How we spent our Thanksgiving!

Dear Family,
I thought I would write a small note to give you an update on how Byron's and mine Thanksgiving went. Our trip to Italy was fabulous. Of course, I am only speaking for me and Byron (you will have to ask Austin and Kristi what they thought when we aren't around.) We went to Venice first where there were gondola rides, walking through the quite streets at night, tours of palaces, beautiful cathedrals, and amazing art galleries. And us discovering Austin has a pure hatred for pigeons. We partook of gelato on a daily basis by decree of Byron, and learned that water comes at a price and ice is unheard of. Byron and I discovered that we like the artists Titian and Tinteretto (Or as Byron and Austin termed him "Titian the Venitican", or as I liked to call T' N' T are Dynomite!) Just when we thought we couldn't walk anymore, we boarded a train and went to Florence. We once again entered the world of automobiles and noise. We spent our first day there in rain, but were able to find a great restaurant, and spent the night in the Duomo Museum looking at works by Donatello and Michealanglo, which were absolutely amazing and worth the price of admission. We also discovered Byron to be the biblical scholar of the trip when he correctly guessed all of the biblical scenes depicted on brass panels from the baptistry doors. We also saw Michaelanglo's "David" and several others of his works. We saw other Donatello's, Boticelli, Da Vinci, and Rapheal. We saw more "Mother and Child", "Mary's Annunciation", and "Mary's Assumption" than we probably needed to see. And for those of you who have seen Talledega Nights, "Baby Jesus in your pink pajamas, 8 pounds 6 ounces" was quoted by Byron at the most inappropiate time to which I had to move on to the next room to try to stop laughing. But in the end we had alot of fun and alot of laughs and great company. Byron and Austin got into the spirit of the Renissance and posed for the camera. And I had to refrain from getting Byron a "David" apron (which were in abundance on the streets of Florence.) We hope everyone else enjoyed there Thanksgiving festivites. Can't wait to see you all for Christmas.

Heather