In Another Life...

On Monday Jackson and I met my college room mate Sonia in St. Augustine for the day. I love St. Augustine! I try to convince Ryan all the time that we should live there!


I love this garden shop and stop here every time- Here's Jackson standing by my new theme for this year, Live Simply!





We stopped at The Inn on Charlotte to have our picture taken- this is the B&B Ryan and I went to when I was 3 months pregnant to celebrate. I took J here on his 1st birthday, and now it has become a tradition to stop and take a picture everytime we are here. I'll have to post them all one day, but for now here we are, January 30!


I have been going to St. A for years, literally, and every time I go I find something new that I love. While walking on a side street, we stopped at this little store called "The Way We Were." Now you know, if you know me well, that I truly believe I was born in the wrong era and clearly should have been born in the 1950's. (Yes, I am pretty much anti-feminist, but that's another post for another day.) I love the 1950's- everyone was friendly, lived for their families and community, and the world was safe. So in this shop was everything from the Victorian Era up 'til the 1960's- wedding dresses, jewelry, shoes, hats...like dress up for a grown up. The owner is like a talking history book and every single thing you looked at she could tell you ALL about it. As soon as my inlaws come and watch Jackson for the day I am going back down there for an entire day trip! I would love to dress up everyday, vacuum in heels, make big homemade dinners every night with my beautiful, spotless apron served at 6 pm. In another life, of course, because my patience level and my husband's work schedule just won't allow that. Oh yes, and wonderful pink knockout roses would grow all over my yard.



I love the mystery of old cemeteries. I always try to read the old tombstones and figure out how they passed away. I have no idea why I find it interesting!


Sonia and Jackson standing in front of the Love tree- two trees growing into one!

We finished our day at an old fashioned ice cream shop located in the back of an old drug store. I don't know which was my favorite part: the country decor with bright red cabinets, the live-in-cat-adopted-stray named Brutus, or my coffee cappucino milkshake. Or the sounds of Phil Collins and Hootie and the Blowfish coming from a small radio with the windows and doors open, letting the beautiful weather inside. I love little shops like this! And you know I love cats.And my kid. Heaven!




In ANOTHER another life, I have convinced Ryan to buy a wonderful Victorian B and B in downtown St. Augustine....ok that's as far as that can go because we all know THAT isn't happening. :)

Growing Up Outside

I say this all the time on here, but I am so glad Jackson loves being outside and I want to encourage it as much as I can. The weather has been wonderful so we've been doing all kinds of fun stuff around town. My favorite thing to do in Jax is the zoo- I love it! We met our friends there on Wednesday!




Checking out the gardens and feeding the Koi fish.



Jackson and Vivi on the Trout River! So pretty!

And..



I also posted some pics from J at the park this week- one of HIS favorite things to do around town. I like it just as much because now he is passed out while I eat cookies, drink hot tea, blog, and watch gross shows like infested or reality shows on MTV. On a Friday night. I.AM.SO.OOOLLLLDDD.

Have a good weekend!:)XOXO.

Wonders of Little Boys and Girls.

“Play is the highest form of research.”
― Albert Einstein

“All of us are products of our childhood.”
― Michael Jackson

“I have found the best way to give advice to your children is to find out what they want and then advise them to do it.”
― Harry S. Truman

“Childhood is the one story that stands by itself in every soul.”
― Ivan Doig

“Childhood is the most valuable thing that's taken away from you in life, if you think about it.”
― Heather O'Neill


(How do you occupy 2 toddlers for twenty minutes? Give them stickers!)


“In a child's eyes, a mother is a goddess. She can be glorious or terrible, benevolent or filled with wrath, but she commands love either way. I am convinced that this is the greatest power in the universe.”
― N.K. Jemisin


xoxo.

Oh, We've just been livin' the dream...

Ok, this is without a doubt the longest post I have ever written. I'm cramming a bunch of different updates/events/pics into one so I can finally stop saying 'last week' or '2 weeks ago.' If there is no real transition between each picture I am excusing it with this sentence! We have been having the best time spending time with friends and eachother and trying to spend as much time outside with the best weather. Ready for the post? Here we go:
1. I have the best friends ever. The end.
2. I should seriously consider becoming a personal trainer because in the last 72 hours I have shown Jackson's ENTIRE Gymboree class parents/teacher how to do my favorite excerise move ever, as well as a friend I ran into at the mall. Yes, right in the middle of the mall. A few years ago I would have been embarassed but now, not so much.
3. I have to give a SHOUT OUT to my awesome husband for being the best dad ever lately. We have been doing so many fun family things (hence why I haven't been able to update this blog in a timely manner), including the decision to expand our fam! Not with a baby. Ha. Did I get you? Meet our new beta fish Gru, and his most expensive beta fish home ever.


Ryan had off MLK day and the weather was perfect (again)! We rode our bikes across the street to Tijuana Flats and had lunch. There is a small park with a kayak/canoe ramp that we stopped by on the way home. It was gorgeous and I love showing Jackson God's beautiful creations!



I had to put one in sepia, my favorite.

Last weekend Jackson went to his friend Olivia's birthday party at 02B kids. I've never been before and we had so much fun! The little girl in the pink dress was the birthday girl. Jackson and Olivia are in the same preschool class but about a year earlier had been in the same Gymbore class. Jacksonville gets smaller while you are getting oder I swear!



About 2 1/2 weeks ago I stopped letting Jackson have afternoon naps. I have been dreading it since he turned 2 and I am lucky I got 3 whole years! But having him yell, "Mom! Whatcha doing out there, Mom? What show you watching?" at 11pm and then waking up at 6am everyday got old quick. So now he is going to bed around 8 and up around 8 and it is lovely! Except when he was just to much fun some days and I catch him sleeping in the most awkward positions. I was pushing him in the swing from behind and all of a sudden he stopped talking. I looked to the front and he was sleeping sitting up while swinging(back not touching the swing!) Of course when I ran to get my camera he had leaned back. Still had to document!:)

Last night we had a wonderful time at the Copeland's cookout. Here is their 8 month old baby Aiden, and Jackson being a rockstar!


Today we spent about 10 minutes trying to get both balls down from the trees. Sorry Ladies, the handsome man in red is taken.

After the ball in the tree fiasco and Ryan complaining that he was now so hot, we randomly decided to hop in the car and take J to his absolute favorite place in the world, the beach!




When we got home from the beach, we rode bikes to the lake and fed the ducks. Jackson and I let Ryan watch the football game and then picked up Cracker Barrel for dinner. CB makes every day better!:)My entire house was asleep tonight by 8:10- that makes a Mommy even happier!:)

Have a great week!