Christmas in Florida 2012

We flew from Mesa, Arizona to Florida for Christmas.  We were very busy and I'm here to admit our mistakes.  We forgot to take our camera when we visited Debbie's sister Donna and the rest of the Butler family, the staff of the Tampa Bay Toll office, the Christmas party at Ernie's Welding, our friends Paula Williams and Suzie and Brad Bohannon. We had great visits with all of them, but sadly, no photos to share.  We did visit the Casola Family in Citrus Springs and Debbie's brother Ernie Chonko and the extended family in Webster. We did remember the camera on those occasions. 

                                                   Visiting with Tom & Marlo Casola & kids, Sergio & Angelina Monge

Marlo and Tom open a gift of blessed holy dirt from Santaurio de Chimayo

Sergio, the avid reader gets books

Angelina gets Junie B. Jones books

La Familia

Deb and me at the Casola's Christmas tree

                                                                      Christmas Day with the Chonko Family in Webster, FL                                                                   

Yes, the Chonko tradition is to hang the tree upside-down

Tiffany & son Zakkary were having fun

Ernie got a new coffee mug

Mama Kim got a gift basket of goodies from our travels

Zack likes discovering what is inside the empty boxes

Jesse got a new saddle

Amy got lots of gifts

Zackkary got a motorcycle like Grampa Ernie's

Debbie's jean jacket was big, but we'll get the right size

Vince got a jean jacket too!

Dad Gabriel and son Zakkary play a new guitar

The visit was not all play, a good days work on the ranch was great for me

Ernie brings in wood for the nightly bonfire

The nightly bonfire keeps us warm on the cool Florida nights

        

                                                                         
                                                                        

                                                                                   
                                                                               
                                                                                   

Arizona State Capitol, Phoeniz, AZ

Today we drove into Phoenix to visit the state capitol.  We were surprised by the number of beautiful monuments outside the Capitol.  Across the street are 24 monuments, commemorating things like WWII, The Navajo Code Talkers, The Persian Gulf War, The Korean War, Vietnam War, 911, the Battleship Arizona and many others.  We spent our first hour or so there reading and enjoying those monuments.  Then we went inside the state capitol building.  We had a private tour with a volunteer named Larry.  This capitol, unlike any other has a weather vane atop the dome.  Inside we normally stand on the bottom floor and take a photo looking up at the dome.  At this capitol you go up to the 4th floor and shoot down at the floor in the rotunda.  This year is the centennial (1912-2012) of Arizona's entrance into the union as the 48th and final state, prior to Alaska in 1959 and Hawaii in 1960.

The Anchor from the Battleship USS Arizona

The mast from the USS Arizona, sunk at Pearl Harbor

The Korean War monument

Monument honoring Arizona's fallen K9 dogs

WWII Navajo Code Talkers

The Vietnam Memorial and lists of Arizonians who died there

The Arizona State Capitol Building

The Great Seal of Arizona

The state weather vane turns with the wind

A twisted piece of the USS Arizona, sunk 12/7/1941

Arizona's flag

Wax figure of Arizona's first Governor, elected to 4 non-consecutive terms

Debbie with a very old cactus, could be 200 years old

                                                                                
                                                                               
                                                                                 

                                                                                         
                                                                                  
                                                                                      

Val Vista Resort, Mesa, Arizona

We are at Val Vista Resort in Mesa for six weeks visiting Glenn & Terry Gordon.  They are the parents of our daughter-in-law Heather. (we share grandchildren)  We have been doing a lot of nothing, relaxing, swimming, and playing at the resort.  We watched the Christmas parade on Thursday night and enjoyed a block party at Glenn & Terry's on Saturday.  We also attended the Cowboy Christmas party, headlined by  OK Corral.  Saturday was also the Army-Navy game and Glenn and Vince were on opposing sides.  Navy won for the 11th consecutive time.  Go Navy!       The weather is great, everyday in the mid to upper 70's. 

OK Corral

Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus were in the parade

Red Hat Ladies were in the parade.

Mary & Joseph were in the parade, but were is Jesus?

Nana,  Papa Gordon and Spike were in the parade

Grampy Pugliese in the Navy hat & Papa Gordon in the Army hat

Grammy Pugliese & Nana Gordon celebrating after the block party

                                                                             

Thanksgiving at Brother David's in Kingston, N.Y.

After visiting Vincent for 5 days, we drove up to my brother David and his wife Eileen's home.  They opened up their 38' trailer for us, making us feel right at home.  We got to spend some time with their children, Monica and Mike.  Mom also lives in Kingston, and brother Gregg and family live nearby in Port Ewen.  Around 30 of the family gathered for Thanksgiving.  It is always great to spend time with the extended family, as family is really what life is about.

Brother David and daughter Monica(Dave had his gallbladder out 2 days before)

Debbie and Mom ready to eat

Great Nephew Adam, Brother Gregg, Gregg Jr.

Nephew John, Niece Ivy Rose and Great Niece Madison

Vince, Quinn, Vincent, Heather Paris, Maryann, Catrina, Madison, Ivy, Adam

Ashley,(Jeremy's Girlfriend) Nephew Jeremy, Catrina

David's daughter Monica and his wife Eileen

Vince, David & Cousin Danny shootin' the breeze

Vincent and Paris

                                                                                                 

Thanksgiving Trip 2012

We flew from Phoenix to Newark, New Jersey on the Friday before Thanksgiving and stayed the first night in the Hilton near the airport.  Bright and early on Saturday we drove up to West Point, New York to attend the Army vs. Temple football game at Michie Stadium and to the annual tribute to veterans.  Some of the Corp marched on the field and the paratroopers came down, the last one with the game ball.  We met Vincent and Quinn there and watched Army get pummeled 56-32.  It was a cold and blustery day.  Afterwards we went up to Walden, New York for a 5 day stay with Vincent, our daughter-in-law Heather and grandchildren Quinn (11) and Paris (9).  We had a great visit and while there we held Christmas and Quinn's birthday a month early.
                                                                                

Son Vincent and Grandson Quinn

Grammy and Quinn

It sure was cold at the game

The Army Cadets across the way, and they stand for the entire game

The Army Mule Mascot visits our grandson in the stands

Vincent and Heather, what a great couple

Granddaughter Paris, what a doll!

Quinn at wrestling practice

Grammy and Paris at lunch

Paris opening early Christmas gifts

Quinn opening early Christmas gift