It Snowed!

It snowed all day yesterday.
I went to the gym in the morning (I'm a runner now, ya know), hit the bank, got everything done just in time for the flurries to start coming down.  School was early dismissal which canceled PM Kindergarten so our afternoon was cozy and snow-covered!
I made soup in the Crock-Pot.  Had a nice dinner of steak with sautéed portabellas and spinach casserole.  Read stories and tucked the kids in early.  Both kids were asleep by 7:30 and right now, at 8:15am, Abby is still asleep.

Today my day will be relatively easy.  I have laundry to finish, floors to sweep and a few errands to run.  But the trick to today is that it will be the first couple of hours of alone time that I've had in 3 weeks.
I am not complaining about 10 days in Florida.  I am not complaining about babysitting.  I am not complaining about spending time in school with my kids.  In fact, I didn't even notice, really, until I started to think about what my day was bringing.
I have not had time alone since Thursday, February 9th.  And I am going to really enjoy the silence this afternoon.

I am watching Survivor this season.  You might have figured that out from my previous post of outrage.  It's better than Biggest Loser, the show I force myself to watch even though it's full of completely unlikable, fat, whiney losers.
I am watching a lot of shows this season, actually.  And recording even more.
I love The Voice.  Blake, Adam, CeeLo and Christina are the greatest foursome to hit tv...  ever.  (ok, can't think of a good comparison.)

There are several shows that started and when I read about them they sounded great but I have yet to watch them.  I am waiting to see if they are worth it.  If they're all hype and turn out to be crap, I will just delete them.
One that I recorded and haven't watched yet is Once Upon a Time.  And from everything I have read and heard it looks like it is going to be great.
I am recording Smash and Grimm, too.  Neither one looks like something I will ever wind up watching, though.
And I was excited about PanAm and recorded that, as well, but I think it was already canceled.
I have The River on dvr, keep thinking Jay will watch it with me but I think his tv-dance card is full right now.  We are watching Alcatraz, though and that's turning out to be pretty cool.  Only about 3 weeks in, but so far so good.
I am really excited about the new show, Good Christian Bitches.  I think it starts this week and unlike most of these others, I will be watching live.
Stand-bys that never fail to provide and I hope never leave me include Grey's, Parenthood and the newest "old stand by", 2 Broke Girls.
Jay wants to watch Awake.  I set the dvr but not sure I care.
As much as I like Chelsea Handler, her show really sucks.

Reading through this you would really think that all I do is watch tv...  but I actually only watch it at night, and generally ff through commercials.  I have this deep feeling of shame, like we're not supposed to admit how much we like tv.  And in addition to this stuff, I can't tell you how many PBS specials I don't admit to enjoying or how many trashy/informative cable shows I watch.  Whether I admit it or not, the tv is pretty much always on in our house.  Sometimes 2 or 3 of them!

Does Anyone Else See Spots?

This has been a very mild winter.
Yes, we got slammed by Irene in August and then again by Alfred 8 weeks later...  but I am feeling light-headed because I feel like I have been holding my breath for 3 months.

We're in Florida right now and the weather is...  mild.  Not too hot, not cold.  I haven't been sweating and dying to jump into the pool.  I have been enjoying the warm sun without the need for a quick cool-down.
We have been swimming, we have been int he Gulf and the pool.
So, not too-too hot, but not so cool that we can't swim and wear sundresses.

The kids and I spent 2 nights at Grammy's.  Thursday we headed to the Orlando International Hyatt to meet Jay.  We spent the evening strolling the mall/airport and the next day we spent at the Roof Pool.  That was cool.
Friday afternoon we checked into our timeshare/condo for the week.
Saturday was spent visiting with good friends of ours that live down here.

And Sunday...  we headed to Disneyworld!!
Sunday at Disney was - By Far - the greatest day of our vacation.
Color me brainwashed.  Call me a stereotype.  Put the Mickey ears on...  we loved it.  Every ride, every character, every employee, every sight and experience...  it blew away my expectations.  Every single bit was so much better than I expected it to be.
I cried at least a half dozen times, for various reasons.  Overwhelmed.  It was awesome.

