9/11~10 years later...

Joe and I leaving for our 9/11 Memorial Harley Davidson Poker Run...

9/11 marks a time in history that will not be forgotten by anyone who was old enough to remember it. It was a tragic act that brought people to their knees in prayer...and still does to this day. All this week I watched the footage of that day, listened to the stories of the children and families who have had to move on without their loved ones. I don't know about you, but I think every night I cried like a baby.

Joe and I moved into our home almost 5 months ago, we have been talking about getting our flag up on the house, where to put it, if we would be able to drill into the house...(this was impossible to do on our house in CA) FINALLY, last week we made sure we took the time to get our flag up and flying. We were so proud of ourselves...if Joe could he would have high powered spotlights beaming on it all night long. We lined our driveway with our little flags and we admired our patriotism. I feel as an American, that the very least I can do is fly the flag of the most amazing country in the world, don't you? As we looked through our HUGE neighborhood I was so upset that I didn't see other houses showing the same respect. I mean, maybe you can't get a flag, buy a flag, get a flag to drill into your house...draw one with crayons and stick it on your window, amuse me somehow!

Here in the South, especially in Savannah where we have Ft. Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield...I'm sure all of these men and women would love to see this support as well. One of the things I found so moving about Savannah was when I flew into our airport the first time. Troops flying in and out in all corners, kissing their wives, children, babies and parents good-bye. Unlike LAX, these men and women are fully supported and families are welcomed into the airport with open arms...the way it should be. The heartfelt good-byes are never easy to see, and I found myself praying that soldier makes it home one day. The thing is, 9/11 was a tragedy, but the past 10 years we have lost so many lives as a reflection of that horrible day.

I pray we will continue to come together as a country and more people will show this simple act of patriotism....and I really hope we catch all the bastards that did this to us!

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

I wanted to add...while we were driving home from Orlando last week, we stopped at the Harley Davidson dealership and were shocked to see this in the parking lot. This was steel from the WTC that was being delivered somewhere in Florida. Come to find out hundreds of pieces were being delievered all over the country, how humbled we were to see this with the anniversary around the corner.

Orlando, FL

At the Grand Hyatt Resort in Orlando, FL

Literally days after my return from California Joe and I headed to Orlando! Joe had to go for work with Gulfstream, so I tagged along and we extended our stay through the weekend. The Hyatt was AMAZING! It was minutes from Disney and in the heart of a little hustle and bustle, which was kinda nice due to the slow pace of Savannah, which we are still getting adjusting to. I spent most of our days at the pool, met some interesting people and just enjoyed the quiet and beautiful surroundings.

Joe and I needed this little vacation so bad. We have been in Savannah for almost 5 months and it seems like we haven't stopped moving. We have been so fortunate to have so many family and friends visit us, Joe has been traveling a lot with work, when he is home I'm gone or we are working on the house. I realized this past weekend that we really haven't even talked about our new life here, how we are feeling...so this was a much needed time alone.

Orlando is beautiful and had some great shopping! Everything is pretty new, which we really like. We found ourselves comparing Orlando to Savannah...I wont tell you who won. But, these two places couldn't be more different.

Everyone told us we needed to go to Epcot, how could we not go when we were minutes away?! So, we set out early one morning and spent several hours exploring Epcot. We really didn't know what to expect...rides? Mickey Mouse? Cinderella? Screaming children? It was very much like California Adventure. I loved that they made sections of the park into countries with their countries preferred food and drink...that we enjoyed for sure. At the end of the day, would we go back? Yes, with children for sure, but without probably not. It was a good experience for sure and am glad we went, but I can see why families love it...the kids run around happy and the parents sip on a different adult beverage every 50 steps away...after the 8th country, the family is having a ball!

I would like to share a story with you as well, sorry if it's a little wordy!

