Mary Kay Andrews

Moulton's Book Club

Lydia getting her book signed

Debbie and Mary Kay 

Mary Kay signing my book 

Mary Kay Andrews is one of my favorite authors.  The fact that she was born and raised in St. Pete is a plus.  The first time I met her ( I've seen her four times now) it was so fun talking to her about growing up in St. Pete.  She went to Lakewood High School where I went to Dixie Hollins but we had a lot to talk about.  Her real name is Kathy Hogan Trocheck.  When she first started writing, she wrote several books under that name.  Her books are very funny and there is always a happy ending.  She moved from Florida right after graduating and now lives in Atlanta.  My book club always takes the advantage of her coming to northern Alabama every year with her new books.  It's like getting to see a long time friend.

Pretty Blue Eyes Baby

Michelle made her sleeping, baby girl a crown of real
black eye susans....

Pretty blue eyes

Happy baby!

It's fun having a "real doll" to dress and play with.  Each outfit is cuter than the one before.  I had fun with my babies as Michelle is hers.  Being Grandma, I get to dress her in pretty dresses, bonnets and bows also.  Fun! fun! fun!

All My Children....

My three darling grand daughters!!!!

Uncle Ryan meets his niece 

Lily Ryann and cousin Vivi

Two cuties

It was really special for me to have all my kids together with me at the beach.  The chance doesn't come too often but when it does, we make memories to last us until the next time.  I'm a very lucky Grandma/Oona for sure!

Molly the Mermaid

Genavive working on Molly

All my girls working on Molly

Ryan and Lily Ryann collecting shells for her tail

She's done!!!

Three pretty mermaids

Michelle and Genavive started working on Molly the Mermaid the first day we were at the beach.  With the help of Ryan and Lily Ryann, Molly was done by the end of their visit on Sunday.  Heather and Ian weren't able to come because Ian was sick.  Heather was so sweet to fix us a big chicken casserole for Ryan to bring for all of us for dinner.  We missed seeing her and Ian but we got to " face time" with them and it was almost as good as being together.  

Scream for Ice Cream

Michelle chose " Smurf" ice cream
Genavive chose " cookie dough " ice cream

Vivienne wanted her Mama's ice cream...

To top off their really good dinner at Ted Peters, Michelle and Genavive each got a huge, chocolate covered cone of their favorite ice cream at Larry's.  Vivienne and I both were wishing we could have one but it was fun watching the girls enjoy theirs.   Miss Vivi even wore her new " ice cream suit" that Kendra had given her.  She couldn't have been any cuter!

Famous Ted Peters

My Dear Sweet Genavive 

Just " us four girls" for dinner

Saturday night dinner
Smoked mackerel, German potato salad, cold slaw,
pickle, sliced tomato and a slice of sweet onion!

I had two favorite places to eat when we lived in St. Pete and one of them was Ted Peter's going to St. Pete beach.  It's been there as long as I was a teenager....50 years!  It has the best smoked fish around and all the fixings that come with it are just as good.  If you aren't a smoked fish fan, they also have the famous HUGE hamburgers.  I don't think I have ever had one of the hamburgers though because I love the fish so much.  Ted Peter's makes this wonderful fish spread but I usually can't eat all of my fish, so what I take home with me, I use to make my own fish spread.  Us four girls, decided to head down the beach to eat outside at  Ted Peter's and a stop on the way home for some ice cream.

Beach Buddies

The evening that Genavive and I walked down the beach to look a the houses, the turtle and manatee were in someone's back yard.  Since there was no fence around them, we took the chance of it being OK that we took pictures on them.  They were very fitting to be in someone's back yard full of sand and the Gulf not far away.

Florida Sun Sets

Beleair Beach Resort
Pretty pink clouds in the East

Genavive

Genavive, Michelle and Vivienne 

I have to admit, Florida does have some of the prettiest sunsets of any place I've been.  It's just beautiful watching it go down into the water of the Gulf.  Even when it's cloudy and you can't see the sun disappear, it's so pretty to see what it does to the clouds.  The sunset was the best part of each day.

Beach Houses

Genavive's dream house

I would take this one if it wasn't on the beach,

Genavive and I walked down the beach one of the evenings, just to look at all the big houses that were next to the little " mom/pop" motel we were staying at.  Genavive's favorite one was the one that some baseball player was building.  You'd have to call each other on the phone to find each other in that one.  ...geez.  My favorite one was the yellow one trimmed in white ( I wonder why).  ...but I wouldn't want it to be on the beach.  Too many people, tourist, hot, hot weather and sand everywhere!  I'm just not a beach person.  Maybe it's because I was born and raised around it all.  Give me my cool mornings and evenings with lightening bugs lighting up the woods and hummingbirds swarming the feeders.  I know Florida is a lot of people's paradise but it's just not for me.

Beach Baby

Grandma holding a sleeping baby

Vivi's first sand castle

Beach baby

First swimming pool experience 

Chillin in the pool

This is a baby's life

Sand between her toes

Vivienne had a lot of " firsts" on her "first trip to Florida".  First time getting sand between her toes, first time being in the Gulf, first time taking a nap on the beach and first time relaxing in a swimming pool.  Mama Michelle took good care of Vivi to where she wouldn't get her first sun burn.

Meeting Oma and Opa

We're here!!!!!

I have two Grandma's AND an  Oma?

lots of love

Vivi's First Guten Appetit

Michelle's 36th Birthday

Next stop was driving down to St. Pete so Vivienne could meet her Oma and Opa.  They loved Michelle and Ryan their whole lives and me since I was 10 years old.  I spent more time in their house, with Marina ( their daughter/my best friend) than I did in my own home, I think.  I have always called them my " German family" since they came from Germany in the 1950's to live in the States.  They couldn't love me more nor I them than if I had come from Germany with them.  They are a big part of my family's lives and have had a big influence on all of us.  I am so thankful that they got to meet Vivienne.  I just wish she would be able to remember this trip to Florida. She will have to remember through pictures.  What a lucky little girl to have an Oma and Opa!