Ellie said it best, that this was a nice, chill, laid back spring break. Planning spring break is often depressing because everything is so much more expensive during this time. We have trouble agreeing on what to do and often leave it to last minute. While I wasn't as excited about this one, it turned out to be just what we needed....family chill time. We first stopped at Loreli's for a seafood lunch on the gulf. We found a quiet road ride beach, Anne's while waiting on our room to be ready. The older two took naps, the younger two snorkeled. I read Where the Forest Meets the Stars. For dinner we found Islamorada Fish Company, my favorite of all the places. Watching the sunset, playing Imposter, delicious drinks and the best ahi tuna bowl. We stopped by Publix for ice cream and lunch for the following day. The next day, we slept in, had a great hotel bfast then wandered around looking for a boat to rent. We finally found a place that gave us a deal for a nice pontoon boat. It was a perfect day out there. We saw sea turtles, lobster, conch shells, lots of fish- even a jumping swordfish! We stopped for a cocktail and snacks and saw a manatee family. Sunkissed, we headed back at sunset to turn in the boat, cleaned up and went to Lazy Days for dinner and split the seafood tower. The next day was chilly and rainy. We bummed around, tried to do a hike, got pizza instead and checked in early to another place, further down in Marathon. We enjoyed the hot tub then came back out for St. Patty's Day at Sparky's. Live music, more seafood and oodles of family time. We took our time getting up on Wednesday for a made to order breakfast on the Atlantic. We drove back to Miami and toured FIU. Ellie was less than thrilled to tour with the family but I think we all gave it a thumbs up. We had a family dinner at abu's and celebrated tia Vane's Birthday early. Spot was excited to see us. We slept in Thursday then drove back to Jacksonville. We came home to the roofers in full motion, getting a new top! Ellie left immediately to hang with friends. Phil and I met the Hogans and Strassers at Casbah. Phil got up early to play tennis. We met him for breakfast at First Watch. Voss is playing with Will. The rest of us are chilling. Voss, Marly, Phil and I went to this new-ish Mexican place for dinner. It was not good. Marly and I stayed up watching Shameless. It's so bad. Saturday was another chill day. I meant to wake up for the HIIT class but enjoyed coffee on the couch instead. Phil and I walked down to check on my mom. Same thing, different day, getting her prepped for taxes and her upcoming trip with the church. That afternoon, Phil's Godsister, Michelle came to visit. She was doing a dog pick up and stopped by. We took her on the boat to the Grove at TCC. It was a perfect boat evening. Marly did a great job driving. It was like glass on the way home. This morning Michelle left, we headed to mass. Ellie has been dog sitting for the Nixons and met us. CCD then TCC for breakfast, Marly driving all over. Voss had a soccer game this afternoon, another slaughter with him scoring twice. He and Phil kept going for more soccer. Marly and I watched more Shameless. We all went to the Penance Service at Sacred Heart and then Chipotle for dinner. One more chill day of spring break for the kids but Phil is back to work tomorrow. Here are the pics of the week.

Monday morning I took Marly to the DMV to get her learners permit! Time to teach her to drive! Already on day 1 she drove Voss to soccer and herself to dance. Here we go! We are all still getting used to the time change, wow that spring ahead is tough! Ellie house sat for the VanWies so we hardly saw her (and sometimes Marly) all week {more than usual}. I went to a high school PTSA board meeting and then a bootcamp class (one on one time with Taylor) and a morning swimming laps. Mom didn't show up for dinner so I had a few good convos with her church friends to track her down and make sure she was okay. I had a dentist appointment and met my new hygienist. We met the Hogans and Strassers for a Tuesday night out (we didn't even make it to mid week). The girls and I met for a last supper at Bellweather, so sad it's closing, then a night out to see Moulin Rouge, which was SO GOOD! I had a middle school PTSA meeting and a ruck walk in the rain. Abby tried out for the middle school swim team and made it! We picked up mom and celebrated her Birthday early with a Havana Jax Latin dinner before Marly's dance concert. It was neat to see her school pull together all the dance schools in the city (even a charter school) for a two night dance concert. Friday was a busy day, last day of the 3rd quarter, play day at Voss' school, Pi Day at Abby's school and then the final night of Marly's concert. Whew! I was wiped out, but it was a great day! Saturday morning, Phil went to play tennis, Ellie went to take the SAT, Marly and Abby vegged, I took Voss to his first soccer game of the spring season. They killed it! 9-0 and Voss scored 3 of them, including this beautiful shot that curved right in. We packed up and headed down to Miami to kick off spring break. I listened to Freida McFadden's Do Not Disturb and trying so hard to finish The Demon of Unrest. Ugh. We met Vane and her family out at a Peruvian restaurant. It was neat watching out kids be the big cousins for her kids chasing them up and down the sidewalk during dinner. Sunday morning we headed down to the Keys. I'll save the rest for the spring break post. Here are our pics of the week.

