Searching out our perfect Christmas Tree

Yes, this is last December, I thought I better put it on here before we go out again in a couple weeks!  I am just a little behind on my blogging   Last year started a tradition, all of us getting together and cutting down our trees.

We are getting ready for the big day, hats required! 

 

Somebody thought we looked like such a happy family on a special outing and wanted to take a family photo….needless to say we were all in bad moods and just wanted to find a tree and go home!

 

I finally found my tree, or was it that Josh said “That’s a nice one, lets cut it down”.

 

James thinks he may be able to cut the tree down.  Josh finally takes the saw and gets the job done…

 

 

Stephanie and Josh giving each other a bad time.  As the day goes on we find ourselves having a good time, maybe we just started out to early! 

 

Abbie taking James and Amara out looking for a tree.  

 

It was a great day…a good tradition has been started …

 

Happy Birthday Josh!

We had a great time getting together to celebrate Joshs big day!

 

You can always count on Stacie to make great food…what a little entertainer she is!

 

Stephanie arrived early to help out … or hang out!

Dad and Larry enjoying all the great food

Ana and James having a little quite time

 James and Amara enjoying the sandbox

Josh and his little ones…

Time to relax and call it a night…

St Pete Florida

After a long but nice flight … I finally arrive!  I was lucky to have John pick me up from the airport…I have stayed in touch with three people here, so it makes the vacation a little more special to be able to come back and  hang out with them.  The first night proved to be a long one … lots of catching up to do!

The view off my deck…

 

My home for the next 9 days

On Saturday John took me to a Pirate Festival … a huge outdoor market … and walked the pier … we ended up with lunch at a British restaurant called ‘The Moon Under Water’ … I love that name!  Food was great too…

Palm trees line the beaches but in parks there are these huge trees …not sure of the name but they are amazing …

Pictures from Harrys Bar & Grill which is in the complex…its a local hangout where the same group comes every night.  I had to laugh the first night I went down, I told them they reminded me of the guys on the old tv show ‘Cheers’.  I think they were still sitting in the same place!  Its also a perfect place to watch the beautiful sunset each night.

My other two buddies…

Always someone playing music on the deck…

Harrys is right under my deck … made it nice …

Every monday night there is ‘Blues Jams on the Beach’ at Ka’ Tiki in Treasure Island.  Sandy, who I met this trip and I had a great time… if we ignored our black shirts … lots of good music …

Steps from the beach … life is great … and so was my vacation…

Off and Running…

I have been reluctant to begin blogging for one reason,  I did not know how to upload pictures to my blog! Lucky for me, Bill and Erin came to town. Bill and Erin are friends of Josh and Stacie, they all met while living in Alaska. While visiting, Bill loaded a new and easy to use picture program to my computer. He then gave me step-by-step instructions on how to upload pictures and blog… yahoo!

Here are the pictures of the day Bill helped me get up and running!

 

 

Welcome to my Blog!

Stacie has helped me to set up my very own Blog… this is very exciting news! Now I just have to get a picture program, and I’ll be in business.