Monday - March 31

WOW......last day of March (going out like a lamb down here) and our last day in Fort Myers!    Boy oh boy, did these past 3 months ever fly by!!!     But tomorrow, we'll be ready to move onto Lakeland for a week of family fun!   

 

Mark and I went to 8:00 Mass at St. Columbkille and then to The Grind for breakfast.....ran a few errands.   Mark wiped off the polish and cleaned Daisy's windows and she's "glowing"!!!  

 

Anne (caregiver) and her menfolk are all home today from school and work!

 

I had a list of folks we hoped we could see while in FL this winter and tah dah....we did it visiting (and usually eating) with 30+ couples !    Some of these, we enjoyed more than once!   And so happy to make new friends (Beth, Charlotte and Jane) in Marathon!

 

Wishing all the snowbirds a safe journey as they head north these next few days and weeks.

 

I got a manicure this afternoon and Barb and Roger came at 4:00.    We had an early dinner at Citrolla's (Italian) and then enjoyed Gatlin who played here in our park - awesome show and a GREAT way to say good-bye to Siesta Bay and Fort Myers!

 

Barb and Roger

 

Sunday - March 30

After all the rain, today was spectacular with puffy white clouds, blue skies, nice breeze and 75 degrees!     We exercised, did laundry (me), washed and polished Daisy (Mark), and went for a long bike ride.   The folks here at Siesta Bay and all around Fort Myers are winding down their winter stay and preparing to head north!    Cars are being loaded up, golf carts covered, hurricane shutters put up, etc., etc.

 

Sure feel for Anne....all of her guys are sick with the stomach flu and she's been doing laundry

since 4 AM.   Hope she doesn't get it and they are over it soon!!!   Very thankful they didn't get sick while on vacation or on the trip home!

 

Congratulations to our friends, Glen and Paula on the birth of their new grandson,

 born yesterday in Columbia, MO!!!

 

We picked up a few things at Wal Mart and then met Bob and Nancy, long-time friends we met many years ago in Racine (dock mates on E-12).    They now live in Punta Gorda.   We had a delicious dinner at Stonewood Grille (new place for us) - definitely will put this one on our list!

 

Great to catch up - they remember Ryan as just a little tyke walking the docks,

 driving the boat, etc.   

 

Bob and Nancy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday - March 29

The heavens have opened up big time, along with thunder off and on!   The rain started at 4:30 AM and ended around 8ish.    We had a leisurely morning and left around 10 to run a few errands.    Met Ron and Ramona at P. F. Changs for lunch (wonderful as always) and sooo good to visit and catch up with R and R who now live in Naples.   The guys worked together for several years.

 

Ron and Ramona

 

The radar for FL looked nasty most of the day.....we went to "3:00" Mass (hadn't done that yet this year and of course, it was packed!)    Could hear the rain and thunder while in church and it's still really coming down and to continue throughout the evening, so a good night to be in!

 

Anne, Patrick and boys arrived home around midnight - drove straight thru!!!   UGH, but so glad they are home safe 'n sound!    What a busy, fun, whirlwind spring break they had!

Just finished reading a very good book "Orphan Train" by Christina Baker Kline
(any relation, Norma and Darrel)???    Highly recommend this!

 

 

 

Friday - March 28

Breezy today....we went to 8:00 Mass and then breakfast at The Grind.    Rode bikes and caught up with e-mails, etc.   Nice to have a leisurely day on Daisy.

 

Anne and family are on their way home.....here's a few more pics she sent from yesterday's memorable day at the Magic Kingdom with their Mickey ears...

 

 

We chatted with the boys today as they were traveling and heard all about

 their Disney adventures! 

 The Blue Angels are in Kingsville, TX this weekend....here's a neat video that was made just before they left El Centro last week.

 

http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/video/blue-angels-flying-magnificent-23061242

 

Rode our bikes to the Sunflower Café for a mid afternoon (very good) lunch and then more riding.   It is really warm today compared to yesterday!

 

 We are down to our last 3 days in Fort Myers...

