Presley what do Gators say? "Chomp! Chomp!"

The Saturday after we got home from the California/Spokane Dallas surprised Presley and I with tickets to the Florida/Flordia International game. Presley hadn’t been to a football game since the year before. I knew it would be a great game for her to go to because there wouldn’t be a huge crowd. It was so neat to realize that the year before Presley was breastfeeding at the game and this time she was able to walk into the stadium and even ask us for “Pwetzul and Dink?” Amazing what a year does. We ended up getting great seats! She had a BLAST! She totally enjoyed the band and all the attention she got with her pigtails and blue gator shirt on. It was wonderful surprise and a great thing for our family to do together as a way to reconnect after nearly a month apart from one another.

On the road again...to Spokane!

I had been waiting 18 months for this trip. I able to go and spend some time with Kaci in an area of the country I hadn’t visited in 20 yrs. Kaci was hoping to move to DC around the October time frame. So, the plan was I would wait to make my trip out to Spokane when she made the move so I could save some money by not making two trips and I could help her with the move. Well, that didn’t happen, so we decided just to make the trip home with her and Katelynn after the Califonia trip.
Spokane was very nice! It was, however, very, very,very COLD!! It actually snowed on the Thursday we got there. The snow was beautiful! Presley didn’t know what to think. She had only seen snow once when she was about 8 months old, so to her it was all new. She kept saying, “Snow, Mommy, Snow!!” Like it was my first time seeing it too. Super sweet! So, we had to learn how to bundle up and brave the cold. Let’s just say that Presley was NOT a fan of that! It was really, really hard to get her in and out of a car seat bundled in a snow suit. Oh, yah. I hadn’t mentioned that. It is so cold in Spokane that you have to wear a snow suit. This is really cool when you are skiing. Not so cool when you have to wear it everywhere just to stay warm. To say the least, my Floridian baby didn’t really find comfort in that!
Kaci works at the Child Development Center at Fairchild AFB there in Spokane. I have kept Presley at home since she was born and thought it would be nice for Presley to go and play with other kids without me present. So, I left Presley in hourly care at Kaci’s CDC 2 days in a row to see how she would do in that type of an environment. She did great. She did cry for me but once she got to playing with the others she did just fine. The caregivers were so wonderful to take pictures of Presley playing! It was a great opportunity for both Presley and I. I was so grateful Kaci suggested it.
Katelynn and Presley had such a great time together. They played hard and even fought hard. Yes, they ended up fighting like sisters. Katelynn wanted to make sure that Presley knew that everything in her house was “HERS” and Presley wanted to make sure Katelynn knew she wasn’t afraid to take “her” things from her! So funny! One night Kaci and I built a fort for the girls to watch a movie and have a slumber party in. It was something I wanted to do with our girls since I had Presley. It reminded me of when Kaci and I were growing up!
Kaci and I even took an afternoon to get pedicures and facials. It was so relaxing. We both really needed it. Ok, her more than me but it was a nice treat. We had coffee and got to visit uninterrupted by little princesses. It was so wonderful to get to spend some quality time with Kaci. I have really missed her being close especially being a new mom. It was so nice to get to stay up after the girls had gone to bed and visit about anything and everything under the sun. It just wasn’t enough time. I miss her everyday and I wish everyday that we could be closer. But, for this season in our life we are not and there is a reason. I believe that with all my heart. I look forward to the day that I and my family do live closer to her and Katelynn!
Kaci and Katelynn-thank you so much for being such sweet hostesses. I love you both so much! I miss you and wanted to let you know how much fun both Presley and I had.
I had been waiting 18 months for this trip. I able to go and spend some time with Kaci in an area of the country I hadn’t visited in 20 yrs. Kaci was hoping to move to DC around the October time frame. So, the plan was I would wait to make my trip out to Spokane when she made the move so I could save some money by not making two trips and I could help her with the move. Well, that didn’t happen, so we decided just to make the trip home with her and Katelynn after the Califonia trip.
Spokane was very nice! It was, however, very, very,very COLD!! It actually snowed on the Thursday we got there. The snow was beautiful! Presley didn’t know what to think. She had only seen snow once when she was about 8 months old, so to her it was all new. She kept saying, “Snow, Mommy, Snow!!” Like it was my first time seeing it too. Super sweet! So, we had to learn how to bundle up and brave the cold. Let’s just say that Presley was NOT a fan of that! It was really, really hard to get her in and out of a car seat bundled in a snow suit. Oh, yah. I hadn’t mentioned that. It is so cold in Spokane that you have to wear a snow suit. This is really cool when you are skiing. Not so cool when you have to wear it everywhere just to stay warm. To say the least, my Floridian baby didn’t really find comfort in that!