This morning we decided we had had enough "Cow Country" and headed for the Gulf.  We spent the day at the beach, the pool and then - out to dinner with Grammy.
We're in a Marriott now and Life.  Is.  Good.  I do love a Marriott.

We'll head home tomorrow night.  It's been a wonderful week+ and I am feeling so blessed and so happy and so content and warm & fuzzy and happy....
And full.
Fat, really...

I am so happy that there is absolutely no food in my house right now...  So ready for a clean slate, fresh start and a healthy turnaround...
Fresh, healthy, fat-free, sugar-free, exercise-packed lifestyle.  Because if you put aside all the happy, mushy, "we're so fortunate" crap from the week, a definite takeaway is this:
I cannot take this fat ass into summer.  I will not.

Florida, St. Pete Biz Trip Days 2 & 3

Hard to say what's the best part so far...

Is it the beach?

Maybe it's the pool?

Or it could be just enjoying my family...  the 4 of us.

We needed this.

Life IS good.

Florida, St. Pete Biz Trip, Day One

We woke up very early.  Very, very early.
We flew to Florida.
It was fairly routine and uneventful - except for this:

Here's Wyatt steering the plane.  Yes.  He's on the pilot's lap, steering.  I shit you not.

School started on Monday and I already miss the sandy bottoms & fresh sunburned cheeks of summer.
Yes, it was 97 degrees today.  But I went to Ted's and did laundry.

It's school time.

First Day, 2010

First Day, 2009

Back to routine, structure, bed times and healthy snacks.
All the things I've missed and looked forward to.


But, man, summer was awesome!

Oh, and did I mention I'm also pretty busy packing for our vacation to sunny, sandy Florida?!

Yeah - that takes the sting out a bit.

Here we are in August.  Summer will end as quickly as it started at the end of this month.
School starts August 30th here and while I miss the days of "Wednesday after Labor Day weekend", it doesn't bother me that school starts before summer officially ends.  It is what it is and I'm excited to get back into the routine of it all.
Normally at this time of the summer I am planning our Annual Jaybor Day BBQ.  Jay's birthday falls right around Labor Day weekend so we host a party, a "kegger", if you will - and it is always a lot of fun to plan and always a lot of fun to host.
Attendance varies from year to year as Labor Day is a busy weekend for most but the good time does not.
This year, however, I am not planning our annual bash, I am searching the web for SeaWorld coupons and cursing myself for putting our luggage - packed - into storage.

We're headed down to Florida for a birthday-business-trip and I am unbelievably excited!
It started out as a business trip for Jay and is winding up as a week's vacation for me and the kids!
More on that as it comes, but for now - rest assured - Jaybor Day will return in 2011.

Speaking of summer vacation.  I haven't blogged much these past few weeks...  partially due to my addiction to my Bakery & Hotel on Facebook, I'll admit it.  Partial blame goes to Blogger for not allowing me to blog for a while.  I have no idea why or how it fixed itself or I fixed it.  And partial blame goes to the glorious sunshine of summer.  The kids & I have not wasted a minute of this summer vacation and we plan to party like Pre-K rock stars for these last few weeks of it.

We've been to the shore, to several lakes & ponds, visited family & friends, a few day trips, a few playdates and a lot of yard & pool time right there at 131.  Even Daddy has emerged from his cave (err - I mean office) for a few beach days and some pool time!
We're very tan, very tired at the end of each day and a very happy family.  Life is, indeed, very good here.

We have more beach days planned, in addition to Abby's swimming lessons every day.  We're headed to Davis' Farmland at the end of the month and then, of course, Florida!

When we get back, we promise to get serious.  School, Soccer, Gymnastics and the holidays will take over.  We'll cover the pool, pull out jeans and sweaters, plant mums, carve pumpkins and turn the lights on around 4:00.
For now, though, we'll carry on.

