My Joy

December 21, 2020

Since we are still in a pandemic and can’t go to NY for Christmas this year, we decided to go on a little hiking trip. We were able to get an Airbnb in Pensacola, Florida. We invited Patricia to join us! We packed up the car and were on our way:

We drove to our first hiking location: a section of the Florida Trail.

We went to check out the river before we started the hike:

It was a very nice start for the day ahead!

Time to get on the trail!

Luna was ready to go but mom wanted a pic of the map.

The Florida trail is usually very well marked and maintained. However, we did come across a blow-down (a fallen tree across the trail).

We got to see sections of the river along the trail:

At times we were able to make it down to the river:

This hill was fun to slide down:

It was also fun to run up!

Dad and Lizzy raced up. Although Lizzy had a very large head start…

Dad still made it to the top first:

We found entertainment along the trail as well:

We discovered a cool sink hole:

Rachel found this fungus!

And then we came upon this!

It was a loop trail and we made it back to the trailhead!

A very nice hike!

We headed to our Airbnb located right on a peninsula near Pensacola, FL.:

The canal was right in the back of the house!

The beach on the gulf side was just a few minutes walk from our Airbnb. We decided to use our flashlights and go check out the beach:

We got some rest and the next day we went on a second hike. We parked near another river and took a moment to prepare for the day:

The trailhead was a short walk down the road:

This is a big old tree Rachel pointed out!

This trail also went along beside a river. We found this little beach area to explore:

The sandy beach was great!

Back to the trail. Portions of this trail was also part of the Florida Trail. We came upon a shelter:

The trail was well maintained but we did come upon a very easy blow-down:

And some little bridges:

We even did some trail running:

We found another beach!

Time to explore! Lizzy decided to JUMP to the island!

Rachel’s right next!

Back to the trail Lizzy found a throne:

Another beach!

We heard about a sandstone formation that was a must see on this trail. After some searching we finally found it!

We climbed down and had fun exploring this awesome site!

We made it back to the road.

When we got back we decided to head to the beach before the sun sets!

Then this:

Santa!?

The next morning Lizzy, Luna, Mom and Dad went for a early morning walk on the beach; Rachel and Patricia stayed in bed.

We had one more short hike as we headed back home:

We decide to visit a ghost town:

This was also the site of a famous mansion:

There was also a small hiking trail:

And this cool abandoned bridge:

We had a nice time exploring but now it’s time to get back home and get ready for Christmas!

There is one more BIG thing that has to happen before we celebrate Christmas. . .

Dad Has Surgery!

December 24th, 2020

Christmas Eve.

This was a planned and scheduled double hernia surgery, not an emergency situation, but it needed to be done, so why not Christmas Eve!

6am getting ready for surgery:

He did great! Well. . . the doctor did great:

Because of the pandemic we could not go to NY this year and spend Christmas Eve with our cousins so later that evening we decided to each open one small present. The girls exchanged gifts and mom and dad exchanged gifts:

To Rachel from Lizzy:

To Lizzy from Rachel:

To Dad from Mom:

To Mom from Dad:

December 20, 2020

We will be traveling for the next three days so we decided to meet up with Joy to exchange presents. Joy moved out of our neighborhood and is living just a couple miles away at her daughter Cindy’s home:

It is still the middle of the pandemic so we are wearing our masks:

Of course she had some gifts for us too:

We had a nice visit with Joy. We are so happy she still lives close where we can visit her!

December 10th, 2020

Winter Showcase Theatre Performance

The Winter Showcase is a talent show put on by the theatre department at Westwood Middle School. Lizzy sang the song “Wake Me Up” by Avicii. She did more than just sing this song, she performed it!!:

She did a fantastic job!

There were several other very good performances:

Lizzy was in one more:

A very enjoyable evening, good job Lizzy!

It was pretty late when we got home so we waited till Saturday to celebrate Dad and Lizzy’s birthdays!!

December 14th, 2020

Happy Birthday Dad and Lizzy!

First thy opened cards and gifts from Grandpa Ed and Grandma Joyce:

Rachel’s gift for Lizzy:

Dad opened his gift from Rachel:

Luna really wanted that food!!:

A gift from mom to dad:

Another gift from Grandpa Ed and Grandma Joyce for Lizzy:

More gifts:

Time for Birthday Cake!

They each blew out half the candles:

Happy 55th Birthday Dad and Happy 14th Birthday Lizzy!

