Sunday at the Zoo with Connor!

With no robotics and no golf tournaments this weekend, we decided to head to the zoo on Sunday. Rain was forecasted in the afternoon, but we barely got "sprinkled"on, the temperature was good - right at 80 degrees. I texted Stacy, my co-worker, to ask if she could come at the last minute - as she had said she has never been to the zoo! She made it and we enjoyed about six hours of walking around with her treating us to lunch, our usual at the zoo - tacos.
Connor and AA rode the carousel, petted stingrays, rode the train, watched two 4D movie shorts: the Stork (really tough to watch about a baby girl not delivered to her bio family until...) and Chaos in Wonderland (weird). At one of the playgrounds:

Giraffes were enjoying being fed, so were close up:

Lion staring through the glass window:

 A Zoo guest offered to take our group photo:

Official photo taken in front of a Halloween theme-scary backdrop:

Stacy and I on the train:

Other good news for today - the Jaguars won with rookie QG Minshew Magic! We are now 4-4 for the season while Foley is recovering.

Ian Bailey - Chemo No More!

It's been an exciting week for the Bailey Family - First, Ian finished his chemo last week and second, he got his lab results back that confirmed he was cancer free! All in the clear!

Tuesday, he was invited to a Jaguar NFL Cancer Survivors Celebration called Crucial Catch! They played at a Skate Station, ate pizza and met four Jaguar NFL players.

Ian picked AA up (it was a hot day, casual wear):

Jaguar players: Jarrod Wilson (26 - FS), Josh Oliver (89 - TE), Matthew Orzech (46 - LS), Ronnie Harrison (36 - DB, SS)

Then Friday evening, the Bailey's called and asked if AA would go with them for a sushi dinner.

From Ian's Army Facebook page:

Life after chemo-what does that look like? Well, there were follow-up scans, there was a follow-up visit with Dr. Allie (oh how we love Dr. Allie, more on her in a bit), then there was a celebration with the staff at Nemour’s with them dressed in the most quirky outfits to bring smiles to Ian's face, there was dinner with family, and dinner with friends (sushi finally!!!), there was lunch by the river, checkers with his brothers (because at Cracker Barrel that’s what you do), school work at Urban Bean with his buddy Talan, a visit with his principal and vice principal, and did I mention laughter, so much laughter. We’ve just been living, soaking up every minute that God graces us with. Did I mention that he rode his bike for the first time since February; I cried like a baby through the biggest smile. The little things...they have so much more meaning. Every little thing is bigger than what it appears on the surface. How blessed our family is. Navigating through Ian’s cancer journey, we have been gifted so many life lessons. The biggest lesson: love and live in the moment, because you never know what the next moment will bring.

So let’s talk about Dr. Allie. She may not know, but she has been one of our rocks through all of this. Her poise, her honesty, and her relationship with our son have made this journey a little easier. Seeing her interaction with Ian, listening to their conversations about food, tea, music, their likes and dislikes, their honest conversations about Ian’s cancer, and just the friendship between her and my son; her willingness to get to know Ian and value him as a person is immeasurable. I am so thankful that she will be able to continue to follow Ian through the many years to come. It is bitter sweet that we will now see her every 3 months, because I always look forward to the next conversation between her and Ian. One of my favorite memories is when she was clocking out and stopped into Ian’s resort room, sat down on his bed and just had a regular conversation with him. I know God placed Dr. Allie into our life, because she was “just what the doctor ordered” for Ian’s journey.

Lastly, can I just tell you all how proud I am of all three of my sweet boys. They each faced their own challenges throughout this, with many emotions that sometimes they themselves did not understand. I can just say simply, that my boys each have had to grow through this experience and I am so proud of their inner strength to walk through this journey facing each day as it came. Our family faced so many emotional challenges that cannot be explained through merely words, but because of it, our family is stronger and we have learned so much about one and the other.

I could talk for years about our experiences, but no need. I find it best to stop with a simple thank you to all of you for walking this journey with us and lifting us up in prayer to get us through. God bless each of you.

With all of our love, Daddy and Momma Bear, Ian, Lincoln and Owen (aka-Peter Parker) ❤️ #noonecriesalone #iansarmy #joshua1nine

End of October: School All A's!!!

This past week was a bust for me, I had a cold for now 9 days. Ford and AA had some type of cold a few weeks ago and are finally recovering. I was sick to the point of being a zombie from last Friday to Tuesday. I went to the Doctor’s Friday to check if I had an infection but luckily no strep throat, just a sinus infection. Catching up on news...... Monday's and Thursday's, AA and Ford are going to Achieve Fitness Center for her Boost Athlete sessions. Coach Korn really gives the kids a workout! 
A photo from 10/13/19:

Tuesday, 10/22/19, I did meet Ford after work (with my cold, just beginning to feel human again) at Talon's as AA was out with Ian.

AA earned all A’s for the first grading period. We are proud of her new Spanish language and how well she is doing in AP Algebra.

With NFJG tournaments beginning last Sunday and several robotics team meets coming up, we will be busy until Christmas break.
We ate dinner at Talon's on Wednesday, 10/23/19 as AA played nine holes with Penny.
Then Friday, I was off work (I worked Monday when I was deathly sick) and we ran errands and ate lunch at Wicked Barley - they are so crowded on the weekends, so took advantage of a quieter Friday lunch.

