Various and Sundry Activities with my Dad

It has been so fun having my dad come for a couple of weeks.  George and I tried to plan activities that we could do with him each day as we came home from work, plus on the two weekends he was here.  So, I have tried to make a little diary of some of the fun things we did.  (The only thing I didn't get any pictures of was when we took him to Miami for a church assignment that George had.  We stayed down there one night and went to a ward in Miami.  My dad loved going to the meetings there and meeting so many wonderful people--many of them Hispanic--who were absolutely some of the friendliest people I've ever been around.)

Going to Spring Park

Everyone always loves to walk on the dock at Spring Park.  You can always find someone fishing or shrimping and see what they're catching.  Today a couple of people had caught a few mullet.

Attending Church at our Ward.  The weekend before, we were in Miami, attending church there.  The next week, we attended our own ward.  My dad was able to be in Jeff's Gospel Doctrine Class and was so impressed at the great teaching job he does.

Amy with her Grandpa Rigby.

Seeing the Sights in Gainesville.

After living in Gainesville for six years and having my parents visit us there pretty often, my dad always loves to go back to see some of the sights there--especially anything about the Gators.

My dad was so interested that University of Florida now has statues of its three Heisman Trophy Winners:  Steve Spurrier, Danny Wuerffel, and of course, Tim Tebow.  I wonder if Brigham Young University will ever put one up of its Heisman winner:  Ty Detmer.

No visit to Gainesville is complete without visiting "The Swamp!"

Spending an Evening At The Landing.

When my sisters came a year ago, we took my dad along with Beverly and Joyce down to The Landing for my dad's birthday.  He had such a great time, he wanted to go there again, so off we went.

Just as the sun goes down and all the lights come up, it truly is a beautiful scene along the waterfront.

Enjoying Three Movies Together.

My dad says he doesn't go to many movies, but that is one thing George and I love to do, so we took him to see three that we thought he would enjoy because they all had to do with history, which he loves:  "Red Tails," "Iron Lady," and "War Horse."  He really enjoyed them all, but I think his favorite was "War Horse."  It was really a dynamic movie, so well done.  (Sorry, no pictures.)


And all too soon, the two weeks were over.


Yes, the two weeks came and went so quickly.  My dad said he had looked forward to this trip for so long, and now it was over.  We told him to come anytime--the bedroom will always be there for him.  My sister Natalie, her husband Mark, and daughter Kelsey, along with my brother Jerry and his wife Shelly, had been in Orlando for the week, so they drove to Green Cove to spend the afternoon with us before driving back to Orlando to have my dad fly home with them.  We were so thrilled that they could spend some time with us and enjoy sunny Florida after coming from the freezing cold and snow in Idaho and Utah.  

We decided to show them a side of Florida they probably wouldn't ever think of going to unless we took them there:  A restaurant which is certainly a taste of the south right out on the river front:  The Crab Shack.  I can't say the food is all that good, but the atmosphere is fantastic!  We all had such a great time together!

As you can see, they really pile on the food!  Shrimp, crab cakes, some sort of fish, hush puppies, and gator tail!  Yum!

My brother, Jerry; my sister, Natalie; me; and my dad.

My sister-in-law, Shelly, and brother, Jerry.

My niece, Kelsey; brother-in-law, Mark; and sister, Natalie.

Me, the gator, George and Amy!

Natalie, Me, Kelsey, Amy, and Shelly.

Jerry, George, my dad, and Mark.  Couldn't the evening last a little longer?  We were having way too much fun when they all had to drive back to Orlando.  Please all come again!  It is just so much fun to have such dear family members visit!