It was National Teacher Appreciation Week this week. I drove middle school carpool and spent a lot of time there. I was waitlisted for clinic so I went to HIIT and then WD and got the week set up, a Monday fave when Sunday was crazy. Last week of middle school swim. War Eagle swim has started for the little two (just because they have more time to go to practice than the older two). I bit the bullet and booked flights to Denmark and also the hotel for our lobster trip with friends this summer. You can imagine Phil flipped when he checked the credit card. It was a hot week in our house! It took a few days for him to cool off. No regrets on my part. YOLO! After barre on Tuesday I met Jamie at school to have students write thank you notes for teachers. Sitting through three middle school lunches back to back is not for the meek. Especially those 6th graders are awful! We had a zoom meeting for high school nominating committee...looks like I'm rolling into a VP there. Wednesday I went to HIIT, Facetimed some Danish cousins and then proctored an AP computer exam. I had a quick walk with Tracy and Laurie after trombone, during dance. Mom came over for dinner- shish kabobs! With an after party/ marriage mediation sesh with the locals at Lillians (it actually helped). Thursday we had our final PTSA meeting for middle school and got a new board, me as treasurer. We set out sweet treats for the teachers. We had a patrol parent meeting at elementary school. Later, I went to Aubree's to go over the treasurer books and get a heavy reimbursement check. Friday we did the caffeine cart at middle school then I went to help pass out teacher gifts at elementary school. Spot had a spa day and I was able to get in some Hacks in the middle. It was Phil's Birthday. To celebrate we met a bunch of friends for drinks and dinner at TCC. Such a fun group and we ended up with fried pickles at Lillians. Marly got to go to Gradventure with the 8th graders. My amazing friend, Rachel drove her home at 3am! At 8am we drove out to the pool for warm up for the city championship meet. Aunt Suzanne picked up Phil and met us out there just in time. I timed the first shift, which made it fly by. The rain finally came! Voss' soccer game was canceled so we had a relaxing afternoon. Running on fumes, Marly went to a jump park with her swim friends. She finished 4th in the 100 IM, 4th in 25 fly, 2nd and 3rd in a relay and her team finished 4th overall. Phil and I went on a date for sushi. Sunday was Mother's Day. Phil took Marly early, she was asked to crown Mary at mass. The rest of us rolled in just in time. I taught CCD (and they were not good) and then we went to my mom's for lunch. Suzanne made chicken salad. Matt (really mom) took us on a boat ride. It was a relaxing afternoon.Ellie was so sweet and got me a massage with Sherry! I always love the 'no fighting' coupons. Pizza and hot cookies for dinner, yes please. I stayed up finishing off Hacks. It was a nice day. Here are the pics of the week. 

I think those last few weeks of April might be more Maycember than May. Or did I just jinx myself? Easter week was like a calm before the storm. Voss started his patrol training. I get to be patrol parent president. Meredith and I scooted to book club on Monday to discuss Table for Two, possibly my favorite short story book. The first of 3 GNO fun times this week. Next, was the MJ musical downtown, which was very good. A little harder to follow than Tina Turner but the dancing and of course music was amazing. I spent the morning at DCCPTA on Tuesday and met a new DA friend to get the scoop on Marly's new school. She had two swim meets that week, killing it at both. I went to high school to get students to write thank you notes in prep for the following week. Thursday I hosted a women on the water day- boating around town on a perfect spring afternoon. Friday morning I played tennis with my new friend, Zee to practice for our upcoming member guest. We had a Nutcracker board meeting (first time taking notes!) and then Julie hosted us for dinner al fresco on a perfect night in her backyard. Voss racked up some goals in his game on Saturday then we dipped in for the last bit of the neighborhood party honoring my dad. We welcomed my mom back to town and helped her move back in and get settled. It's nice to have her close to keep an eye on her. That night we met the Cummings and Strassers for dinner and stayed so late that we went home with leftover wedding flowers. Gorgeous! My house is full and my neighbors all got arrangements, too! Sunday we had mass, CCD then later soccer Sunday. The next week was teacher appreciation week at high school...which had me so stressed I wasn't sleeping well. They were a week early due to testing, works out for me bc then I only have to juggle two schools next week. I took the morning off then went to high school