Wednesday - June 12

Annette went back to work today - 1st time leaving Luke.   She looked great...

New Mommy back on the job as a drug sales rep 
Grandpa taking the morning feeding  
Happy Baby
 
Did 4 loads of laundry, ironed and then our friend Susie came to visit Luke and have lunch from Mississippi Sweet Bar-Be-Que which was very good.    Always enjoy her visits and sure miss her as a neighbor back home.
Miss Susie and the little man
Daddy and his "pride 'n joy"
 
More rain this afternoon.....and also hearing about storms predicted for back home!
 
Such a simple thing - a ceiling fan....but what entertainment it provides for Luke!
 
Tomorrow we Nomads will be on our way again.....heading to Charleston and celebrate our wedding anniversary (2 weeks early).
 
So much fun these past few days and sure will miss the kids and sweet baby Luke - in one month we'll be together again!
 
Captain Luke with an extra set of arms - ha!    he did not want to tuck them away!!!
 

Tuesday - June 11

Rain, rain, so much rain here in south Florida!    It poured this morning plus thunder and lightning.    The kids backyard is under water and their pool has been overflowing a few times this past week!
 
Mark and I exercised and just enjoyed the little guy.    Philip left for work in the wee hours and Mark got a haircut.  Good day for a nap with the rain.....Philip got home around 12:30, we had delicious salads (thanks Annette) for lunch and just hanging out!

New parents sooo enjoying their little boy

Ahhhh....this is the good life
Our Baby Angel 
Mini Blue Angel

Helped Annette this afternoon with some decorations for baby shower/luncheon she's giving
 here on Saturday. 

Luke did face time this afternoon with his cousins, Liam and Connor and Uncle Patrick.    And he and cousin, Leia have been texting!    Life is good with the little people!

Tomorrow is the day Annette goes back to work (part time.....Wed-Fri); she is NOT ready to leave Luke!!!   Glad we are to help out!

Daddy and Luke hanging out



 

Monday - June 10

Up and going early after a very early wake-up when the smoke detector went off in the hallway at the hotel and took awhile to determine there was nothing wrong, but a malfunction...4:30 AM.....ugh!    But did get back to sleep and then were on our way at 6:40.    Long drive to Luke (550 miles), but worth every minute.     Had a few downpours but overall, a good trip (course, Mark was doing all the driving while I made some phone calls, did e-mails, read and napped!)   We arrived in Lake Worth at 4:15 and here's our sweet Luke!   What a happy boy - he's really changed and filled out those little arms and legs.    Enjoying all his coos and smiles....
 
Sweet Luke
 
Grandma is "in her glory"!!!
 
Had a yummy salmon dinner.  Philip has to be up and at'em EARLY tomorrow, so off to bed.   Mark, Annette and I played 3-handed euchre.
 
 
 

Saturday-Sunday, June 8-9

Good Monday morning....we Nomads were back on the road at 6:40 AM heading to Lake Worth and Luke.....long day of travel ahead of us and we had to move the clocks up an hour!    Had some fog this morning and trying to outrun more nasty weather coming behind us!    Here's a recap of past 2 days with all the wedding festivities AND rain!

Saturday - Whirlwind, fun weekend............we said our good byes to Ryan and John and left Pensacola at 10:00 under bright, sunny skies.    Drove to Destin, parked the truck and walked around ending up at The Candy Maker where Mark had an iced coffee and we sat outside on the deck with a nice breeze.
 
Now time to walk across the street to the rehearsal luncheon at The Back Porch.    What a fun place - we were upstairs (private room) with open windows overlooking the gulf.    So good to see friends and of course, the bride, Kassie and her family.    Food was excellent and so much - wine/beer, appetizers, sandwiches or full dinners and pink/white cupcakes.

Kassie and Kyle
Brenda (Mother-of-the-Bride) and Kassie (Bride-to-Be)
 
Sue and Jerry are here for the wedding, too, and after lunch, we 4 said our good-byes and shortly after, Jackie (Tiger Cruise roommate) and her friend, Darryl met us at the Back Porch.   They drove over from Metarie, LA (3+ hours).    We sat on a lower level with the wonderful breeze and enjoyed drinks and lots of chatter and laughs.   Sooo fun to see her and meet Darryl.
 
