The Snyder Family Christmas Letter 2023

 It’s November 26^th as I write this letter and I am currently recovering from surgery.  Last year, Anthony had surgery in December and now this year, I am the one having surgery.  I hope this isn’t how we end up spending the holidays in the years to come.   I reviewed my planners to prepare for this letter and if I had to sum up the year in one word it would be travel.  We did a lot of traveling this year and we had several guests visit us. 

 

Airboat Ride

February 14^th marked our 2^nd Floridaversary.    Anthony was cleared from his back surgery in March and we made up for lost time.  We did several bike rides and added 2 new trails to our list, we went to the beach a record 6 times, we visited Sunken Gardens in St. Pete,  and did an airboat ride in Homassas, FL.  We ventured over to the east coast to visit friends who were visiting Disney.  We saw Styx in concert and saw Gutfeld in Clearwater.    We revisited the Mermaid Show at Weeki Wachi and Sunken Gardens with Rachel.  We didn’t visit our community pool very much this year because we spent many evenings sitting in the hot tub.  

Beach Time!

We continued to invest more in our new church home.  We attended weekly community group gatherings, attended the annual Winter Formal and participated in Trunk or Treat.  I even stepped out of my box and did an ax throwing event

 with the women’s group.  We enjoy our community group family, and I am enjoying making friends.

In March we went to Texas for a week.  I worked half days and spent the remaining time visiting friends and family.   Being there for a week allowed me to visit so many people and to visit Jessica several times.

In April we traveled to New York for Leighton and Kavya’s wedding.  This was the highlight of the entire year. Everything about the event was perfect. 

Signing the marriage license

Helping out the groom

Rachel-just beautiful

Dylan-so handsome

In May we went to Tennessee for a week.  Since we drove, we took the dogs with us.  Just like Texas, I worked half days and spent the remaining time visiting friends and family. 

July was a big travel month.  I made a quick trip to Virginia to say farewell to a co-worker who was retiring.  I returned home and the following weekend, we drove to Tennessee to visit my Uncle who was in the hospital.  We returned home and my friend KC, her husband Roger and son Dalton stopped for an overnight visit.   What’s great about visiting with KC is that no matter how much time has passed since we have seen or talked to each other, we just pick up like no time at all has passed.

In August, Dylan turned 31 and wanted to spend his birthday here.  Rachel also visited us in August.  We kept Rachel’s visit a secret and surprised Dylan at the airport.   We enjoyed having both Rachel and Dylan visit.  We got to spend time with each of them individually and did things together as a group.

 

                        

Happy Birthday Dylan!

                       

 

Surprise!  It was hard keeping this a secret

Weeki Wachi & Mermaids

In September, we did our Mediterranean cruise.  We flew to Athens to board the ship.  From there we went to Santorini, Kotor, Sicily, Naples and Barcelona.  It was our first ever Princess cruise, but probably won’t be our last. 

The donkey trail in Santorini

  

Cheesecake-Jessica's favorite dessert

In October, I went back to Texas.  This is the first time I’ve been in Texas on Jessica’s birthday since she died.  October 20^th she would have been 37.   I was only in Texas for a few days and my primary purposes were to visit Jessica, spend time with Dylan and spend time with my good friend Barbara Maxwell.  I was there to provide support and for healing, but there was some fun and laughter too.  On Jessica’s birthday, we visited the cemetery, had tacos and cheesecake for dinner.  It seems like every year there is a cheesecake story and this year was no exception.  Long story short, Dylan and I ate Walmart cheesecake in the parking lot.

 

I had surgery the day before Thanksgiving and have a 6-week lifting restriction so, like last year, the holidays this year will be very, very low key.  I don’t know what 2024 has in store for us; I’m hopeful for more opportunities to travel (both in and outside Florida), to spend time with family & friends and continue to make friends in my new home state.

Merry Christmas!

 Anthony, Cindy, Snickers & Skittles

Kotor, Montenegro