Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Coffee Shoppe and some Lip-Syncing



Recently, the majority of the fam stole a weekend away to the Dizzyworld area of Florida....just to take a break from "normal" life and sit back and relax for a bit.  (We missed you so much, RaeandJoseph!)
One of the more enjoyable evenings while we were there was just hanging at World of Coffee and ice cream shoppe. ....

which also had tea.....why did I not buy this sign!?!...




Our coffee and ice cream cone maker, Mr. Congenial...


To indulge or not to indulge... that is the question...






No text messaging here...


A whole lotta sharing going on...



Is she not a little elf !?!....



High school sweetheart...both with sweet hearts....






And somehow, during this hang-out session, the conversation took a turn to competition (are you surprised??)...lip-sync competition to be exact.  And in between the walk from the coffee shop....

Sidenote:  this sign is totally incorrect!  This pic is a depiction of the
right way!...

I think Christa agrees...


...and back to the condo with just enough time for the kids to get in their jammies, songs were decided and moves were practiced...and here, for the sake of posterity, are the amateur videos of the entertaining acts....





Somehow, Mish and Charlie turned into Part I and II...







And in true competition form, we were going to decide a winner,
 but in this case we all agreed...
everyone came in First Place!

p.s.  
notice I didn't partake...
I had all my moves down for a 
Proud Mary rendition,
but I had left my Tina Turner wig at home...oh well...
maybe next time!







Saturday, December 5, 2015

The Holidays Have Begun

 The menu was planned and divided up as to who was making what, names were drawn for the gift exchange, schedules synchronized (who can be where when), St. Augustine has been lit-up, the Holly Jolly Holiday Trolley is making its rounds, and our excitement continues to grow.  The holiday season has officially started! 

 Which made me look up the definition of holiday..."a day...on which ordinary business is suspended..."  In light of this paraphrased definition, I think everyday should be a holiday. 
SUSPEND ORDINARY!
Let each day have a smidgen of extra-ordinary in it!  Find it, create it!

 However, on the flip side of that extra-ordinary coin, right now I want to bask in the ordinary. The simple parts of the days of my life that bring pleasure, satisfaction, joy.  With Thanksgiving now history and Christmas just around the corner, I want to remember to take note of small events of each day that total up to a great big whole.  A whole lotta love!  Such as...

 Smiles...


 Nature...






 Architecture...






 Forever Friends...


 Ice Cream Shoppes...


 Triceratops...


 Projects...


 All things Gator...





 Birthdays...


 Family and Friends...


...just to name a few!

 So as we approach the date of the most celebrated birthday ever, remember to hone in on all of the ordinary events in your life.  Don't let them pass by unnoticed.  Because as you reflect back on them, you'll realize the the ordinary is in reality extraordinary!


And at this moment the ordinary has been suspended as the SEC championship game is on.
GO GATORS!
in light of the above definition...
Happy Holiday!




Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Fall, Family, Food, Friends = Asheville Part II



Beautiful Asheville


Always encouraging


Can never get enough of you!
But we sure tried in just a few short days..

Cramming so much in...in a relaxing sort of way!
The perfect combination.

and speaking of combination...

These two guys ruled the table 


at 




but this girl


spent some time


also.
(P.S. the green heart on her wrist is Jayce's!)


In keeping with the relaxing mode,
there was food, food, and more food


with long meals spent around the table; no agenda
except to spend time together.


Fortunately,
cat head biscuits, and let's not forget the sangria,

 my Timberlands 


did get some action.


And let's not forget
the rainy day


meetup with friends

(oops...I missed out on the handhold in the last pic :)


where leisure once again ruled...

(notice incognito Joseph in the background :)


Rachel and Joseph,


it was so great spending time in your world


 and we can't wait to
head to your mountain home again!


P.S.
I would be negligent
 if I didn't highlight the
next photographer of the family...


and to take the time to give a shout out
to the 
DellaVecchia's
who needed to stay home and take care of 
sick wee ones.
We missed you guys!!!!
But now that everyone is healthy...
when's our next road trip?!?!



















Thursday, October 29, 2015

Healing Powers, Asheville Part I




I am a city girl by birth, but, most fortunately, I've had mountains in my life from the beginning... the Watchung Reservation and Poconos in my childhood...oh yes, Harvey's Lake! thank you for such wonderful memories!..., the Catskills, Delaware Water Gap and Voorhees State Park in my teenage years where a lot of exploring took place and Roundabout by YES ("mountains come out of the sky and they stand there"!) would be blasting on the cassette as the they came into view on the road trip out of the city. And, of course, the beautiful Smokey Mountains in my adulthood.  As Christa put it quite eloquently this past week, "A part of my heart belongs here!"  I so agree!


Recently I read a study that showed pain medication was reduced by 30% for hospital patients who were exposed to nature.  I so believe that.  Such powers are held by grandiose mountain ranges to tiny berries growing on a tree.  Again a Christa quote, "Healing happens here!"  Christa, all that money that was spent on the study... they could have just asked you...lol!  There is truth in those words.



Off to experience the power of nature...



Always the gentleman...





 My Timberlands were jealous...


And the challenge of rock-skipping


 caused Robert to risk his Jordans...
   


If nature reduces the need for pain meds by 30%,
what percentage would you guess that family/friends
further reduces the need....


And I don't think a study is needed
 to prove that fact!

Now, enjoy a great song...