December 7, 2020

North Florida Regional Medical Center Christmas Lights

This year the Sagers wanted to join us at the Christmas lights. While we waited for them to arrive we chased Dad around the hospital grounds:

The Sagers brought their new dog Milo:

Lovebirds enjoying the Christmas lights:

We enjoy this family tradition every year!

This was Milo’s first year:

There is a nice path that goes all the way around the pond with lights on both sides:

It was time to go visit the ducks:

Mom and Dad with another selfie:

We all had a very nice time.

Happy Family Home Evening and Merry Christmas!

December 1, 2020

We made the gingerbread, cut out the house pieces, we each picked out two bags of candy and the competition began!

We all win with some good family fun!

November 27th, 2020

Following tradition, we went and got our Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving:

November 28th , 2020

We all pitched in to decorate the tree:

The red and purple were very similar when you turned them on:

Dad helped pass out the ornaments:

We finished decorating the tree and the house too:

This year we got two trees!

Miss Kitty stopped by for a visit on the deck to enjoy the lights:

Christmas Card Photo Shoot!

We had a quick photo shoot and chose this shot:

The final Christmas card:

November 15, 2020

When we planned out the new addition we also wanted to add on a deck at some point. Well the time has arrived!

November 20th, 2020

We actually finished in time for Thanksgiving! We were hoping to have the Tanners over for an outside socially distanced (pandemic) Thanksgiving dinner.

November 26th, 2020

The Tanners were able to come over for Thanksgiving! We had two separate tables set up so we could eat outside on the deck. There was not enough room for two separate food tables on the deck as well so the Tanners’ food was on a table in the kitchen and ours was on a table in the addition. We even designated two separate bathrooms for each family. We stayed socially distanced throughout the visit. Now for the feast: Dad made turkey, mashed potatoes and stuffing and the Tanners brought rolls and bean salad. Dad also made pumpkin, cherry and apple pies for dessert!

October 25th, 2020

Kevin and Kelley have graciously offered to teach Lizzy how to ride and care for a horse!

Lizzy will be having many lessons with Kelley (and Kevin) and we can not thank them enough!!

October 24, 2020

Dad got us pumpkins and we decided to paint them instead of carving them this year. Carved pumpkins do not last long in the Florida heat!

Rachel and Mom painted this Twilight (books/movies) inspired pumpkin:

Lizzy and Mom went for a Shrek (movies) inspired pumpkin:

Mom painted these too:

October 28th, 2020

Halloween costume and outdoor movie night at the church tonight:

Mom joined in as a momma wolf:

Lizzy was Bella (from Twilight) – Covid pandemic style with the mask.

Family Costume Reveal:

Mom and Dad are “Team Jacob”! (a character in Twilight)

Movie time at the church:

October 31st, 2020

Happy Halloween!

We went to a couple of places for trick-or-treating that did social distancing. The neighbor at the end of the street put a bowl out at the end of her driveway:

This house (two streets over) advertised online that they had a pully system where they sent the candy down to you:

Then we went home to watch a scary movie, “Alien”.

It was definitely different having Halloween during a pandemic, but we still had fun. Mom also bought some extra candy for us; thanks mom!

August 31, 2020

First Day Of School

The Covid19 pandemic really impacted the start date of school (2 weeks late) as well as how the girls would attend school. They were given three options: in-person school, digital academy, (online school) or traditional homeschool. We decided to start off the school year doing digital academy and assess the situation after the first 9 weeks.

For digital academy the girls had the same teachers they would have if they were going in-person for each class. The teachers were actually teaching in-person students at the same time as digital academy students!

This year Lizzy is in 8th grade:

Rachel is in 6th Grade:

Patricia is in 7th grade and she was also doing digital academy so she joined us most days:

September 6, 2020

Fostering a Dog

When were finished fostering all the kittens and found them all forever homes mom was feeling the loss too so she said we could foster again sometime! Well here we go again, but this time we fostered a dog. Welcome Quinn:

Quinn has heartworm so we will have her for a while until she finishes all her treatments and she gets a forever home.

September 29, 2020

Happy Birthday Franklin!

We are always happy to celebrate our friends!

Happy Birthday Franklin we are so glad to have you and your family in our lives!

October 3rd and 4th, 2020

General Conference

Once again we prepared some yummy food for our general conference weekend and this time we helped out a lot with all the food prep:

October 18, 2020

2020 Family Pictures

This year we took our family pictures right on our own street!