Hello Summer!

It's here!! SUMMER!!! School for the cubs ended last week and they are beyond thrilled that it has. Sister Bear was honored for several awards and Brother Bear had an amazing time at his field day. Both enjoyed the excitement of "End of the Year" parties.

We have such a busy summer ahead that I already feel like we have almost no time to relax. I feel like we will blink and it'll be September again. I know that won't be the case, it's just my anxiety talking.

Here's what we have planned this summer:

First up is a trip to Vermont to visit Handsome Bear at his family's lake house. It is a serene place of tech-free relaxation. Cool mountain mornings and sunny adventurous afternoons. Ah! I can feel the stress of the busy work world leaving already. While we are there, we try our hardest to leave the tablets, phones, and TV behind us. There isn't even WIFI connection up there. There is a landline for emergencies and we have cell reception when we are outside the house when its not raining. Handsome Bear opens the lake house for parents and siblings every year, so we have some work to do to get it ready for a season of fun adventures.  We clean out all the evidence of those fury guests who found a way in over winter. Handsome Bear will use brute strength to put out the dock. (It really is scary and amazing that he is capable of doing this.) We make repairs from when the house sits silent for the previous three seasons. Then, we have fun. We go hiking, kayaking, fishing, shopping, play games, grill out, and have a fire at least a few times to enjoy the stunning sunsets I have ever seen.

Secondly, we will swing back by home for a few days of work and luggage shift to then head down to the Outer Banks. That's where my father's family gathers to two cottages that neighbor each other for a week of splashing "Sound Side", relaxation, catching up, occasionally arguing (as all families do), and Sunshine! Our group is roughly 28 strong each year and 90% of the time it is all smiles and laughs. We always eat out as a group one night during the trip and take turns cooking dinners for our massive brood. Since the split, the cubs haven't been able to attend due to scheduling conflicts, but I am elated to say THEY ARE GOING this year! As you can tell, we have a BIG family and that means LOTS of cousins. Thankfully, the cubs are blessed with a lot of cousins like I was as a kid. They are all about the same age and get along great! Sadly, Handsome Bear won't be joining us, but fingers crossed we will be there next year.


Then, right after we get back from OBX, the cubs fly to KS to spend a month at their father's parents' house. There they will do whatever they
do there. I only get bits and pieces of information on my weekly phone calls, but from what I gather, they have a good time. While there, they do have a one week trip to CO to go "glamping" in the mountains. The location is a family tradition that dates back to when their grandfather was a boy. It's very near and dear to that family's heart and I had the privilege to go on the trip once when Sister Bear was a toddler. It was BEAUTIFUL and I understand why it is such a desired location for them.

While the cubs are away, I will be back to my usual busy of work, school, self-improvement, and preparing for the up-coming school year. The cubs will return about two weeks before school starts and then, we will celebrate both birthdays will small friend gatherings.

PHEW! See what I mean about busy!?  It's going to be a time of memories, laughter, love, and adventure! I am pumped and prepared for the weeks to come. What are your summer plans?

Bring on Spring!

Good-bye Winter and HELLO SPRING! I know, I know. I didn't post during winter. In all honesty, the blog didn't make the cut on the priority list. AND THAT'S OK. It's OK to be honest and say that other items on the list have higher priority. However, now that Winter has passed and so have all my busy activities, I am back and ready for flowers, warmer weather, and longer days!

This spring, as I wrap up a class in college and plan for the next class, I am relaxing during this two week break. By break, I mean, catching up on my shows, chores, and motherhood. My children were starting to feel neglected whilst my studies took a front burner place holder in my evening routine. While I learned about grant proposals and how cities maintain sustainability through social, economical, and environmental pathways, my children where learning how to use online math programs, and the development of Colonial Williamsburg.

The sports saga continues as Sister Bear began Ballet and Brother Bear began Gymnastics. Here's where a mom would feel like she failed, but I call it expanding knowledge. Sister Bear wanted to try out gymnastics. While searching the classes, I didn't see an opening.  So I signed her up for Ballet. THEN, there was an opening a few days after I registered her for Ballet.... *sigh* so I signed Brother Bear up for it. (insert sad sister bear) Surprisingly, Sister Bear took to Ballet and Tap Dance like a duck to water. She even decided to continue to Advanced Ballet and has a solo in the upcoming performance next month! So what she felt was a negative start, has turned into something she really enjoys and is proud of. I'll take my mom-win now.

I have shifted my life a little into the housing market. It is about time to take the plunge into purchasing my first home. I have toured a few and had several discussions with the right people. So many decisions....who said house buying was fun....they are wrong. It's stressful. I am always fearful that the decision I make will be the wrong one and I don't like making a mistake on something that is over $100,000.

My green thumb is trying to show this spring. I have planted several types of seeds and crossed my fingers as I placed the covered flat in the window sill. My green thumb hasn't proven fruitful in the past, but I haven't killed the pineapple plant I started from scraps last year! So there is hope.

Travel is in the future this spring. I get to visit with Handsome Bear for a long (much needed) weekend away while the cubs are with their dad. No certain plans just yet, but simply being in the same room will certainly help my heart.

What is your best gardening tip? What travel item do you feel is a must-have? Comment below! Thanks for stopping by.

See Ya Later 2018! Hello 2019!

As we begin to reflect on what happened in 2018, the memories may have been great, sad, or everything in between. For our family, I'd say it was a pretty good year.

Our year in review:

We rang in the new year with my parents watching the ball drop on TV! I was able to catch a pretty memorable video of the last few seconds of 2017.

Then as we got back to our lives together after the holidays with school and work, we decided to spend spring break in Ohio with Handsome Bear and his family. The kids got to meet his parents, siblings, nieces and nephews. Plus, we got to adventure to the Cincinnati Zoo.

As school came to a close, the kids flew off to Kansas for some time with their father's parents. My heart always hurts while they are gone for the six weeks, but it's the agreement that we've come to.  So I try to make the best of it while they are gone. What did I do? I took two classes and went on vacation with my extended family to the Outer Banks, NC.

While the kids were away, they both aged another year. So when they returned, I surprised them with room make-overs and presents!

The next free day we had, I acclimated them back to the East Coast with a trip to our favorite beach to get their sea legs back. A day of sand and surf just felt like second nature and I couldn't be more happier that day. I certainly plan to have more beach trips in 2019.

As summer began to wind down, my parents and I thought that one last weekend adventure was in need before school started back up. So off to the Blue Ridge Mountains we drove! We settled in a cute Air BnB, off the beaten path (really...it was dirt/gravel/slightly washed out roads) and back in the woods. We met with a co-worker and her family to explore the Luray Caverns for the first time and it was awe-inspiring.

Finished Fall off with a trip with Handsome Bear, back to the blue ridge mountains to see my cousin get married. It was an adventure for sure and an instance where Air BnB wasn't as impressive as we had experienced in the past.