Checking in with the family

February seemed like a good time to make a trip back to check in with the kids.  I pretend that they can't get along without me.  John and I got to do a little kid watching, they are almost too grown up to be babysat. Spending time with my children and grandchildren makes my heart happy. 

Sam is probably a typical 2 and half year old.  He loves to play and run and laugh and eat.  When he is older we will probably tease him about the fact that in the pictures that we have of him, he was usually eating.  Which makes it even funnier that this weekend he locked the door behind himself when he sneaked into the house, with the entire family outside, to sneak some snacks.

Jack, caught eating too, is hard to catch on camera so we run with any good, happy photo we can get.

We made sugar cookies for Valentines. What a sweet, happy boy!!

Lily models for photos, loves fashion and glams it up for the camera upon request.  She is getting pretty good at coordinated outfits.

And Celia lost her first front tooth for the occasion.  Can you tell?  John calls her Toothless.

Gosh, I love these kids.  Happy Valentines Day from Papa and Nana!!!

Lifelong friendships

Keith Wang and I have been friends, at least in letters, since I was just a kid.  He was a young boy in Taiwan , wanting to learn English and I was a young girl in America that was willing to write letters.  Keith's sister and my cousin, Marilee, were college roommates and so the letters began. I have had the opportunity to get together with  Keith and his wife Julie many times over the years amidst raising children, moves, jobs and the busyness of life.  Now that life is a little slower, we are very grateful for time to connect, visit, play and reminisce.

Keith and Julie have just recently moved to Naples, Florida where we spent an afternoon at the Naples Botanical Gardens complete with a tribute to Elton John after dark.

High adventure the next day included handling and close encounters with alligators, dangerous snake sightings while riding on an air boat.   I didn't realize that this was on my bucket list.

Snake....dead or alive???

It looks like I was in the drivers seat and I was (for the picture).

That evening we got to do one of my favorite things which was go to the beach to see the sun set.

What a wonderful weekend with good friends enjoying beautiful sights, warm conversations, great food and the joy of celebrating life together.  Thanks  to you Keith and Julie!!

The dreams we dream

If you know John at all, you know that he loves cars, ice cream and me (not necessarily in that order). And I do believe that he eats, sleeps, dreams about and lives for cars. He loves to tell a story about sitting by the open window at 8 years old and listening to cars drive by the house.  He says he could tell what make of car it was by the sound of the engine.  He loves cars and he especially loves old cars.












So this week, after a lengthy search,  he bought a 1970 red convertible GTO.  I have long teased him  that the other woman was a car.  At least now I know what she looks like.

Christmas 2012

When I was a child, Christmas eve and Christmas day was all about family and  spending time together, Christmas eve service at church with those special music songs and cookies. When there are little ones in the family it is just like going back to those childhood christmases.  John and I traveled back to NC and spend time with Chip, Elissa, Celia and Lily before the holiday.  Jumping on the trampoline with the girls was hysterically funny.  And of course Elissa provided gingerbread house kits for "us" to put together. 

Are these precious sisters or what?

The Livingston family dressed for the Christmas eve service.

Then we traveled back to SC to have Christmas with Jonn, Jenna, Jack and Sam. Krista joined us Christmas day so the picture was complete.  Christmas really is all about the kids,the boys had a blast and we were so fortunate to get to be a part of their special Christmas.

And by the way, the ornament at the top is one of my favorite ornaments, painted by Krista and representative of the year that my life changed forever.  Merry Christmas to all!!!!

FLORIDA time

December in Florida is truly spectacular!! The Christmas programs for the community are so varied and there are so many, that you have to choose your favorites.  Although I did a bad job of taking pictures, we had a wonderful December.  This is a photo of the light display at the Gaylord Palms, a very exclusive hotel that we just happened to have the privilege of staying in several years ago.  We went with friends, Carol and Mike and stopped at Chick Filet for peppermint and chocolate milkshakes afterwards.

 

 We try to always attend the concert in Winter Park sponsored by the Morse Museum and we were able to make it again this year.  The Orlando Symphony plays, the Morse museum displays a collection of Tiffany glass windows.  The attendance is huge.  We went with friends Ron, Diane and Kaye and stopped for ice cream afterwards.  Do you see a theme??  We also went to hear the St Luke Episcopal Church Boys and Girls Choir.  Absolutely wonderful but no ice cream included.

And of course we had to take a dip in the hot tubs at Solivita.  Since I am the author of this blog I can include the photos of John and leave out the ones of me.  My handsome husband!!

Celia turns 7!!

Becoming a 7 year old is a big deal, especially when you are Celia Pope.  She loves her birthday!!  Her wish for her birthday dinner was a meal out at Chili's, mac n' cheese and fried apples followed by a birthday song and ice cream sundae.

Her birthday party, the next day was at her gymnastics place with all of her friends, rainbow cake made by Elissa and lots of gifts.  She is one sweet girl and I am so glad that we were able to be there with her to celebrate!!

Time with the boys

I got an invitation to help out with Halloween this year.  Jack loved his dinosaur costume but was not in the mood to have his picture taken.

Sam was loving his pizza but his costume options didn't please him so he dressed all in black.  Jack and Jenna were on the fast track Trick or Treating around the neighborhood with Jack's friend Mason, while Sam and I strolled for house to house.  He consumed treat on the spot.

In November John and I were lucky enough to keep the boys for a whole weekend while Jonn and Jenna celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville. I found a local playground and the boys had a blast.  Time in the back yard playing chase and a little sandbox time are always a part of the visit.  Are we lucky grandparents or what??

I just love these boys!!!!!!!