Orlando Thousand Trails

We really have arrived in the Orlando area, but we are busy people, playing pickleball, playing cards at night. Besides I didn't want to take pictures of washing the coach and waxing the coach!

We did take a day off and went to Disney. This is the Tree of Life in the center of the Animal Kingdom. It is the coolest tree that God didn't create (but He sure gave someone the ability to come up with a good idea)! Click on the image to see all the animals that have become the trunk of the tree!



It was a cool evening, but the fireworks above the castle at the Magic Kingdom were great. Even Venus had to be impressed!

An Evening with Brayden

Tonight is our last night with Caryn and Brayden until they come north to visit us. We had a nice dinner out and came home for Brayden's favorite dessert--Blue Bell Ice Cream--manilla (with a lot of tongue action).


Got ice cream?



Besides ice cream, Brayden loves flying objects and we had to tear apart some envelopes to get the helicopter pictures for him.








He loves to play with Grampa and he was quite impressed with the yellow blimp that Grampa made out of Playdoh.

We are going to miss that little guy!

Tuesday Night Bingo

There is always something to do and while Mitch is playing Petanque on Tuesday nights I go with the gals over to the Clubhouse for BINGO! This is the American table with Mattie, Audrey, Donna (who is Ontario Canadian and only speaks English) and Geri. Our Quebecois friends sit at another table and seem to know their numbers very well--they always win.



It was a good night--I won a game!!!

Brayden's Baptism

This morning Brayden went to church and got baptized. He was such a cutie and was a perfect angel during the ceremony. We found Trinity Lutheran Church not far from where the kids live and Pastor Keith was more than happy to have his church involved in the baptism. We found the church to be very friendly and open minded, and everyone loved Brayden, a new child of God.





It was a gorgeous, sunny day, and Jason's mom Caryl, brother Morgan and his girlfriend Margie, joined us at church and then for dinner at Caryn and Jason's.

















Happy 88th Birthday, Dad!

Happy Valentines Day

Planning a party for the "whole" RV Park is always a lot fun so...









Mitch was chief caterer and planned a dinner of Roast Tenderloin of Pork with Apricot Glaze and the fixings. Audrey enjoys his cooking!















Although we had planned on using the Clubhouse, a change in plans brought us back to the RV Park and the laundry room became the serving area for our buffet.















Donna and Mattie, along with Francine, were a great help with the prep work.






















Everybody brings their own tables, chairs, and dinnerware, then dresses up the table (and themselves) for the occasion.













Our table had a lot of fun.










We danced to the music, both English and French, enjoyed the company of so many new friends, and became a comedy club as HP told an alien story and had everyone laughing with Mitch taking the brunt of the joke.

Elliott Key--Key Biscayne National Park

It's time to have some fun in the sun--the weather has been a little under the weather--but today was supposed to hit the mid 70s. Friends Audrey and Bobby, who are from the Outer Banks area of North Carolina, brought their boat with them to our RV park. So we drove the seven miles to the marina and took off to Elliott Key, seven miles across the bay at Key Biscayne to the reef.


We played some bocche ball, had a little lunch, did some hiking, and hung out on the beach. We saw a large mackerel fish, a sea turtle, and a bunch of dolphins. This picture isn't of us, but it looks like a great way to spend the day!






Gilles and Francine









Thanks, Bobby and Audrey, we had a great time.

February Full Moon

The weather is getting a little warmer--just a few clouds in our night sky.

Minnesota Revisited--Addy on the Move, Macy too!

Addy is a busy little gal and we got such a kick out of her. She loves to run and make the appropriate noise, and of course she has to have both hands full. She said, "Gampa running too," and away they went. Kaiser could not be left out of the fun.

Figured we had to have a video of Macy, so here she is--not quite the activity nor chatter that Addy provides, but what a wonderful little bundle!!

What should we do tonight?

We can come up with seven different answers to that question depending on the night. But tonight it was a trip to Miami Jai Alai. A great game to watch and a little fun betting. Mitch was the big winner--covered his bets, our $4 to get in, and a little snack--that's big time betting!!



Bobby is usually the one who wants to get out and about, but it was Audry who hadn't been to a Jai Alai game since the '70s. We all had fun!

First Annual Palm Garden Rib Fest

Mitch had heard the Quebecois really didn't care much for ribs, so we figured we Americans would enjoy a little get together. One of the English speaking guys wrote up an English/French sign up sheet and next thing Mitch is cooking for 50.

Neigbor Norton is learning the finer points of boiling the ribs.






Then came the grilling--that drew a crowd!




We were able to use the Community Center for the sitting down and eating part which worked really well. A nice dinner of ribs, home-made potato salad, baked beans, and warmed bread and butter was served buffet style.





The event went to the birds--at least this one--Tango, who enjoyed his rib dinner as much as anyone!




Evidently the Quebecois enjoyed the ribs too. They gave Mitch a rousing round of applause!

Happy Birthday, Brayden!

Brayden is two years old already and the theme of his birthday party was "Airplanes!"

















Caryn made a cupcake airport complete with clouds and runway. There were airplanes all over the place.

















Brayden wanted a "geen one" but was more intent on getting the frosting off the airplane than eating the cupcake.





He eventually collected all the airplanes and lined them up neatly in front of him.






It was a busy day with all his grandparents there. Jason's Dad and Stepmom came from Indianapolis and brought cousin Khloe. They also brought the "Harley" rocking horse that Steve had designed and made. It is fabulous!







Jason made some wonderful ribs and we had a great BBQ dinner.