I am not babysitting this school year.  That will be a weird change.  I only did it for 2 years, but when you consider that Wyatt is only 2 - that's a pretty good chunk of my life.  Both kids are comfortable in Jody's house and with Q&K like they're family and really - they are.
It will be nice to only have my own kids to worry about.  Our own schedules, our own needs.  But I'm sure I will miss my daily dose of Q&K and I'm sure they'll miss me kicking their butts around their busy schedules.

W, K, Q & A
Just another day in paradise...

Tomorrow, after swimming lessons I am taking the kids to see Toy Story 3.  They have never been to the movies and I think, at this point, we are making more of it than there is to be made - as far as milestones go.  So, we're just going.

Originally it was Debbie's idea but since she's in labor right now, we're going without her.

Here's Deb.  This is from last year, when we played softball.  

She's probably using Jack as an excuse not to play Right Field.

Come on, baby!  Come out!  I need my drinking buddy back!

 

Each New Year's Eve, for at least the past 8, we have held the tradition of a quiet - yet decadent - night in.

We sip champagne, eat food normally reserved for cocktail parties and guests and reflect on the year we've had and what we'd love to see in the year to come.
Last night, we changed things up a bit.  For 2 reasons.  The first being that our children are coming to an age where being included matters and the second is that we were able to go out, have a wonderful dinner with our very good friends, but still come home and have our quiet evening after the kids were put to bed.  So we were able to have our cake and eat it too, bascially.
We had a wonderful night.  We cooked lobsters and ate appetizers and sipped champagne at Debbie & Dave's.  (My pregnant friend sipped sparkling cider!)
The kids played and chased the cat.
And we were able to toast in the New Year (even if it was barely 8pm) with our great friends.  We truly enjoy being together - our kids are great friends - and the next year promises to be full of more great memories just like last night's.
Sometimes you are just lucky enough to find people in your life that you really, really like and feel comfortable with and the feeling is mutual.  That is what we have with Deb & Dave, and I felt very lucky to be in their home on that special night.

By the way, here's the picture I was telling you about earlier:

So, here we are on Day One of 2010...

The Kitchen TV (the newest and most welcome member of our family since Wyatt was born!) is on the official New Year's SVU Marathon, the kids have Diego (or Dora) blaring in the living room, I am sipping coffee and I am thinking about my last 12 months.

A lot has happened.  A lot happens every year.

My daughter started school.  That was a biggie.

Wyatt is talking.

Jay's new job, while not technically "new" for 2009, really took off and proved to be a risk that showed reward.

I promised to lose 50 pounds, lost about 12 and gained about 20.  (I'm gonna promise that again, btw.)

We spent a fun, relaxing and family-oriented week in Florida.

We camped with our very good friends for 2 nights.

We spent a cold but very fun weekend in Boston.

Abby took swimming lessons and the first class in what will prove to be a lengthy career in Ballet.

Countless visits, parties, celebrations and gatherings.

This year we have lots of plans, dreams and considerations...  and there is nothing more satisfying than a clean slate and a whole year ahead to live, love and laugh.

Happy New Year!

A sure sign, as if we needed another one, that summer is over?
We closed the pool today.  So sad.  But also - so liberating.  It's like that final piece of the season, that final, lingering "is it really Fall, can I buy my pumpkins?" feeling is complete.
Summer is over.  Done.
I can look forward to Christmas now.  Officially.

But first - I am looking forward to Fall TV!!
I thought I would share with you, while listing and organizing for myself, what I am looking forward to for my Fall television lineup.

On Mondays, I love CBS.  But, from what I can see - they have once again eff'd with the schedule so I am not sure if I will still love CBS.  I love "How I Met Your Mother", "New Adventures of Old Christine" (I know, it hasn't been on Mondays in forever - whatever), and "Big Bang Theory".
I may DVR the shows I like since I hate "Two and a Half Men" and I don't really feel like being stuck watching some new, crappy show in between the shows I already love.
That leaves my Monday nights open for "House", who I love.  Yes, "who", because, really - if he were real, and not the doctor on tv played by Hugh Laurie, I would leave my husband and stalk him for the rest of my life.  I love Dr. House!!

