So I made a secret trip to Florida this weekend to spend some time with the newly preggers, Megan, and to surprise Cristi on her 30th birthday. I had to be hush hush so I stayed off of Facebook to stay under the radar.
I flew out to Orlando on Wednesday night after work and Megan came to pick me up, we stayed up late talking and hanging out to catch up. She was off on Thursday for Yom Kippur and since we were trying to do something for the holiday we of course had to have some Jew food. It was yummy. We got some shopping done and even went to the maternity store with her so she could check out the selection and get a few things since she has already out of her jeans and shorts! She is now 15 weeks and is due on March 8th, so I am really excited for her and Oliver! That night I taught Megan my tricks to making lasagna and watched the two Elizabeth movies that I had wanted to see. It was good to just spend some quality time that was not rushing around a holiday.
Friday I went with Megan to her high school where she is a 9th and 11th grade teacher. It was such an odd experience seeing how young these kids were! Just think about 12-13 years ago I was in their shoes. Crazy! I got to meet some of her and Oliver’s friends and we went to trivia night with them and our team the “Sofa Kings” won!
Saturday we got up bright and early to head to Gainesville for the Gator Game. Being in Gainesville was so weird too! Things looked really different. It was such a hot day that we ended up at the Copper Monkey for lunch and cheered our (badly playing) Gators to victory. It was so great to catch up with Meg and get to see her with a bun in the oven. We even got to run into McKenkenzie who is my sister-in-laws sister. She is a junior at UF and was tailgating. I think she has the gator fever now too!
After the game I met Cristi’s folks in Gainesville since they were at the game too, we drove back to their lake house and had some yummy Greek dinner with her Yaya and closed the day on the dock with a wonderful breeze off the lake and a yummy drink made with Ouzo. It was great to catch up with her folks and to talk with her Yaya, she is such a beautiful person and I am lucky to know her, and eat her Greek cooking too!
Sunday we packed up again, her rents, Yaya, and me to head to Ponta Vedra Beach to surprise Cristi on her 30th birthday but about 20 feet out of the driveway, we realized we had a flat tire. Bob, Cristi’s dad, was determined to get us back on the road and back on schedule for the plan to work, so voila! We were off after a little shifting of stuff and a lot of sweating. (Her dad is probably the most dedicated and focused person I know, if anyone could do it I had no doubts it was him!)
We made it to the beach and surprised Cristi, Matt and Hannah, Cristi’s brother and sister-in-law, were all in on the plan and had contacted a bunch of Cristi’s friends and co-workers to come over as well to join in. She was really shocked I think and we had a great day by the beach and in the pool. Again the Morrell family cooking was in full effect and we had FOUR desserts to celebrate with!
I went back to Orlando with Cristi’s family and they were such great hosts and it was so awesome of them to help me be able to spend Cristi’s special day with her. I will remember it for years to come. Nathan was a good sport too, especially since I have been traveling a lot for work this summer. He did get some home cooking in Morehead I hear of his favorite things, so I am sure his mom spoiled him a little for me!
I had a fast dose of reality when I got home, plane landed, Nathan picked me up and less than two hours later, and I was in class. Yuck! What a rude awakening. So farewell to my sunshine state for now. It was a good dose of home to get me prepared for the Kentucky winter ahead.
