Spring Catch Up 2021

 Somehow I missed the whole month of February before being able to update the blog!  

Marissa really wanted to get her hair highlighted so I took her to the salon.  I think it turned out beautiful!  

Brody is busy playing baseball on 2 teams this Spring.  He tried out for the Advanced Baseball Team and got selected to play.  He also is playing on the rec league.  It makes for a lot of practices and games in a week but it's fun to watch him do his thing.

I finally was able to take some vacation time from work the last 2 weeks of February.  The first week, Tony and I traveled to the Florida keys for some beach time.  We stayed at the Bungalows Resort in Key Largo for 3 nights and H20 Suites in Key West for 2 nights.  It was a great getaway and fun to finally go to the keys after living in Florida for almost 6 years.

The 2nd week, my mom and I traveled to Tucson Arizona to stay at the Miravel Resort.  It was a very relaxing getaway with lots of spa time and enjoying the beautiful scenery and weather.

So that brings us to March....Spring break is here and we are awaiting my brother and family's arrival tomorrow!

XOXO,

Keia

January Catch-up!

Another January has flown by and we are finally recovered from the COVID craziness!  I'm super thankful that my mom was able to get both her vaccination shots and she is more protected from getting COVID now.  I finally feel back to normal and I hope to never get COVID again.  

This month has been pretty much status quo and nothing too exciting happening.  Marissa has been wanting to get her ears pierced so we did have a girls day that included shopping, lunch and ears piercing.

Brody's baseball season starts next week so we'll be busy again running to practices and games.  I can't wait to watch my boy playing the sport that he loves.  

Marissa is in the process of getting her high school schedule registered.  It's so incredibly hard to believe that she will be in high school in just a few short months.  They are already in the 3rd quarter of this school year.  I'm so thankful that they have been able to go to school every day all year.  I know that is not how most kids are getting to experience this school year and I'm so thankful for it!  I walked past this photo I have framed in hallway that was taken during Marissa's kindergarten year.  I remember when it was taken that the year 2025 seemed so far off but now it feels like it's so close.  I even got my new debit card with an expiration date in 2025 so I know it's coming faster than what I would like.

XOXO....until next time 💝

Merry COVID Christmas 2020

Merry COVID Christmas & Happy New Year!

Our Christmas plans didn't quite go as expected.  Cam & family were to come down to spend Christmas with us but unfortunately Brody tested positive for COVID on December 15th.  I started coming down with symptoms on December 19th and did test positive a few days later.  Luckily, Tony, Marissa and Grammy all stayed negative.  We spent our entire break quarantined in our separate rooms with masks on. Brody was able to come out of quarantine on Christmas Day.  So we really hope 2021 is better year for the entire world!  I'm finally starting to feel like myself again but I still can't taste/smell.  Hopefully that will come back soon!

When I tested positive for COVID, I finally got to be with my best boy.  We had some good days quaratining together and watching movies.  Oh that first hug after 10 days was so sweet!

This past weekend Marissa used her Ifly gift certificate to do an indoor skydiving session.  Always super fun to watch her!  We always went out finally for my birthday since we couldn't on the actual day!  Fun weekend!

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