Warm Memories

Being behind on blogging has made me yearn for summer time! Looking back on all of these pictures made me feel all kinds of warm and fuzzy. Although it was a frigid 80 degrees today here in Deland. Florida summers are just jam packed with beach trips, travel, pool days, and family time. I'm not sure how many trips we took to our favorite Daytona Beach house rental this summer, but there were several! Gracie learned to boogie board and would spend hours playing in the water. On this particular trip in August, I remember being in yet another tough place with the kids. Summer, especially. She goes in phases - up and down, up and down. When it's a tough phase, it wears on us all. A LOT. While Daytona is only a half hour away, packing for a weekend away with the kids takes quite a bit of effort and we were just tired all around. But I remember boogie boarding with Gracie and having one of those moments where I really took it in and thought, it is worth it. This is what makes it all worth it. So many tough moments, but so many beautiful and fun moments. And that was one of them. When I looked at these pictures again after a few months have passed, I felt that feeling all over again. My mom was also out for two weeks during this time so she got to spend another weekend with us at the beach house. As always, mom came to my rescue when I was struggling just a little too much. Thanks for always being there for us, Moim. 😊

Bart had back to back business trips in August and September which was a real bummer. He left for Poland first while my mom, the kids, and I left to California. We got to spend a whole two weeks visiting with different parts of our extended family. We started in Oceanside at the Roblee's which is always a blast. The kids getting to spend time with their cousins makes my heart so happy! They played all week long jumping on the trampoline, playing in the splash pad, shooting nerf guns, having dance parties, and of course, several meals at Soup Plantation. As per usual, Kristy and I stayed up way too late, drank way too much wine, and ate way too much Tillimook and Triscuits just about every night. But I SO cherish those times with my sister. It's rare we get that time nowadays.

While we were in the San Diego area we also popped over to the Heublein's for Moggy's 97th birthday party! I had a heck of a back spasm that day and was hopped up on pain pills so most of it is a blur, but I hear it was wonderful. The pictures looked like a good time. 🤣 We rarely miss Moggy's birthday since we are usually in California in August and I'm just so glad we got to take part in such a special celebration. 97 down and at LEAST 10 more to go, right Mog?

We wrapped up the trip with a week at my parent's house in Duarte. Their newest home has a pool which is pretty much where we lived during the week! Between their ISR classes and all our time spent in pools and the beach, these kids have become such fish! My very good friend Amanda came and spent the day with us as well which was so nice. We so rarely get to see her so it's always special to get our girls together!

When we returned from California we had a day to get our heads on straight and then it was time for the first day of school! Gracie returned to Casa Montessori for her second year in the primary class and Summer was starting new! We've loved our time so far at Casa but I was a bit nervous about starting Summer so young. Everyone told me the toddler teacher, Ms. India, is fantastic - and they were right! She has been LOVING it there and it's been so fun to watch her grow and learn.

A couple days after school started Bart left for China. He left the day before Hurricane Dorian was supposed to dump it's Category 5 wrath all over us and yet, thank GOD, Florida narrowly escaped. But what we DIDN'T escape was school being closed for a week anyway. That made Bart being gone extra fun (insert sarcasm). 3 days after Bart returned from China I left for Chicago to visit two of our very best friends, Lindsay and Nick Fener. Lindsay and I had plans to go to the Bahamas for a scuba trip that weekend but unfortunately the Bahamas weren't so lucky with Dorian. So I rerouted to Skydive Chicago to get current in skydiving after 5 years! I couldn't think of a more perfect person to get current with. Lindsay gave me all of the instruction, patience, and FUN I could have ever wanted for my first time back in the air. We did 5 jumps in total over the 4 day weekend and also spent some time in the city which is about an hour away. I absolutely fell in love with Chicago! There is so much hype around that city and I wasn't sure what to expect, but it absolutely blew my expectations out of the water. The architecture, the food, the people, the lake...did I say architecture?? My goodness! I cannot wait to go back. It wasn't enough time; although we did manage to squeeze in an architectural boat tour, a visit to the sugar factory, an overpriced hotel, a cocktail at the top of the Willis Tour, food, food, and more food into our 24 hours in the city. Thank you so much for such an amazing time away, Feners. It was everything I needed out of that weekend!

The weekend after I returned.....I left. Again. 🤣 This time for a girls weekend in Daytona Beach to celebrate my friend Velma's birthday. Between all of our travel, we determined that in the span of a 7 weeks, Bart and I only saw each other for 17 days. I don't think either of us realized how difficult it would be to spend that much time apart so it was really nice when all of that travel was over. Plus, we were tired!

Well that's all for now! Stay tuned for the final months of 2019. (Still can't believe I'm writing our summer time recap on December 31. Mom life, amirite? Better late than never!)

Gracie giving Summer a proper massage. 😂

"Who am I?"

This flight, I vowed to never again travel with the kids by myself until Summer is MUCH older. This is just before she ripped off her diaper and took off down the aisle. 😂