Mother's Night Surprise

When Maddy gets home from school on Fridays I always open her backpack right away so I can go through her Friday Folder.  Last week when Maddy's Birthday fell on a Friday and her backpack was set aside and forgotten.  Sunday night, (Mother's Day) I was getting organized for the Monday morning grind and when I discovered this!

I hand written note about how "awesome of a Mom" I am!

... and inside the tissue was this cute little planter made from a single serving milk carton and popsicle sticks.  Thank you Madelyn!  It's beautiful!  I love it!  We'll plants these seeds this weekend!  

Mother's Day

Saturday afternoon after Maddy's Lunar Golf party we packed up and left for Mike's parents' condo.  For the last 3 years we have been celebrating Mother's Day by the beach and the pool with our family.  We also celebrate... you guessed it!!  Maddy's Birthday!!  As well as Grandma's, Uncle Mike's and Uncle Gregg's!

We arrived just in time for sunset!

Mother's Day morning we sipped mimosas and ate a delicious egg & bacon scramble that my brother-in-law made us for breakfast!  Afterwards we exchanged gifts and cards!  I got some Burt's Bees 'stuff' and some new martini glasses. (Just what every Mom needs to preserve her sanity... something to drink alcohol in!)  Grandma got pjs, perfume and gift cards for pedicures.  Auntie Allison got a Kindle!!  She was so surprised!

Grandma, Grandpa, Auntie Allison, Uncle Mike, Auntie Lauren and Uncle Gregg gave Maddy a white gold necklace to commemorate her Golden Birthday.  On it hangs a pretty script "M" and the number "7".  Maddy loves it!  Thanks everyone for such a thoughtful gift to remember this momentous birthday!

Maddy got lots of other cool presents from her Aunties, Uncles and Grandparents.  She's such a lucky girl to have such a loving and generous family!

pool time!

The only picture of me all weekend... this is the perfect way for me to spend Mother's Day... relaxing by the pool with my family. 

Mike & his sistas!

Mikayla is fearless in the pool!

Ahhh, the Gulf was beautiful!  I snapped this right before I ran to jump in the water too!

More cake!  But this time we have 2 cakes and 3 more people to sing to!  Grandma, Uncle Mike & Uncle Gregg too!

Mikayla had had enough with the attention Maddy was getting for her birthday, she was determined to blow out the candles!  Don't worry Mikayla, your birthday is right around the corner! ;)

Then there was Cam the Ham... the whole song, cake and candles thing brought back fond memories for him. He reached up for a taste of icing and just kept going!  The boy was grabbing cake by the handfuls and screeching at anyone else who came near it!  The whole family had quite a laugh!

We had such a great weekend, it's hard to believe that seven years ago Madelyn was a few days old and we were celebrating my first Mother's Day.  It's such a joy to share these precious days together as a family. I am so thankful for my greatest gifts, my daughters.

PARTY TIME!!

Every Golden Birthday Girl needs an extra special birthday party with her friends to celebrate.  Maddy picked Lunar Golf for her party location! 

WOW!!  36 holes of glow in the dark golf fun! 

Maddy striking a pose!

Pizza by Glostick?

Happy Birthday Honey!

Short, sweet, easy, affordable and fun!  Lunar Golf was an out of this world way to celebrate!  Everyone had a great time especially Maddy!

Golden Girl

Our big girl Madelyn turned 7 this past weekend... and it wasn't just any birthday it was her Golden Birthday!

We started the big day with a Birthday Breakfast before school!  At school... Maddy had cupcakes & juice with her classmates and a Cinco de Mayo party in Spanish!

When Maddy got home from school, she had a pile of presents waiting for her!

A keyboard! 

Barbie stuff!

Brownies!  Maddy's favorite!

Happy Birthday Madelyn!  Daddy & I can hardly believe that you are 7 years old!  It seems like only yesterday that we were bringing you home from the hospital!  We love you so much!  HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Here's a walk down memory lane....

Madelyn Ann ~ 7 lbs. 11 oz. 19 3/4" long born @ 5:17 pm

A family of three!

First night at home,  7 years ago.

Beach Day

You would think that because we live near the beach that we go all the time right?  Well, not necessarily, beach days can be challenging with young kids.  I usually don't take the girls to the beach unless Mike  can come with.  This Sunday, the beach was all we could think about so after breakfast we headed over to Caspersen Beach, one of the most beautiful natural beaches in Florida.  Also the Sharks Tooth Capital of the World.  

High surf & high tide!

The sand of Caspersen is very dark.  Many miles off shore there is a prehistoric shark graveyard.  For millions of years sharks have been coming to this area to die.  Over time their teeth fossilize, erode and become this black velvety sand. 

  

We weren't finding many sharks teeth but we did find a live sea star! 

Maddy was too chicken to have her picture taken with it but Mikayla was all smiles!

When the tide & surf are high it's common for tide pools to form.  We love the tide pools, there's always lots of shells and cool things to look at plus you can actually wade in them!  This is a blessing for parents and small kids when the surf is rough!

Occasionally, a big wave reaches the tide pools but the current is nothing compared to the BIGGER waves!

Mikayla sitting in the tide pool next to a shell bed.

It was a beautiful day and the beach was perfect.  So much so that we stayed longer than we intended! 

Aunt Betty

Last week, my sweet Great Aunt Betty left for Canada.  She's been coming to Florida as a snowbird every winter for 26 years, 13 of which I've been blessed to share with her.  My Aunt Betty is my Grandpa's sister and my Dad's Aunt but it wasn't until I was a teenager that I really got to know her.  When I was 19, Mike & I decided to move to the Sarasota area.  We stayed with Aunt Betty & Uncle Jim for almost 3 weeks. They were so welcoming and helpful.  My Aunt Betty fed us dinner every night and helped us move into our first place.  She was a lifesaver.  Sadly, my Uncle Jim died eight years ago but my sun loving independent Aunt still kept coming to Florida without him.  

Every April when it was time to say goodbye it was never sad because we always knew we'd see each other again soon.  Over the last few years Aunt Betty has been getting older and she decided that this snowbird season was going to be her last.  As hard as it was for me to say goodbye to my Aunt indefinitely, I know it was even harder for her.  For 26 years this was her winter home!  Besides me and my Grandpa, she also has a ton of friends here.  She LOVES the beach, collecting shells, crafting, playing cards, eating out for dinner and traveling.  She is in her 80s, still drives and surfs the web.  She is quite a lady!  She's lived a full beautiful life but now it's time for her to stay in Canada permanently.  Her 6 kids, many grandkids and great-grandkids are thrilled that she'll be there year round.  Obviously, they've missed her every winter for 26 years!

Aunt Betty has been such a blessing to me.  I'm really going to miss her.  She is such a wonderful lady.  She's always positive, always understanding and never judgmental.  She welcomed me, Mike and my girls into her life with open arms.  I will never forget how much she helped us when we first moved down.  In a way I am very happy I was able to say goodbye to my Aunt Betty the way I did.  Mike & I have now been married homeowners for 10 years, our girls are healthy and happy.  Mike has a good job, our bills are paid and we're planning our future.  We've come a long way in 13 years and I know she's proud of the life she's watched us build.

In true Aunt Betty fashion, I must remind myself about the bright side.  No, she hasn't passed away.  She's just retiring her snowbird status and she's only a phone call or email away anytime I want to talk to her.  Of course, I'll miss spending time with her but at least she's happy and healthy 2000 miles away.  I guess what has been the hardest pill to swallow is that life in general... moves on, we all get older and change is inevitable.

We love you Aunt Betty and we'll miss you!