My Dad told me when he came to America 40 years ago, northern America in particular, had many many of these large woodpeckers. Then as the years went by he couldn't find them anywhere and thought that they had simply gone extinct. So I was pretty surprised when I looked out the living room window and saw this one feeding at our tree. Very large bird I think this one was over a foot long. There you go Papi!

What A sky, this one captured at the lake in back of thier house in Fl. by either my mom or my dad, they both told me that they did it, so I can't be to sure whom to give the credit!
Amazing colors!
My Mami chilling out at the beach.

By Dad found this little guy by the lake.

Everything is okay after a good cry and a good hug, same goes for adults!

Well Happy New Year Everyone! The month of December seems to have flashed by in the blink of an eye. We got back on Monday from another wonderful trip to see Omi and Opi in Florida, and spend another silly Christmas with them. Steph and the girls also had a awesome visit with Grandma and Grandpa, even going so far as to wrestle Crocs!! The girls had a blast and were almost left there, but the grandparents weren't having it. I even got to go on a 2 day kayaking trip through the Everglades with my Dad and sleep out under the stars and get a sweet astronomy lesson (star map and all, thanks dad ) So anyway we're back in the NY after a longa-- drive and already a week has slipped by! I'll edit and post picture from December and our trip this weekend and do a nice visual update. Until then I just wanted to wish a happy healthy and safe New Year to one and all!

This Amarillis has already lost these beautiful blooms and decided to grace us with a second set of it's massive flowers. Sometimes one just has to feel lucky to get some of natures "extra" treats
What a flower!!

I planted these guys outside all over the property, they are called Narcissus lilies. They are spring bulbs that come up in clusters from one bulb. They are very fragrant and people grow them inside as well. I put these in the dirt about a month and a half ago and because of the unseasonably warm weather almost all of the broke the surface and began to bloom. The sad part is that about two days after the blooming began we got back our winter weather. Now I have all these clusters of white flowers, bent over frozen solid. It's a cruel world!
We made a day trip to the upper Hudson Valley area. This is Bannerman Castle , located on a small island right below Poughkeepsie NY. It is an actually an abandond amunitions facility. we plan on returning in the spring for a day trip there.
There is actually a small train station there, and when I say small, well you literally have to take a dirt path to get to it. Yup, that's small!

So last weekend we decided to bring the kids down to Manhattan to see the Tree @ Rockafeeler Center and all the decorations on 5th ave. We were also treated to this great little light show in Grand Central Station. We'll little in New York terms, guess I'm a little jaded. But it was cool, the MTA took railroad and New York themes (i.e. railroad tracks, taxis, Chrysler building, etc..), made them into colidescope collages and shone them on the wall of the great room. Set to Xmas music it was very well done. The city as always this time of year was a mad house with many people conjesting the areas around all the attractions. but throughout it all the kids just had that look of wonder on thier faces that made it all worth it. Rosie chillin on the train on the comute in.

Ella jean proudly displaying her train ticket!