Tuesday brings me the new Melrose.  "Melrose Place" pretty much sucked in the 90's, but I watched it because I was a die-hard 90210 fan.  But, I fell out of love with both shows long before they fell off the air.  I watched the new Melrose, though, because it intrigued me.
I liked it, I'll DVR it, but no promises...  I will really be surprised if I still like it after another episode where they let Ashlee Simpson talk.
Likely I will watch whatever I DVR'd Monday night on Tuesday.

Wednesday is all about "Glee".  I have not been so excited about a tv show since...  I don't know, I'll compare it to American Idol, I think since it really doesn't compare to Grey's or 90210 - my two most favoritest tv shows ever (20 years apart but equally obsessive).

Glee starts at 9 so should I find myself sitting before that, I might watch "New Adventures of Old Christine" followed by "Gary Unmarried" - both very funny but neither worth rushing to get my butt on the couch for.  (I dvr Christine - it's always funny and fills a gap if you have nothing else to do.)

Nothing compares to Thursday night.  I don't go out, I don't do housework, not even folding laundry.  I sit, with nothing but a drink of water, curled up on the couch and ready to completely lose myself in Grey's Anatomy.  I love that show so much, it's ridiculous.  I get angry if Jay makes noise in the background that might distract me from my program.

I watched the Season Finale on the couch in our house in Florida this past May.  It's on again this week and I cannot wait to watch it at home!  Then, next week is the Season Premier.  YAHOOOOOO!!!  I love it, I love the characters, I love the show and 9:00 is the perfect start time.  (Ok, the premier starts at 8, I think, but it's usually 9.)
My obsession is so deep that I actually DVR it, start to watch it about 15 minutes into the episode so that I can fast forward commercials and usually end with the show running live.
I have sort of-kind-of started to watch Private Practice.  The season finale was pretty exciting so I'll give it another shot this year.  But, really, I haven't liked any characters aside from Addison, so I don't know - that show might go away with Melrose.
Also, maybe worth noting, is ABC's new show "Flash Forward".  I plan on dvr'ing that because it starts at 8, which is not a good time, I wouldn't make it every week, but it looks interesting.  And ABC brought us "Desperate Housewives", "Grey's" and "Lost" along with numerous other runaway hits, so it might be worth getting into early on.

Friday nights are not big tv nights but the USA Network present "Monk" and "Psych" and Jay loves them.  I don't have a regular Friday night line-up so one of two things can happen - I might go out.
I can go out because Jay is so happy that it's Friday, he has the weekend ahead of him and his favorite 2 shows on tv, I have no guilt or worry leaving him home alone with the babies.  Or, I snuggle up with my man and watch his shows with him.  I do like both shows, but mostly I just love how much he likes them.

As a side note - on HBO I watch "Big Love" - I love that show a lot, I'm really into the Henricksons.  I also like "Hung" - I dvr it and watch it an hour or 2 at a time, it's 30 minutes - not a very good show but I just keep watching it.

Saturday and Sunday are not (were they ever?) big tv nights.
I never got into "Desperate Housewives".  "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" makes me cry - or gag, depending on Ty's crew.  I do like "Iron Chef America" and "Big Love" is on, when it's on - who knows with HBO, right?  But mostly, the weekends are up for grabs.

This all may make me sound like a total couch potato, but I can assure you - this is more of a wish list than an actual schedule.  Aside from Grey's Anatomy, none of these shows get watched with any regularity.  I forget.  Or I get annoyed.  Or, I'm just too busy or tired.
But I do love tv.  And I love Fall and new seasons, new series and early darkness...  they go together.

What are you watching this year?

If a book doesn't catch my attention immediately I tend to put it down and then forget why I picked it up in the first place. That's why I always have several going at the same time.
For example, I picked up The Senator's Wife in Target before we left for Fla.
I knew I had wanted to to read it because I read about it in Entertainment Weekly. But I can't remember more than that, so I trusted my instinct and picked it up.
In Florida, I read the first chapter. I just didn't get back to reading. I napped a lot, though. It was vacation, after all.
It has been a few weeks now and I have found myself thinking about it so I plan to pick i tup again soon.

