June 9, 2008

Alyssa, Lisa, Danielle, Brad, Jim & Rhi at McGuire's with Money Cow

A Visit With Alyssa

After a minor snafu, Alyssa made it in Thursday afternoon instead of in the A.M. I just left her at the airport a little while ago and I already miss her. It seems she was only here for a few hours. It is relatively easy to live away from family and friends until someone visits. Then it seems like we are missing out on so much by not living back home. The time that we have spent away from everyone starts to hit home as well. But we definitely made the most of the time we did get to spend with Alyssa. We showed her a good time in Florida with a night at the world famous Toucan's in Mexico Beach, followed by night swimming in the ocean. Saturday we all went up to Destin to the sandbar. We rented a boat, tied Brad to the side of it, and planted an umbrella over him. The water was only about knee high on an adult with a slight current, and was crystal clear. We spent the day hanging in the water, playing catch, boat watching and listening to music. Rhiannon got her first jelly fish sting which we poured vodka on to dull the pain. I just happened to read about 9 green uses for vodka last week and that was one of them. Of course it worked like magic! There was a boat maneuvering through the crowd selling boiled peanuts and ice cream like we were at a baseball game. It was such a beautiful and relaxing day. The pictures can hardly do it justice. It is going to be really hard to leave this place...

Destin Sandbar

We had dinner at one of our favorite places, McGuire's Irish Pub. They make those crazy rum drinks called Irish Wakes, that kind of remind me of Scorpion Bowls. "Money Cow" is the name Rhiannon gave to the cow head that hangs on the wall, and of course the entire restaurant is covered from floor to ceiling in one dollar bills. She feels bad for the cow because he is dead and all alone on the wall so every time we go to eat there, she has to go visit him.




Lisa is/was also leaving today. Initially when we left for the airport, I said two goodbyes. But Lisa is back for a few more days due to a miscommunication from the "persons in charge". Turns out she does not have to drive to Utah en route to Arizona. Makes sense to most of us I know and it would have been more useful information yesterday! If only women ruled the world...sigh

Alyssa, thanks for the entertaining stories and the flashback to our "Spit" card game days. Had fun scouring Crooked Island for shells with you and only really finding Alligator bones.

June 2, 2008

Not much going on lately. The kids are getting really tan and it's been over 90 degrees this week. Rhiannon is done with school and we are excited for Alyssa's visit this weekend.

Dr. Bradley!

Computer Fanatics!

May 19, 2008

A Weekend of Good-Byes...

This weekend we said good-bye to Nikki and Lee and their (not so) puppy after what seems like six lightning fast weeks. Rhiannon took it pretty hard so we took some pictures of them together. I think she misses the puppy the most! We also continue to say good-bye to Jim's friend Adam who leaves for a new life in Arizona this week. We went to Ruby Rumrunners in town and took a bunch of pictures. We also got a limo last week and went to Club LaVela.

Adam and Jim

Lisa, Melissa, Danielle

Other than that, we have been spending a lot of time at the beach and pool. The weather is getting hot already. We have scheduled our pack up dates and will be getting our plane tix for Germany this month too. Jim finished his training and is graduating in 3 weeks, and Alyssa is coming to visit in 2 weeks. Rhiannon is finishing up school this month and had a spring concert today. If it's even possible, time is flying faster than it has all year. We can't wait to start our exciting journey in Europe but we are feeling a little sad about leaving here already. So many friends are leaving now and in the coming weeks. We will be the last to go and it's definitely hard. There is some comfort knowing that we'll see our new friends again as we have already met up with some old friends here. All that being said, we love our life and wouldn't change it for anything. There is so much to see and do and once again it is time to move on....
P.S. Check out the camping blog for updated photos.

Rhi and Remy

Nikki and Lee and Rhi

Mom and Brad

Dad and Brad

Jim and Adam

Covered in Brownie

Rhi Dancing with Dad

May 11, 2008

Reflections on Mother's Day

I know I have only been a mom for 4 years but I'm starting to feel like I understand the idea behind Mother's Day. When I was little it was a day to buy mom cards and flowers or something nice that she wanted and not to fight with my sister. I never appreciated what a mom is. I used to think it meant a day off for me, a day where I don't have to cook and clean and change diapers and clothes. It meant a day where I didn't have to play or entertain anybody, a day where I didn't have to kiss away tears and end disagreements. I didn't have to watch every move and step in and rescue my child from danger. I would turn myself off; it was dad's turn to step in and do the dirty work so to speak. How wrong I was...

