Hello from Jacksonville Beach! Chase and I made a last-minute trip to Jacksonville on Thursday evening to surprise my mom! My dad and I coordinated a surprise visit because my mom is recovering from surgery she had last Monday and we wanted to surround her with love and support. Plus, Chase brings a whole lot of energy and excitement with him wherever he goes, so a visit from Chase sounded like the perfect pick-me-up for my mom.
My sister picked us up at the airport on Thursday evening and when we walked into my mom’s bedroom, she absolutely lit up! Chase broke out in the biggest smile and smacked the bedspread as he immediately crawled over to his Grammy. Surprise success!
Here’s a little peek into the past few days with my family in a “Surprise Weekend Top 8” format!
Surprise Weekend Top 8
- Sea & Sky Air Show
The timing of my visit to Jacksonville coincided with the Sea & Sky Air Show in Jacksonville Beach. The air show featured the United States Navy Blue Angels and watching the planes speed by and run through an arsenal of tricks and impressive maneuvers was incredibly captivating. The Blue Angels truly took my breath away. The beach was packed with spectators who gathered to watch the aeronautical acrobatics and it was impossible to ignore the energy and excitement surrounding the Blue Angels! We watched the show three days in a row (Friday was a practice day) and continued to be enamored every time!
- Chase Giggles
I hope I can make Chase laugh and smile as big as I can right now for the rest of his life. Nothing makes my heart soar more than watching Chase explode into a fit of giggles or smile when I do something as simple as make a silly face or blow on his belly. This is such a fun phase with our little man and I find myself trying my hardest to commit these small moments to memory because I know they are going to pass by in a flash.
- Timed:Exercise
My sister and her husband recently started working out at Timed:Exercise and hearing them rave about it made me really want to give it a shot during my short visit. I joined Leslie for a T:E workout on Friday and then Leslie, Ross and I went again on Saturday morning and it was killer! Both workouts were seriously challenging but went by in a flash. After a brief workout, the trainers demonstrated the exercises displayed on flat-screen TVs and then a 30-minute timer began and we were off! It was a sweat fest but we left feeling wonderful! (My glutes and hamstrings are still sore!) I’m also a big-time fan of group exercise workouts that get you in an out in 45 minutes or less because I am less likely to get bored and tend to push myself harder. I’m hoping to sneak in one more T:E workout today before heading back to Charlotte tomorrow.
- Vistamar Brisa Carmenere Wine
When my dad opened this bottle of wine to enjoy before dinner on Saturday night it took me one sip to become a fan. For an incredibly affordable wine (less than $10 a bottle), it was fantastic and I quickly snapped a picture of the bottle so I can pick up a few bottles when I return to North Carolina. It’s a very smooth red, easy to drink and won’t break the bank. Yes!
- Good News from the Vet
For the past month, Ryan and I have been a bit anxious about Sadie. In early October, we had some follow up blood work done on our favorite furry lady when some concerning results came back from a routine urine analysis. The blood work had us concerned about issues with her liver and after putting her on a course of antibiotics and liver protectant medication for a month, Ryan took her in for another round of blood work on Thursday after he dropped me and Chase off at the airport. On Friday afternoon, I got good news from our vet who told me that Sadie’s concerning levels had normalized. Thank goodness! Our vet said she honestly wasn’t expecting good news, so we were very relieved! We’re going to follow our vet’s advice and take Sadie off the liver medication through the holidays and test her levels again to make sure she can maintain healthy liver levels without medication, but if she can’t, our vet said long-term use of the liver medication is a perfectly healthy option for Sadie. Good news all around!!!
- Chase and Pop Exploring
Watching my dad and Chase walk around a local beachfront park on Saturday afternoon was so adorable! Chase was really interested in three ladies enjoying a picnic at the park and walked my dad over to say hello! (He’s still not walking great on his own, but with a steady hand or a walker, he’s quite speedy.) Thankfully they seemed happy to chat with our flirty little man and one of the women was pregnant with her first baby! Chase waved to the ladies over and over again and had a blast meeting his three new friends. I loved watching him grip onto my dad’s hand as he walked and smiled his little heart out. The sweetest!
