Travels of Mark and Pat

St, Patrick's Day - 2017

Hope you all had a great day wearing green, eating corn beef and cabbage, drinking green beer,

etc., etc.

We are back on Catrina in Cocoa after a whirlwind 9-day trip to CA and NC. Today was as follows.....Mark taking Brady to school; both of us taking Sweet Pea to school and so precious as she stood there waving bye bye to us. She knows next time we're together will be Easter and she's all about Easter these days!

We picked up our rental car at Sears in Hickory and then took Brooke's car back and put in garage, said good bye to Davis who was still snuggled under the covers and off we go.

Stopped at Concord Mills, huge mall near the airport where we walked and had lunch at Firestone Subs.

The Concord Airport is just 2 miles away and we had a full flight to Sanford (Orlando). Got our rental car and drove about 1 hour to Cocoa.

Walked downtown to Murdock's for corn beef and cabbage (very good, but not as good as Matanzas on Fort Myers Beach). But I have some leftovers for tomorrow! We did top it off with warm blackberry cobbler a la mode which was pure heaven (shared)!

Brooke's parents, Bob and Judy are holding down the fort with the kiddies. Michael, Brooke and Drew had a fun day touring the campus in Iowa City, shopping and eating what Michael said was "thee best ever corn beef and cabbage"!!!!

They fly home tomorrow afternoon!

Thursday - March 16

Bright and sunshiny day but COLD......gee, FL is having some nippy temps, too.

Grandpa took Brady to school and then we took Blair to her school.

Michael, Brooke and Drew left at 9:30 for Charlotte airport and flight to Cedar Rapids.

They will be touring the University of Iowa (Michael's Alma Mater) the next 2 days.

Off to Iowa...

Mark and I can't believe our oldest grandson will be college-bound in 2018...

We took Davis on a birthday shopping spree - Dick's Sporting Goods for a new putter grip, Star Wars Legos and a PS-3 controller + lunch at Bojangles.

Picked up Sweet Pea from school and she took a good nap this afternoon.

Decisions....decisions....which cake shall we buy for Davis's party tonight?

Brady had a golf match this afternoon and then out for supper with GrandBob.

Our star golfer who shot a 47 today!

Celebrating a little early...

15 on Sunday!

The Campbell Men

Soo sorry to hear my cousin Ed passed away this morning in Tucson - may God bless his family with strength, comfort and peace.

HAPPY ST. PATTY'S DAY

Wednesday - March 15

Sunny, chilly day.....Mark took Brady to school - rest of us are home!

Late morning Grandpa and Davis went to town browsing for birthday ideas for Davis

(15 on Sunday). Tomorrow the 3 of us plan to take him for a little shopping spree, to lunch, etc.

Blair and her Buddy (the "disaster")

Having a little snack - her favorite chips and French Onion Dip (a favorite of Grandpa's, too)

Smiley grandchildren in IL.....soon to be from NC

Mark and I played 2-handed spades in the afternoon - he won big time! UGH

Brooke made her corn chowder for dinner with crusty bread.....a winner!

Bath time and nighty night!

Tuesday - March 14

Mark took Brady to school. And then we took Blair to school and off to Lake James. It was chilly today and drizzle off and on. Sunny in the afternoon but temps only in the 40's.

We checked out Philip and Annette's new home - plumbers, electricians and heating/air conditioning guys all working this morning! It has come a long way since we were here

in mid-January.

We stopped in Morganton and dropped off an extra car seat for Blair at Brooke's parents. Good to visit with her over a yummy lunch of soup and sandwiches at Limbertwig. We took Judy home and on back to Newton for us..

Along the way today we saw lots of Bradford pear trees but not the best year for them as the warm weather in February apparently confused them and they are blooming early, but not with all the beauty they usually have.

Bradford pear trees are starting to fizzle

The forsythia are very vibrant!

Michael had picked Blair up from school and while she was napping, Grandpa and I did the same.

Good ole Nestle's came thru after nap time as Blair and Grandpa made chocolate chip cookies. GrandBob went to Brady's golf meet after school and then out for supper.

Blair is obsessed with Easter these days - she wakes up from her nap "Is it Easter"? And then asks during the day "When is it Easter"?

Grandpa is her buddy and Grandma is just Grandma.

She told Grandpa he was a disaster (her newest word)....Grandpa said "really" ? and she said "I think you are"!

Sweet Pea

Tonight Michael, Mark, Blair and I went to the Tap Room in Hickory and met Brooke and the boys on their way home from U of Tennessee which they toured today. Had a good gab over dinner about Clemson and TN.....onto Iowa this Thursday.

Good dinner and home for Blair's bath and nighty night time.

Hope Anne and boys are back to normal tomorrow - they've had strep, sore throats, headaches and a touch of pneumonia.

Monday - March 13

Brady was off to school at 7:40, and Brooke and the "D's" left for Clemson at 9. Sweet Pea is staying home with us today and Michael is home, but hibernating in his office.

I did some laundry, Blair and I played with Grandma's jewels and Grandpa went to Best Buy.

We also baked a batch of Pillsbury sugar cookies!

Here are some memories from our California wedding