Fall 2020

 Where has the entire Fall gone and here we are a week before Christmas????  I guess life is moving at a fast pace and I don't take the time to sit down and write.  

Brody finished up his baseball and football seasons.  They got 2nd place at the championship with a very close game!  He really improved in his pitching skills this season and it was fun to watch.  

Halloween 2020 was probably the last one that Marissa will dress up.  She was a butterfly and Brody was a dinosaur.  It was a warm beautiful evening and it seemed in our world of chaos somewhat of a normal Halloween.

I was able to get the kids to take a few photos to capture the Fall 2020.  They are growing up so fast.  It's actually super sad for this mama to think we only have 4 more years with Marissa.  

One of Brody's school projects this year is to make out of salt dough the map of Florida.  I thought he did such a good job!

We've spent quite a few evenings on our lanai.  There is something so relaxing about the fire and the kids love making s'mores too!  Good family time together!  We've been able to catch some amazing sunsets.  It's so beautiful to see at the end of a long day.

Brody finished up his baseball and football seasons.  They got 2nd place at the championship with a very close game!  He really improved in his pitching skills this season and it was fun to watch.  

  

Marissa celebrated her 14th birthday on December 4th.  She got a special necklace from her Grandpa.  

We are now Universal Passholders for the next year.  It's fun checking out some new parks and rides.  We spent Marissa's birthday weekend at Universal.  We are learning all things Harry Potter!

Finally, this past weekend Marissa volunteered with her church small group at an event called the Christmas Shoppe where families can come get toys for their kids if they can't afford to buy them.  It's good to see my girl out there volunteering!

The "new" normal!

We are starting week 3 of school!  Brody caught a cold but thankfully he tested negative for COVID.  He's been busy playing flag football and baseball this fall.  It keeps us on our toes running from practice to practice.  It's fun watching him play football as QB.  He's getting good use out of that baseball trained arm. 

I got an action shot of him getting a touchdown!!!!  Such a proud mom!  

Marissa is being a typical teenager giving us a run for our money.  She is getting so tall.  She isn't too far off from Dad and I do wonder how much taller she will get.  

We are slowly getting used to the new normal and I really wish we could start traveling again.  I miss our getaways but for now we stay home and appreciate what we have.  

XOXO

1st day of 4th & 8th grade!!

 The day has finally come and the kids are off to a new school year!  It will have a unique set of challenges navigating through the COVID protocols but I truly believe the kids are resilient and adaptable to change. We had some new neighbors move in 2 houses down that are great friends!  We are super excited to have them so close!  

On a sad note, my 16-year cousin Lydia lost her battle with Batten's Disease a few weeks ago.  She was such a wonderful, brave girl and she will be missed forever.  We do know she is in heaven and it is not suffering any longer.  I'll always think of her as this cute little playmate of Marissa's.  

XOXO

Official Last Weekend at Disney

We just returned from our last weekend at Disney as pass holders.  It is such a different experience now with all the precautions taken.  Mask + August Florida Heat = miserable mama.....It was so hot that it just wasn't even fun.  On the bright side, we were upgraded to a 2-bedroom theme park view villa suite at Disney's Bay Lake Tower Resort.  That was super fun to be able to sit on the balcony and overlook Magic Kingdom.  I'm so thankful for all the great memories that were made in our 3 years as pass holders and maybe someday we will go again.  

This should have been the kids 1st day of school but no such luck and we will wait an additional 3 weeks. What a mess this whole world is right now.  I would say it's been a very defeating and trying time and with no end in sight, it's really disheartening.  I want so badly to plan trips and make plans for the future but with the future so unknown, it's really impossible to do.  We certainly aren't the only ones that feel this way but we really hope by next year, life will go back to somewhat normal.  Who knows?!?!

What I do know is that I'm thankful for our many blessings and it's not lost on me how many we have.  Have a wonderful week!!

XOXO

July 2020 Update

It's been a busy few weeks around the Holgrimson household.  Here's a few highlights:

****We purchased a new car!  2020 Hyundai Palisade.....the car buying process is never easy but I'm so happy to have an amazing new car!

****Party time!  Brody had a birthday sleepover with our next door neighbor Adam.  He also attended a baseball party at his friend Riley's and lastly he went to his friend Benjamin's party at the beach.  He's had a busy week!

****We took the new paddle board to the ocean to give it a try!  Both kids loved it!

****Marissa & Brody's friends just purchased a new house 2 houses down from us!  We are excited to have good friends move in so close!  

****My new master bedroom remodel is almost finished and I hope to share the reveal on the next update!

****Our air conditioning and dishwasher both died so we've been on the hunt to get everything replaced and repaired.  I've had several dental appointments in the last month to fix a broken tooth.  No fun but part of life!  

****School has been postponed until August 31st.  The kids get a few more weeks of summer break!

****We cancelled our Disney annual passes.  A very sad sad day for the Holgrimson's but we have hope that maybe next year COVID will be controlled better and we can get back to our normal schedule of Disney weekends!

XOXO,

Keia

Happy 10th Birthday, Brody!!!

10 years ago, I met the sweetest, most loving boy.....I never could have known what pure joy and happiness he would bring to my life.  There are so many wonderful attributes he processes that I could go on and on for days.  God truly showed his blessings to me by giving me my Brody.  Happiest 10th birthday to Brody!

Tennessee

We just got back from our trip to Tennessee to meet up with the Holgrimson's.  I'll share all those photos below.  We rented a cabin in the Smoky Mountains near Pigeon Forge.  It was a fun week away and I'm glad we all got to see each other even amidst the COVID pandemic.

Before we left, Brody finished up the baseball season.  So thankful for another great season with our team.  Marissa finished her 2 week Marine Science camp.  She got to do all 3 years and I know she learned a lot and had so much fun!

I'm almost done with my bedroom re-model and I'll post pictures soon!

I'll post some pictures of our trip to Tennessee!  It's hard to be back to reality today at work!  Vacation time is so much more fun!