Wilde Times

Each summer, we look forward to the Wildes coming to Florida.  Usually just Alison and the boys come, but this year we had the added good fortune of having John as well.  Some of the great Wilde adventures included:

Going to the Bouncy Houses

I don't remember exactly the place's name, but it had all kinds of bouncey objects which the kids loved!

I had to literally force them to sit down to get this picture--the cousins:  Garrett and Tyson.

I love Lola and Preston's age--they think they are playing the arcade games without money!

We actually went to this place a couple of times.  Parker came one of the times and helped me out with the kids.  I think he may have had a little fun, too!

How appropriate--all the grandkids in front of the gator.  They want to be true Gators, too! 

Celebrating Preston's Birthday - Although little Preston's birthday was the end of February, we weren't there to celebrate with him in Shanghai, so we had a mini birthday party for him here. 

He is such a fun little guy who always has a big smile!

He loves "Toy Story," so we got him all the figures to make his own story. 

A Weekend in Orlando - The Wildes, The Barlows, and George and I went to Orlando for some fun and to help Kyle and Kim get settled in their new home there.  We all had such a great time together.

The home where Kyle and Kim live.

There are deer strolling everywhere in their neighborhood!

Of course, the kids loved the pool.

These were some mighty happy little boys when they got to see their long awaited movie, "Transformers."

The bigger boys seemed to like it, too!  (George chose to go to the Tom Hanks movie, instead--all by himself!)  Jenna and I went to Selena Gomez's new movie.  It was actually very good and we had a great Grandma-Granddaughter time together!

Fun Times at the Condo - We, also, stayed at a condo in Orlando.  We always have to get a condo with a great pool because that's definitely what the kids look forward to the most!

Most of the meals were at the condo, but one night we splurged and went to one of John and Alison's favorite places. 

The best almond-crusted tilapia I have ever had!!!

Cousin memories are the best!

Fourth of July Celebration - We had our own celebration back at our home in Green Cove. 

This was such a great 4th of July celebration--Jeff and Amy announced they would be having a baby in February.  Sadly, a few weeks later (when she was three months along), she had a miscarriage.  Everyone was very sad, especially Amy who had been so good to go through all the sick and tired part and seemed to be getting to the next three easiest months.  We hope and pray they will still have the desires of their hearts to have another little one in the future. 

More cousin pictures having fun together. 

Something about Papa's truck just fascinates the kids.  They always want to get in the back. 

Chillin' time playing with Lincoln logs and blocks their parents played with!

Tyson is a master at the Lincoln logs!

Chuck-e-Cheese - No cousin visit is complete without going to Chuck-e-Cheese.

Don't you love the expressions of all three of them?!

Lola's favorite was definitely the merry-go-round.

Visiting Papa's Work - I had to put this picture in because Tyson was fascinated by how many things George has in his office from his visits to China and Australia, both places we went with their family--in addition to his Gator items, of course. 

An evening at Spring Park - Another favorite place of the grandkids.  Every time you go there, you will definitely have an adventure. 

A young man showing Preston and Tyson a shrimp he caught and how to get a hold of it. 

Some guy had caught a couple of crabs. 

Basketball and soccer at the church.  This was hysterical.  Both Parker and Tyson love basketball.  Parker thought he was going to school his old grandpa. 

Parker showed his grandpa exactly where he should be shooting from in "Horse."  Funny thing--as Parker would later say, "He's ____years old with a bad back, hasn't practiced in who knows how long, but he still whipped me!"  That had to be hard for Parker to say, but he indeed did say it. 

These three had the best time playing basketball together . . .

while my little buddy, Preston, and I played soccer.  He is so good!  I think I wore him out because he finally sat down.  Sorry no action pictures. 

Soon it was time for the Wildes to go back to Utah.  John and Alison had managed to make two trips while they were here, one to Dallas and one to San Francisco, for discussions with the Deloitte partners and checking the areas out for when they come back in a year from China.  They were meeting us in Utah.  George and I left at the same time with the kids, but George had to ride a different airline because we used frequent flyer points.  Long story short:  George's plane got out, ours was delayed because of weather (they were leaving 30 minutes apart!), making it so that we would miss our connecting flight, so we couldn't get out until the next morning.  

The kids and I went home with all our luggage, slept overnight, and went back to the airport the next morning.  How do things like that happen--I mean George was all by himself with one little carry-on bag!  Oh, well, we got to Utah safely the next morning while George got in the night before.  We loved the Wilde activities at our home.  Thanks for coming, Wildes!  

