Being a Kersey has perks!

I figure at the rate I'm going, if I can get something documented at least once a month then I'm doing pretty good.  Like visiting teaching...which I also need to do.

Well, July is a very eventful month for the Kersey family.  Every 3rd Sat in July all Kerseys from far and wide gather in Ocala, FL for the family reunion (this year was the 52nd year in a row, so it's a pretty important calendar event.) Jared's mother's side of the family lives further south in Pt Saint Lucie too, so every year we try to make a whole week of it and visit his Uncle and Nanny for a few days either before or after the reunion.  Then, last year Jared found out that a mission buddy he knew in Mexico lives in Ocala.  So now added to the itinerary is taking an evening or day to hang with him.  So, this year the journey was as follows:

Monday drive the 10 hrs down to Pt Saint Lucie to visit with the Conways, go to the beach, and Jared to go deep see fishing.  The drive was a little more complicated this year since Audrey is old enough to get really bored and need breaks and loads of entertainment.  But she did super good...until the last 3 hr stretch.  That was a little rough since we were banking on her sleeping during that time.  Tues, wake up whenever, and go to Robbie and Kristy's house and pretty much just hang and catch up.  Wed, head to the beach (after Jared takes his online summer class exam).  Have a sufficient amount of fun, then go back to the hotel, shower, nap, and then head out to visit with Nanny.  Thurs, Jared left to go fishing with Robbie at 6.30a while Audrey and I got up at a decent hour, packed up the car, and checked out of the hotel.  Then we went to his uncle's house to wait for the boys.  After they got home and we ate, we headed out for Orlando.

Audrey playing at Robbie and Kristy's

Jared's sister, Jessie was going through the temple for the first time (kind of a big mormon deal) and then immediately after did the same for Jennifer, so she planned it for the weekend that the family would already be in the area.  It worked out perfectly, until I realized that we had no babysitter! So, Jared and I would have to decide who went in when, while the other stayed with Audrey.  Jared couldn't decide and Jessie didn't want to, so I went in with Jessie and Jared went in for Jennifer.  It was wonderful!  I love going to the temple anyway, but it was really special to be there with my family-in-law.  To spare Audrey and I a 2-3 hr wait, Audrey and I went ahead to Ocala to set up the cabin and Jared rode with his dad when they were done.

The reunion was fun.  I am always amazed at how a part of the family I feel.  I really hit the jackpot when it comes to in-laws!  The entire family is so awesome and has welcomed me with open arms from day 1 (or before day 1 really).  I always thought that it would be sad not to be a Burton (name wise) anymore, but it's pretty awesome being a Kersey too.  And the fact that we are "forced" to go to FL once a year doesn't hurt either.

At Robbie and Kristy's she got used to being around a dog.

At our cabin, there was this little stone puppy on our porch...which

she loved, and would sit and pet him.  She insisted on petting him and 

talking to him every single time we went in/out/and before bed.

I was pretty anti-pet...until this little gem...maybe a stone pet wouldn't

be so bad...