Sometimes I'm in awe of all the things that happen in a day. It's overwhelming and daunting when I think about it. I have to compartmentalize. It's the only way. I drove middle school carpool this week. One day I took Ellie to school, too. Voss was mad that I made him ride his bike all week. I got to sub in for a B team match on Monday and play with my pal, Emily. It was nice to make up for our loss last time with a win on B. Ellie ubered to her Great Decisions meeting then dance. Voss had cub scouts to prep for the camp out THIS WEEKEND. I became the communications coordinator because I am clearly very bored. Bridgette is our hero for driving the YoungLife early morning coffee carpool on Tuesday for Marly and pals and then to school! Maureen and I dominated on line 1 at Epping; another in and out. An afternoon zoom Nutcracker marketing call (I got to use my ole PR lingo!) and another zoom for Voss with his pal, Ashley. The Giddons saved me again taking Voss to soccer so I could go see Ellie's swim meet. Those 500s are so long! I am tired standing up to watch. I'm impressed by her. All the girls in dance. Well, Abby at a play date. The guys and I hit up the Loop for school spirit night but I was zonked by the time the food came. I got an amazing massage by my fav doula, Sherry. She's in a new place much closer. Seriously, the BEST massage therapist. I listened to The Water Keeper while picking up another pile in my parent's yard then fluffing my flower beds with moss. Walking with Tracy and Laurie during dance, making summit plans and also taking Voss to trombone lessons. Thursday was my first Godson and nephew's 18th Birthday! I walked out crying babies at MOPS and caught snippets of Mae's parenting solutions talk. All 4 kids had a dentist appointment: getting them all there by 4pm was a sight to see with bus delays and random drop off points. More flossing is in our future, along with a few cavity fillings. Soccer practice and dance class, oh my. Friday I went for a run then a Nutcracker board meeting then Phil and I had a date at the Furyk & Friends Golf tournament. We were able to catch the very end. Then met hopefully our future school board rep, Hank Rogers then ballroom dance for Abby and an after party dinner with the parents. We had an extra kid for the weekend. I'm happy Charlotte and Ellie hitched a ride home from the football game so we all ended up at the same place. Marly cleaned up babysitting this weekend: Friday night, Saturday morning and evening and then again on Sunday! Also a bit of dog sitting, too. Voss had a soccer game and pictures on Saturday morning. He played great! I love cheering him on doing his favorite thing. Then Phil went north taking him a day late to the cub scout camp out (oh to hear him talking about taking the Lexus on the mud road out there!) and then I took the next round of Nutcrackers (the angels got a ride out earlier). Then I took Ellie and Charlotte to a Birthday party (on the other side of town) and then back in time to pick up the Nutcrackers. We celebrated Joey's 40th Birthday (still thinking about that BBQ sauce...and the ridiculous conversations). Phil was mad I was done and not in for a nightcap but good thing because Sunday morning came early. Back to Arlington to pick up the sleepover gals then 8:30 mass. Phil came in a solid 15min late with the rest of the crew. I quizzed my CCD kids on the 10 Commandments with a prize basket for incentive. Lillians was my hub on Sunday. I came back and forth to see the Jags win with wings and libations while doing pointe shoe fittings and another dance class and comfirmation class for Marly. Thank you to the village! LaNap with the Bentons to cap off the weekend. Here are the pics of the week.