for the kick off teacher lunch, hosted by Masala. Tuesday after barre class, Emma met me at Costco and we picked up 91 dinners to pass out to teachers on their way home. My week theme was the 5 love languages. So Monday was quality time over lunch, acts of service with dinner done on Tuesday. Wednesday we put the thank you notes from the previous week in the teacher boxes for words of affirmation. The principal threw a carnival to relieve stress before testing. I helped serve BBQ to teachers while I was there. Abby got to go on a 6th grade field trip to the Kennedy Space Center! Thursday was physical touch so we had 3 massage therapists come and give teachers chair massages. I dipped out for a bit to attend the last MomCo meeting of the season and hold babies. I ubered to the other side of town to meet Phil at the kickoff for the Deerwood Member Guest. He was called in to play last minute. I had at least a week to plan, both blind dates. They did a fun Derby party with lots of fun friends playing. Friday was gift cards at high school but we moved that to next week, just too much and trying to support local! Zee and I kicked off the morning with a win for our 9am match. We played my ole pal, Renee and her friend in the second match that afternoon and ended up losing the tie breaker 3-10. We were still trying to figure it out. The girls and I with my mom and sister had dinner and then went to the DA spring recital. We were blown away by the choreography and dance, just wow! Voss had a soccer dinner date with his coach and son. Phil lost his evening match. We were all so tired and came home to crash. Saturday morning, Ellie went to the Best Buddies walk then helped me drive Voss to his camp out after his soccer match. Marly went to Target. Phil and I headed back to Deerwood. We got spanked by an 82 year old in our match. Phil got spanked by a tennis pro in his match. Still, live music, my brother and sister coming to watch, watching the derby with great food and drinks. It was a great night. And we couldn't just turn in- we had to keep going with belly dancers at the Casbah and Holy Shittake at Mellow. Goodness. Instead of getting our act in gear on Sunday, we slept in while the girls went to mass (such good kids!), Phil went to play another match, Marly and I went on the Freeman's yacht to shark tooth island. We met my brother for live music at High Tide for quatro de mayo. Abby is home sick. Voss made it back from the camp out and is now biking to a play date. Happy Sunday Funday! Here are the pics from the last two weeks.

The weather was perfect for a gorgeous Holy Week. We didn't make it to mass or all the special services. SQ and I did a 36 hour fast to kick off the week, though. Good for holy week and Dementia prevention. We had tennis clinic. quick WD run and then a swim team sign up party. I put all the practice and meet dates in my calendar to prepare for Maycember. I went to a barre class on Tuesday and then a day at the new FYC pool to catch up with my ole pal. Stacy. I popped in the watch the end of Phi's tennis match. Still getting used to having a driver for the late dance pick up. After the HIIT class on Wednesday, my brother, Matt taught me how to change the oil in the boat. It's pretty simple once you have all the materials. I took him to Firehouse for lunch. It was nice to spend time with him. I went to high school for a SAC meeting that afternoon and then back for a PTSA meeting the next morning. Doom and gloom conversations about public schools sinking into the Florida swamp...figuratively, of course. It was school spirit night at Lillians on Thursday so we went there instead of Holy Thursday mass. Friday morning we packed up and instead of doing the Stations of the Cross on our street we listened to a Matthew Kelly devotional and drove to Miami. We had a pleasant surprise visit with one of our favorite cousins, Jamie Jr. and went to Matheson Hammock beach. We all went out to a fun Colombian restaurant to break our Good Friday fast. Saturday morning Abu made a pancake breakfast and then we headed out to explore Biscayne Bay National Park. I must have googled "things to do in Miami with kids" 50 times and this NP never showed up! Thirty minutes from Phil's parent's house and it's amazing! The kids did the junior ranger packets, we got stamps, had lunch at a beach nearby, went fishing and enjoyed learning about the protected area. We had a Holy Saturday supper and then early bedtime (for some). Phil had us all up for sunrise mass (which was anticlimactic from the INSIDE of the church) serenaded by peacocks on the way in. Egg hunt and pack up and then we drove back to Jax. I finished reading The Red Tent (which was even better the second time!)  and almost The Age of Vice. Once home we were invited to a Hawaiian dinner at the Fredlands which was a wonderful way to spend Easter evening.