I drove Marly's carpool this week for her Birthday week. Her school did a fundraiser making use of hand me down clothes. I was so happy to find a good use for 5 trash bags of clothes! I did HIIT (elliptical instead of treadmill and no jump lunges for me) on Monday, swam on Tuesday (that heated pool felt like a spa on a chilly morning, but man, it was harder than I remembered), barre (with Tara) and pilates. Somewhere along the way, I overdid it and now my hip is sore. I'm hoping it's nothing and am trying to move with caution. After a mile of walking it's like it warms it up and is better, but I'm apprehensive. Snacking on the couch with Night Agent is not helping my BMI. I miss that high intensity! Voss' soccer practices started back up this week. I've been listening to Silent Patient (recommended by cousin, Lori) and enjoyed the sunset on the trails near the soccer field. Mom came over for enchiladas this week. Phil and I met the Hogans for a nightcap. My friend, April had me over for morning of rummikub. Abby had an ortho appointment one afternoon and a pediatrician check up another. We had a bus scramble and she was too late and got bumped from her appointment. Luckily, they worked us in for later. We got a ginger snack, she missed acro, but had a great check up. I worked the nursery at MomCo, instead of sitting in for the meeting, as we're short some workers. I watched Phil help win the Pirates Cup in a tennis match one night. Mom and I went to adoration. We found ourselves on the eve on Marly's Birthday granting her wish of being an only child, so we took her out for hibachi to celebrate. Ellie spent the night at a friends and they voluneered at the river run. Abby spent the night at her besties and celebrated her Birthday at a jump park. Voss spent the night with Miles. The next morning, Marly's friends came early and we did a "this or that" party. She chose Starbucks first. Next, painting pottery. Suzanne met us and walked with me while the girls painted. Next, a boat ride on a gorgeous day. Only the first group got to tube as it was an epic rip off, but they had fun jumping and playing. They came back to the house, got all dolled up and headed to dinner at TCC. I was wiped! Phil and Voss went to an armada game. Ellie went to a Savannah Bananas game. I drove Marly's friend, Langley home then popped in to my friend, Sandy's post river run party. Somehow we all made it in time for mass. Ellie and I read. The younger 3 altar served. After CCD we had a TCC breakfast and then another perfect meltdown. Just wow. Everyone went separate ways to cool off, nap, clean up, etc. The guys went to play soccer. Later we had Chipotle for dinner and early bedtimes for all! Here are the pics of the week.

