WaterColor Get-Away
For Roger's and my 2024 Christmas present, our girls gave us airline tickets to go to Watercolor, Florida, and we left for a little vacation there on April 9. Our oldest granddaughter, Sydney, has lived there for about 5 years with her husband and they now have 4 adorable kids, who are 4 of our 7 great-grandkids. Our oldest daughter, Stacy, who is Syd's mom, and her husband, Tom, love Watercolor so much that they have now built a beautiful second home there. Stacy arrived there a few days early, stocked the frig, and had it all ready for us. And, best part, she stayed with us for 3 of the 5 days we stayed there. Oh, what fun we all had together!
Grandma Stacy is with Henry, Poppy, Charlie and Rosy on their back patio.
I wish we had taken a shot of the front of this darling home, decorated so well - Stacy-style! When we travel, Roger always takes a pic of how the pillows are arranged so we can make the bed properly.
We ate our dinners out and there are some great restaurants around the Florida beach areas where they live. First night out, we ate at The Perfect Pig. We loved it 3 years ago when we were on our Girls' Retreat and the dinner this time did not disappoint. Fresh-caught Gulf shrimp - so delicious and noticeably better than shrimp that have been frozen and Roger loved his fresh grouper. We shared entrees and the yummy fresh salad.
Of course, we had to share some Key lime pie!
Jake took Roger golfing at a beautiful private golf club, Camp Creek Golf Course, and they enjoyed a great round together.
They walked by 2 alligators - one was sunning on the golf course and the other, sunning on the edge of the lake. Yikes - good thing they were sleepy!
We spent lots of fun time being around the cute Young kids! They are in constant motion and Syd is our hero! As a consequence, she never stops moving, either!
That afternoon, we all went to the Camp Creek Beach, where they have a membership. Though a bit chilly, it was so fun to be on a Florida Gulf white sand beach again, and watch little kids play, so many years after Roger and I watched our 2 oldest kids, Rick and Ryan, play when they were little boys at Fort Walton Beach, Florida, when we lived in Biloxi.
The kids had so much fun rowing around in the little boat!
They're all bending down so that they can fit under the bridge ahead.
For fun, Syd decided to try being a redhead. we think she's gorgeous, no matter what color her hair is!
Stacy treated us all to breakfast at The Doughnut Hole on Saturday morning. The food is delicious and the portions are huge! Syd divvied out one order for all 4 kids like she'd done that before; we got a kick out of watching her take all of the frenzied tasks of motherhood into stride!
And right after the kids finished their breakfasts, it was doughnuts all around!
After Stacy flew back to Arizona, Roger and I explored around and did some shopping. Of course we had to get some new WaterColor sweatshirts!
Last visit, we also ate at this fun seafood restaurant, so we returned for more. You just can't beat fresh fish!
We wish we had taken more pics of our adventures. Stacy and I went shopping while the guys golfed. She knows all of the good places. We went to church on Sunday at Syd and Jake's ward, which we enjoyed a lot, and Syd had us over for a most delicious Sunday dinner. The very best part of our get-away was talking and catching up with Stacy, Syd and Jake and being around the cute greats!
Keynote Spring Concert in the Tabernacle
I am so proud of my sister, Kay! For many years, she has sung in and directed (off and on, but mostly on) this outstanding women's singing group and we look forward to their concerts. They learn almost all new music for every concert, and their main reason for existence is to serve and perform in area nursing and assisted living facilities. Their level of polish is impressive, though most of those who hear them wouldn't know the difference. But they are all musicians, and they know the difference and have a high standard. Their harmonies and blend are great!
We celebrated a quiet Easter with each other. Our church service was filled with music and reminders of Christ's Atonement and sacrifice for us, and, especially, of his great love for us.
We both love spring lamb chops with mint jelly and we enjoyed a tasty Easter meal.
We had Caprice asparagus, baked potato, lamb chops with mint jelly and coconut lemon cake for dessert.
Our granddaughter, Katie, flew from NYC, where her husband has a job after his graduation, to receive her BYU, BS, degree. She decided to "walk" last minute, and, we weren't there, but, as it turned out, we came up north the day after to attend Roger's classmate, Val Taylor's funeral, and got to see her. She'll enter Columbia in August to pursue her Master's.
Val was a great guy, an "old Plain City boy," as they are called, and probably best friends with Jerry Moyes, the owner of Swift Trucking classmate who hosts his Class of 62 friends at Lake Powell and the ranch in Montana. He has a sweet wife, Liz, who was actually Roger's first date to a dance, so many years ago. She was so pleased that we came and it was a lovely funeral, hearing from his great kids.
We attended a fun ward dinner that was held at this fun location. We forgot to take pics, but there was a big turn-out and there was oodles of good food. We love our ward people! So much water under the bridge for all of us, and pretty much what's left for us is to hang in there together, helping, loving and encouraging each other!
I kind of hated to see April end with its spring weather, which I enjoy so much more than the weather in the desert to come!