I'm not sure where I've been the last two weeks; it's like a hurricane blew through here. Oh wait. And we didn't even get it this time. But still, we had wind and high water. My parent's house had a huge tree down and left another two in a precarious position that $2200 in cash and many full days of yard clean up is still working on. Could have been worse though, as I'm seeing all over social media and the news. Still need to fix the fridge on fire but one thing at a time, you know. It's amazing how it can all feel so overwhelming. That usually means I need to just plug my phone in and walk upstairs and go to bed. Okay so what else? My plan is to keep Voss as busy as possible so less time on a screen. Soccer has been great. Major scorer on his team, practice twice a week and lots more out in the rain or in the morning before school or after he's taken a shower before bed (ugh). He's playing the trombone, which I often think someone is having stomach issues before I realize, oh no, that's him practicing. And then cub scouts, too. Major award goes to me for getting the date wrong and sending my dad's friend, Wally on a camp out with Voss an hour away a week early. Follow me for more parent fails. Abby has almost all A's and a great group of girlfriends. When I log into the DCPS app, I am thankful Abby's grades pop up first because it makes me so happy to see how well she's doing. She has ballroom dancing on Friday nights and we finally went out for sushi, which she's been begging for. I've spotted Marly working on homework at the dining room table with Ellie. I don't want to jinx it, though. Keeping me on my toes as always. Bridgette is the saintly neighbor again who takes her to Young Life coffee and then to school each week. Just wow. She's killing it with babysitting, too. We had our mother daughter shopping day last weekend at the Town Center. My personal hell; her dream. She even got a hoco dress! Abby and Ellie had Birthday parties. Voss was road tripping (instead of camping) Phil was on a mens tennis weekend. Ellie is juggling all the things with swim team, Great Decisions club (love this), school and dance. And what am I doing? I don't even know. Reading, listening, getting involved in unnecessary political Facebook conversations. Middle school PTSA ALWAYS has me working on something. I should be doing more with the high school PTA. Forever member of the C team, although about to max out AGAIN on B team subbing. Oh and Nutcracker VP board member, oh my. Here are the pics of the last two weeks (mainly taken from the kids while I'm driving).

Another rainy week and the water is looming over the bulkhead. It's bringing cooler weather, though so I cannot complain. My brother sent us a fruity treat to bring some sunshine in all this rain. After flag raising and tennis clinic, I went to my summit friend, Kim's house for lunch and to plan our session for the book summit. A fortune teller is coming this year so we tried to plan the spinning summaries with that theme in mind. Ellie still has swim in the rain; she racked up on the ubering this week. Teen uber has really saved me, I don't know how I would have done all this back and forth. Kids would definitely be left places and I would be more crabby than I already am. I took Voss to his second Cub Scouts meeting. Phil was ready to throw in the towel; I registered him and added the events to the calendar. It's just what he needs, I think. Barre class on Tuesdays is a good one (more rolling of the ball on my glute after class). I binged The Perfect Couple on Netflix, did afternoon dance driving back and forth and stayed up late watching the debate with my special debate snacks. I'm going to die early from the stress of getting involved in useless Facebook debates. I'm such a junkie for that stuff. My neighbor gave us a restaurant gift card they we took advantage of this week. We had a family steak dinner in honor of my dad. I went to the Silver Cow for live poetry reading on Wednesday night. I hadn't been since COVID. I'm so happy to know it's back up and running. Yay, Jacksonville! Phil went to Ocala for another branch opening on Thursday so I got to single mom it. Lots of whack a mole getting these people in line. One of those heavy metal weeks where I turn up my 90s rage music as I drive from thing to thing to chill myself out. Amazing how it works like that. Kerri and I played a match in Atlantic Beach and won and it felt great. I listened to The Teacher and got a puzzle started. Perfect to do with all the rain. Voss did get in a soccer practice one day, but not the other and another rained out game. Ellie and Marly made company, Abby did not. She says she didn't really want to anyway. Friday, Jamie hosted a Birthday party for our pal, Steph. Such a fun afternoon with a great group for lunch and cake. Southern Steer did the most amazing fundraiser for the middle school with a week meal pack. I picked it up on Friday along with a special meal for my friend, Jess. We met the Hogans and Freemans at a new Mexican restaurant for dinner. We were called home because apparently some kids tried to break into our house right after Ellie got home from the high school football game. Our neighbors got it on camera. Super creepy and freaked Ellie out. Pretty ballsy to try to bash in the front door with all the lights on and Spot going crazy. We had a relaxing Saturday morning then I hit the scene with an afternoon of Nutcracker rehearsals. All three girls at the same location pretty much back to back. I need to figure out a tailgate. That night we went with friends to a fundraiser for the First Tee. So much fun for a great cause with fun friends. Of course we couldn't just stop there. We had to continue to Mellow, dropped some friends and picked up some new ones and then kept going to Monty's where the bartender cut us off. Yep, that good. Sunday, we made it to 8:30 mass then CCD class then Phil and I went on a date to watch the Jags (not to the game). I had another round of whack a mole making sure all the kids were on task. Becoming a weekend tradition of delicious wings and watching the Jags loose. We had a sloshy game of soccer then I went to a Young Life parent meeting. Here are the pics of the week. 

