December 26th - 29th Our AirBnb

We rented this home again, 251 Majorca Road, St. Augustine, FL 32080 right in Leaa's neighborhood. Weather is in the 60's with scattered showers. We packed and drove over, arriving at 4:00 p.m.

Dinner was leftover ham sandwiches. Relaxed and had a short visit with Leaa, Jesse and Dylan (Liv and Tristen were baking Baklava and then visited with Katie and Barrett).
Tuesday evening: I went to Publix to get most everything else I needed for appetizers (and $200 dollars later! EEK!).

Ford and AA drove back to our home to get a dozen things I forgot plus the very important dog non-skid protectors (Ginger was sliding too much on the vinyl floors).
Wednesday: preparation for the Progressive Dinner. I made French Onion dip, fresh dill dip, cantaloupe skewers, cherry tomatoes skewers, plus shrimp cocktail with variety of meat (the pepper coated salami was good) and cheeses, fruit (blackberries were all eaten) and nuts. The fresh dill dip and the cantaloupe skewers were the biggest hit (marinated veggies not so much).

Everyone arrived before 3:00 p.m. and was an agreeable gathering. Conversations, catching up on everyone's news, some outside on the deck - weather was cool, so a jacket was needed. Only missing Jordan, as he had to work (took a picture with Nicole and the vodka, sent to Jordan).

Tristen Kilee, Liv and Leaa on the canal side covered dock.

Outside, the sun tried peeking out: Alyzabeth, Avery (in front), Mila, Marsha, Cherie Chapman (Marsha's sister), Barret and Carter.

Group photo of most of the kids at Leaa's - Mila insisted that AA get on her lap! We missed Carter and Miles, they were outside.

Food at Leaa's - Greek theme:

Everyone who attended: Kids: Carter, Miles, Avery, Kilee, AA, Mila, Stella, Dylan, Tristen, Liv and Pearl. Plus Katie/Barrett; Marsha/Carl; Leaa/Jesse; Cara/Travis, Justin, Nicole, Cherie and son Ross and us!

Thursday: AA worked on her history subject review notes, while I worked for a few hours, so a quiet morning.

Alyzabeth went to lunch with Liv, Tristen, Dylan plus another car with Marsha, Katie, Stella, Carter. The Cat Cafe was crowded so they ended up at a Chick-fil-A. St. Augustine was MOBBED this week, no way could you go to the historic area and get any food or drink. Crammed full with lines of people waiting. Ford and I went to the Ancient City Brewery Taproom (we have never been, only to their brewery on Agricultural Center Drive. Never got in the door! Ford and I ate leftovers while Leaa, Liv, Dylan and Stella went to hear Jesse play at a private party in Riverside (Jacksonville).

We tried a little fishing:

Friday: Cleaning, packing and leaving at 10:00 a.m.

From Facebook: Loved our mini-vacation stay in St. Augustine near the kids and family. Delicious Christmas family progressive dinner, enjoyed our Airbnb canal front home (with dog Ginger) and got to use our new fishing poles. Merry Christmas (again). Celebrating all week.

Still a few bad spots in the home's yard - at the dock gate, very uneven with holes.

Liv posted on Instagram:

Nicole posted on Instagram:

We arrived home and now look forward to the weekend and packing away the Christmas decorations.

12/28/23 Jesse's Gig - Aerial Tribe

Jesse played with the Aerial Tribe as Jared was in town. Leaa took Alyzabeth, Liv, Dylan and Stella to the Riverside private party, as the lady said families were welcome. AA said there was lots of smoking, vaping and pot smoking going on. Too adulting for her! They were there for the first hour so the party wasn't too wild at that time. Leaa posted photos on Instagram.

Christmas Day!

I awoke early, about 5:00 a.m. Made my coffee and put the breakfast casserole in the over. We thought Alyzabeth would wake up early but no, she took her time and was up a little after 7 am.

Breakfast casserole: Made with some mozzarella cheese too.

The tree looked nice this year, sweet, not overpowering. I would like to buy a few more light strings, never can have enough lights.

We opened gifts from my Mom, Melissa, Terri, Aunt Patti, Donna (Gallion Crawford), the Morge's and Carolyn. We already had gifts from Bill and Joan, Aunti Jean.

So many gifts! Mom sent maple syrup, pumpkin pie cans, LL Bean gift cards, Kanoodle game, emergency maple syrup for AA (funny, tiny bottle), plus a pin (arrived broken), a purse, zip pouch, plus the centerpiece, whoopie pies, Consumer Report subscription!

Justin came over, then Leaa, Jesse, Liv and Dylan arrived. We had a drink and shrimp cocktail; then enjoyed dinner of ham, mashed potatoes and green beans; cherry berry pie, whoopie pies and Ford's Rice Krispie treats. Leaa and Liv brought an apple, spinach, feta salad with red wine vinegar dressing - delicious.

