Saturday, December 1, 2018

Countdown~




I can't believe it~

But it is a lovely time ahead..

Thinking about baking ..and thinking about those we love..finding a special something for them..

writing cards..making cards..


Drinking warm soothing teas or coffees..

My daughter initiated me to Skinny Moka Lattes:)..

here..



















Florida has a special place in our hearts~

All our 4 Littles have come to visit at the same time we have visited..as babies..
To see them grow.. after a few yrs of absences..
is  quite amazing.
I like my daughter's phone pics better than mine for one thing;)

We had all kinds of weather..from sublime to not so sublime.
Robin..a VT friend on our beach is a landscaper..gardener..she combs the beach and makes..gardens out of SEASHELLS♥
This is one smidgen of what she creates.

Max..came and had to leave us w/ his dad for Edmonton,Alberta where he played in a round robin tournament for all of Canada w/ the CFL..in flag football.
His dad..left their holidays and went w/ Max.♥
Dads are different these days.
Fred does anything for his boys.And Alain is a dad like I never had.
Alain goes out to lunch and shopping with his children..like Fred..and supports everything they do.
No iron hands here.
So different from the 50's.
SO HAPPY FOR THE LITTLES.
So...Max and Montréal won:)
National flag football champions.
Next..Fl ..in Jan for International games and the ProBowl..meeting heroes..playing their best game.
Look what I spotted on the beach..on a cold breezy..well windy day..on the beach.
You Mean The World To Me.

Sums it all up for my little family♥
See you soon..back in the saddle:)

44 comments:

  1. I wondered if you were with your daughter and her family. Such a beautiful place. I've only been to FL a few times. Do you go to the Atlantic or the Gulf? Happy Holidays, dear friend!

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    1. The Gulf..it's always been special for us:)Happy Holidays to you also Sarah!

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  2. That must be a Great time.....Yes 24 days till 🎄🎄🎄...enjoy the week love Ria x 💕

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  3. Love the seashell designs on the beach. We always made sand castles instead of shell designs, but I always return home with lots of them. I do love the beach. If only I could afford to live there, I'd be there in a heartbeat. I can't believe Christmas is so close. I am never ready. Donna@gather

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    1. Lots of creative people were there during our visit..Yes the beach..unaffordable..yet many of the mansions seem to have no one enjoying them..the beach deserted..evrn US Thanksgiving..Many of these homes seem to be second residences...
      Experienced some red tide.After our family left.
      Florida will have to do something....it's sad you know.

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  4. Love the shell designs! I lived in Florida for years. It is a great place to vacation.

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    1. I agree..great place to vacation:) People are friendly..skies are usually blue..the Sunshine state for sure..

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  5. I can’t believe Christmas is so closed! Only 22 days and we’ll be 20 here, at home, for a few days.

    Lovely Pictures, dear Monique. The shell designs are great.

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    1. 20!! Wow..I am sure you have started preparations!!:) Have fun preparing!

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  6. Beautiful pictures. The boys are enjoying lot.

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    1. The boys never tired of fishing and playing:)I love seeing them so relaxed and happy.

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  7. In your photos the weather looks sublime. Shorts, swimsuits and tees tells it all...Push-ups :) You can tell they are athletes. How exciting for Max! What a lot of traveling they do! Kudos to Max and Fred for supporting him. We had our first Christmas party today! Brunch with Santa with the boys. They were all little gentlemen. 'Tis the season! Just finishing decorating our tree today. Welcome home, Nana! xoxo

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    1. Bonjour ma chère..yes just a couple of iffy days..but mainly the red tide effects after the booys left..enjoyed every minute of them:)We did the tree yesterday too..the steps involved..lol J's fitbit tells the tale..Your idea of storing the tree is winner. we did take it upstairs in 3 parts but having it all ready made a huge difference..and the lights all lit!
      Yay.
      And how many decorations I put on our tree from you:) Alice and Noah teeheehee from last ur etc...
      Have a great day..Hope we see pics w/ Santa!

