GO’s Sand Bucket By Georgia Osten
We got one of our Christmas wishes this past weekend. THE LITTLES!!! All three Littles came to visit Grandma and PawPaw! We got them on Saturday just in time to go see Santa #1 at the Eagles. The three boys, Pierce, Riggs & Fisher were greeted with a plate full of cookies and a sleigh made of chocolates and peppermints. Up on the stage was Santa and Mrs. Claus handing out presents to all the boys and girls. Oh, what a treat!

Next stop, The Big Store. Santa didn’t have Mrs. Claus with him, but he had plenty of elves running around. More goodies and more gifts from Santa.

Our little guys were very respectful and didn’t miss a “Thank you” everywhere we went!

When we got home, everyone opened their goodies. Are you kidding me? A scooter, a rifle that shoots rubber bullets and a soccer goal with a soccer ball. Not to mention all the extra goodies. Needless to say, no one wanted a hot dog for lunch.

We decided to take a ride on the beach, such a beautiful day, in the mid 70’s. For probably 2 hours, we hunted for seashells until PawPaw and I decided to go sit it out for a bit. That’s when the drip castles began. The boys were being especially careful to keep their clothes clean & dry. I could tell that wasn’t as much fun as possible, so I told them to go ahead, I’d do laundry when we decided to go back home.

That was the ticket! Boys began striping shirts and off into the Gulf they went. It was a bit rough, and we had to yell for them to come back, “don’t go too far.” We thought for sure they’d be too cold and want to go back home, but there they were starting another drip castle.

We finally enticed them with the hot tub back at home. Thank goodness, we were getting chilly, and we weren’t even wet!

Home and the search for bathing suits pursued. Did Mommy pack swimsuits? Yep, of course. We found one for each boy and off they went. But first, into the freezing swimming pool. I didn’t want to watch, but that’s something Grandparents are supposed to do, right? Thank goodness, they realized the hot tub would be a lot more fun.

Appetites increased with all the swimming, and PawPaw went inside to prepare a pizza. The pizza disappeared in a matter of minutes and back in the hot tub they went.

We heard the weather was supposed to turn colder later Saturday, but we chanced taking the golf cart up to the fire station for the parade anyway. We got there early enough to get pictures of all the floats, vehicles, and even a couple of horses who had entered the parade route.

We took off for the beach to watch the parade. Each boy filled a bag with all the candy being thrown. Just what we needed – more candy!

Third Santa for the day. Everyone visited Santa and Mrs. Claus in the lobby of the fire station by the big Christmas tree. Then hot dogs prepared by the Lighthouse Krewe and hot chocolate. Oh, what a wonderful treat for us! Especially for the Grands to experience all this, third year in a row!

We could tell the weather was turning, so we jumped in the golf cart to head home. We beat the ferocious storm by maybe 30 minutes.

Everyone changed into jammies and we all piled up on the couches to watch Home Alone (the first one)! We made it about halfway through before people (especially the older ones) began nodding off.

Up early to go out to breakfast. Tried I-Hop, too crowded, so we backtracked to 16th Street to go to our favorite ShyKatz before taking the guys back home to Mom & Dad.

And, most importantly, their Christmas present from Grandma, PawPaw, Aunts Leigh & Kelly and Uncles Paul and Michael – A New Trampoline! Bigger and better than the old one, they were so excited!

I’m about to be through with all my shopping and wrapping and delivering presents to family going to Colorado and family going to Oklahoma!

Next, I’m excited to start my baking and getting ready to go to Tampa for the Holidays.

We’ll chat once again before Christmas.

You Better Be Good!

[GO: Dec-12-2023]