March 28th 2013

So far during this week, we have visited the 3 beaches that are right here in Jacksonville, the Jacksonville beach which is more of the fishing place for fishermen, it has some lovely high rise condos and some nice streets with shops, lot of renovation, so the area isn't as nice as it could or will be, the second beach is Atlantic Beach, is more laid back than Jacksonville Beach, it quiet and has a beautiful powder fine white sand beach, very flat and no rocks just seashells, has cute little shops and restaurants, very nice then the 3rd beach is Neptune Beach, pretty much the same - we walked around some of the residential streets, it was fun to see the beach houses.
We drove over to see the place our mail is delivered and saw some fun historical homes on the river or lake here, it was fun to see Manatee signs, its just so cool.
Ate at a yummy BBQ Restaurant, it was the best BBQ we have ever had, so good !
The weather has been pretty cool, ever since the 2nd day we got here, we mush have brought it with us ! but is supposed to get warmer everyday, we can only hope - today its the same temp at SLC. Crazy.

March 25, 2013 - Monday

Yesterday we got up and on our way to Florida at 5:00 am, We packed and loaded the car Saturday night, before the rain started, which was a good Idea since it was raining most of the night and is supposed to rain all day, long and hard with wind, we had to drive though it but it really wasn't to bad for us - its really nice to drive when it is overcast.
We enjoyed the ride stopped for breakfast at the Waffle House, we have been wanting to go back to eat there for a long time, and it was a good as we remembered.
Driving through Tennessee they have these rock walls along the freeways, with forest its very pretty but the cool part is the waterfalls that happen with the rain, it was so pretty to see all these waterfalls all along the way.
The closer the Florida we got the warmer it got and so green, the sun was shining and it was 86 degrees, we took a nice walk around the area that we are staying, lots of trails to walk on and its very quiet.
We are staying at a Residence Inn for the nest 2 weeks, in Jacksonville Florida.

March 23, 2013

This week has gone by so fast, I haven' kept up on the day to day stuff, but will try to catch up today.

Wednesday, I got myself together and took a nice long walk over to the Opry Mills mall, it's pretty close, but its so big and when you add the Gaylord Hotel, its a lot of miles. I went over at 2:00 pm and Reed got off work about 4:30 and met me at the mall, he drove over, and we walked the whole mall again, so I really packed on the miles today !
It is the biggest mall I have ever been in and its enclosed so the temp it perfect. Reed found a great shirt to get at the Polo store, we had dinner over there and then headed back home.

Thursday we drove over to the mall - it is pretty cold out so we walked the mall and did a little shopping this time we went to RCC Country western store and got Reed a summer cowboy hat, I love it - he looks so great in it, he also found some boots that he loved but they were $700.00,so I brought up the fact that we will be going to the sandy beaches in Florida and the boots would just be too hot !

Friday, this day I have been looking forward too all week, we have tickets to the Grand Ole Opry ! We LOVED it - so much fun, I would come here again just to go there, we saw many singers, but the big names were the Oak Ridge boys and Alan Jackson - Alan Jackson sang our song, we were so excited "Remember When" that was the coolest thing ever.
LOVED THIS NIGHT !!!!

March 19th 2013

Tuesday, Reed took a half a day off, so about noon we left and drove downtown, saw the stadium for the Titans - Nashville's Football team, the city is on the small side, has really skinny streets like San Francisco and pretty hilly also, we saw lots of little honey tonks with live music, its pretty fun and tons of boot and hat shops, ate lunch at a fun little place called Dicks last resort, funny and really yummy food.
After the city, we drove to Franklin, its were we heard the Country Music Stars live, of course we didn't know where to go, so we just drove around and saw the area and some Plantations and a really cool battle field and a cemetery with about 1500 unknown solders that are buried next to it, its pretty sad and cool at the same time to see it.
The day was sunny but cool, so we had to have jackets on all day - we did stop at the Bass fishing store that is really near to the condo we are staying at, Reed had a great time looking at the fishing boats, " its good to want" !!!

