Grands Summer Visit

Our Colorado grandchildren flew by themselves to Alabama for a visit recently. Usually, we have a tea party, and after church the last Sunday they were here, we did just that. 

They are big enough now to help and give input. 

The kids were here six days before their parents joined us. Their mother, Sarah, is in this picture all tan from a getaway in the Dominican Republic. 

Lemon bars, cheese straws, pound cake squares, strawberries, macaroons, cheesecake, and raspberries were a welcome treat, along with cups of tea. Due to the early afternoon heat, we served our plates and went inside to eat! 

Earlier in the week, we drove south to Panama City for a two-day visit. My husband took his boat, and we enjoyed showing them around places we took their Dad and older cousins years ago.

I was very pleased with the weather conditions for their first boat outing. The water was calm, with little boat traffic, and it was a picture-perfect day. We went to Shell Island and had a fun day. That night we drove the boat across the bay to the restaurant, Uncle Ernies, for those familiar with the area. 

Sugar white sands on Shell Island and no crowds were wonderful.

The water was beautiful. This pic is of the ocean side of the island. The only thing missing was seeing dolphins. I guess it was the wrong time of day. We have fond memories of the dolphins coming alongside our boat, and there was a time the kids got out and swam in the water with them. 

We enjoyed several sunrises on the bay. Will took these photos.

The kids enjoyed exploring my garden. They both picked a few flowers and wanted to arrange them. This time of year, most of my flowers are spent.  I thought they did well.

The boys golfed for two days. The girls plundered the attic one day, finding all kinds of interesting things. We found some of my dolls I thought had been lost years ago.  Looking in the attic reinforced my goal to go through and sort out things.  

My DIL helped with several projects that I appreciated very much. The other day we shopped downtown and had a special brunch at a restaurant. It was a great eleven days that passed very quickly.

It was also nice to show off our family at our church for two Sundays.

 I have one regret, which was that I failed to get a group picture, but we were so busy enjoying one another that I forgot.

July and August passed so quickly, getting ready for company and then after they arrived. I have missed visiting all of your blogs, and I hope you understand why I have not been able to comment. 

I also have not been on IG or FB hardly at all for three or four weeks.

The roses we used for the tea party lasted well over a week. I was grocery shopping without a plan for flowers, and they had a special buy one get one free. I felt so fortunate to get such fresh flowers, which worked beautifully for our tea party.

Wishing all of you a beautiful week ahead. I hope to catch up soon.