Keewaydin and the Honey Hole

Memorial Day weekend we took a little extended staycation over to Naples area and met up with Marlis and Bob and Landon and friends - Kelly, Chris, and William - for some boat action. Let me just say that Marlis and Bob are amazing friends and are always so sweet to invite us out on their boat and truly if it weren't for them, I'm not sure we'd know how to really appreciate being Floridians. They know how to do it up RIGHT. So this weekend wasn't any exception and they took us out to a little island near Naples called Keewaydin on Saturday where a bunch of fun folks pull up their boats and just hang out chill style. Tyndell had an absolute blast playing in the warm, clear water and finding shells and chasing all the other boaters' dogs on the beach. On Sunday we took a little half day trip out to a hidden area that some like to call the Honey Hole which honestly looks like a place you see in a calendar but never really get to go. It was close to Marco Island and was this inlet that was so shallow you could walk out really far and just stare into open ocean with very little others in view. So beautiful and relaxing. Tyndell got to try out fishing for the first time and sweet Uncle Bob helped with her first catch! We drove back that evening and just hung out at home the rest of the weekend. Unfortunately, I've been struggling with a little lost voice and cold ever since so I must have had too much fun haha. Even this weekend has literally been much ado about nothing except staying close to home and working on potty training (we are getting close!), which I'm sure I'll do a post on soon. Anyway - major props to Marlis and Bob and Landon and friends for showing us an awesome time last weekend!!

Summer Play

Tyndell is turning into quite the ham! I feel like she's coming a little bit out of her 2-year old drama (obviously there is some but not nearly as bad, e.g. we went out to eat probably 3 times in the last week and a half and I didn't leave wanting to kill over), and she's been so hilarious lately. We really do have a blast. Some of my favorite things she has said lately:

"Mommy - Disney is for little boys and girls."

"Diego is the best ever jaguar."

"Jaguars are ok."

"I want chocolate. Can I pee-pee on the potty now?"

"Let's get out the old ladies!" (reference to a magnetic paper doll type toy)

And of course - the songs - all the funny songs she sings! I think we have a little Jeff on our hands! ;)

Surprise Girls Weekend!

A few months ago, after our good friends Aaron and Shelley from Pizza Night moved to Tampa, Aaron asked if some of the South Florida ladies would come over for a surprise weekend for Shelley's birthday - the first weekend in May. Now of course, we were all completely down for this and have been so excited about it forever and kept it a total secret from Shelley. Jeff and I even went over to Tampa to visit them last month and we didn't even let any clues out that I would be back soon. Now - here's the unfortunate part - the week before we were to go, Shelley's precious father passed away unexpectantly (bless you Lynn!) and Aaron and Shelley had to go up to Kentucky and weren't going to be in town the weekend we planned for the surprise. Now - during their week away, we had lots of secretive phone conversations and emails and even an almost-slip by Aaron's mom uncovering the plans, but we still wanted to try to make the weekend work to surprise and cheer up Shelley, so all the ladies cancelled all the following weekend plans, so that we could still make it over and celebrate with Shelley. We ended up going last weekend, and it was so wonderful. We got up super early Saturday morning and drove over together in Tammy's cool van - complete with DVD action and DJ Master Brooke for music and map support. We snuck into their back patio, and it was like a hilarious reality show! Anyway - we were all laughing and crying and jumping up and down like silly girls. We spent the day having a long lunch, shopping, and then went out later to watch, "Bridesmaids," together. On Sunday morning, we relaxed on their patio with fruit, cheese, and mimosas, and then went for mani/pedis before we drove back home. It was a blast and we got to shower them with a few gifts before Madelyn's little sister arrives next month - we cannot wait to meet Charlotte! We definitely have to thank Aaron for putting us up to it, inviting us, and for all the husbands who watched the kids while we were gone. I know we all needed it. Oh girlfriends - do not know what I would do without these girls in my life!

