Day Three evening and Day Four Morning Walk

I took this picture of last night's sunset through the screen on the lanai.  It was breathtaking and I'd have gone out to take the shot but I already had my jammies on. 

This morning I set out to walk about 7:30ish and make it about a block further than a day or two ago.  Put in an hour plus but walked back on the street as it sure looked like it was going to pour.  I've already lost one phone to inclement weather and didn't want to lose a second one.  Walking back on the street at least gave me some buildings to dodge under.  I did manage to make it back "home" before the rain started.

 The morning sky was pretty dramatic too. 

 Because of the storms, we've had unusually high waves and surf which has made for some great swimming by the visitors.  

 I had company on my walk!

 The frangipang is in full bloom.  We had a beautiful one when we lived here in Ft. Myers but have not been able to grow one in Tarpon Springs despite a few attempts.

 We read for a bit this morning, picked up the condo a bit since we are having my sister, Janet and her boyfriend, Dennis, over for dinner.  Then we headed out to the little out let mall to play shop til we drop.

We found a darling sundress for Leighton, plaid shorts and two tops each for the little guys, underwear and socks for E and for me...well, I hit pay dirt:  socks (I've been walking through mine), a pair of ankle length jeans, two tops, a pair of cute shorts, a pair of capris and a hat!

We stopped at one of our favorite haunts on the way home for lunch ...the menu is for you Pam Bennett.  You can tell me in the morning what you would have had.  Toasted to all the TIKI HUT gals and many others! 

Hope everyone is having an amazing day

Vacation in Paradise South Day One

 Coming over the bridge from Ft. Myers to the beach is always such a delight.  The Back Bay teems with boats and birds and parasails.  Off to the right was this so very cute floating Tiki Bar.  There was a phone number to call but I missed it yesterday.  I am assuming you can rent this for private parties.  I can sure picture several of my pals and I enjoying an afternoon on this!

 We got checked into our time share, unpacked just before the afternoon showers hit and then, after a short visit from my sister and her boyfriend, E and I headed down the beach for the 17th. or perhaps 18th year in a row.  We always go to The Cottage on Estero Island for bacon wrapped shrimp dipped in honey and beach bread.  This year we added some lightly fried fish bits to tide us over.  This was a very early dinner for us.

 We spent the rest of the late afternoon/early evening sitting out on the patio on the beach.  We read, worked crosswords and renewed acquaintances with other owners whom we see year after year.  A couple of glasses of wine and a lovely sunset made this day complete.

Thursday with the Grands aka Wading in the Water!

 On Thursdays, Kristen and I take the Grands to sign class at the Safety Harbor Library and then we take the kids out to lunch some place that is kid friendly (ie no table cloths or carpeting, and friendly understanding staff with healthy kid meals).  Today's choice was the Safety Harbor Bar and Grill.  Very kid friendly!  We ate on the veranda...good fans and lots of things for the kids to look at plus fast service. 

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 Not so sure Leighton enjoyed her food as much as the boys did theirs but then hers was 'imported' from home.  It won't be long Miss L before you can order off the menu too.  After all, you have one tooth now!

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 Now the biggest plus at this restaurant, as far as the little boys were concerned, was a pair of fountains out in front.  So, after we ate, I held Leighton and Kristen took the boys to each of them to just let the water trickle over their hands.  Or, at least that is what poor Mama thought.  The boys had other ideas and, since they had ditched their shoes in the car, what great wading pools these turned into.  So funny.  One would climb in while she was pulling the other out!  And bad Nana just took picture after picture!

I am sure going to miss these Grands but know it won't be long before they join us to play on the beach!

Catch Up Sunday

 Kristen brought over her camera yesterday when she brought the Grands for Nana/Papa day and let me select some of her photos of the kids for my blog and to scrap.  She took some really good ones and these are just a few. 

ABOVE: Colvin and the cat, Mr Stevie.

BELOW:  Two for the Road (and have I ever got the perfect paper for this one.

 Filling DaDa's shoes?

 Look Ma! One tooth!

 And, yesterday, while playing with Picasa during the Intro to Scrap booking Class III, I altered this picture of Chris and Kristen and like it so much, I'll keep it this way to scrap.  I want to put a copy of this in each of the kids scrapbooks.

Busy week coming up getting us ready for our two weeks at the beach and getting our house sitter all moved in.  Tues I have my WW check in.  It should go well; I've been maintaining a consistent weight for the past three weeks thanks to our new eating habits.  Wed. is cropping with the gals at Posh.  We've decided to call ourselves "Ladies Who Do Lunch" ...lol.  Thurs is sign class with the Grands at Safety Harbor Library and Friday is last minute errands and chores.  Hope you week is a delight!

We were our own 4th. of July parade last night

 We all piled in the kids' van and headed to Safety Harbor for an evening of fun.  We did have to park about a mile and a half away from the location where the fireworks display was held but we put the boys in the red wagon E and I got them and Chris had Leighton in her carrier.  He led the way with Leighton (the parade beauty queen) and the back pack of supplies, followed by the float (the boys in the wagon pulled by Little Mama with the vets (Nana and Papa) bringing up the rear with more kid stuff and the big blanket.

Chris and Kristen had picked up glow sticks for the boys in lieu of sparklers.  These were so cute with little rockets on the end and the boys entertained themselves and people sitting around us until the fireworks began.

 And here is our beauty queen, Little Miss Firecracker in yet another stunning outfit (thinking I may have gotten this for her...lol) with her Daddy!  She was absolutely mesmerized by the fireworks and the loud booms did not seem to bother her at all.  Until the display started, she entertained herself by 'borrowing' one of the boys' water bottles and helping herself to the ice water.

  Another nana sitting next to us gave each of the boys a glow stick bracelet which they kept insisting I wear as earrings. 

 The little guys (while the attention lasted) applauded the fireworks, yelled YEA! and tried to take off their backpacks with the harnesses...um, nope! no way jose!

I hope you had a lovely 4th. of July.

The calm before the storm (figuratively speaking)

 It has been a crazy couple of weeks what with Tropical Storm Debby, my Intro to Scrapbooking classes and a couple of make up classes at Posh Scraps and trying to keep up with the Grands.

 After my second of three Intro classes last Sat., the kids came over to swim and play and have dinner at Nana and Papa's.  I didn't get a lot of pics mainly because the little boys have become whirling dervishes and are not so accommodating for Nana's camera.  Leighton is still a little ham and gets the funniest expressions on her face!  She and boys are all 3 so animated.

Chris came over when he got off work and we had supper getting the Grands home just in time for nighty night.

Sunday, E and I headed down to Clearwater Beach to have lunch with my son, Rob, and for me to get some lessons on my new 4G Android phone.  We had two out of three wonderful drivers on the Jolly Trolley...they were fun and up beat and you could tell they loved what they did.  The first one, not so much.  But 2 out 3 is not a bad thing.  The other two made up for it in their flair for their job!

We're in the last stages of prepping for our two weeks at the beach. 

House sitter in place   check
Clothes ironed and put where I won't wear them    check
Long talks with the cats about how we will be back....on going
Pool filters cleaned          check
Lawn man pre paid          check

and I am not taking anything with me to scrap.  I have a huge all day class coming up Aug 4 after we get back and I am prepping for this, taking a breather between and recharging my batteries.   A couple of surprises in the works but more on all this on my altered blog in the days to come.

Hope you have a lovely and safe Fourth of July for all of us in the U.S.  and happy belated Canada Day to my Canadian friends.