Well hello, neglected blog.

It's been a crazy couple of weeks, most of which I will blog about later, but for now....

We lost a very wonderful family member, my (great) Uncle Roy. He had been battling with cancer for almost 10 years and it was his time. My father put it best when he said that he is happy for him. He truly was suffering and it was no way to live.

Uncle Roy will always be remembered in my mind as humorous, clumsy, caring, generous man with a knack for telling stories. He loved the Cubs and his comfy chair. His house smelled of tobacco (the sweet, unlit smell), even though he gave up smoking his pipe years ago.  He paled around with my dad often and he loved to show up unannounced. He had a special bond with Bear and loved to feed him table food. He was so loyal and attended every event in my life. He was a proud dad of three, always bragging about his children and grand children. He was a fantastic uncle.

So, Uncle Roy, party with the angels and be pain free...

Christmas 2004 with my Aunt Dorothy.

Christmas 2010.

I was in San Diego when I got this sad news. I got home in time to see each of his kids, my cousins, as they came down to assist my aunt with the necessary process. He wished for no memorial or service so we were left to do our own reminiscing. 

The loss of my uncle was sad, yes, but I know it was his time. His body was tired and with good reason. 

Why it is most sad to me is because it is once again reminding me how incredibly small my family is. Our holiday and birthday meals are getting smaller and smaller, setting fewer and fewer places at meals. That makes me so sad....but also a little scared. I begin to think about my own mortality and of course, my parent's. Still spring chickens, in their late 50's/early 60's, it's just so hard to think of them as "old". Them, or anyone in my family, really.

I'm telling you, a pause button in life would be nice sometimes. 

Rest in peace, Uncle Roy.

I don't know anything about a groundhog.

Dustin had to explain Groundhog Day to me today. I guess spring is coming early, or some crap like that. Whatever. We live in Florida and it never gets colder than 50 degrees here. I don't care about the groundhog's shadow.

Life has been flying by in it's typical fashion. Lily started preschool this week. Traumatic, I tell you. More for me than for her, I'm sure. Read more about it here on my mama blog, if you'd like.

I am already obsessing about having to go to San Diego in a a couple weeks for work. I love California and I'm excited to have some free time out there to meet up with my dear friend Jessica who just had a (second!) baby boy a few weeks ago, but being away from Lily gives me anxiety. I don't know that I'll ever get used to it.

I cannot wait for flu season to getthefuckoutofourhouse. Someone in this house has been sick for the past few months and its making me neurotic. (Ok, maybe not making me neurotic because that shipped had already sailed, but it isn't helping the cause).

I really want to start blogging more, and I have so much to get out of my head, but I always get a mad case of writer's block when I sit down to let it out.

I have been dreaming about, where else, Costa Rica these past couple of days. I need some serenity and relaxation. Work is making me crazy.

I didn't really intend on this post being so random but it's working out ok.

The question of, "Where do you see yourself in ten years" is interesting to me. Thinking back ten years ago, I could have never have imagined to have this life that I have today. I'm pretty proud of where I am, stress and all. I hope I'm just as proud in my 40's.

Gross. I just realized I'm only 6 years away from 40.

I need to start going to bed earlier. Good night.

Visiting a bit.

Last weekend my dear friend Jaime and her family came down from New Hamphshire to visit...

{Jaime and her 8 month old, Emma}

 

{At the Old Salty Dog in Sarasota}

They had been planning this trip for a little over a month and we were so excited to spend some time with them. We had great intentions for the 5 days to relax and just spend quality time with them, without a lot of plans. Well, the best laid plans can crumble into a weekend of the stomach flu (for me), so needless to say, our visit was cut much too short.

But, in the two healthy days, Jaime and I were able to escape for pedicures and Starbucks, we all went to our community's park, ate some home cooked meals, and went to Sarasota's Mote Marine Aquarium...

{Lily and Ryan at Mote}

{The stroller brigade- Emma, our friend Susie's girl Taylor, and Lily}

It was still a great visit with a beautiful family. 

It's amazing to me that Jaime and I have been friends for 24 years. We met in middle school when we were only 12 years old. We were inseparable throughout most of high school and have always remained close, through thick and thin. 

