Merry Christmas Eve to everyone!
We returned from Naples, FL, yesterday afternoon. It was a wonderful long weekend, spent with Kathy, Jim and our beautiful grandchildren, Lauren and Tristan.
We left Lakeland on Saturday morning, timing our trip so we could pick Lauren up at the airport in Ft. Myers. We got there with 15 minutes to spare and waited in the cell-phone lot for her call. Ft. Myers is 40 minutes or so north of Naples, so it made sense for us to pick her up, rather than have Kathy or Jim drive up to get her. PLUS, we got to spend that extra 40 minutes with her! Lauren just finished college at Monmouth University, in New Jersey, and is still working at a company where she has been interning.
Saturday evening, Kathy and Jim hosted a Holiday Soiree at their house. There were about 24-25 guests, and we knew many of them from previous get-togethers. Nice people, and a fun time. Kathy hired a harpist to play background music, and she also hired a woman to keep dishes washed and things cleaned up. That was really nice!! She did all the cooking, though, and worked all day getting things ready. Lauren and I helped with the chopping and mixing and cooking clean-up.
Sunday morning, we opened gifts from each other, then went out to lunch at the Naples Ritz Carlton. That is where Kathy and Jim got married. For my new friends, Kathy is our former daughter-in-law and the mother of our only two grandchildren. We are blessed to remain as "family" in her life. We still consider her our daughter. Jim is wonderful to the kids, and has accepted us into his life, as well. Blessed again. Now that they are in Florida, we are also blessed to be able to see Tristan on a more regular basis. Hoping that Lauren moves down, now that she is done with college.
Sunday night, Kathy cooked a delicious Italian meal, and while 'the boys' watched football on TV, the rest of us played games and talked. Kathy had to work Monday morning, and Jim had a doctor appointment. We bid them farewell and got our things gathered and loaded in the car. We woke the kiddos up long enough to get hugs, I love yous, and Merry Christmases. Our trip home was quick and safe, thank goodness. Just trying to unwind, get the laundry caught up and some grocery shopping done. I need to bake a cake for our Christmas lunch, tomorrow, at Helen's house. We will go to Mass this evening, then out to dinner. Joe and I will open gifts tonight, when we get home and settle in for another Christmas movie.
Here are some photos I took of our weekend.....
Kim, the harpist. She was great!
They live in a penthouse condo suite. This is their front door, just off the elevator.
Tristan's nutcracker collection decorated the elevator foyer.
The dining room, with all the desserts (more to come!).
The island, separating the kitchen from the living area, ready for drinks & guests.
Their real pine tree, in the living room (artificial in the dining room).
Joe and me, ready for the party.
The food buffet, lots more was loaded on when the guests came.
Granddaughter Lauren, Grandson Tristan, and their mom, Kathy.
Joe and our friend (and theirs) Rob. Rosa was busy washing dishes.
Some of the guests, enjoying food and drinks.
We did a "Silly Santa" (Chinese gift exchange). Gifts were not to exceed $10.
This is what Joe and I ended up with...nail polish and K-Cups!!
Their tree, again.
This is their new living room furniture, that we hadn't seen yet. It
arrived in time for the party!
Another view of the living room. Not done yet (according to her decorator), but beautiful, and surprisingly comfortable!
Jim and Lauren, opening gifts.
Tristan and Lauren, at the Ritz Carlton (Tristan was thrilled to have his picture taken with the Gingerbread House - can you tell?! LOL)
The Gulf of Mexico - our Florida kind of Christmas!
Our lovely Lauren!
Tristan and Lauren, ready for lunch at the Naples Ritz Carlton.
I wish you all a wonderful Christmas Eve and a very happy Christmas Day. We will be going to the 5:00 p.m. Christmas Vigil Mass this evening. What a wonderful way to welcome, once again, the Christ child into our lives!! Remember the true meaning of the season! Blessings on you all!! Peace, love & hugs!
Everything was so elegant and I know you had a good time...who wouldnt! lol Especially happy you got to spend time with your grandchildren. I wish you and Joe the Merriest Christmas and of course 2014 to be the best ever! Sending love and hugs.
ReplyDeleteWhoa..very nice & elegant. Thanks for sharing. So happy you had a good time and got to see the grandkids. Wishiing you & Joe a very Merry Christmas!!! Blessings
ReplyDeleteLooks like you have a nice Christmas started there. Merry Christmas to you too. sandie
ReplyDeleteYour grandkids are handsome children and everything looked very nice. Kathy is a little bitty thing, isn't she? :) Kinda like my mother-in-law. I think she's only about 5 ft tall. I feel like a giant at 5 ft 7 inches next to her. [lol] Sounds like y'all had a great time. I'm so happy to hear that as grandparents, y'all weren't left out in the cold (so to speak). I think it's important for everyone to know their family.
ReplyDeleteMerry CHRISTmas to y'all too. ~:)
Wow! What a lovely home! I'm glad you enjoyed your visit and gifts. I've just just through painting my nails to more or less match the outfit that I'll be wearing tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteWishing you a Merry Christmas again.
Great pics. Their condo is beautiful. Glad you had a nice time. Have a Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteI always enjoy seeing how 'the other half' lives. That's why I follow royalty. It is kind of like snooping into others' lives. It is good of folk to blog and share with me as I so enjoy seeing how other cultural groups in other parts of the world survive and flourish and to see what their values are. Merry Christmas.
ReplyDeleteKaryn (and all), please know that Joe and I have a very small, humble home, and cannot live the fantasy you see in these photos! It is like peeking into how the other half lives each time we visit in Naples. Kathy and Jim are very intelligent and have worked hard (and continue to work hard) to be able to live as they do. We appreciate being able to tag along now and then, but their decorator would fall down dead from fright if he walked into our house. Our comfort levels are quite different from theirs. We do, however, love them dearly and are blessed to be part of their lives.
ReplyDeleteHope you have a wonderful holiday!
ReplyDeleteLovely photo of you and Joe! I think I'm long overdue for a real Italian dinner. Hold a place for me! Blessings of Christmas to you and Joe. xoxo
ReplyDeleteTheir home is beautiful. I'm glad you had a good time. I'd love to experience your "Florida kind of Christmas" just once. You have a great day.
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