Iris Mary Fo

Iris Mary Fo was born on

23rd November and

weighed 5 lbs 14 oz.

Family time

In November we had a wonderful visit from Belinda and her lovely family. They spent 12 days with us and enjoyed time with family and friends as well as fitting in a trip to London, a visit to a spa and a night in a luxury hotel. It was good to finally meet our new grandson Reef and as always we enjoyed the time with Lily.

Welcome back Jayden

We haven't seen our six year old grandson Jayden for nearly two years. In October he went to live with Lawrence and so now we are able to see him again. In the first few weeks with Lawrence he has lost 13 pounds which is fantastic and he is enjoying beeing with them all. Thierry spends every other weekend with Lawrence so the boys get to hang out together.

Arthur's niece

We enjoyed having Arthur's niece visit us and the dogs have missed all the extra attention since she went home.

Bank holiday weekend

Chisato came to stay for the long weekend. He had a great time.

Walking the dogs, playing hide and seek with Lady at the park and enjoying the play park.

Painting, playdough, sweeping the leaves in the garden and then time to relax. Then of course there was baking rock cakes, making jelly and the special desserts like the banana split.

Weekend with our grandsons

Big brother, Chisato was very anxiouos to help
one year old Michika open his belated birthday present.













Michika preferred to play
with nanny's shoes.

Reef Ambrose Esser

I left Florida on 13th August and our newest grandson, Reef decided to arrive 3 weeks early on 14th August!!!

So welcome to Reef. We can't wait to be able to get back there to meet him in person.

He weighed in at 7 and 1/2 pounds.

Lily is now a very proud big sister.

Happy 6 Year olds

I travelled to Florida with Thierry to celebrate his and Lily's 6th birthdays. We had a fantastic time thanks to Belinda and Kelly's generosity, good weather and two very entertaining children. Poor Arthur had to stay at home with the dogs.

Our little helper

Since we arrived home from Florida we have had a quiet time, especially as Arthur hasn't been so well. We have pottered around in the garden and kept it tidy so that we can enjoy seeing the plants in bloom and the birds using the bird bath and bird box.

Chisato loves helping us water the plants and then his reward is one of my home baked cakes.

More photos from last few days

Playing in the pool

Lily's nails

Last post from Fort Lauderdale

This is the last post this vist. Although we were here for 5 weeks the last few days have gone by so fast. Here are some photos from our last week.

On Friday Belinda dropped us off and we enjoyed an early morning walk on the beach whilst we waited for the shopping mall to open. Our main purchase was a book about birds in Florida ... now we know what kind of bird it is that Stella has caught! She must think she is a cat as she catches and kills at least one bird a day.




Saturday was a girl's trip to the Nail Parlour. I have never had such nice nails so I think no housework for a while so that they last. :) Lily had light blue with a sparkly white pattern ... the toes have lasted longer than the finger nails.

Roadtrip

Having picked a basketful of Mangoes we set off to take them to Arthur's nephew, Courtney who lives near Tampa. The drive takes just over 4 hours so Belinda packed a cooler with drinks and a bag with snacks and we left about 3 pm Lily played with her DS, read and sung until finally giving into a nap on Grandad's arm. Once she woke it was I Spy and other games for the rest of the journey.

We had a great weekend visiting with Courtney, his wife Leslene and their youngest son Michael. Lily became Michael's shadow for the weekend. We were joined for some of the time by Courtney's brother and sister, Mark and Shirley, and their mum, Arthur's sister Olga. It was good to catch up with everyone and there was a lot of reminiscing going on.

We left there at 3 pm Sunday for the drive home. At one stop along the way we were joined by birds who came down to share the McDonald's fries.

Arthur, the dog whisperer

70 years young today

Lily had to leave for school at 7.30 so she woke the birthday boy at 7 by squirting him with her water pistol. Then she and Belinda served him with a very large Banana Split for breakfast which he duly obliged Lily and ate (complaining of feeling sick once she was off to school!) He was very happy with his present.

This evening we went to Seasons 52 restaurant for a very nice dinner. Then it was home for ice cream cake, which of course I couldn't eat but at least I have fat-free ice cream here.

Easter Weekend

Saturday was a shopping day ... first for food, then a girls' trip to the shopping mall for new clothes and to find a birthday present for Arthur. Settled for a bright green ipod, Nano. The afternoon was spent sitting by the pool watching Lily and her friend Max swim followed by a very pleasant dinner at The Outback Steakhouse.

Easter Sunday was an early start for Lily with an Easter gift basket left by the Easter bunny even though she had declared very clearly on Saturday at the mall that she hated the Easter bunny. She doesn't like any large dressed up characters so would not go anywhere near the 6 foot bunny that she could have had her photo taken with. Kelly had to leave early for the Bahamas for work and the rest of us got ready to go to Breakfast and Easter egg hunt at a friend's house. It was great fun watching the children race round the yard collecting the plastic eggs and then the tucking into the candy while the grown ups started with a liquid breakfast (Mimosas, Pimms, Bloody Marys and Beer!) Then came breakfast although by then I guess it was Brunch as it was late morning.

In the afternoon we went to Kelly's parents home for Easter Dinner. Lily enjoyed a swim in their pool closely watched by their puggle Riley and grandad. We were back home in time to decorate a few eggs before bed time for Lily and time relaxing in front of the TV for us.

Toasted marshmallows

This evening, after dinner, we sat in the garden and toasted marshmallows. Although this is one of the treats I am allowed on my fat free diet I have never toasted them before. It was a lovely evening.