Visiting

It seems that April is a time for visiting.  David, Brenda and Alex went to Slovenia, as mentioned in a previous blog and are sending pictures of their time there.  It looks beautiful.  They started their journey in Vienna and spent time exploring the city, the food and even the wine. 

We had a visit from Tony, Marie and the kids this past weekend and had a great time.  By Tuesday, evening, however, after they left, Tony and I just collapsed.  No wonder old people don't have small children--they are a lot of work, especially when there are 3 of them!  Anthony, however,  was of a different mindset.  He and I were sitting together and he said, "Momo, how come you and Papa don't have a baby?"  Words like, "fixed, oh hell no and 30 years too late," flew through my mind.  I settled on telling him that Dixie was our baby.  

Owen is walking now and still eating well.  They call him, "Garbage Disposal."  Coleton is doing well in school and sports.  Both he and Anthony were awarded the game ball in recent games they both had.  Coleton, for an unassisted double play at first base and Anthony for hustle, determination and slamming a pitched ball instead of hitting it from the tee.  

We spent time in the lanai and Coleton impressed me by reading all of the signs we have hanging there.  Anthony seems to have developed my love of rocks so we spent rearranging my rock garden.  He took some of my rocks home to start his own garden.  

Tony took Tony Jr and family to the beach where Owen decided to eat some sand while the other boys made "sand angels."

It was a nice visit and good to see how the kids have grown.  Next up, Chris, Shannon and Emma!  More good times!

   

The Swegles at Basics Restaurant

Anthony and Coleton playing tic tac toe

Coleton shows off an airplane picture he made

This is Owen at the beach...to me it looks like he is refereeing a tennis match!

Owen and Papa....you be the judge, who is having more fun?!

Bangin' hair!!

Beach Boys--Anthony and Coleton

Owen plays in the sand

Tony shows off Dixie's hair cut, complete with purple bows and an Easter bandana

Want to know what puppy love is?  Check out the look on

 Dixie's face as Tony pets her--that's puppy love!

A cool sunset

The new Lazy River is open.  It has buckets that fill up and dump water on you!

First turn on the Lazy River

The indoor pool (building in background) just opened

Final turn on the :Lazy River

A Life Well Launched

We went to Florida to see David, Brenda and Alex.  The weather all the way down was picture perfect--bright, pretty clouds, breezy and comfortable temperatures. 

We stopped in Lake Mary, Florida, to see Joyce, our sister-in-law and her family.  Joyce raises and trains Golden Retrievers and introduced us to her new puppy, Rhys (pronounced Reese.)  He is a bundle of energy and is a beautiful sunny color. Dixie stayed with her Godparents, but I wish we could have seen her interact with Rhys.  She may be smaller, but I think she could have given him a run for his  money.

And then we saw Alex!!!!  (OK, David and Brenda too!)  She is just as beautiful as we remembered and still quite small and feminine.  She speaks well now since she got tubes in her ears.  She is a walking, talking little question mark and approaches new things by saying, "Wuz Zat?"   She loves books and constantly points to the pictures with her question.  Once you tell her what she is looking at, she will try to repeat the words.  

Alex is learning English and Spanish at the same time.  Brenda told us that one day in school her class came in from outside playtime.  All of the kids were thirsty and the teachers were giving them water.  They kept asking Alex if she wanted water, but she didn't answer.  Then she saw the water and pointed and said, "agua!!"  

She knows the alphabet to the letter "D" and counts in English and Spanish when she and Brenda get to the steps at school.   I understand that "six" is her best number.  Not bad for an 18 month old!  She is just a little doll. 

Tony, David, Brenda and Alex went to the "Fun In The Sun" airshow.  It's the second biggest airshow in the country.  All of the Swegle's had their eyes in the sky and had a great time.  The Blue Angels performed and there was a cool dog fight with the Red Baron.  It was 92 degrees and a perfect day for an air show. 

David did a great job feeding us--doing a pasta dish from the restaurant where he worked so many  years ago and then doing ribs and chicken with his steamer.  

They have some really great ideas about finishing the backyard, including an extended enclosed lanai, fire pit, tropical and colorful plants and tile flooring.  

Talking to Brenda and David about their future plans, it occurred to me that they have a life that is well launched.  They have short and long term plans and goals.  They know what they want in their careers, their individual lives, their marriage and for their child and future children.  They work hard for what they want and have positioned themselves for success.  They support each other unconditionally and it is truly heart warming to see.

They are off to Slovenia soon to explore the Swegle side of the relationship (after recently going to Texas so Alex could meet her extended Ramirez family.)   It sounds like a wonderful adventure.  I only wish Alex was a bit older so she could remember the trip.  Knowing Daddy, he will take lots of pictures so she can see the sites later on.

And so, we get ready for Easter and a visit from our nephew, Chris, and his family.  

Here are a few pictures.  We had so much fun with Alex, I forgot to take volumes of her every move!

Reading with Papa, "WUZ ZAT?"

A beautiful girl 

The Slovenia traveling outfit!!

Oops, this is supposed to be a heart from the airshow...I forgot to turn

 the picture (just turn your head to the right!!)

Alex in her "bubble" fish outfit