"Ride a airplane"

Last weekend 2 friends of our got married in Gainesville, Florida. In celebration of the happy occasion, all 3 Nolens boarded a plane bound for the Sunshine State. Joshua could not have been more excited about "ride a airplane" and he did excellently on the place (in the airport is another story though).

We experienced ferocious turbulence on the way into Jacksonville. The other passengers were sitting, white knuckled trying not to scream while Joshua was laughing, clapping and asking for the pilot to do it "again!" We are grateful he doesn't know to be scared and his giggles certainly lightened the mood.

I made it through all the wedding festivities without taking the first picture. I am hoping a couple will be sent my way by other wedding guests so I can post them for you. Joshua sat through a brief portion of the wedding. He cheered loudly for Dave during the processional when Dave walked a bride's maid down the aisle. Then at the beginning of the homily, the minister asked something like, "So why have we come here today?" and out loud, from the back row, Joshua replied, "I not know, why?" It was at that point that I knew we needed to make our exit so he wouldn't later try to participate in the vows. And to top off his first wedding experience, Joshua caught the garter!

Good friends of ours from Tuscaloosa were in town for the wedding and helped us keep Joshua entertained. We cannot thank Tim, Melissa and Austin enough for loving on Joshua throughout the weekend.

After the wedding we took Tim and Melissa to campus to visit a couple popular spots. We first stopped at Lake Alice. Lake Alice is home of numerous alligators. We came uncomfortably close to 2 6-foot alligators on the shore of the lake.

Joshua wanted to ride the alligators, splash in the lake and hold a snapping turtle. Needless to say, we didn't dare put him down for fear he would try to swim with the gators. If you ever visit Gainesville you should go to the football stadium.

Not only is the stadium open to the public but so is the football field. Joshua loved playing "football man" on the field.

Sunday we attended church with several of our friends and the Carey family was nice enough to host us for the afternoon so that Joshua had a place to take a nap. Becca, who by the way was Joshua's age when we first met her in 2003, was so sweet to play with Joshua.

We caught our flight home Monday morning after a very fun weekend. Joshua again enjoyed the turbulence coming into Birmingham. As soon as we got in the car he started crying and asked to "ride a airplane again?"