Longboat Key, Florida

Scott was first introduced to Dr. Tri Dinh (the doctor that headed up the Vietnam medical mission we did with Layton in June 2016) several years ago at the annual SGO meeting. Scott was one of the presenters that year speaking on Value-Based Care and Alternative Payment Models in Gynecologic Oncology. Ever since hearing Scott present back in 2015, Tri has been anxious to get Scott to come speak at the annual Florida Society of Gynecologic Oncology on the same topic. This is in no way Scott's field of expertise, but because he always does his due diligence in preparation and presenting, Tri thinks he is the expert and has been after him to speak to them since that first meeting in 2015. After realizing he didn't have a valid excuse to turn him down again this year, and thinking this would make for an affordable (Scott's flight and hotel room covered by Society) and relaxing get-a-way, Scott finally agreed to come speak to them. Will was already scheduled to be in Utah that weekend for BYU Golf camp, so we booked additional flights for Layton and myself to join Scott for a 4 day weekend in Florida.

(The traditional PDX Carpet photo)

The Florida conference this year was held in Longboat Key Florida at the Longboat Key Resort. The resort was right on the beach and had a nice WARM pool so I even got to swim while there! 

Between the fact that Layton and I would sleep in until noon, Scott had morning meetings for two of the days, Layton had a bunch of final projects due for the end of the year, and it was quite hot and humid, we didn't spend a ton of time by the pool and only made it to the beach to see the sunset.

We arrived in at our hotel around 3:00 a.m. Florida time Friday morning. Like I said, Layton and I got to sleep in until after noon but poor Scott had to get up early and give his presentation. We were going to go hear him speak but he said they had him a room that was way too small and it was standing room only. He was glad he asked to give it Friday morning to get it over and then he felt like he could truly relax the rest of the weekend. 

Saturday we left the resort around 11:00 and drove an hour and a half to Busch Gardens for the day. 

Several years ago we surprised Karsyn, Layton and Will with a trip here so it was fun remembering certain rides and experiences from our first trip. We had fun remembering how Will was too small for most the rides and cried and cried that he couldn't go on them and Layton cried and cried cause he was tall enough to go on the rides and didn't want to! Our favorite memory was recounting how excited Will was when at the end of the night, he was able to sneak on to the best ride in the park...Sheikra! I will never forget his face when he came running off that ride! So of course, we had to take a picture of it and send it to Will. 

Sunday we went to sacrament meeting and then met up with Carl and Irene Pearman. Dr. Pearman was Scott's mentor from Residency in Kansas City and has retired to Florida. We had an enjoyable visit with them in their home on the key and then went out to dinner to an awesome restaurant at the end of the pier. 

We didn't fly home until late afternoon on Monday so we took advantage of a late checkout by sleeping in and laying by the pool for a bit while Layton finished his assignment in the hotel library. It was a quick but relaxing little weekend getaway!