So much rain, but that means we have to find other things to do. Poor Voss had soccer canceled all week including his first game. That didn't stop him from playing on his own in the front yard in the soggy yard or in the drizzle. I got in a fun tennis match after a HIIT class right before the afternoon storm on Tuesday. That was all the tennis I played this week. I got my teeth cleaned at the dentist and we had a fun dinner at the Loop for a school spirit night. The one child we have at the school was busy throwing a tantrum at home so Phil and I got a date night with Abby while the older two had dance. I still don't have that dance schedule down. I dropped the ball one afternoon and had a friend take the girls because it wasn't on my radar. Wednesday I spent the day listening to Roots and going through my dad's clothes. I took it all to the homeless center downtown. Laurie and I walked (in the rain) for a bit during dance. We had our first MomCo (formerly MOPS) meeting on Thursday. I got to hold a 3 month old for most of the meeting. It was great to see the ministry in motion another year. I'm so proud of our group! I went to Ellie's swim meet (in the rain) on Thursday. I met some high school friends for dinner that night. So fun reconnecting with them and catching up. Driving carpool this week meant I was at the middle school to work on some PTSA stuff. Gotta love on those teachers. Friday after HIIT class, Tracy the instructor taught me how to roll my hip and it made my hip pain disappear! Amazing stretch! I'm working on cleaning up our front flower beds and could turn pulling weeds into a full time job. I donated blood (perfect thing to do when I'm feeling blah). I picked Ellie up from school early (stomach bug?) We went out with a new couple, one of Abby's new friends from middle school. Their kids spent the night at our house on Friday. Marly went to a friend's volleyball game then for a sleepover. We had dinner at FYC then to the gastro pub for a night cap. Saturday morning we slept in. The younger two went over to Abby's friends for a pool party and another sleepover. Phil and I went on a date to see Beetlejuice and met up with Marly's friends at the theater. Popcorn and sour patch kids for a rainy day lunch, yes please! Ellie had her first Nutcracker rehearsal and is going to be double casted, which she seemed excited about. Phil and I chaperoned the first Cotillion dance of the year. I'm grateful I brought ear plugs. Phil was an awesome bouncer, breaking up the crowd surfing. I was so wiped out after! We slept in and were a bit late to the first CCD class of the school year. I'm teaching Abby's class with a combo 5th and 6th grade. Phil is teaching Marly's 8th grade class getting Confirmed this year. Ellie is teaching 1st grade! We went to mass after class then went to Lillians to watch the Jags. Luckily they were winning when I was watching. I took Marly for a special Confirmation class. Ellie went to youth group. Early bedtime for all! Here are the pics of the week.

It was a week of open houses at school this week. I guess I'm grateful it wasn't all on the same day at the same time, like it was for some of my friends. Ellie's was Monday night. She ended up coming with me since she didn't have a ride home from swim. I'm also grateful I graduated from high school so I don't have to do that anymore. She's got a tough schedule. I'm so proud of that girl. Me busy facebook friend requesting all her super cool nerd teachers. I dropped her late to dance and then I was late to book club to discuss the worst timing to read the Appeal. Regan did a great job hosting. Meredith won for theme. Tuesday I spent the day with DCPS. I went to SAC in the morning at the middle school then left early to make it downtown at the school board for the DCCPTA meeting. That went late fighting over the budget. I met my friend, Alex for lunch at the Brick, did a few "mom chores" as I call them. ALLLLLL the paperwork necessary to close out my dad's official life. I got death certificates this week (after having to go back to the funeral home again) so now I have a list of chores to do to close everything out. I went back to the middle school and brought dinner for the teacher to eat before open house then we had our first official PTSA meeting with an excellent turn out! That open house was intense because we had Abby and Marly's schedules to follow. I had Phil go to all the teachers I already knew and I went to all the new ones so there was a lot of crossover and running around campus. I was wiped out after that. Picked up CFA on the way home and crashed. Voss had soccer start this week so I had to call in the village already to help with him. Wednesday was an open house break. Thursday was the elementary school one. After middle school, it felt easy peasy. A PTA meeting I didn't have to run and only one kid's schedule to follow. Dance started this week so the evenings were busy running back and forth to the studio and swapping classes around (because of course they've changed their minds since I turned in the registration paperwork). I was happy to get the gang together again for a nightcap on Thursday and still fight over school board reps. Friday I spent time doing mom chores and then we kicked off festivities for Cort's Bar Mitzvah. Our first time in a temple. It was so neat seeing the family traditions and festivities for all the families. We went back over on Saturday morning and then back for the party Saturday night. They did such an awesome job! We slept in on Sunday and went to 10:30 mass. The Freemans had us over for a Sunday Funday to visit with Uncle Stephen. We took the yacht to TCC for pool time then back to the Freemans for more wine and pizza. Marly and I hit the gym on Labor Day then back to the pool for festivities. I took the kids thrifting that night (late back to school shopping). Summer is officially over (not that you can tell with the weather). Here are the pics of the week.

