January....a lot of changes and travel

January was a tough month for us.  Carl left on the third of January for Camp Pendleton, California.  At that point, we weren't sure if we would be able to see him until September. It was hard knowing that September was SO far away.  Jack and I began to fill our schedule with outings to keep us preoccupied.

Jack and I at the Avenues mall on a playdate with Audra and Lucas.

Jack at Ayden's train-themed birthday party.  Katie, Ayden's mom, was a friend of mine from middle school and we have recently reconnected in Jacksonville!

Jack loves the ball pit!

Jack and I took a trip down to Sarasota to see Grandma.  On the way down, we stopped in Tampa for Kids Gasparilla and stayed with our close friends, Teana and Ryan, and their two girls, Kennedy and Collins.  Jack and I had gone down there last year. We are hoping to make this fun weekend a yearly tradition.

Jack at Kennedy's house...Doesn't he look like he just got done with work? I got him that tie because the weekend is pirate themed, and I couldn't resist.

Sharing breakfast

Jack starting his morning by food shopping in Kennedy's kitchen

Jack's specially made shirt for the big day

Ready for the pirate parade!!!

Jack had discovered the parade beads...watch for him at Mardi Gras in 2030!!!

Loves the beads

The wild parade...so many fun floats!

Jack and Kennedy arriving in style

Jack found this pug next to the parade route and refused to leave him alone.  I think he thought he was Herme at first.  Jack waving his hands at the floats.

We had such a blast with our friends...Thanks Te!!!

After Tampa, we went to Sarasota and a lot of fun with my mom.  We went to Sarasota Jungle gardens, shopped, and played.

Jack, Mommy and the bird

Jack loved the wooden trains

Having a lot of fun with the birdies

The best part of the gardens was feeding the flamingos

Of all of the zoos in the world that I have been to, these were the most beautiful flamingos that I had ever seen

Look at them all eating out of my hand

Pretty flamingo...up close!!!

Look at all the flamingos...there were literally 50 there

Jack loved watching the parrots do tricks

Grandma showing Jack the fish pond

Jack loves fish and watches the fish in our pond every day

Jack playing with the other kids

Playing in Grandma's bathroom

Back at home....playing in Jack's room

We missed Carl terribly throughout the whole month.  Towards the end of the month, we got great news that we would be able to visit Carl.  On the first of February, we left for California.  Next up, our big trip visiting Daddy!!!