Italy, Spain and France!

Two months later i am finally posting about our amazing trip to Italy, Spain and France! I can only post a few of our many pictures, and as i am doing this i am thinking "why didn't i take more".  I wanted to capture absolutely everything we saw on this once in a lifetime trip.  The reason for this amazing trip was a 4 day dental conference put on by Bryans work, "White Cap Institute".  Thanks to Bryans wonderful boss, he covered our airfare, 4 night hotel at the most beautiful Villa and all of our meals at the Villa.

The Villa La Masa

While the guys were in the conference, the wives got to spend time in Florence playing. One of the days we were able to attend a cooking class taught by our  amazing world renound chef, Andrea.  He taught us how to make homeaid pasta.  And even better, we got to eat all of this yummy food!

One of our favorite places in Florence was the Duomo (Cathedral de Santa Maria del Fiore).

The work of art on the dome was started in 1296 by Brunelleschi and was absolutely amazing!  

This is the view from the very top of the dome.  You could see all over Florence for miles.

There's nothing yummier than some good Italian food.  We found the best little pizza place called "Gusta Pizza".  It was really the best i ever had!

I loved all the little outside cafes on the streets.  Notice the big brick of butter next to me.  I asked the cute old Italian man for butter and i got more than i bargained for.  ha ha

Town Square

At the Ponte Vecchio Bridge.  The bridge was built in 1345 and was Florences first across the Arno River.

Bryan in front of Michelangelo's Statue of David.  

These are just a couple of the many statues around Florence.  This one is Medusa.

After our fun in Florence, Bryan and jumped on a train headed for Savona to catch our cruise.  We went on a 5 day Mediterranean cruise to Spain and France. 

Some friends of ours that  work at White Cap with  Bryan joined us on our cruise!  It was nice to know at least 6 others that could speak English (besides our awesome Philippino waiters)

The most amazing buildings were always the old cathedrals!

All of the pictures above are of us in Spain.  Which we loved!  France on the other hand was not one of our favorite places.  It would be awesome to return to Spain some day.

What an amazing trip! It was hard leaving the kids for two weeks but we were very lucky to have Bryans parents so willing to watch them for us.  

Sister Cruise

Who works harder than anyone with very little breaks or time to themselves?.........Moms.  My sisters and i decided we needed a fun vacation to get away from it all and just be GIRLS!  So my sisters, Mom and Aunt  jumped on a boat headed to Mexico! Our cruise was on the Carnival Elation leaving out of New Orleans.

My adventure started before even getting on the ship.  I flew standby hoping to save a little money, unlike everyone else who bought tickets for $450.  There is always a risk when flying standby, but with 7 flights leaving out of Houston (my hub) i figured my chances looked pretty good.  I made it to Houston just fine and even had a for sure ticket in my hand.....well, the flight ended up getting canceled so imediately all of the other flights going to New Orleans filled up.  My only option was to rent a car and drive 5 and a half hours to N.O by myself.  It really wasn't too bad and i ended up getting to the hotel the same time as everyone else. (They left SLC about 9 hrs after i did). ha ha?

Our first stop was Progreso Mexico.  We went to Chichinitza and saw the myan ruins. Pretty amazing!

The 3rd day we stopped in Cozumel.  Our excursion was the ATV beach adventure!  We rode around on a dusty, rocky, wet trail for a couple of hours.  Then went to the beach where we snorkeled and just relaxed for a while.  

I love this picture of Aunt Carma!  She won $2,000 in the casino playing a .25 poker machine!  I've never seen anyone so excited!

Well, she was pretty excited to steal a kiss from our waiters at dinner :)  We had a lot of fun flirting with them, especially Carma our only single gal! 

We tried frog legs one night.  Yumm! they kind of taste like chicken :)

We had a lot of fun being nerdy and just doing whatever we wanted!  I tried not to post the crazy pics to spare all of you what we are really like. ha ha

 My roomy Tara!   When we got to our room the first day our beds were pushed together and that night we got a towel on our bed folded in the shape of a heart :)  there's no one i would've rather spooned with. ha ha

I had such a blast with my family! I'm so lucky to have 3 sisters who are my best friends!  And i'm glad Mom and Carma were able to join us!  the week just went by way too fast.

Ohio in the Spring

It seems i am going a little backward with my posts but i just came across some pictures of our last months in Ohio.

In May, Bryan and i went to Cleveland for a few days for his final Dental Boards exam .  My sister Tara was so fortunate to be able to come with us and be one of his patients :) while my job was to be his lovely assistant or backup plan.  Poor Tara had to sit in a chair with her mouth open all day long...oh how i wish she would let me post the picture of her with her rubber dam on.  ha ha. 

A lot of Bryans classmates were with us in Cleveland also taking the dreaded exam.

We ate at places called "The Harry Buffalo" and "The Winking Lizard".  Both actually were really good despite how they sound :)

 

Before leaving Cleveland, Tara and i thought we would check out the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame!  Unfortunately they don't let you take pictures inside the museum.

Before heading back home to Texas, Tara went to the Columbus zoo with us.

Easter egg hunt with our favorite Ohio friends! 

I love that little face!

My little sleeping beauties can sleep anywhere!  They fall asleep in the craziest positions in the car.  

the most entertaining thing was watching Landon stick his toes in Kaitlyns mouth and up her nose. Ha

The poor thing finaly woke up when Landon poked her in the eye with his toe.

Kaitlyn lost a tooth on our drive from Ohio to Utah!