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  8. Love the beach pics...and that one of you looking like a teenager!🖤
    I am starting to feel the crunch...must get organized..😬
    We are having a thunderstorm right now...rain pounding the windows!
    Enjoy your week ahead...
    Cheers!
    Linda :o)

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    1. Pretty exciting for him for sure:)

      I started yesterday..love when the tree is UP!!:)And lit;)

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  9. Dearest Monique,
    You show in this series of photos a lot of what you summed up in writing.
    Childhood happiness reflecting so well and they all are lucky with supportive Dads.
    Yes, I too was raised with an iron hand in the 50s. My Dad still is like that at age 97...
    Times change and as long as we are open for spotting the best and for finding the little treasures that are called happiness!
    Hugs,
    Mariette

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    1. Oh you're so lucky to have your dad:)
      My dad wasn't stict..just..well not like todays dads:) Or at least the ones I know:)
      Happy holiday season to you Mariette and Pieter:)

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  10. You must marvel at how much the boys are growing and how activities are so different from the days you had to hover over them by the water’s edge. I made red devil cupcakes with vanilla buttercream cupcakes to bring to everyone tomorrow. I’ll use the nutcracker cupcake toppers on them to start the Christmas season rolling. I am sure the girls willlove them and even Frankie will get a kick out of his Monday afternoon treat. Welcome home.

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    1. I bet they are beautiful..and yes I do marvel:)
      I marvel at how agile and healthy and happy they are♥
      That makes my heart sing.
      Oli is still blessed w/ that childhood innocence.So in love w/ them all..like you and yours:)

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  11. Such lovely, happy photos, Monique. The flowers made of shells are especially gorgeous.
    Amalia
    xo

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    1. Robin's shell garden was far larger..so beautiful ..simple and pure.To see her gather and work on her gardens the past few yrs has been lovely:)

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  12. Replies
    1. :)The Littles were soooo wonderful...♥I bought paints;)

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  13. Can we PLEAASE trade places?
    Whats a skinny latte?

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    1. Well right now I am home to the gloomiest skies ever and I hear Nov was all gloom!

      So..Starbucks;)Skinny Moka Latte tastes like a dessert in a cup.Like a hot chocolate and a coffe..and warm..and they put your name on it;)

      And it made shopping at Target(♥)even more special.

      Re Target..
      I am a small ..quaint.store shopper.

      But when in Fl..I do Hobby Lobby..Target..Trader Joe's:)

      The staff at the Venice ,Florida Target is exceptionally exceptional.
      Raphael from Miami♥
      Etc..from floor staff to customer service to cashiers..


      Sarasota is great too..but this time..w/ my daughter and 2 Littles.. we went into Venice..
      Give me a skinny latte and a shopping cart in Target and I am happy enough;)
      Falalalala:)

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  14. What beautiful and lovely place and looks fun!!
    I can't believe we are so close of Christmas !!
    Hugs !

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  15. Oh, every photo here makes me smile. Such love and fun and that wonderful warmth of the sun which I know had to be more than welcome! So glad that Max's team won -- and wonderful that he and his dad went together. I have to get moving! Time is running out!

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    1. LOL it is! Fl is pretty grand..the isolated private beaches are gems!

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  16. What an outstanding collection of pictures and thoughts. What a fortunate family!

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    1. Thanks A! Most of the pretty pics Caro took with her phone! She has a good eye:) The boys are at a good age♥Nice young boys♥

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  17. Your family is precious. What lovely photos you have of your family. Enjoy the holidays

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  18. I just got back from Florida, but seeing your pics brought all the relaxation back again...I LOVE the beach art!!

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    1. She's a landscape artist in VT...She is amazing:)
      It is a different world there for us..So sunshiney!

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  19. I would love to go to Florida this time of year. It looks fantastic and such a great time with the little ones - and they're not so little anymore!

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    1. Goes so fast..so fast so fast!!They are just as sweet as when they were little♥

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  20. Great photos Monique! Your alphabet boys are getting so big! Happy holidays! xoxo

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    1. Growing so fast!! I remember Isobel when you arrived..when you left and when I saw her afterwards! Hope my yearly pic is in the mail..:) No pressure:)♥xoxo

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  21. I thought I had commented on this, but bad me, I must have just read it! Oops! I can't believe how much older the boys are looking and so handsome! Lady killers! Florida looks like a lovely place to visit. My ex and his new wife go there every Winter. I have never been, but maybe one day. Christmas is coming up on us so quickly now. It will be over before we know it for another year! And once again I am not as prepared as I would have liked to be. I think next year I will start getting ready in January! Bonne Weekend ma chum! oxox

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    1. Allo ma chum:) Yes they are growing by leaps and bounds..and nice boys!
      Florida is as pretty as the tropics..on a clear day you can see forever.
      Suffering w/ red tide though..torism has been hurt.You can tell..not inland really..on beaches..
      What a huge undertaking for everyone.We have to take care of the oceans...the gulf..the seas..the lakes and rivers..of everything really.
      Bonne journée..bon dimanche..and best wishes for Todd tomorrow!

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