Ski Trip to Salt Lake City

Charles and I enjoyed our first "kidless" trip in over 5 years! My mom was kind enough to watch the kids for us & they did great while we were gone.

We flew to Salt Lake City, Utah and stayed with Charles' friend Spencer, something we hadn't done since before kids. We had a wonderful 4 days together! We did 3 days of skiing, spent some time with Spencer & his friends, I did a little shopping and did a little celebrity spotting in downtown Park City, during the Sundance Film Festival (we didn't have any luck though.)

The beautiful scenery outside of the Sundance Ski Resort, which is where the highest peak in Utah is

Views at Sundance, so beautiful!

Me on the slopes, I did pretty good after not skiing for 5 years! Of course I stayed the green slopes while Charles was tearing up the blues :)

Downtown Park City during the Film Festival. It was so cold!!

Had to post a picture of the views from Spencer's house. 

New Years Trip to the Cabin

We drove up to the cabin New Years Eve to spend a few days. We arrived about 10pm, just in time for Charles to check out the Possum Drop, a New Years Eve party in our tiny town of Brasstown. 

We were luckily enough to get snow one night which lasted the next day, making it perfect for sledding. Kids were so excited! 

First flurries of the night! Cameron had waited all day for snow but it came while he was sleeping :) He was so excited in the morning, they were outside at 7:30 AM (and it was about 15 degrees!) It didn't seem to bother him though.

Mickey loves to try to grab the sled while the kids are sledding 

Getting ready for a fire

Charles took Cameron skiing one day. He's still just beginning to learn but seemed to enjoy it

Olivia and I played in the snow while waiting for Charles & Cameron. (That didn't last too long, she got cold pretty quick so we went in the lodge to wait.)

Taking a hike in the woods behind our cabin (we were working on making a trail.)

Lots of hot tub time, of course!

Motorcycle rides

We brought Cameron's motorcycle but he really didn't want to ride it. His favorite place is behind Charles' on his motorcycle, lol!

I had fun with it!

We had a nice visit with our friends Shaun & Zack at their new house in Cleveland, Ga. Olivia was in love with their puppy, Link.

Remembering Papap

Donald Ambrose, my Papap, passed away at the age of 95 and after 67 years of marriage, 4 children, 9 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. On Monday, October 7th, Papap went home to be with Jesus. I was very thankful that I was able to be with him and support Mimi & other family who came to town during his final days.

The memorial was held after Christmas so that the majority of my family would be able to attend and was held at the Florida National Cemetery. Papap had a military honors funeral ceremony, since he was in Army Air Corps, that included the playing of taps, and a 21 gun salute.  Then Papap's Hospice pastor spoke and we all sang a few of his favorite songs. Hospice was a great support for Mimi during those hard days & we were very appreciative for all they did. It was really a beautiful service & a wonderful way to celebrate his life.

I am so thankful that my children were able to spend time with Papap and will always remember the times they climbed in his wheelchair to give him a hug or a kiss. Olivia would always share m&ms (or any other snack she had) with him. And in his last days my aunt Pam, Olivia and I singing Jesus Love Me to him.

Papap & Mimi dancing at our wedding. I can remember this memory perfectly as the DJ announced the song Papap had requested for Mimi and then they danced together as we watched, hoping that one day Charles and I would have a life as richly blessed as they have.

I love this photo because it really represents who Papap was, always caring for his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and wanting to be present around them for all occasions. This was Olivia's 1st birthday & with help he was able to attend :) 

Finding Papap's plot

This is at my parents house after the memorial, enjoying some time with the family all together

I thought this was such a cute picture of my cousins, Graham & Gretchen, reading to Cameron & Jackson