I've realized that I can't turn myself off for a day, nor do I want to. Being a mother is a big part of who I am. I have learned so much about myself from my kids and I like to think that I am a better person, wife, mom, artist and all the things that I am because I have been privileged with having them to take care of and hopefully raise into good, honest, loving people. I think they have taught me patience and tolerance, although both are pushed to the limit almost on a daily basis. They have taught me to slow down and literally smell the roses, to enjoy all things about the world. Watching them learn is like getting to rediscover so many things that I take for granted. Sometimes I find myself just watching them play, terrorize each other, eat, sleep, laugh and cry and my heart gets so full of emotion at how beautiful and pure they are. I try to preserve everything they say and do that represents their innocence. I also think that I am selfish for needing them so much, for needing them to validate who I am in some ways, and for never wanting to go out and do my own thing. I know that is not fair to them or me. I know too that I expect too much of them sometimes and I get caught up in the adult world far too much. It is so true that they grow so fast.

Mother's Day for me is not about a day off anymore, because I know now that will never happen. It is a day to enjoy each aspect of childcare to the fullest, to really appreciate what I have right under my nose. I can take care of myself in little ways every other day. Just this morning actually, on my day to sleep in, my 6 am riser Bradley slept until after 8:30. Do you think I got one wink of sleep past 6? Nope. I was too busy worrying why he was still sleeping. Was he ok, is he sick, did he bang his head in his sleep and get a concussion? I know it's ridiculous. I wanted to wake him up and Jim just slept away saying how great it was that Brad was still sleeping. Oh, if I could only be more like him!! Dads are the perfect balance to moms. They are the remedies for a mom's insanity. Jim is my balance. He helps me to be a better mother when I am not doing so great, and it is a constant learning experience. He is eternally patient and supportive of most of my weird little rules.

So on this Mother's Day, I don't need any gifts, jewelry or flowers (it's in writing Jim). I just want to enjoy and appreciate my family. I also want to say thank you to my mom. I didn't always appreciate or understand your ways in raising us. Today, I have a greater understanding of what you sacrificed and went through for us to grow into "normal" productive members of society. I'm glad you were so "mean"! I couldn't be a good mother today without all of your help and guidance growing up.

Here are some pictures of my Mother's Day gifts, one from Rhi and one from myself. Bought a bike and trailer last week to assist in my quest to get in shape. I think I look pretty ridiculous towing the kids and the dog, but it seems to be working...

May 2, 2008

Camping With Kids!

Last weekend we went camping in Grayton Beach State Park. We bought a two room tent and it had a ton of space for Brad's pack and play, our queen size air mattress, and a spot for Rhiannon's sleeping bag. It was an interesting and fun adventure; we are definitely novice campers because we were unprepared for some things, and over prepared for others, (like bringing too many blankets in April in Florida). I was also not prepared for how dirty camping is and for the most part that is fine with me because I don't roll around in the dirt, fire pit or the woods. Brad was covered from head to toe from the time we arrived until the time we left. It was useless to try and wipe him clean. He is 100% boy! He also managed to get a mosquito bite and ding his head on the same spot causing it to swell up so big he looked like a Star Trek character. Every chance he got he took off into the street. We had to angle the cars so he couldn't get out. He still got out; it was the adults who had to finagle a way out to get him! Both nights he went to bed without a fuss and on time which amazed me. He exhausted himself.

Rhiannon was also eager to sleep in her sleeping bag and tent and read her books by flashlight. She was a great help with Brad too. On our last day while we were all busy packing up, all of a sudden we couldn't find her. We all called her name, ran into the woods, looked in the street and no Rhi. I went back to the car and wouldn't you know she was sitting in the back seat with a sly grin on her face. We were so angry with her for scaring us like that, and she thought she was just playing hide and seek. We told her that she has to let us know in the future if she wants to play that game.

We ended our trip with a great brunch at a place called Another Broken Egg Cafe. They had a monstrous breakfast and cafe sandwich menu complete with mimosas to finish out the weekend. There are lots of little shops and restaurants in that area and I definitely want to go back sometime to check out the outdoor wine and cheese bar. What could be better than wine and cheese?

Jim and Brad Setting Up

Melissa, Lisa, Jim, Danielle

Adam, Melissa, Lisa, Jim

Dinner

Adam and Jim Feeding the Fire

Around the Fire

Little Musician

Dirty Brad

Silly Rhi

Lee and Nikki

Fire of Course