I began the week with a meeting at Phil's bank (finally seeing the new space) to hopefully have the Nutcracker account moved there. Marly had a dentist appointment to fix a chipped tooth, which she broke off the following day. Can't get back in to fix it until next week. Another problem for another day. Tuesday I put together a breakfast for the stakeholder SAC meeting at Abby's school then left early to go to a DCCPTA meeting then back to clean up the breakfast items. That night, my mom was a no show for dinner. Turns out she went to a movie with friends so that worked out. I went to a barre and pilates class again on Wednesday, then lunch with Steph to catch up and make fundraising and travel plans. We did a last minute night out with the crew to celebrate JoHo's Birthday. Late night mid week! Thursday, I got 3 new tires on the minivan then took Voss for his annual check up. He's all good! That night I met some PTA friends to see the Library documentary. It was depressing. We had a nightcap at the Greenhouse. After listening to a podcast on empathy and doing a long ruck walk the next day, I was somewhat recovered. Friday I took mom to adoration. I finished Home Front. Phil and I worked concessions for the opening night of Ellie's Multicultural Dance concert then had a date at TCC. Saturday morning the guys left for a Cub Scout camping trip. I went to a HIIT class then watched friends play tennis. Marly babysat all weekend. I picked Abby up from a sleepover and we headed to meet Aunt Suzanne and watch the final night of Ellie's show. She was one of the leaders for French ballet. It was such a neat show- shouting "Ubuntu" together as a crowd was quite therapeutic. Over tired teens meant I had all 3 daughters melting by the end of the night. I ended my night with some wine watching the final episode of Season 4 Bridgerton. Perfect. Sunday morning, I let the girls sleep in. The guys came home and went right to bed. I went to CCD and mass by myself then crashed the Freemans lunch date. We all went to see the older girls company recital that evening. They always do such a good job. Tara made a reservation for all 11 of us to have dinner at Anejo. That's how we ended the night. It was fabulous. Here are the pics of the week.

Monday was Presidents Day. With no decent current president to celebrate we just enjoyed the day off. Ellie and I got up super early and went to tour USF. There was all this hype over taking an actual scheduled tour. They were sold out so we got on the waitlist and were able to get in. It was okay. I am going back to my original plan of her touring by staying with friends and family because the canned tour got old after a while. On the way out we asked if they track tours and they all looked like we were nuts. Well, we enjoyed the day in the Tampa area then scooted down to a gorgeous waterfront restaurant in St. Pete for lunch. We listened to The Boyfriend and Freida made our day. Soooo good! Everyone was back to the grind on Fat Tuesday. I had my check up with Carl and am good to go. I usually forget that I even had the surgery, which is nuts. He did confirm, no tennis until April, which is still a bummer. Voss got a tooth pulled and I made it to Marly's HS SAC meeting. One of those days when the timing worked out and I was able to go from thing to thing. Mom, along with Fr. Pradeep and Tom, a parish fundraiser all came for dinner. Shrimp/chicken bowls, which was not too exciting. I did run out of white wine. I did a 36 hour fast to kick off Lent and try to kick away Dementia. I went to a barre and then pilates class, a call with our financial advisor then later a SAC meeting at Ellie's school. I picked up Voss, Phil picked up Abby and we met at mass for ashes. Thursday we had a jiu jitsu instructor teach us some self defense techniques at MomCo. That evening, Abby, Marly and I met friends for an early dinner then headed to the Episcopal dance concert. I love all their lyrical dances! So fun sitting with all my pals in great seats, thanks to Steph! Friday  we had a call with our insurance company trying to get a new roof, I had a meeting with Al, our marriage counselor for tips on being with Phil, then a Nutcracker meeting then to the POW MIA museum to see the new S-3 being installed. We were supposed to have dinner with friends but luckily they bailed. I wasn't feeling well and went to bed with some theraflu at 9pm. I just needed a good night of sleep. I was better on Saturday. We took Voss to his Pinewood Derby race. His car won the whole pack trophy! So awesome! Phil played in a tennis match. I took a walk then watched The Gilded Age. That night, Ellie went to celebrate Charlotte's Birthday. The middles and I met my sister and went to the Extravaganza, a showcase of all the art at Marly's school. It was an awesome show! Sunday morning the kids altar served, Ellie and I read. She had a friend over who came with us to breakfast, too. Ellie and I went to the Benton's the watch the closing ceremony of the Olympics. Marly went to a bible study potluck. Voss went to Top Golf for Will's Birthday. Phil played soccer. Abby lived her best life home alone. Here are the pics of the week.