I drove middle school carpool this week so that was new. We are carpooling with a neighbor and he is the cutest history buff. Ellie started swim team this week. I'm so grateI get to listen to Voss calling me multiple times on the way to school and telling me how horrible I am because he doesn't want to go to school. I went to tennis clinic on Monday and then took my friend, April to see It Ends with Us for her Birthday. Mom has decided to move to Pensacola. I drove her back over on Tuesday and helped her get all moved in. We had dinner at the Oar House and watched the moon on the balcony over the bay. I think it's going to be a great move for her. The self proclaimed "social chair" of the condo welcomed us and invited mom to the next two socials. I flew back on Wednesday (via ATL). My neighbor, Paul was on my flight. His friend gave us a ride home. Very nice. My other neighbor saved me by taking Marly to the ortho on Tuesday night. I started back up with Local Fare so I'm excited for delivered produce again! I played in a match with Emily on Thursday, first one back. We won, but it was sloppy. I stayed up too late watching the DNC Thursday night. Getting us all excited for the first female president. I really hope it happens! After HIIT class, Steph and I walked around her neighborhood putting up yellow ribbons in honor of our friend, Jess' son, Leo. Devastating. I picked up Ellie from school and took her to advanced Nutcracker auditions. We were there until about 9:30pm. I got soaked holding umbrellas for dancers as they came in during a monsoon. I was back at it on Saturday morning greeting the little ones. Ellie and her pals went to Savannah for the day for a friend's Birthday. Phil dropped off the middle two for their auditions at 11. They didn't finish up until about 3pm. We had enough time for ice cream and a walk around Ulta and then back to the theater for the role reveal. Abby is very excited to be a page; a new role neither of her sisters have received. Marly is okay to be a sprite again. Ellie is disappointed to be an angel again. She was hoping all the extra pointe classes she did last spring would move her up a level, but apparently not. She'll be okay. I'm happy they will all have rehearsals at the same location around the same time on Saturdays...dangerously close to Parlor Donuts. Phil and I went to dinner at the Napoleons. It was a nice way to end the week, laughing with good friends, food and wine. This morning we went to 8:30 mass. Ellie jumped in for last minute altar serving. Phil and I hit the tennis ball back and forth for about an hour to improve attitude. We all went to the CEE pool party this afternoon. Here are the pics of the week.

