Our quick trip to Orlando

This past weekend we attended a commissioning of a Gritter family friend, Joel Cooke. The commissioning took place at the UCF campus in Orlando, FL where Jeff was also commissioned into the USAF.  We arrived in Orlando around 6pm Friday night. The hotel was great!! I highly recommend staying at an Embassy Suites hotel!!! Waiting anxiously for us to arrive were Jeff's parents, Tom and Nancy (aka Nina and Poppi). Brooke and I snuck up on Poppi downstairs as he was enjoying free happy hour (which I enjoyed the next day with Poppi). We went out to a yummy dinner at Olive Garden that night. The next morning we had a delicious cooked to order breakfast at our hotel (another nice perk). We had to be at the UCF campus at 12:15. I think we ended up leaving campus around 4pm. The ceremony was about 40 mins late due to the GENERAL being about 20 mins late. Joel was the 2nd graduate to be commissioned. Jeff was honored to read Joel his USAF oath and to help pin on his 2nd lieutenant stripes. What a great ceremony and we were thrilled to be a part of it. We then headed to lunch at Chipotle (I wish we had one here!!!) We headed back to the hotel to get in our comfy clothes and enjoy free happy hour!!! We then went to dinner with Joel's family at Olive Garden (yes, 2 nights in a row). We didn't mind since our food and company were great!!! We were pretty exhausted when we got back to the hotel around 10pm. Brooke and I didn't really sleep that well while we were at the hotel. I guess it wasn't home to her and made it hard for her to get comfortable. I fed her around 2:45am then we got up around 6:40am. I fed her again and started packing. After we finished packing we headed downstairs for breakfast. We had a nice visit from a family friend Barb. I hated we couldn't spend more time with her, but we had a 5 hour drive ahead of us and poor Brooke was so exhausted she was passed out. We did everything we could to keep her awake but she just couldn't keep her eyes open, so we headed out so she would sleep most of the way. I got a call on the way home from my dad telling me my uncle Devin fell through his deck and broke his leg and his foot was pretty much hanging there. Poor Devin!!!! He's a fire fighter and can do his job now!! We got home around 3pm yesterday. I pretty much jumped back into the car by myself to go to the hospital. I then talked to my mom and she was telling me the ER sent my uncle home saying there was nothing they could do for him!!! What is the ER for these days???? They told him he needed a specialist and for him to call one Monday morning. I'm really upset about the ER sending him home. Anyways, we had a great weekend with Nina and Poppi in Orlando. I so wish we could have stayed longer with them and explore more of Orlando. We look forward to seeing them in 2 months at the cabin. I'm praying my husband will not have to deploy and will be able to go with us. We shall see!! 

Brooke got a little restless in her car seat about 4 hours into the trip. The moment I put this blue pillow next to her cheek she passed right out. (This is the pillow I use to prop my arm up when laying on the couch with her.)

Brooke's first visit to a Hotel. We stayed at the Embassy Suites and loved it!!

This is what Poppi did every chance he got. He carried his little granddaughter everywhere to check out everything and she loved it!!

Making faces...lol

Poppi must watch "What not to wear" because his accessories go very well!!

Jeff and his Dad at the commissioning. 

Jeff and Joel after the commissioning. 

What a great picture of Joel with Tom, Nancy and Jeff!!

Me and my husband.

Us after the commissioning.

Jeff and I again posing for pictures.

Tom, Jeff and Brooke....

Someone got a little upset after the commissioning. She was getting hungry and was very tired!!

Brooke posing for a picture with daddy as we all enjoyed free happy hour at our hotel. 

Brooke falling asleep in Nina's arms.

Our little "Island Princess" about 7am the morning we headed back home (Mother's Day).

Our poor little girl had a rough weekend as far as sleeping and naps go, so she was worn out. We were trying to keep her awake. I laid her on the bed and changed her diaper using cold wipes and there was no movement. 

Us saying our goodbyes with our zonked out little girl.

Daddy making fun of his little sleepy head.

Me and Brooke

She was too tired to even fight us while being put in her car seat.

Here's Poppi making fun of our sleeping beauty. I have watched this video at least 6 times. It's too funny!! (Make sure your sound is on)