Layla is such a doll. I am so blessed to have gotten to share such quality time with her. It is not something we get to do often. For those of you out there who get to see your extended family often count it as a blessing. I know that when extended family is around it isn't always pleasant....but it is family. We are blessed with wonderful and loving extended families, so we often feel sad when they leave. Anyways, we couldn't get over how beautiful little Layla is. She reminds me of Snow White-Dark hair, BIG Beautiful Dark Eyes and ruby red lips! Just gourgeous. I think I said that at least a hundred times a day!
We hung around the house a lot and swam at the pool next to our house most days. However, we did visit the Jacksonville Zoo, went on two trail walks and hit the beach-literally we were only there long enough to hit it with our things! heehee
Presley so enjoyed showing Layla all of her toys and I think was trying to show her how to run, climb and YES jump. She is trying to jump and it is FUNNY!!! Presley also tried to show Layla that she has eyes by poking them and saying "Eyzz, Eyzz!" Presley is learning how to say her face parts. She can say nose, eyes and mouth, but particularly likes to SHOW eyes. Just watching the two of them interact was priceless. Presley just adored Layla. I think she said Layla's name "YeahYah" a couple of times but mainly referred to her as "baby"! The morning after they left Presley walked around the house saying "Baby! Baby!" She missed her Layla!
Here are some pics of us hanging out around the house. AGAIN-there are LOTS and LOTS of pictures. I put them all on here because Mary/Mumsie and Gary/Grandad couldn't be here and I want them to see all the pics!
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| hanging at the house K&Ls |
Most days we spent time in the pool next to our house. Layla and Presley loved spending time in the water. We got a little video of Layla going under the water. That face is super cute! Presley shared some of her tricks with Layla and Layla picked them up with ease...well some of them. She isn't quite flipping yet?! *Quick note: watch in the video of Presley flipping how she holds her hands up over her head when we says, "READY?" so cute!
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| at the pool with K&Ls |
As we do with everyone who comes to visit we took them to Lake Alice on the UF campus. It is a cute little trail and a good way to show people the campus. We took lots of pictures of Keith, Lisa and Layla and some of Dallas, Presley and I along the trail! We also walked the Gainesville-Hawthorne trail. This has become one of mine and Dallas' favorite trails!! We were all pretty much trying to keep up with Presley!! She ran most of the time we were there! We stopped at one of the crossings to watch a Florida Storm roll in! Sometimes they are really pretty!
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| walking the trails with K&Ls |
One day we went to the Jacksonville Zoo. It was VERY, VERY HOT! We had a great time despite the heat. I was actually really surprised at how many unique animals there were at this zoo. It wasn't a very big zoo, but had lots to offer. Presley LOVED the big fish and the birds.
PaPa- we took lots of pictures with her and the fish just for you!!!
Presley and Layla rode the big carousel they had at the Zoo. Layla really enjoyed it. You should have seen how cute she was going up and down so tiny on her little animal!! Presley, however, was a different story. She was sooooo hot and tired from running around the zoo for 4+ hrs that she couldn't even enjoy it. She kept clutching to Dallas and I. This video shows how tired she was. Notice how, in and effort to get her to enjoy her self, her daddy moved her all around the carousel until they finally ended up in the seat!!!
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| at the zoo |
The only thing Lisa and Keith wanted to do while they were in Florida was go to the beach. There really aren't any close beaches to us in Gainesville. Most of the good ones are atleast 2 hrs away. So, we packed up all our beach gear, food and drinks for the day, all the stuff for the girls, the girls and headed to Crescent Beach near St. Augustine. We were all excited about the day in the sun. We got there and set up our gear. As soon as we did Keith, Lisa and Layla headed to the water to dip little Layla in the ocean for the very first time!! I followed to get pictures and video. As soon as I did I turned around to tell Dallas and Pres to come on and when I turned I saw that the skies were black. Literally BLACK!! We had only been there 10 mins. Dallas let Presley run to the ocean but she didn't even reach it before the lifeguards started blowing their wistles for us to leave the beach. We just barely got all our stuff packed up before the heavens opened up! We decided to head to St. Augustine for the rest of the day. Atleast this gave them something new to experience since they didn't get the chance to do the beach!
*Keith and Lisa-I am still so sorry!!
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| at the beach with K&Ls |
Over all it was a visit I will remember forever. It was so nice to have quality time with them. Usually when we see them it is for such a short period of time and crammed with lots to do and lots of people to see. Not to mention that they have their lives-work, church, friends, etc. that still goes on when we come to town. So, this was nice. I really did hate to see them go. Until next time Keith, Lisa and Layla.....LOVE YOU!
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