It was soooo great to see them and catch up with them as i have missed them so much since they have moved to Sage Harbor i have not seen them.  I can't and can believe how great these kids turned out and I am glad that everyone is doing so well.  We hung out and had the best dinner that Helen (the mother made) that was my favorite meal ever that this woman named Millie (who helped Helen's family out when she was a child and now Helen's own family out in Nashville).  It was so great and so fun to catch up with everyone.  I miss you guys and hope to keep in better touch now.  

Sag Harbor with my cousins

So before i left for Africa I really wanted to go to Sag Harbor (in New York off of Long Island) to see first my family and then friends.  The blond woman is my cousin (Mom's sister's daughter)  and these are her two kids.  I LOVE these guys...they used to live in Manhattan so I could watch them and hang out with them but since they have moved out to Sag Harbor i never see them and i needed to go see what Sag Harbor was all about. It was great and quite and beautiful.  Plus as i said i love these people so it was SOOOO great to see them.  We celebrated my cousins birthday that was happening in a couple days but we thought we'd sing and get her a candle.  It was so much fun and I loved the food and company.

Bonding with my cousins

So Emma Scott, Nicholas, and I spent the morning together before I left and Emma Scott bought us breakfast and then we took it to the park and had a picnic....it was windy and cold but we put up with it.  They were feeding and then chasing seagulls and having fun.  Then we went to a store to look around town and we found these fun hats and decided to take a bunch of pictures and live it up.  I think we all look pretty good!  We had a blast and i am so glad i went to see them and i will have to go back again soon.  Miss you all!

Charlotte and Sean visit!

So after Meg and Vicky visited me I drove them to Manhattan and I drove on to Philly to visit a school and see Charlotte and Sean.  This is the first time I have seen them after their wedding so that was fun.  They crack me up and they also made like the best dinner ever.  Sean made fried shrimp and grits and broccoli and it was SOOOOO good i had two plates full.  They were so sweet to cook for me and i had a great time catching up with them and then early the next morning i left to visit the school and then back home.  We had to take a self timer picture as I wanted us ALL to be in the picture..apparently I also wanted the arm of the couch.  

Meg and Vicky visit the farm!

So Meg and Vicki (who I used to teach with...and they still teach in Manhattan) came to visit for the weekend.  Oh what fun we had!  After some tasty drinks and some YUMMY mexican food it was on to the farm.  They had fun with the tractor and meg scooping up vic and then we took a ride in the "Tribe of Angels" truck...you know what they say about three pretty ladies in a truck?  oh i don't know it just sounded good.  Then you REALLY need to check out my little city girls in the car hiding from the friendly milk cow who got out and was circling our car.  It is our neighbors so she came out and put him back in the pen.  You should really click on the picture and see Vicky's face...like "why would you ever have a COW!"  Then there is a picture of us rocking out on Henry (my brother's) band equipment.  We had so much fun and it was sad to have them go.  We missed our fourth member, Fernando, but he thought he wasn't invited....in fact he is probably glad he didn't come as there was a lot of girlness, although he is used to it.  

Valentines Day!!!!!!

So when i came home from San Francisco i had WONDERFUL valentines packages waiting for me!  I couldn't believe how yummy and pretty these were.  The first one is a fruit baket which my family tried to destroy because they thought it was great too.  And then these flowers which opened up the next day and were GORGEOUS!  How did I get the best boyfriend (sorry to make some of you sick).  I was greedy though and at night would take the flowers to my room so when i woke up i could look at them every morning....they lasted FOREVER!  Thank you Jason for such beautiful and yummy gifts!

San Fran with KIM

So after spending time with Molly I left to go hang with Kim and her husband.  This is not Kim's husband in the photo because he is at work and we were not.  This is Kim giving Muffin, her cat, a talking to for hiding in the shelf....muffin makes me laugh so hard.  Then Kim and I, and her friend went shopping a little and to get some food.  It was so fun to get to catch up. There are no pictures of our fun times with Rock Band at Kim's house though.  We went to Ghirardelli chocolate restaurant for a sundae before dropping me at the airport....YUMMMMMMMM!

San Francisco with MOLLY

On our way back from Lake Tahoe my parents were going to fly out of San Fran and i was going to stay a bit to see Molly and Kim and to interview at a school.  So we all met up with Molly to see the school and have some dinner.  We first went to see the sea lions at Fischerman's Wharf who were so loud and funny and then to this famous place where they make all thier own sourdough bread.  It is SO YUMMY.  They make the bread in all these shapes (like the heart and bear we are holding and the alligator one in the window).  It was amazing food and a great deal of fun to see San Fran.  We did get our car robbed at the end of the night and our belongings stolen but we wont let that overshadow spending time with friends.  There is also a picture of Molly, her friend, and I at dinner a few nights later.  Molly has REALLY nice friends there in San Fran.  

Fun in Lake Tahoe

My mom went gambling on the Nevada side while my dad and I skied and so here she is ready and excited to hit the tables.  This was us out to a nice dinner where they even gave my mom and I a rose at the end of dinner.  Such great food!

Lake Tahoe again...

So Lake Tahoe is on the line between Nevada and California and you can ski in either state when you get to the top so we took pictures under the sign to each side.  Then the big chair is at Squaw Valley, which is where the winter Olympics were many years ago.  And then you can take the gondola from our hotel to the top of the mountain to ski or half way up to sight see and so the picture with my mom is halfway up so we could sight see.  

Lake Tahoe (with the fam)

My parents and I went to Lake Tahoe.  My mom went gambling and my dad and I went skiing.  These were some of the awe inspiring views we saw while skiing.  The one with the little island in it was taken while we were driving.  You know what they say about putting your tongue on a frozen pole but I was testing if it was the same for a frozen tree??!?!?!  It was so beautiful out there and the views were all so pretty and the weather was perfect and snowed each night for some amazing skiing each day.

Isabelle and Debrah

I went into the city and went to IPS to visit the kids, parents, and teachers and then met up with Isabelle and her mom for dinner.  We had some YUMMY food and some great talk.  We went next door to share this dessert....you can see how it ended up.  We won and the dessert lost.  It was great to spend time with people i love and we had so much fun catching up.