Weekend at Joe's

Who's this greeting us in the trees?
It's Joseph telling us that his dad Joe and Blake are picking us up for a cruise to their house.
Better hurry up...
and get aboard.
Grandma got below with Tatum and Spencer to get out of the cold wind.
Off we go to our weekend place.
Is this the place?
No, that's Paula Deen's, the famous TV chef. Or this?

Nope, that's one of Joseph's school mates. Maybe it's one of these more modest guest houses on the water.
Nope, here we are safe and sound at Joe's place for a weekend of babysitting grandkids while their mom stages our house for a good sale.

Kannas Florida Spring Break

Chrissy and Randy decided to take a break from subzero Minnesota weather with a long vacation in Florida. They said they wanted this to be a "working" vacation, perhaps doing some garden work and enjoying the sun. So we prepared a duty roster to make them feel at home and part of the family. Look at the pictures below for a sampling of what they did. Randy had to get home for work after three days, replaced by their friend Stephanie who wanted some fun in the sun too.
Of course, we stopped to eat a time or two during the week or so they were here...

and to smell the orange blossoms.

Grandpa's favorite activity was to supervise from the chair that Chrissy reupholstered during one of her breaks.
They are now vacationing (recuperating) with the other grandparents at their condo at Panama City Beach. Anyone else want to visit? I'm sure we can arrange another duty roster that you can relax to.

Gold and Green Ball

As you know, we were in charge of the Stake Gold and Green Ball this year. The theme was "Dancing with the Stars."
The food was fit for a king.
The decorations sparkled.
Our live band was our long time family favorite "Gosia and Ali."
We turned on the sparkling stars on the walls and the ceiling and were ready for a magical evening--a royal ball befitting even Cinderella. Both young and old ooohed and aaahed when they entered dance floor.
The breaks included dance demonstrations and instructions--including one from the waltzing Thompsons.
Gosia sent this picture with love to Debbie.

Valentine Garden

When I went out this morning to work on our new entry way, this is what I found had sprung up overnight like mushrooms after a rain.
Happy Valentines Day!!

Bloom!!

Are we living up to our motto?

Let's check the yard and see what has come up this sunny February.

It's not the flowery fields of Keukenhof in Holland with millions of tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and other bulbs, but Florida wouldn't be Florida without flowers suddenly popping out of the ground in February.