girls trip to florida

Decided that we needed to take everyone to Florida to see if they really wanted to move there! We had an early flight, had to pick Kimmy up straight from the firestation and mom was freaking about the time while Kara and Dan just laughed at her. Hilarious morning. Here's Kimmy laying on the floor waiting to board and moms over in line already. She's so funny
Kara got yelled at by the flight attendant for taking a first class blanket. It was freezing!
We flew in to Tampa and stopped at Clearwater before driving up to Alachua. It was gorgeous evening! Nothing a beach can't solve! So relaxing!
We had a stop in Dallas and almost peed when we ran in to a Pappasitos. Even though it was breakfast time, we enjoyed our layover with chips and soft tacos! Soooo yummy! And mom got in trouble within minutes....I took her temple calendar away and she just about flipped (while covering up her skin cancer bandaid :) We told her she could not be on her phone this whole trip. She's a good sport to endure our constant teasing!
We were so tired after our long travel day and from laughing so much! Such a fun girls day! We met Bryan at Moes and filled up on yumminess. Then we came home to a fridge full of yummy treats for us and UF sweatshirts for everyone. Bryan is so cute! And of course we enjoyed Blue Bell runs both nights! And the best memory is Bryan telling Kimmy (she actually loved it there because it reminds her of Texas) what to say about his job and moving to Florida. We were all in tears from laughing! Fun night :)
Steak and Shake in between exploring :)
The first day there, we met with Joann to look at houses. We were supposed to go out with her the next day too, but after seeing the property in Alachua that Bryan thought I would hate (modern house- irony!) we decided we found the perfect spot and just explored the 2nd day :) We drove all over....we found the springs in High Springs. Super cool! And shopped at Platos Closet and got Dunkin donuts for mom!
Kimmy and Kara were dying to get a picture on an alligator. Never happened, thank goodness!

On the way to Florida, mom jumped on a train and left us in the dust, but on the way home, the opposite happened. We were cracking up!
And, of course Pappasitos was a must on the way home layover!!
Exhaustion from all the laughing!
View of Utah Lake from the plane :)
We spent hours exploring the property...it was gorgeous and although this move isn't my perfect choice, this place just felt so right. And there were way too many 'coincedences' to ignore. Now the wait game of a short sale..... We had such a fun trip together. One of the best!

end of summer week

last days of summer... pool, chuck o rama with the Earls (tradition) and late night talking :) So sad thinking that it's most likely the last summer in this backyard.
Evon came into town with Sharon. Did haircuts, talked for hours and then on the 25th, I asked her before we were heading to lunch, what she really wanted for her birthday. After some begging, she spit out 'an ipad.' Within 2 hours, I picked one up and we surprised her with it at lunch. She looked like a kid on Christmas morning. She never gets anything cool for herself so it was SO fun to watch her smile! Fun afternoon!
Can't trust Kimmy! Taylor always asks for it though ;)

Mom got surgery on her nose. They dug out the skin cancer and made a big nasty hole! Luckily we have Kimmy the paramedic to take care of it!
Happy Birthday Andy :)

First Day of School!

Taylor and Mac...so excited about their first day of 8th grade! They went shopping the day before together!

dropping Zacky off at school for 6th grade. Cant believe it's his last year of elementary school!...he chose the outfit all by himself ;) My only requirement was that he had to wear actual shorts-not bball shorts! He is the man :) He was funny because on the way to school he said he was a little excited and at the same time, a little nervous. His first time ever of admitting that :)
Zacky walking in...he had a weird first day because he ended up only having track time with Mrs. Nielsen and then has a different teacher (Miss Hamilton) for the remainder of the day. Alec and Melisa were texting me all day freaking out. He was caught off guard but it seems to be working out. They hired a new teacher the evening before because class sizes were too big.
Sad they have to go back already! Summer always goes way too fast!