March 2016

We dyed Easter eggs early this year anticipating being out of town the week before Easter.  The new metalic paint this year included in the kit was a novelty, however I found it disappointing later when trying to peel the eggs to eat them that the paint comes off on one's hands and the egg.  Yuck!

Sasha still sleeps with her original Baby Monkey (right) that she has had since she was born. 

This cracked Phil and I up when we saw Batman scaling the walls of the pantry to try to get to the candy shelf!

We had an adventurous week in Puerto Rico for Spring Break this year.  Perhaps due to the economic collapse there, plane tickets were outrageously cheap, so we thought this would be a good time to visit the Caribbean for the first time with the kids.  We followed many of Aunt Megan's recommendations, since she frequents the island and has it figured out.  Our first 3 nights were spent at Casa Andalucia, a small guesthouse a couple blocks from Ocean Park Beach in San Juan.  Every morning we walked across the street to Kasalta Bakery for delicious pastries, breakfast sandwiches, and cafe con leche.  We would always try to sit at the table above where there was a sign saying that President Obama had sat there in 2011.  

The first day we walked to Ocean Park Beach, a locals spot with wonderful sand and surf.  The kids spent hours jumping the waves and making sand creations. 

That evening we drove into Old San Juan and toured El Morro, the gigantic fort the Spanish built to protect the city.  As we were walking through the entrance we heard a deafening boom that made us all jump.  We found out it was a real cannon they had just shot off of the fort.  The kids were very impressed.

View from El Morro portal

The second day we drove 5 minutes to Isla Verde Beach where we rented chairs for the day and again just enjoyed jumping waves, trying pina coladas served in real cored out pineapples, ice cream from a man with a cart coming down the beach, playing frisbee, and people watching. 

That night we went into San Juan again and ate a rooftop restaurant with delicious Puerto Rican cuisine.  The kids also spent some time shopping for souvenirs that night.  Jack chose a little stone turtle and a t-shirt; Sasha chose some locally made candies.  We all loved the quaint old streets and passageways.

The next morning we met up with my friend, Christine, who I play in the orchestra with.  She was there the same week with her family visiting her in-laws.  Then we left the big city for the afternoon at Luquillo Beach about an hour away.  The clear water and palm-tree lined public beach was beautiful.

We dined on fish tacos and burgers at a surf shack that evening on the beach.

From there we drove into El Yunque, the rainforest.  We arrived at dusk at Casa Cubuy, a very remote ecolodge at the end of a very winding steep road.  This place was AMAZING and the favorite part of the trip for me and the kids.  Our hostess showed us to our room, of which one of the walls opened up completely to the deafening sounds of the coqui frogs that inhabit this particular rainforest and eat all the mosquito larvae (Yay!!).  She encouraged us to sleep with the wall open.  It was a full moon that night and the sights, sounds, and smells of that night will remain with me a long time.  Jack and Sasha spent some time on their travel journals that night.

In the morning we wondered down to the common area where we could enjoy coffee and tea on the deck before breakfast was served.  Breakfast consisted a huge spread of fresh tropical fruit, cream cheese french toast, and oatmeal.

There was an awesome hike right from the lodge to a series of waterfalls.

Our last 3 nights were spent at a local "resort" on the southwest side of the island.  I'm pretty sure we were the only American tourists there, but it was packed with Puerto Ricans on Easter holiday. 

One day we took a boat to Gilligans Island where we enjoyed snorkeling through the channels between the mangroves.  The water was shallow and clear and the kids were thrilled to see colorful fish, a crab, and a red starfish.  Overall, it was such a fun trip.  The only real downer was Sasha getting carsick on the curvy roads near Aibonito, the town where Phil's parents lived for 2 years in the 1970s. 

February 2016

Legos continue to be Jack's favorite activity.  We have a big drawstring bag of random pieces where he can be found any time of day creating some new design.  Here he had created a marble maze.

We cheered on the Broncos to their win in Super Bowl 50 this year.  Jack and Mom have been Broncos fans every year and Sasha and Phil claim them as their second team after the Colts.

We drove up to Breckenridge for President's Day weekend.  It was a really fun weekend of skiing, playing games, shopping, and eating out in the quaint downtown.

It was Phil's birthday weekend too and Sasha surprised him with a hat she had been knitting secretly for him.  It fits him perfectly!

We rented a condo right at the bottom of one of the lifts which allowed us to pop back to the condo mid-day for lunch and lounging before heading out to the slopes again.

The best part was that we could all ski together as a family this year!  I can't think of a better way to hang out together in the winters.  We pretty much stuck to the blue runs, but Sasha sought out the narrow paths through the trees that ran parallel to the main paths and Jack loved to try the jumps at the terrain park.  Both kids are turning into terrific little skiers.

Happy 41st Birthday, Phil! 

The basement carousing has changed since they were toddlers.  One of the current favorite activities down there is family kickball.

Sasha taught Jack how to knit.

For the pioneer unit in 2nd grade, Sasha constructed a log cabin out of pretzels, chocolate frosting, and graham crackers.

While I was gone in New York City visiting my sister and college friends the last weekend of February, Phil and the kids had a blast at home.  They went to the trampoline park one day and worked on their flips.

Sibling love at the zoo

January 2016

Another delicious dinner prepared by Jan

There was a choice of chocolate pie and raspberry custard pie for dessert.  Yum!

Catching up with Teresa and Rachel.  I am so lucky to have sister-in-laws that are like sisters.

Playing pool in Grandma and Grandpa's basement

It was so fun to go tobogganing at Pokagon State Park one morning.  The ride on the track was thrilling and faster than I remembered it as a kid.

Sasha requested stilts for her 8-year-old birthday this year.  She mastered them within a minute or two.

A family birthday meal with Grandma June and Grandpa Fred on Sasha's actual birthday.

Eight is Sasha's favorite number so it's an extra special birthday.

Sasha hosted her first slumber party with a few girlfriends that weekend complete with a Baskin Robins birthday cake.

Sasha loves to knit on a round loom.  She learned how to do it at school this year and then asked for a loom for Christmas.  She has been busy knitting hats for lots of people and her doll, Cindy.

Jack and one of his best friends, Jaden, acting goofy.

Movie night