Our FL trip - 2012

Our Halloween was crazy.  We tried to get the kids to a variety of fun candy-filled events before we got in the car on October 31st at 3pm and drove 2 days to FL.  Since LB is in school this year, and we're thinking it'll probably be a one-year deal, she really wanted to attend her Halloween party (one would think a Catholic school might have an All Saint's Day party, but I digress). 

So, hubby took the day off and we packed the car and cleaned the house a bit while LB was in school.  As soon as she was home, we drove off into the too-early-because-it's-winter setting sun.  We drove until about 2am and made it to Nashville, TN.  We were up and on the road again by about 9am the next morning and finally reached our destination of a hotel right on the beach at 11pm.  Needless to say, it was a hard 2-day drive and we were all super done being in the car by the time we got there. 

The next day, I had a chance to go out and get my nails done with the bride-to-be/lifelong friend whose wedding we were there to celebrate while hubby took all three girls out to play at our hotel on the beach (we splurged so that we could be oceanside and it was totally worth it!).  After a rehearsal dinner, we were back to bed and preparing for the big wedding day.

The wedding preparation time was so fun and the wedding was beautiful.  It was so moving to see the girl I grew up playing with dressed in her beautiful dress coming down the aisle to her soon-to-be husband, every inch the radiantly in love woman.  The reception was at the groom's parents' house.  It was an amazing space for the event and the best part was that the groom's mother was thoughtful enough to set aside a room for our girls to lay down (we had the only children at the wedding).  All three of our girls were laying down and conked out before 9pm.

After the wedding, we spent a few more days at our hotel playing in the water and enjoying the beach.  The time went so fast, but it was gloomy and starting to rain the day we left, so the vacation felt just long enough.  The trip back was just as long and exhausting, but hubby had the foresight to take the next day off work, so the transition back to the real world wasn't too terrible. 

Here are some pictures from Halloween and our fun FL trip :)

Last day of hubby with long hair before vacation :)

LB was done carving her pumpkin early!

Help from her aunt with her pumpkin

First morning on the beach

Admiring the view from our hotel

We shouldn't have let her by the water without a swimsuit on!

She kept getting farther and farther out - until her pants were soaked!

The bride with her cousins

At the rehearsal dinner

Calm for the moment

Watching the sun set

She stayed there until we made her come back in

Trying out a cracker

Investigating the flower girl goody bag

Hanging with daddy

The flower girl is ready

Cake cutting

The first dance

I don't think she's supposed to have that....

Sun protection - check!

The older I get, the more I worry about the sun :)

I made the girls wear bandanas to keep their parts from getting burnt

Sand castle!

Sand castle II

Sweet Pea's smile :)

Daddy said something funny

Last morning, saying good bye to the ocean

Watching the last sunrise in FL

A moment with the sunrise

Good-bye beautiful FL!

Spirit's Prompting

I've been having a lot of dreams lately, or maybe I'm just remembering more of them since I sleep in 1-2 hour increments (so ready for SP to sleep through the night!).  A few nights ago, I had a dream that ended with a friend needing help.  Just as I woke up, I thought to myself that I really did need to do something for this friend, and today was the day.  So, I got into my kitchen and started baking.  I sent her a message that I would have baked goods for her in the afternoon.  My friend was excited to get the food love, and thought that I had coordinated it for the Feast of St. Gerard (patron of pregnant mothers).  Nope, no such organization.

But I think what I lacked in organization I made up for in listening to the prompting of the Holy Spirit.  The neat lining up of everything was very much a God thing, not a me thing.  I tend to have a hard time reaching out to others to offer help.  It's definitely stepping out of my comfort zone.  So, I've been wondering this week, how many times have I thought, "I really should do x for y." and then not done it because it was out of my comfort zone?  How many moments have I missed out on being an ambassador of kindness when I was called?  Something I'm really thinking about this week; am I stepping up to the Spirit's calling?  Big thing or small thing, I can't but feel that I might need to tune my ears a little more carefully.

Picture Day: Part 2

It's been a while, but I said I was going to take more pictures of the girls.  I got all three girls out today, with the help of my husband) for a picture day in some costumes.  The babies I dressed up as baby chicks and I had LB dress the part of farmer to keep in the theme for the pictures....she's thinking of wearing an old flowergirl dress to be a fairy/angel/bride for actual Halloween :)  Once again, I lament that I cannot share SB's pics, but trust me, she was a cutie!

A chick and her farmer

Angry bird

I think this is going to be the official 7 y/o shot that goes on the wall

Just a hardworkin' gal

Escapees

The New Guy

My youngest sister has a new fella in her life....the four-legged kind.  We all were eager to welcome little Otis into the family and rushed to see him as soon as we could:

Love at first sight

Contentment, thy name is puppy

Not so sure....

Thinking about touching him

Snuggled in for the night

September was a crazy month for us.  It was the first full month of school, included a bout of stomach flu for LB and the fun and whirlwind of two little babies.  Among work assignments, school volunteering, playing with the babies and all the other things going on at our place, I took a week to go south to my brother's house.  My brother and his family live about 1,100 miles southwest of us and are in the process of moving back up north.  I went down to help pack up the house and get it ready for the market.  Not sure how much help I was with SP in tow, but the house should be listed shortly and all the prayers you can spare asking St. Joseph to intercede for a quick sale would be much appreciated by my entire family who has waited nearly 7 years for them to join us back up north.

SP and I stopped at a scenic turnout to nurse :)

Tis Better to Give....

A few years ago, a neighbor went to the hospital and I brought her young family a meal.  Well, that's not entirely true, I made my husband bring it over.  I like to give people things, but I always feel like it's so unusual that people make a fuss, and then I feel embarrassed or like I'm intruding.  My husband has been my ambassador on more than one occasion, but slowly, I'm trying to step out of my comfort zone and do it myself.

I love to give presents when there's an occasion where it's expected (hence the relief of any awkwardness on my part) and it's so fun to make a great, useful present.  I have had the excitement of a baby shower and a bridal shower for some dear friends in the last several weeks.  Here, some pictures from the presents.

Above:  The Anywhere Chair (ties around a chair to keep a toddler in place during a meal), a baby sling and a knit blanket all wrapped in a fleece blanket.

Above:  A towel cake - memory foam mat, 2 towels, 2 hand towels and 2 washcloths 

Right now I'm working on another knit blanket for my husband's friends new addition.  Please keep the little guy in your prayers, he was 3 months early and has to undergo heart surgery soon.