Spring Break 2013

K likes the beach and I like Europe so we compromised and went skiing in Italy.  We flew in and out of Venice so we added a day in Venice after skiing.  Then we flew to Lyon for the weekend so I could shop for art.  We stayed in the small town of San Cassiano about 2 hours north of Venice in the Dolomites.

It snowed the night we arrived and this was our view when we woke up.

Loved the snack bar with the cows on the roof.

So pretty how the clouds moved in and out

The Dolomites are really rocky-they give the Rocky Mountains a run for their money

Love the sun flare in these pictures

We used to get adorable little gingerbread houses like this every Christmas from an Austrian bakery in Aspen

Another cow on a roof

K and her sweet ski instructor

Loved the van drivers from our hotel who took us skiing every day.  Could not figure out what was up with the green aprons.  They carried everything for us-loved that!

It snowed the night before we left San Cassiano.  We took a walk in the snow.

I did not age well on this trip!

And then we stopped in Venice.  This was the view from the restaurant in our hotel where we had lunch.

K and I waiting for the water taxi on the dock of our hotel.

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Love the view of the snow capped mountains from the water taxi on our way to the airport

Bye bye Venice

Photo from the plane window on our way to Lyon.

Thirteen!

How is it possible that K is a teenager?

Her birthday week started with a weekend in Atlanta, dinner at Mo Mo Ya with Olivia and getting her braces on.  The braces explain why she is not smiling.

Birthday cupcakes with sparkers that were a one and a three.  You cannot tell in the pictures.  Glad that I did not burn the house down.

Dinner out with Dallas BFF Ava.

Big Cats

Saturday was a beautiful, warm sunny day so K and I took a road trip to east Texas to Tyler Creek Wildlife Refuge.  This refuge takes care of big cats that have been abandoned or abused.  The facility was amazing.  The animals are so well cared for.  We took a half hour tour and we learned so much about the animals.  Our guide was so enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the animals.  

This tiger was very feisty.  She waned to get into the cage next door and raised up on her back legs and growled when the tiger next door came near her cage.  She also growled and paced when she saw a baby in a wagon.  Glad for strong cages.  

Quick Getaway

We took advantage of the long holiday weekend and took a quick trip to California.  It was  a picture perfect weekend. Warm weather, sparkling water and views of Catalina and the snowcapped mountains.  

We had no specific plans for our trip other than to spend time with a few good friends (and their hairless cats!)  K loves hairless cats and always begs for one for several weeks after we spend time with these cuties.  They really are so sweet and always snuggling to stay to warm.  

Our weekend evolved into a girls weekend.  Shopping at Fashion Island, lots of eating, manicures and pedicures with an ocean view at Crystal Cove, a basketball game and more eating.  Another highlight for K was a trip to B Candy.  Love their new ice cream!

Mama the hairless cat

Hanging out on our friend's deck and watching the surfers

Sunset view from another friend's house-imagine this every evening!

B Candy-such a cute store