An Epic Vacation

With over 2,000 miles added to the odometer and five states crossed along the way, our Christmas vacation was full of adventure as we spent two weeks as far away from the cold weather as possible. Leading up to the trip, we had planned on making a two day journey to Florida. I told Scott I would absolutely not put up with another 18 drive like we did from Dallas to Warsaw. We had planned out the drive so we could get most of the way to Florida, but stop and get some sleep along the way so we weren't crazy tired when we arrived. Well, about two before we leave my sweet and loving husband carefully suggested that perhaps we should just wake up early and drive all 18 hours in one day so we can just get there and be done with it. My response was a big fat no way, no how, not gonna happen, END OF STORY. Or so I thought... I've learned my husband can be very persistent when he wants something. So he kept at it and kept at it, and then he finally got me, "But just think of how great it will be to have all day Friday to spend with your Grandma..." Well crap. He's right. So grandma wins and our journey began. Bright and early at 4 AM...

The drive down was pretty good. Unlike our trip from Dallas to Warsaw which occurred at night, this trip was during the day and I could actually see parts of the country that I have never been to before. I think my favorite was Tennessee. It is just so beautiful down there! 

As we made our way farther south, I watched the outside temperature gauge creep higher and higher. Now I realize why people in the North laugh at people in the South when they were big bulky coats when it's 50 degrees outside. By the time we got to Georgia I had shed every layer I was wearing only to see people with puffy down coats on pumping gas at the gas station. 

We finally made it to Florida and spent our first day spending time with Grandma, going shopping, relaxing and waiting for my sister and brother-in-law to arrive. We left bright and early to drive to Miami on Saturday, which is where our cruise on the Norwegian Epic was departing from. The next seven days were spent relaxing in the sun as we traveled to St. Maarten, St. Thomas, and Nassau. Here are a few pictures of our trip below:

St. Maarten, US Virgin Islands

 St. Johns, Virgin Islands

 Jennifer, Mom, and I in Nassau, Bahamas

 Atlantis, Bahamas

Aquarium in Atlantis

After the cruise returned to port in Miami, Scott and I spent the next couple of days in Florida hanging with with Grandma and some of Scott's family that I had yet to meet. And then we were off to Atlanta, where we had decided to spend New Years Eve on our way back to Warsaw. We booked our hotel in October, so it was by complete chance that the Aggies ended up playing in the Chick-fil-A bowl, but as soon as we found out they were playing, we bought tickets and ended up having one of the best new year's ever! It was probably one of the best sporting events I've ever witnessed.

 The closest I'll ever be to Johnny Football

Gig 'Em Aggies! 

Best husband ever!

Just like we watching the temperatures increase on our way down, we sadly watched them decrease on our way back, only to finally get home to the same 20 degree weather we left and lots and lots of snow. Little did we know that a full blown blizzard would be headed our way just days later! It's only fitting that the polar vortex would blow through during my first official winter in Indiana. I'll be spending the next few days planted by the fireplace sipping coffee while I try to ignore the sub zero temperatures outside. Can't think of a better way to start the new year! Ok, that's a lie, but at least it's a new year worth remembering!