We're back on the road again heading south after spending 38 days in our daughter & son-in-law's driveway. Wow, glad we get along ! Seriously, it was fun and especially rewarding to be "next door" to our 3 grandchildren who are a pleasure to be with and to watch them grow & enjoy their lives.As most of you know, my son-in-law has been fantastic and set-up our own campground with 4 point hook-ups, including 50amp service & the driveway is big enough so we are not a burden on their activities.
Now for the surprise I talked about in my last post: we're taking the family to Disney World ! Yep, everybody goes. We've booked flights for our girls and son-in-law and the 3 grandchildren for Thanksgiving week and we were able to get the Park tickets before the recent price increase. We'll rent another RV and set it up on a lot at our resort park in Zephyrhills and Kristin can bunk in with us.
To add some fun to the surprise we bought the kids t-shirts that say "I'm going to Disney" and had their favorite characters imprinted on them. I made up a story about financial hard times and had them believing that was why we couldn't do our annual Jersey Shore trip and purchased them small consolation gifts. Watch the video for their reactions. Although I think Grandma was more excited then they were ! (Note: technical difficulties, I need to figure out how to shorten video, it's too big a file.....stay tuned, any suggestions ?)
So we were busy on Long Island and tried to get to see as many of our friends and family members as possible. Of course the first week in August is always the East Northport Fire Department Fireman's Fair and I try and "work it" whenever I'm in town. It gives me the opportunity to see all my fellow members and many neighbors plus I can give back to the department.
Jesse Rae....my cup is empty ?
Is the big slide still fun, Kane ?
......Jesse and Hogan think so !
Hogan & Kane...are we excited yet ?
I've been a member since 1973 and have some great memories. On Saturday afternoon, it's members family time and our grandchildren and daughters look forward to the rides and food and seeing friends. Our girls grew up participating in activities and social events involving ENFD and they enjoy seeing some of the friends they grew up with and their families. I got to attend a monthly meeting and we also enjoyed the annual clambake just before we left. It's more like a day of "grazing" with the copious amounts of food provided but it's at a private beach on Northport Bay and always a great time.
We took a day and rode the LIRR into Manhattan and the subway up to the American Museum of Natural History with our 3 grandkids in tow ! Great fun watching them view the exhibits, especially the dinosaurs and the fellow subway riders ! Believe me, they stayed close to Grandma & Grandpa !
A real "pearl" in an oyster shell !
An Indian maiden
looks like intense research !
Now this is what I call a drumstick !
Jesse, Hogan & Kane....is that her "Vanna White" gesture ???
They love the camera !
Katie and Kenny both had opportunities for some extra work and he's got some built in OT so we were right in position to help with the child care, although at 7, 9 and 11 they are not much work. I got to see my middle boy, Hogan practice for his Pop Warner football team and Jesse Rae for her cheer leading. The oldest Kane enjoyed some art lessons from Grandma and boy is he ever talented with a pencil ! Jesse Rae had numerous guitar lessons from Grandma and I took both boys, separately for 9 holes of golf ! Great fun !
Grandma's guitar lesson "studio"
They have a big front yard and we had lots' of games of bocce, ladder golf and bean bag toss. Laurie and Kate built the boards and we put Harley decals on them and had bought HD bags from a flea market in the midwest.
Outdoor fun, great weather and a visit from "pop".
Guess someone like Harley's !
Serious competition !
Laurie & Kate setting up the games !
Our youngest daughter Kristin was an almost daily visitor. It was fun to spend time with her and we had a very special dinner together in a great restaurant right in Greenlawn. She's still hunting for that one great job with benefits but manages to stay very busy with some side work.
In between dinners with friends and family members, I got in a few rounds of golf, we helped trim a few trees in the yard and put up a fence for better backyard privacy. We enjoy our stays on the Island but it is expensive to live there and the traffic congestion is horrific.
We're back on the road now and just arrived in Virginia Beach after 4 relaxing days in Cape May, New Jersey. We visited with our neighbors from PA who owned the townhome next to us. Shortly after we moved , they too sold and are full time in Cape May. A beautiful place to live and work.
A short but rough ferry ride to Lewes, Delaware and the easy ride down the eastern shore let us watch the sunset over the Chesapeake from the Bridge Tunnel before settling into the Norfolk Elks lodge for the weekend. Long time friends from the Island are retired here and we'll visit with them before heading onto North Carolina.
We have a few more stops to make before we wind up in Zephyrhills by Columbus Day.
I'll keep y'all posted on our travels and enjoy the pics.
Gene & Laurie
