Last year in my 20s......

So, this is my last year in my 20s.  Bittersweet if I do say so myself.  I am excited to enter the next phase of life..... the 30s.  But, I did have a lot of fun in my 20s, so I am sad to see them go.  I might feel totally different about this in a year and be a total sobbing mess for my 30th, but as of right now, I am okay getting older.  I already have my first gray hair, my first permanent wrinkle, and my first age spot on my skin.  Depending on the day, these are either my battle scars or my marks of experience.  And, I am secretly proud of them.... but dont you dare point them out or ask me to do so..... I am not ready for them to be noticed by anyone but myself yet. 

So to celebrate this ocassion, my boys, hubby and I packed up the car and headed to Jacksonville to meet my mom and hang out with my brother. 

We got there on Friday and went straight to a Jacksonville Suns baseball game.  My parents used to take my brother and I to games all of the time when we were little.  Danny and I talked about all of the little trinkets we had collected over the years from the games..... everything from mini baseball bats to the mini helmets they served ice cream in.  It was so nice to be able to go to one of the games again and take my kids and my husband with us to experience the moments of the baseball games. 

Elvis Himselves graced us with his presence... and boy were we lucky!

Daniel and Connor both got baseballs

Southpaw!

After the game, we headed back to the hotel.  The hotel staff told us over the phone that they were renovating.... when we got there, we realized what they meant.  They were redoing the ENTIRE hotel and there were saws and nail guns going the whole time!  Never again.

Saturday morning we got up and headed to our races for the Never Quit Challenge.  Allen did the warrior challenge, mom did the 5K and the rest of us did the 1 mile fun run.

getting ready

Sit-ups portion of the warrior challenge

the Army's Golden Knights



Connor goofing after lunch

It was rainy on Saturday in Jacksonville, so we spent a lot of the afternoon at the hotel.  They had a heated pool, so Daniel, Allen and I went swimming in the rain for a little while.  After that, we went out for my birthday dinner.  We went to Joes Crab Shack.  It was awesome!

getting ready to go

embarrassed to wear a bib, but those are the rules if you eat crab legs at Joe's

After dinner, mom took the boys back to the hotel, and Allen and I went out for some adult time with Danny, Ashley and Cherie. 

We went to a club... its been 10 years since I went to a club.  And thanks to Zumba, I did not feel like an idiot!  It was so much fun.  These girls are awesome... I wished we all lived closer together so we could hang out more.  I guess I am just going to have to bug them everytime we go and visit.  Sorry ladies!


Sunday morning we woke up and it was not raining, so we decided to take the opprotunity to go on a walk on the beach before we had to check out of the hotel.

Daniel using his Jedi powers to move the ocean

Jacksonville Peir


It was then time to leave the hotel! 

Allen, the boys and I headed to go see some old friends before we left town.  Tannen and his biological mommy lived with Allen and I for about a month 1 1/2 years ago.  Well, his mommy decided that she would be better elsewhere, so Tannen went to live with his daddy.  Tannen, his daddy Eric, and his (now) momm Olivia moved to Jacksonville. 

The boys were like best friends all over again.  It was so nice to see him again and it was nice to see the boys play together like no time had ever passed. 

Sadly, we then had to say goodbye to Jacksonville.....

I love that city.  It holds so many wonderful childhood memories for me and it is always sad for me to say goodbye.  So, I say, until next time.  Because I know that we will be back at least 100 times or more!

Daniel's Awesomeness Celebrated!

Daniel deserves the world and back, but of course I cannot give that to him.  So, we planned an extra special weekend with him.  

Saturday, I took Daniel on a date.  We went to one of his favorite restaurants, 1 Fresh, for lunch. 

Then, we went to Painting with a Twist for our painting class.  We painted a whimsy tree with two birds.  Daniel was the only boy, so his was the only manly tree.  We had a blast and I hope that we can go back again some time soon!

After that we went and had frozen yogurt and I gave Daniel a special gift.  I have been waiting to give this to him for a couple of years now, and I decided that this was a perfect time. 

I gave him a necklace.  The charm is Guardian Angel Jennifer.  With everything that is going on, I wanted him to always have me with him, even when I could not be there.  He loved it and has not taken it off since (except for bed time). 

After ice cream, we went over to Rhonda and Naomi's house for dinner.  We played for awhile and picked our vegetables out of the garden before cooking them and eating them. 

We had an awesome day!

Sunday we went over to my mom's house to go swimming.

I was in the pool with the boys most of the time, so I did not take very many pictures.  But, look at the last one.  Connor is swimming all by himself!!!! 

After swimming we took Daniel to Red Lobster for dinner.  He ate crab legs for the first time and loved them. 

Allen had to work late all weekend, so sadly he did not join us for any of the fun.  Daniel had an awesome weekend and I am so happy that we got to do all that we did for him.  He deserves it so much!

Next weekend, we will be in Jacksonville!  So so excited!