Crazy Summer

Hope everyone is enjoying their summer, what's left of it anyway. I know we certainly did and were very busy too. We started off in June with a trip to South Dakota for Dave's cousin Mandy's wedding and then to the Black Hills for the Berkland family vacation. If you've never been to the Black Hills I highly recommend it on your list of places to go. It's absolutely beautiful and if you like the outdoors you'll love it there. You can go hiking and biking on the scenic trails, go into town and visit the local winery and shops, visit Mount Rushmore or just relax on the front porch of your cabin and listen to the creek running by. After that fun filled week in the Black Hills we spent a couple days in Sioux Falls before heading home. We stayed at Casa Del Comet and Naomi. I believe it's the only 5 star hotel in Sioux Falls...LOL! On a serious note their home is beautiful, right on a golf course. It was so green, which is a far cry from what we see in Vegas. Their hospitality was exceptional and we wished we could have stayed longer.

Our next adventure after South Dakota (only a week later) was a trip back home to Pennsylvania. Actually, Mia and I made the trip by ourselves, Dave had a work trip to Austria (yeah right) with my Uncle Bill and would meet us for a long weekend once he got back. The trip back home was to be with my Mom while she had surgery and to help her with her recovery. Mom did very well and is back to her good old self. While back east Mia celebrated her first birthday (June 25th). Boy, did she have fun. I was able to spend time with my parents, my brothers Chris and Michael and my sisters-in-law Erica and Gina. As most of you know when you live away from family it's hard to squeeze in everything and everyone you want to see while you are visiting. I always try my best to fit it all in but the time just seems to slip away from me and before I know it, it's time to go home.

However, I think the most fun for Mia was playing with her cousins Alexa and Christopher everyday. She doesn't get to see them very much, so the three weeks we spent with them was a real treat for her. Christopher and she were partners in crime, whereever he went she went and vice versa. It was too cute.

Our trip to PA came to an end and it was time to head back to Las Vegas, but only be for a couple of weeks. At the beginning of August we all headed to Myrtle Beach, SC for the Capozzoli/Sharp/Ercoline family reunion. My family's been vacationing there for over 20 years and we always have a great time. Dave and I were looking forward to seeing Mia play in the ocean and the sand. She did not disappoint us either. She had a blast running up to the water's edge, then running away when the waves rolled towards her and then building her version of a sand castle. I actually think that she had more fun knocking others down then building them. Needless to say all of us had a great time and are looking forward to the next family vacation.

We're back home in Las Vegas now and staying put for a while. It's nice to be home and we will be enjoying the remaining warm days of the year in our pool. Mia loves the pool and so do we. It really helps with the extreme heat we get here. Sometimes I wonder if our house is actually sitting on the sun's surface. Well, that's it for now but if any of you are wanting to visit Vegas we have plenty of room and would love the company. We love and miss you all. Here's a few extra pictures of Mia.