Tuesday

• 
• Did loads of laundry
• Walked the dog 7x
• Went to the eye doctor for Ethan
• Found an orthodonist to take over the kids treatment plan.
• Still looking for Derm, gyn, FP and dentist.
• Rob and I tried to go to the temple but my recommend had expired. Super embarrassing.
• Called for an appointment to renew it.
• Threw a ball at Ethan many many times so he could practice kicking it.
• Cancelled our home owners insurance because the house is officially not ours anymore!!
• Watched Agents of Shield with Rob.
• Bought a sweatshirt because I didn’t bring one (Florida) and Rob keeps our hotel rooms freezing!

Form: DH680

Today we went to register Grace for school. We went on Friday, you may remember, to find out what we needed to bring. 

So we got there, signed in, and waited our turn. When they called us we handed over the forms and info they said they needed and were told that although we had an official immunization record it was not on an acceptable form. It had to be on a Florida form signed by a FL doctor. 

School starts next week and time is running short. 

We ended up going to a minute clinic and having school physicals and the forms copied. $130 and 2 hours later we were back at the school signing up to wait again. 

It was a little frustrating but at the end of the day she’s in. Now we go back on Thursday for her schedule and open campus walk through. Hopefully Ethan’s registration will go smoothly.

Grace and I spent the afternoon in the pool, which is really nice. We got rained on and so had soaked towels.

Ziva is enjoying 5-6 walks a day. I am looking forward to having a doggie door again. 

Sunday

Today was a stressful day because we had to move hotels. In order to register the kids for school we have to have a Florida address and they specifically do no allow a contract to buy a house to count. 

We had 3 choices, one to go to the district office and file an exemption. Cubersome, long lines and you may not get it.

Two start school 2 weeks late. Unacceptable.

Three bring in hotel (or shelter) receipt because homeless kids can’t be denied an education. So we went the homeless route and moved into a hotel in the schools boundaries. 

The move was accompanied by a lot of bickering. 

We went to our new ward and I think everyone had a positive first impression. The Bishop was nice. The lessons were good. I enjoyed the testimonies. The kids seemed to be welcomed and Rob got asked to give a talk next week. 

We ❤️ Florida

This morning we went to see the house. I was a little nervous. I had only seen it online and even though Rob had seen it his reports were of a mixed nature. I was happy to see that I liked it a lot. Ethan and Grace liked it. We are excited to move in, plant an orange tree, and enjoy life as Floridians.

We are staying at a Marriott residence inn and the people are really nice. The cleaning lady made a cute dog towel for us today.

We ate dinner at Bahama Breeze, it was a lot of fun. I love the mellow sounds of a steel drum and we had live music out on the patio while we ate. Everyone liked their food. Ethan ordered jackfruit tacos, which I also tried. It was interesting and tasted good. I wouldn’t order it again though. I had a curry goat bowl which was super spicy!

The we went to Congo River Golf where we had a really fun time. We got to feed and hold baby alligators. 

We played ubanki ball, which Ethan won and we all enjoyed. We think Clayton would love it.

We mini golfed (Rob won) and panned for gems and played games. We all agreed that it was even more fun than we expected.

There are a lot of things to do in Orlando!

#orlandoadventures

This morning we went to the kids new schools and talked about registration. It was more info gathering than goal accomplishing but I think we learned what we need to do and to have so we can register them next week.

Then we drove by the outside of our new house for our first look.

Then we went to lunch and back to the hotel to hang out and let the hottest part of the day pass.

In the evening we went to Disney Springs and had a lot of fun walking around and seeing the sights. Everyone enjoyed themselves.

Recently we started a new family scripture study method. Last fall Pres. Nelson talked about reading all the verses listed in the scriptures that mention the Saviors life, or what He did, or what He said. I printed the list of verses (over 2000) and we are taking a few each night and reading them and discussing them. It’s been really fun and I think the kids are learning a lot and enjoying the process.

Flight

My criteria for a good flight is that we land. And we did. It was pretty bumpy. Ziva has sauage and sedatives for breakfast and she slept at my feet in her carry-on the whole time. 

The move, all though full of all the typical trails and misfires and snafu’s, things that were difficult or inconvenient, went well. I am very grateful that the leaving part is done. Now we move on to the settling in part.

After we landed we took Z to the hotel, fed her and took her on her business trip. Then we went out for dinner and to walk around near the hotel.

We had a nice dinner and reunion visit. Then we walked around Point Orlando and looked around. The kids are excited to live here and think there will be lots to do. 

They are not excited to live in the hotel for a month.




Skelton museum at Point Orlando. 

Ethan has a tiny bouncy ball. He’s bouncing it off walls and ceiling. 

Grace is watching YouTube videos about snakes. 

Our crew is busy working and packing our stuff. I feel bad that we have so much junk in our back garage. It’s a lot to move. I feel even worse because we will be spending the first 2 months in Florida throwing a lot of that stuff away since we won’t have room for it. Rob didn’t have time to do it before he left.

Yesterday I bought them burritos and coke. Today pizza and waters. 

Yesterday I was robbed😞 I was at the laundromat doing the wash and was on my phone while the washer was working. I have a wallet case and I think someone must have seen my debit card in it. When the washer was done I closed my phone, stuck it in my purse and stood up to swap the laundry.  When I was done I went back and sat down, for my phone and my card was gone. Such a bummer. 

I got to add go to the bank to my list of things to get done, and I was pretty grumpy about having to go there.

Last night was our last sleep in our CA house. I sat outside in my reclining outdoor chair for a long time talking with Rob and watching the sun set behind the house and the stars come out. The evening was cool, as is typical for a desert night, and it was quiet and nice. 

As we ran some errands yesterday I kept running into people I knew. I got to give some more goodbye hugs. It’s been a good 3 years here. Fun to reconnect with some old friends and to make some new ones. We won’t miss CA per say but we will miss the people we’ve met and the closeness to family. I am grateful for the many good things we’ve experienced here, for the great leaders the kids have had, for seminary, for our year having  Disney season pass, for growth of testimony and family.

Now we just have to survive one more long packing day and one flight and we are off!