Today we spent the afternoon helping inspect and sort food donations with Feeding Northeast Florida. After all of the amazing things we have been privileged to do lately, it felt like something we had to pay forward. It was a fulfilling experience, and I can’t wait to sign up again.
Tag: christina
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July 23
Christina and I broke in the new paddleboards this morning, and I’m so glad I made that impulsive purchase a week or so ago. I had so much fun hanging out with her, and I’m finally starting to feel a little more confident with the boards. I can’t wait to go out again.
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June 22
It’s embarrassing how infrequently we go to the beach when it is as close to us as it is. But we made it today for a record-setting hour and a half. Too much longer than that and the sand would have been scalding to walk back to the car on. Next time we go, I will have to suck it up and go earlier before the sun tries to murder my feet. It was so refreshing in the ocean. I kinda can’t wait to go back.
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June 14
We scratched off another adventure card and found ourselves on a private flight tour over Jacksonville. It’s something I didn’t even know you could do, and it was awesome! The pilot took us over our house, but I had a hard time getting oriented from the sky, so I couldn’t find it. Billy saw it, though! It was cool seeing landmarks from above, but it was also cool to hear the conversations the pilot had with flight control. At one point they were telling the pilots to steer clear of the “humans falling from the sky.” Apparently there were skydivers in the area. It was one of those once-in-a-lifetime things that I feel so lucky and privileged to have had the opportunity to do with my family. And that we are. I have to remember to pay some of that back into the universe.
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June 4
I’ve been trying to get past my frustrations with my lack of progress in running, and I started a new training plan. Turns out the new app isn’t compatible with my current watch (which I purchased more than six years ago). That has thrown the whole plan off from day one. Even though my watch does work well otherwise, I decided to splurge and get myself a new one. I’m excited to get it tomorrow and have full use of the app. I’m also excited about running again. The parts of the plan I’ve been able to do have really lifted my spirits. Totally worth it.
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May 28
Christina had her dress rehearsal for Sunday’s recital this afternoon. It’s so cool watching Christina grow into her dancing, especially knowing how much she loves it. It was a five-hour long rehearsal, which probably irritated many parents, but this is one of those mom things that I’m thrilled to get to do with Christina. Just look at her!
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May 26
Christina did a little something with her hair today. I think it looks so pretty. I’m not sure how it will hold up in the pool, but I guess we’ll see. And now I guess it’s back to business.
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May 25
We cracked open the Florida adventures cards I got for Mother’s Day and had our first adventure at a splatter room in Gainesville. I still think we came out looking way too clean, but it is thoroughly satisfying to throw paint around a room for an hour. I will not say we left with works of art, but we did leave in a good mood.
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May 21
Christina had her science fair today and it was really cool! Everyone in fifth grade was assigned an experiment and had to present their methodology and results to an audience of milling parents. The demonstrations, presentations, and visuals were very well executed, and the kids really knew their stuff. They answered all my oddball questions without batting an eye (or even rolling an eye). And there were some neat experiments. One of Christina’s friends built a solar oven and baked cookies in it! Christina’s experiment had to do with circuits and which circuit operated faster – a fan or a light bulb. Everyone guessed light bulb, but Christina’s experiment proved us all wrong! You can’t argue with science!*
*Unless you’re a Republican.
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May 20
Christina had her fifth grade graduation today. It was a nice ceremony. Christina did not seem engaged, although she did give a speech with a couple of her classmates, and she did allow me to take one picture at the photo booth (but with no props). She had ordered an outfit in advance, but then didn’t wear it. She said it didn’t match. We offered to take her home afterwards, but she said no, which pissed off her sister, who would have gotten to come home with her. Even with all this, it was a good ceremony, and I think Christina appreciated it despite herself. Couple days left and then we’ll officially be out of the elementary school era. Something about that makes me sad. But I’m also excited to see what comes next. Proud of both my girls.
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May 11
Had a really good Mother’s Day. Colleen came over with the boys for a bagel breakfast and then the girls and I went out for haircuts. They all came out great, but Christina was disappointed with her straightened hair. Lesson learned on that one. Billy and the kids gave me this really neat set of scratch-off cards for different places in Florida, each with something to do there. I’m looking forward to making our way through them. As usual, I can’t believe the weekend is already over. They go too fast.
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May 5
Christina showed up at the dance studio for picture day but walked out as soon as she walked in, asking to go home. We missed her scheduled picture day because we were out of town for cheer, and when we got there today, she was surrounded by little girls in matching tutus and she felt completely out of place. So we came home and did the shoot ourselves. It was her idea to shoot in her room, which just seemed kind of perfect. It’s the epitome of her. I had fun doing this with her, and I’m kind of glad we decided to come home.
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April 26
Christina had another great day of competition today. “Let It Be” won first in the category, second in the level 1 small group category, and was one of only three teams in all of level 1 that received a nomination to go to the world championships in NYC in July. She was so excited, as well she should be! I’m so proud of her.
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April 25
We gave this self publishing kit to Christina for her 10th birthday. She loved the idea of it so much that she was afraid to use it in case she messed it up. She wrote a bunch of stories, but none of them seemed good enough to publish. In the end, she decided to use a series of stories she wrote a few years earlier: The Collections of My Friend Zombia. She literally spent more than a year transcribing the stories onto the provided pages and then illustrating them. She finally finished it about a month ago, long after I’d given up hope that it’d ever be finished. Somehow she’d managed to hold on to all the paperwork that went along with the kit and we managed to get it sent off. It arrived today and it is really the work of a true artist. I say that as the artist’s mother, knowing full well that I am biased, but I love it. It’s a story about a girl and her zombie friend, and another friend who can’t handle the idea of being friends with a zombie, so she blows herself up at the mall in front of both of them. And they live happily ever after. Well, some of them do.
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April 19
It was a busy day. Gym for a run this morning, then food shopping, dyeing eggs (we tried the Cool Whip method this year with marginal success), and then I went out for pizza with Lauren and Monica. While I was out, Robin and Billy baked jelly bean sugar cookies that are actually quite tasty! I’m looking forward to a relaxing evening from here out.
Year in Photos 