{Life Lately} 2019

Hello Strangers!

I'd apologize for my absence, but I don't know who reads this anymore. If you do, let me know! 

In January (above and below), I went to Florida to visit a friend I hadn't seen in almost a decade! It was wonderful and so needed. I'd love to go back when the ocean isn't freezing. I still walked barefoot on the sand because hello, it's the beach! 

Then this guy came into our lives and our house has been a crazy mess ever since. It's Nate's dog (according to him) and his name is Rex. It's a Great Pyranees mix. He's already so much bigger, it's insane. We still also have Snickers, Lily's fur baby, and Krypto, our old dog, and Rocky, the cat. Oh, and the six chickens. 

If I'm not busy with work, practicum (internship) hours, or in grad school (I graduate in 6 weeks!), I'm spending time with the kids. Miss Lily is a Girl Scout and we spent a couple days out in nature a couple weeks ago. It was beautiful weather, not like the thunderstorms we are currently having, and we checked out The Pinnacles, which is north of Columbia, Missouri. 

I'm currently working on the garden in between homework assignments, kid activities and surviving life in general. More to come on gardening soon! 

{Florida} Swimming with Manatees

For those that are family and close friends (aka my Facebook Friends), you have now seen these photos. But I'm going to post here too for the whole world to see. It won't be as many that's on there but I'll put up some.

Aren't they awesome!?!?

The boat captain said they would be bigger and more intimidating that you have your mind. It's crazy how true that was! I knew they were big. We saw a couple before we got into the water but to see one come up from below you as you snorkel on the water's surface is soooo different! They were feeding when we first got into the water and as they come up for air, they could bump into you! Crazy, right?!

Once they warm up to you, you can pet them and they will get super friendly! My mom was hugged (a lot!) by the big girl/guy in the picture and my dad was upclose and personal with one too as it chewed on his life jacket strap. I got super close too - I accidently kneed one as he came up underneath me. I felt bad but the captain said that it was normal and that they are more aware of where we are in the water than we are of them.

It was definitely a once in a life time experience and I am thankful that my parents took us! Lily stayed on the boat and we all took turns watching her (well, I never did - bad mommy - but the others did!). We were told that she wouldn't fully understand the concept and the water was cold (68-72 degrees). So she stayed on the boat and watched us as we swam with the big manatees. She did great on the boat! The only thing I would have changed was that we should have actually put her in the wet suit for a photo op but we didn't. It might have been torture, so it's probably better that we didn't.

So if you're ever in the Tampa Bay area, check out Captain Mike's Manatee Tours. It was great!

{Florida} Vacation

We are back from Florida! And because I don't feel like writing a long post, I'll just post some high lights. More posts and pictures will follow as soon as I get them all uploaded (having troubles with my usb port) and once they are edited.

So...

The three of us flew down thanks to my parents getting us tickets.
Flying with a 2 year old was not as bad as I thought.
Layovers suck.
The Atlanta airport is not child friendly. It's boring and ugly.
Tampa's airport is child friendly, clean and pretty.
Our hotel was great - ocean views out our front and back doors!
Seagulls are insane.
Pelicans are fun to watch.
Manatees are amazing!
Swimming with manatees was a once in a life time experience!
Manatees are HUGE animals!
Some people need to shut up and follow directions around the manatees.
We saw one of John Travolta's Florida homes.
I still don't like sea food or the smell of it.
72 degree water is cold, even with a wet suit.
75 degree air temps are great in December.
Lily LOVES the beach.
Lily would have been on Cloud Nine if we sat on the beach all day, every day.
It's nice to be home and sleep in our own bed.
It was not nice to wake up and see it's only 26 degrees outside.

Now our normal life continues. No more vacation (well, in 2 days) and it's back to the daily grind. I go and pick up the dogs today. I'm thinking that the next time we go on vacation I will pay for a house sitter and not take them to the kennel. I just need to find a house sitter. Maybe my friend's daughters will do it?! Not important...

Lily goes back to daycare.
I need to clean up my classroom and prepare for my new set of 125+ students.
The hubs has practice to coach.
Christmas needs to be put away.
Laundry.
Cleaning the house.

I'll leave ya with a photo from the trip...

Oh, and I almost forgot... this trip marked off two of my items on my 40 before 40 list - Family Vacation and Go to the Beach. Woo hoo!