Jackson's "Meet the Great Grandparents" Tour 2003


Welcome to Jackson's "Meet the Grandparents" Tour 2003 picture diary. Jackson turned 10 months on October 5 (during the trip) and for his birthday we decided to take him on his first vacation. Not bad for only 10 months! We flew from our home in California to Kentucky and over the course of 2 weeks, drove South through Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, and Florida before finishing the trip in Ft. Lauderdale and flying back home. What was the driving force behind this trip you ask? Simple, we haven't had a real vacation in several years and Jackson has yet to meet the entire family. Check out the pictures below as we travelled from Louisville, Kentucky to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. We realized after we looked at all the pictures, that 90% are of Jackson....I'll have to work on taking picture of others as well. But until then.....



Stop #0: The plane ride from California to Kentucky
Even the plane ride from California to Kentucky was fun. Jackson was great on the airplane (entertaining the other passengers) and he loved the kids play zone in the Memphis airport during our layover. We made sure he ran all over the airport to burn up those reserve energy cells of his...and it worked. He was asleep within minutes of the plane taking off to Kentucky.

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092603_on_the_plane

092603_Charlies_Place_sign

092603_cruising_the_airport

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Stop #1: Louisville, Kentucky to visit with Jackson's Great Grandmother Jean
Jackson loved playing with Molly. Molly is a Golden Retriever and was great putting up with Jackson. After all, who wants a young kid to crawl all over your back and hit (playfully of course) you with a wooden spoon at times. Not to mention the pulling of ears and hair. Jackson had a great time visiting with him Great Grandma Jean as well as her friends (the O'Brians). He's never crawled around on a softer carpet. We visited Churchill Downs (Kentucky Derby for those of you not big into horse racing) and Jackson got to ride a pony around the track (see pics). Well, it wasn't a real horse and the track was virtual, but he liked it just the same.

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092703_lets_wrestle_molly

092703_my_friend_Molly

092703_the_backyard

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092803_after_dinner_at_the_club1

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092803_what_excitement

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092803_Churchhill_Downs

092803_I_broke_the_spoon

092803_I_found_the_bar

092803_just_chillin

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092803_lets_sing

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092803_playing_the_spoon

092803_riding_the_ponies1

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092903_checkin_out_the_trees

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092903_grandma_jean_and_jackson1

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092903_grandma_jean_and_jackson2

092903_grandma_jean_and_jackson3

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092903_hey_howd_I_get_here

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092903_Im_going_to_get_you

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Stop #2: Nashville, Tennessee to visit with Jackson's Great Uncle Philip
Just when Jackson thought he was free and clear from Molly in Kentucky, here comes another Golden Retriever with even more energy. Jackson, meet Montana. Next stop was visiting his great uncle Philip (he's going to love the 'great' part) in Nashville. I'm trying to teach Jackson that country music is bad for the ears, but he seems to like it pretty well (of course, since Mom plays it all the time). Montana would follow Jackson around the house and lick his 'entire' face at times....most hilarious thing I've seen. Jackson didn't mind too much, we would turn and jump the other direction when he saw Montana coming, but laughing the entire time as well. We even went and toured the Country Music Hall of fame. I don't know if Jackson was too thrilled, but he had fun hanging around in the backpack while we walked around and watched short takes on Hee Haw and listened to music. I think we'll have to make this a stop in the next trip.

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092903_driving_to_nashville

092903_check_pack_is_cool

092903_my_friend_montana

093003_breakfast

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093003_just_a_cool_nashville_building

093003_Im_not_letting_go

093003_Im_watching_you

093003_just_having_fun

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093003_lets_play_montana

093003_meet_my_uncle_philip

093003_montana_just_kissed_me

093003_my_new_favorite_toy

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093003_not_again

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093003_playing_on_the_porch

093003_playing_with_friends

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093003_playing_with_my_uncle

093003_sleep_out_of_reach_of_montana

093003_stop_licking_me

093003_taking_montana_for_a_walk

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093003_the_2_troublemakers

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093003_time_for_some_shuteye

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093003_my_photo_shoot

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Stop #3: Montgomery, Alabama to visit with Jackson's Lopez Grandparents and Great Grandparents
Beware Jackson, here come Honey and Beethoven. Yep, two more golden retrievers. The trip originated as a 'meet the great grandparents' tour, but so far it seems to be just as much a 'meet the golden retrievers' tour. Jackson met up with his grandparents, auntie, uncle, and great grandparents during this stop. Talk about hitting the family jackpot. We had to take a day off to play golf in the PICE annual golf tournament...a great time. Unfortunately, even though I was the top favorite to win (yeah right) I only walked away with a golf book (and that was via a raffle). Well, maybe next year....the course was definately worth playing. We spent the weekend at the lake house with everyone. That was nice and relaxing...away from the city lights...and there were trees and wildlife. Although Jackson was begging to go out on a waverunner or on the pontoon boat for a tour around the lake, he was happy just walking around the deck and playing with the Honey and Beethoven. Soon Jackson will have a new cousin to pal around with as Auntie Janine is due shortly. Now Jackson will have someone to blame when he gets in trouble.