The kids all started school this week. Little chaotic and atypical. I'm grateful they are all so strong and resilient. The neighbor carpool took the middles to school. Voss rode his bike. I drove Ellie. I went to a class at the gym and then had a quiet house with my brother and his family. Erik picked us up CFA for lunch. We cooked up a delivered lasagna that friends had given us for dinner. We drank wine and filled out the endless first day paperwork x4. Tuesday was Erik and Kelley's 2nd anniversary. I went to a tennis bootcamp and then babysat Logan so they could have a date. Phil and I picked up kids and then drove to Pensacola. My pal, Lauren packed us car snacks. We stayed with my mom's friend, Joan. She made us a nice breakfast and then we headed to the funeral home. Nice to see family and friends again. We went in the caravan to Barrancas National Cemetery. Steve got a priest to do a ceremony there. Matt organized the fly overs (3 different ones!) Brittany from the Jax funeral home organized the gun salute and honors burial there. It was as nice as it could be. My mom's besties; Gayle, Joan and Sharon hosted us for a reception after. Suzanne drove half and then I drove the other half for my mom. Ellie drove for dad. It was a quick drive home. Of course I made the kids go to school on Thursday. I spent the day in my nightgown trying to get my life back in order. Friday I went to the gym then adoration with mom and then to a Nutcracker board meeting. April provided after school snacks for the kids. I finished this Podcast about how awful alcohol is. Suzanne and I went to my friend, Kathleen's dad's viewing that evening. His death by Dementia was very similar and just the day after. Phil and I had a long overdue nightcap with Keith & Chris after. Saturday morning we took it easy. Phil played tennis. I brought a bunch of kids for a drop off Target play date. Voss had his buddy, Miles over to play. We hitched a ride on the Freeman's yacht to TCC for dinner. It was a perfect night on the river. Sunday we slept in and had brunch at TCC. A buffet treat for how good the kids have been through all of this. Ellie went to babysit for Tara, the rest of us played family soccer. Later we went to 5pm mass then had chicken and rice for dinner discussing our goals for the week. Early bedtime for all...although it was hard to sleep after finishing the chilling book, Verity. Here are our photos of the week.

I don't even know what we did this week. I'm in such an overwhelming fog. My dad planned everything out (including writing his own eulogy and obituary) but there was still so much to do...still is so much to do! I tried to keep up my gym routine and be better about hydration since I just kept crying. It was nice to have my siblings in town to help with the arrangements. At one point, Matt was on the phone pacing in one room working on the military stuff and burial in Pensacola. While I was pacing in another room working with the church and Yacht club with the funeral. Fr. James was amazing and accommodated all our needs. FYC voted to close the club for the day for the celebration of life. Phil got us a room block at the hotel for out of towners. There was a tropical storm that canceled lots of things for Monday, giving us time to plan. Tuesday I had to do a teacher breakfast at the middle school (made the girls come help) then we went to FYC, the funeral home and then the church. Maybe that was the worst day. The funeral home was my personal hell. Upselling on a casket. Gross. All these wonderful people provided dinners and wine and snacks and helped take care of my kids. I stayed up the first few nights watching old family movies. The Kuklas came in town on Wednesday. I borrowed car seats and picked them up from the airport. Henry spent the night at our house so we got extra time with him. My amazing children helped so much, helping with the Kuklas and taking all the kids out on the boat. Friday afternoon Phil's parents came in town. I was running around getting things ready at FYC. That night was the visitation at Sacred Heart. It was overwhelming all the people who came. Seeing all the love for our family and my dad made me cry tears of joy, as much as grief over loosing my dad. Father James did a ceremony and then all the grandkids led the rosary. It was very special. I rode with some sistah cousins and we went out to Lillians for a nightcap. It was so nice having my best friends all there in support. Saturday morning I went for a run to get my head right. We headed to the church for the funeral mass. Voss, Abby and Marly altar served. Ellie and Steve read. Fr. James did a wonderul job with the homily. As per my dad's wishes, the five of us did the eulogy. It was hard, but the right thing to do. The celebration of life was perfect. Ellie did such an awesome job on the slideshow. Matt's girlfriend, Tara jumped in as event planner. My favorite part was at the end sitting around with the Betancourts and cousins laughing and telling stories. Sunday morning Phil's parents left early, Erik and Kelley and Logan moved in our guest bedroom. We did a last minute double Baptism for Conrad and Virginia (Fr. James to the rescue again) and then to TCC for pool time and dinner. Hello August heat. Katie ended up throwing a temper tantrum and left. Steve tried to fly back to CA but ended up getting out the following morning. We had a nightcap at Tara's. And now the first week of school. Here are the photos of the week.