Kaci works at the Child Development Center at Fairchild AFB there in Spokane. I have kept Presley at home since she was born and thought it would be nice for Presley to go and play with other kids without me present. So, I left Presley in hourly care at Kaci’s CDC 2 days in a row to see how she would do in that type of an environment. She did great. She did cry for me but once she got to playing with the others she did just fine. The caregivers were so wonderful to take pictures of Presley playing! It was a great opportunity for both Presley and I. I was so grateful Kaci suggested it.
Katelynn and Presley had such a great time together. They played hard and even fought hard. Yes, they ended up fighting like sisters. Katelynn wanted to make sure that Presley knew that everything in her house was “HERS” and Presley wanted to make sure Katelynn knew she wasn’t afraid to take “her” things from her! So funny! One night Kaci and I built a fort for the girls to watch a movie and have a slumber party in. It was something I wanted to do with our girls since I had Presley. It reminded me of when Kaci and I were growing up!
Kaci and I even took an afternoon to get pedicures and facials. It was so relaxing. We both really needed it. Ok, her more than me but it was a nice treat. We had coffee and got to visit uninterrupted by little princesses. It was so wonderful to get to spend some quality time with Kaci. I have really missed her being close especially being a new mom. It was so nice to get to stay up after the girls had gone to bed and visit about anything and everything under the sun. It just wasn’t enough time. I miss her everyday and I wish everyday that we could be closer. But, for this season in our life we are not and there is a reason. I believe that with all my heart. I look forward to the day that I and my family do live closer to her and Katelynn!
Kaci and Katelynn-thank you so much for being such sweet hostesses. I love you both so much! I miss you and wanted to let you know how much fun both Presley and I had.
I had been waiting 18 months for this trip. I able to go and spend some time with Kaci in an area of the country I hadn’t visited in 20 yrs. Kaci was hoping to move to DC around the October time frame. So, the plan was I would wait to make my trip out to Spokane when she made the move so I could save some money by not making two trips and I could help her with the move. Well, that didn’t happen, so we decided just to make the trip home with her and Katelynn after the Califonia trip.
Spokane was very nice! It was, however, very, very,very COLD!! It actually snowed on the Thursday we got there. The snow was beautiful! Presley didn’t know what to think. She had only seen snow once when she was about 8 months old, so to her it was all new. She kept saying, “Snow, Mommy, Snow!!” Like it was my first time seeing it too. Super sweet! So, we had to learn how to bundle up and brave the cold. Let’s just say that Presley was NOT a fan of that! It was really, really hard to get her in and out of a car seat bundled in a snow suit. Oh, yah. I hadn’t mentioned that. It is so cold in Spokane that you have to wear a snow suit. This is really cool when you are skiing. Not so cool when you have to wear it everywhere just to stay warm. To say the least, my Floridian baby didn’t really find comfort in that!
Kaci works at the Child Development Center at Fairchild AFB there in Spokane. I have kept Presley at home since she was born and thought it would be nice for Presley to go and play with other kids without me present. So, I left Presley in hourly care at Kaci’s CDC 2 days in a row to see how she would do in that type of an environment. She did great. She did cry for me but once she got to playing with the others she did just fine. The caregivers were so wonderful to take pictures of Presley playing! It was a great opportunity for both Presley and I. I was so grateful Kaci suggested it.
Katelynn and Presley had such a great time together. They played hard and even fought hard. Yes, they ended up fighting like sisters. Katelynn wanted to make sure that Presley knew that everything in her house was “HERS” and Presley wanted to make sure Katelynn knew she wasn’t afraid to take “her” things from her! So funny! One night Kaci and I built a fort for the girls to watch a movie and have a slumber party in. It was something I wanted to do with our girls since I had Presley. It reminded me of when Kaci and I were growing up!
Kaci and I even took an afternoon to get pedicures and facials. It was so relaxing. We both really needed it. Ok, her more than me but it was a nice treat. We had coffee and got to visit uninterrupted by little princesses. It was so wonderful to get to spend some quality time with Kaci. I have really missed her being close especially being a new mom. It was so nice to get to stay up after the girls had gone to bed and visit about anything and everything under the sun. It just wasn’t enough time. I miss her everyday and I wish everyday that we could be closer. But, for this season in our life we are not and there is a reason. I believe that with all my heart. I look forward to the day that I and my family do live closer to her and Katelynn!
Kaci and Katelynn-thank you so much for being such sweet hostesses. I love you both so much! I miss you and wanted to let you know how much fun both Presley and I had.

