Saturday, January 12

Florida Trip Day One

On December 27th, we got up early in the morning and loaded the van. All of our bags were packed and ready to go along with snacks and the Florida bag of goodies that I'd packed to keep the boys busy. We took Meeko to the Vets where he would be staying for the next 15 days. As soon as he saw the suitcases going into the van and his pillow and toys going into my car, he knew that he would be having a lengthy stay. He did cooperate and get into the car easily but when Dwight dropped him off, he was stubborn and dug in his heels when the woman went to take him. Dogs are smart.

After Dwight dropped Meeko, we got into the van and picked up the boys. It was snowing a little and we were hoping that the storm would hold off until we had crossed the border at Detroit. It did, but here is what we saw in Chatham, Ontario. Jordan thought it was so pretty and asked me to take photos. Here is a peek at what we saw:

Jordan was right. It was very pretty and I'm glad that he asked me to take the photos. The trees were coated with ice, but the road was perfectly clear.

We reached Windsor at 12pm and stopped at the bank to get the boys' Canadian money that their Dad had given them that morning exchanged for US currency. Then we headed to the Ambassador Bridge. It was time for lunch but the boys wanted to wait to eat until they were in the US. That turned out to be a mistake as the wait at the border was 2.5 hours. We didn't think we'd ever get across and the boys were bored waiting.

We crossed into the US without passports, but the Canadian Custom Official was very thorough. She wanted to see a note from the boys' mother, which fortunately we had. We showed our ID and was across in about 10 minutes after she first started questioning us. That is most thorough they have ever been, but it's good to know that they won't just let anyone cross with kids that aren't theirs. We had all the documentation, but didn't need Passports.

We headed down I75, headed for the Newport Aquarium in Newport, Kentucky. Dwight and I had been there before and had always wanted to take the boys. We got to Newport about 8pm, booked into the Travel Lodge across from the Aquarium so we would be close at hand the next day.

Tomorrow I will post some photos of the Aquarium for your enjoyment.







In other news I've spent the day unpacking. We gave the boys only the bare essentials last night such as suitcases and then took them their souvenirs this afternoon. They were having fun with Mom and Dad.

Dwight went for a few groceries while I sorted through everything and put it away. I took a couple of breaks to visit some of my blogging friends. If I haven't got to you yet, please be patient. I have lots of catching up to do and am anxious to visit each and every one of you.

I talked to Mom last night and caught up on all the family news. My niece phoned this morning to welcome me home and Griffyn is doing great. He took his first tumble off the bed this morning. Somehow he got over the pillow that was protecting him. He is only 6 months old, but getting around quite a bit. It was so nice to hear his coos and giggles while Melissa was talking to me.
Melissa is expecting another baby. We're not sure of the date but she figures sometime in July. This is mixed news. She wasn't ever to have any children. Now she is pregnant with another baby. Griffyn won't be one until June 28th, so this will be hard on her. She will have two children about a year apart. Not easy and this is another high risk pregnancy. Please pray for Melissa and the baby.

My niece Sherry is expecting a baby in February. She is working on a factory assembly line and emailed me to let me know that she is feeling great and working a lot of overtime because she will soon be going on maternity leave. She is 40 years old and this is her first. She had given up on having children, so it was a wonderful surprise. Please pray for a safe delivery for her and the baby. We don't know what sex it is, as she wanted it to be a surprise. We are hoping for a girl because our family has more boys. We really don't care as long as mother and baby are safe and healthy.


I hope you are all well and that each of you had a great New Year. We enjoyed freezing temperatures in Florida. LOL It was 48 degrees and we stayed in as the crowds were atrocious.

I look forward to visiting with everyone and catching up on all the news. ~Blessings, Mary~

26 comments:

  1. Those are beautiful pictures. Trees look so pretty with snow or ice on them. I'm so glad the roads are good. Take your time and get all the unpacking and laundry done and we'll be here waiting for you!

