March 2020

March 2020, the month the world completely changed.  Well, before it changed we had some fun and now we're having lots of time together, which I think we're all really enjoying.  I am working full-time on our crisis team and that is stressful, but I feel like I'm making a difference.  We're all working from home, and the boys are both doing schoolwork online.  NOT the end of senior year I had in mind for Brennan, but he is taking it so well and I'm not dwelling.  Lots of planning for something special for these seniors maybe later in the summer, so we'll see!

There is a new restaurant in town and we took Brennan.  While we were there, classmates came in with their parents - everyone out to dinner on a Sunday night (again, before everything changed!)  These young ladies have been in Brennan's classes since the 4th grade and now they've all got big plans for college.  It was fun to see them all.

We've taken a few walks and hikes with the dogs.  I'll be happy when the weather is consistently warm though.  It ranges from the 50s to the low 70s.  I'm ready for 75-85!

I took a photo and Bailey tapped me on the leg, wanting his close up.  He's posed for my phone since he was a tiny puppy.  So cute!

Before our Spring Break trip we celebrated Remy's 2nd birthday!

And then we were off to Ft. Lauderdale, for what we thought was our very first cruise.  The world fell apart the day after we flew out and everything was cancelled.  We decided to take advantage of Spring Break and our already being in Florida.  We took a nice family vacation, doing some stuff Thomas and I did last year, and doing some new things too.  It was a really great trip.

We went to Biscayne National Park.

And toured Everglades National Park over 2 days.

We spent a day driving the Keys from Homestead to Key West and back.  I've always wanted to do this and it was fun to show the boys Key West where David and I vacationed for my 40th birthday!

At a state park in the Keys

Right after I took this photo we saw dolphins swimming close to the beach!

And we made it to Key West!

We took an airboat ride in Everglades City

And we spent 2 days at Delray Beach.  It was not crowded so we could be socially distant, and all the restaurants were still open.  Again, no shut-down or shelter-in-place at this point in the US!

We bought and flew a kite!

We enjoyed a ton of fresh seafood!

And then everything changed.  The governor shut down the beaches, and we knew the restaurants would be next.  We changed our flight and headed home to start a new normal.

Lots of cooking together, pool and Jenga, movies, yard work, cleaning, and puppy time.  And unfortunately, a ton of work for me.

My co-workers as I stay tethered to a headset, laptop, and chair all day.

Lots of Zooms with friends though, and that makes everything feel a little closer!

Hoping we see a turn in the pandemic sometime soon so we can see our family in Mississippi!

I had photos taken on a pretty May afternoon for Father's Day.

David was traveling and I thought he would enjoy these photos for his special day.

Wanted to share them here too!

Brennan - 12

Thomas - almost 14

Bailey - 4 months

8th Grade Graduation

6th Grade Graduation 

Our cutie patootie who did not want to sit in this wagon

I have these electronically so if you want a print, just let me know!

Basement Renovation - Phase 4

Well, it's coming right along!

 

I think we're about at a stopping point for now, but I wanted to show you the latest thing we've finished.

 

We hung some great photos!!

 

We decided to turn the left side of the staircase into sort of a family side - the cabinets house a lot of the boys' stuff like their electronics and comic books, etc.  And we hung some family photos.

 

 

Brennan and Thomas, and Donna, Jeffrey, Taylor and Ellie

 

Then we're in the middle next to the Rupps

Then on the other side, Natalie and Danielle and an older photo of the boys I took.

So, the 4 stages of this area in the basement.



 

I'm really happy with the finished look!

David thinks the plant/pot is too big so I might move some things around, and who knows if we'll put anything else on the counter.  But for now, I love the clean look.

 

 

 

On this side of the stairs I've got entertaining and food serving stuff stored.  And stuff for the pool area that we keep indoors.  It's so nice to have it all in one place!

 

We went to an art show last weekend and found 3 prints to frame for this wall below the lights, but ended up moving the art to another space.  After finding the right frames and all, I just really didn't like them here.  David agreed.  We'll keep looking.  It'll take time but there's no rush.

 

And the painting on the far wall above the glass table has been moved too. 

 

 

 

Now we're thinking about what to do at this other end. 

 David's thinking about a chair and table for a reading area.  That might be nice there.

 

 

And possibly some new end tables for the family room area.

Who knows - art on the walls too.

It'll all come together eventually.

 

But for now I'm loving the functionality of the cabinets and counter and am really happy with the decisions we've made.  

 

 

You can see phase 1 and "before" photos here.

You can see phase 2 here and phase 3 here.

 

 

Have a great Labor Day!

 



Family Photos

When Shelly, Natalie, and Danielle visited us in July, I asked my neighbor/carpool partner/photographer friend to take some family photos for us.

 

She did a great job!

 

Here are a few that I've ordered that I wanted to share.

 

If you want to order one or see the full set of photos, please let me know.

 

We're missing Uncle Dave!  Shelly said we could photoshop him in!

 

 

Sisters and Cousins

 

 

The Indiana Boatwrights

Cousins

 

The Boatwright Men

 

Aw!

 

Sisters

 

 

Brothers

 

 

 

I absolutely love family photos!!!