Angel Fire - Summer 2016

I was looking back at last year, and apparently I made THREE whole post about our trip to Angel Fire, and this year I barely have enough pictures for one post. Ooops

In case you want to see last year: One, Two, Three

 

Well this year, we had a smaller group. Mom and Dad spent nearly a month at Angel Fire towards the end of the summer.

 

I had asked Leslie if one of the boys wanted to ride with us out there early on Friday since she was coming from San Antonio late on Saturday. Well, I figured Noah would because he loves special time with his Ampa, but she let Zay choose and he said he wanted to go with us.

I was a little nervous he would be bored with us, and I think he was. LOL

 

We got there Friday evening and watched the Opening Ceremony of the Rio Olympics.

I just love the Olympics and this particular year I was super excited and we watched a lot of it!

Mom cooked a delicious German meal. Unfortunately, I was pretty sick and couldn't eat.

But Cecil loved it!

 

Saturday, we hung out at the condo to get 'acclimated' to the higher altitude and again - I'm sure Zay was super bored with just us adults and Connor.

 

Ampa loves to pick on Connor everyone and it was sweet because Zay was super protective of Connor and would 'team up' with him against Ampa. At one point Ampa had Connor in the chair and Zay was using a mirror to shine the sunlight on Ampa from the couch.

That Zay - he is so clever!

 

Ampa picked up Angel Fired Pizza for dinner Saturday and then

Leslie, Noah and (surprise!) Riley arrived! Yay!

 

We watched some more Olympics and played lots of Guess Who and Backgammon.

 

Sunday morning we spent lots of time playing outside.

The boys played catch with the Frisbee and Football,

Zay and Riley played pretend campfire, and Grams came up with a game of

getting a rock to stay on top of the tree trunk you see below.

It was actually pretty fun and competitive. ;)

 

I also used this time to take some 18 month of pictures of Connor.

I had planned to take great pictures of him with the beautiful scenery in the background,

but it just didn't happen. I just felt so sick.

 

We went to a little Farmer's Market they had set up. It was super cute.

There was face painting and lots of cotton candy.

The weather was beautiful and it was just nice to be outside with the gorgeous views.

 

We tried to get Connor to be the fourth ninja turtle, but after one swipe of orange to his face - he was NOT having it! So Leslie completed the squad.

 

 

Cecil, Mom, and Leslie took the boys to fish. I'm guessing the boys are waiting on Cecil here.

That's how I feel too when I have to wait on Cecil. ;)

 

 

 

These two god brothers play so well together. They are both so imaginative and creative.

 

 

And apparently very brave!

 

They caught a few crawdads.

 

 

Connor and I had to go home to nap. Please excuse the horrible picture of me.

But I wanted to remember how he fell asleep with his blanket in his mouth. LOL

 

Finally after he was in a deep sleep, I was able to turn over off my hurting hip,

and try to take a little rest myself.

Please note his attempted turtle mask. :)

 

Connor is very finicky with Ampa. Sometimes he is happy to snuggle. Sometimes he is NOT.

 

Monday, Cecil and Dad played golf while Leslie and I took the boys to the park,

and to play tennis. Grams stayed home with Connor while he napped.

 

We spent the afternoon at the condo. Mom, Leslie, and the boys played outside in the

trees behind the condo.

Connor joined them after I got super sick. Then, after a little while I was feeling better and joined them too. They had a big blanket set up and it was so nice to enjoy the outdoors.

 

After a nice dinner at the country club, we tried to beat daylight and headed

back to the park to play again. This time, Connor was able to play too.

The boys played for about an hour. They started with Cecil pushing

them on the merry-go-round. Connor loved the slides.

 

All the adults left except Cecil and I because it was so cold.

I really wish we could have brought the weather back home with us!!

 

Tuesday morning, we got up bright and early and headed home.

Connor rocked himself on the footrest a few times while we were there and he was especially sleepy Tuesday morning. Noah covered him with his blanket - so sweet.

 

And with that - AF Summer 2016 was a wrap!

Being sick just makes everything harder, but I'm glad we got some

nice quality family time in cooler weather.

 

 

 

 

 



Ina Pearl - Two

I started posting pictures of Nana's life and wanted to continue on with the 80s and 90s.

I can only imagine these years of becoming a Nana to five grand-children were some of her favorites.

 

Here Nana is with her first grandchild - Jennifer Lyn Florimonte.

She was born on February 14, 1981.

 

My Uncle Tom is Italian and Nonna is grandmother in Italian.

I'm not sure why they spelled it Nana, but we pronounce it Nonna.

 

 Their close friends hosted a 40th wedding anniversary party for them in 1981.

Here they are at home before leaving for the party.

 

Look at the happy couple - and the big fancy anniversary cake. :)

 

Nana and Ampa adored each other and he called her 'Pearl'

She was very attentive to him, I'm sure the ideal wife.

She was a real homemaker - cooked, cleaned and cared for everyone in her house.

She put in and took out the one contact he wore every morning and night.

 

I think this picture is from 1980 and my mom must have taken it.

I imagine it is one of their first holidays as grandparents.

I just love how Ampa is staring at Jenny.

 

 Their first grandson - Russell Boyd Luttrell was born on November 12, 1982.

 

I came next - Kelli Lyn Luttrell born on April 25, 1984

Then James Michael Florimonte was born on March 13, 1985.

 

These are the first 'front porch pictures' that I found.

