Wednesday - July 6

 Another steamy start to the day.   I drove to Michael's and Anne and I went for a walk on the trail - she wanted to see the bench we donated.   

Anne on the bench

Mom and her girl!    We completed our walk!    Tah dah!

I went back to Philip's, we loaded up the car for our move to Michael's and then Mark and I were off to Black Mountain.    We had lunch at a new place recommended by Annette and Brooke - Bush Farmhouse (very eclectic and funky with several different areas of seating inside and out + farm animals here and there).   Mark had a bush burger and I had a smoked salmon BLT - both delicious!

Then we were off to Givens Highland Farms a continuous care community that we had driven around a few years ago.    Today we and 12 others were given a 2-hour tour (1st hour was explaining the basics and then we all rode in a shuttle driving around the facility and actually going thru a cottage.)    There are several different options for homes and around 400 residents now with a 4-6 year waiting list (340 on that list).    Wow....so much info to absorb.    We are just thinking ahead to if/when we are ready to make this move!    Interesting afternoon.......very impressive facility!

Givens Highland Farms is nestled in Black Mountain surrounded by beautiful mountains.

Back home with some threatening weather.....we are watching the Littles tonight.   Michael, Brooke, Philip, Annette and Anne went to a brewery in Old Fort.    Liam, Connor and Brady went to Black Mountain for pizza and then the designated driver for their parents.

 

The girls took Millie for a walk and then supper and then a movie!

3 sweet girls

Supper is almost over and now watching a movie

Grandpa is having dinner at Blair's Diner with waitress Maeve looking on

LOVE these girls!

Millie is a cuddler

Tuesday - July 5

 A steamy Tuesday with heat and rain predicted all week long.    Grandpa and I slept in - all that pool time wore us out yesterday!   😀

Annette took Maeve to her swimming lesson - she's doing sooo well, like a little fish compared to a year ago when she didn't want to get her face wet!    Proud of our Moppet!!!

Fun on the water today...

Maeve and Mommy riding the airplane

Luke (Mommy behind)

The Moppet

Maeve with her favorite people!

We picked up Blair and she joined in the fun

Luke and Daddy

The Little Fish doing her thing

Family time

Grandma loved the refreshing water, too and then gave the littles an outside shower which

Uncle Philip built - soooo cool!

Maeve wanted a braid after her shampoo, so Grandpa to the rescue (he did this to his 

dairy calves many, many years ago) at the 4-H show.

15 of us including Bob and Judy enjoyed a wonderful spaghetti fest at Philip and Anette's.

Our teen grandsons - Brady, Connor, Liam

2 games of 5-handed euchre with Brooke and Anne and the winners...

Another pic/video from yesterday...

Grandma and Auntie Anne with the Littles

Sunday-Monday - July 3-4

   

Happy Birthday, America!

Annette, Jessa, Justin and Philip (cousins)

Jessa and Justin were off hiking

Annette and Philip left to play pickleball

Just checking in from Lake James where we arrived at 12:30 yesterday (Sunday) and delivered Luke and Blair safe 'n sound!    All or kids/kiddos are here this weekend, except Drew.

Justin (nephew) and Jessa from Charlotte are here this weekend, too and staying with Philip and Annette.   Mark and I are with them as well and we'll move to Michael and Brooke's on Wednesday (as Blair says "equal time")!   

Spent the afternoon at the camp....great day for swimming and lots of folks enjoying Independence Day.

Our kiddos

Michael, Anne, Dad, Mom, Ryan, Philip

The entertainer who played great tunes + patriotic music

Blair and Auntie Anne

The Girls

Annette, Maeve, Grandma, Blair, Anne, Brooke

Davis and friend Elias left to go back to Raleigh before I could get any pics.    Liam, 

 Connor and Brady spent the afternoon on the golf course.   We missed Drewby!

Played several games of euchre - 4 handed (Annette and I won 2 games from the guys; 5-handed with Ryan.   Mark was the winner; 2-handed with Annette and each of us winning a game!)

Great day to celebrate our nation's birthday!

Saturday - July 2

 A pretty morning after all the rain.    We ate breakfast, loaded up the very packed car, and we were leaving the marina at 8:20.    Way to go kiddos!

Good trip with a quick stop in North Canton, OH at Dunkin for a snack and then lunch at the Busy Bee in Marietta, OH which serves breakfast and lunch and open till 2.    We sat on the covered patio.  

Nothing like a big pancake and order of fries!

We were on the road 7 hours and when we were just 6 miles from our hotel here in Beckley, WV, the heavens opened up BIG time....I was driving and we had a torrential rain storm.   Put our hazard lights on as did other cars.   It was a long 6 miles when you could hardly see and so thankful to finally turn at our Harper Road exit at 3:30.     The kiddos were great travelers!

Settled into our room and rested a bit before we left for 5:00 Mass at St. Francis de Sales with Father Leonard Smith.    Then to Gino's for pizza (Luke, Grandpa and me) while Blair had a meatball sub.    Everyone ate very well.

The rain had stopped for an hour or so, but then started again as we were leaving Gino's.    Got some gas for Little Navy @$5.09 (premium) and back "home" for showers and shampoos.

We stayed at this Hampton Inn on July 14, 2021 when we were returning the kiddos back home after their 9 days on Catrina.

Our little sweetie pies

Friday - July 1

 Welcome to July - Summer time fun with fireworks, picnics, swimming, boating, family reunions, vacations, and celebrate America's birthday!

Our first day of July was off to a good start with Blair and Grandma having breakfast at Coffee Express 

Coffee Express breakfast with "Lamby"

and then a haircut for Grandma at BeYOUtiful with Jacinda.     Luke and Grandpa had breakfast at A la Cate and then haircut for Grandpa at Country Gentleman's Salon with Gina.   

Grandma getting a new "do"!

 We all walked back to Catrina and loaded up the laundry in car and off to do that task.    While I miss my she shed washer/dryer, the Catawba Clean Scene Laundromat on Clean Street is just the most awesome place.   The staff is constantly cleaning and wiping down the machines, floors, etc.    Always immaculate!!!   It's a very large laundromat, too, and the kiddos were enamored watching all the machines do their thing - not sure they had ever been to a laundromat before???     It's the little things......

Luke hangin' out with Grandma and the laundry

 Grandpa and Blair went to the store to get a few things and then got the car washed and vacuumed.

Back home with our clean stuff..... had lunch and while I cleaned up and tidied Catrina a bit, Grandpa took Luke and Blair to The Port Clinton Candy Store - a favorite they remember from last year.  

We did a pump out and short ride on Catrina out on the lake and then back to start our packing and beat the nasty weather which started at 5 and then really intensified around 6:15.    We were hunkered down in Catrina with 4 suitcases open and ready to be filled as the rain came pounding down!

Before the storm hit...

2 kids turned loose in a candy store...

 

So many choices!

Decisions, decisions

Catrina ride

Last day on Catrina

Cleaned out Catrina's fridge for supper !    Rain finally ended around 7:30.   Tomorrow we are on our way to Beckley, WV and then to Lake James on Sunday.   Mark and I will be back in Port Clinton on July 10th.

Wishing you all a very safe, fun and HAPPY 4th of JULY weekend!!!

These kids were REALLY wound up tonight doing all these funny me-emojis - hilarious!!!