Day 28 of my picture-a-day challenge

My feet warmer - Cooper

Day 15 of my Picture-A-Day Challenge

Weatherman Chuck checking out the radar

He's calling for 5 inches of snow for us.

Day 11 of my Picture-A-Day challenge

We got our Starbucks - now we're ready to shop till we drop!

First stop when we got to Northpark mall today was Starbucks. You have to be alert and awake to shop right?

Day 10 of my Picture-A-Day challenge

Wrapping up smiles

Christmas is about celebrating the birth of our Lord and the love of God. A part of celebrating that love is giving gifts to the ones we care about. I love the feeling that comes with gift giving.  I love the the smiles that come when a wrapped present is handed to someone you care about.

Of course I Love to shop so that makes it even better!

I've wrapped up all the presents that needed wrapping tonight. Guess we'll have to shop for some more smiles tomorrow!

Found a Friend

This guy was hanging around us for a very long time. He flew from person to person landing for a bit on each one.

Enjoyed an evening with Davis family

Spent Saturday evening at a get together at Marilyn and John Davis's home. A Bix night tradition before Rich, Janie, and family head back home to Southern Illinois. Lots of their family and friends were there. It was nice to chat and relax outside.

Some participated in a whiffle ball game. I enjoyed watching the fun. By the time the game was called the ball was nearly crushed and a nice dent could be seen in the bat. Lots of power in those young men...of course they had to try to show each other up.

Driving home today

Well...It's been a really fun vacation. Unfortunately though time to get back home...back to things that need to be done. On the upside - there is a lot of summer left before school starts up again.

Florida was very, very nice...but the great time we all had was in large part because we spent the time together as a family. Two famlies became one big one. We have such a great time together - the Davis/Gillespie vacations are the best! I've been blessed to be a part of this family for 9 years now and I love them all dearly. It is my wish that we lived closer so that our families could spend more time together. I miss them already!

Father's Day in Carterville

Let's go to the movies!  Toy Story 3 in 3D. We decided to celebrate Father's Day by going to the movies. Most of us went to see Toy Story - Shawn & Grant went to see A-Team. 

Don't we look spiffy in our 3D glasses!

Driving to Carterville

Driving home from a great vacation is certainly not as fun as driving to it. Today we are driving the 12 hour trip back to Carterville, IL.

We are currently just outside of Montgomery, Alabama after stopping for lunch.

There is a thunderstorm watch out for the area and we just passed through a big downpour. Could be a bumpy ride the rest of the way.  It's only 2:30 but seems a lot later...going to be a long day. Should get into Carterville before 10 tonight.

Lunch in Alabama

Sara & Chris pass the time waiting for our table at Cracker Barrel. Hungry!

Really gonna miss this

Oh....such a nice bathroom in the master bath. We really our going to miss it!

I'm gonna miss this!

Going to miss mornings on the deck enjoying coffee and the view of palm trees.

Thursday's Agenda - Parasailing

Sara wanted to go parasailing...so that's what we are going to do. 5 of us at least! I'm thinking of attempting to take the flip video up with me.  We'll see!

Saturday evening on the beach

We made it to the beach at Destin Saturday evening after checking out our house and unloading the cars. Everyone had to immediately go stick their toes in the water!

Drive til the map turns blue!

Up by 4 am...left Carterville at 5:03 after stopping for gas and most importantly - coffee! We are driving to Destin today...should arrive about 5:30 - 5:45 pm depending on stops. I can't wait to see that map turn blue!

We have a bit of a techno war going on in the Gillespie car. The Tomtom is giving us one route and Chuck has the Droid's Google maps on giving us a little different route. Who will win? If the Davis car stays in the lead position - Rich may call Tomtom the winner. Stay tune to find out! =)


UPDATE - Tomtom got us here just fine...but oh the roads he took us on!

Lunch with grandpa in Springfield

Steak n Shake break for Lunch with grandpa George

Driver change!

Sara takes the wheel and is doing great! Of course she is...we all know us girls are the better drivers.

Chris takes the wheel!

Dad looks a bit nervous...but he's doing a great job!

And we're off...

Don't they look all comfy back there. Not for long though as Chris takes over driving...then Sara...as I get to enjoy the cozy back seat of the Honda Civic!