- Easiest Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
I went on a bit of a dessert bender this weekend. For some reason, anytime I get together with my family, I am overcome with a strong urge to bake and make delicious sweet treats to share with everyone. I made s’mores bars for Friday night that were a bit of a fail, though we still ate them because even bad s’mores bars are still pretty darn good. On Saturday night, I made a homemade pumpkin pie which was promptly gobbled up after dinner and then on Sunday I made chocolate chip cookie bars! I followed this recipe from Normal Cooking and it could not have been any easier. I think this recipe would be an easy one to toy around with and customize and I already have a vision for a Christmasy version of these bars in the back of my mind!
- Time with Extended Family
The timing of my visit was ideal for a myriad of reasons but the benefit of seeing some of my extended family was at the top of the list! My second cousins were in town for the Navy game and we all got together at Leslie and Ross’ house yesterday for a cookout. There’s nothing like family and we had a great time talking around the dinner table for nearly five hours! I love our long talks because I inevitably learn more about our family history and enjoy reminiscing with people I love very much. I am always so curious to learn more about my relatives, the origins of some of our traditions and some of the crazy and wonderful stories that surround any family.
Question of the Day
- What was one of your top moments from this past weekend?
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Aw hoping your mom has a quick recovery. I’m sure seeing you and chase brought the biggest smile to her face! And oh those cookie bars are making me want to bake something now, YUM!
I hope your mom has a speedy recovery from her surgery. I bet she was excited to have you and Chase visit.
Chase sounds so friendly! I wonder what it was about the group picnicking that made him want to go over to say hi.
I think it was the ladies! He’s a little flirt! 🙂
What a fantastic weekend!! That’s so sweet of you to surprise your mom 🙂 Hope she is recovering well!!
This was our first weekend alone as a new family of five! We had our third baby girl two weeks ago 🙂 The weekend was fantastic! We lucked out in the baby department this time around as Hallie is an absolute angel who loves her sleep! The weekend was full of relaxing, running errands, cooking and playing with our older girls at the park!
Hope you enjoy the rest of your stay in Jacksonville!!
-Sarah http://www.thefrugalmillionaireblog.com
That is so exciting! Congrats on your new little one! <3
Hope your mom is doing well. I can only imagine the joy a surprise visit from Chase brought to your mom! The highlight of my weekend was coming home from work Friday to find Mitch running through the leaves laughing his heart out.
So glad everything is okay! Have been praying for you guys the past week with all of the unusual posts. So happy the news was happy and you got an awesome trip in 🙂
Hi Julie! YAY for a surprise trip!! Florida time with family is calling to me too! I haven’t been yet this year, which is the longest I’ve gone yet — looking forward to a week over Christmas to see my Orlando peeps and family in Southwest Florida. That T:E workout sounds pretty cool. And as far as dessert eating with family — happens to me too. Soak up the last little bit of time with your people!! And YAY for a good report on Sadie.
Aw! I’m glad you have a trip on the horizon!!! <3
My favorite part of the weekend was making a chocolate chip pumpkin zucchini bread (ambitious kitchen recipe). It was the nice to enjoy baking on a rainy Sunday morning. Wishing your mom a quick recovery, how nice you were able to visit during a stressful time.
Thank you, Katherine! I appreciate the kind words and warm wishes for my mom!
What a fun post! Great surprise visit! Prayers for a speedy recovery for your sweet Mom.
I hope your mom has a speedy recovery! One of the highlights from my weekend was hearing my son, Benaiah’s first tiny giggle! It was the best sound ever and totally made my day.
Yay for Sadie!!! I’m so glad you got good news! Top moment this weekend – seeing Adeline walk around at church, up and down the aisles. So cute!!
What a fun, surprise weekend! I bet it helped your mom’s recovery. Family time always leaves me feeling refreshed with a full heart. I can’t wait to get some quality time with my family during Thanksgiving. So happy to hear that you received good news about Sadie and here’s hoping your mom continues to recover well.
