3 wonderful weeks down south ~ WEEK #1

ALABAMA, GEORGIA and FLORIDA

It was a really a fun filled -  jam packed vacation! Let me just start by saying...

I LOVE THE SOUTH!!! 

So after being there for 3 weeks!!! 21 days!!! I may have come home with just a slight southern accent ~

YA ALL DON'T MIND NOW DO YA???

I flew out on September 11th. It was a very somber day to be flying. In the morning at the exact time that the Twin Towers were bombed there was a moment of silence at the airport. It was a vivid reminder to pray throughout the day for all the thousands who lost loved ones on that dreadful day. Their grief is most likely still very real and many are still trying to cope and heal. 

My first stop on my vacation was a few days in Alabama. I went to see my dearest friend Shara and her sweet family. We met 12 years ago when our husbands were stationed together here at Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane. I love how the military brings such special people into our lives! Our friendship has stood the test of time & distance. I'm so very thankful for that!

Just after Shara picked me up at the airport!!! LET OUR FUN BEGIN!!!

Could hardly wait to see these 3 little darlings...

I made them each a banner for their bedroom.

We managed to fit alot in the few short days we had together. We ate way too much yummy food...I love.love.love. many eating places they have down south that we.don't.have.here! We shopped at my favorite stores and found a new one ~ again that they only have down south and we.don't.have.here! Not that I'm bitter or anything right??? I loved being with the kiddos and seeing them do all the things they are involved in. They just are growing up too fast! I loved being with Shara and visiting and laughing and visiting and laughing and...well you get the picture that I absolutely treasured every minute with Shara!  We're convinced her husband Greg may have thought we lost our minds a few times!

Good times in Alabama...

Going to pick up Jordan & Jannah in the golf cart...how fun!!!

Could someone please tell me how they've grown up so fast?!?!?

To say Jamison likes to do puzzles is an understatement!

Jordan said my chicken taco's were "heaven...pure heaven"

Jannah is quite a fashionista...we 3 girls had fun shopping together!

Me & my sweet Jannie...love this girl with all my heart!

J-mo at his brother Jordan's football game ~ isn't he the cutest???

Jordan ~ #49 ~ so glad I got to see him in action!

Cheering on our Jordi!!!

After the big game we hit the road for Valdosta, Georgia. Shara's mama & daddy live there and we were going to spend the night there. Her sister, Lori and her family were meeting us there also! I was so excited! Through the years of visiting Shara, I've been able to see her family several times and absolutely adore each one of them. It took us 4.5 hours to make the drive to GA. I sat in the van next to Jamison and I'm quite sure he may have asked every 10 minutes of the 4.5 hrs. how much longer! :)  After we arrived there I could see why he was so antsy to get to his Gamma & Gampa's...you'll see from the next several  pictures!!!

At Jimmy & Barbara Jordan's home ~

I really think  the back yard at the Jordan's should be call GRANDKIDLAND!!!

Apparently age is not an issue in GRANDKIDLAND...

Jannah and her Aunt Lori

A traditional favorite of mine that Shara's daddy makes ~ BOILED PEANUTS!

NOW...LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO...
KAEDE JO ~

I'll be honest I've only seen "house pigs" on tv shows ~ Suzanne Sugarbaker owned a pig on Designing Women - an all time favorite {old} tv show of mine and Honey Boo Boo owned a pig named Glitzy {yes I watch that silly show! just can't help myself} on her reality tv show. I never thought I would meet someone in REAL LIFE who owned a house pig...but I did. Kaede Jo belongs to Lori & Bill and I have to admit she wasn't too bad. Now I'm not saying I'd ever want one, I'm just saying it was better than I expected.

Just as shocking as Lori's pig is the fact that MY Shara owns a dog! Cute little Junie ~ I will readily admit I never thought the Bailey's would own a dog! Wonders never cease...

Kisses for Kaede Jo...

SOMETHING I'VE WANTED MY WHOLE LIFE...
well my whole life since I've known this family...
LOW COUNTRY BOIL

 

 YUM! YUM! YUM!

Barbara was so surprised by the "Granny" cookie jar I brought her. It was just like one that had been in her family when she was younger! 

Lunch on Sunday was at The Smokin' Pig ~ it's my FAVORITE barbeque place to eat while in Valdosta! It did not disappoint this time!
Oh...please don't tell Kaede Jo we ate at The Smokin' Pig ~ I think it may offend her!