We spent a lot of Easter's at their home and would dress in our best,

go to church, eat and then hunt for eggs.  

 

Easter 1986

 

My mom must have been pregnant here. So classy. :)

 

Their final grandchild, Leslie Elaine Luttrell was born on December 12, 1986. 

 

Easter 1987. 

This is one of my favorite pictures of all time.

 

This is one of the classic pictures of our childhood. We recreated it in 2002.

 

I still remember getting all dressed up and going to take these family pictures.

I think this is a beautiful picture.

Mom made our matching dresses and Noah now wears Russell's plaid shirt.

 

Okay - I'm going to issue a warning here.

As we enter the 1990s the pictures are not all as cute as above.

Some of us grandkids had some rough, awkward years.

 

 Nana was very talented at sewing and one Christmas she made all of us ladies matching vests.

They were very on trend for the time and I LOVED mine.

She also made each of her grandchildren quilts.

  

I'm not sure what event this is, but the white dress Leslie is wearing was made by my Mom and I'm really crossing my fingers that she still has it for our baby girl.

 

 Easter 1992 (I think)

I mean - my dress is something special. And the gloves. I am jealous of myself!

 

Nana and Ampa - the ring on her right hand includes a her mother's diamond and Ampa's mother's diamond. They put them together in a ring and she always wore it.

 

Another good ole front porch picture.

I had adopted the black bangs from Nana's childhood apparently.

 

 

Nana always set at this end of the table (close to the kitchen) and Ampa sat at the opposite end.

It seemed Jenny and Russell always got to sit with the grown ups and Leslie, James and I were given a kid table. Its OK, I think our table was more fun.

 

I can remember many times, in that seat, Nana crying during the blessing over the food, or when someone gave her a card or gift.

 

My parents purchased some property at The Cliffs on Possum Kingdom Lake and I'm sure Dad was ecstatic to bring Nana and Ampa to see it.

 

They loved to travel and were always up for an adventure.

 

In November 1995, we were at The Cliffs (just my immediate family) celebrating Russell's 13th birthday. This was before cell phones and I remember pulling into the entrance and the man at the gate saying they had been looking for us and that Dad needed to call about his Father.

Ampa had had a stroke and it was the first time I ever saw my Dad cry.

  

Easter 1996 (I think)

 

 

Nana & Ampa always stayed close with her brother and sister in law - William and Pauline.

 

Here are our families together.

 

I remember when Aunt Jackie took Jenny and Nana to get Glamour Shots and I was jealous!

 

 

I think this is from a family reunion in Sherman.

I'm not sure where I am. :)

Nana and her cousins and their families would meet for a Rogers family reunion every summer.

 

Lovebirds.

 

 This is a three generation picture of Nana, her daughter, and granddaughter.

I think the three of them do look a LOT alike.  

 

Easter 1997 (I think)

Yes, I'm wearing a skort.

 

Nana and her five grandkids at our house in Howe.  

  

 Easter 1999 (I think)

 

Nana and Ampa in their home in Honey Grove.

She loved having people over and was a great cook.

 

We took more family pictures in their home.
Please note the ferns on the sides. :)

 

Just look at these love birds. :)

 

 Nana and Ampa were always there for us. I remember being so proud that they came to grandparents day in first grade.

They always showed up for lots of games and events.

This picture was from an award ceremony in Howe. 

 

We took our final family pictures together in 2000 (I think).

You can tell Ampa's health had declined and he was losing weight.

He struggled with Alzheimer's and Nana was an amazing caregiver to him.

 

On a side note - can you tell Dr Martens were popular.

I just wish I could see if Russell had them on too. :)

Also, please note the ferns in the picture. :)

And the sweethearts

 

I love this picture of Russell with Nana and Ampa.

You can tell they love him and are so proud of him.

 

I love this sweet picture of Nana and Ampa on their porch in Honey Grove.

They took a lot of pride in their house and how it looked.

Nana loved her ferns and had lots of them hanging around the porch.

 

 Easter 2001 (I think)

This might be our last front porch picture with Ampa.

 

In 2001, Nana and Ampa hosted a class reunion.

I love that all these people were truly their lifelong friends.

 

In October 2001, a big group traveled out to Lubbock for the Kansas State/Texas Tech game.

I stayed home because it was my senior year and I'm sure I had a volleyball game.

Jenny and Russell were both at Texas Tech then and I just know Nana and Ampa were proud and thrilled to get to visit them and attend the game.

 

In 2002, Ampa's heath declined and his Alzheimer's made living at home very difficult.

They made the tough decision to place him in a nursing home in Honey Grove.

It was about a mile from their house and Nana would take him meals and visit him everyday.

 

I think in the very end he only knew Nana and he still knew that he loved her fiercely.

 I specifically remember visiting and him wheeling as fast as he could to her for a kiss.

I won't ever forget their love.

 

 

I went to A&M for my freshmen year in 2002 and I know that I missed some of the struggles my family was facing with Ampa's care.

 

This picture was from either Thanksgiving or Christmas 2002.

We attempted to recreate the picture from the 1987 that is below.

Russell and Jenny were out of order and Nana couldn't hold Leslie anymore ;)

 

 Ampa passed away on January 12, 2003.

We were all heartbroken.

 

At 82, Nana was still very healthy and continued on living a full life.

She was able to meet multiple great-grandbabies, travel and share her love with us awhile longer.