Visiting Uncle Matt and his Gators

April 22nd we loaded up and headed north to visit Uncle Matt in Gainesville.

(This is one of my faves- so SASSY!)

We met him at work and drove to the campus of the Georgia Bulldogs arch enemies the Florida Gators.
For those of you who don't know, Mommy went to college at University of Georgia.
Uncle Daniel started school there but finished at University of Florida.
Uncle Matt got his Masters at University of Florida.
So you see there is a bit of a rivalry.
Especially during football season.
Mommy has been to Gainesville before, but it was a long time ago.
I digress.
We parked near the stadium since that was our first stop.
We walked by a big 'Go Gators' clock (see it on top?)

Then walked to the stadium to meet up with Uncle Matt's good friend, Mark for a quick tour.

Madison borrowed a Gator basketball from Uncle Matt's car.

We spent a little time in 'The Swamp'

Where Madison wanted to know why people were running up and down the stairs.

Ha- me, too- why would anyone want to run the stadium? no fun.

Then we visited the trophy room.

(Uncle Matt is new to the whole photo thing- not so great of Kennedy in the light)

This is last year's National Championship trophy.

Uncle Matt tried to teach Madison to 'do the Heisman'.

Then we went to see the big Gator out front.

Madison said the gator was too scary.

She kicked and screamed when I tried to get her near it.

So Kennedy braved it instead.

*
The kids opted out of naps on the way up to Gainesville (even though we left during nap time intentionally!) Actually, just Madison opted out.

So by this time she was getting pretty antsy.

We decided to head to the park to work off some fuss.

Madison LOVED the merry go round.

She kept asking Uncle Matt to push more and more.

We convinced her off of it for a little while to swing with Kennedy.

And bounce on another toy.

Then it was back to the go round. This time Uncle Matt joined her in spinning.

Can you see you wide open mouth? She loved it!

See Uncle Matt's smile poking out behind Madison's head? He loved it, too.

Uncle Matt played and played

and played some more.

He even helped Madison swing on the big swing.

Mommy finally had to load up Kennedy and start driving out of the parking lot to get Uncle Matt and Madison to leave the park. They just wanted to stay and play.

On our way to to dinner we stopped by another bronze statue Mommy spotted earlier on campus.

This photo is is classic. Madison did NOT want to see Albert and Alberta.

She kept saying, I don't LIKE the gators.

Mommy and Daddy taught her well.

We ate dinner at Uncle Matt's favorite pizza place in town, Satchel's.

It's a fun spot unlike any other.

My description won't do it any justice, so check it out here.

Luckily we were seated right next to the kids play area. Madison stayed there the entire time we were eating and played quietly.

We stayed the night with Uncle Matt and got up the next morning to drive Uncle Matt back to work. He picked Madison up a smoothie for breakfast at one of his favorite smoothie places.

This was the last time we got to see Uncle Matt on this trip, so we were sad to say goodbye.