When we got home, my Amazon order had arrived and I started reading the Dr. Laura book I had been waiting for. I am not a Dr. Laura listener or fan. I have never read a book by her but I don't live under a rock, I knew who she was. And the title was worth taking a look at. So, I began to read. I felt connected right away. I love this book so much and highly, HIGHLY recommend it for all stay-at-home mothers.

I have to caveat here, if you are a working mother - regardless of why - do not pick this book up.
It is very, VERY hard to stomach the VERY one-sided-ness of Dr. Laura.
She firmly and without give, believes that a mother should be home, caring for her children, home and husband. And I have yet to see her yield for any reason other than death of the husband. She does say, though, that daycare is better for children of drug-addicts or whores. Nice of her, eh?

So - I have to say that while I find it hard to see around her sometimes, I also find myself agreeing with her far more than I thought I ever would.

Frankly - I, too, believe that mothers belong at home. I really, really wish that every mommy in the world could stay home and love, nurture, protect and provide from the safe, cozy place of home. It is a dream of mine to always be here. I want to be here now, as my babies are new to the world and everything it offers. And I want to be here later, when they come off the bus with all the stress and fears, pride and excitement of the school ages.

So, that part of Dr. Laura's opinion is very difficult. She sees no reason why a woman, once becoming a mother, would do anything but be home.

There isn't any easy way to have that discussion.
It always ends up as "Working Mom vs Stay-at-Home Mom" and I hate that. It's not a good discussion because it doesn't go anywhere. It goes around and around and around, there is no one way, no answer, no solution, no finality.
Being the best mom you can be, the best way you can, the way that makes you happy and your family happy - that is the right way. Not the way that Dr. Laura says you should.

The last book I am reading right now is Columbine by Dave Cullen. I haven't read past what you can see on Amazon yet. I plan to pick it up after I put Dr. Laura down and finish the Senator. I remember that tragic day so well. I was young, it made a huge impact on me as a person. I seriously didn't read or watch the news for years after that. Years. I'm not kidding.

But, I am borrowing Twilight from Carly tonight, so if that is as quick a read as I hear it is, I will read that first. It is the book for June's Book Club (fun, light, summer read!) so I need to read it by June 15 if I'm gonna read it for that meeting.

For Mother's Day, my family bought me a New camera! I love it so much! It's little and it's quick and it takes great shots!
Our first day in Florida, Wyatt fell head first into the pool. I immediately pulled him out. My brand new, Mother's Day, Gift of love and happiness, Camera went in the pool. It was ruined.
I cried and cried. I was so sad that I broke my new camera. I was so sad that my loving husband was so excited to give it to me and now I broke it. It still makes me a little weepy, to be honest.
That afternoon, Jay went to Best Buy and bought me another camera.
Same one.
I love my husband so much. He didn't want me to feel sad.
He did, however, request that next time - I let the boy float for a second while I put my camera down.

As we arrived home from dinner one rainy night in Florida, I heard the very loud, very needy cry of a kitty cat.
Oh no.
I do love kitties.
She was wet. She was adorable and she was trying, very lovingly and sweetly to try to get into our house with us.
Jay took the kids in while I talked to the cat. She was very cute.
Fortunately for Jay (and me, cuz really - who are we kidding, I couldn't bring the cat to CT on the plane), I found out - after knocking on the neighbors' doors - that the kitty lived across the street and had a habit of trying to visit everyone.

Speaking of neighbors - you should have seen these maniacs when I knocked on their door. It was about 8:00. Maybe that's late, but it certainly isn't obscene.
I could sort of see and totally hear all FOUR of them behind the door. There I am, in the rain, nicely dressed, not at all an alarming visitor, waiting while they stare in wonder.
Finally, the man of the house opened the door, we discussed the kitty, I went on my way. No big whoop. But how strange were those people?