March 18th 2013

Yesterday we got up and just started getting everything up stairs and ready to load the car, washed the sheets and cleaned the bathroom, so Patti can move down into our room for the rest of her stay, Reed and I left a fair amount of things here, I didn't pack any winter clothes, I want good weather so bad !!! But Reed it pack my coat.
Jen and Steve had John and Linda over for Breakfast, we had Breakfast sandwiches, fruit and juice, they are all going to Sacrament Meeting only then Jen and Steph are going to nap while the rest of them go on a little tour of town. Jen works tonight so she needs the sleep and Steph wants to take advantage of a little rest before going back to no rest EVER !
We left when everyone else left for Church, and the weather was fine until about 30 min out and then snow, wind, horrible weather, we saw 3 slide offs - Crazy, can't wait until we are where it is warm and sunny ! we stopped to see President Lincoln's birthplace in Hodgenille, it was fun to see the area and the little log cabin also to hear and read a little bit more of his life, it was a fun stop to make, we just wish it was a little warmer.
It didn't get nice until we were almost in Nashville, but we got here and saw blossoms on trees and flowers and green lawn, so happy.
We checked in and got unloaded - after we took a nice walk over to the Grand Ole Opry Hotel, it is huge, and so pretty, lots of water falls and gardens, fun place to walk through, after we ran to the store for a few things like milk, eggs, bread. Its only in the upper 50's there is a storm coming in.

March 17th 2013

Well I will just do a quick recap of the last couple of weeks.
Jen is just so busy with work and school, she just has so much on her plate, good thing its only temporary, she just has to get though the next year or so.
I pretty much just got the kids to and from school and Gymnastics for Brooke, fixed meals and tried to keep the house cleaned up, Reed was really busy with work also, he had to work through the night a few times, that is always hard !
Had the kids out of school on Friday the 8th, so Jen took the day off, and her spring break starts today any way so we went to the Museum with the kids, it was so fun, then later that night Reed and I went on a date, dinner and a movie, we went to the Great Wizard of OZ, fun movie, we enjoyed it.
Sat the 9th Reed and I went on a nice walk up the CVS for his RX's and on so we got a nice walk in, then we went to the mall to get dad a gift for his 80's Birthday - I really wish I could have been there for this big day, I just can't believe he is 80 !!!
The 13th is Wednesday and Brooke Gymnastics class - Its just the cutest thing how much Brooke loves her Gymnastics class, she prays for it in every prayer she says, she is doing really well in her class, Jen and I took a nap as soon as we took Brooke to School, so we will be able to stay awake to get Steph tonight, we are all so excited to see her and spend some time with her.
Right after we got the kids to bed we decorated for Ben's Birthday - then at 10 pm we drove up to Dayton to get Steph. the drive wasn't to bad and we had a fun visit on the way back home.
The next day we started off with taking the kids to school, but stopping at the store first to pick up donuts for Ben's class for his birthday, so we pickup up the rest of the stuff for Ben's dinner tonight.
Then off to Kentucky for the Gap Outlet, we did some serious shopping, or at least I did, Jen did a good job too, Steph not so much, but she had to fly and didn't have the space to take much - she got a few things - I got a lot of cute things, so excited to wear them.
We had to limit our time there, which was a good thing or we would have spent the entire day there - We had to get Brooke to school, after dropping her off we went to Lunch at the mall at an Italian Restaurant called Maggianos, it was really so yummy and so much fun to have both my girls with me to just hang out, so much fun.
Ben had Hammer tonight so we had a later then normal dinner for him and the dinner he picked was Mac and Cheese and Pigs in a Blanket with Root Beer Floats for dessert - it was a fun dinner and then presents, which was and always is the best part. - I thinks he had a good time.
Another busy day - we started the day taking Brooke to her Gymnastics class then back home to get the games for Ben's party planned out and we had to setup for the party, he had 6 friends come over at 5, Steve went to go get Patti, she flew in at about 4, the party was a success and the kids had a great time. Steph and I took a short walk, to get out of the craziness.

Saturday March 16th, Dads Birthday and Ben's Baptism - Called my dad today for his Birthday, he sounds great and is happy to be at work, they will be going out for his Birthday for an early dinner.
I sent him 2 shirts early in the week hopefully he got them and they fit, I got Mediums, kinda worried they may be to small.
Busy morning, we had to get the cookies made and load up all the stuff to take - and we did forget a few things anyway, but it all worked out great - we served cookies, Lemon bars, cake and a slush drinks for after the Baptism. It was a nice program - I said the opening prayer and Steph was the 1st speaker on Baptism and Ben's Primary teacher spoke on the Holy Ghost and Patti did the closing Prayer, the Bishop Presided and spoke at the end - it was very nice.
Jenn had the Miller's ( they are some really good friends from Appleton, that have moved about 4 hours north of Medeira here in Ohio ) come over to the house after and we had Chicken salad sandwiches and fruit, veggies and more of all the left over treats, nice for the kids to play with there old friends from Appleton.
Later in the evening John and Linda took the kids out to dinner and the mall, Patti, Reed, Steph and I stayed home and watched a movie and ate popcorn, so nice !!
I got myself packed up for our ride tomorrow, I'm excited to go where its hopefully warmer, so I didn't pack winter clothes - I maybe sorry !!!