Me & my Jordi-roo! This boy holds the most treasured spot in my heart!

Shara, me & Lori ~ I so enjoyed my time with both of them!

There are such pretty ~ pretty flowers in the south!

That evening Jimmy & Barbara drove me about an hour & a half to meet Jim who was at a conference in Orlando, FL.

Jim's conference was here at the Gaylord Palms Resort in Kissimmee, FL.
Stay tuned for my next post ~ week #2...

AS THE FUN CONTINUES...

The BEVERLY HILLBILLIES have been spotted...

ON THE ROAD TO UTAH!!!

OOPS!!! NO...IT'S JUST THE CRAFT FAMILY

WE LAUGHED SO HARD!!! Once the truck was all loaded and ready to go, Jim said the only thing missing a rocking chair on top of our load and the sound of banjo's playing in the background!!!

We made a quick trip to Utah last weekend to see Jim's mom, sister, brother in law & 2 nieces. Jim wanted to take this Simplicity tractor to his bro in law that was Grandpa's... so that and all its accessories plus our baggage...we ended up with a large load that let me tell you got some looks as we traveled the highways of Washington, Idaho, Montana & finally Utah!!!

We were taking care of Saylah at this time so I was a bit nervous about 11-12 hours traveling with a 20 month old HOWEVER I was PLEASANTLY surprised!!! SHE IS A GREAT LITTLE TRAVELER ~ I'm pretty sure I whined and/or complained much more than she did! :)

We left our house at 9:30 a.m. on 8/9 and had a couple appointments & errands in Spokane. Officially got ON THE ROAD at NOON!!! We rolled into my mother in laws driveway at 2:00 a.m. on 8/10. Mind you we did loose an hour with the time change but all in all felt pretty good about our travel time. We probably stopped somewhat more often with a little one but I think it made for more fun!!!

 Did alot of this...

this...

this...

{fyi - cheetos on the road - not such a grand idea}

and this...

{thankful for Nats laptop & a Chuggington dvd}

FIRST STOP ~ MISSOULA, MONTANA

We had lunch at Fudruckers! A family favorite! 

Saylah agrees with me! We wish there was a Fudruckers in Spokane!!!

BACK ON THE ROAD...

This lasted for about another hour and THEN SAYLAH SAID...NANA...NANA...

SO I SWITCHED AND RODE IN THE BACK WITH MY LITTLE SUGAR PIE!

I love that she likes to try on and wear my jewelry!!! Such a little princess!!!

We enjoyed our whirlwind weekend in Utah and managed to pack alot of FUN into just a couple of days!!!

Jim's sister Shannon and her husband Frank have a beautiful home and we had a great evening being together with them.

Beautiful antiques & wonderful collections!

Saylah adored the HORSES that were behind Shannon & Frank's house and had the best time playing on the slide they bought just for her to have!!!

Natalie loved being able to see her cousin Allison!

We spent a few hours at the Farmers Market in Salt Lake City and let me tell you it was a fantastic one!

First stop before the market was this yummy German bakery...

Saylah was quite enthralled with all the baked goods too! :)

Off to the FARMERS MARKET...

We had a delicious lunch here after we were done at the Farmers Market!

Saylah & I passed out back at Grandma Lynda's after our big day in Salt Lake!

Time to head home...

X-Large drinks from MAVERICK will help I'm quite sure...

We weren't on the road but 10 minutes and little Sugar Pie fell sound asleep...

Once again, just like the trip there, Saylah did so well going home!

Last big stop was in Missoula, Mt. for dindin and we went to Hoagieville...
OH MY SOUL!!! I have a new favorite place...but we don't have one in Spokane either!!! Probably a good thing...RIGHT?!?!?

There was outdoor seating which was nice so we could let Saylah run around a bit and of course Jim said we could eat there because they serve COKE!!! You know how everything is always BETTER with COKE in the CRAFT family!!!

Load 'em back up...

We weren't the Beverly Hillbillies going home just had the truck loaded up well from a few fun finds we got while visiting in Utah...

Sure had a wonderful weekend and can't wait to go back to Utah again!!!

Let me know if any of you spot the Beverly Hillbillies on the road this fine summer...