Also, they live in Florida. Inland, sort of, too. We were about 35 minutes from the beach. And they didn't have a pool. Granted, the community pool was in sight of the house, but come on. When you live in Florida, using only a community pool is sort of like saying "we don't need AC, they have it in the Clubhouse, we can just go there to cool off."
I would never NOT have a pool in Florida. Maybe that wouldn't have been such a big deal but after the staring and whispering, I decided they were freaks.

Each time we went out, we had to drive down the main road (70) and almost each time we had to drive by this little shack at the corner of 70 and some Avenue. It was hard ot miss since you could be at a red light right in front of it. A tiny, run-down, shady looking house with a giant sign (that didn't light up) - "ASAP Divorce".
Because sometimes you just can't wait, I guess.

While in Florida, we had no batteries in any remotes in the house. We found a few channels and stuck with them. And the kids watched their movies that we packed. (Abby packed for both kids.)
The one movie that Abby watched about 33 times was Disney's Tarzan. We all loved that. One day, I started crying at a particularly sad part. Just tears, I wasn't sobbing or anything, just movie crying - you know you've done it. Abby took one look at me, said "mama, are you crying?" I said yes and she LOST IT! She was hysterical! Crying and sobbing and hugging me... it was so sad and adorable.
Then, after we both calmed down, I started telling Jay what just happened and from listening to me re-tell it, Abby started crying again. So, I did, too.
It was so cute and sad. Re-telling it doesn't do it any justice. You really had to see her precious little face when she saw me crying. Then her little face just crumpling after hearing the story again, only minutes later.
Oh, it was like nothing I have ever experienced. What a sweet, sensitive little lovey-girl she is.

Wyatt's movie of choice was Elmo's Dinosaurs. If I can find the song from it, I will link it here. It will drive you crazy if you listen to it 1839 times in one week. Like we did.

I just wanted to share those few tidbits. I am sure more will come to me and I will post them.
It was a fabulous vacation. It flew by. And usually, we're really ready to go home. This time, it took us by surprise how quickly it was all over.
Now, we're home. Our routine has resumed.
Vacation has a fabulous way of making the routine feel good again, though.

Florida Pics -

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Made on a Mac

Florida Trip
Day Six

Today we spent a lazy morning in the house.
Abby is still running a fever and complaining of a sore throat. She is also very whiny and clingy with very little appetite.

Miss Thing in her Watermelon Jammie dress and Auntie Dink's hair wrap.

And if you know Abby you know that whiny, clingy and no-appetite are NOT her style. So, we layed low in the morning.

We revved it up in the afternoon, though.

Wywy is ready to go!

Headed north to Tampa to visit an old friend.
Scott got married (eloped) and bought a house since our last visit to Fla so we went up to meet the wife and see the house.

I am so sorry I didn't take a picture of Jay with his oldest and best friend, nor did I take a picture of the happy couple. Sucks when you miss those obvious shots, ya know?
But - their home is absolutely gorgeous - right out of Better Homes & Gardens. And Jen was a gracious and lovely hostess. Abby really liked her and I suspect it was mutual. I look forward to having more time to get to know Mrs. Newman.

We also stopped in to see Scott's parents. They were happy to see us and that was mutual, as well. Scott's Dad had a stroke and he is in a wheel chair but aside from that he was the same happy, welcoming guy I remembered. It was really nice to have the time to make that visit.

Friends and Family are important.
And taking the time to remember and recognize that is what life is all about.

After our Tampa visit we went back south and stopped in St. Pete to see my parents. They have a 7th floor apartment overlooking Boca Ciega Bay (I think that's what it is, it's a Bay, either way) in the same complex that my grandparents' apartment was my entire life (and still is, even though my grandparents aren't in it anymore).

Jay and my Dad looking out at the water from the balcony.

We visited for a bit and then headed out to Crabby Bill's for dinner. Jay and I were aching for raw oysters and grilled Grouper sandwiches.
Crabby's did not disappoint and neither did that Florida weather as we watched lightning pierce St. Pete Beach while getting drenched in an absolute sky-opening downpour. Gotta love it.
We purchased a great souvenier photo ("only $10 for 2!!") that I will scan in when we get home. At least we got that shot!

