Today we had to go up to St Augustine to get our Drivers Licenses (we are now official Floridians!). Its about an hour drive north of us and its the only place that was open on Saturday to do so and all locals places are closed before Grady gets out of school. Since we had to go up there anyway I wanted to kind of make a day of it and be ‘tourists’. I went online and found all these cool tours we could go on, etc but we were really worried about the dogs as it has been pretty warm. So we decided to drive up and then we will play it by ear. Doing so worked out great and I think we all enjoyed the day.

First off I want to say the Drivers License lady was I think the nicest lady in government I have dealt with. I think she knew our entire life story by the time we were done. Everyone seems so friendly and nice. We even had a guy have us roll down the window as we were driving today because he wanted to know what part of Utah we were from and he was from Pheonix. There really are some nice, friendly folks down here!

Then we were hungry (imagine that) and we chose this cute bistro place for lunch and sat in their courtyard which was beautiful. All I could think of was how much my mom would like it… in fact at one point I was in tears about missing my mom. I think it was one of the best designed restaurant courtyards I have been in, and to my surprise lunch was really cheap. I told Grady that I didn’t think we could eat at Wendy’s for the price (so that is always a plus to find something cute, with great atmosphere and that is really really affordable!). We will defiantly be going there again when we take family to visit. The town is a full of little attractions and history and its pretty.

So then it gets better. Down the street from the Bistro is the attraction: Fountain of Youth. Where the explorers found the water that made eternal youth. It was a park area with some different attractions but mainly just a ton of history - history I didn’t know. But the best part that made the whole day is that is was a pet friendly attraction and the dogs did really good. Only one time we were on a tour and there was another dog that came in and in the middle of the guy telling the story Daisie started barking! But we wouldn’t expect anything different would we? So Grady took her out and the rest of the time we were lucky as there were not many other dogs and they were on their best behavior - in fact they got so spoiled from everyone telling them how cute they are and giving them more love than they knew what do with. We went into the planetarium and watched a light show with lasers in a dome room and the dogs got to go in with us. I thought the thunder would bother Chicago but i guess he knew it was fake as they just slept when they turned the lights off! Oh and we saw this presentation of this amazing huge earth (hard to explain but it was cool) and we learned that when the US was founded they named it La Floridia and all of what we know as the continental united states was actually called Florida. I never realized that Florida was where we it all started… maybe I didn’t pay attention in history!

Anyway then we drove home on the beach front and stopped for some great ice cream. When we got home Grady bought his things to start scuba diving - I think tomorrow he is starting his certification so that made a perfect end to the day for him. He is really excited as this is something he has wanted to do for as long as I have known him.

My belly is growing, but its not as noticeable in pictures so i am waiting until I am further along to take photos. However I started a drawing today and wanted to see my angle of my hand so i took a picture and I thought it turned out to be a pretty good Prego-belly pict.

Raymond Leroy Drake lived a full 94 years before he passed quietly into the hands of Jesus and rejoined his lifetime companion and sweetheart, Ruth on April 18, 2009. A devout Christian and decorated World War II veteran he lived as a loving husband, father and grandfather. He will be remembered fondly in his community as the smiling person who told every one he met to “Have a beautiful day with Jesus!”

Born on September 10, 1914, he grew up in Iowa. He graduated valedictorian of his class of 1932. Ray spent most of his adult years in the Midwest. In Iowa, he and his wife led many Lay Witness Missions in the United Methodist Church and saw many come to the Lord Jesus. He also owned the “Open Book” – a Christian bookstore until he moved to Cedar City, Utah in 1994 to be close to his son and family.

His expertise was the mechanics of radio and, from its inception television. In WWII, he was awarded a bronze star and was with the 134 division when they freed Italy. Radio and television was his profession in civilian life. He had an electronics shop on Main Street and had the first television set in their town. He and Ruth’s dream came true when they were able to travel to Africa to spend a month in the bush villages with their daughter Peggy who has been a missionary nurse there since 1980.

Raymond and Ruth were the parents of two children, Peggy Drake – a
missionary nurse in Burkina Faso, West Africa, and Lin (Debbie) Drake – a general contractor in Cedar City, Utah. They have two grandchildren – Travis (Rachel) Drake of Mooresville, NC, and Katie (Graydon) Meeks of Daytona Beach, FL.

We all wonder what will be the lasting impression
that he will leave behind – to all who knew Raymond,
it will be – “Have a beautiful day with Jesus.”