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  2. Mari,

    Ugh! Speaking of laundry, we did it three times on the trip because we were traveling light and now I have another big bag to do.

    I'm glad you enjoyed the pictures of the ice and snow. It was breathtaking and the boys enjoyed it. Now I'm coming over to pay you a visit.

    Blessings,
    Mary

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  3. Welcome, welcome home my long lost friend!!! It's good to hear from you. [by the way, I have a new email, so I'll be sending that to you sometime soon]

    The kids will have such good memories of this trip! I am glad to hear that you all have fun. A 2.5 hour wait to cross the border musta been like weeks for them, I'm sure.

    I can't wait to see more photos. And Meeko? Is he home now? Or still waiting to be picked up and brought back to the family?

    Remember luvya bunches. Rest, and enjoy some quiet time. Looking forward to hearing from you again.

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  4. Such lovely pictures, thanks for sharing. I will be praying for Melissa, and Sherry. I love you my friend.

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  5. Anni,

    We had a wonderful time, my friend. You will be seeing lots of photos in the next couple of weeks. I think I have about 300. I doubt I will post all of them or you will be sick of seeing them. LOL

    Meeko is indeed home. We went and got him first thing this morning and he was ecstatic. He didn't sit still for over an hour. Just kept running back and forth between us. You should have seen him when we left to drop off the boys stuff. He looked so dejected but we weren't gone long. Then he did the running in circles again.

    Looking forward to getting your new email. I sent a card to the old one, so you probably didn't get it.

    Love you too. Blessings,
    Mary

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  6. Denise,

    I must get over to see how you are doing. Things are still hectic here. Thanks so much for your prayers for Sherry and Melissa. I appreciate it.

    Blessings and much love,
    Mary

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  7. Hi, Mary, I enjoyed hearing about your trip so far. Glad you had a good time in the States, but yes, the time you were here it was cold, wasn't it? For Florida, anyway.

    Babies, hmm? And 2 at nearly the same time. Bless 'em, Lord! I'm happy for them, but so glad my baby having years are behind me. I can't imagine having a baby and raising it at 44, my age now.

    Rest up and have a good weekend, Mary. ;o)

    Love and hugs,

    Diane

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  8. I just sent you an email...if it's not found in your 'inbox', look for me in your 'junk email'.

    :o)

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  9. Diane,

    It was really cold in Florida for two days. New Years and the day after. Other than that we enjoyed it, as we don't like extremely hot weather. Three years ago when we took the boys and Mom, it was so hot we didn't really enjoy ourselves. There were lots of animals out in Animal Kingdom because of the cooler temps. That was great.

    Yes, I wouldn't have wanted to have a baby at 40. I had Michelle at 19 - almost 20 and Brandon was born when I was 46. That is better as I could still be silly and have lots of fun with them.

    Thanks for stopping by. I will post more tomorrow.

    Blessings,
    Mary

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  10. Anni,

    I've received your email and have sent a reply. Hopefully you'll find it in your inbox. ;-)

    Mary

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  11. Welcome Back! I know you made lots of memories that the boys will never forget.
    Looking forward to hearing from you. I know you have loads of laundry to do.
    Mama Bear

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  12. your trip looks like lots of fun so far....what exciting news that you will be having not one but two new babies in your family...
    Congratulations..
    I will pray for safe deliveries for both...
    I look forward to more trip news...
    Mimi

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  13. Mama Bear,

    I have the laundry all done except for a couple of loads which I will do tomorrow. We did laundry 3 times while on vacation and there was still a mass of dirty clothes.

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  14. Mimi,

    I have hundreds of photos and will post some of the Newport Aquarium tomorrow.

    Thanks so much for your prayers for the baby. Please also pray for my daughter. She is having a hysterectomy on Feb 19th.

    Blessings,
    Mary

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  15. I've added them all to my prayer list and the rest of the family too. Loved the pictures and the details about your trip and will look forward to more as you find time to share. It's good to have you back.
    Hugs and blessings,

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  16. Storyteller,

    Thank you so much for your prayers. I appreciate it. I will be posting photos tomorrow.