We drove home in the rain (we would literally drive out of it and watch it catch up to us before we got out of it again to wait for it again.) We stopped at McDonald's so that Abby and Mommy could pee. ("Look, mama! They sell Icecream here!" Cutie. She has no idea what McD's is and I love that.)

I wrapped up this night watching the 2-hour Season Finale Event of Grey's Anatomy.
And seriously - not since I was a high school girl in love with Dylan while trying to be Brenda have I loved a television show so much... I cannot believe I have to wait until the weather is turning cold again to find out how this is all going to work itself out... Crazy.

So, tomorrow night at this time I will be packing up, cleaning up and wrapping up this most fabulous week of relaxation, resting, sisterly bonding, husband and children quality time, beach, pool & eating heaven. I doubt I will blog. I will be returning, slowly but surely to my wound-up-too-tight life of organization and micro-management.
But I am so glad I blogged each day up to now. I am so glad I captured each day's memories.

And I am so glad my husband made this trip happen. Because without him.
Well... I wouldn't have any money so I couldn't have come. hee hee
Thanks, babe. Love you.

Florida Trip
Day Five

Not a lot of pictures today. We just hung around the house. We were pooped!
It's been non-stop action around here.
Also, Abby had a low fever (99.5) and was telling me that her throat hurt.
Her little cousin has a sore throat so I am wasn't sure if she really felt that way or heard her Auntie Dink talking about it. But you can't argue with a fever.
So, I gave her some Tylenol and we hung out.

Worth it.
Totally.
We just chilled. The Four of Us.
Enjoyed our little Family Unit.

And in the later half of the day, we took our bathing suits off and put some clothes on.
We saw a fabulous, Florida-style t rain storm followed by a beautiful rainbow.
And we headed out to dinner with the fam.
My sister and bro-in-law treated, which was awesome - THANK YOU!
And we kept it simple by going to Red Lobster.
The thing is, there is nothing "touristy" about Bradenton, FL -
to get a good, local joint would require a half hour in the car.
We just didn't have that tonight.
So, we hit the Lobstah. Which was fun, cuz we don't go to RL at home.
And you can't beat those biscuits.

Pre-Dinner Handsome-ness.

My sweet girl packed up some toys in her backpack for her & Wywy
in case they got bored at the restaurant.

The rainbow that Abby spotted. It really was gorgeous.

The post-afternoon-storm sky.
If you've ever been to Florida then you know that the weather is
"hot with a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon."

How freaking gorgeous is my nephew?

Last time we went to dinner Abby sat amidst her big cousins
and only after we got home did she tell us that she wanted to be closer to mommy and daddy. Our hearts broke.
So, this time, I sat next to her and Jay sat right across from us, next to Wyatt.
When I tucked her in, she said "you sat next to me at dinner, Mama. I'm glad."
Kids really break your heart.
And warm it.
Often at the same time.

Florida Trip
Is it really
Day FOUR
already!?!?

Wywy on the beach.
What a gorgeous beach day.
Tough, though. Taking kids to the beach is not easy.
Lots of stuff.
Lots of tiny people to watch.
Lots of sand.
We didn't last too long but it was fun.

Daddy with Abby in the waves.
This beach had very little waves.
The Gulf is not known for surfing,
but this beach was known for being especially tame and "family-friendly".


Back at the house, in the pool with Auntie Frannie & Leenie.
Abby is quite taken with her Auntie "Franyas" & her big cousins.
We all love watching the kiddos together.
As much as I love the girlies, I have to admit that having our boys together is very, very special.


And we prepared a Royal Feast.
Thanks to my husband who "cooked up" the idea.
My man knows how to throw a party - and how to go on vacation.

Florida Trip
Day Three

Florida Trip
Day Two

Happy Mother's Day!

Cousins & Dunkin'.

Look out, Uncle Jay!

Big-Boy Jamie enjoying his "Lollipop".

And, once again, Peace reigns over the Kingdom.