Postings from Germany

USA - Weeks 2,3, and 4

Obviously, blogging was not the primary focus of our trip, so the Postings were pushed off ... and off ... and off. Herewith, a condensed version of the final three weeks of our time in the US.

Orlando

It took Hayden only minutes to warm up to us again. He's a corker - likes to move, likes to laugh, likes to pack things into the little table in the family room. It was AMAZING what he could put in there. Cheap entertainment! We took walks almost every day (there is occasional rain in the Sunshine State), watched Hayden while Mommy and Daddy worked, had a nice afternoon in Winter Park and lunch with Crissy's mom before we left at The Columbia - the fantastic Cuban restaurant from Tampa. Great Cuban sandwich! Besides leaving with fun memories, I left behind my germs and poor Hayden came down with the croup! Sorry!

Atlanta

We checked in at the Reid Hotel in Tucker this time - but it doesn't matter where we spend the nights, the days are always full of family. The focus of this visit was a celebration party for Tim and Carla, getting married in April. Only one no-show - poor Gina was up to her eyeballs in papers and briefs for an upcoming case. In addition to the immediate family, Larry's nephew Mitch and family were there - there's always room for more family! As usual, there was enough food to feed the Russian army - rib roast, chickens, veggies, salads, three desserts including a cake with a picture of the happy couple on it. What won't they think of next!


My cough was not getting better and I was a bit under the weather there, but we still had a wonderful visit.

Tallahassee

Maybe because it felt more like home, I finally went to the Doc in a Box when we got here. A little fever, a little pneumonia. Pneumonia! Well, there WAS a reason I wasn't feeling any better! So lots of antibiotics and rest, good food (more!) and a visit with Nancy. That's all good medicine. Here's Werner and Nancy with a bronze doggy that looks a lot like Bitty on the sidewalk in Thomasville.

Panama City Redux

The last few days in PC. First, the kids want us to walk them home. What fun! Too bad we only got to do it Monday. Tuesday, we picked them up and then drove to the beach. Glorious weather, though not quite enough wind to get the larger kite up. No mind - we enjoyed the smaller ones.



The next day, after returning the rental car, we went back to the beach once more. Salt air, salt water - they're healing and soothing. And - we found two teeny tiny perfect sand dollars and one baby's ear shell. Perfect.





Leaving is never easy what with all the packing, scrounging for a box for the stuff we bought (aluminum foil, chocolate chips, wooden stools, etc.) and making sure all our things are collected from around the house. And finish the teepee for Hayden's birthday! The hand prints are from cousins Hunter and Hannah. But this was a bit harder than usual - we spent the day in the airport waiting for delayed flights to resume and then they just up and cancelled everything. Tornados and strong storms will play havoc with air travel.

So back to Michelle + Joey's for one more night and off the next day without incident.

Sigh. It was a good trip. As always, we're looking forward to the next one already.