Spandaus on Spring Break

Out of the cold and snow in PA, and into the sunshine and warmth of Key West!! Hooray!

Simone ... in front of the original "Sloppy Joe's" 

 The view on the drive to Key West.

A stop for lunch at Islamorada. 

Beautiful sunset! 

=)

The Spandaus' ski place

In very northwestern Massachusetts, there are Williamstown and Jiminy Peak Ski Resort (photos below). What a lovely place -- cold, cold, cold, but lovely! Here is where Robert, Danielle, and Simone come to ski on weekends.

This is the building from which the main ski lift begins. I took the photo from inside the lodge, and it was definitely colder out there than inside! It was snowing a bit, even though they had the snow-making machines going full blast, too!

Here's the guide to which ski runs are where.

More and more skiers were starting to show up.

Snow-making machines in action on one of the runs.

What looks like fog rising from behind the trees is really the man-made snow being made on a different ski run, one not completely visible from the lodge.

And a couple of little videos ...

Now it's beginning to clear up ... and get more and more crowded with skiers, too!

More and more crowded ...

Here's Simone when she came in for lunch -- goggles are off, and the rest came off very soon.

Cutie!

Here is a view of the whole ski area from the highway as we were starting our drive back to New York. It's a very beautiful place, day or night, snowing or clear!

Happy 10th to Robert and Danielle!

Happy Tenth Anniversary to Robert and Danielle -- yesterday, actually!



These are the flowers I ordered to be sent to them. The roses are the color of the roses in their wedding. And the flowers arrived right on time, which also makes me happy!

So Happy Tenth, Robert and Danielle -- and many, many more! ♥ ♥

Some before-Christmas photos

The Christmas tree on Rockefeller Plaza. This was taken on Saturday evening, December 19th.
No, Robert isn't trying to strangle Simone! He's showing us the snow in her hair! It's also on his and Danielle's coats, in their hair, and on Danielle's hat ... everywhere. This is just inside the walkway that would take us into Grand Central where we waited for the next train to take us back to Scarsdale.
Robert and Ollie
Charlotte, snoozing in her favorite spot since Simone was a baby!
A very sacked-out Ollie!

Some Christmas photos 3

The Spandaus' decorated house! Very cheerful!!

Danielle is helping Simone write her letter to Santa in one of Macy's windows.
Simone's letter, sent to Santa!

The Empire State Building, visible from in front of Macy's entrance.

The plaza in front of Macy's entrance - there are "dripping" lights in those leaf-bare trees, but they don't even show up well in a little video. They were fun to watch, though.

Some Christmas photos 2

Simone and Danielle, working on the gingerbread house.
The finished gingerbread house!
Simone, practicing piano in preparation for her upcoming recital.
The children's nativity scene at the end of Christmas Eve services. Simone is the angel, seated second from the right.

The Spandaus' Christmas tree.

Simone just unwrapped her Christmas Eve gift - a beautiful sweater with fur around the hood.

Some Christmas photos

Robert and Simone, beginning to open things.
Simone, opening a gift card.
Robert and Simone, checking out the present Aunt Anne sent. Simone can add letters and decorations to a darling denim bag.
Simone, setting up and playing with her Littlest Pet Shop.
Simone, learning how to weave on her new little loom.