Florida: Week 1

What better way to celebrate the last day of the school year than heading to Florida to start our fun family vacation. We had been counting down to long days in the pool, a slower pace, Nagymama's Chicken Paprikas, Uno tournaments and unlimited family time for a while. This was our first year driving to Florida with the girls and the longest road trip we have ever attempted as a family. After much consideration, we decided to leave when the girls were ready to go to bed. They waited patiently for the car to get loaded for bedtime!

The car was fully loaded with all kinds of snacks, movies and games, but we started with cozy blankets, pillows and a full night's sleep. Driving through the night wasn't the easiest option for Joe and I, but on a 24 hour trip few things trump eight hours of silent, uninterrupted driving and completely content kiddos. We were in Virgina by the time the girls woke up! 

Oliver spent most of his time riding like a royal puppy in my lap and loved every minute of it.

 

I do not exaggerate when I say he acts like a human child. No one put him in this position on my chest. Joe snapped the picture when Ollie and I were taking our rest.

North Carolina was an exciting stop! We had finally reached the south. The girls were excited to use their road trip wallets filled with change to get the treats of their choice in the vending machine. It's a a special day when you can choose any piece of candy you want!

In South Carolina, we stopped for a picnic lunch.

Here's the thing. We had every intention of stopping at a hotel halfway through our trip to rest up and take a break, but the finish line kept getting closer and closer AND the girls weren't complaining. They were loving the road trip! Everyone was happy. We had an unnatural amount of energy to keep driving and just kept pushing ourselves a little further. Then, just like that we were in Florida. We knew if we made it to Florida that evening, we would push through, but that was probably when we needed a break the most. The girls were ready to get out of the car and be done. It was bedtime again. Emotions were high and we started crumbling. The last two hours in the car were the most challenging, but we made it. I climbed in the back and snuggled my babies to bed for the last leg of the ride. Our beds have never felt as good as that night when we arrived.

A total perk of driving straight through was waking up the next morning to an extra full day in Florida. We were ready to start our favorite vacation strategy: roll out of bed, roll into the pool..from PJs to bathing suits back to PJs again! I mean we do get dressed sometimes and of course we have our coverups handy for our poolside meals. :)

First thing in the morning, the girls took care of Mama's hair with their traveling beauty salon, while the puppies were reunited.

And she thought she would never be seen with colored streaks in her hair...

One of my favorite parts of being here are the sweet reminders I find of my Nagypapa when I'm least expecting it. Whenever I see this glass, I picture him. I think of him sitting at the head of the table with his favorite glass filled with iced water. I hear his voice telling me to not talk so much at the table because I am going to bite my tongue (which he accurately predicted many times) and it makes me smile. Whenever Cory and I see this glass we think of him, so I choose it every chance I get.  

The girls were like fish in water our entire trip. They conquered fears and tried new things. Ella has always been pretty fearless when it comes to jumping in and getting completely wet. This year, Abby joined her and became quite the jumper. She even spent some time swimming and jumping without her floaties. The girls swam and played imaginary games for hours. Honestly, the four of us could stay in the pool all day long and not get bored.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVSIMfPqqE0

I enjoyed all six books that I read on vacation, but this one was by far my favorite. Challenging, encouraging and a perspective changer for sure. It's always a good book when it makes you laugh really hard, while challenging you on a deep level and continuing to point your heart to Jesus page after page.

Oliver had his very first swim lesson and did great! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiFY4xD7d3c

One of Joe's very favorite parts of Florida are the afternoon thunderstorms. He found a partner in Ella this afternoon.

Bedtime stories and Uno tournaments with Mama are the best.

After dinner, the girls were so excited about a trip to the ice cream shop that Joe convinced them to walk instead of drive. The extreme heat wasn't going to stop them from getting Superman flavored ice cream.

Our little buddy learned very quickly what it meant to be on vacation! :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQ-TfP4EO7s

I loved this throwback comparison. In 2012, I was pregnant with Ella on our trip to Florida. Three years later, the picture is strangely similar, while being so very different. I love our life together.

It didn't take long for Ollie to make himself right at home. He loved the freedom of Mama's patio and the company of Buffy. While we were making breakfast each morning, he would wander outside and hang out by the water.

Nothing like a little photo shoot before our first day at the beach.

Not sure where Abby learned to pose like a European H&M model, but she's a natural.

Ella brings her own slice of life to everything we do!

The girls were really proud of their sand castle!

Put the girls to sleep in their own beds and came in an hour later to find them like this.

The girls got really excited about the idea of planning a Friday night pizza pool party. Joe (being the really fun daddy that he is) took the girls to the dollar store to buy decorations and everything they needed to set up for the party. Mama and I took care of the Pina Coladas and pizza! It was so much fun.