Sending good thoughts of a speedy recovery to your mom! Baby giggles and laughs are seriously the best. When doubt creeps in if you’re doing things right they are always a good reminder!
Nothing makes me happier than time like this with my family! So glad you had such a nice weekend! Makes me crave relaxed time with my family so much.
I hope your mom has a speedy recovery, and so glad you got good news on Sadie! My top moment of the weekend–my boyfriend and I got engaged on Saturday! (So also top moment of the week, of the month, of the year… :-D)
Hope that everything is ok with your mom and wishing her a speedy recovery! Looks like you had such a nice weekend with your family! Hope you soaked up lots of beach time!
Such a fun weekend!! I also had a big surprise weekend too… my husband and sister organized for my 2 best friends to fly in for my birthday weekend!! I was completely shocked! best surprise ever!
Such a fun weekend!! I also had a big surprise weekend too… my husband and sister organized for my 2 best friends to fly in for my birthday weekend!! I was completely shocked! best surprise ever!
One of my top moments was going on a wonderful hike with my fiancé on Saturday afternoon. I’m sure he would say that his top moment was Alabama beating LSU that evening!
What a fun weekend! Sounds like it was really heartwarming to see your family – those connections are the best! Makes you feel more like “you”, you know? Family knows us better than anyone! So happy that Sadie is doing well! I know that must be uber relieving! And Chase is as cute as always. I hope your mom’s recovery goes really well, prayers sent for quick healing and happy recovery.
Btw, I love the new quick video you made for easy baked chicken! I really hate cooking proteins, because I’m always freaked out about prepping chicken safely etc., plus in general, I don’t enjoy touching the chicken! Anyhow, the point is that even though I’ve seen this recipe before, the video actually removed any intimidation I had! I really truly appreciate it! It looks yummy and moist! THANK you! 🙂
Thank you so much for letting me know!! I’m so glad you found the video helpful!!
I love Jax beach! Lots of memories of me and my hubby from the first days of dating! He lived in Jacksonville for work and I would travel from Texas once a month to come visit. Special place in my heart!
This weekend was great because I told my family I am pregnant! They were thrilled. Good times ahead for sure. 🙂
YAYYYYY!!!!!
Ah, I bet your mom loved that surprise. Chase too. Looks like a fun weekend all around. That T.E workout sounds fun!
Surprise trips home are so fun! I always learn a little more about my family history when I hang out with my extended family, too. So many cool stories. Glad you got to enjoy that time! Wishing your mom a speedy recovery ❤️
What a great way to show your mom support. Hope she continues to heal! Sounds like you had a wonderful time!
Glad your mom’s feeling better after surgery! The cookie bars look delicious.
Great news about Sadie! I love her. ♥♥♥
Making a note of that wine – Carmenere is one of my favorite reds! Have you heard of the app Vivino? It lets you take a picture of the bottle, rate the wine (on a 0-5 star scale), make notes about likes or dislikes. It’s pretty handy for keeping track of favorites 🙂 Hope you had an amazing trip!
Oh! Love that idea for an app! I’ll check it out. THanks for the rec!
So glad Sadie is okay!
Thanks for the link to the cookie bars! We made them last night and they are AWESOME. I only had a 9×9 pan, so I put the rest of the dough in a little ramekin, and we sampled that and saved the big pan for a dinner party we have tonight. Deeeeelicious 🙂
That sounds wonderful!!
My pup is going through the same thing right now and she’s only 5. Her liver enzymes were very high, so the doctor recommended changing her food and that seems to be helping. Hoping for the best!
My sweet senior pup has liver issues as well. I totally freaked out, but she’s doing great and her levels have gone way down. In addition to daily meds, the vet advised we give her fish oil daily as well. Everything has worked and it’s been nearly a year since the diagnosis. Pets are everything – sending positive vibes!!
I’m reading this super late but so glad to hear Sadie’s results were good news! She seems like such a sweet pup and I know she’s your baby too. (P.S. I call dogs of all ages puppies!)