The Careys: The Careys' Visit

Doug's Mom and Dad were nice enough to drive down from MI and spend a week with us in mid-October. We enjoyed every minute of their visit! Ava seemed to gobble up each minute she spent with Grandma and Grandpa. She giggled with delight when Grandpa would rub his scruffy beard against her face, and liked being held by Grandma, too.

Sliding at the park - and yes, her hair naturally does this. No brushes, hairspray, curlers involved.

Anticipating the slide

Grandma and Ava at the park

Ava spends lots of her waking hours in front of this easel. She can draw circles now.

We kept busy, going to our favorite park, Chuck E. Cheese, and even took a two-day trip to Savannah, GA. Grandma and Grandpa fed the ducks with Ava, while Doug had an appointment. Doug was also able to show his parents one of his completed projects. On some nights, after Ava went to sleep, we played a new dice game they taught us. It was fun! We also picked-out a pumpkin while they were in town, which Doug nicely carved. His carved masterpiece went well with the Elmo pumpkin that Grandma and Grandpa brought for Ava.

Shelly and Mary, while dining at Spanky's on River Street.

Doug and Jim, while dining at Spanky's on River Street.

View of River Street

Watch for falling taffy!

Mmm, bear claws! (chocolate, caramel, pecans; need I say more?)

Taking a break on River Street

In Savannah we went on a trolley tour of the city, walked the entire length of Bull Street (to see as many of the city's squares as possible), walked along River Street, treated ourselves to some sweets in the Candy Kitchen, ate at Spanky's, and just had great fun. The weather was very humid the first day, and in the high 80's. The next day it was unseasonably cool, but it was a nice trip.

This is my favorite building in Savannah. Ironically it looks like the oldest, but isn't.

Ava loves to wear my sunglasses. Fortunately these are indestructible...

Ava hangin' with Grandma during the trolley tour. Notice Ava's bare feet. This started the beginning of Operation Sock Removal in Ava's life...

One of the most beautiful houses in Savannah, the Kehoe House. (Joe Namath owned this house in the 1990's).

Savannah's Cotton Exchange. It looks like it is sinking in the middle, although you probably can't tell from this picture. This place was like the NYSE of it's day (setting the price of cotton), up until 1930 or so, when Wall Street came into existence in NY.

Paula Deen's Restaurant: The Lady and Sons

We also tried to get into Paula Deen's restaurant (Lady and Son's). We dropped-off Doug to put our name in, and they were ready to seat us right then, but our entire party needed to be there. While we were parking the car, a bus-load of 47 people ("blue hairs," as Doug likes to say) put their names on the list, so our chances at lunch were nil, by the time we found a parking spot. Better luck next time!

Mary and Jim in Savannah

The church from which the feather drops, in the beginning of "Forrest Gump"
(Savannah, GA)

Grandpa, Grandma and Ava, sitting on the bench where Forrest Gump sat

Grandpa and Grandma

The Haunted Hearse Tour: Very Scary! :-0

They look spooked!

The eerie oaks with Spanish moss in Savannah

Gravemarkers purposely misplaced / defiled by Union soldiers

Doug and his parents were also able to enjoy a haunted "hearse tour". Yep, that's right. You ride in the back of a hearse (decked-out with 8 or so seats), with the roof of the hearse cut-off, so tourists can view the haunted sights at night. Doug and I have gone on this ride before with Doug's brother and his wife (Kristy), so I volunteered to put Ava to bed and hold down the fort while the rest of the Carey clan got spooked!

The Mercer mansion, famous from the novel "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil"

We were told that it was good luck to touch these "fish" downspouts in Savannah. Ava took the advice to heart.

Ava ran after this nice dog in a square in Savannah. The guy was nice enough to stop, to let her pet his dog. He turned-out to be from Michigan, having moved to Savannah.