Flashback - 2004 Christmas in NY and Ohio

The year was 2004. The holiday was Christmas and the focal point was Grayson. The Chatt family visited Ohio family and NY family and am sure it resulted in someone becoming very ill. It could very well be the year I went to the Rochester, NY emergency room at Strong Memorial for Bronchitis but I think that was 2005. Anyways, see photos below for some flashback pictures of how small Grayson was. At the time we lived in Bristol, RI so the sled did come in handy. We did get to try it out on our hill in Bristol.

Scary but the radio flyer from John and Laura has made it through three moves. We still have it and Grayson just wheeled around on it last night! DEC 27th, 2008!

Grayson's sled that we got to try out in Rhode Island. No more sledding on snow on Anna Maria Island, Florida. Maybe if we kept it we could have used it on sand!

Christmas at the Bryant's. Plenty of presents for all. Laura, Logan, and Davis in the picture.

Jennifer playing with Grayson with Santa walk-e-talkie

Here is the front of our home in Bristol, RI. It sat up on a hill and had fabulous water views. The hill also made for a great sledding hill and also made a few winter treks up the driveway interesting!

May be difficult to see with the lighting but great water views. Winter...Brrrrr.

Chatt Christmas 2008

Please see the video below for an update on the Chatt 2008 Christmas. A quick recap - Grayson singing at Roser church in Anna Maria City. Christmas Eve dinner at Al's and Lynn's in Key Royale. Grayson had a blast using nut crackers all night and Larry had his first Chocolate Martini. Christmas morning it was clear Santa delivered the goods for Grayson. Christmast dinner at Jeff and Linda's. We saw the quarter behind the ear trick, sang the twelve days of Christmas, and had a fabulous dinner. After we traveled to see 350,000 Christmas lights synched up with music at a Sarasota church. The night peaked when a robotic boy came out of the Christmas drum at the church and beat with "the little drummer boy." Fantastic 2008 Christmas with lots of Anna Maria Island and Sarasota Friends!

Halloween - Grayson 2004 in Rhode Island

Time to get back to our pride and joy...Grayson. Here are some photos for Grayson for Halloween 2004. See below for a video of some of his first footsteps on Halloween. Grayson dressed up as a commando and a Lion...ROAR!!

Here is Grayson at the block Halloween parade where he got to sit in the front seat of the fire engine. He had a blast!

Hungary 2003 - Larry's Europe adventure continued

This video would get you in BIG trouble if you tried this in United States. I was in Hungary during Easter and a tradition in Hungary on Easter was for men to dump a bucket of water on women. Over the years Hungarians became more refined and now use perfume to spray on the heads of women. Fascinating stuff...This actually occurred in the manufacturing plant I was helping.

The below picture is me eating home made Hungarian sausage on bread in the Hungarian plant. It was very good.

The below series is a great story. One town over from Retsag there was a restaurant that several locals told me I must eat at. They told me the restaurant was in the middle of the square and they kept using the word special to describe the location. Well anyways one night I drove out to go to the new restaurant alone and I drove around the statue below and clearly there is not building in the middle and no restaurant. I went back the next day to the manufacturing plant and said ha ha you got me, I went on your little scavenger hunt but did not see the restaurant. Well they all clearly became very worried and made it a point to tell me to go back a second night but really look. You are in the wrong square, there is a special restaurant in the middle of the square. They were really passionate about it and I could tell they were quite concerned I did not find it. So I drove back out, I looked around for another square but the picture above was the only square. I drove around it another time and clear as day I could see grass, I could see the statue, and some bushes but there is definitely no restaurant in the middle of the square. Am I going crazy? I went back the next day and spoke with a new person that had a better grasp on English and said you are all crazy. There is NO restaurant in the middle of the square. I am not going to fall for your scavenger hunt again. The girl told me, Larry, get out of your car and walk to the center of the square. It is a special in the dirt location. Please, try it, trust me, there is a restaurant there. So for the third night in a row I drove 20 minutes, reluctantly parked and got out of my car to go look for the phantom restaurant in the dirt. Low and behold the restaurant was underground in a CAVE! It was underground and the food was fabulous! Well I made sure to go back the next day and taught all my close Hungarian friends the word "underground."