Meet Miranda

Meet Miranda - Jeff's favorite thing in the whole wide world right now! Miranda is a Nepethenes 'Miranda' type Pitcher Plant that he bought at the Delray Affair this year. He loves carnivorous plants, and their bug-trapping "pitchers" are pretty impressive you must admit. She has become the symbol of hope for revitalizing our yard! We have so far reclaimed our front garden, bought some colorful things to plant, wiped out the dying screw pine that we were in denial of losing, and started watering the grass again. Amazingly enough - in just 2 weeks - the yard looks a ton better! It's been a joy to come home and see things looking so much better around the house and it also helps us to forget our frustrations with our home value in this economy! So - Miranda - we salute you!

A Royal Wedding Pizza Night

I loved the Royal Wedding last week! And our friends, the Gallants, did too and invited the Pizza Night gang over to watch the wedding on DVR and have dinner. It was so fun - the kids wore princess dresses and crowns (except for Max who HAD to be Buzz Lightyear instead - too cute) and we all had wedding cake! Tammy gets some major props for putting the whole night together - we had a blast! It was just so fascinating to see how the whole event happened and well, if you love weddings, like we do, this was the best EVER. William and Catherine seem like a pretty normal couple...as far as normal could be in this situation, that is. And I think if everything works out, it would be a great symbol for the institution of marriage which seems to have such a negative connotation to so many people. They were adorable - smiling and looking like they were enjoying their day! And how gorgeous was that church and her dress?! Ah - love it. Blessings to Will and Kate! Thanks for a great celebration, Keith and Tammy! Note to worried parents: Samantha is NOT drinking champagne! We were toasting with sparkling cider - I promise. Ching...ching!

Easter Weekend

I LOVE Easter - it might be my favorite holiday after Thanksgiving actually. I love everything about it: the energetic feeling from the reminder of what Jesus did, celebratory church services with songs, the recognition of springtime, lilies and flowers, family and friend gatherings, feasting, egg hunts, and of course - the candy (Easter candy is by far the BEST of all the holiday candies)!

The weekend started with a beach day on Friday since schools were closed so Tammy and the kids, Samantha and Max, and Kaitlyn and Bailey and Tyndell and I all hung out for a few hours on the beach, relaxing and getting sandy! Then that evening, we had our whole Pizza Night gang over and did an Egg Decorating/Hunt Pizza Night, which was a total blast. My favorite moments from the night were: the fact that the egg decorating reflected the majority of girls in our Pizza Night crew - most of the decorated ones from the kids were pink and purple with glitter, Bryan and I debating whether dunking the egg in hot water or using a hair dryer was the best means to get the egg wrap-a-rounds the smoothest, seeing Tyndell understand Egg Hunts for the first time and get so excited to find each one, Tyndell abandoning the actual hunt when she figured out that some of the eggs had chocolate inside, Kaitlyn and I realizing that adding vinegar to the egg dye REALLY does make the colors brighter and better and talking smack about the non-vinegar dyes haha, Hiding the eggs in our newly reclaimed front yard garden amongs the new flowers that Jeff has been working so hard to water the last two weeks, Kaitlyn's baked brie appetizer and our late night slumber party on the back patio after it was all over, and of course Awarding Samantha the "Golden Bunny" for finding 27 eggs and Reilly Sue for finding 12 eggs in their respective kid categories!

Anyway - needless to say, it was a great night! The next morning, Jeff, myself, Tyndell, Kaitlyn, and Bailey all went to the Palm Beach Zoo to hang out and we saw a sloth close up and caught both animal shows (this has never happened EVER on our visits). Isn't Jeff precious holding both Bailey and Tyndell? Then Jeff, Tyndell, and I had a lazy Saturday night together and watched "The Princess and the Frog" until we all fell asleep. On Sunday, we went to church which was an awesome service of music especially and then went to my parent's house for lunch. They made so much food and we definitely feasted with them and their friends, Rosemary and Harry, and I brought the strawberry trifle for desert! We rehid eggs in their yard and Tyndell had a good time finding them all over again. After naptime, it became pool time and marked our initiation of their pool for the year....I'm still holding out for warmer pool temperatures though to really enjoy myself haha.

Hope everyone had a fantastic Easter weekend with friends and family like we did and really felt the true meaning....and I can only hope we keep that energetic feeling moving forward all year long in our thoughts and prayers and actions.