Being together now as parents and "grown ups" is such a shock to my psyche. It seems like just yesterday that Jaime and I were out every weekend getting drunk on Budweiser and writing "I <3 So and So" on our notebook that we passed back and forth to write one another letters in, (because, you know, we couldn't have possibly been ok with just talking in between classes or after school). We were every sense of the phrase "boy crazy" and were always into some kind of trouble. (Always the fun kind of trouble.)

What was, and still is, magnetic about Jaime is her soul. She is honestly a rare find. Non judgmental, carefree and easy going. She has supported me through some of the most dark portions of my life, when many friends made themselves scarce, and always had a positive spin to put on things for me. 

I'm thankful for the short-but-sweet visits that we're able to have now, although I miss our more intense, crazier times. I am truly blessed to have so many memories with such an amazing person.

Thanks for the visit, Devine Family. Hopefully we'll all be vomit-free next time around :)

So long, 2010.

Another year gone. More memories made.
January:

My little girl was only 8 months old and had just started crawling.
I was at a crossroads with my job, unsure of what I was going to do.
I was just beginning to get the hang of this parenthood thing, as far as coming out of complete and utter shock.

February:

Our best friends, Drew and Nicole, welcomed their son, baby Ty, into the world.
I joined several other FIFs in Milwaukee for a baby shower.
My job worries were alleviated by getting an offer to be a district manager for my old company.
I helped host a baby shower from my beautiful friend, Susie.

March:

We visited with our friends' little girl, Ryleigh.
We got our new Canon (which I still don't know how to use).
We started planning a trip for 18 people, going to Costa Rica in September.

April:

Lily learned to love the beach and started going to library play groups.
I began planning a one year birthday party.
I began really learning the ins and outs of my new position at work.
We put a deposit down on a brand new house.

May:

My Lily turned one.
I started getting serious about losing the baby weight.
I experienced my first Mother's Day.

June:

Dustin and I had a night away at the Ritz.
We got to visit with Anne Marie and James, our dear friends that live in Jacksonville.
We found renters for our old property (might not sound like a big deal but I've never been so relieved in my whole life).

July:

Our house was almost finished.
Lily started walking...a little.
I went to the Warped Tour and figured out how old I actually am.

August:

Dustin and I turned 2.
We painted. A lot.
We moved.
Lily was really walking now.

September:

Costa Rica. That's all that comes to mind.

October:

We took Lily to her first fall fair at Hunsader's Farm.
We got an early dose of Florida fall weather.
We dressed Lily up twice on Halloween weekend.

November:

I lost one of the best friends that I have ever had.
Lily turned a year and a half.
Thanksgiving did not live up to the hype.

December:

It was a blur, it went by so fast.
We had a beautiful Christmas.
I started dreaming of Costa Rica 2011.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yes, 2010 was a good year in many ways. I never thought we would be able to buy a brand new home or successfully get 18 of us in and out of the country safely, for the second time, and have such a fabulous time doing so. I never thought I would make it through my first year of motherhood unscathed, with nothing but strength coming from it. I never thought I would turn 34...and look half way decent. I never knew I could be so proud of who I am and where I am in life.

There were some definite low points, such as losing Bear and also having some people, that Dustin and I thought were very good friends, shit all over us, but none of which distracted us long enough to scar the entire year.

That all being said, I don't have a significant reason to be glad that 2010 is over, but there is something so refreshing and renewing about a new year. It's a chance to start over, in a sense, and it brings me new found motivation. I never make resolutions, per se, but I certainly have aspirations for the year. I intend on finding a balance in my personal life so I can manage a workout/yoga schedule and find some time for my husband. I hope to budget a bit better and hope to plan for retirement and Lily's future.

I also cannot ignore the excitement of watching this amazing little person in my life grow into a kid. I am hoping for "terrific two's" instead of "terrible two's". I cannot wait for Costa Rica in August, which will just be Dustin and I this year (and perhaps a few friends).

So, bring it on, 2011. I'm ready for more good things, good lessons, and good memories.

Happy New Year, everyone.

A merry weekend.

We had an amazing Christmas, full of family, friends, gifts, and stress. Ok, not really stress but if you know me then you know I tend to get a little...hyper about things. I'm a planner and I like to have everything "perfect".

