SpaceX Launch

While taking a walk around the neighborhood, we were able to see the plume from a SpaceX launch from Cape Canaveral

Wildlife at Solivita

Janie claimed she saw turkeys when driving to check the mail and it turns out she was right as J. R. saw them the next day while taking a walk. In May, we had a local bird visit us on our lanai and then during a golf cart tour around the neighborhood, Becca ran into a small gator.

Janie's Birthday

For Janie's Birthday in March, we went to the Bull and the Bear at the Waldorf Astoria on Disney property. We split the tomahawk ribeye and it was cooked perfectly. The staff was fantastic with everyone wishing her a happy birthday. They capped it off with a complimentary creme brulee which J. R. finished off while Janie had her chocolate bar dessert.

Mini Golf and Epcot

Rebecca had been excited ever since she had seen a Cici's Pizza with a mini-golf course behind it. So when Janie went out of town, she and J. R. went out golfing and had cheap pizza. Then they bopped over to Epcot for a few rides and a visit to the Butterfly garden.

Andy's Frozen Custard

One of the places we miss from Bolingbrook was the Andy's Frozen Custard around the corner from our house. So we made the drive out to Lakeland one day for lunch at Shells, which was an old favorite from our days in Birmingham and then stopped by Andy's for some custard for Becca.

J. R.'s Birthday

J. R's birthday dinner was at Four Flamingo's, a Richard Blais restaurant in Orlando. We split the fantastic fish dinner and some appetizers.

Howl at the Moon

Solivita hosted a dueling pianos show, Howl at the Moon, in the Starlight Ballroom so we drove over and had drinks and danced and met some new friends.

Alabama vs Utah State

For Labor Day weekend, we drove to Tuscaloosa to see Rebecca and an Alabama football game. Thomas came over from Atlanta and we had dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings then visited Rebecca's apartment Saturday morning. We drove to campus Saturday and walked to the Supe Store and had Starbucks before meeting for dinner at the Kappa Alpha Theta House. Then it was a long climb up eight flights of steps to our seats. Bama blew out Utah State. The game experience was fun but the stadium was lacking with no Wi-Fi or cellular coverage and they ran out of their signature Denny Dogs at halftime.

Janie had booked a late birthday dinner for Thomas on Sunday in Tuscaloosa but when J. R. checked the menu, it was a limited brunch menu. So we called an audible and rebooked for Fleming's in Birmingham. Janie and Becca went shopping at the Pants Store (which sells more than pants) why the guys went to World of Beer for some snacks and drinks. The ladies joined them and then we went to Babes Doughnuts for some dessert for driving to Birmingham. Dinner was wonderful, albeit expensive and then Thomas drove back to Atlanta from there while we all went back to Tuscaloosa for our drive home the next day.

Thanksgiving

Rebecca drove home for Thanksgiving and we took advantage of the warm Florida weather to eat dinner outside on the lanai and watch football.

Christmas

Rebecca was the first home for Christmas which was chilly for Florida. Alex and Bethany drove in from Texas and Thomas came down from Atlanta and we celebrated our first real Christmas in our new home. Alex made Mickey Mouse waffles Christmas morning and we had ham and potatoes and pineapples for dinner.

New Year's Eve

Janie and J. R. attended dinner in the Solivita ballroom on New Year's Eve. The dinner was enjoyable but the music was a little 'old' for us and we probably would not do that again. After that, Rebecca joined us for the street party where we had sparkling wine and watched the fireworks to ring in the New Year.