Larry spends six months in Europe

Going backwards a little in time Larry spends most of Jennifer's pregnancy with Grayson in Eastern Europe. I traveled to see alot of great places. Austria was fabulous, Prague was amazing, but the most unspoiled spot I visited was Croatia. I stayed in a little resort town called Opatija. I arrived at about 10 PM after a 5 hour drive from Hungary and stopped at a local bar in the middle of town. I asked him where is the best hotel in town? He forwarded me to a hotel where I picked up a corner room with 180 degree views of the Adriatic sea for $90 per night! See the photos below...

There is a peach building in the distance. I stayed in the corner room on the top floor. Click the picture for a larger image.

Below image was a small deli like restaurant where you could eat right on the edge of the Adriatic sea.

The below shot is the view from one of the windows. Unbelievable - see the statue way below...

Here it is up close... Still takes your breath away, gorgeous!

Visit to Paul's with plenty to celebrate - if you are happy and you know it

These videos are from a trip Larry took in the summer. They were taken at Paul's house...

If you are happy and you know it....

Memorial Celebration we dearly missed

In 2003 the Chatt's threw a fabulous Memorial day gathering and unfortunately Larry and Jennifer could not make it. In 2003 Larry was still in corporate America but now living on Anna Maria Island should provide for an easier time in making more family functions. From the pictures it appears the whole gang made it and we are very sorry we missed such a wonderful event. Enjoy the pictures below from Rochester, NY. There are some fabulous pictures of Tyler climbing trees, children playing, and the family reminiscing that I could not fit on the blog. If you ever want additional pictures from events in the blog just gimme a call or email. I hope we will make more of these family celebrations in the future. It can be difficult getting off Anna Maria Island, Florida in May and especially on a holiday week like Memorial day. We will keep trying!

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Rachel Retires 2003 - Time to Celebrate

Jennifer was still pregnant and Roy/Dad arranged a surprise retirement party for Rachel/Mom. Once again I have a shot that speaks a million words. See the first shot below which shows the moment after "surprise" as well as who received credit for arranging the party. Lots of great photo's below of all the family that participated in the grand celebration for mom's retirement. What a wonderful day and I am sure a dream finally realized. We can all dream a little...ahhhh

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Woodworking tools - you think you got tools?

If you have never had the opportunity to visit senior's workshop then you are missing a treat. For you have never seen so many planes, chisels, and woodworking tools. It is a regular who' who of woodworking shops that would make Norm Abraham blush. They say a picture is worth a thousand words so take a look at the pictures below...

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Visit to Andrew's in the Colorado Mountains

This is a bit out of order however it was a visit to Andrew and Yolanda's place in the mountains of Colorado. Jennifer was pregnant with Grayson at the time and it was early 2003. We enjoyed a fabulous hamburg and hot dog dinner with lots of fix ins. The fenced area was great with a nice campfire to keep us all warm. Later in the day Wayne arrived. Andrew and Wayne made a climb up a ladder to a makeshift tree fort Andrew made and we were told on a clear night you could see the city of Denver. Larry was not daring enough to go up and get a birds eye view.

Chatt's and extended family brought together by Grayson

A newly born child is cause for celebration to bring families together. The birth of Grayson Chatt is no exception. Great Gram and Grandad and Rachel and Roy were good enough to make the 4 hour trek to NY. It was a proud mother and dad day to show off their son. Mary still tells the story today. Grayson was born just over 4 lbs so he was hungry all the time and pretty cranky too. An automatic swing became my best friend and life ended as I knew it if batteries ran out without spares. I think that year I bought stock in Duracel or Energizer. It's called a captive audience. Anyways, Mary tells the story of two comatose parents, Larry and Jennifer walked in the door after a flight to Rochester and gladly handed Grayson to her as we both walked up to our guest bedroom for the first half way decent sleep in months. Enjoy the great family photos below and found below is Great Gram meeting Grayson for the first time. Priceless!