Having fun with Lily on Christmas Eve

We spent time at Sandy's house, we had the dogs there and Lily just loves playing with Amber. She was teaching her some tricks and was very proud of her accomplishments.

We spent time with Lily on Christmas Eve, she went shopping with us and we all went out to lunch and out to dinner the night before to our favorite restuarant, The Rustic Inn where you get to have a hammer to open up your crab legs. Then we gave her some early presents to open. She loves books and I love going to Barnes and Noble to look at all of the books there.

So, Papa sat down with her and read one of the books, I think it was the one about the pirates, it's a pop up so they had people walking the planks and all of that good stuff that pirates do. That evening we went over to Belinda and Kelly's, they were having a get together, it was very nice. The house was all lit up with lights and the Christmas tree was so pretty, decorated beautifully. All in all we had a very nice Christmas holiday. We thank all of the kids for making it so special.

Christmas Morning in Ft Lauderdale 2007

We met Mike and Amity for breakfast on the beach in Ft Lauderdale on Christmas morning. We first went to the Deck, sat down, asked for 4 Bloody Mary's, we were enjoying the view when the waiter came back and said he could not take our order at this time. He informed us that the kitchen shuts down from 11:30 to noon and no food would be served during that time frame. Well, we said ok, got up and went to the restuarant next door, it was quite fancy and thought, how much more could it be, well, let me tell you it was the most expensive breakfast we have ever had, those darn Bloody Mary's were good and all but OMG!! we each had 2 and that alone was $88. Can you believe it! Anyway, it was fine and the meal was good the view was to die for and the company was great. So, it was all good.

You've Been Blogged

A crowd of us went out to the Moose Lodge here in Okeechobee. Janet, Mike and Bill had a good time singing. Who knew???? We line-danced and had fun just doing our thing. Needless to say I could barley walk the next day but I guess that is just age catching up with me. Lots of aches and pains in the ol' hip-a-roo.

So, here we have part of the crowd, there is Zoe, Dotti, Linda, Ginny and Mike, line dancing and then there is ol' smoothy, Bill and Zoe. There really are more people there but my camera just didn't do such a good job in capturing everyone, or maybe it was the photographer. Anyway, it was a fun time.

A morning on the links.

We are getting ready to head off to the first hole. My little darling gearing up for a good morning on the green. Lily had to help Papa clean up after his bunker shot. Opps!!!


This looks like serious concentration going on here. I think Daddy and Lily have this green figured out. Yep, there she goes a perfect putt. Way to go Lily, Girls Rule!!!!!!!!!

Chef Lily Kai wearing her reindeer apron and chef's hat

Little Ms. Goofy posing with her new Christmas apron and Chef's hat. Lily loves working in the kitchen, making cookies, cakes, mixing stuff up. It looks like she is enjoying helping Amity with the Thanksgiving dinner preparations. They enjoyed the holiday on Tybee Is, Ga. We were very sad that we missed it, but I came down sick and could not make the trip. There will be others.

Lily and her daddy are at the Dolphins stadium, it looks like they are having a really good time. I wonder how they got to go down there on the field............

Golfing at the Okeechobee Country Club

It's a beautiful sunny day in South Florida. The temperature is around 82 degrees and we are all off to enjoy a day of golf with the many friends from The Big O RV Resort. It's hard to believe that it's November 27th and it's still so warm.

Our friends from left to right are: Barb, Bob, Linda, George, Carol, Jim, Zoe, Al, Dode, Mike, Gladys, Joe and Bill down in front. It's still early in the season and as the weeks go by there will be more fellow golfers joining us, we have a great time together. Such nice people. We are truly blessed.

Birthday girl

Amity and Terry are congratulating Sandy on a very fine birthday party. Cheers, Sandy, you are now able to stay as young as Jack Benny and never gain another year. :)

Daddy giving Lily a golf lesson

Lily has her own golf bag it holds a 3 wood, a 7 iron and a putter. If she stays with this sport, I think she will be really good at it. She is just so much fun. Always happy and smiling.

An evening at St Jerome's Fall Festival

Daddy and Lily are waiting in line so Lily could go on one of the rides. She has absolutely fearless, when it comes to going on any of the rides. She is such a funny bunny. She really liked this ride, it was a small roller coaster and she just laughed and thought wow, let's go a little faster.

This ride was the helicopter. Up and down she went, not only once but she wanted to have another go at it.

The Bear Affair was another fun ride for her, as you can see she had to be at least 36 inches tall, she just made it on the measuring stick. Thank goodnessCute, huh!!!!

A week-end with Sandy, Mike, Lily, Amity and Luke.

Anthony's Pizza is located in Ft Lauderdale check out their web site http://www.pizzajoints.com/United_States/FL/Fort_Lauderdale/Anthony

We all went to eat at Anthony's Pizza in Ft Lauderdale on Friday night.. Here are Amity, Sandy, (the birthday girl), Lily and Luke waiting for a table. The food was really delicious, we really enjoyed everything.

Backyard Wildlife

You have to look pretty close here, this is one of our smaller alligators, he comes up to our shoreline everyday and especially if we are cooking. Quite harmless at this size, however, I would not trust it when our dogs are out back, I watch them very closely, I always have my eye on the water if they go out back for a potty break. There is another one in the lake that is 3 times this size, not sure why they haven't pulled it out of here yet.

