Our trip to Alabamy

Jackson and I spent the 1st 2 weeks of November in Alabama.  He and I drove down to B'ham to meet Josh and Jon David, and then we were supposed to drive to Cape Canaveral to see what was supposed to be the 2nd to last shuttle launch before the shuttle program is supposed to be canceled.  Seeing a space shuttle launch has been on my life goal list since I was in college, and this was basically my last chance. 

We drove over night, and even though he was awake much of the night, he was really, realy good.  It still took 18 hours because I had to stop twice to sleep. 

To make a long story short, the launch kept getting delayed 1 day at a time.  Finally, the problem appeared to be solved and the weather forecas was clear.  So, we load up the car and leave the lake at about 2am, pick up Jon David in Auburn, then head for Florida.  We got as far as the Florida line (5 hours of driving) when Josh got a text that the launch was delayed again - this time for weeks at least.  Really dissapointing.  Not only that I now wouldn't get to see it, but that we will now have spent 10 more hours in the car, for nothing.

Sarah and Lilly flew down to Alabama on Thursday night.  The end of that week and the weekend we had the entire normal Thanksgiving crew - Sarah's parents, sister and her family from Mobile, brother and his family from south Florida, and my family of course.  We were all down there for a family friend wedding at the lake.  That was the day bamma lost to LSU - YEAHHHH!!!  They all left on Sunday after the wedding, but Sarah and Lilly stayed with us mostly at the lake the whole next week.

Sarah's dad and Lilly.

We all spent that week mostly at the lake visiting.  My grandmother Max was there for the visit, and it was great to get to see her again.  At the end of the week we were planning to go to the Georgia game.  Unfortunately, though, for the first time ever, mom couldn't find tickets for us.  Without tickets, I stayed at the lake to take care of the kids, while Sarah and Josh went down to tailgate.  Many of Sarah's friends from college were going to be there.  They had a good time, but when the game started they came back and watched the game with us at the lake. 

All in all parts of the trip were a bust - no shuttle launch and not getting to go to the game.  We still had a fine time, though.

All of Sarah's family at the wedding on Lake Martin.

The Schein's at the wedding at Lake Martin.

Lilly with Uncle Joshy.

Jackson gets to see his Uncle Otto much more often than his Uncle Joshy, so about half the time we were in Alabama he called Josh "Uncle Otto".  Most of the rest of the time he called him "Uncle Bus" because Josh has a Volkswagen bus that is very similar to one of Jackson's favorite toys - a Volkswagen bus.

Jackson by the water throwing rocks.  He thinks that's the greatest thing in the world.

Lilly with Sarah's dad.

Jackson and Lilly having a picnic.

Jackson loves to sing, and this is his favorite song.  It's my favorite song, too.

Lilly on the boat wearing the same life preserver that I wore when I was 2 months old.

Jackson and Lincoln, the best dog in the world. 

Lilly and Sarah.

Lilly, my grandmother Max, and Jackson with me.