Day 205-219 Trip Home to NH, December 10-23, 2018

Day 205-219 Trip Home to NH, December 10-23, 2018

"Warm and sunny days mid 80s until Sunday which was cloudy with showers and mid 70's."
Boy was that not the case for our trip home!! Cold and snowy - but thankfully moderately cold

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We enjoyed our time in Longboat Key through the middle part of December in the warm Florida sun. In planning for the Great Loop trip we had originally decided not to make a trip home - even at Christmas time. But sharing pictures, emails, phone calls and video time just was not enough for these old folks - we decided in the fall that we needed to get home around the holidays.

One thing that we knew we didn't want to miss was the Christmas school concerts. We have always attended them and we concluded that we should plan time home around when the concerts were. We traveled home on Dec 10 and returned on December 20. This also avoided the crazy time of flying at Christmas.

So I realize that you all are interested in things about the Great Loop and following the travels of the trip - but a time back home is part of the trip for most of the Loopers - being away from family is harder than we imagined. So this post is all about the trip home. You are more than welcome to respond by saying "That's nice but I will pass on looking at all that family photos." But for us it is a neat way of capturing the great "trip within a trip" so you are more than welcome to view some of the finest kids and grandkids in the land - I am not biased am I? Oh, I am you think? Well maybe just a little I guess.

Our first visit was to son Rob and lovely daughter in law Dawn's home in Wolfeboro. NH. They have daughter Madelaine, Lauren and Gabrielle - and here they are in that order. And we only told the parents we were coming so at this first hello in a great while we where all smiles and .....

doing show and tell.

Here are Dawn and Maddy. I am embarrassed to say that when I went back to look at the photos, 99% where of the grandkids and few of our boys Robert (Rob) and Ryan and their wives Dawn and Melissa - so I am publicly apologizing for such focused picture taking - but I think they would agree that the error can be forgiven since the grandkids are so adorable.

Faye had done this painting some years ago and it was great that the grandkids liked having it up.

Catching up.

And we stayed at an AirBNB place in Wolfeboro. It was great being within minutes of Rob as our house is an hour and a half away and we would have had far less time to visit. Besides, our house is all closed up with no heat or water and thus was impossible to use. It was a nice one bed room apartment that was cheaper than a motel. My non - technical wife made the reservations. She has made huge leaps and bounds to embrace the better things of the internet. I am amazed since it was only a few short years ago she insisted on keeping her flip phone forever.

Bree is in first grade and reading like she is in third grade - it was great to see her accomplish so much since we left in May. Check out that beautiful red hair - it just makes her glow - a wonderful thing at Christmas time.

Concert Time!! Lauren is ready for her concern. She was in the chorus and played the trombone in the band. Lauren gets cuter every time I see her - and I tell her so each time!!

Lauren is back row third one from the right.

And Lauren in the band but we can't see here on the far left

A trombone player she is!!

A wonderful concert it was!!

Maddy is a beautiful young lady - a freshman - hard to believe. She is headed out to a special Christmas dinner with members of her class.

And it was a thrill to have us all stand together with the tree giving a wonderful perspective of this Christmas time

Nana is in heaven - playing dolls with the girls. And this is the lady who said (since she had only boys) upon the announcement of Maddy's arrival, "A girl? I don't know anything about playing with girls. What am I going to do?" To which I said - "I am quite sure you will find something to do together." Guess Nana figured it out, eh?

And staying in Wolfeboro we got to do things like walk Bree to school -

..... and notice who she is walking with - more proof that Nana has figured our what to do with girls!!

Later in week we were able to connect with Ryan and Melissa and their youngest two, twins Charlotte and Mitchell. I was shocked to see how much they have grown. And they did football and cheer leading this past fall.

And here is a picture of a most wonderful lunch, It was amazing to be able to take Maddy to lunch just the two of us - and still have great things to talk about. She did outstanding in her first half of freshman year - we are all very proud of her and thrilled to see she is enjoying and learning so much. A class trip to Spain for a number of days this spring will be absolutely wonderful for her. And Rob, her Dad, will be able to go a chaperon.

Look how tall Maddy is getting!!!!!

"Nana? Can you teach me to bake?" "Absolutely, my darling. As soon as I get back!!"

Rob and his three Princesses

There was a weekend in the middle of our stay and Ryan and Melissa hosted a feast on Saturday. Granddaughter Sydney (on left with Maddy), who lives in FL with her mom Jenn (remember our visit from them while we were in Clearwater Beach?) was able to fly up for our get together - how wonderful

Papa loves his girls!!

And Robert is getting jumped on by a gaggle of kids - and Nana always says, "Don't hurt the kids!!" to which I will always say "Who's looking out for me!!??"

And time for some presents.

Here you can see Tom and Joe standing behind the couch. And Melissa's parents Tom and Paula

I did manage to get a nice photo of Dawn. You can see where the kids all get those beautiful faces and smiles.

Rob and family attend a church that meets in the local high school. It was great to have everyone there on Sunday.

I was pleased to get this shot, Ryan with his Mom and Rob is on the stage in red leading the song time. Both boys got their mothers excellent voice.

On Sunday night we went back to Ryan and Melissa's to watch the Patriots lose to the Steelers. And Mrs. Clause arrived for the game!

While we did not stay at our house, we were able to get the car out for the week. And while there the weather was not too bad, but we did get some snow - plenty to affirm that it was cold as compared to our winter home in Florida.

So on Tuesday Miss Bree had her concert

Bree is right in the middle with her hands slightly raised.

The whole show

And here is Lauren and Nana - and a Pillow!!! When two and half, Lauren was asked by Nana to "Come snuggle with Nana." To which Lauren quickly responded, "here's a pillow!!