Weekend Update on Monday.....

We had such a great long weekend with our nephew, Lou, and his beautiful family. Wife Peggy, daughters Jackie, Nikki and Lexie.  Dimitri is the son-in-law, married to Nikki.  Lexie was celebrating her 21st birthday (on Saturday) and that was the reason for the Disney vacation.

They all arrived on Thursday night. They all came to Lakeland on Friday morning. We took them to the Polk Museum of Art (where I work) and our Curator, Adam Justice, gave us a wonderful tour of the two main galleries.

We also visited Lakeland's Hollis Gardens, and had lunch at the Garden Bistro while we were there.

Back home, several hours later, we had dinner and then enjoyed Lexie's birthday cake with her.

We all watched a movie on TV, then the kids headed back to the hotel, just outside Disney, and Lou and Peggy stayed with us, which was great. After breakfast the next morning, Lou and Peg went over to join the kids at the Disney parks.  They had park-hopper tickets, so went to The Magic Kingdom and Epcot, staying there for the fireworks show.  Lou and Peggy got back to our house around 10:30 pm. We sat and taked for 30 minutes or so before we all headed for bed.

I did our laundry on Saturday because Joe and I were going over to the hotel on Sunday morning to spend a little more time with the kids.  We got up Sunday morning and had breakfast with Lou and Peggy, then touched base with the kids before heading to their hotel, Buena Vista Suites.  We sat in the lobby talking for awhile because Lexie and Jackie had gone over to Hollywood Studios for a few more rides.  They took the shuttle bus from the hotel at 8:00 a.m., and caught a cab back to the hotel around noon.  We all went to lunch there in the hotel (we were the only ones there!).

Uncle Joe and Nephew Lou

Jackie (in the mouse ears), Lexie and their mom Peggy

Dimitri and Nikki

After lunch, we headed to the outside courtyard, where we sat and talked and laughed for a couple more hours. The weather was beautiful and Dimitri got a chance to learn some more family history through the silly stories that stay in the family for years and years, only to be brought out when there is a gathering to tell and laugh at all over again. It was wonderful.

Dimitri is from Barbados and has the cutest dimples and the sweetest accent.  He and Nikki have visited there many times, but his family and ours haven't had a chance to meet each other.  A D'Orsaneo reunion vacation is being organized by Nikki and Dimitri, in Barbados, and we are hoping Joe will be well by then and we can join a whole bunch of our family for a week in the sun!!  The best part is for Joe to spend time with his brother and all the nieces and nephews. Hoping our boys will also be able to go.  

Even if we can't go to Barbados, we had a terrific long weekend with this bunch and have the memories to cherish!!

Thanks for your visit today!  Happy February!!  Peace & hugs!