Merry Christmas All

Okay, I know that this is a day late, but I don't have easy internet access here. I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas day. We had a nice drive with the kids and just hung out for the afternoon and then in the evening (after some searching to find a place open that wasn't totally packed) went to a nice Italian food restaurant for dinner. We leave Jackson Hole tomorrow and will be back home in a couple of days.

Today we took the kids for a sleigh ride on the National Elk Refuge. It would have been great except Abbie screamed like she was being murdered the whole time. Joe should have gotten some good elk pictures though.

Long time no update

Well it's been a bit busy over the last few days as I am sure you can tell by the lack of posts. There was playing with the kids and hanging out with Suzy and then on Thursday Joe and I watched Suzy's kids while she and her husband took the day to drive into Salt Lake to have some alone time and do some shopping (they live in a pretty small town). I was glad to help them out, but unfortunately about midmorning on Thursday I started to have a bit of a sore throat and it kept getting worse and worse. Fortunately I have experience with Strep so I called and made an appointment at a local clinic for Friday morning before the end of business on Thursday. By that doctors appointment on Friday I was pretty miserable but they gave me some good drugs and I am feeling much better today. We are now in Jackson Hole, WY and it is cold (12 degrees) but pretty here. Today we went for a drive in the Tetons and saw a moose and a wolf (we think, it was pretty far away). Here are some pictures from my husband again, all but the moose are from the Seedskadee wildlife refuge that we went to Thursday.

I got my babies back

It was nice to have some time away to relax without the kids, but I was sure missing them. We got back into Rock Springs about 8:30 on Monday night and there were many hugs, kisses and I love yous going around. We spent the night at Suzy's house and then moved into a hotel on Tuesday afternoon. I am very grateful to Suzy and Tom for their hospitality, but it was really nice to have some space for our family to be alone together again. This morning Joe took some family pictures for Suzy and Tom and now the kids are laying down for naps and I am going to run to the store to pick up a few items. We will be leaving for the Tetons on Friday.

More Pictures

Joe and I at the Botanical Gardens and Joe on the Catamaran trip.

Pictures

Here are some pictures I haven't been able to upload. Top two photos are of our drive from Wyoming to Salt Lake and the last photo of Joe on one of the many van rides we took in St. Lucia.

Back in the USA

We got back into Miami at about 7:30 Arizona time last night. It feels good to be back where we can call the kids whenever we want. I have seen a pattern developing though, last night the smoke detector in the hotel went off TWICE! I am not sure what this is about but it woke both of us up both times. I hope this is the last time it happens on this trip. Today we fly to Salt Lake and then Drive back to Wyoming to pick up the kids. We will stay with Suzy tonight and then in a hotel for a couple of days so Suzy and I can visit.

Another Brown Joins the Old Married People Club

Today my brother got married to his lovely girlfriend of 3 (I think) years. The ceremony was on the beach at their resort with my parents his bride's parents, me and Joe and my sister and her husband. Joe took the wedding photos and I am sure that they are going to turn out great. It has turned out to be a very long day though. The girls got together this morning to have a spa day and the guys went golfing so we had to take a taxi to their resort at 9am this morning and we just got back at 10:30. The massage and pedicure at the spa was lovely and it was nice to have that time to hang out together.

I am really missing my kids now and am looking forward to getting back to Rock Springs to collect them from Suzy. I have been in contact with Suzy by email pretty much every day, but since it costs $3.25 a minute to call there we have only been calling to talk to the kids every other day. Today was that every other day, but with the 3 hour time difference we got back to the hotel just at bedtime so I hurried to the room to call and luckily they were not asleep yet and we got to talk to them. Suzy assures me that they are doing fine, but I will be so glad to hold and kiss them again Monday night.

Tomorrow is our last full day at the resort and I am planning on just being lazy and relaxing all day. Joe and my dad want to go snorkeling and I am going to let them do that together, all I want to do tomorrow is sleep, eat and maybe I'll work up enough energy to go for a swim.