Emily finally talked Adaline and I into going to Florida to visit her. I would go every weekend now. It was so much fun and so relaxing. We started the trip off with a little too much excitement for my taste. I thought our flight was at 6:30 am so if we got up at 4 and left by 4:30 we should have been fine. At 5:10 am, just as we passed the point of the mountain, I looked at my flight itinerary and saw that my flight was actually at 6 am. I was panicked. We pulled up to the airport and Gordon dropped us off. Adaline and I ran in. I had convinced myself that the security lines would be short because of our early flight. I was wrong. It was long. At this point I began to panic. Angels must have intervened, because we got through and were able to walk right onto our plane. I was a nervous wreck and our traveling had just started. We had 2 layovers. One in Denver, one in Houston. Everything went perfectly. I was so thankful. We arrived in Florida to the beautiful weather. Emily, Kyle, Gabe and Ellie picked us up from the airport. It was so much fun to see Emily! After a stop for Dunkin doughnuts, we went to Emily's home. She is incredible. Her house is beautiful. Everything was perfect. We had dinner that night. The trees were in blossom, the crickets were chirping and I was convinced that I had stepped on a time machine. How could it be so cold in Utah and so beautiful in Florida? Why did I not really know this? Why had I never been to a warm climate with Utah winter's being so harsh? (Actually I did go to Hawaii in February while I was in college, but its been a while.) We had a great time. Friday morning we got up and headed into the Everglades. We rode an airboat, saw alligators, and basked in the warmth of the sun. The airboat ride was one I will never forget. Flying through the little streams with tree branches nearly touching at the top. We went back to Naples, and had lunch at a really cute restaurant. We then walked the streets of downtown Naples. Wow, talk about money. The cost of cars driven there could buy houses. Then we picked up Emily's kids and went to Fort Meyers. We had pizza on the beach, danced to live music walked out on the pier and shopped. We got home late, but what a day. The next day we went to the beach for the day. We were going to go to Shark tooth beach, but it was just too far, so we went to Clam Pass. Emily told me we would have to ride a "tram" to the beach. I teased her that it is actually called a golf cart. The beach was beautiful. It was unseasonably warm for Florida and the beach was beautiful. Adaline and Emily's kids swam in the ocean. The kids, Emily and I did get wrangled into digging a stream to help save "animals, fish, and birds" as Kyle told us. Darren came to the beach for just a little while. We walked back out instead of waiting for the "tram". Emily's kids were such troopers. We went home, got showers and headed to TinCity for an evening cruise. That was fun to see the back of some of the most expensive real estate in the world. The homes were huge! And everything was so well taken care of. Then we went to dinner at a really upscale mall. Emily loves the movie theater there. They have leather lazy boys for seats. We ate at an Italian restaurant and ordered everything. It was delicious. It was so fun to sit outside and watch the fancy cars go by. The next day was Sunday so we went to church. I got to snuggle with Paul. He thinks I'm the best because I bought him a $5 ancient shark tooth. Emily teaches primary so I was her 2nd teacher. That was a riot because I sat next to a kid who's father had a crush on me all through elementary school. So funny. After church we slept, made dinner and I made rolls. Emily and I dropped off her family and Adaline at Naples Pier while we drove around Port Royal, one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in the U.S. We went back to the beach and played on the beach for a while and walked down the pier. They must have had a huge school of fish come by the pier that evening because there were fish everywhere on the pier. Paul was so disappointed because he loves to fish. Later that night the kids and I face timed with my kids who were having dinner at my parents. Technology is so incredible. At Emily's house I slept in Paul's bed. Gabe slept in the same room in his crib. I was a little worried about sleeping in the same room as a baby, especially when Emily's instructions to me were about how he might wake up at 3 am and to just bring him into her. Gabe slept great and so did I. Paul, Ellie, Kyle, and Adaline all pilled in Ellie and Kyles room. Monday morning the kids went to school and Emily, Adaline and I went to Bearfoot Beach. Once again the weather was perfect. The beach was beautiful. We left and had lunch at Captain Jack's. I was starting to get a little nervous about packing up and getting to the airport. We went home, showered, got ready, packed up all our treasures and picked up Emily's kids. They wanted to see us before we flew out. Emily's kids go to Veteran's Memorial school. As you walk up to the school there is a big plaque that has the scripture "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Inside there were the most uplifting quotes. The schools philosophy is based on Stephen R. Covey's 7 habits. One of the things I loved about this area of Florida was so see such a conservative area outside of Utah. I saw more Romney bumper stickers than I saw in Utah. The other aspect of this area that I loved was the immaculately kept grounds. All the trees, shrubs, and flowers were perfect. It was a joy to see all this green in the dead of winter. It was great to see Emily and her family. I loved going to Florida in the middle of winter. I want to go back, soon.
