Gift Baskets Rock

My outrageously creative sister
Rachel
Had these waiting for us by our beds
When we got to Florida.


Favorites and essentials.
All wrapped up in celophane.
I loved it.
Made me giddy
I loved it so much.
Who thinks of that?
My rockin sister does.


I can count the number of gift baskets I have ever gotten
on one hand.
But I love them,
and if I love them, wouldn't everybody love one?
I should make gift baskets
for when people come to my house.
Come stay with me,
I will lower myself to the status of copycat
and make one for you!
You should make gift baskets for when people come to YOUR House,
I would totally come and stay with you
if you did.
Then I would blog about you.
Then you would know you were special!

Thanks Rachie.
Very cool.
But then, you always are.



Maybe I should do a Twinkle Bee/ Handi Andi
Gift Basket Give Away.
What do you think?
Let me know.
Maybe I will get with the powers that "bee"
and see what we can do.

Home Again

To market to market

to buy a fat pig.

Home again

Home again

Jiggity Jig.

I feel like this nursery rhyme.

Home again, home again.

I was so excited to come home.

That I was pretty much dancing that jig.

I loved it.

Don't get me wrong.

Had a blast.

Renewed my energy.

Reinforced and strengthened my bonds with my sisters.

Laughed really really hard

at really really absurd things.

Slept in late

stayed up late.

Put make up on and did my hair

EVERY DAY.

But home is home.

And I like my clothing in my closet,

not in my suitcase.

Ryan did wonders with the house

and it was blissful to come into a clean kitchen

and then lay down with the kids

in a clean living room

and take a long nap.

The kids woke up grumpy and whiney

and I had to remind myself for a moment

that I had missed this.

But I did miss it.

All of it.

Even the snot, and the poop, and the whining.

Because that came along with

The squeals and the hugs

and sitting next to Cohen in the car

and having him pet me

and lay his head on my arm

and hearing him softly repeat

my mommy,

my mommy.

And then, he ate most of Holly's cinnamon roll,

and Kenna dumped my purse,

and all three were fighting over my water bottle.

It is

still

good to be home.


P.S. I was blogging from an iphone in Florida (I don't recommend this, convenient, but time consuming.) I have now uploaded pictures on all the Florida posts. Check them out.

Our fourth...and final

My dearest,

We did not lay on the couch all day like I thought we would.
We ran around.
We ate at Crispers.

Oh Delicious.

Then we went to
Park Avenue.
Which was full of boutiques
that were so expensive that I couldn't breath in them.

But they were really cool to look at.
I like beautiful things.

After park avenue we went to Costco.
Had to replace the book that I lost
ON THE FIRST DAY
of my trip.


Didn't even read two pages before it disappeared
into the realms of the unknown

Good thing you put "the book" on my ipod

or I would have been lost.
Really lost.
You know me
and my compulsive need for a book to read at all times.

We then headed to Congo River.
Some may think it is just a mini golf place,
but really,
It is this crazy adventure
where you get to dangle pieces of hotdog
from a string

over a pit of about 15 baby alligators.
When I say baby,
I mean, they are 3 to 4 feet long.
Thats only 1 ft 9 inches shorter than me.
That is some serious alligator chomping ability.
They stay perfectly still.
Statues.
Until the hotdog gets an inch from their nose.
Then they jump and freak out and snap their huge jaws.


Rachel kept warning me not to drop the stick.
I kept rolling my eyes
I wasn't going to drop the dang stick.
Then I was teasing the biggest alligator in the pool
who hadn't moved the whole time we were there.
She told me to drop the hot dog so it barely touched his nose.
The thing freaked out.
I nearly dropped the stick, and I screamed bloody murder.
and the alligator got the hot dog.

We then went to Kevan's Grandma's house for Dinner.
She is a fabulous, fit, and fun 80 year old
She is awesome.
She made us an indoor picnic since it was raining.
The works.
Then she told us all about her Tai Chi classes
that she takes every week
and showed us some basic moves.
I hope that I have a fraction of her coolness level
when I am her age.


His parents treated us to Jeremiah's Italian Ice again.
One more to hold me over until we make it back.

We have to make it back.
Have to.

Can't wait to see you tomorrow morning.
You are a prince among men for picking us up.

XXX OOO

Day 3

Dear Ryco78

I didn't sleep so well last night
Because of my lobster look alike legs.

Ugh.
Why do I burn
Instead of toasting lovely and golden
Like lucky lucky you.

We went back to beautiful St. Augustine today.

There was a lovely antique shop.
With a lovely red pedestal cake plate.
It was love at first look.
It even matches a plate I have.

Lucky for our bank account,
I was able to walk away.
(the over inflated price helped break it's power over me)
But I was sad as I walked away and left it.

We toured Flagler College today.
It used to be a hotel for the über rich.
You know, like us.
Yeah right.
Anyway.

The windows were made by Tiffany


And the lights and clocks were done personally by Thomas Edison.
The windows in the building alone are worth 20 million.
The chairs in the dining area are worth $12,000 a piece.

Let me tell you,
I would not be letting anyone
put their bum in a chair that is worth $12,000.
Let alone college students eating lunch.


I had another waffle cone,
it was just as amazing as the first one.
Really amazing.


We also went to see the lighthouse.
Very cool.

Rachel says that she and Kevan stayed there in a bed and breakfast
and it came with a carriage ride tour of the city
and sparkling cider
and breakfast in bed.
WE MUST DO THIS.
You would love this town.
I sure did.
I was sad that we had to leave.

Tomorrow
is relaxing day for me.
Back at Rachel's.
A little sewing, a little reading, possibly a little shopping.
And of course...


Jeremiah's.
Strawberry Pina Colada Gelatto.
My mouth is already watering.

Now to bed.

I misses your kisses.

Day two...

Dear hubby,

Today I laid on the beach.
I wish I had your boogie board,
The cool one you got in Hawaii.
Well maybe not,
The beach next to ours
is the #1 shark bite beach.
What if the sharks were taking a break
From New Smyrna beach
And came down to Daytona Beach Shores?
Never mind, no boogie boards for me.



We went to St. Augustine next.
wow!
It seems like a different country.
Everything from the 1600's and 1700's
Spanish forts, amazing buildings, cobblestone streets.

These are the gates to the city.
Cool huh?

We have to come back sometime.
The old houses make me want to move here.


I found cinnamon almonds fresh out of the pan
And waffle cones so delicious
That I asked for one right off the iron
With no ice cream, just the cone.

I found so many things the kids would love.

Going back tomorrow for more adventure.
I have such good pictures.
I can't wait to show you.
Miss you

I love your guts.

You know you have the best husband on the planet when...

You get to fly off to Florida

with your sisters
For 4 days.

Yep

4 days

Dear husband of mine,
Today consisted of sleeping in until 9.
Don't be jealous, thats seven our time,
but we were women on a mission.


We had to be at pedicures at 10:30.


Then to Hollieanna's for some primo orange juice.
I might have gotten you a primo orange peeler,


For the primo price of $1.25.
You never know.
We then made our way to Daytona Beach


And the infamous Islander Hotel.
We are facing the beach this time.
Gorgeous view.
Gorgeous sand.
HUGE waves.
I keep turning to tell you things.
I am having a fabulous time,
But I miss you.
Miss me too?
I knew it.
More adventures tomorrow.
Lots of love and tons of kisses.