The girls came back with leis, drink umbrellas and paper lanterns. The mood was set and the pizza pool party was a success. Everything about it screamed: "This is summer!"

the party planners

the after dinner swim

Abby's Pre-K Graduation

At the beginning of June, Abby graduated from Pre-K. After a great year with wonderful teachers and new friends, it was bittersweet to see it come to an end. We've loved watching Abby's love for school and learning grow with each week of the school year. We know that is largely thanks to the teachers and school community she has been a part of. It's always a good sign when you come home from school and pretend to be your teacher for hours while teaching your little sister and stuffed animals. Abby is reading entire books, but really she is reading every word in sight (especially if it is a message only intended for my eyes or a word spelled for adult ears)! A whole new world has opened up for her.

Seeing the way Abby's knowledge of God's truth and her heart for Jesus has grown this year have been especially sweet for us! She doesn't just take it all in without thinking about it. She surprises us with really thoughtful questions as she constantly seeks deeper understanding. Like "Mommy, if God doesn't have an age, why does Jesus have an age when he was alive on earth?" Really good questions!  And just like that our four year old turned five and is so so ready to head to Kindergarten in the fall.

The little graduation ceremony was sweet. It started with a video slideshow of the memories from the school year. This pregnant momma knew it was going to be an emotional day when I started tearing up during that video and while looking at the empty stage with little chairs. *deep breaths* My first baby is growing up!

Then, the music started and they processed in. Oh my heart. In these moments, it feels like my whole world stands still.

 

 

Hailie and Abby

Ella and Kendall's little brother Owen became buddies this year in the Pre-K pickup line.

Abby and Riley

Abby and Kendall. Ella tried to sneak right in the middle of every picture.
"Don't forget your little sister!"

One of my favorite parts was the word collage Abby's teacher, Mrs. Keparutis, put together for each kid. They were hung above the self portrait the kids created during the year. It's always fun to see that others see parts of Abby's character that we have been watching develop since she was really little. It was a special moment of celebrating how God has uniquely made our little girl. We love you Abby Em and are so proud of you just because of who you are! It's exciting to dream of all that God has planned for your life and His Kingdom.

Mommy Turns 30!

When Joe asked me how I would like to celebrate my 30th birthday, the answer was easy: something fun and relaxed with as many of the people I love the most in one place. I ended up with two sweet birthday celebrations in one week. Joe organized a family party the weekend before my birthday. On the night of my actual birthday, we had a bunch of local friends for birthday cake and ice cream.  To say I felt loved and thankful is an understatement.

Grammy and G-Diddy came into town the night before the party and treated us to a special dinner. Then, we made our first trip of the season to the "Shake Shack", our neighborhood ice cream stand,  for the perfect summer dessert.

 The best way to end the night was running off all that sugar on the big hill behind the ice cream shop. Look at the pure joy on Ella's face. I think they ran down the hill at least ten times each. This is what summer looks like.

Earlier in the week, I had been looking through old pictures with the girls as I reminisced and thought about turning 30. One morning, Abby picked a bunch from the pile and snuck off to the dining to work on a surprise project for me. She put all of the pictures together as a birthday decoration in our Gathered Round, just like I do for other special occasions. From start to finish, Abby took the process of celebrating my birthday and planning a special day for me very seriously. She has such a big heart for people and celebrations.

The morning of the party, Abby went with Daddy to the party store. She wanted to make sure they picked the perfect balloons and decorations. I wish I could have captured the look on her face when they got home from the store. She was so proud of her planning and excited to set everything up. While Joe and Abby were gone taking care of the last minute details, Ella put on her apron to bake some Cornbread Casserole for the party with Grammy. Did I mention that I wasn't allowed to do anything to help? It was a sweet birthday gesture, just a hard one for me to follow when everyone was working so hard around me in my house.

proud helpers

I love my family!

baking with Grammy

Ella's excitement hit a new level when she saw the cars start to arrive. This was her "Grandma's here" pose.

I loved being able to sit and enjoy everyone's company without having to worry about any details. The Dinosaur BBQ lunch that Joe had catered was pretty amazing too!

Jamie, Alana, Aunt Cyncy and Cory

Grandma (The Baby Whisperer) loving on Baby Hannah

Mike, Lindsay and Tommy

Rob and Kelly

Abby and Papa

Grammy and G-Diddy

My dad even brought my very favorite kind of birthday cake! It's not everyday I get to celebrate with a Dairy Queen Oreo Cookie Blizzard Ice Cream Cake. Yum!

my baby brother

Wait a second! That isn't your two week old baby? :)

Where's my mom? Always with the baby!

Friends for 14 years! Wow!

The original four.

with my momma, the one who gave birth to me thirty years ago

I couldn't have asked for a more perfect birthday party. I'm so thankful for everyone who made the trip to share it with me and for all the love sent from those who were too far away to be there. Thank you to my sweet husband and precious girls who did everything they could to make this one of the most memorable and special birthdays yet.

the second celebration

It's hard to believe I'm 30, but I couldn't be more thankful for all the years and life that has filled them. What a ride! Thank you Jesus!