Christmas Eve dinner was at our house, where we fed 15...

 Dustin made snapper, boiled shrimp and stone crab. I made turkey lasagna. It was all delicious.

The baby entertained us all, of course. We stared at her as though we were all watching the most wonderful Broadway act of all time. She was well behaved and happy.

We were surrounded by friends and family, which is what makes holidays amazing, of course.

And on Christmas morning, we opened...

and opened....

and opened some more...

(that's Ty, our best friends' baby)

...until we went to the next house, to open more...

It was such a fun day. 

For me, I tend to love these days more and more when I reflect on them. Yes, sure, they're wonderful in the moment, but when I sit back, let everything sink in, look at pictures and process, I realize how truly amazing my life is and how truly blessed I am to have this close-to-perfect life. I suppose that's what the holidays are all about: realizing how rich you are, with or without money.

So, at the end of the weekend, was the stress to make everything "perfect" that I put on myself worth it?

No.

It was already "perfect" because of that little red head that couldn't wait to open another "preeesenth". I don't think anyone noticed how clean (or dirty, for that matter) my house was.

Here's to an amazing 2011. 

Noel, Noel...so I took a bus.

If you're from Chicago, you'll understand that title.

Since I've lived in Florida, which is now 24 years, it has always been a challenge to get into the Christmas spirit because it's always 90 degrees on Christmas morning. The only thing that keeps my spirits hopeful every year are traditions that we have built upon since we've lived here.

One tradition that we started in 2008 was Christmas Photo Cards. Noticed I linked you to Shutterfly? Why? BECAUSE THEY'RE GIVING AWAY FREE PHOTO CARDS, Y'ALL!!! {And yes, I am shamelessly writing this post so I can get in on the deal}.

We started the photo card tradition because, well, we like the "look how freakin cute we are" effect. I'm not modest.

In 2008, we used this photo, simply because it was our favorite from our August '08 wedding:

Last year, we used a few photos that my very talented friend Kerri Gagne took when Lily was just 7 months old:

This year we had another friend, Jennifer, snap some shots of us at Historic Spanish Pointe. We're waiting for those to arrive so I can't share yet, plus I'm not ruining the surprise!

As far as style of cards for this year...Shutterfly has so many options, I have no idea which one I'll choose. I love THIS ONE, THIS ONE, and THIS ONE.

And looking around at their other products, if we were having a New Year's party, I love this invitation. So cute.

And THESE make fabulous gifts. I bought one for myself last year and I love it.

So, I'm excited to carry out our first Christmas tradition of the season and get these ordered! I hope everyone is getting into the Christmas spirit and gearing up for food, family, and friends. 

{If you want in on this 50 free Christmas Card deal, click here. It's awesome.}

Thankful Weekend.

Regardless of having these feelings written in this post, I am having an amazing Thanksgiving weekend, filling it with family, friends, food, and a little shopping.

Something magical always comes out of the holidays and even though this Thanksgiving did not live up to my fantasy world expectations, I am still able to see the forest through the trees ( or is it trees through the forest? That always confuses me)...

I am thankful for toddler tantrums...because that means I have a healthy, normal child and was able to conceive.
I am thankful for arguments with my husband...because that means that I have a real relationship that takes work.
I am thankful for annoying family members...because that means I am surrounded by family, the most important thing in life.
I am thankful for gaining a pound or two...because that means I have plenty to eat.
I am thankful for missing Bear dog...because that means I had an amazing pet in my life that made quite an impact on me.
I am thankful for the frustrations of owning a brand new house...because that means we have an incredible roof over our heads.
I am thankful for frustrating day care searches....because that means that I have an amazing job to provide for my family.

Life is full of lessons, as cliche as that might sound, and being able to embrace these lessons is really an important part of everyone's journey. These past couple of months have been more difficult than most, in my reality, but some of the most amazing lessons are definitely emerging from them as well.

Now, I'm off to the store to get ready to watch Florida State kick ass against the Gators! I am SO thankful for college football.

Also, Happy 39th Anniversary to THE most amazing couple EVER...my parents! You are truly inspirational. We love you lots.