Around 5:30, we walked across the street to the Candy Maker and all indulged in a yummy chocolate concoction sitting on the deck

Jerry and Sue enjoying their sweet treats
Darryl and Jackie
Jackie and Pat

  We said our good byes to Jackie and Darryl and then drove to see Brenda and Pat's (parents of the bride) beach house they are renting for s week's vacation coming up.    Their house on Santa Rosa Beach is lovely with 4 bedrooms, 4.5 baths and a gorgeous view.   

Good friends at Brenda's beach house
Pat, Brenda, Sue
 
We had a 30-mile drive to our hotel in DeFuniak Springs, FL - staying at the Hotel DeFuniak, an 11-room boutique hotel with lots of charm and a very friendly proprietor, Tom.      Sat in the library with Sue and Jerry for complimentary wine and snacks and joined by Charlotte and Curt (friends of Pat and Brenda from Dallas) who are here for the wedding.     Have met them a few times, but been several years - great folks!

And then................here's Luke

Hi....I'm 2 months today!
 
Sunday - today is the destination wedding for Kassie and Kyle and oh icky poo.......it's been raining all day and just nasty for a beach wedding planned for 6:00 tonight!    BUMMER......they had to decide by noon whether it would be moved indoors at Bentley's-on-the-Bay   

Sue, Jerry Mark and I had a wonderful breakfast (complimentary) oat the hotel f a Belgian waffle with fresh strawberries and blueberries and sausage.   The 4 of us then went to St. Margaret's for 11:00 Mass and then drove around DeFuniak which is a charming little town.....and the rain just kept coming down

Off to church
 
Back to the hotel and Tom offered us hot drinks and wedding cake which had been brought in from guests who were at a wedding in town yesterday.    How nice and delicious!
 
It's 2:00 now and the rain is pouring down along with thunder and lightning - such an unusual occurrence in FL having an all-day heavy rain and on Kassie's wedding day!!!!   How ironic that Andrea went across the state with nary a drop in the Panhandle.    Mark checked with the folks at Osprey Marina in Myrtle Beach about  Catrina....all is well!    Had some wind and heavy rain, but nothing significant!    So whatever current system is coming thru today, it looks like it will be hanging around a few days!

Despite all the rain, Kassie and Kyle's wedding was lovely.    It was on the deck under an overhang and then indoor reception at Bentley's-on-the-Bay.     Had lots of fun and here are some highlights...

 
Beautiful Bride
 
Bride's Family
 
Pat and Brenda
Parents of the Bride
 
Kassie and her Dad - first dance
Whitney Houston's
I will always love you
 
Mark and I enjoying all the wedding hooopla
 
 
 


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Friday - June 7

Hot and sunny here in Pensacola...got our exercising out of the way.   Never did get the rain here that rest of the state got from Andrea.    Still keeping an eye on this storm as she heads up the coast towards Catrina.
 
Mark and Ryan ran several errands and installed a new water heater!  I did some laundry.  
 
Our little bruiser, Luke is up to 15# already - gosh, we won't recognize him!   
 
Such a happy BIG boy
 
Some of you have asked what Ryan is doing these days with no air shows, no practices, ......well, as we talked last night with he and John, "Not much of anything"!!!    Lots of free time....they fly 3x a week (1 plane only in the sky) for about 1/2 hour, so that's 1.5 hours a week for proficiency.    They report in each day for a few hours, but not much of anything to be done!    I was talking to the wife of another Blue Angel (one of 4 videographers) last night at the parade and it's the same for her husband!   Certainly not the plan for what should've been a busy, hectic, memorable year as a
 Blue Angel.    What a shame!!
 
Very thankful the pilots were given one extended year on their tour.  Although the 2014 schedule has been posted, that's all "up in the air"!    Ryan is able to work on several projects around the house!
 
After the water heater installation and a dip in the pool
 
Ryan, John, Mark and I went to The Grand Marlin on Pensacola Beach for dinner to celebrate Ryan's birthday (June 2nd).    It was a wonderful meal and so pleasant sitting outdoors overlooking the Bay.
 
Our Blue Angels

After a great meal at The Grand Marlin
Pensacola Beach
 
Tomorrow we are off to Santa Rosa Beach for a destination wedding Sunday night.   Rehearsal luncheon is Saturday at 1:00 and then meeting my Tiger Cruise roommate, Jackie!   Can't wait!!!  Be back in touch after the weekend!