    Blessings,
    Mary

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  17. Good Evening Mary,
    "WELCOME BACK HOME" my dear friend. It is so good to have you back. I enjoyed your first story here and I do hope I'm able to enjoy the rest of them. I loved the trees with the Ice covered on them. I think that is a beautiful scene. I'm glad the roads were in good shape too. Sorry it took yall so long to get across the border. Maybe in time, it won't take as long. My DH and his Uncle just came thru Windsor on Tuesday night as well. They had to make a run up into Canada as their first run. They went to Fredricton, New Brunswick first and from there they went to Sainte Foye, Quebec, and from there, Ottowa, Ontario and from there, Mississaugua, Ontario and then on down to Windsor back to the States. They didn't have passports either, but they are going to have to get them tho. Their Company told them they would need them. It was a bit chilly on yall in Florida. That was the week it was very cold everywhere. I know your Grandson's will remember this trip with yall forever. I can't wait to see all the pictures you took. I was 34 years old when I had my first daughter and 36 years old when our youngest was born. I don't actually think I could have another one at my age of 45. I don't think my nerves could handle it. LOL. I will be praying for your neices to have safe deliveries. Take your time my friend unpacking and doing everything you need to do. Take care my friend and have a great evening. May God Bless You and Yours.

    Love & Hugs,
    Karen H.
    P.S. "THANK YOU" for the encouraging words you left on my comments the other day. I so appreciate it very much.

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  18. My grand son Jey and his wife Sofia are going to have a new baby in June! Kevin was born in June 2007 so they will be a year apart! Sounds like these Mommie's are going to have their hands full!

    I had Kelly when I was 40... I will remember Melissa and Sherry in prayer that all goes good...

    Sound like the border crossing was not easy...
    My daughter Carrie just went home this week and got to her home in MX last night and it took a couple of hours to cross over..... But she didn't have any little ones with her!!

    Looking forward to reading more about your trip! Love and Hugs, Carolyn

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  19. Karen,

    I'm glad you enjoyed the photos of the ice on the trees. It was truly beautiful and the boys loved it.

    When your husband was in Mississauga, he wasn't far from where we live. It sounds like that was a lengthy trip. I will pray that he is safe while working and that your finances improve considerably over 2008.

    Thanks for the kind comments here. I do hope you are able to stay online. I have missed you while away. Remember you and your family are in my prayers.

    Blessings,
    Mary

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  20. Grams,

    The line at the border was LONG. I guess everyone was traveling for Christmas and New Years. It has never taken me that long before. Once we got to the Customs kiosk, it took about 10 minutes to be cleared, or maybe less.

    I am going to post some photos of the aquarium in Newport, KY tomorrow. I have so much to tell all of my blogging friends about our trip. I won't have to worry about things to write about for a while, but don't want to bore everyone either. ;-)

    Blessings,
    Mary

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  21. I tried to send you an email but it wouldn't connect (probably my computer.)

    I thought about asking you if you wanted to meet before you came, but I knew you had your grandsons with you and didn't know if it was possible.

    We live in Palm Coast, north of Daytona, on the east coast, about 1 and 1/2 hour from Orlando. My husband's kids live in Orlando, so we go there about once a month. We are also 30 minutes south of St. Augustine, it's a neat place to visit, have you been there?

    Katherine

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  22. Katherine,

    I've sent you an email. I hope it comes through.

    Blessings,
    Mary

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  23. Mary,

    I agree - those are beautiful photos!

    Congratulations on the expansion of the family! Not one but two expectant mothers. How wonderful that Sherry is expecting after waiting so long. She must be on cloud nine. I wish both of your nieces the very best! :-)

    Hugs,
    Tina

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  24. Now it is my turn to catch up. I am busy for a few days and wham! you have been a very busy writer.

    Love the pictures of the snow. Glad you did not say they were from Fla or I would have been very jealous.

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