What a week. It began pretty normal with trying to get back into the swing of things. HIIT class at the gym, laundry, unpacking, grocery shopping, visiting my dad. Abby had middle school bootcamp on Tuesday. I tried recruiting for PTSA at the parent meeting. I also worked the PTA table for Ellie's school and went with her to her orientation. My friend from high school was in town promoting his new book so I went to see him and have dinner with high school friends. On Thursday, the older two had their annual check up in the morning. Voss had his meeting with his counselor in the afternoon. I took my mom to the airport in between. She was meeting Suzanne in the Panhandle for a beach weekend. I got a call from my dad's home saying he was in the hospital due to lack of oxygen. I had visited him the day before and he was asleep. I kina knew it was coming because he had stopped eating and we had a DNR. I went to the hospital and was still quite unprepared for what awaited me. Possibly the worst moment in my life, signing the Hospice paperwork and calling Fr. James to give him his last rites. A mechanical fail for the airplane my mom was supposed to take, so she took a taxi to join us at the hospital. Friday I went to a new parent meet up at Stockton and then back to the hospital to camp out next to my dad. Suzanne drove back from the Panhandle and sat with mom and I, too. I didn't know what else to do. Nothing felt right other than sitting next to him and playing some of his old CDs. A sleu of navy buddies came in to visit. Anne Marie took Ellie and friends to lunch. My friend, Jess took the younger two for the day. Marly was still at a sleepover with her friend. We went to dinner at TCC with the Freemans and Nixons, which helped give me a breather but I drank way too much, not anticipating how dehydrated I was after crying all day. So Saturday I was miserable. I went back to the hospital for the same game plan. I helped my mom with paperwork and found all my dad had left to help us prepare. My cousin, Natalie came up with her kids. We just watched his blood pressure slow down. My brother, Matt flew in that night. A saint delivered us all a huge lasagna for dinner. We said the rosary together and stayed him him until about 2am. Matt spent the night there. On Sunday morning I was in the grocery store grabbing things for lunch at the hospital when Phil called me to come quickly. Dad took his last few breaths surrounded by family and friends (Wally). Although we prepared, it was still so hard. The hardest week of my life. I brought mom back home and we started making all the arrangements. We went to mass and then to a new Mexican restaurant for dinner. Here are the photos of the week.

On Monday we took an Uber downtown for some shopping. We had a few souvenirs to buy and hit up an artisan market. My least favorite thing, Marly's ultimate favorite thing. Voss got another soccer jersey. The girls got jewelry. It was such a nice day, we walked an hour to the city center mall for lunch. I tried to get Voss to play a pick up soccer match, but he was too shy. We got flowers and ubered back to Rodrigo's. That night we met Jamie's family for dinner in another mall food court. It was so nice of all of the brothers to come out on a Monday night for a farewell. They got us a nice Ecuadorian picture book, which I had them all sign. Bittersweet saying goodbye to our faves. Tuesday we were picked up early by Fernando and taken to the country club for the day. We had brunch, did some wall climbing swimming, soccer and relaxing with the nice amenities. It was good to catch up with Juan Fer and Cristiani, too. Juan Fer drove us to Fanny;s house after a sushi lunch. We had a fun night with Fanny, Manny, Chris and Andrea singing, drinking wine and enjoying tamales. It was a fabulous ending to our time in Ecuador! The next morning we got up very early to fly out once again. It was an easy flight back to Miami (not counting kids fighting), zipped through customs and back to America, where an uber ride to Abu & Pop's was $75! Abu made us a delicious dinner, early bedtime after sharing photos then I drove back to Jacksonville the next day. I missed the turn off for the Turnpike and ended up driving through Orlando before Jax. Ugh! At least I had The Anxious Generation to listen to (and made the kids listen, too!) We went out for a TCC dinner when we got home then back into the swing of things! We went to the gym on Friday morning. I visited my dad (which turned out to be very valuable) and then we went to the Benton's Olympics party that night. Of course we made ceviche and plantains for the party. Marly went to the Town Center for Addy's Birthday party. We tried to take our boat to Pineapple Point but had an issue with the gas gauge. We ended up dropping it to be fixed and hitching a ride with the Strassers. We met the Bentons and Parks at Whiteys for lunch then went to Pineapple Point. We rode the storm in and hung at TCC until it kina passed then got dropped back off at home. Whew! Sunday we went to mass and then I had a PTSA board meeting at the Brick to get the start of the year ready. Here are the pics of the week.