Florida for Labor Day!

Let me just say how nice it is to live only ten hours away from our home state of FL. I know. Ten hours is still far for most people, but for us, we know we can make it home for long weekends. Our first long weekend was Labor Day so we took advantage of it! It had been 15 months since the last time we were home. So we hopped in the car one day after school was over and took the drive knowing every hour on the road would be very worth it to see family and friends again.

We kept busy the whole weekend, but it was actually the most relaxing time we have ever spent while home! We didn't overextend ourselves, and we truly just enjoyed being home with some awesome company by our sides.

We took the kids to the Clearwater Aquarium to see Winter, the dolphin. Obviously it was to see that dolphin because that aquarium doesn't have much else. We surprised our kids by meeting up with our most fabulous friend Jen and her two kids! Ella could't believe it. Madeline was happy to see everyone, and Sam was super excited to be held by Jen again. We used to see each other on a daily basis in Newport and it has been hard on all of us to not have that.

After the museum we went to lunch at Frenchy's (because you HAVE to do that when you are visiting the beach). 

 Lunch was followed with an afternoon at the beach. My kids are total beach bums. They are snow bunnies, too. I can't figure out what climate they have more fun in! The only way we could get them to leave was the promise of a trip to Rita's for italian ices. 

 We had lots of get togethers at my parents house! One for my Nanny's birthday!

Tom with his sweet goddaughter and niece, Juliette.

Crazy kids brought the pool into the pool.

He partied too hard.

 A visit from little Lily!

 The girls with their great grandma

Another passed out Sam.

 Hanging out at Granny P's for dinner.

 We actually had a night out, too and the grandmas watched all the babies! 

 In age order.

 One of my oldest and dearest friends, Ellen! :) 30 years of friendship...

And lots of night swimming. My very favorite thing to do as a kid! 

These kids slept great. All in all an awesome trip. It's always good to be home.

Madeline's Open House

Two days after Ella started the 1st grade, Madeline had her preschool open house. The process to find her a preschool was exhausting. I searched and searched, but we live far out from everything and the majority of the preschools here are five days a week all day long. I am not ready to have her away from me all day just yet. When I heard about the school she will be attending, I felt like it was fate. It had the perfect hours, days, class size. I toured it right away and everyone was so sweet. They even came to our house for a home visit! Her class has two teachers and only ten students. I couldn't possibly ask for a better environment and extra attention for Madeline. She needs school. Academically, socially.  It will be beneficial for all of us:)

 Her little cubby! 

She was all smiles for Day 2!

 And she was all zzzzz's in the car line waiting for her big sister! 

My 1st Grader

Ack! 1st grade! Don't ask me how that happened because I couldn't tell you. I swear I was just crying because I gave birth to her and held her for the first time, and now I am crying once again because she started the first grade today. If you want life to fly by before your eyes, just have children. Never have the years gone by so quickly as the last almost seven have for us. Some days seem never-ending, but the years...they go by in a blink of an eye.

Ella woke up early for her first day. She was so excited to start at a new school. She had her outfit picked out for a week (not happy about having PE on her first day because she had to wear sneakers!). She knew what she wanted for breakfast, in her lunchbox, her book bag was ready to go. She had her hesitations about the school not being "as good" as the one she attended in Newport, but she was happy to get back into the classroom and make new friends. My sweet girl. How hard it must be for you to constantly start new schools and programs and adjust to life in a new city, making new friends. But you do it with ease. And a smile. I admire it. You may have huge butterflies in your stomach about it, but we all do. I hope you never lose that willingness to try, to adventure, to go with the flow of our lifestyle. I promise it will pay off one day when you have friends all over the world, have lived in more places than most, and can travel with the best of 'em. I pray you will be a well-adjusted young lady with the whole world at your fingertips.

For now though, just enjoy first grade. ;)

Admiring the sign I made for her!

She can tie her own shoes. I promise. I guess she wanted Daddy's help;)

Tom bought Sam a little backpack tee so he could feel included! Ha!

 I'm not sure if Ella means victory or peace. Hmmm.

 I love my family! 

 Sam's smile...

Such a serious worker, Not even in the class for 10 seconds.

 And that's when I headed out. But I left her with a smile. 

Last Bit of Summer

Hard to believe that title is already here! With the longest winter our family has ever experienced in our lives, we were all looking very forward to the summer. Now it's coming to an end and it makes me a little depressed...sorta. As much as my kids can annoy me, I am not ready for school to begin again. I would take lazy summer mornings over chaotic school mornings any day. However, this summer I have felt like a camp counselor trying to keep them busy. It's been rough. In a new state, new surroundings, new house. Trying to find my way around. Get them registered for school. Find dance schools, new playgrounds, doctors. I have filled up my fair share of water balloons. Chased Sam around the pool enough. Visited the children's museums. Had the picnics. Cleaned up the messy popsicle faces and sticky floors. I'll be honest. I am over summer. I am over the bickering. I am over the applying sunscreen. I am over the "can we go to Chuck E Cheese's? comments. I am over the "I'm bored" comments after we just returned from a morning at the pool or park. I am very over grocery shopping with all three kids. Did I mention Tom's work schedule? Yeah...he leaves at 5:30am and returns around 7-8pm. Just had to throw that in there.

I know this sounds like a complaining post. And it is one. I love my children. They are my whole world. Most days were awesome with them. Some days weren't. This summer with no friends to occupy them or myself...just made for some very long days;) This mama is very ready for her summer vacation to start.

Oh wait...

Moms don't get one of those, huh?

After Ella's meet and greet with her teacher. I can't believe I will have a first grader.