Isn't she a beauty?Look what my talented mother made for me. We saw these last year at Colonial Williamsburg. My mother knew she could make these herself. Well, I finally received one of these beautiful gourds. Thanks for sending me one.
Darren and Noah made our traditional apple pie. Darren was teaching Noah this year the how tos of pie baking. In our house the apple pie is a job for the men.
Bea likes to help, mostly to get samples before it goes in the oven.
Rosemary is part of our extended Rochester/Gregory family.
Annabel and her mini-me, Amanda.
Darren tried to get in a nap after dinner, but wasn't very successful.
We have many blessings and great friends are at the top of our list. It is good to sit and think over our day and digest and be thankful.
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When we came home from breakfast, it started to snow. This is our first snow of the year. It had barely started when the girls ran out to play and make snow angels.
Bea is becoming quite the little pianist. Darren has all his hopes and dreams for a great musician in the family riding on our youngest. She enjoys playing and doesn't complain about practicing, but great? We'll just have to wait and see.
I accompanied Annabel and her class to the planetarium, today, for a field trip. They are finishing their study of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois). We saw a presentation of Native American skies and legends. These are her two good friends Julie and Maddie.
Zion continues to amaze all and sundry with her culinary arts. Last night, she hosted dessert night and this was one of her contributions. It is a 6 layer chocolate cake with chocolate truffle filling and apricot glaze. How sweet it is.
Our amazingly talented friend, Zion, made an early Christmas delivery today. This is what I found when I arrived home from running errands.
The box in and of itself is beautiful, but the real piece de resistance is what is actually inside the box.
No, these did not come from Godiva or a fancy French patisserie. Zion made these herself. Why she has not gone into business for herself, I do not know. I, also, don't know why she thinks we are worthy of these fabulous little works of art, but I am grateful that she thinks we are!
Laura and Lily and Spencer came to stay with Noah, Annabel and Beatrice while Darren and I were in Spain. My kids had a great time with the Kreys. They did more in the week that Laura was here than I have done with them in the last two months! These are pictures from their last day here with us. Somehow, I missed getting Lily in the pictures.
My kids loved having their cousins here. Paul, just imagine how much fun we would have if you guys lived here!
It is a little freakish to me how much even I can see that Spencer looks like me. 
He's a beautiful boy.
This was the coolest plant I discovered at the resort. It has thorns and amazing red flowers. I have never seen anything like it.
The sun sets on our magical week in Marbella, Spain. 
On Thursday night, we saw a flamenco troup perform at one of the restaurants at our resort. The lighting was poor and all of my pictures were dark, but the slide somewhat represents what we saw.
Pizza with anchovies, mushrooms, capers and black olives w/the pits.
Chicken paella.
Cary poured oil and vinegar, voila yin and yang.
This is pork loin with marsala sauce and raisins.
Mijas is a little village above Marbella, looking down onto the coastline. It is a white village known for its great shopping--souvenirs, of course.
We spent two days in Mijas. We went Thursday afternoon, and again on Friday when we realized there was more shoppping to be done.
This street was a goldmine for most of us.
Donkey carts are a popular tourist attraction.