So, I'm not good at rides AT ALL. When I found out they had rides there I started to get such anxiety about it because Joe didn't have anyone else to go with him. I was in trouble for sure. The first couple rides were so easy, almost childlike. I was thrilled! Joe was thinking it was the dumbest place on earth, not the happiest! He was getting grumpy, it was SO HOT and at this point he was complaining about how we ever got talked into this. Eventually, we had made our way to this "Space Ride" and his little eyes lit up. Joe as a child went to space camp and has wanted his whole life to be an astronaut, no joke. He has told me this before, so I was excited that this would turn his miserable butt around. As we walked up (Joe ran) and they asked if we wanted a green or orange ticket, Joe asked something and he took two orange tickets and gave me one. As we stood in line I started reading the ticket and it said we were going on the "advanced more realistic" ride. It was like a virtual real life, feel like you are at zero gravity, shaking, rolling, spinning ride. WHAT?! I looked him dead in the face and said, "NO F-IN WAY DUDE!"  I literally turned white and started feeling sick,,,he laughed so hard! He said, "this will make the entire trip worth it if I do this with him" I said, "I'll go on the green side, PLEASE!" Let's just say Joe wasn't letting me chicken out. As we waited in line, at every corner were signs saying, "IF YOU ARE PRONE TO MOTION SICKNESS EXIT HERE" I found myself standing on the orange circle and about to be next up, with my team of 5, who would be mad if I left as the NAVIGATOR because we would crash and never make it to the moon...uh huh. We watched the guy talk about what we were going to experience, all of it was horrible. My strategy was what I always do, hold my breath and close my eyes til it's over. After the video we were moved to a hallway where the sign in front of me said "we advise you to keep your eyes open due to dizziness and becoming disoriented" I was TOTALLY screwed. I couldn't breathe, I was sweating, shaking, telling Joe and the stupid team I couldn't do it, I was going to puke. Joe just kept laughing hysterically and saying, "calm down, your getting yourself all worked up" I was having a full blown anxiety attack. BUT, I still went. I sat in my seat, which looked like a shuttle command and stared at the big screen in my face and tried to breathe. At this time Joe hits me and laughs "look, puke bags!" OMG, they even have puke bags like on airplanes...I'm so going to puke. I freaked out AGAIN, looked to see if I could get out, too late, they shut the shuttle doors. It started up, lift off was SO BAD...it literally made you feel like you were shooting into the sky at a massive speed, I reached for the puke bag and couldn't get it because I was too scared to look away from the screen, cause it told me NOT to do that. Next thing I know, I'm on the moon...it's all kind of a blur, I pushed my buttons when I was supposed to, I don't think I blinked one time. In the end, I didn't puke and it was a horrible experience that I refuse to ever do again...and my husband is a heartless SOB!

 Hanging at the pool.

 This was on the beach area of the resort where Joe went sailing...good thing he went before he made me go on the space ride or I would've pushed him in :)

 This was on one of the "Future" rides...thought it was funny

 In France, a drink we were told to get by my friend, Angel. Good call on this one!

Back to Cali I go...

Last month I flew out to California with my sister-in-law, Shannon and her girls to see Terri and Monty! Shannon was a little nervous about flying alone with a 3 year old and a newborn baby for such a long flight, so we both flew into Charlotte and flew together to LAX. The flight went amazingly well on the way there, Kayleigh slept pretty much the entire flight, while Taylor talked and talked and talked...but she did great. It was my first time flying with children, I typically take a nap, read a book...this time consisted of trying to get Taylor to play the "Quiet Game" she wasn't very good at it :) I seriously can't complain one bit though, they were perfect!

I was so fortunate to have my girlfriend, Ashleigh and her little guy, Mason come visit me at Joe's parent's house. We hung out for a little while and she drove me back to spend the night in Orange County. We started off going to Laguna for a festival in the hills. It was awesome, I can't believe that Joe and I never took the time to go when we lived there.  It was so great spending so much time with Mason too, he has changed so much sense the last time I saw him, he has two teeth and was trying to crawl and pull himself up on everything! He is just the cutest little guy and SO HAPPY! Later in the week I drove back to Orange County for a dentist appointment and stayed another night with Ash and Mason...I loved being back in my old stomping grounds, made me miss it so much.

The day before we left Rachel, Jaiden and Chase flew in from Michigan to spend a week with Terri and Monty as well. The cousins had never met, so it was a lot of fun seeing them all together. Jaiden and Taylor became fast friends! We really wanted to get pictures of all the grandchildren with Terri and Monty, unfortunately Monty had to work late and the kids were all exhausted (especially Jaiden and Chase with the time change!) The pictures are funny and sad...but I had to share!

So, here are a few pictures from our visit, it was a great time all around. The best part was that Terri was able to meet her new grandchild before they went back to Germany. I can't wait til Shannon and the family are back in the states FOR GOOD! Miss them all so much XOXO

 Kayleigh, hanging out :)

 Mason, playing in Terri and Monty's yard, what a big boy!

 Mason, dancing to the music in Laguna

 Callen, she is the Gerber Baby I swear!!! SO CUTE!

 Our friends Kristin and Grant came by and wanted to see what Mason would look like with a handlebar stash.

 Not the best pic of Mason...dang it!

 With Emily and Callen!

 We took some pictures one day in the backyard...so cute huh?!

 Love this!

 Who's your mommy?! LOVE them both!

 Taylor loved Brandy, they were buddies the second we got there...maybe because Taylor loved feeding her??

 Perfect!

 So glad I was part of making this moment happen :)

 Tay likes the "tilt your head" look...so I went with it!

 Cuties!

 Monty with the girls...he was so good with Kayleigh, I'm pretty sure we could have gotten him to change a diaper, he was really in love with K!

 This was our first take...total ciaos.

 This was somewhere around take 20...work it Taylor!

With Rachel, Chase and Jaiden...and Brandy :)