since spring break ...

Life has been back to busy since spring break: softball, soccer, tumbling several nights a week, plus cheer tryouts. Our own version of March Madness! (Not to mention the time we've dedicated to watching actual MM ... my bracket is busted, Sara and Steve are still middle of the pack, and Emma is hovering between 1st and 2nd place.)

We were excited that Emma's artwork was selected for the district's Youth Art Month gallery, and we attended a reception to view it. Her art teacher, Ms. Han, attended as well.

And also amongst the crazy, Sara started a new job! She's still on staff with the rec center but won't get many swimming lesson hours until the summer, so she applied to scoop ice cream at Handel's. She completed a course on safe food handling, and has loved her first few shifts. This picture was from the end of her first night. It's blurry but you can still see her smile!

We managed to catch her in action at the end of another of her shifts!

Today we're enjoying the start of a three-day Easter weekend ... some time to breathe and be together!

Spring Break

We had the BEST spring break! We hadn't been back to SWFL since Hurricane Ian, and it couldn't have been a better week - beautiful weather, relaxation, and people we love.

We spent a great beach day at Lover's Key, which - like so many other places - has changed since the storm, but was gorgeous as ever. I found a tiny but whole sand dollar!

Soaking it in ...

The water was cool but felt great in the heat.

Our full beach day called for pizza and laughs at Paradise Pizza!

We spent a fun afternoon at Pop Stroke!

Grandma and Emma both had a hole in one!

Grandpa and Sara did not ... but still had a great time.

There was also ping pong, ice cream, cold bevs, and good food!

We spent a day at Ft. Myers Beach ... so different than it was pre-Ian, but full of people, which was good to see. Emma talked me into parasailing with her. I hadn't been in nearly 30 years!

Up, up, and away ...

Not gonna lie ... I didn't love every moment from this height. But I hung on tight and Emma kept me laughing!

The dip was my favorite part!

There are a handful of bars and shops open at FMB, so we hit those up for cocktails and souvenirs. It's sad that so many places in the area will never be the same, but also promising to see that they are all working to revive.

We were so excited when Melissa, Adam, and Cal arrived. These cousins were so happy to see each other!

Loved the pool time with my sister. We caught up on all the things.

We also took in a spring training game to see the Twins play the Red Sox. The Twins were at their home stadium in the middle of one of our beach afternoons, so we opted for a night game at the Red Sox stadium.

We had awesome seats right at the end of the first base line. Emma waited all night to either catch a foul or to recieve a toss from the right fielder.

Quality time with Sara, whose main goal was to come home tan (mission accomplished).

Near the end of the game, Emma's wish came true and the right fielder tossed her the ball he'd caught. We all had our hands up as it came in our direction; bounced off Grandpa and started to roll down the outside of the wall, but Emma reached over and grabbed it. She was thrilled! Earlier in the night she had purchased a ball, so she gave that one to Cal and he was thrilled, too!

It was a great night with all of my favorites.

And it was an even better week with my family. We were so needing to get away and unplug ... we did, and it was awesome!

Our flight home was a bit delayed, so we got in very late Saturday night. However, the night wasn't without celebration as we watched our Cyclones win the Big XII Championship as we were stepping onto the plane. Sunday was busy with getting our lives back in order, and we started the week tired ... the best kind of sun-soaked, memories-made, very-good tired!

playing catch up!

My last post was about winter break, and now we're getting ready to head out of town for spring break! The last several weeks have been super busy and more than a healthy amount of stressful. I am so glad to have arrived at a break that we all need.

It was a lower-key winter for us from a weather standpoint ... just one snow day. We didn't have a ton of snow, but of course it was icy and cold, and just enough for a day off in January!

Also in January, I was excited to be introduced at the Board meeting in my new district. While I'm still sad to leave Plano after so many years, several events over the past couple of months have solidified for me that moving on is the right decision. 

We followed up the Board meeting with some wings! It's hard to get these two to sit together or agree to smile, but they were agreeable on this night, I guess.

The Cyclones have had an awesome basketball season, and we were excited to go see them play in Ft. Worth. It was especially fun to get the win on the road ... we hadn't seen a win at TCU in several years!

Emma played indoor soccer and basketball this winter. Those seasons have now wrapped and we're a couple of weeks into outdoor soccer and softball.

She's also become a super reliable KDAF host and crew member. Most 5th graders particpate in KDAF throughout the the year, but apparently when someone is absent or doesn't show up, the teachers grab Emma to do it because they know she'll do a great job on the fly. I love that they send these pictures!

Emma and several of her friends were invited to the Bluebonett breakfast last month. They had to have read a certain numbers of this year's Bluebonnet Award winning books in order to attend.

Emma also had her last class Valentine's party. This year, she didn't make a box, but opted to collect her treats in a lulu bag.

Sara's team had a fun winter cheering for basketball. Now they are gearing up for tryouts, which will take place right after spring break. Sara has been going to extra tumbling and open gym sessions. I really love her commitment!

This winter she also interviewed for, and was accepted into, PALs for next year. It's a leadership course she took in 8th grade and can take again in 10th. She also applied for a new job that she'll be starting soon at Handel's ice cream!

This past week was Emma's final elementary open house. The 5th graders performed an Indian dance before we visited their classrooms. Emma is a hard worker and a leader at school!

Today the girls got their nails done - spring break prep! 

Tomorrow will be laundry and packing, and Monday is our flight to Florida. I cannot wait!