Florida, Family & Friends

Hello all!

I know it has been a WHILE and I've got months to catch up on but I'll try to hit the highlights. :) We arrived in Florida in time to enjoy a little kayaking in the Crystal River and then time to set up camp at Royal Coachman.

 

Our new site this year was a little deeper and allowed us to set up a screen room behind Phoebe. We added some steeping stones and lights to make it a perfect little spot for our hot tub to go in! It's just a Coleman blow up one but 104 degrees still feels great for those chilly "winter" nights in Florida! :) 

 

Then home to Michigan for Christmas. If you think you don't have a lot of leg room, try flying with 2 cats! Thankfully the flights both ways were on time and no delays.

Michigan time was jam packed with catching up with friends; Anne & Carl to the left, Bruce & Jan above. Had a great dinner with Ron & Kathy but no picture and had a wonderful afternoon with Julie and the other Lincoln Pines ladies. Saw George & Laura but we also didn't take pictures and Susan & Dennis, we just got pictures of the new kitties!

On to family time...

It was great to see Dave's son Brian and his wife Josie (bottom row) and Dave's daughter Rachel and her husband Matt (top row with Dave) at their beautiful house. Also, got to see the grandkids Noah, Lainey & Callen, who are getting so big with "significant others" now (except Callen for a few years yet we hope!)😁 

 

Our family was all together for Christmas Eve services except Ben who drove in Christmas day and joined us. We opened presents, played games and had a fabulous meal, thanks to Julie & Chris.

 

Christmas at Brian and Josie's house included Alabama gifts for all...ROLL TIDE! 😁

It was great to see the grand kids, Brady and Madelyn and even more "grand" to see the great grand-kids, Addileigh & Waylon.  Below is Madelyn and Blake with little Waylon.

Back "home" to Florida to bike, kayak and some "R & R" time! Noodle loves being outside while Pappy prefers her safe indoor comforts.

 

Best part about Florida is having fun with friends! Bruce & Jan at Siesta Kay and that amazing white sand...

...and amazing sunsets with Greg & Lori at our local Nokomis beach.

 

Downtown Venice is so much fun with Marcus & Linsey and the view at the Nokomis Tiki hut is the best!

 

Pinchers restaurant is always a good time with BOGO wine specials with Barry & Cindy. Love that we get to see our "Michigan friends" in Florida.

This winter was even more special because Mom & Dad drove down to visit. We got to catch up with Terrry & Diana Brown (from Old Forge Court in Woodhaven).

Also special was getting to go on a Celebrity cruise with Mom & Dad and Linsey & Marcus. We had the best time dressing up for the "evening chic" nights, going on excursions and eating amazing food for 10 wonderful nights!

 

But the very best part for me was relaxing on the heated beds at the luxurious Persian Garden! Life is good!!

Dave's happy place is the buffet at breakfast...biscuits and gravy with bacon on the side! 

Back at RCR (Royal Coachman Resort) to wrap up the last few weeks of fun including the eclipse, and a great night out with Bruce & Jan and Marcus & Linsey. Sorry the boys didn't make it in the picture!

Before heading north in the RV, I flew back to Michigan for a couple of days to attend the funeral for Michelle's dad. Sad to say good bye to him but at least we got to get together with Christopher (also from Old Forge Court) and Anne and got to meet Michelle's new friend, Joe. You can tell we're getting old. It used to be weddings we'd all see each other, now it's funerals. 😢

Time to head north and first stop is in Thomasville, GA to see Aunt Pris. We didn't get a picture but had a lovely evening together at the local Mexican restaurant. Then up to Gatlinburg to meet up with Mom & Dad and see Emma and Lauren.

A family tradition of mini golf, this time at Hillbilly Golf. They had these great signs to hold up. I just loved this one!😂

Another newer tradition since Emma bought a house is home improvement day. This time all of us got to put up a screen room gazebo on their deck. Hopefully it survives the winds!

On our way back down to Alabama (don't ask, our travel route is a bit schizophrenic at times!) we stopped at our friends, Rob & Julie Longwell's beautiful new home in Loudon, TN. It was so great to catch up with them and have them show us around their new digs. Then on to Alabama to see Dave's Mom and Dad and the rest of the Thomas'.

Mom wanted to get the house looking good before we got there and while washing the pollen off the front porch she got the hose stuck, then her foot stuck and broke several bones in the top of it.  Perhaps at almost 94 she could just wait and let us do it when we got there?! Gotta love her spunk!💗

 

A special treat was to get to see Dave's brother Jim and his wife Anita plus Dave's other brother Bearl. Bearl's wife Sue couldn't make it as she wasn't feeling well but she was missed. We also got to see Dave's cousins, Joyce and Charles. It's a perfect day when ya'll get to sit on the porch and visit with family.

We are so very blessed to have all of our family but especially Mom and Dad Thomas. Not every 75 year old "boy" gets to enjoy such a wonderful visit with his folks. 

As we head north again towards our Michigan family I'll say thank you if you've read this far on our Florida, Friends and family post. We'll leave you with the view from where we park the RV when we're at Dave's folks house, (next to his sister Ivy & brother in law Ron's house). God is so good, we are blessed!🙏