Merry Christmas 2018

Merry Christmas 2018 from the Gichards!

Florida in the Fall

This year we took our annual pilgrimage to Florida in the fall. My parents assured me that Florida was "cooler" in October. Um, I don't believe them! We had a great week with them in the hot sun though!

Sunset our first night in town

Saturday we went to Pensacola for their Seafood Festival.

Sunday we hung out by the pool after church. My goal was to be pruny from so much time in my favorite floaty - I succeeded.

During the week, Mom and I headed over to the Commons for some shopping in the golf cart.
They were all decked out for fall already!

We didn't spend a ton of time at the beach this trip, as the red time came in a few days and kept us coughing when we went down to the beach. The surf was also pretty strong a few days, making it challenging to stay upright in the water (and it was too hot to stay out of the water!).

We headed out on the boat in the middle of the week, cruised the Destin harbor, and then headed out west to paddle board and explore some intercostal waterways and islands.

The week was so relaxing and hanging out with my parents.

Saw a heron, while out shopping for dinner

Reading and relaxing (once I stabilized myself) in the hammock

Mom's bird of paradise blooming

Friday, we went for a leisurely ride and lunch in the neighborhoods of Watercolor and Seaside. They are such quaint towns!

That evening was Destin's Seafood Festival, so we had dinner in the harbor area, and walked around the festival afterwards.

Delicious fisherman's tea

Our last day in town, we went back out on the boat, and spent most of the day at Crab Island. I succeeded in becoming a prune again from so much time in the floaty - but I also succeeded in forgetting to reply sunscreen and got a bit sunburnt!

Andrew took a flight on a Searay floatplane!

Jelly fish!

It was a wonderful relaxing week with my folks, and we got out just in time to beat Hurricane Michael to the Florida panhandle. Thankfully, Michael missed Destin and my parents and their home were fine.

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A Day in Lawrence

While in Kansas for my grandpa's funeral, we were able to take a day to explore Lawrence. Our first stop was the Booth Family Hall of Athletics (Kansas Jayhawks museum), which houses The DeBruce Center where the original rules of basketball reside. Dad and I were in heaven!

Dad and I with Dr. James Naismith, the inventor of basketball

Dad and I with Phog Allen, the father of basketball coaching

After much Kansas Basketball history, we headed over to Freestate Brewing Company for lunch and to see Uncle George off. We walked around Massachusetts Avenue in downtown Lawrence for a bit, and then headed back to campus.

Freestate Brewing Company

Our first stop on campus was the Kansas Union, and the bookstore - we, uh, spent some money there... 😆

Hanging with a Jayhawk in front of the Kansas Union

Entrance to the bookstore = empty wallet for Amber...

Big Jay and I - he knows what's what, he drinks Pepsi products!

After the bookstore, we went to Oread Hotel and looked out on the area around Lawrence from the top of Mount Oread. It was a beautiful hot, sunny day! Then we drove around some sunflower farms and toured Eudora  bait more before heading back to our hotel for the night.