That bump on my eye last week turned into a full on shiner by Monday. Smooth. Real smooth. Thank goodness for Abby's concealer, my heart sunglasses and some downtime this week. On Monday I got to go with Ellie on a AP psychology field trip to Seaworld! There was a bit of drama with almost missing the bus (she thought we had more time than we did) but it worked out and we had a gorgeous day riding roller coasters and spending the day just us two. I was back at her school on Tuesday for a PTSA meeting. It was one of those feel good tiger mom meetings where we played the 'pass the ball of yarn' game demonstrating how connected we are while talking about how much we appreciate each other. Add in some pastries from a local bake shop and it was real chicken soup for the soul. I snuck out early to hit the grocery store and do all my Monday chores a day late. Due to the shiner, I stayed out of the gym and got in some long power walks. I even took a few youtube piano lessons. I was in a slump with nothing good to watch (post Heated Rival depression) and two depressing books to listen to: 1984 and Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea also that I still can't do any high intensity exercise and Phil and I fighting over vacationing. Voss was home sick with a cold for two days this week, too. There were some dark moments. To brighten things up, I made love notes for people to write on each others doors upstairs and baked strawberry cookies from scratch. Mom came for dinner and wasn't a huge fan of the chicken alfredo, but the rest of the family was. I gave her some other leftovers to take home for later. We are worried about her forgetting to eat as she's lost some weight so we got Lauren's Luscious Bites to start bringing her dinner each week, too. Dementia 2.0 is hitting differently this go round. The girls and I met up downtown for Mrs. Doubtfire. The show is not aging well in the last few decades. Just not funny like it was in the 90s. I still loved time with friends, though. Thursday I had lunch with Jess and Steph. That was another highlight that reset my attitude for the week. Friday was a marathon of a day. I tagged mom on her way out adoration as I was walking in (not much communication there), stopped at the nursery for flowers and spider plants (no toxins!). I took my future SIL to the airport then headed to middle school for the valentine dance. Whew. It was loud. I spent all the time pulling kids with exact change out of line to make the concessions line move faster. Quick PTSA meeting and then I headed to a PTSA Galentine party. Abby got a ride home with a friend (detour to a HS soccer game). Back with the tiger moms for a night of great food and drinks, bunco, lots of laughs and great convos. I stopped to meet up with Phil and friends for a nightcap on my way home. They had all come from the elementary school dance. Phil was a bouncer on the dance floor. Lots of loud, running kids...I think I chose the right dance! Marly had Langley over. Ellie had a babysitting gig. Saturday was Valentine's Day. It was a nice, chill day. I think Phil and I tried harder to be loving. I went to his tennis match. They lost but it was a great match. My friend, Rach came up to hang for a bit, too. We met the kids for lunch at CFA. Later, Phil and I had a pizza and movie date watching It's Complicated. We loved it! The older kids babysat, the younger kids hid. Sunday we all slept in and had a chill morning, so we could enjoy the music at evening mass. We had family bfast at TCC. The guys played soccer. Voss went bowling with Zachary. That night, we met the Hogans and Strassers back at TCC (same table and server) for dinner and drinks. We crashed Ellie's Galentine dinner with friends. Here are our pics of the week.  

February is here! Monday I did all the usuals. Driving Marly's carpool this week. It was so cold, I drove Voss and Isabel to school, too. I went back to the gym for my first HIIT class post op. There were a few things I didn't do. WD and then getting the house back in order. I took Abby shopping for some winter clothes (poor girl is so used to only getting hand me downs). Tuesday I went with Voss on a field trip to watch an ice hockey game. Cue the Heated Rivalry conversations. I spent the rest of the week being absorbed in that series, trying so hard to step back out again. Whew! Mom came for dinner and we had pot roast, all these cozy comfort foods with this cold, dark weather. I went to a barre class and ran errands. Marly stayed home sick from school one day. I met some high school friends out for drinks one night. So fun catching up with everyone, and finally out of Dryanuary! Thursday we had Noelle at MomCo, always sharing new info each time I see her. Friday, I got up early with Voss to take him to meet the bus for the Islands of Adventures field trip with the patrols. That night Marly babysat. Ellie took us to the Benton's Olympic party to watch the opening ceremonies. We each choose a country to represent. I made a Danish pork stew over mashed potatoes. Such a fun night with a great group and tasting bites from all over the world. Saturday morning I got up to take Marly to an audition for a summer intensive. Luckily, the group came to Jacksonville. We'll find out within 2 weeks if she gets in. That afternoon I met my siblings for margaritas and live music. The sun finally came out again. I ended up hitting my eye on the corner of the bar chair and now I have a shiner. Not so much fun. Sunday we went to mass, CCD then bfast at TCC. It was super bowl Sunday! Phil picked up fun food at Publix and we watched from our living room. Loving the Bad Bunny halftime show. Here are the pics of the week.

