Family Christmas Fest..Day 1

Let the FUN begin!!!
We arrived back in Okee on Saturday to two happy boys and a worn out Nanna! (and a non-existent Pop Wally..I guess the volume challenged Mercer boys were too much for him so he escaped to the woods for some peace and quiet!)

John, Karen and "the cousins" arrived shortly after us. Pnut and Spud were totally and completely smitten with their cousins Meagan, Cody and Mallory. As far as they are concerned they are the coolest kids to ever walk the earth! Ken and Ollie arrived next and we all had a great Saturday together.

John brought his super cool new smoker and prepped our turkey for the big family feast that was planned for Sunday.

We brought the entertainment! First Andrew set up the zip line and everyone (even Karen and Nanna!) had fun on that. He then fired up the Go Cart and all the kids took turns tearing up the yard doing loops around the ponds. Lots and lots of photos were taken so get ready to scroll....

Goooo Nanna!

As you can tell from the photos, the zip line needed some improvement... so Cody and Andrew decided to move the zip line to a better location...

 Dinner that evening was a nice affair, followed by looking at stars at the airport and pop corn at bedtime (thanks Aunt Karen!)

Escape to Florida...Jupiter

So we headed strait to Dune Dogs for lunch YUMMMMY!!! They need to open one in SC! I got some ideas for new "One Beachy Mother" projects off the walls there...

After that the hubby did a little drunken shopping at the fishing store, we stocked up on Kalik Gold at his buddy's store and then hung out at Jeffe's house...

Luckily I was able to make my escape to the beach then dinner with my favorite friend Karen. (We have been friends since the 5th grade!!) We had a great time bonding over asian food and later when I crashed at her house we continued to bond over US magazines and HGTV. LOVE her!!
Friday we went out to eat again at a favorite diner and hit the beach again.

I love the blue water. But now that I have had to chance to really settle in to my new town I do not miss it as much. I certainly do not miss the traffic and giant intersections. Being back in Jupiter made me appreciate my new town and life SO much!! That blue water is awfully pretty though!!

Friday night I crashed the school holiday party and enjoyed time with my former co-workers. Then it was out to eat AGAIN to my favorite Thai / Sushi restaurant in Jupiter with Beth, Tiffany and Sonia. After dinner we rescued Andrew and then played Pictionary Man until the wee hours. GOOD TIMES with GREAT friends!!

Back to Okeechobee in the morning... but that's a separate post!!

Escape to Florida...Okeechobee Part 1

The day finally came for our first trip back to Florida since we moved. The original plan was to head down Wednesday morning but then I found out Jeanette, my friend that now lives in New Hampshire, would be in Jupiter visiting her Mom and flying out on Wednesday so the plan changed and we headed down Tuesday instead. Our time together was not long enough but we were able to eat some great food (C.R.Chicks..YUM!) and catch up as the kiddies played. Pnut adored Reagan, Jeanette's youngest daughter... not so sure the feelings were returned :o)

Nothin better than a stinky dog bed to play on!

Ann Marie, Reagan, Pnut and Spud. 

After we said our goodbyes and left Jeanette's, we began to head out to Okeechobee but decided last minute to swing through our old hood instead. We ended up not making it out to Okee until after 11pm...always fun to drive those alligator lined roads late at night! Eeeek!! I miss our old neighbors... don't miss the neighborhood or Florida, but the people I liked :o(

In Halifax(?) you have to wear the hat in order to take a shot... or vice versa?

The infamous Jeffe giving the boys a "new" helmet for their go cart.

Spud learned what a bidet was by turning it on... and drenching himself and the walls with water. LOL!

Finally made it to Nanna's house late, late, late.

We got to enjoy Nanna's neighborhood and pool all day Wednesday, although it was a little lonely being at Nanna and Pop Wally's house without them. (She and Pop Wally forgot they had eye doctor appointments in Boca so they were gone almost the entire day.) We did our best to have fun though.

A flying Mercer!

Another flying Mercer!

Definitely his father's son!!

Cool local hanging out by the barn.

Biggest rat snake I have EVER seen!

For the next 2 days we escaped to Jupiter... without kids!! Wooohoooo!

"Girl, you need to get a job.."

Pop walked in the door today, took one look at my cookie creations and said " Girl, you need to get a job cause you are obviously bored!" Nah, not bored... thoroughly enjoying the opportunity to be creative!
Here's what I created....

Lets Go Mountaineers!!

Uncle Drew wears a blue helmet on his Coast Guard buoy tender...
and nothing says Christmas like CG Rescue Swimmer cookies.

What were the boys doing while I was channelling Betty Crocker?
Playing in a mud puddle in the driveway of course!