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!

February 2020

February!  My birthday month and yet one of my least favorite months of the year.  Maybe if I lived somewhere warm I'd feel differently!

We had a ball with our International Trivia night.  Our wine club and other friends.  And lots of items collected for Brighter Days shelter.

After a day in Bloomington with girlfriends (the salt cave was a great experience!), the guys took me to Revery for dinner.  It was a delicious time with all 3 of my guys!

 Reminiscent of my early years with David when he and Don would do math when we'd go out to eat, the boys and David now do this when we go out.  Thomas started this one.  It was really sweet for me to see.  Like grandfather, like father, like son.

Friends dropped off gifts including my favorite - chocolate covered strawberries, Prosecco, cheesecake and other pampering treats!

 King Remy

It's been a really tough few weeks at work on the HR side but it was great to get together with our friends Kelly and Scott and tour the Inn at Irwin Gardens, enjoy a glass of wine, and a relaxing Friday evening for Valentine's Day.

Amber hosted a super fun Galentine's Day afternoon at their homestead.  It was so beautiful watching the deer play in the field outside the lodge, with just a little bit of snow falling.  Here is my view driving in.

You can't go wrong with a mimosa bar!

And we shot Parks and Rec (tv show) themed hearts to determine which wine from the wine exchange we won!

I hosted our second Accessories Swap.  I posted the one that I hosted with Ginger on facebook and we had soo many comments.  So I opened this one up and held it at our church.  It's a really great event!  Jess came and did Beauty Counter facials too.

Remy in the (rare) February sunshine.

Bailey is a master poser - has been since he was a puppy.

 Speaking of Bailey, on the 28th we celebrated the 6th anniversary of us choosing Bailey as our new puppy.  We would pick him up 3 weeks later after spring break.  To recreate the photo, David even put on the same jacket!

The boys are still doing their internships - about 13-19 hours/week.  They're both doing IT roles.  We especially love that we get to see Thomas 2-3 times a week.  He wanted to discuss some Intranet issues he was running up against with Brennan.  I had to capture this.

 We were pretty worried about Remy this past weekend because he was very sick.  We rushed him into the vet on Saturday morning without an appointment and luckily they took care of him.  The blood results show pancreatitis.  It can be very bad for dogs (as well as humans) so we'll be changing his diet which he won't like but we want him to have a long healthy life!

He's feeling much better today!

David and Brennan are off to Purdue for Brennan's Purdue's For Me event for admitted students.  It's getting real, folks!

Have a great March!

January 2020

January 2020 was the mildest I remember in Indiana, and I am not complaining!  We kicked off the year with a trip to Perfect North with Brennan to do some tubing.  My goal was to tube every path, no matter how high.  I did it and was DONE!  Fun day with the guys.

Our friends Mike and Mary gave us homegrown popcorn for Christmas and I ordered the family an Atom Popper which makes wonderful popcorn.  I've enjoyed it a lot.

Our Wine Club toured Bear Wallow Distillery in Brown County and went out for dinner.  It was a fun way to start the new year.

Karen and Laura with our tiny tasting cups!

Ginger and I hosted an Accessory Swap.  What a hit!  The unswapped items went to several places in town including Brennan's high school's Prom Program - dresses, shoes, and accessories for young ladies who may not be able to afford everything for Prom.  Also went to a place for women who are interviewing to enter the work force.  We're doing another one in mid-February.

Litwits, our co-ed evening book club, discussed our 80th book over Thai food.  We read "The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek".  In our 10th year now!

This little boy turned 18 on the 18th!

Thomas came home for us to celebrate Brennan's Golden Birthday.

Also that week, Brennan found out he got in to Purdue with a full tuition scholarship!  We are so proud of him.  He's committed to Purdue, has signed up for housing, a full-day visit and orientation in June!

Speaking of birthdays, Bailey turned 6 last month!  They had a lot of fun opening the present of treats.

King Remy, never more than a couple of steps away from me.

We have a dog walker for when David is traveling or in Indy and I can't get home in the middle of the day.  Lisa loves the boys.  Here is a recent photo of Remy that she has submitted for a Pup Smiles contest.  So cute!

 We had dinner at Hotel Indigo the other night and Miles greeted us and posed for photos and treats. Hard to believe he's already 12!

And finally we hosted an International Game Night with friends.  Ex-pats and expert gamemasters Glyn and Carol led the event with scores on the tv and lots of competition.  We had a great time.  We served a variety of international foods.

Including this trifle that I made, including homemade custard.  A great night with friends!