Click here for the photos of the week.

Spring time is gorgeous in NE Florida. Being outside is enough to dispel any bad mood. My mornings were pretty calm, I tried to lean into the quiet. Tennis clinic and a match with Kerri on Tuesday, bringing my win average to 79%! HIIT classes for the rest of the week with the Easter egg bonus work outs. Marly had two swim meets and swimming strong in both, short and sweet. It was pictures week at dance so we got to see the fun costumes and figure out what all they were missing for recital time. We had crummy political news with a legislative vote to cut AP, IB and career class funding because I guess our representatives want us all to go to private or charter despite what we the people want. We had a Nutcracker board meeting on Friday. Phil had a work party that night to see the Icemen. The kids and I watched a storm come in over the river at the Grove (lightning and hail, oh my!). We had a nightcap with the Strassers, kambucha and bar hopping. Saturday morning Voss killed it at a soccer game then we did a boat day with my siblings. It was a bit chilly for boat day but enjoying the spring before summer overtakes us. Fun day bar hopping on the river! This morning we went to Palm Sunday mass, CCD then breakfast. Getting ready for a foam day party and then family soccer. Here are the pics of the week.

The week began nice and calm with my usual tennis clinic, WD shopping trip (I started writing the weekly dinner menu on the fridge so people will stop asking me 100 times, "what's for dinner?") and I tried this air compression therapy for my hip. Hoping to alleviate some of the inflamation. I got to go to April's that night to discuss All the Colors of the Dark, enjoy quesadillas and ice cream sandwiches. Such a great book with even better discussion! Marly went early to young life. I headed to middle school for SAC stakeholders then DCCPTA. The superintendent didn't show so the meeting went fast. We learned most schools are going back to 7 classes/ day. A few high schools were carved out and now fighting for our middle school to do a 3:3:skinny schedule. The drama continues! I took Spot for a run and a visit with my brother. Wednesday I went to HIIT then had some time before early release. My brother took Voss camping gear shopping for the weekend prep. I took Marly dance gear shopping for weekend prep. Voss had his one year check up and is looking great. Trombone and dance and walking in the park for the afternoon. Phil played tennis each night this week, which is so good but now he's so sore. Liz and I got to play in a match on Thursday morning. We had a team lunch (first one ever for the season, I believe). Later, Phil and I had two more matches to kick off the Mixed Doubles tournament. I was so nervous then so spent. We won both matches! Me hugging the net and Phil running everything down; it worked! Friday, HIIT, adoration and then a quiet afternoon. Once the kids came home it was a scramble. Ellie was in the French ballet portion of the Multicultural club's dance performance over the weekend. She's had lots of rehearsals and then shows Friday and Saturday. My brother took Voss on a cub scout camping trip to Fort Clinch. They were gone all weekend. Marly signed the paperwork to dance at the arts high school next year! Four kids in four different schools- woopie! Abby lived her best life in a quiet house alone. Phil and I headed up for our third match. Marly got a babysitting gig. We won our third match and crashed into bed early that night. Saturday we were up and at 'em. Phil played two matches with his member member partner. I dropped off Marly for another babysitting gig and then Ellie for her other dance class, watched Phil for a bit then Ellie to high school for a multi show. Phil and I lost our 4th match (he was toast!). I sat and watched some tennis then home to get ready for Ellie's show. It was a long concert but super neat to see all the different dance styles and costumes. We could have done without the MCs in my opinion. We went to dinner at TCC then home all exhausted! Sunday the girls made it to mass on time to serve. Phil rolled in a bit late. CCD then Phil and I had brunch while watching tennis, drinking prosecco in my new champions glass! The older two headed to their winter concert dress rehearsal. Voss came home then to Will's reptile Birthday party. I got in a quick WD run in between. Then we headed to the winter dance recital. We had quite the fan club with my sister, brother, GF and child. We all went out to a celebratory dinner for the concert, Matt's first day as a veteran, celebrating all the things! Here are the pics of the week.