Family Vacation

Hi Family & Friends,

This past weekend my mom, my dad and my brother came to visit Paul and I in Jacksonville, and we had a total blast! The weekend started on Thursday afternoon when my family (minus my big sis) arrived in town and we met up with them to have a relaxing and early dinner. I had to work bright and early Friday morning so we couldn't make it too late of an evening.

Friday night we all cooked dinner together at our place and afterward headed out for a walk on the beach in search of shark teeth - we didn't find any but we still had a good time. It totally brought back memories from my childhood Thanksgiving's when we would totally eat too much and then we'd have to take a long walk around the neighborhood before we could do so much as even sit down because our pants were busting at the seam. In all seriousness though I did have a moment while we were walking all together and I looked around and I thought to myself how truly blessed I am - I looked at my husband, our dog, my parents and my brother (even though my sister was in California, she was there in spirit) and I realized that I really do have the most amazing family in the whole world. God truly blessed my life in so many ways.

Okay, Okay, enough with the mushy stuff and back to our weekend fun...We got to bed early on Friday night because we all had to get up at the crack of dawn to drive down to Orlando to make a day of Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure. It's only about a 2 hour drive from Jacksonville to Orlando but we wanted to make sure to beat the traffic and the crowds that build up around the theme parks, on a Saturday, in Orlando.

Rather than go through a wordy play by play of our day I figured a photo tour would be much more enjoyable. So for your viewing pleasure I present to you the Rawson/Gerrety Islands of Adventure, adventure:

(Me and Paul in front of Hogwarts)

(Dad, Mom and Scott in Harry Potter land)

(Shopping in The Lost Continent)

(Mom & Dad, lunch at Bubba Gumps)

(Me & Paul, lunch at Bubba Gumps)

(Paul & I on a ride in Seuss Landing - probably the least scary ride at the park)

(Paul & I riding the wave at the entrance of the park, this would have been Paul's dream come true if we were really in the water considering his love and passion for the ocean and surfing).

We stayed at the park until around 5:00 and decided it was about time to start the 2 hour drive home. We ended up leaving just before a huge storm hit Orlando, and the surrounding areas, so we couldn't have timed it more perfectly for staying dry - although the drive home turned into 3 hours due to the traffic from the rain. It was okay though cause it gave us some really good quality conversation time.

Paul had to work early on Sunday so I got some one-on-one time with my family before they headed back home. It was such a great weekend, especially considering the time that Paul and I get with our families is so limited. It was really hard saying goodbye to them (and I did shed a tear or two) but it just makes me more excited for our next visit. Thank you mom, dad and Scott for coming do visit us and for all that you do to bless our lives each and every day. We love you so much!!!

Until next time,
Suzanne G.

XOXOXO