Summer Break!

Summer break is underway and although this summer we've had so many plans cancelled due to COVID-19, I hope we will be able to plan some fun things for the kids to do.  I can tell they are bored already without much to do.

I wanted to wish my mom a very happy 70th birthday.  We went out for lunch at The Flying Iguana and had some delicious cake from Nothing Bundt Cake.  I love you mama!  Here's to many more years of celebrating!

I was able to do a weekend getaway with my friend Norma last weekend.  We stayed at the Omni Championsgate Resort in Orlando.  Our hope was to lay out by the pool, sleep & relax but Mother Nature had a different plan and rained out the entire weekend.  It was nice to get away and have some girl time regardless.  We took a ride on the Orlando Eye Ferris wheel, went shopping, did way too much eating and was able to catch up since we hadn't seen each other since February.


Brody is back in baseball and had his first game back last Saturday.  It's great to see him playing again.  This week he's attending a baseball camp with his friend Riley.  I'm so glad he is able to get into a camp again.


I'm still working on my master bedroom transformation.  I have just a few more things left to be delivered and I'll finally be done.  It's shaping up to be exactly what I envisioned.


I started my new job on Monday, 6/1.  It quickly became overwhelming and I'm not sure whether I'm going to like it but nevertheless, I continue to do my best in figuring it all out.

Memorial Day Weekend 2020

Last weekend, we enjoyed the extra day off especially because it was our 18th wedding anniversary.  On Saturdays, the boys have been going golfing so it's always such a peaceful way to start my weekend, drinking coffee on the lanai!  We took the kids to the waterpark for a few hours and then we were off on our date night.  We ate dinner downtown at Cowford Chophouse.  It was nice to feel a sense of normalcy again but there is still something weird about your servers having masks on.

Sunday, we spent the majority of the day at the beach with our next door neighbors.  The kids had so much fun together.  They loved playing on the stand-up paddle board.  We met them at Matanzas Inlet which is perfect for no waves!

Monday, Tony took me out to breakfast at La Petit Paris Cafe.  When we got there, we found out that it was closed to dining inside so we took our food to go and sat outside.  It was fun to reminisce on some of the highlights of the last 18 years.  Hopefully soon, we'll be able to do a getaway just the two of us.

Another week has begun, the first week of no school and no camps.  It's going to be an interesting summer!

Adam, Marissa, Kara & Brody enjoying their beach time!

Adam & Brody 

5.25.2002

I can always count on this boy to make me feel loved and happy!  

Last Day of 3rd & 7th grades!

Hellooooooo summer break!  We've made it and I say "we" because this has been a rough 4th quarter for mama!  The kids did great and making sure they stayed on top of the work but I felt the pressure too!  I made the kids take the obligatory last day of school photo because we must document this year, not that any of us will forget it anytime soon.  When I start to let my mind think about all the things the kids missed out on the last 2  1/2 months, I start to feel so sad.  Then compile that every fun thing they had planned this summer has been cancelled and I start to feel really, really down.  However, the kids seem to be doing well through it all and although there are many times during the day where they are fighting and screaming and I think to myself, I cannot do this for another 3 months.  Hopefully, we will find a few fun things to do during summer break.  I PRAY they can go back in August.  We took the kids out to celebrate for dinner last night.  They chose to go to The Melting Pot.  Such a yummy dinner fit for a good celebration.  WE MADE IT!

Last week of school!

We are on the last week of school for this year.  Soon we will have a 4th & 8th grader!  I'm actually ready for it to be done since it's been a hassle to keep up with it all when working full-time.  I'm sad that every camp is cancelled and then on top of that another Disney Cruise got cancelled too.  Our entire summer plans just came crashing down.  It's not unexpected but it sure is tough to handle.

Some highlights of the past week:

--Brody's friend Riley had his 10th birthday and Riley's mom put together a scavenger hunt.  One of the stops was our house.  The boys threw the baseball for a few minutes and it was good to see them together again.

---Tony & Brody went golfing on Saturday morning.  Marissa slept in until 10:30AM so I enjoyed some very peaceful time on the lanai.  It was healing for me to have some time to myself.  The boys had fun trying out the new clubs and it was a perfect weather morning.

---We went on our 1st outing to Caps on the water in St. Augustine.  They did a great job of social distancing.  The restaurant is completely outside, they took everyones temp before entering and they spaced out tables.  It was nice to get a little normal back in our lives.

Cute sidebar:  when us girls went to the bathroom, Brody says to Tony, "So Dad, what boy talk should we have?"  He's such a funny kid.  I love his sense of humor.

---My new obsession:  Avocado Toast.....I've been trying out new recipes while we have been home and this one is a keeper!

---I've been thinking & dreaming of updating our master bedroom while FINALLY it's happening!  New furniture is ordered...curtains are up...painters came and painted yesterday and I'm brainstorming new decor.  I'll post photos once it's completely done!  Can't wait!


---Florida is in Phase one of re-opening....beaches are open, restaurants are open at 50% capacity, nail salons and thankfully hair salons.  I was able to go to my hair appointment on Monday.  What a relief to have my roots taken care of!  Our Nocatee Pools re-open today.  We are heading to the pool after work!


XOXO,
Keia

Happy Mother's Day 2020!

Just like a lot of things for the past few months, I never imagined Mother's Day to be in quarantine however we are slowly getting some normal things back.  We ordered a pizza from Al's and took it to the beach for a picnic.  The weather was very cloudy but as we were sitting and relaxing on the beach the sun came out and it was a beautiful day.  Sometimes being low key is nice and it's become the new normal.  Maybe next year we can live it up and do something big!!

At work this week, it was announced that I was promoted to Executive.  It's been a lot of hard work but I'm proud of myself for making it to this next step in my career.  Since we weren't able to be together, we did a webex and so I tried to take a few screen grabs.

We completed the Disney puzzle that Tony got for his birthday.  It was a challenging one for sure but so fun to do!!

Last day of April.....

It's been 2 weeks since I've posted and really not a lot has changed.  We've done a few more house projects.  We painted the laundry room & master closet to freshen it up.  Those rooms were the last places that haven't been painted since we moved in.  We added one more piece of the closet and now the master closet is finally finished.  It feels good to be getting all these little projects done.  We've taken so many bags to donate to Goodwill.  Purging and organizing makes me so happy!

I've been dealing with a dental issue this past week that has had me out of service for a few days.  Tony did a great job holding down the household while I was not feeling well.  The kids have been going on bike rides and playing outside a lot.  It's been great seeing them thriving even among an unknown situation.


I also wanted to wish Tony a very Happy 41st!  When we can safely go back to the new "normal" we will celebrate even more!

Marissa did a great job helping her mama paint up high!

Marissa made her Daddy a cake for his birthday!

Checking out the ocean after it opened up.  It was a quick trip but worth it to feel a little bit normal again.

Marissa has been working on her braiding skills during the  time at home.

Easter 2020

Easter 2020 spent quarantine style!  We got a very yummy meal to go from Ruth Chris Steakhouse.  It was amazing not to have to cook!  The kids have been doing pretty well adapting to their new lifestyle.  They even got the garden sprinkler out and ran through it like I used to as a kid!  We were able to score some sidewalk chalk so they've been using that to keep our driveway decorated.  We did some flower planting in our front garden beds.  More of the same with cleaning and organizing projects.  We cleaned out the garage.  It always feels good to get more organized.  Mom is busy painting our laundry room today.  I got a new shoe cabinet to put up from IKEA delivered today.

We are finding things to keep us busy but it's really starting to be more difficult mentally as we want to plan and do things.  Here's a few pics from the week!