 

Thursday - March 27

Very overcast and cool today - no sun!   But sure had a fun day!   Started off by exercising (always feels good to get that out of the way)!    We drove downtown Fort Myers and met Howard and Linda from back home for lunch at Firestone Grille - another very good lunch and then took them to the Sky Bar and showed off the spectacular views.......their son who lives full time in Cape Coral helped design this restaurant!    Sooo neat!     So enjoyed our visit and tried Norman Love's for gelato or chocolates, but gelato was all gone....a new batch coming in at 3!    Another time....

Linda and Howard at the Sky Bar

Said our good-byes (I'm n Exchange Club with Howard) and drove to Legacy Harbor (very short jaunt) to meet Beth and John from Charleston.    They are on their PDQ (just like Catrina) and we had met them in Marathon.   Spent many fun days in the pool with Beth.    They are full-time liveaboards and traveling all around the FL coast as they make their way to the Tennessee River for the summer.

Mark and John checked out the charts for crossing the gulf and Beth and I caught up on all sorts of stuff - sooo fun to be together again!   Took a little tour of their marina, said our good-byes with the plan to meet back in Marathon in January!   

Beth and Pat

John and Beth in front of Island Time

We've enjoyed pictures and comments from our kids/grandsons at Disney today!   They have had a ball....

Liam, Pluto, Connor

at the Magic Kingdom

Some fun souvenirs

 

  Blair is oh-so-close to crawling!

 

Wednesday - March 26

Burrrr.....woke up to low 50's and very windy!   We went for a long walk and enjoyed "Hamburger Wednesday" in the park.

 

Liam and Connor are now in Orlando with their Mom and Dad ready to take on Disney -

FUN time ahead...

Connor and Liam at Downtown Disney

 

Jim (Mark's brother) and Lydia came in the afternoon.   We played one game of euchre which we girls won.   Lydia and I drove to Preppy in Paradise to pick up some gifts and then stopped at the orchid place.....she bought this beautiful purple one with several blooms!

Lydia and her new orchid 

 

Went to Doc Ford's for delicious dinner and celebrated Lydia's birthday which is tomorrow!

 

The birthday girl and Jim

enjoying complimentary carrot cake

 

And today is our great niece, Leia's 1st birthday!!!

 

Happy Birthday, Sweetie...

 

Blair in her brand new life jacket - she is ready for a summer on the water!

 

 

Tuesday - March 25

Lots of rain overnight and a dreary start to the day, but then sunny, very windy and warm!    Claire and I met at 10:00 and set off to do some of the specialty shops - just browsing.    Had a wonderful lunch at the McGregor Café and drove around looking at some of the different styles of homes along the Caloosahatchee River.   We saw mansions to little bungalows.  Stopped at an orchid greenhouse - wow....here are some of the many different varieties we saw....

 

 

And last but not least, stands Claire among more pretty blooms

 

I took Claire home and we said our good-byes.   They are leaving Friday for home and we are down to our last week in Fort Myers.   We had so much fun this winter.....already scheduling mass and trip to The Coffee Hound when we are all back home.

 

Mark exercised this morning, went for a long bike ride and enjoyed "Hot Dog Tuesday" here at

Siesta Bay.

 

Did face time with Liam, Connor and Luke - so fun.    The cousins are having a great time over in Lake Worth!    Between the pool and Luke, what more do you need?

 

Luke showing his cousins his new car!

 

I exercised late this afternoon - whew those winds are very gusty - 30+ mph.

 

 

Saturday-Monday, March 22-24

BRADY is EIGHT!!!

 

March 24, 2006, we were blessed with our 4th grandson....

Brady Allen

(funny, unique, sweet boy who consistently amuses us with his

cute "Bradyisms")

 

Happy Birthday, Dear Brady!

 

Wow....lots to catch up with on the blog!   It was a whirlwind weekend with Anne, Patrick, Liam and Connor!    We packed in 

so much fun and the weather could not have been more perfect! 

 

 

   We toured the Boston Red Sox 3-year old Fenway Park South ball park (awesome) and a friend from back home who works as a tour guide, accompanied us on our tour!  We also enjoyed a treat at Norman Love's Chocolates (a Fort Myers landmark)!

