St. Augustine, Florida

Arms full and cups overflowing!

We decided to try someplace new for our beach holiday this year.  For years we have gone to the panhandle of Florida.  St. Augustine looked intriguing so we tried it out.  Fabulous!  House on the beach, bay fishing, our own personal pool, shells to seek, a sting ray caught, an old Spanish fort explored, shops browsed, cool restaurants for date nights, Lam and Dendy loved on, bodies buried (did I just say that?) and sun and cousins throughly soaked in........

Parting Atlanta pool party!

He did it!  Nykolas completed 5 weeks of intensive reading classes.  It was painful....especially as we would get up at 6:30am every morning while the rest of the clan slept but he was a trooper and it was worth the struggle.  We are so proud!

Daisies picked in the mountains and with a little help from her cousin a special daisy crown for her Grandan's birthday party.....such a winsome one this....

puppy love

The cat let them pet her!!!  Big deal around here where the cat stays far far away from little people.

Cousin Wanda's Place in the mountains

pet tree frog

My mom and Wanda grew up like sisters both only children with gallons and gallons of cousins nearby.  I always loved hearing the stories of the 'old' days of  memories of her and Wanda that gave me insight into my mom.  My kids still love these stories.....especially the story of one Christmas Eve......

My mom and Wanda were WAY too excited about the morning that was drawing close.  Their parents could not get them to settle down and go to sleep.  So my grandad and great uncle decided to take control.  One dressed in his Santa suit and as the girls were jumping on the beds popped his head in the window and said 'Girls settle down or I won't be able to bring your presents'.  Clever male idea that totally backfired.  My mom, who was a deep believer in the red suited man, cried the rest of the night.  So much for a nice evening for the adults. 

She and her husband, Fritz live on property nestled deep in the Blue Ridge mountains.  Mountain laurel, ponds stocked with well fed fish, a small dock in the largest pond that detaches and putters around the pond so you can feed the fish, a swimming pool, green growing garden, wee black dog who loves the cuddles of overloving little girls, a golf cart to cruise the grounds....a kids dream really.

She made the teacake cookies that her granny used to make for them as children....and told the story of how Granny (the kids great great grandmother) used to keep them in a flour sack, and how she and mom used to take them thinking Granny didn't know but as they grew discovering that they were placed there especially for little hands to discover.....

All in all a fabulous day!