We drove to Larry's home to see what the family wanted. Jesse took the lawn mower and several men's retro shirts for a friend; Leaa took a leather "Davey Crockett" jacket, plus weights and two blue glass pitchers (Shirley Temple). Dylan took a small boom box that plays CD's. Justin took the generator and some tools. I think they will be back to look some more.

Back at our home we opened gifts from Leaa and Jesse: a Florida State Parks Annual Pass, mascara and lip gloss for AA and me; a cold curling set for AA.

Justin took our gifts to he and Kilee to open with Kilee at his home later. A nice day spent with all three of our kids!

We opened gifts from Donna (Gallion Crawford, housekeeper) rather late. She gave AA a blanket with a dog on it, and a walrus you heat up for back aches, stress etc. 

Monday, 12/18/23 - Countdown to Christmas!

Monday: Ford went to his Parkinson exercises.

We made an appointment for Ford's PCP, to discuss his back, hip, Parkinson's, and physical therapy. We really like Dr. Dolven, he listens, asks questions and makes quick decisions. We will continue with PT, see Dr. Legacy, and continue with back pain management (until we are at the end of any help, he will refer us to one for the next steps if Dr. Gill doesn't make any more progress). We ate my bean soup three days in a row, pretty good. AA has mid-terms for three days, then off school for Christmas vacation. We stopped in at the RH - just wanted to catch our breath, we feel so relaxed when sitting by the river.

Tuesday: Ford went to PT at 8 a.m., then at 10 a.m. had his hair cut.

AA picked up her High School class ring. 

Noah brought her home as Ford had a hair appointment with Steve, we gave him his Christmas "extra tip".

River House happy hour, nice, staying inside as very cold, especially with the wind off the river; gave the three ladies, Kelly, Shannon and Michelle their holiday "bonus tip". Also gave Kathy and Hugh/Maureen my pumpkin bread mini-loaves. Maureen is becoming a bit more aggressive with her dementia, we worry about Hugh taking care of her, even though they have a place picked out near Erin (Tampa area), Hugh says they will not move until they are "in crisis". We won't be at the RH on the 23rd, will be with the Morge's, then the 26th will be at the St. Augustine canal-front Airbnb. 

Wednesday: Ford and I tried to cancel LB's hard wired phone line but unsuccessful, will try again (need more information than I had).

Found more coins at LB's home:

Last day of school, no more mid-terms!! AA went to her AICE party then to Dr. Snyder for her knee "check-up". All good with her knee except the scar tissue. No more seeing Dr. Snyder! (he was a bit of an annoying doctor, "bull in a china shop" sort of big guy)

Thursday: Cleaned house, wrapped gifts. Ford went to his Parkinson exercises. AA had a golf lesson with Stephanie at San Jose.

I visited with Christa, Finneas and Colton; Cathy was there helping while Christa worked. It was not good for me to see them; with no one speaking to Cathy and Werner (they play victim and have said very ugly things to their children and to their Aunt Linda) it was a mistake to go. My good intentions just to let them know the twin boys are thought of turned into a mess. They are now "dead" to us, can't be helped.

Dinner was homemade chicken lettuce wraps, they were tasty but not same flavor as P.F. Chang's.

Friday: Lazy morning! Wrapped more gifts. Ford and I made Rice Krispie treats (with Ford's special chocolate-peanut topping). 

We made a trip to the lawyer's as Larry's petition for probate was ready to sign. 

Saturday: We drove to Nicole's to drop off gifts, then went to Leaa's. We gave them a copy of our will and their Christmas gifts. We met with Mia, Mike, Michael and Madison with Madison's roommate's family (Mauli, they live in Middleburg, she has twin brothers, one in AF boot camp) at the Osprey Tacos/Old Coast Ales (AA had the root beer and said it was way TOO sweet). Visited with them after at Mellow Mushroom listening to Jesse. We had pizza then headed home at 7:30 p.m. - took extra 30 minutes to get through the St. Augustine holiday traffic.

Pearl looking over our pizza at Mellow Mushroom:

Leaa with Mike and Michael:

Sunday: I baked a Cherry Berry Pie (with fresh raspberries, could not find frozen), a breakfast casserole (cooked onions, mushrooms and peppers in addition to a layer of mozzarella cheese I added as an extra) and do-ahead mashed potatoes. 

Not perfect like the cookbook photo!

And, I baked some of AA's gingerbread cookie dough from last Christmas (yes, one year old dough) - and they were fine!

Christmas Eve church service with Carolyn (Ford stayed home, feeling off again today).

Monday, tomorrow, is Christmas! Packing Tuesday - checking at the St. Augustine Airbnb. Progressive dinner on Wednesday!