 

Had lunch at the Cape Cod Fish Company, followed by an afternoon of swimming here at Siesta Bay.   We all went to 5:00 Mass at St. Columbkille (the boys never heard of that saint either)!   Ha....then Anne and Patrick had a date night with dinner at Doc Ford's while the boys and Grandpa swam some more and I picked up a pizza at Starz.   

 

Sunday....we were off to the beach early and had breakfast (after almost an hour wait - but worth it) at Gulf Shore Grille.    Then spent several hours on the beach under an umbrella in our chaise lounges.   Good to have some protection from the sun.....Fort Myers Beach was a very busy place with people everywhere sunning, swimming in the gulf, under their umbrellas, etc.   The spring breakers were out in full force!   Patrick rented a jet ski and took the boys for a 30-minute ride - first time for all.   Big hit!   Then we drove to Parrot Key, picked up our tickets, had ice cream and boarded the Pirate ship for a 1.5 hour cruise out on the gulf.    Lots of entertainment from the 4 pirates onboard - kids loved it!    Back to Parrot Key for dinner and on home to Daisy.   Boys swam one more time and then at 8:12 PM....lights out and the 4 of us were gone.....so much sun, water, wind, etc....we all zonked early and slept like babies.

 

This morning and Anne and Patrick came to Daisy, loaded up the boys stuff and we went in 2 cars to The Grind for breakfast.    At 9:15 we said good-bye and the rain was just starting when they left for Hollywood to visit a long-time friend of Patrick's for lunch and then onto see Luke.    What a memorable fast-paced 2 days with our IL grandsons, their Mom and Dad!    Here's some pics...

 

Jet Blue Park - spring training home of the

Boston Red Sox 

Flying Old Glory on the beach 

Fun in the sand

Walking Fort Myers Beach

Daddy and his boys on their first jet ski ride

The Pirates - aarrgh

Just chillin' on the Pirate Cruise 

Grandma, Grandpa and the Pirates

And finally....Miss Blair wearing her

"I am the Princess of my Casa" shirt which Grandma bought for

 her in Spain!

She's got 2 teeth now!

 

Mark went to Home Depot to get some repair parts and fixed the step leading into Daisy - big job out of the way.  He put Daisy's awning out to stay dry!   This rainy day was good to catch up on e-mails  and start a new book!   Also made some spaghetti sauce and got 4 loads of laundry done between showers.    Did face time with Brady and watched him open his gifts from us!  

 

I asked him where the family was going out for dinner

tonight and he said

"Two Friends"!   Hmmm....I was not familiar with that restaurant and said "that must be a new one"?    He quickly replied, 

"Dos Amigos" which is his very favorite - Grandma and Grandpa need to brush up on our Spanish!    HA!.  

   

 

 

   

 

Friday - March 21

Up and going to 8:00 Mass this Friday morning; then to Dollar Tree and Target (Starbucks, too).   Home and did some cleaning on Daisy.    We exercised, had lunch and I went to the Tanger Outlet Mall which is very close to us.    I got a haircut and rest of the afternoon, we read and Mark worked on a crossword puzzle.

 

Talked to Liam today (and Connor yesterday) as they are truckin on down to Fort Myers!

 

Mark and I went for a walk in the park and then sat on our patio and had a glass of wine on this beautiful evening!

 

The troops arrived around 8:50 this evening - sooo good to see them and now...let the fun begin!    Liam and Connor are staying with us the next 3 nights while Anne and Patrick are at a nearby hotel.

 

 

WELCOME to FLORIDA!!!!!

 

Grandpa and the boys

 

 

Thursday - March 20

Happy First Day of

 

 SPRING !!!

 

Google's home page today is sooo cute!!!

 

I dug into Daisy this morning cleaning out closets and drawers - time to tidy up before Liam and Connor come aboard!   

 

We rode our bikes to Skip One Seafood and met Bonnie and Joe (friends from Michigan) for delicious lunch and great visiting.    We met them a few years ago in Charleston (actually Mark met them while I was off shopping) when we were on the boat and they were in their RV and discovered we were at the same RV park in Fort Myers.    This year we are in different parks, but the restaurant was about 1/2 way for both of us.

