Another Florida Vacation

Meanwhile I left Kansas City 10 days ago headed to Florida. The kids will be joining me in another week. After my last airplane trip that caused my ears to clog up for about a month, I decided to drive to Florida. I took my time driving stopping in Tunica and Biloxi. I escaped the cold weather in Kansas City hoping for warmer climates. I was extremely disappointed when I had cold temperatures and rain in both Tunica and Biloxi. Figures. But my last day in Biloxi was nice and I was able to spend a little time poolside.

My expectations of warm sunny weather were met when I arrived in Florida. So far the days have been full of sunshine. I rented a little cottage just a block from the beach. It's very nice, more like a studio apartment. Sometimes I feel like I'm living in my bedroom. But the bathroom is very large and the kitchen is nice. I brought my electric skillet thinking I'd prepare breakfast or dinner. But there's so many fun places to go out to eat that the skillet has been left untouched. I'm off to take a walk on the beach then decide where to go for dinner.

Next Step...Drywall

Things are progressing quite nicely with Melissa and Jamie's new house.

Windows are in, garage doors have been installed. As soon as they get the inspection for electrical, plumbing, etc., the drywall is going up. Soon they'll need to start picking color schemes and fixtures. I don't envy them that job. But Jamie has a good eye for those things; not so much for Melissa. If I were Jamie I'd just pick everything out and then surprise her. She'll love it!

And the Winner Is........

Violet had a little accident traveling around the coffee table. She tripped and fell and got her first shiner hitting the edge of the table where she has pulled off the protective bumper pad.

But even this little shiner can't keep our little girl down. Just look at that face. Deep inside she'll find a way to get even with the table. Let's just hope it's cleared up for her trip to Disney World. Little princesses don't photograph very well with black eyes.

New "Do" for the Puppies

Khloe and Lola finally got into the groomer for their summer haircuts.

They always look so much smaller after the groomer shaves off all that winter growth and happier. Just wait until they find out Melissa and Jamie are leaving them when they come to Florida. But they are leaving them in the capable hands of Aunt Pam. Good luck Pam!!!!!

Mother's Day

Ah Mother's Day...that blissful time when Mother's all over the world get to rest and be pampered for the day. Yeah right. My day started with Jamie taking me, Melissa and Violet to IHOP for breakfast. Like every other family in Independence, the place was packed. Then it was home to do another quick load of laundry before I leave tomorrow for my trip to Florida.

I wanted to take a picture of me, Melissa and Violet each year. Violet's at the age where it's a little hard to get her to pose for a picture for too long of a time. But we managed to get a pretty good shot before she totally refused to take another picture.

I'm not very good at taking selfies but this one didn't turn out too bad.

Then it was off to Harrah's to have Mother's Day dinner with Michael.

Looks like Violet is pretty interested in reading Michael's Harrah's ID. Maybe that or she's trying to think of a way to snatch it when no one's looking.

Laura drove in after spending the night at Julie's and joined us.

This is Melissa's second Mother's Day of many, many, many more to come. She's a great Mom - must take after me!!!

Melissa has been taking pictures of Violet every month since she was born with a little Etsy sticker on her t-shirt showing her age. I saw an ad at WalMart no less for a photo collage fleece blanket and thought this would be an excellent present for Melissa for Mother’s Day. The baby Violet at the bottom of the blanket is actually Violet just in case someone might think the blanket had a little 3-D effect. Happy Mother's Day!

Disney Tickets

I'm packing for another trip to Florida. I'm leaving tomorrow and Michael, Ashley, Melissa, Jamie and Violet will be coming down the end of the month.

While they are in Florida we're going to take a day trip to Magic Kingdom at Disney World. I stopped by my local AAA office to buy tickets. The tickets are little credit cards with Disney characters on them. Too bad Violet is just a little too young to enjoy them.

New Roof

This is day 2 of roof replacement and I'm about to go crazy with the incessant pounding, the barking puppies and dodging objects flying off the roof. Plus I have to park my car outside. Due to the unusual high temperatures it's taking a bit longer than anticipated.

But when it's complete it will be one more thing I don't have to worry about for the next 30 years. That is unless a tornado rips through the neighborhood...knock on wood.

Planting Flowers

I'm so tired of waiting for the weather to turn nice to plant my petunias and put them on my porch rails.

I decided to plant them in the garage and with a little help from Violet got the planter boxes planted. I still need to put the flowers in my bird bath and a couple more pots for the porch but I'm crossing my fingers the weather man is correct and this weekend will be sunny.