This is along our shoreline every day, I just love watching this bird, it's quite a fisherman. I thought I found this guy in my Sibley Guide to Birds, but then when I looked at it again, the neck was just not long enough. So, I have to keep searching and then I will upday this post.

Mike and Jim

Mike and Jim are just relaxing while we are waiting for Tonya to arrive. This restuarant was Irish themed and had so much stuff hanging from the ceiling that you couldn't take it all in. We watched many yachts go by in the river, some of them being towed and getting to their spot for the boat show that was this week-end in Ft Lauderdale. Mike had to move his boat during the week into his spot. It's a really fun and hectic week, the boat show, but once you have been there more than twice you really don't want to endure it again. There are so many people walking around, the food is expensive and the weather is really hot. So, I don't feel bad missing it this year.

Picture of us in front of the restuarant

Last Sunday and met up with Sandy and Mike. We had lunch at a really fun outside eatery along the New River on the Riverwalk. There we got to meet Luke for the first time and really enjoyed visiting with him. He is from South Africa and is a Motor Yacht Captain. He and Sandy are dating and they really do make a cute couple. Tonya, the one in blue is Luke's chief stewerdes. She and Sandy have been friends for a long time, we have not seen her in about 2 years and it was really great catching up. She just finished a race up in Pompano Beach, there, she ran, swam and rode a bike. She finished and said it was a great race.

NOT MUCH GOING ON.

There really is very little going on right now. I wish I could post some really cool things but sorry, I can't at the moment. Jim was really sick with the flu last week, thank goodness he is feeling better now. He didn't eat for 3 whole days, I can't imagine. Anyway, the bug is out of him and he is a happy camper.

We will now go and get our flu shots, something we have not done for 3 years. So, it's about time to get it done.

You can check out Belinda and Lily's blog and Karen's blog over on the right side, they always have neat things posted.

Until later.

SANDY IN SOUTH AFRICA

Sandy is in South Africa on one of her work trips. While there she got to visit a Lion park, these are some of the pictures she sent for us to enjoy. While posting this, I am watching Animal Planet on the television, it's on The Lion Park in Africa, I wonder if it's the same place. Just found out that the park is called, "Rino & Lion Nature Reserve" in Johannesburg, S Africa. Click on the site and take a look, it's really neat.

How cute is this!!!!.....I wonder how sharp those little baby teeth are.......

OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!Getting a little too friendly for my taste. No pun intended, Sandy.

CONGRATULATIONS, JT AND RACHEL

Auntie Amity and Little JT, III. Little JT, III, was born yesterday to JT, (Jeff) and Rachel Schroeder. JT, the daddy, is Amity's brother and she was so happy to be there for the birth of her first nephew. I think, if I have it right, Little JT is JT, III, because, Grandpa is JT, I, then daddy is II and now JT the third. Really cool. Congratulations, Rachel and JT, hoping to be in Tybee for Thanksgiving so we can then get a chance to do a little spoiln'.

Little JT and Daddy

OUR NEPHEW, JEFF AND SNOW WHITE

Jeff is our nephew, he is an avid marathon runner. He has been all over the world running to raise money for research and a cure for AIDS. Jeff and his sister, Julie, (see her below) participated in a half marathon held at Disneyland, in California. While there, Jeff could not resist hamming it up with Snow White. Where are those seven dwarfs?.........

PEACOCK BASS

These are pictures of a Peacock Bass that I caught in Horseshoe Lake. Our motor home is parked on this lake at the Big O RV Park. What a beautiful fish, it's fun to catch because it's such a great fighter. We practice "Catch and Release" in this lake. The more fish in the lake the better it is for man and fish.

OUR NIECE, JULIE AND HER DOG, ANNIE

This is my beautiful niece, Julie, along with her dog, Annie and Annie's mom. It looks like they are at a play day for doggies. How fun. Annie is the lighter colored dog. Julie lives in Oregon and has a BS degree in Medical Imaging from Oregon Institute of Technology in Klamath Falls, OR. She has a great job and has bought her first home. We are so proud of her. With every new house you have to have a new dog, therefore, Annie a great looking Golden Retriever.

SON REALLY LOVING THE NEW BIKE.

Mike really didn't take Lily for a ride on Jim's Yamaha V-Star Classic, they just thought they looked cool sitting on it. I haven't even been on it yet, but I am trying to get up enough nerve to do it. This bike seems much better for Jim, it's a little lighter and not so top heavy. He feels really confident on it but will remain very careful.
Mike did take Amity out for a ride but I think they just went for a ride around the park. It's fun. I will let you all know if it really is or not...............

FT. PIERCE STATE PARK BEACH

What a fun day today. I just love going to the beach and I was able to talk Jim, Mike, Amity and Lily into going. I didn't have to really talk Lily or Amity into going just the 2 guys. Grrrrr........ Oh, it's too hot, ohhh, it's too sandy, ohhhh, it's too crowded. Well, believe me they had a great time, the water at the Ft Pierce Inlet State Park, was perfect, temp at 84 degrees and it was nice and sunny and not a lot people for a holiday week-end. We were very surprised. So we put up our little umbrella, spread out the blankets, opened the cooler, ate, drank and all was merry. Jim really had a relaxing afternoon, as well as all of us. When we returned back to Okeechobee, the skies opened up and we got a healthy rainfall.
My little cutie patuttie. She is such a tadpole. She has so much fun, we played in the sand and found some really nice shells, she said she would take them home and put them in her bedroom and when we come to visit I can see the shells then. That's cool.