December 2024-Trip to Florida

The highlight of December was heading to Florida for Christmas. I had to work Monday the 23^rd, and then we drove down to Utah and took the red eye flight. We got there the morning of the 24^th and we rested and just hung out. The girls swam in the lake; it was cold but they were little fishes...They helped decorate the Christmas Tree. We at dinner out at Olive Garden and then opened a present. The kids sang some songs upstairs and then we acted out the nativity and watched a movie. 

Christmas morning the kids opened their stockings and then we had breakfast. After that we opened the other presents; my mom and sister made us feel so loved and I am grateful that we were able to be there. The girls swam some more and we had a late lunch and then went to a movie. It was nice.

Our offices were closed on Tuesday and Wednesday but I had to work on Thursday and Friday; I bought a little screen extender that I was able to hook up to my computer and it got the job done. Thursday while I worked, my husband took the girls to the zoo where they got to feed Giraffes…which Sally has wanted to do. They had a good time and I was grateful that he took them. That afternoon, I took a break from work and we went over to a friends house and the girls got to ride a horse and take a ride in the golf cart, they had a blast. I really miss Florida some days.

Friday I worked in the morning, but then was able to take a lunch break and meet up with my boss. We met halfway at a restaurant and it was a good time. I made it back in time to finish up work before we headed to a movie. It was just my mom, sister, Macy and me. We convinced Sally that it was going to be long and she stayed home. We saw Wicked, and it turned out to be good. I have loved the Broadway musical and the movie did a good job.

Saturday Macy and I decided to go and visit her friend from Rigby that moved to Florida this past summer. When we looked at the gps the day prior it was a 3 hour drive; and I was not sure I wanted to do that, but on the way home from the movie, I checked again and it was only 2 hours and 15 minutes, more doable. So we left in the morning but their was an accident on the way; the gps said 3 hours and 30 minutes, but rerouted us and we made it in 2 hours and 45 minutes. I am glad we made the trip, the girls had a nice time playing. We made it back in time for my sister and her family to get there. My husband made his special lasagna for dinner that night and it turned out nice.

Sunday, we got to go to church; the ward is so different than it was before; but there were still a few people that my husband had wanted to see that he got to. I forgot my church clothes at home and was planning on going to a thrift store to get a skirt or dress but never made it. I had packed some pants that turned out to work okay and we made it. My dad taught the second hour class and he did a good job.

So Macy and I finished the last Harry Potter book the day before we left for Florida. When we first decided to go, my mom asked if we wanted to go to a theme park while we were there. We first decided on Bush Gardens, but then changed it to Universal Studios when my sister and her family wanted to do. They have Harry Potter land and so we were excited. The day before we went, we researched a way for us to possibly get a disability pass; Sally has her MDD diagnosis and she has a hard time in crowds and what not. We left our house at 6:45 am, stopped for some donuts and made it to the theme part by 8:00; we made it in and waited in the guest services line for a while but we made it and got the pass for Sally and six others to get in the express lines for the rides. We had thirteen in our party but some of my family members did not ride all of the rides and then my sister used her charm to get more than six on the rides. There was one lady that let us ride one of the best rides twice and the day just turned out really nice.

Tuesday was the lake day; it was cold for Florida but not for my Idaho kids; they tubed and knee boarded and Teddy tried wake boarding for the first time. He got up on the second try and caught on fast. He did not try anything crazy but liked it. He even doubled with my nephew who is 16. Tuesday night for new years, we had a black light party in the garage, we had a hopping place but it did not go on until midnight, thank goodness. We had the dance party and then fireworks and then we sat on the couch and watched the ball drop in NYC and then went to bed.