Girls, Girls, Girls

One of my favorite stories is how I became friends with Linsday (the other girl in the crazy plaid). It all started my freshman year in high school with the fact that I was taking German because all of the cute soccer players were in the class (pathetic, right?). She was dating one of those cute soccer players (former NFL player David Akers) who was in my German class (the German teacher was the boys varsity coach). Are you still with me? Anyhoo, I went to the bathroom and she happened to be trying to get David's attention to give him a note (do you think kids even pass notes anymore?). We started chatting and laughing about the situation and the rest is really history...and I mean a lot. of. history. Ann and Kristen (the other hotties in the picture) basically came into my life because of Lindsay and I could not be more thankful. We each have had our ups and downs, we each have beautiful children, and we each have a deep and loyal love for each other that I hold so dear to my heart.

we went to the Winter Park Farmers Market

drinks at the Alfond Inn

this is my crew

we stayed in our PJs and learned that Ann sleeps in a tennis skirt
(much easier to take her son to the bus stop in the morning:)

These girlfriends have been with me since I was 14 years old. They came to visit me a few weekends ago and it was just the therapy that I needed. We grilled burgers, drank some wine, and honestly did not shut up the entire time. There is just something about girlfriends. Especially girlfriends that have seen you at your worst and your best. These three....they make it easy. I think our friendship has survived over the years because we do not hold any judgement, we are able to laugh (a lot), and we really love each other. Like really.

I will save the sappy talk, but the bottom line is that I could not have asked for a better weekend with dear friends that I hold so close to my heart.

Theory of Everything

The other night we watched "Theory of Everything". Good movie. The strength and perseverance that Stephen Hawking shows (aka the amazing acting of Eddie Raymayne) is inspiring. Just like every movie that is trying to depict a real life situation, you need to take it all with a grain of salt. What touched me the most was at the end of the movie when Stephen turns to Jane (his ex-wife) while watching their children play in a courtyard and says "look at what we made".

This statement really stayed with me. Do you get any more powerful than looking at your child and thinking "I created you"? It really created a perspective for me. I have often thought about that statement when I have felt frustrated, angry, or even happy because of something that they do or say. "Look at what we made" is so powerful and has really allowed me to understand the pure joy that my children bring me. So do they drive me crazy...of course, but is there also not a day that goes by that both of them bring me a smile or some sort of joy that cannot be described by anyone or anything else...absolutely.

So, basically I love being a mom to both Wip and Duncan. I love what they bring to my life and I love all of the blood, sweat, and tears that I am putting into their life. "Look what we made"...I can honestly say it is my most amazing accomplishment (and they are only 6 and 4!). Lucky me.

A Year Later...

The clouds in Florida are amazing. AMAZING.

It is hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that we have been in Florida for a year. As far as Central Flordia is concerned we are veterans. This is a very transplant place and nobody is really from here. This has made it both easy and difficult to really find some roots and start to grow. On one hand most people "know where we are coming from" and on the other I have no idea how long they will be here to really establish a relationship.

So fast forward a year and I have a new job (at Trinity Prep:) a new house (that I love) and lots of adventures on the horizon. I miss family and friends in Kentucky, but I have this little family unit that I am treasuring. Treasuring every moment of these weekend trips to the beach, busy weeks of birthday parties and meetings, and most of all these afternoons with my boys.

One of many birthday parties that Wip had on his calendar. I love the new friends he has made.

We went to a 40th birthday party for a new friend and I forgot to tell Patrick that it was cocktail attire...when we showed up (IN FLORIDA) and everyone was wearing suits and Patrick was in shorts...it was a bit obvious. We still had a hellava time:)

I sat down with Wip to make some goals and this it what we came up with for his year. #squadgoals

Wip keeps losing teeth!  

I had just finished a DVD work out and Duncan woke up and told me that "my game was over". 

We went to Dyson's 6th birthday party last weekend...the boys had a blast!

Wip caught a tiny lizard, named it "jar jar binks" and put him in this bug catcher. Every night he would grab
 arugula out of the fridge and put it in the cage along with fresh water. On Friday, Wip came to me with the lizard and asked if he was still alive, sadly I had to tell him that "jar jar binks" was not alive. He took it surprisingly well.

Our main space

Welcome to our home (stop by anytime:)

Birthday cards from friends

Beach trips

Teamwork

More to come...