 

Joe and Bonnie

 

Siesta Bay is having their "Siesta Fiesta" today in the park and what a happening place with tents, live entertainment, free food, and on and on!    LOTS of the residents were partying up big time...here's a few pics I took!    

 

 

We picked up some ice cream sandwiches to tuck away in the freezer for the boys!

 

Rode bikes this afternoon, caught up with e-mails and read!

 

So, Liam, Connor, Mommy and Daddy are on their way today after school for the long drive to southwest FL.    Wish I had a magic fairy button to push and "WAH LAH" - here they are!

 

Safe travels, Kiddos and to all those other spring breakers traveling here and there!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday - March 19

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAVIS

12 years ago today, our second grandson arrived - Davis Alexander and what a joy he's been! 
We also call this delightful child...."Spider Monkey"!!!
 

Our sweet leprechaun 

 

We did face time after school...fun seeing the birthday boy, Brady, Blair and Mommy.    The boys are so funny with Blair....acting totally goofy and she just cackles!!!

 

We drove to Flippers on Lover's Key for breakfast and met Candy (our neighbor at home) and her niece, Candace.   Candy is visiting Candace and family in Naples for a week - fun catching up with her.     A few weeks after we return home in mid April, she will be moving to Palm Springs, California!   Will be sad to see her leave.......

 

My crunchy French toast - sooo good coated in cornflakes

Mark's burrito - oh-so-pretty and yummy

 

Candy, Executive Chef Juan and Candace

 

Ran a few errands and on home....exercised this afternoon, took a short nap and then Steve, Connie and Vicki (Connie's sister) picked us up and we were off to Parrot Key for the Gatlin dinner show.    Sue and Jerry joined us and what a very enjoyable evening!!!\
 

 LOVE Gatlin and as always, a different type show every time we see them!!!

 

 Steve, Jerry, Sue, Vicki, Connie

 

 

Sun-Mon-Tues - March 16-18

Whew weeeee........just had a marathon 3 days with my sisters-in-law from Lakeland of go go go, shop shop shop and eat eat eat!!   Lots of fun and we girls did our part to boost the Fort Myers economy!   Mark and my brothers had a more leisurely pace of hanging out on Daisy, napping, etc.

Fresh Catch on Fort Myers Beach

 

Sky Bar at Firestone Grille in downtown Fort Myers

Saying good-bye in the parking lot of the

Cape Cod Fish Company

 

Belated Happy St. Patty's Day

Had thee best corned beef and cabbage at Matanza's yesterday!

 

And other BIG news since I updated this blog - our Central Catholic Saints (our kids alma mater) won the state basketball championship for Class 2A - first time ever!     They were unranked and defeated the #1, 2 and 3 (Mark's alma mater - Sterling Newman) ranked teams!!!

 

Some new photos of our sweet Blair...

 

First - she's checking herself in the mirror -

 

So...this is what I look like?

 

Pretty baby

Grandma thinks Blair is a mini Brady!

 

 

Saturday - March 15

Another picture-perfect day......exercised and then I met Sue and Connie and we were off for a girls day of shopping.    We hit several stores and had so much fun and then yummy lunch at the Cape Cod Fish Company.  A few more shops and back to Daisy around 4.    Mark got some stuff done on Daisy and went for a long bike ride to Shell Point.

 

My good friends, Sue and Connie shopping at Oh La La 

 

Mark and I went to 5:00 Mass and stopped at Publix for a few things - had a light supper and glass of wine on our patio this gorgeous evening.

 

Tomorrow my brothers and wives come for 3 days to shop, shop, eat, eat, etc., etc.   

  Look out Fort Myers....here we come!!!!

Lake James

Michael took this picture tonight - family was sitting around a roaring fire

Mid March in North Carolina - not too shabby!!!

 

Big day for the Blue Angels and their first show of the season at El Centro, CA.

Just got a text from Ryan's roommate's Mom.....they were at the show and said it was GREAT!!!!