Spokane

Visiting the CaliCooks

After visiting with my parents in DC for a week Presley and I headed back to Gainesville to get ready for our next 2 trips. We were home for 3 days before we headed to California to meet the newest member of the Cook family and to visit Dylan, Brent and Crystal. Jonathan had been born 6 weeks earlier and we were anxious to get to see him.
It was so wonderful to get to see Dylan, Crystal and Brent again. It was also super wonderful to get to meet little Jonathan. He was so tiny and Dylan had gotten so big. Dylan is almost as tall as I am and he is only 8yrs old. He is either really tall or I am really short. I guess it could be both!! Brent and Crystal looked really great too. Crystal looked amazing. She had just had a baby 6 weeks prior to our visit and surgery 3 days before we came. At the beginning of her pregnancy with Jonathan her doctors found a tumor on her kidneys. They wanted to wait until Jonathan was born before they removed it. Once they removed the tumor they found out that it was definitely cancerous. As you can imagine it was very heartbreaking for the family. However, PRAISE GOD, they got it all in the surgery! I just couldn’t get over how calm and relaxed Brent was, how sweet Jonathan was, how helpful Dylan was and how great Crystal looked with all they had gone through in the last month and a half!
Presley had an absolute blast with her cousin Dylan. Every morning she would wake up saying “Dilden(Dylan) where awre eww(where are you)?” She loves him. Dylan played catch with her outside, taught her how to drum and play rock band, let her play with his wedgits and played chase with her around the house. He is the only super hero she knows! After we came home she would walk around calling for Dylan thinking he would miraculously appear.
We got to watch one of Dylan’s games while out visiting them. He is a fantastic football player! That game Dylan scored let her play with his wedgits and played chase with her around the house. He is the only super hero she knows! After we came home she would walk around calling for Dylan thinking he would miraculously appear.
We got to watch one of Dylan’s games while out visiting them. He is a fantastic football player! That game Dylan scored 3 touchdowns and made 4 tackles one of which was the winning play of the game. I couldn’t believe how easy it all seemed to come to him. He is a natural athlete. He also does pretty good at track! We were at a park that had a mile and a quarter track around it that he ran in 12 mins. CRAZY!! I can’t wait to see him excel in every sport he participates in.
Kaci and Katelynn drove down a couple days after we got to California so that all the Cook grandkids could all spend some time together. It had been 18 months since we had all been together. S o, eventhough Kaci had to drive 12hrs one way so we could all be together I would venture to say that she would say it was worth it. All 4 of the kids are the same age difference of the 4 Cook Kids. My mom took a picture of Brent, Kaci, Dusty and I at the exact same age that all 4 of the grandbabies were when we got together. We tried to reinact that picture by stair staking the kids. We haven’t been able to find the original picture my mom took but the one we were able to get came out GREAT!
Crystal and Brent took us to a few California wineries. It was so nice. The one we went to in Napa was awesome. I think it was called Vi Sattui. The buildings on the winery property were beautiful. All I could think about was weddings the whole time we were there! =) We got lunch from the deli and ate our lunch on the picnic tables on the lawn. Dylan couldn’t join us because he was in school but Katelynn and Presley really enjoyed running around and chasing all the birds on the lawn. Brent, Kaci and I did some wine tasting while Crystal, the girls and Jonathan enjoyed playing outside. The wine was really good. I enjoyed the company of the guys working the tasting bar. They were very nice! The whole trip was great.
One night Crystal had a great idea to take the kids to Build a Bear. What a great idea! Presley had never done the Build a Bear and had a great time. Of course the noise the stuffer machine made did freak her out a bit but the whole part of picking out the bear and all the clothes and accessories really thrilled her. I am sure it all was very expensive but Presley now clings to her Scout bear like it is her lifeline! That is going to be a memory and a security for her for a long time! Thanks Crystal for the idea!
It was so wonderful getting to see all of them. It really only made me home sick for family. Wishing we could be closer so that we and our kids could see eachother more. I know that I had a wonderful time and Presley did too. But, it was time for us to move on to the second part of this trip. We had decided that since Kaci was going to already be in California that I would drive back up to Spokane with her so we could see where her and Katelynn had been living for the past year and a half. So after a very short 5 days at Brents we headed to Kaci’s.
Brent and Crystal-thank you for letting us come and hang out. I know that it was a lot after all your company and after Crystal’s surgery and know that it was a sacrifice to have all of us in your space. I just wanted you to know that I loved all of my time there and that your niece Presley loves you both very much.

