Sunday, October 23, 2011

Vacation Days 1 and 2

With Austin Kieff in school, we took advantage the opportunity offered by Fall Break to enjoy a family vacation. While our original plans were modified several times, we enjoyed a fabulous week with family and even introduced Caroline to the Disney family!


Our vacation began on Friday, October 7, 2011…later than anticipated because, thanks to my Mom, we verified one we had our registration information and two an insurance card. Well, in cleaning out my car, I removed both items. Finding them was easy. Unfortunately, the insurance card was out of date. A frantic search ensued. Thankfully, current insurance cards were located and the Jordan Family proceeded to leave Jack, Alabama!

Our first stop was for dinner. Arby’s was the choice. Then hours and hours and hours of driving! We thought the kiddos would sleep most of the way, which was the main reason we decided to leave after work on Friday. However, they were awake most of the ride. We stopped in Gainesville to purchase a few things and to “wake up.” I need to add that we were all wearing Alabama gear…in a town home to a team the Tide rolled over the weekend before. We definitely received a few looks!

The decision was made to stop for the night…or morning! We checked in to a hotel around 4:00 and left around 8:30 on Saturday morning. The second leg was much easier than the first! In just a few short hours we arrived in Chuluota, Florida at the residence of David’s little brother Jeremy and family. Needless to say we were still TIRED, but one glance at two excited Jack Jordan cousins to see two excited Orlando Jordan cousins and our kiddos found renewed energy sources. Oh to have access to those stores!

After we arrived Jeremy made homemade biscuits (my favorite). There were also scrambled eggs (Caroline’s favorite), sausage (Austin Kieff’s favorite) and gravy (David’s favorite). After breakfast the kids played…and played…and PLAYED! The rain was not stopping them from having a good time. From board games to Paper Jams...I am not certain there was toy untouched in Ella Grace’s or Major’s rooms!

Rain, rain go away the Jordan family wants to play! This ran through my hand numerous times Saturday and Sunday. Despite the rainy weather, we had a wonderful time. Saturday we enjoyed dinner at a restaurant known for alligator sightings...The Lone Cabbage. Then it was back to the house for the Alabama game. It was homecoming and we had cupcakes to enjoy for Major’s birthday that just happened to be themed for game time!

Sunday we went to Church and went back to the house for sandwiches. The kids could hardly stand being around each other, ha! Actually, I am not sure we could have separated them! Jeremy arranged a very special treat for all of us...a tour of Marine One...complete with sitting the the cockpit and in the very special passengers' seats!!  Later that evening we enjoyed a yummy dinner prepared by Lindsey and prepared for a fun day at Disney!  This story is...to be continued...  

Here are a few pictures to enjoy:




Sleepy girl...at the hotel in Gainesville

 
Coloring

Jamming

Happy Belated Birthday Major!

Why does my son always have a ball in his hand???



Ready for the Game!

Coloring again!





I think the boys enjoyed seeing each other as much as the girls!




Caroline was a Parrot at church



Waiting to be picked up...it was RAINING











These girls were inseparable at times!





Inside Marine One










The Orlando Jordan Cousins :-)

Major

Ella Grace







First Haircut!


While in Auburn, Caroline had her first haircut!












Austin Kieff had a haircut, too!



Funtabulous Weekend

Saturday, October 1, the kids and I loaded up to go to Auburn for the weekend.  We made a pit stop to tell David goodbye (he was working the wells that weekend).  The kiddos were super excited to spend some time with Uncle Grady, Aunt Mary Margaret, Jacob and Lily.  Austin Kieff said on the way up he hoped we went to a park.  There are several amazing parks within just a few minutes of Grady and Mary Margaret's  house.  We visited two of them!

We stopped at Hardees in Montgomery for a biscuit. It was here that I realized I had left my debit card in my other purse...a purse that was sitting on the dining room table at home! No to be deterred, we pressed onward and hoped to make it to Auburn BEFORE the bank closed!! If that was not bad enough, we were ran off the road by an 18-wheeler. My nerves had about had all they could handle by the time we made it to Auburn!!


I could not unbuckle Caroline fast enough when we pulled up at or destination. Austin Kieff had unbuckled himself and was out of the car before I had my seat belt off! I am not sure who was more excited Austin Kieff and Caroline or Jacob and Lily! They all had so much fun playing together. The boys sparred, everyone raced the plasma cars, the girls played with dolls and everyone enjoyed the parks! Saturday evening Austin Kieff accompanied Jacob to Parents' Night Out at his Karate center. They played, climbed the rock wall, watched Karate Kid and ate pizza. Austin Kieff had an amazing time. The rest of us enjoyed dinner at a Japanese restaurant. The chef was very entertaining as he prepared our meal on the tepanyaki grill. The sushi was fabulous as was the rest of our meal. I think everyone had a great time Saturday night...we just wished David could have joined us!

Here are a few pictures from the weekend:




Do they look tough or what?





Aunt Mary Margaret opens up a Dora pop for Caroline

Wouldn't you love to have something from this truck?

Sliding!



Here I come!


Upside down?

And  the race is on!


This little one LOVEs her Uncle Grady

and her Aunt Mary Margaret!

Rolling down the hillside


The boys


I can do this!




I can if he can!



Beautiful Lily