The Way We Were

You know you're getting older when you love to talk about the past instead of being anxious for the next birthday!  I had to laugh when I read my sister Beverly's blog, because she and her husband retraced his growing up years in Pocatello, Idaho, about the exact time George and I were doing the same here in Jacksonville, Florida.  The occasion was taking Bracken with us to show him his grandpa's old stomping grounds and to let him hear some stories that perhaps he hadn't heard before.  (Yes, I think he might be one of the only ones in the family who hadn't seen or heard about these memories.  He was a great sport and seemed to enjoy himself!)

The first place we passed on this trip of memories was the Naval Air Station which was just down the road from where he grew up.  This is one of the original Blue Angel planes because this is where they got their start. 

In front of Venetia Elementary where George attended fifth and sixth grade. 

George is pointing to his classroom.  He must have been the teacher's pet because literally she had him walk her dog each day. The teacher's dog had been hit by a car and the principal said she could bring her dog while he recouperated.  Walking the dog was the reward for being selected as the best student and for never getting in trouble.   What a way to get out of class!

The basketball nets out on the playground.  Definitely where many recesses were spent!

The Timuquana Country Club--in the very elite part of Jacksonville at that time and where many of the school dances were held. 

It is still a beautiful area with its majestic country club and Southern mansions. 

From the patio and looking out on the St. John's River with the Jacksonville skyline in the background. 

The park just down from George's home.  It definitely wasn't this nice as he was growing up--chain baskets and bumpy old tar on the ground, but the kids in the neighborhood loved to play there! 

Going up the lane to George's parent's former home, you see the mailbox that Grandpa Jim built.  He was a master plumber by trade, so he incorporated plumbing supplies while building it.  George really wants it as a remembrance of his father and has actually talked to the current owner.  He told him he would think about it. 

The home George lived in from when he was in the fifth grade until we were married. 

You can see the boat slip that Grandpa Jim had dredged behind the house--although he never owned a boat.  Snakes and yes, even alligators could often be seen in there.  I will verify that I saw gators sunning themselves on their lawn several times! 

This is the home George's parents lived in when he was born until they moved to the home on the river which was really just across the bridge.  Dwayne, George's brother, and he slept out on the porch--no air conditioning!  Whew!     

The little home behind the white house which Grandpa Jim built for George's sister and her husband to live in after she was married. 

The church where George attended until he left on his mission in 1965.  The Mormon Church sold it when they built a larger church a few miles away.  This church was actually right down the street from George's family's little white home--very convenient. 

This little shed was where they had many church picnics and dinners after Ward Conferences, etc. 

Wesconnett Elementary where George attended school from 1st through 4th grade. 

Lake Shore Elementary where George attended seventh through ninth grades. 

Since George was on the basketball team, this was the entrance he generally went in. 

The good ole' flag pole where the friends always met. 

This may just look like an ordinary street with a sidewalk crossing, but it holds a very vivid memory.   George was walking home after a ballgame by himself when some teenage boys jumped out of the car as he was crossing the sidewalk and beat him with a lead pipe.  They then took off in the car and left him there on the street bleeding profusely. 

The house on the corner where he was going to knock to get help, but he had so much blood on his face and hands, he was afraid of their reaction, so he walked on to a friend's parents' ice cream store where they called the police and his home. Only his sister was home at the time.  When she came to get him, she couldn't  believe the sight she saw.  He was taken to the doctor and they probably should have set his nose--it is still crooked and he bares the scar on his face to this day, but they just cleaned him up and sent him home. 

The field where George pitched softball for the Murray Hill Baptist team.  His two favorite sports growing up definitely were basketball and softball.   

George always tells the story of how his dad worked his job at the plumbing supply warehouse for him one day before a big game so that he would not be so tired for the game.  He points to where his dad was sitting in the stands after he worked George's shift. 

It was George's time at bat.  He didn't particularly like a couple of the calls by the umpire and let him know it.  The umpire told him he was out, and George was so angry he threw his bat.  He then looked in the stands and saw his dad sitting there.  He didn't say a thing until they were on their way home when he said to George, "What do you think the Baptists think of a Mormon boy now?"  That was all he needed to say.  It was a lesson George has never forgotten. 

On to Robert E. Lee High School.  They are doing some major renovating, so it doesn't look like too much right now.  Hopefully it will be done in time for school to start.  Interesting fact:  When George attended this high school in the 60s, it was a segregated school.  Only Whites could attend the school. 

Classrooms where he attended.

Famous Park and Copeland Street intersection--the corner where the Stake Center for the Mormon Church was until the church sold it. 

The side of the building where you went up to the Bishop's office. 

After a fantastic day of nostalgia, George had to take us by his favorite fast food place growing up--Krystals.  He alone got a few of those little hamburgers.  Bracken and I just can't stand how soggy they are and how disgusting they smell.  But, we let George enjoy them to finish out a wonderful day of memories.  Thanks for sharing your growing up years, Grandpa George!