I went to a teacher conference in San Diego and it was...fun. I mean there was a lot of time that we were in workshops, but I cannot complain about west coast weather. 
Ms. P. and I had a lot of fun, going to beaches and exploring the SD public transit.
Mr. T. and Mr. N. also joined, but weren't quite as into the beach. They had no reservations about milkshakes, burgers, fries and onion rings.
The last beach on the last day...Coronado.
We did many things on our trip that were not saved for posterity, namely: hanging out, visiting, helping with computers, eating and eating and eating. We managed to visit the Farmers Market and I brought 4 bags of grits home. We also strolled around the Grove Park Inn.
It was really fun and I hope it will become a family tradition. But I am afraid that Delta Airlines have made my parents weary of returning.
I never realized what an ice cream fiend my mom was until this trip. She could have eaten scoops of peanut butter chocolate and nothing else.
And Dad wouldn't have minded.
Downtown Hendersonville.
Trapped.
My parent and I went on a lot of excursions that the inlaws had already experienced such as Chimney Rock which overlooks Lake Lure. Unfortunately, what usually would have taken about 1.5 hours took like 4 hours. Part of that time was spent in a tunnel waiting for an elevator and the rest was spent hiking down the mountain...
This was another lovely and long excursion. The Biltmore House tour. Wow, that place is just huge. My parents looking like Mr. and Mrs. Vanderbilt on their loggia!
I had a lot of plans for the summer vacation and I also planned to get back in the saddle and post about them...and look here- it is late August, I feel the crush of work looming and I am going to try to cram in a bunch of posts to catch up. Above, my parents in North Carolina. We went to visit Mr.'s family and my parents joined us. They have not been to western NC and I knew they would like the scenery.
They got a cabin room at the cutest place, Highland Lake Inn. There were many options for relaxing right there- a lake, goats, gardens and porches. My mom looks right at home!
They also went to Connemara, Carl Sandburg's home and toured it. Mr. and I have been to the property, but not inside. My parents loved it, as evidenced by the many photos they took, which I am sparing you.
He pappy on the porch in the ubiquitous KU hat.
The entire clan together, sans Mom who was taking the pic.
I cannot remember the last white Christmas I have had. In fact, the last few years, Christmas has brought strangely mild weather. Mr. and I barely made it to Kansas before a Christmas Eve Blizzard hit. Here are the gentlemen digging out my sister's van.
Isn't she cute? Here are her funny cleaning slippers.
We packed in a lot of celebrating on this trip. My mom turned 70 on the first, but I could not get away to be with her. So we planned a bowling party! My sister had these -shirts made and they are soooo cute.