It was another cold week with some freeze warnings. We didn't see any snow flurries but I hear people did. I began the week going to my friend, Emma's mom's funeral. Bernadette fought pancreatic cancer for 8 years! It was nice to support the Bentons and catch up with friends on the drive to the Daytona area, but not fun to be in this phase of life. I went to a SAC meeting at Abby's school then a warm soup lunch with a friend, Christie getting her psyked to sign up for her own hip surgery. Mom came for dinner for salmon asian bowls, I tried something a little different. She was impressed with my orchid, who is blooming for the 2nd round (so proud of myself, too!I went to see the Housemaid movie with April on Wednesday. A few twists, but it mainly stuck to the book. Love this twisty author! Abby became a teenager on Thursday! She wasn't feeling 100% with a cold going around. She took a little snooze in the car with me for lunch after a treat from Wawa. I raced back in time for Voss' awards ceremony. He got perfect attendance, As (and 1 B+), citizenship and the reading award (Hatchet is still sitting unread by his bed). It was the big fundraiser for the middle school that night at Lillians to raise enough money to apply for a blue ribbon school. So, Abby skipped dance and we did that with some of her school friends instead. She was ready to go to bed after about an hour. Phil was not. Luckily, Abby felt better the next day. I had my last PT session that morning (just 3 moves I'm not allowed to do {yet}, went to adoration with mom and then lunch at Steph's. I dipped out early for Voss' vocabulary parade then headed back to middle school to pick up a van full of 7th graders for Abby's party. We walked around the mall a bit and then headed to see Zootopia 2. It was a cute movie. We came home, had pizza and watched the 2nd Wicked Movie. Some girls were picked up, 3 stayed for a sleepover. I was happy to retreat to my hibernation cave. Phil tried to take Voss to a soccer skills clinic on Saturday but went to the wrong place so took him to a cub scout derby car workshop instead. Marly went to Target. Abby went shopping with Mimi. Ellie did a last minute babysitting gig on Friday and a friend's Birthday on Saturday. I sat on the couch and watched the entire new Bridgerton drop in one setting. I felt a kina depression after. Phil and I went on a date to the Ecuadorian restaurant, Chancho King and then tried to get hot chocolate after, but there's no seating in Dutch Brothers so we just came home. I rewatched the first episode of Bridgerton with Ellie and we all were asleep by 9:30. Maybe this cold is making us all want to hibernate! Sunday we went to mass (love this week's readings especially with the state of the world right now!), CCD and then family TCC breakfast. Instead of planning a romantic spring anniversary trip, Phil and I spent the afternoon fighting about it. I retreated to my cave and finished reading Gather. The guys played soccer and then the middle two stayed up too late watching the Grammy's. Here are the pics of the week.

