Soleil takes on NY (city and state!)

Soleil had the best view of all....and no blisters on her feet!

Hudson River Valley (Vanderbilt Mansion)

"It's a bird, it's a plane....."

Ukranian Church (built without nails)

Strolling through the town of Rhinebeck

Checking out the Mayahana Buddhist Temple

Hunter Mountain, Catskills

Firehouse in Chinatown, NYC

Catching a ride in front of the Brooklyn Bridge

Where can I buy some of those things?

Eating breakfast with Papi on the street in NYC

The Adventures of Soleil

Don't look now, but they're taking a picture!

Soleil with two of my former students.

Keeping up the tradition of ignoring each other.

If only adult exercising was this much fun.

You talking to me?

Winding Bay, the place my Papi designed.

Taking it easy in my floatie.

Life is good in Abaco

I have a secret and I'm not telling!!

Finn and his never ending stories!

Aunt Kristina and I checking out the fish at The Dig at Atlantis

Yes, Uncle Jon really is that tall!

Meeting Uncle Jon for the first time.

We are back in Brandon now after a 5 week trip to The Bahamas. Soleil spent lots of time with her Papi, Nana, and Papa and was spoiled rotten. She even flew to Nassau for a weekend to meet her Uncle Jon and hang out with Finn, Aunt Jen and Aunt Kristina. We took her to get her ears pierced and fortunately, Auntie Kristina held her while I cried in the corner!

Soleil is almost 5 months old now and weighs close to 18lbs. She is in the top 5% for her weight!! We tried solid food the other day....it was NOT a hit. The banana never made past her tongue and she wretched with every bite of cereal. Maybe she is not so much like her mother after all....

Real Island Gal!

Papa and I make each other smile!

Three months young!

This is what "Clearwater" should look like...

Great Aunt Irene and I busting a gut.

My cousin Makyia and I in Marsh Harbour

Tracing my roots in Green Turtle Cay (my first boat ride)

Bathing suit not required.

Sunning my buns in Abaco!

Papi and Mommy enjoying a rare Sheriff-free dinner.







Look, mom! I can see my feet!!

Daddy introducing me to the gin-clear waters of The Bahamas!

Nana and I discussing life.

We are in Abaco taking in the sand, sea and sun. Soleil has been swimming, boating and taking walks on the beach. She has adapted to the slow pace of island life.....the ocean breezes lull her to sleep on a daily basis. Soleil has been basking in the attention of family and friends and LOVING it. She is going to be crying with a Bahamian accent soon!

"I swim in da ocean,

I swim in da sea.

I look at da fish,

All the fish look back at me!"

Let's get this party started!

My smile brings all the boys to the yard!

Maybe if I ignore Ricky he'll go away!

No autographs, please!



Could you at least fix my hat before you take the picture??

Memorial Day Weekend

We had a fabulous Memorial Day weekend with Gramps! Substitute grandparents Jane and Tom came to visit from Orlando and Soleil got to take her first ride on a trolley! It was fantastic! The next day we hit Siesta Key where the lovebugs apparently had a worldwide convention!

Throughout all of this traveling, Soleil was a trooper, as her "adult people" get used to her schedule.

Memorial Day also marked Soleil's first swimming lesson with Gramps. Of course, being a true true Bahamian her mother and father refused to get in that cold water. As you can tell from the pictures, she was NOT impressed. Maybe the Bahamian sea will be more of a success!

More pictures of Little Miss Sunshine

This is Little Ricky, Soleil's future husband!! She plays hard to get by refusing to make eye contact and he often pulls her hair to let her know he is still there!
Papa and Soleil love each other dearly and can't wait to see each other soon.
Auntie Krissy, Uncle Dan and Auntie Shana are some of Soleil's favorite people.

Soleil at two months old!

It has been a really long time since I posted and a lot has taken place in the last 6 weeks. Life is constantly changing.....I keep telling Soleil that there is a new sheriff in town, meaning her. She doesn't seem to appreciate the humor in it!
Soleil will be 8 weeks old this week!! Hard to believe it already. She is my most precious ray of sunshine, and I thank God for her every day.
She is focusing now and has smiled twice at Granny and Aunt Hazel. I find myself doing ridiculous things to elicit a smile, to no avail. I am getting her passport this week so that she can go to The Bahamas next month. She is looking forward to spending time with Gramps, Nana and Papa. And meeting her Uncle Jon, who says all babies look like aliens. Should be an interesting match!!
More than anything else, Soleil is so lucky to have so many people love her. Her Auntie Kristina has been to visit her twice in the last couple of weeks. She is a lucky girl!!