New beginnings and boat rides
It was a bittersweet weekend and a fantastic one too, and why I’m writing this on Sunday.
Homemade bruschetta
Package from La Española.
Friday, I received a lovely surprise package from La Española with a heartfelt, handwritten note. I’ve got enough Spanish olive oil now to make some amazing dishes starting with a nice little bruschetta I made just this afternoon.
Saturday was Elizabeth’s going away party where the whole family showed up to bid her goodbye before she headed to University of Central FL in Orlando for her last two years of college. She hung out in her room with her cousins Tessie, Annemarie and Mano while the rest of us chilled, conversed, ate delicious pizza and garlic rolls from Steve’s Pizza right up the street and watched the next to last day of the Summer Olympics. Sadly, I took no photos!
Wednesday night, Elizabeth joined us at trivia and we enjoyed having her there so much, one little last hurrah outing before she left us for UCF.
Elizabeth walking toward her car on Friday morning before starting the drive to UCF in Orlando.
Nick chillin' in the pool at the hotel in Orlando before we headed to dinner.
Friday was move in day! Vance, Nick and I drove up in Vance’s car while Elizabeth drove up in her car with her best friend Zoe accompanying her. Elizabeth was great about packing up everything and so Friday was a breeze loading up the two cars. We arrived at UCF, she picked up her keys, we unloaded all her stuff and also helped her roommate Sam unload her car. Once done, Vance, Nick and I went to check into our hotel where Nick took a dip in the pool while Vance and I chilled poolside. That night, we had dinner at Chili’s with Elizabeth and Zoe.
Then Saturday morning, after breakfast at Waffle House with Elizabeth and Zoe, we went back to Elizabeth’s apartment to check out what she and her roommate Sam had set up. After chatting for a while, we said a long, bittersweet, tear-filled goodbye.
Nick and Phil on the boat.
Dolphin sighting!
Us, wind in our, carefree livin'!
But we didn’t head home. Vance, Nick and I headed to New Smyrna Beach where we spent a glorious afternoon out on the water with our friend and Nick’s godfather Phil. He took us out on a pontoon boat where we anchored up to a few sandbars, swam, relaxed and had a great time! We spotted lots of dolphins too along with a few cute turtles. On the way home, we made an obligatory road trip stop at Cracker Barrel in Melbourne, had some dinner and I picked up a few Christmas ornaments.
Cute little reindeer ornament from Cracker Barrel.
And now, our house is quiet, one less Gulliksen living here and I’m not gonna lie, it’s going to take a little getting used to.
