Onward Ho and Grandparenting practice enroute!

Mom and Dad took us down to the Amtrak station in Sebring where we caught our train to Miami

 

 

Extremely comfortable way to go! The train was about an hour late as it was coming from New York, but still managed to get us to Miami for 7pm, so no complaints!

Very roomy seats and comfy cozy.

 

And we got to help out a single mother of 4, including 2.5 months old twin boy and girl, Tomafisa and Tonalia. Her kids were wonderful

 

and we got to practice our grandparenting skills! Can hardly wait.

:)

 

Off on our Panama Canal cruise on the Norwegian Pearl tomorrow, so this will likely be our last post for at least 15 days. Will try to post soon after. Take care of yourselves and each other and we'll see you on the other side (of the Canal that is!)  Hugs always, Grandma and Grandpa to be,

Deb & Vic :)

Fantastic news! Which many of you already know - but now we know - IT'S A GIRL!!

Terrible, but I've not been able to figure out how to put any of the pictures our oldest daughter, Sara, sends me, of her belly, or the ultrasound, or anything!

But I want everyone to know how excited Vic and I are that we are going to be grandparents this September!!

And now, based on Sara and Jean's ultrasound of last week, we know we are having a granddaughter!

We couldn't be happier and just want to share our wonderful news with all of you. Once we reach Canada and have my camera handy again, I will be better at sharing how things progress!

In the meantime, thank you both so much, Sara and Jean, for making us very proud and excited Grandparents to be!  Looking forward to meeting "Pep - short for Peppercorn" whenever she is ready to meet us!

On the Road - heading north; by taxi, bus, plane, car ....

And so begins our month long journey home.

It felt sad and a little scary saying goodbye to our little Mexican house, but here we go!

At the airport in Cancun waiting to catch our flight to Orlando

 

We took the ADO from Merida to Cancun airport directly, which was a great ride of just 4 hours for just under $80 for both of us.

We then stayed at the Cancun Comfort Inn, which was just 5 minutes from the airport, and half the price of some of the other hotels in the area. And we had a free shuttle (which we called to arrange for pick up on our arrival at the airport), both from and back to the airport the next day!

It even included a free breakfast!

 

On the plane leaving Cancun

 

Above the beautiful blue Carribean waters as we head for Orlando to visit Deb's parents

Lots of great eating and catching up in Mom and Dad's screenroom

 

Playing tennis with Dad's fellow players.

They tell me they brag about him back home - an 84 year old still super tennis player!

 

Mom having a nap by the pool

 

which is one of two gorgeous pools in their Highlands Ridge complex

where tennis and golf are the way of life!

 

a great park. Near Sebring, Florida, in an area called Avon Park.

 

Soaking up some shade

 

And a wee little bit of sunshine!

 

 

Time to go again!

Tomorrow we take the train to Miami where we'll catch our home away from home on the

Norwegian Pearl's Panama Canal trek, and our trip north towards Dan's place in Seattle.

 

Almost all packed up and ready to set sail!

Sharing my garden

So, since my garden is full and I can't plant much more,

we have added some of the excess to our Neek Kaan garden!

Below is the before shot

 

And the current after shot, with new coleus, mother-in-law tongue, impatience and "the purle leafed plant"

 

Bindi and Sue and I worked hard to get the new babies in.

It will be fun to see what makes it and doesn't, and how the garden looks when we return this Fall!

Gardening in Mexico is so very different than home because the season is year round. What fun!

Ready for company! Meubleria Dixie comes through for us again!

Wilberth of Meubleria Dixie shows us his first ever Murphy Bed, made at our request!

I think he is very proud of what he's made for us

    He just wanted us to check it before the final painting began!

And here it is, ready for the Queen size mattress as soon as we return, so our friends and family can come and stay with us

 

 

Vanna Vic demonstrates the legs hidden as part of the design

And the final product, with nightstand, headboard, lights and all!

Excellent work!

 

More final farewells

Good-bye Sabrina, it's been great running with you all winter!

 

 

Bye Gregg, good luck in all your travels!

 

And all the great kids and friends of Sabrina's boys!

 

 

And new friends to watch for next year when we're back

 

And good-bye to Pury until next year - my wonderful girlfriend who has kept the condo safe and sound for the past 5 years! Buen verano!

 

Having lunch at El Faro, the seaside restaurant in Chicxulub!

 

Great menu, and ambience

Deb places 3rd!

It was an overcast but extremely humid (about 100%) morning

We were up early and off to the 7 am start at the University de Mayab

ANAHUAC

Goldie was not too happy to be up so early, but enjoyed the car ride

Too hot for her to run though

 

 

Caro, me, Jorge and Suemy,

our dentist team, and very good friends,

and now Goldie's temporary summer family :)

Running is very popular, with races almost every weekend now that it's springtime.

Here is the University's mascot

 

It was a typical 5km walk/10km run

 

They have a great warm up session

 

And many of us took part!

 

Ready, set ... Go!

 

Vic's new amigos, the ambulance staff, just in case!

 

And off we all go!

 

I stood out because I wasn't wearing orange!

This is me with just a few hundred meters to go!

Happy to be almost done!

 

And even happier now that I'm under the finish line showers - great invention!

 

A whole row of showers in case we all want to shower at the same time!

Could be a group shower :) Clothes mandatory of course!

And I placed third in my age class, with a great time for me of 51:39! Great trophy, super medals, and I even won $500 (pesos)!