Grandpa & Grandmama's Visit

We've had such a great time visiting with friends and family the past few months. Robert's parents were our most recent guests -- they arrived at the end of May and stayed a little over a week. 

Stan was in a terrible car accident on Abby's birthday seven months ago. He and Betty normally come down for Thanksgiving but they were unable to make the trip this past year due to Stan rehabbing his broken leg. It had been nearly a year since Abby had seen her Grandpa, so it made us all happy to see them together again.

Robert and his siblings have been working on a project the past few months to create a retirement shadowbox for their dad. Since Stan was a pilot, they used his unit patches to show his time in service as well as his award ribbons, aviator wings, and oak leaves. Robert had a U.S. flag flown in Afghanistan and a Navy flag flown by a P-3 squadron out of Naval Air Station Jacksonville, FL. We are all so proud of his service, not limited to his years in the Navy and Naval Reserve, but also as a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service.

(Please ignore the throw pillow backdrop!)

I know it's become a broken record on this blog, but we spent large amounts of time during their visit eating. Eating really good food! We covered pretty much every cuisine: Greek at Mykonos when we took a day trip to Tarpon Springs. Barbecue (and the best buttery, parsley potatoes!) at Kojaks. Delicious burgers and boozy milkshakes at Square 1 Burgers. German sandwiches and apple strudel from Schiller's, our favorite little deli just down the road. Fresh ravioli from The Ravioli Company. And of course Datz.

We also took Stan and Betty to the Thai Food Festival. You might remember hearing about this place last year when we took my mom.

 

Massaman chicken curry & pumpkin curry.

Veggie spring rolls with peanut sauce.

Pho!

Abby doesn't sit still much anymore.

 

There's an area where they sell plants and the most beautiful orchids.

Whenever we do end up leaving Tampa, I know without a doubt that the Thai Food Festival is something we'll continue to reminisce about years later. It's such a unique experience!

The next day, we went to the beach.

Abby loves her Grandmama (Robert is trying to make this name happen -- it's taken from Downton Abbey) so very much and she gives her the best hugs.

I love this sweet picture.

Abby kept showing Stan the acorns.

The morning they left Abby resumed her usual position in the kitchen, ready to mooch! She still stands and walks on her tiptoes more than we would like her to.

Bacon, yum!

Stan and Betty, thank you for the good visit, good food and good company! Please come back at Thanksgiving. Surely by then we'll be hungry again?!