Cali Trip

DC Trip

After Dallas’ marathon Presley and I stayed behind to spend some extra time with my mom and dad in DC. We are due to move to DC in July and I wanted to get the opportunity to look around the area and look at some homes before the move. Dallas, however, had to be back in Gainesville for school, so I did most of the looking myself. I was happy with most of the homes we found. We still are trying to make the decision on whether or not we will buy or rent. It is a tough decision but I am confident we will make the right one!
It was wonderful to be in DC during the fall season. Wow!! The colors of the trees in the North East are immaculate!! The trees literally glow orange, yellow and red! The air was actually a crisp fall feel. Every town we went to were preparing for their annual fall festivals! It was wonderful. It was a definite welcomed break from the 90 degree weather in Florida.

My mom and dad really enjoyed having Presley for the week. It was wonderful to watch Presley with them. She loves her Mae and Popa! It is so wonderful that she trusts them instantly even though she only sees them a few times a year. She enjoyed crawling all over Popa like a jungle gym! She enjoyed jumping in raked up leaves with Mae and learning to climb trees! Mae also introduced her to caterpillars. There were so many fuzzy caterpillars in their driveway and Presley thought they all belonged to her. She would stand over them and talk to them like they had come over for tea. However, if you tried to get her to actually hold one she would flip out! The video of that is actually pretty funny!!

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One night we went over to my mom’s good friend’s house for dinner. Jeff and Susie have been friends of the family since I was in the 7th grade. She pretty much watched me grow up. So, it was such a treat for me to get to take Presley to their house and let them spend some time with my daughter. We had a wonderful time. Presley became very good friends with their dog Scarlet. Scarlet is one of the prettiest dogs I have seen. She had a gorgeous reddish, auburn coat and a gorgeous face!! Presley kept going up to the Scarlet and kissing her on her nose. Scarlet was so wonderful with Presley too.
Presley and I were in DC over Halloween. I was a little sad that Dallas was going to miss getting to participate in Halloween with Presley, but it was fun for my mom and dad. Presley went as a little bee. She was adorable! She walked around that night going, “Buzz, Buzz, Buzz!” Such a cutie. We went over to my mom’s good friend, Pat’s house. Pat made hot dogs and appetizers for Presley and two other little kids before they went trick or treating. We did the trick or treating in Pat’s neighborhood. Presley only lasted about 45 min trick or treating. Once we were done we went back and let Presley eat her first piece of chocolate! She is definitely a woman! She loves the chocolate. It was a wonderful Halloween!
The trip was so fun! Presley had so much fun with Mae and Popa and all the fun fall activities we got to do while in DC. I wish that we could have stayed longer but we had to get home to prepare for our next 2 trips!

DCTrip