Summer 2011

The plan for the summer...swim, swim, swim. Since our neighborhood doesn't have a pool, we joined a nearby neighborhood pool where we have spent every day since school got out!

Mali's New Band

Mali and several of her friends have started a band they call FFA (Freedom For All)

Here is their theme song Jump in the Pool:

Jump in the Pool FFA from Franco Lopez on Vimeo.

And another of their original songs Dancing Maniac:

Dancing Maniacs from Franco Lopez on Vimeo.

St. Kitts

Franco was awarded the Golden Circle Award for the second year in a row. This prestigious award is for being in the top 6% of sales for the entire International Marriott Company. This is especially impressive considering the state of the economy right now. We had a 6 hour layover in St. Thomas, so we went touring in the downtown. The whole island is only 33 square miles so it was pretty easy to see it all. Our favorite site was this old church. It is the oldest Lutheran church still in operation in the western hemisphere.

The view from our window on was gorgeous.

I thought the weather station was so fun.

This is the life!


At the Award's Ceremony:

We went on a tour of the island and discovered gas prices were astronomical!

We bought some local, road-side bar-b-que. I have to admit it was better than any GA bar-b-que I've ever eaten!

This is where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Carribean Ocean. How cool is that!

This is what the local's call the Whiskey Tree:

We visited the most famous site on the island, the old fort. We had a great day hanging out with some new friends!

I got Anna a princess birthday cake, but since there were only a few of us to eat it, I got the smallest one I could, so only one princess would fit on top. I chose the Sleeping Beauty, 'cause that's her favorite.

Grammy came to the villa at Westgate where we were staying and brought presents. Anna was very excited about the Magic "Swan" (as she calls it).

We took Anna to Disney World for her 3rd birthday and she got to see all the princesses. Her favorite princess is Sleeping Beauty! She was so thrilled to see her, she didn't even know what to say! So, Alex did all the talking for her.

We went to Puerto Rico for Ariana's wedding in February. I sang Ave Maria as Ariana was walking to the altar and Mali was a flower girl with her cousin. The girls danced and danced at the reception and even got to sing with the band. We stayed at the beach. Grammy came along with us and we got to visit with all the family and friends.

Mali earned her Brown belt. Not much more and she will be a Black belt. We're so proud of her (and a little scared)!