Kicking off the season of Birthdays in our house, Voss is up first! Another cold week so he got a ride to school all week. I had Bentley's aunts help with after school pick ups Tuesday and Wednesday so I could go to SAC meetings at high school. Marly's school ended up being a stakeholder meeting and I was quite surprised to see them beating Ellie's school in a few categories! Mom had dinner with us on Tuesday for salmon. It felt like a Monday due to MLK being the day before. It was a nice, quiet day getting everything back in order. I added in a 2 mile walk to my daily PT routine. I finished a steamy book, How to be a Wallflower and in the final season of the Closer. Wednesday I had lunch with my high school pal, Alex and caught up. Thursday was Voss' 11th Birthday! Marly woke up and made him pancakes and he opened gifts from his sisters and cards from family. After high school carpool, I met the Nutcracker marketing team for a breakfast with Channel 12 to go over our stats. We had a decline in ticket sales this year (yet more in development) and we think it was the walk up crowd. We need to figure that out. From there I brought lunch to Voss and donuts for his class. He's the morning news anchor this week (not at all thrilled) but getting lots of attention. I had PT with Nick then went back to fill up a minivan of 5th graders (from 2 different schools)- stressing about Abby's bus being late- thus making me late to meet the base CO for Voss' Birthday party. We got a VIP tour of the control tower and radars. It was super cool. The kids loved it! Then had cake and time to run around the static displays until sunset. I think Voss was wiped out and sad to have it all end. I told him we'd celebrate all week. Friday was STEAM day at his school. I worked the 5th grade sing along to an Australian sea shanty talking about teamwork. I took Marly to meet up with a friend for dinner then Phil and I had a hot date to plan spring break. We brought home dessert for the kids. Dryanuary means my sweet tooth is out of control! Saturday morning Marly came with Phil and I to the gym then we just had a chill day. That afternoon I filled up the minivan with 7th graders and headed out to the masquerade Cotillion ball. Happy I went back for my noise canceling ear buds! I was definitely icing my hip when I got home. Phil went out with my brother and sister and had a wild time on the town. This morning we went to mass, CCD then a family breakfast at TCC, spying Matt and Tara on the way out. Today another chill day while the guys went to play soccer. Here are the pics of the week.

A lot of chill happening this week. I am almost finished with the Closer series, inspiring me to plan a trip to LA! I'm finally leaning into taking it easy and just enjoying it. Marly dog sat for the Applegates. She and Ellie chose to spend the night there all week so the evening were quiet. It did take me a few days to realize they were doing that. I went to flag raising and WD on Monday. Later, a Dream Party that afternoon for the Nutcracker first dream of the year. I went to a PTA board meeting on Tuesday and had mom for dinner for shrimp and chicken bowls. She does not like our Dryanuary plan this month. Phil went out of town to Ocala for the later part of the week so it was just the littles and I (and the animals). It got COLD! No bike riding for Voss and full carpools in the am and pm. I got hit with a head cold mid week that knocked me down a few days. More couch time! I skipped MomCo to keep my germs at home. Marly and I went to the senior choreography dance concert at her school Thursday night. I had another PT sesh with new exercises using a band, leg lifts and balancing. Mom and I went to adoration then I went to get a mammogram. Pretty much back into a routine, just no tennis or exercise classes. The weekend was super chill. I loved it! Lots of sitting in front of a fire and planning the next four trips I'd like to take. None of which are approved by HP. We went to dinner with the Freemans on Friday. I tried not to let my hip monopolize the conversation. Saturday we went to family day at the gym (with the older two). I walked a mile on the treadmill then did my PT. We did a body assessment that says my metabolic age is 57! Oh no! That night we had the Nutcracker board appreciation dinner at Bonefish. It was such a great year with the team! We made $165,537.50 (gross)! We doubled the school show ticket sales and got $7K more in development! Proud of our great work. We had a nightcap with Matt and Tara. Sunday morning we went to mass on a cold, rainy day then coffee and donuts after. Phil and I went to Brittney's baby shower. Two Brittney's having a 4th child, baby girl, after 3 boys! One in mass and then one at Lillians. This epic shower turned into an all day party, we didn't leave until 6pm (when it began at 11am!) scooped up the kids for dinner and met the Strassers at TCC. Just wow! Monday was MLK day. We went to another family morning at the gym to do the indepth body assessment, In Body. Then, bfast at First Watch. I drove Abby and her pal to Target, Marly and her pal to the Town Center...all great time to finish the book club book, Riding Like the Wind, in time for bc at Heather's later that night. Here are the pics of the week.