Easter in Delaware

Some moments captured from the Belardo/Burton Easter at Phyllis' this year.

Puzzles!

And our baby cousin, Thomas, super tired from his first year of college!

Ty-ty Thomas!

Cuddling with a moose. Aw!

A Forever Friend

Visited Delaware Nature Society This Evening
Reunited With This Old Friend!
#SecretSpot #GhostTree

Belardo - Burton Christmas

A Huge Thank You to Marc for taking holiday photos of the family.

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! Happy Holidays from my family to yours!

Love,

TheChristyBel

2016 Belardo-Burton Holiday

The Family

Oh, Brother!

My Number One Man!

Phyllis and the Fabulous Five Grand Babies!

Thanksgiving 2016

Thanksgiving 2016, I went home down to Delaware to celebrate the holidays. Since Marc and I have been a duo, it has usually been celebrating with his family on Thanksgiving and with mine in December. But with losing my grandfather earlier this spring, I felt the need to be home in Delaware. This will mark the first huge family holiday where Ray will not be with us. I have been all sorts of emotions and anxiety lately and even this whole holiday weekend. I really hope my grandmother is okay with the holidays coming through and him not being with her (and us). But being back in the 302 was all good sorts of feels. I was able to see the Foxfire family (loads of laughs and drinking), Ted got to come down (which was a rollercoaster of a ride for both of us), and then being with the Burton juniors (I have not been with them on a big holiday since Thanksgiving 2014. Wah. So it was good being home to see loads of family and a few friends along the way. I am super thankful for this never ending feeling of love and 'home' when I return back to the DE roots. There has been a lot of change happening recently and this year; this 'home' helps anchor some of that chaos spiraling around you. I hope everyone else feels that too and feels thankful for it.

Happy Turkey Day Everyone!

TheChristyBel

Foxfire Family Reunion - Thanksgiving Eve

Shenanigans

Tedders, Drugged Up and Headed Down to Delaware

Bonding with the Brother

I think they like each other

Feels Good to Be Home With Family

We Are Spartan

Went down to Delaware/Pennsylvania to celebrate my 29th with some familiar faces, Lana and Heather. Decided to try out a Spartan Race at the CitiBank Stadium in Philly. We had a load of fun this past weekend: drinks, movies, Spartan Racing, and more wine! Yes...I do remember the entire weekend, thank you! I am clearly NOT 21 anymore. Womp womp.

Cheers to 29 and all that...WE ARE SPARTAN.

TheChristyBel

Driving to Citi Bank

Citi Bank Stadium

We're Ready to do This!

Carrying Heavy Sand Bags

Climbing Over Tall Walls

Finishing!

Getting Medals! Yay!

Celebrating

Celebrating

Being Silly

Very Silly

Very, Very Silly

And Doing Yoga to Stretch Us Out!

Home

When you've been feeling lost and alone, go HOME.
#secretspot

Raymond L. Burton, Sr.

Yesterday evening was an exceptionally hard day as we celebrated the life of someone who I have known my entire life. Ray worked with my father at the Delaware refinery. When my parents were in need of finding a babysitter, nanny, or daycare, Ray had 'volun-told' his wife she would take care of me while my parents returned to work. 
Since my biological grandparents lived overseas or had passed before I was born, Ray has been the closest figure to a grandfather for my brother and I our whole lives.

Since I was a few weeks old, my family and his family have become merged together. Despite no blood relation, Ray, his wife, their biological children and grandchildren have become an extension of my family as we celebrate every Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, graduation, birthday, and in between life milestone together. There is not a chapter of my life that does not include Ray in it with me. Even though future holidays, life events, and family functions will not have my 'grandfather' sharing these moments with us in person, he will be sharing these moments forever in our hearts.

To an amazing grandfather!

Ray, we will miss you!

With love, always, theChristyBel

Phyllis's 75th Birthday

Came Home to Delaware to Celebrate my Grandmother's 75th Birthday on Easter!
Also, it was a great visit to see my Grandfather who has been going through a lot with in an out of the hospital.
Such a blessing to see both of them and be with the family! We're only missing Brother Sean!

Delaware for Christmas

For the wintery holidays, Marc and I spent a few days down in Delaware. It was super nice to spend time back at home, relax, and not worry or think about work! We spent the week touring around Delaware (we saw a Longwood Gardens Christmas, Baldwin's Book Barn, HomeGrown, Ashland Nature Center, Newark's Main Street, and old friends), working on homemade gifts, and watching the Star Wars films (yes, that is right, watching all 6 films and the new one)! It was a long, lovely week of being home. Here are some highlights of the Christmas holiday!

Happy Christmas, Everyone! I hope you all have a safe and wonderful holiday!

TheChristyBel

Merry Christmas from Marc the Christmas Jew!

Marc and I at Longwood Gardens

Beautiful Decorations at Longwood

A Succulent Christmas Tree
I want this for next year!

The Foxfire Crew - Christmas 2015
From Left to Right: Zach F., Sean B (Brother), Marc, theChristyBel, Michael, Megan, Shawn, and Zach

Before Heading Back to New Paltz, We Stopped in AP!
My Asbury Park Ladies
From Left to Right: Krista, theChristyBel, and Kelsey

Harvest Moon Festival

Getting her face painted!

Amy and Mark's Wedding happened at the most perfect time, I was able to stop at the Delaware Nature Society's Harvest Moon Festival. I did not really get to take many photos since I was catching up with most of my former co-workers. But we did get our faces painted with some snapshots!

Really missed this event! So glad I was able to catch up with everyone and have some time with Lana.

theChristyBel

So Pretty!

Mr. & Mrs. Osman

Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Mark Osman! I am so happy I was able to watch a friend since middle-school get married to the love of her life! I wish you both the utmost happiest of best wishes on your wedding and future lives together!

Xoxo,

TheChristyBel

Walking in as Mr. & Mrs. Mark Osman

First Dance - Daughter and Father

Of course, there is a Disney Cake!

Souvenir from the Wedding!

Brought a Date - Lana!!!

Amy & I - She Looks Beautiful!

Visit Down to Delaware

Had to Buy Some Waders for Pond Keepers

This weekend, I drove Marc and I down to Delaware to visit with my family and to catch up with some friends to celebrate my birthday (a little early). While back in the First State, I showed Marc around DE, introduced him to my brother and friends, took him to Longwood Gardens, and of course...went to Home Grown!!!!! It was a nice weekend back in Delaware. I also said goodbye to brother before he moved to San Francisco to work for a drone company called Airware! Super proud of him! Here are some highlights from the Delaware Trip!

TheChristyBel

A Home Grown Grilled Cheese!

Marc Nerding Out at Longwood Gardens!

The Longwood Ponds - Beautiful!

I've Missed the Longwood Bonsai Trees!