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.

Monday was Presidents Day. Thankfully sand was available to stick my head in and not think about our current situation. I do get sucked in that rabbit hole, but somewhere inside me is an off valve so after forwarding memes to friends I know how to walk upstairs and start Get Sleepy. I did finished another immersion reading experience with Jazz but I accidently bought the abridged version on audible and it didn't match the d/l'd copy from Hoopla. I still loved listening to Toni's voice and the music in the background. I spent the day driving kids: Marly's friend to the beach and to pick up Abby and Ellie and her friend to brunch. Tennis clinic and an ortho appointment in the afternoon. Tuesday, Maureen and I beat the Epping girls again. Not an easy one, but made us think and strategize. I had lunch on the balcony catching up with Steph. Wednesday HIIT, a SAC meeting, trombone, dance and then I split out and met the girls downtown for dinner and Peter Pan. I probably should have given the tickets to Rachael to take her kids but I was still happy to get out for a night on the town. Definitely a kids show...totally reminded me of the girls spring dance recital. It was the same soundtrack. Thursday back to the high school for a PTSA meeting then MomCo for CPR training and then another hour hanging around waiting for my oil change. Friday I went to HIIT, adoration then helped with the book fair. Voss is happy with his WWII and soccer books. I made headway with nominating committee talking to some potential PTA board members. Ellie drove us over to Aunt Suzanne's (So SQ could help me with the dance shuffle in the morning), picked up dinner for them and then for us on the way home. Abby spent the night with the Bertochs (she tends to disappear over there) then Phil and I watched When in Rome and eating Thai. Saturday morning I went to mass with Ann Marie and Charlotte then sat at a retreat ALL DAY discussing how we can better incorporate families into our church. It was fun to get to spend the day with AM, Steph and Meghan...but it was long. I was very happy to be invited out with the Hogans (AM and my brother) for a sunset cruise on the river. Sunday morning we had mass, CCD and then bfast at TCC. I played a pick up match with Julie, Anna and Sally then family soccer with the Fredlands and Brohinskys. The middles and I started reading Wicked together (eh, maybe not appropriate for middle school, but it's my requirement to see the movie). We had fish for dinner; one of Phil's work friends caught. Here are the pics of the week.