Shrimp bowl will not be a favorite of mine:

Ford had pork belly somethings......

AA was invited out a second time this week, Friday by Ian Bailey, since he is done with his chemo treatments, the family treated him to sushi. It was good family time with the three boys and two invited friends.
Catching up on AA's Halloween thank you notes, which included a thank you for dog food donations and a school photo:

Saturday, we shopped for exercise clothes for AA's Boost class, bought two shorts/tops at Dick's Sporting Store.
10/27/19 Before heading to the zoo:

And Coach Bryan thanks us for sponsoring the all girls EH PGA Jr. Team (matching skorts) even though AA wasn't on it this Fall. 

Next up, still furniture shopping and planning Thanksgiving!

NFJG Bent Creek - Tied for First!!

This is the FIRST tournament for the season, the FIRST time A played up with ALL girls 13 - 18 (in the past she played with the less experienced girls called "Rising"ages 13 - 18) and she placed FIRST!! 
The first tournament went well - AA tied for first place. She tied in the first playoff hole then it was shortened to closest to the pin, which Hannah prevailed. Proud of her finish but if you look at her scorecard, she had a rough back nine holes! It happens!

Next up is Palm coast then two two-day tournaments in mid-November (one she may miss due to robotics competition).

From Jack’s Newsletter: In the Girls Divisions, Jacksonville’s Hannah Stevens and Fleming Islands Alyzabeth Morgan, both playing in the Elite Tour for the first time would lead the field tied at the top with scores of 79. Excited to capture their first Elite Gold Medal they both would head to the first tee for a sudden death playoff.  Stevens would prevail for the Gold while Morgan would settle for the Silver.

Donated Dog Food! 448 POUNDS!

Another successful year collecting dog food donations! This is AA’s way of giving to stray dogs, back when she didn’t have a pet puppy. In lieu of birthday gifts, she asks her school squad to bring dog food donations. We had some friends bring bags of food like Kathy, Hugh and Maureen,  plus family Carolyn and Tyler, and others sent us money, like my Mom, Nana Joy, Terri, Auntie Jean, Penny. Since Melissa was here, she bought four bags of dog food! Of course, AA purchased a bag from her money and we donated a large bag too.
The Safe Animal Shelter on CR220, Middleburg, was surprised and pleased with the amount. In the past, we took the food to the county shelter in Green Cove Springs.
It was posted on the SAS Facebook page as a thank you:

At home, our garage full of dog food bags!

Close up:

She did well this year! Thank you to family and friends generosity!

Mom's Three Bean Salad Recipe

Happy Anniversary to Us! #34!

After looking at our weekend activities including AA’s Saturday robotics workshops, golf tournaments and my work schedule, we discovered that our Anniversary weekend was actually available, nothing planned. Carolyn and Nana Joy were also available to be with AA. So our weekend getaway was in the works. We reserved two nights at the Stephen-Williams House on Liberty Street, a walking tour for the Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, and Ford booked us an evening private carriage ride.
Friday, Ford picked me up at work at noon, leaving AA with her Nana Joy. Their plans included seeing the Downton Abbey movie with Carolyn on Saturday afternoon.
We arrived in Savannah, drove around Forcyth Park, then parked at our car at the B and B. We ate homemade sandwiches and sipped some Champagne on the two hour drive.
Alice checked us in and showed us around, the home is packed with antiques, very elegant with Asian influences. Our room was large, free WiFi, bathrobes, water bottles and a small refrigerator.
Meeting the owner, Albert, he sounds like the movie character Jim William, southern drawl, speaks of Yankees, silver teapot origins in Connecticut, shows photos of house and said many, like the disbarred lawyer in the movie, have played the piano in the music room.
Our Friday plans, our actual anniversary was fluid, we were walking around, enjoying some of the park squares then hop in and out of a few bars/pubs for drinks and dinner. We stopped in River Moon and enjoyed a beer plus was there during the Friday beer toast. It was a dark lager this week nothing tasty! It is a fun place with an outside beer garden. We then found Flock to the Wok, homemade dumplings, yummy! So it was noodles for dinner. We were stuffed and walked until we were ready to relax in our wonderfully cool room.
Saturday morning was enjoyable with breakfast guests a Janie (Republican) and Gail (Independent) from Leesburg. They are in their 70’s, quite the travelers, out west recently, loved Bar Harbor, took catamaran to Nova Scotia, talked of eating lamb in Wales, love their rescue kittens and dog, etc.
After breakfast we went for a walk to the riverfront, bought some bee items, then headed to our room once the rain started. Our walking tour was cancelled and we waited out the heavy thunderstorm. After braving the weather, we walked to the Six Pence Pub for lunch. Ford ate the special, prime rib salad, I had the crab cake appetizer. Both were good, prime rib was tender, Ford regretted ordering it “medium”. We each had a beer, I enjoyed the Southbound IPA, Ford had the red beer, Highland, NC.
We returned to our room again in pouring down rain. And it rained some more!
Our carriage ride was cancelled, so we walked to our dinner reservation, a little early. The meal was okay, supposedly a great Italian choice, very formal. We walked back in the rain sprinkles and chalked it up to a wet weekend. We will have to go again to take the Garden of Good and Evil Tour.
We drove home to visit with Joy, as she was leaving in the morning and give our AA a big hug!