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100203_checking_out_the_furniture

100203_check_out_my_cool_seat

100203_great_grandma_meme

100203_helping_unpack

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100203_a_kiss_from_honey

100203_I_dont_eat_your_dinner

100203_making_faces_at_honey

100203_meet_my_friend_honey

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100203_sisters

100203_smile

100203_this_is_my_toy

100203_whats_this_cool_frog

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100203_why_am_I_in_here

100303_pice_golf_tourney_RTJ_course_6

100303_pice_golf_tourney_RTJ_course_7

100303_pice_golf_tourney_RTJ_course_8

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100303_pice_golf_tourney_theres_my_ball

100403_a_view_from_the_deck

100403_checking_on_the_boys

100403_dominique_on_a_waverunner

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100403_getting_a_rescue_tow

100403_hanging_at_the_lakehouse

100403_having_fun_on_the_water

100403_speed_demon

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100403_taking_out_the_toys

100403_visiting_great_grandparents

100503_meet_beethoven

100503_playing_with_the_dogs



Stop #4: Gainesville and Palatka, Florida to visit with friends - Jimmy and Jean-Marie
Beware Jackson, no dogs this time, but there are kids and deer. Jackson, meet the woods. He saw 4 inch grasshoppers, almost saw deer in the woods (could here them rustling around), and best of all, found some new friends to play with. He had a great time on the swings and playing in the playhouse. It was his first time on a swing and at first was a little timid, but after it swung back and forth a few times, he couldn't get enough. I swear I heard him say "higher higher". He had a great time playing in the playhouse also. He just liked walking in and closing the door and then opening it back up again and exiting the house. His new friends were having fun with him visiting too. There is something to be said for living away from the city and closure to nature..that's for sure.

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100603_driveby_pic_of_the_swamp

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100603_what_happened_to_the_purple_porpoise

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100603_visiting_with_susie_in_gainesville

100703_gators_everywhere

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100703_watch_your_step

100703_having_fun_in_the_play_area

100603_a_florida_river

100703_this_toy_is_way_cool

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100703_I_knew_floridians_were_cool

100703_meet_my_new_friends

107003_playing_in_the_house

100703_my_first_swing_ride

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100703_higher_higher

100703_my_friend_jeanmarie

100703_my_friend_jimmy

100703_visiting_with_friends



Stop #5: Rockledge, Florida and the Kennedy Space Center to visit with friends - Kevin
Just when he thought he was far from any more dogs, here comes Bailey. Bailey's interest lied mostly with his ball and chew toy, but he would circle Jackson over and over checking him out. We stayed over night in Rockledge at an old roommates place and then visited the Kennedy Space Center. As you can see from the pick of Dominique and Jackson outside the KSC, Jackson wasn't too impressed. Maybe in a few years. He did have fun climbing on the shuttle (playground) and meeting an astronaut, but for the most part, he had more fun with Bailey.

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100803_hi_bailey

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100803_I_like_this_tv

100803_playing_in_rockledge

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100803_Kevins_own_solar_panels

100803_ksc_in_a_shuttle

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100803_kennedy_space_center_playground

100803_taking_a_rest

100803_sound_asleep_at_KSC



Stop #6: Juno Beach, Florida to visit Great Grandma Sarah and Great Uncle Nick
The dogs and kids may be gone, but now there are fish everywhere. This was our last official stop on our tour....to visit with Jackson's Great Grandma Sarah. We even had a special treat by having Jackson's great uncle Nick in town to visit with. We stayed at Cannonsport Marina (previously in the family before being sold) so Jackson was able to play in the ocean and see all the fish swimming around the dock. The water was so warm and clear, we definately missed Florida. Jackson loved all his presents and even enjoyed wearing the wrapping paper. We took him to see some rescued turtles (no pics though) down the street from great grandmas and he got to play in the restaurant while checking which boat he wanted us to buy. As much as I'd like to get one of those boats, I think it'll be a few years before that happens. Jackson's favorite toys (always the cheapest) were the blocks and balloons. He was a little scared of the helium balloon at first, but then it was his favorite toy by far. We'll have to pick up a few for his one year birthday for sure....besides, I like the helium.

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100803_look_at_these_presents

100803_I_like_this_paper_hat

100803_looking_at_pictures

100803_great_grandma_sarah

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100803_hi_grand_sarah

100903_cool_pack_and_cool_hat

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100903_fish_from_cannonsport_marina2

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100903_I_wanna_swim_with_the_fish

100903_I_found_a_coconut

100903_checking_out_the_water

100903_I_walking_in_the_ocean

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100903_check_out_our_starfish_I_found

100903_I_found_a_warm_spot

100903_look_Im_a_fish

100903_swimming_with_mom

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100903_this_is_fun

100903_after_one_hour_of_lessons

100903_my_favorite_toy_the_remote_control

100903_lost_my_balance

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100903_checking_out_uncle_nick

100903_me_and_my_uncle_nick

101003_hanging_with_nick

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101003_getting_a_little_tired

100903_saying_goodnight

101003_playing_in_the_restaurant

101003_I_want_one_of_those_boats

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101003_this_is_my_dad



Stop #7: Ft. Lauderdale, Florida to start the voyage home
What a trip...can't wait to tell all my friends at my school about all the fun I had and all the great grandparents I've now met. There wasn't a stop we didn't like....next trip will have to be twice as long so we can stop at all the same places and add a few to the list. Until next time......

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