We have enjoyed having Trav, Rachel and the puppies down this week. It is going to be great having them so close. Really we have just been bums - I figure since they are on vacation I get to try to be a bit as well! We explored a bit the first day, ran the dogs on the beach every night, had a tropical storm - inside day where Travis helped me finalize the refinishing of my Grandmas swing (over a year in the process).

Yesterday was a beautiful day that we spend on the beach by the house with Rinske and Ashley and went out to a fun place for dinner.

Just about midnight (a few nights ago) we all woke up to puppies on our chest - yes our 2 big ones as well! The thunder storm was so bad, worse than any of us had ever been in. It was so loud and sounded like lightning was striking in our back yard. I wasn’t sure for a minute if we would survive - I thought our house was going to crumble to the ground it was so bad. I have to admit… I was a bit afraid and normally I love the thunder.

Travis and Rachel woke up to it raining on them as our windows were all open and the rain was coming in at the right angle to get them. Trav said he closed the blinds to hopefully prevent the glass from shattering on them when the window breaks - as it was so bad he was for sure it was going to shatter with every thunder hit. He got up and said outside he could see lighting striking all around us. I kind of wish now i got up and took videos for you all to see!

The next morning was calm, overcast and a bit rainy. However by around 9am our TV changed to the emergency broadcast and we watch the storm roll across the state as a tornado hit down in Tampa and in Ocala. They evacuated Disney World and we were all under code red warnings all morning. The heart of the storm was more south of us so I didn’t get the best storm video. We had about 5 power outages and lots of thunder (but nothing to what it was the night before). I took 2 videos for you all to see but I have to warn you.. they are really not that exciting as I think we thought it was a lot worse that it actually was

However it was fun having our first storm and we talked to someone who has been in the area for 10 years and they said it was the worst they had seen, so I guess we survived the worse!

Video 1 - out our back screen porch.. too raining to step too far out.

Video 2 - out our front screen porch.. a little more protected to go outside

We are making friends It is not taking us too long to get in the groove of things. We had a BBQ last night and had some friends from school over. It was fun to get to know them. Namen and Heather are from Spokane, Washington and we got talking and his dad probably knows my family up in Sand Point and his dad grew up there and still works there (small world). Jamie and Rinske are beach bums, she is from the Netherlands and he is from Florida. They are scuba instructors and have lived in the Keys and on another Island (living my dream life!). They are looking at a sail boat to live on and when he is out of school sail around the world. Sounds like a great life to me! They have a couple of dogs that have became Daisie and Chicagos buddies. They play well together and wear each other out. Today we are going on the boat with Jamie and Riske, Bandit and Gypse (their dogs) and us. Should be fun and I am sure I will post pictures. It was so great to have them over we enjoyed everyone so much last night - it made us miss our friends from Utah a lot and wish you were all here with us and our new friends.

Today was our first Dr’s Appt. For different reasons we ended up going to a male doctor instead of a midwife - which I have to admit was not as bad as I thought it would be, in fact he seems like a good Dr with a good sense of humor. He answered all my questions and even told me I could drink wine… well he said he cant tell me that as he needs to say no alcohol but he says that if I asked him in a bar he would say okay Just keep it limited. The other great news is that I get to sit in our jacuzzi. I cant have the temp. over 98 degrees (but being out here I dont know if we want it that hot!).

I do have to tell you that the papsmear was the fastest I have ever had done - he was quick which I really liked as all us women know how uncomfortable that is!

Back to this whole… how far along are we?? Wow! I didn’t know this would be so confusing. According to my period I am 13 weeks and 4 days (so not as long as the other Dr said). However, after his exam he thought I wasn’t that far so he had me do an ultrasound. (break my heart uh?) Also, though the Dr and nurse said it was normal I was a little scared when they couldn’t find the heart beat, so I was so glad for the ultrasound as I got to hear its little heart beat at a healthy 158 beats per minute. It was so great I cried! He looks a bit like an alien right now but he is already so beautiful to me. I finally get to put a picture to what is going on in my body and wow! its a bit overwhelming. Back to how far along I am… the utlra sound is what they go off of and I am actually only 12 weeks a 4 days. Due date being October 15th (Denni’s Birthday).

So… 12 weeks and I have been showing for a while?? I had to ask what was going on. He says it is normal, as I am bloating right now! There was a lady in the waiting room that I think is having twins - she was sooo huge! I felt for her, she looked so uncomfortable.

Anyway check out Baby’s 1st Picture (he is 6″ already!): *click on them to enlarge