This vacation couldn’t come soon enough. It had been 5 months since we saw our grandson and we were getting Parker fever! We need some Parker in our lives. He had reservations on a red eye flight out of SFO on Feb 13th. Kelly was also going and red eyeing it from LAX. We met up in the ATL (Atlanta) and flew together to Jacksonville NC. No problems with the flight there other than almost missing our flight to Jacksonville. They changed the gate and for whatever reason we didn’t hear it so we had to hightail it to another terminal and get on right when they were closing the flight. Whew!
Either way, we arrived in Jacksonville as scheduled and started our week of Parker time. Kate, Frank and Parker met us at the airport and we all headed to their house together. To say that Parker has grown in the last 5 months is an understatement. When we last saw him in September, he was a small little two month old bundle of joy who (if we were lucky and coaxed him enough) would give us that precious little smile. Today he is a strapping young 7 month old who is crawling, standing, jabbering, and giving you that smile that mealts your heart.
I wish we could say that we did a lot of different things on our vacation, but all we really wanted to do was spend some quality time with Parker. Oh, and Kate and Frank too! Frank actually got some leave while we were there so we really did get to spend time with everyone. It was so great.
The plan was to go out to dinner for my birthday, but who knew that EVERY Marine in Jacksonville would be taking wives, girlfriends, husbands out for a Valentines dinner. It was crowded everywhere but we ended up having a nice meal at Chili’s. Can never go wrong with a rib eye steak.
I’m proud to say that most of the rest of the vacation was dedicated to Parker. Holding Parker, talking to Parker, playing with Parker, helping Parker stand and balance, feeding Parker, changing Parker (ok not me but everyone else). Parker Parker Parker!! Along with every activity also included taking pictures and video. I tell ya, this kid must have felt like a Hollywood kid with the Flaherty paparazzi always around. Mostly I enjoyed just watching Parker be Parker. Like I said he is seven months old and just starting to become aware. He will be playing on the floor or in his swing and all of a sudden will notice his hand. Then he will spend a few minutes just looking at his hand, moving his fingers, back and front. He seems just facinated by his own hand. Too damn cute!!.
Kate and Frank have a new dog, Simon, that we also got to know. A beautiful lab mix rescue dog that needs lots of love and time to become a real dog again. Simon is a great dog who is only going to get better, better with the Lee family love and support. GOOD DOG SIMON!
Kate and Frank also have chickens. Five hens out in the backyard in a coop that Frank built, and six little chicks in the house in their own little indoor coop (first a big bucket tub then a dog kennel when they started to escape). They are getting 3-4 eggs a day from the hens out back.
During Christmas, when we knew we were coming to visit in February, we decided to hold off on exchanging gifts and instead do it when we were all together. We packed a whole other suitcase with Christmas presents (and clothes for Parker) and had a nice little family Christmas in February. It really felt like Christmas on the next night because it SNOWED! Here we thought we would get some nice “southern” weather while we were there but instead got a freak snow storm. It was still cool. Of course we were excited and even built a mini snowman and had a short (because that snow is cold!!) backyard snowball fight.
In the Christmas tradition, we made enchiladas one night while we were there. Not a multi dozen batch like usual, just a pan of corn and a pan of flour tortilla. They turned out great and were devoured that night and the next day.
Kate and Frank took Kelly to the shooting range one day, but not before getting some pointers out in the backyard. Kelly turned out to be a pretty good shot. Barb even took a try and did good as well. Another time the three (Kelly, kate and Frank) of them went to a party at some Sargents house. When they were all gone it was true Parker time with Gramma and Grandpa. We were happy Kate and Frank could get out of the house and enjoy some time with Kelly. Frank is such a great guy and its good to see him getting closer to Kelly. I’m proud to have him as part of our family.
The weather wasn’t that great while we were there but who cares? We weren’t there to lay on the beach and go golfing. We did manage to get to the coast once so Kelly could at least see the Atlantic Ocean. We went over to Swansboro one day to get some apple fritters at a place where everyone on YELP was raving about. They were great!
I cooked some while I was there. Made chicken wings one night, gluten free pancakes one morning for breakfast, gluten free breaded chicken another night, and of course the enchiladas, where everyone participated.
Before we knew it, time was running out on our vacation and it was our last day. We stopped at Camp Geiger on the way to the airport to visit the chapel that Kate and Frank got married at and to show Kelly where Kate and Frank had met. It was hard to say good bye. Kate, Frank and Parker make such a wonderful family. They are truly in love and they care for and love our grandson just like we knew they would. We couldn’t be happier or more proud. We know that only the best is ahead for the Lee family.
So we said our goodbye and flew with Kelly to Atlanta, then said goodbye to her as she flew back to LAX. 20 minutes later we were on our flight back to SFO.
