Birthday in the Keys

In the words of the Beach Boys and my singing all weekend, KEY LARGO montego, baby why don't we go....bodies in the sand, tropical drink melting in your hand, we'll be falling in love to the rhythm of a steel drum band...

Key Largo

I have the most wonderful husband in the world. I hinted (asked!?) all summer about going someplace warm and tropical for my bday once it rolled around in freezing January...and, he planned the whole weekend and kept it a surprise. He even secretly asked my boss to have yesterday off from work to have more time down there.

he is the best of the best. I can't believe he's all mine!

I LOVE that he loves to travel as much as I do

& that our list of where we want to go in the world constantly expands

I LOVE that we actually go

I LOVE that he's always up for weekend adventures

we stayed in the hilton and loved it. also stuffed our faces with legit mexican overlooking the ocean and relaxed in their huge jacuzzi under the stars.
do you know it's hard to see the stars in dc?

there are few things as glorious as waking up on your birthday being on the beach with your husband, having breaky in bed, and then laying out from 1030 until the sun goes down...

Psalm 105:1-4

Give praise to the Lord, proclaim His name;
make known among the nations what He has done.
Sing to Him, sing praise to Him;
tell of all His wonderful acts.
Glory in His holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord REJOICE.
Look to the Lord and His strength;
seek His face always.

How awesome to leave the normal hectic work week in DC (and 28degrees) to relax on the beach together in PERFECT weather.

Thank you so much, my love.

Note to self and to all: when coming from winter & pale skin, don't be deceived that because you grew up on the beach in cali or in the sunshine of colorado that you will tan without burning.
ohh no, no. 
wear sunscreen.

we are lobsters.

The Cabin

oh White Christmas Day

"For to us a child is born...and He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6

we spent a glorious week at the beautiful Dietmeyer cabin in Arrowhead, Colorado. snow mobiling, fellowship, and great, quality times were had. we both feel so very blessed by marrying into each others' families.

{Rich dominating}



Gary!
watch out when you play yahtzee with this man..

piper & talls gave us our very own Christmas Eve program

john & lin
please notice his mr. t hair. ha. so much to love in this pic.

Christmas day mobiling

love this little girl

merry Christmas!!!
xo

Fall in the Blue Ridge

We spent the weekend in the Blue Ridge Mountains ...

    wine tasting ...
and picked out another pumpkin

 for our annual

 pumpkin-carving war
(we're 1-1...cammys going down this year!)

Moorea III: see's chocolates, champagne, & the bible

Our evening retreats to the bottom part of our back deck to study Song of Songs together -- complete with the most gorgeous view of the sun going down over the South Pacific, champagne courtesy of the Hilton each night, & chocolate (of course).

our moorean casa!!

the best week of our entire lives.

Moorea II: Here, Sharky, Sharky

Consider swimming with sharks checked off on Cam's list of lifelong wishes. 

Next up: cage diving with great whites. 

 {soo exhilerated after that swim!}

  We got to free swim with about 25 of Jaws' cousins off Moorea and loved every second of it...so much that the last thing on our mind was getting a picture of them. You'll have to live with sting rays instead!

hugs

Cam, pre-sun poisoning 

after an incredible full day on a boat/swimming with sharks.. forgetting to drink or eat!



Siena in Tuscany

The next days were spent in Siena .... it's an incredibly romantic hilltop city. Every narrow winding road is cobblestone; the roofs are all red; the city is surrounded by rolling tuscan hills; the cuisine is phenomenal; the wine is soo good. I've missed the long days in Italy where you wake up early, stroll to the nearest bakery for fresh dolci & Italian coffee, walk, take multiple breaks in the piazzas from whatever you're doing during the day to sit and soak in everything around you with the best foods and wine, and also end your day doing the same, capped off with a late night passaggiata that brings everyone back out into the streets. Cam loved all of it. We stayed in an old Tuscan palazzo in the very heart of the old city. It was amazing! One night we took a recommendation from them and found a restaurant that overlooked the western part of Siena where Cam tried some more of my old faves - gnocchi al tartufi - which is Italian pasta truffles that literally melt in your mouth, funghi pizza, tiramasu, Chianti, tuscan bread and meats...Eeek, we ate and drank every day until we physically couldn't anymore! we obviously were not ashamed to stuff our faces like true fattys. :)

Cut it down

{eskimo & mountain man}

Merrry almost Christmas!!
xo.

A Stop in Padova

From Venice on our way to Tuscany, we made a quick stop in Padova where I lived and went to school for a year. It was awesome seeing it again!! We hit up the daily market in the adjoining piazzas in the center of the city & said hi to some Padovians that I haven't seen in years...we got the most delicious tomatoes Cam has ever had, cheese, fresh bread and cookies, meats that were cut right infront of us, vino, & chocolate for our train ride.  
Advice to anyone traveling in Europe: never get on a train without the above.

Ah, Bavaria .... and the finale of our honeymoon tales

From ze Swiss, we went through Austria and found our way to Edelweiss -- a resort exclusive to military and their families, perfectly situated at the base of the Bavarian Alps at the edge of Garmisch (GARMISCH!!!!! Sorry, inside joke). They have an outdoor jacuzzi the size of our apartment that overlooks the gorgeous mountains completely surrounding the area. The huge lodge continously plays the soundtrack to Dances with Wolves. Ha, we kid you not! We had those songs burned in our head so badly that when we came home we HAD to watch it. They had american bars throughout the lodge with some of the best beer we've ever had from Germany & Austria (coors is in a league of its own) & drank huge mugs of it in the jacuzzi aweing at the view. We went on a day trip to King Ludwig II's Neuschwanstein Castle and hiked in the Bavarian Alps ... tried German cuisine like potato pancakes & apple strudal ... and relaxed for a few days before getting on a train across Germany to the Air Base at Ramstein to come home.

We saved stories and details for when we see you in person....
It was the most amazing month traveling together as newlyweds across an expanse of absolutely incredible places and we're so thankful for it...

PostScript:
Our combined list of where we want to go next in the world is too long to put on this blog...