OF BIG FUN!!!
But I'll start with three!!
Mama and her seven ducklings in Oconomowoc, WI!
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I flew out of Portland, OR on Wed, June 22
Passed some beautiful mountain peaks...
And landed in Milwaukee, WI
Enjoyed next day lunch with Chuck and Angie
Friday evening held a BIG 5-0 Birthday party for Angie!! She earned her name inscribed on the Schmidt7, 5-0 shirt...
Hey! Mom's here too...
Siblings Al, Chuck, Angie
Saturday afternoon Mimi hugged her dad goodbye before we headed to the airport.
Mimi holding her golden ticket!! Due to flight delays we "had" to fly first class to San Diego!!
Six glorious days of sun, surf and family!!
California cousin, Gemma
Munching funnel cake with Uncle Gerry
Hello to Charlie Pelican...a local resident for many years
Oceanside, CA beach scene
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Monday, Aunt Debbie and Jude took us to an art fair in Laguna Beach...
Debbie, Gemma, Mimi, Jude
Move over, Gandalf!
Artful ladies...Mimi, Gemma, Gram G, Debbie
Mimi and Gemma tried their hand(s) at pottery making
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Finally, earned my wings...Amethyst, my birthstone
Mimi and I stayed three nights at a small motel in Old Town, San Diego...
took in the sunshine
And enjoyed a three hour harbor cruise
Under the Coronado Bridge
A Brief walk through the Ocean Beach Wednesday street market with Bill and cousin Berklee
Mexican cuisine for dinner
Gerry and Bill took us for a drive to Coronado Island for a few hours at Hotel Del Coronado and beach...
WHAT is THIS?
Why, it's a $15 strawberry, pistachio, mascarpone dessert!
Skillfully divided into 5 portions...
Two brothers and a crystal chandelier...
Who shrunk Gram G?
No San Diego visit is complete without Amanda's
gourmet back yard dinner in Ocean Beach! Yum!
Cousins engaged in their outdoor painting studio
Bill with his 6 ladies for an afternoon of thrift shopping and organic lunch
The two youngest grandchildren of 19,
Berklee 6, Mimi 13
Time to fly HOME!
Chuck with his ladies,
Anna, Louisa, Mimi, and Luna.
Mimi with her dance team in 4th of July parade!
What NOW??
SURPRISE!
Chuck drove me from Milwaukee to Indianapolis to surprise sister Kate for her 80th B-day. We "happened" to be at the same restaurant where she was going for dinner.
Sister bingo at the senior center...
Gram G won a game!! $9
Happy 80th B-day, mom Kate!!
Son Jim, Daughter Stephanie
Siblings Betty, John, Geo and sister-in-law Sally
Chuck learning to play Mexican Train Dominoes
Found a wooden pelican wind chime at the
Gypsy Moon flea Market
Afternoon visit to hot Eagle Creek park and bird sanctuary
Up close with a peregrine falcon
And a huge metal bear
Time for Gram G to go home...
Nick, my trusted driver to the airport
Must be back home in PNW!
Bigfoot chilling in PDX airport
REFLECTIONS
This post is quite long but I wanted to catch up to date, almost. I took a six week break from most social media while engaged in fun, family activities. That took a lot of prep, planning and energy! Now I am resting, reviewing pictures, reflecting on the experiences, and enjoying the memories.
This recent San Diego visit was Mimi's 12 year old trip with Gram G. It is a bit of a milestone. She is the 18th of 19 grandchildren to have taken a trip with me. Berklee is the last. With her being 6 years old there is a break of 6 years. Perhaps her trip will happen at an earlier age...just to ensure Gram G is still travel worthy!!
It is so gratifying to me to have had the privilege of hanging out with each individual grandchild, for us to get to know each other more closely. One grandson even concluded that Gram G is actually fun and not boring like he thought. I am eager to share that experience with Berklee sooner than 6 years!
Ya all come back, cause there's more adventure to blog about!!
This has been a good 6 GeoGram weeks in the life of Gram G.
"May the Lord continually bless you from Zion, May you see Jerusalem prosper as long as you live. May you live to enjoy your grandchildren. May Israel have peace!." (Psalm 128:5-6)
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