3 Men & a Mom

Lido Key -Sarasota 2010

My mom's parents both grew up in South Florida and so I guess I can say Florida is in my blood. And luckily for me, Erik LOVES it too! We've been each year at least one time since Jack was born using trial and error and reading reviews to find the place that works best for us. I thought I'd share our experience for other young families with toddlers trying to plan a vacation who may share our criteria.

1. Quick (under 2.5 hours) direct flight from DFW

2. Shallow water that doesn't get deep quickly and isn't filled with jellyfish

3. A resort type location that we can get a shuttle from the airport and never have to leave unless we are walking to a restaurant off site...I don't cook while we're on vacation:)

4. Travel while kids are in school to get great weather, low rates, and more probable complimentary upgrades.

5. Our favorite Florida (beach) weather is April-early May, and then late September-early November.

6. If traveling during hurricane season, get trip insurance for peace of mind:)

7. Powdery, white sand that the boys can run around on all day.

Taking all that into consideration, our favorite location the past couple of years is Southwest Florida anywhere from Clearwater to Sarasota and down to Marco Island.

We have never been to Florida in October but we will be celebrating Jack's 4th birthday at the Sandpearl Resort on Clearwater Beach. Can't wait to make more family memories in the great state of Florida.

2008- Our first family vacation to Destin. Jack looks so tiny!

2010

My camera wasn't functioning properly but this is a picture of my Grandparents and MOST of their great grand children! I think 4 or 5 were not there.

I will update about the party and our weekend in Texas later but I thought I'd share that 47 out of the 59 people in our family were able to be at the party! My Grandad told me that he was looking around the (full) house thinking "just 60 years ago it was just me and Betty" and now 6 kids, 30 grandkids, and 17 great grandchildren later he has this large, wonderful family. He still drove to FBC Stephenville to preach after the party on Saturday so he could preach on Sunday. He says he won't stop until the Lord calls him home. Amazing testimony and example.

1. Trip to Texas this weekend for my Grandad's 80th birthday.

2. Trip to Dallas for a Ranger game vs Tampa Bay

3. Trip to Waco for Baylor's home opener vs TCU

4. Jack turns 4 on October 2nd!

5. Weekend in Waco for Baylor Homecoming

And this is a blog post for the future but long story short. About a month ago Erik and I thought maybe we are supposed to be in OKC for another 2ish years and so we started to plan accordingly. We got paperwork for Jack to start a private school next year at the church we have been visiting, found a house (that I loved) in more of a master planned neighborhood (that ideally would help us meet more friends), and just started to really try and focus on the positives of living here (mainly the wonderful people who live here). God quickly shut the door on the house we both felt like was perfect for us when another couple offered over asking price in all cash. It was almost like God was telling us "be patient, I know the desires of your heart and I'm teaching you all about my perfect timing".

*Before I go on I will share that this is EXACTLY where God intended us to be the last 2 years in order to learn a valuable lesson that consists mainly of 'Life is not about our comfort...in fact, I believe the Bible teaches that following Christ will often be uncomfortable for us'....

That being said, both of us are very tired of feeling like we're forcing our lives to work here. Still no "small group" or sense of "community" or a church to really get plugged in to. I know this is wonderful place for lots of families but over 2 years later we still are struggling with what our life is supposed to look like here. Without giving details (because Erik's job here is wonderful and will be very hard to leave), please pray that God opens the right doors for Erik and that the next move for our family is in the near future OR that God will somehow give us a true peace about raising our family here and that he wants us to be 'out of our comfort zone' a little longer:)

Side Note- Jack's soccer team will not be playing this fall season because SOME of the games may conflict with OU football games. Yea....that did NOT go over well with my husband.

Erik had his 10 yr high school reunion and also Erik's brother and his wife had a little baby girl so we went to Nebraska for a visit! The boys had SUCH a great time. The weather was cool enough to play outside during the day and Nana and Grandpa took them to the Lancaster County Fair which they LOVED.

Nana and Grandpa

We got to see some of Erik's cousins at church

The reunion picnic was so fun for the kids (and adults)!

Erik touring his high school with some friends

The boys with Gigi and Great Grandpa

Meeting baby Chloe for the first time!

We have been doing a lot of grilling and lighter meals during this HOT summer so last week when the temp dropped down into the 90s my boys were asking for heartier meals....I guess 90 degrees reminded them of fall?!?!? So I obliged. Here's a few meals I tried to keep my growing boys fed and happy.

Pioneer Woman's pasta with tomato cream sauce, mini calzones, and caesar salad.

Southern Living's Easy Enchilada Casserole, rice, and salad.

Chicken parmesan was probably their favorite.

Most of you don't get to see Jacob and don't know his personality so I thought I'd post a few pictures that sum him up. Sweet, sensitive, and silly. We laugh at him all.the.time. and often say "where did this kid come from"? haha.

Some of our neighbor's are retired police officers and now serve as President of the Sheriff's Association and they love how much Jack is into 'public safety'. Jack and Jacob patrol our cul de sac and write tickets often;) Mr. Ken and Ms. Cheryl invited us to the Sheriff's Association Expo and the boys couldn't wait to see all things "police". They even had credentials for the boys that said "officer Jake" and "officer Jack"! They also arranged a private tour of all the police transportation and gear with Captain Wyatt. The boys had SO much fun!

Pretty much our philosophy for the summer has been "whatever the wind blows our way" as far as scheduled activities. We literally had NOTHING planned or scheduled all summer so we just hung out and did whatever came our way. About once a week we would go to an indoor bounce place, once a week we would swim with friends, and the other days we would just wing it:) I was surprised that never once did I wish the boys were in MDO.... I did get a babysitter a few times during the day but for the most part we had a great time hanging out and I can't believe summer is over!

At the bounce place playing with Harrison and Reese. Jack and Reece look a little mad that the little siblings are sitting in their toy haha.

Family date night at Upper Crust.

Jacob and his little friend Georgia. He LOVES her and calls her his "honey bee" :) Soooo cute.

Fun news! A Chi Omega sorority sister of mine from Baylor moved to Edmond this summer! Becca, Wes, and sweet little Bailey moved here for Wes' cardiology fellowship and they live less than 2 miles from us. We have loved spending time with them this summer!

We have had a busy few weeks and there is so much I need to blog about but there is something that is far more important to share. Last week we found out that my grandfather (my mom's dad) has a malignant mass in his esophagus. Today he will get the results of a PET scan which will determine if it has spread to other organs in his body or lymph nodes. Please pray that the cancer has not spread. He has been in ministry for 60 years and even though he is turning 80 this week he still drives across Texas to preach every week at churches that do not have a pastor. He has 6 children, 30 grandchildren, and 17 (I think) great grandchildren. If you get a chance, please pray for Dr. James Semple and family.

Pictures of us hearing him preach in Plano before we moved to OK. This was the last time we heard him preach in person...very special.