Last Day of School and a NEW Car!

Today was the official last day of 3rd grade for Olivia and 7th grade for Sofia, even though it certainly didn't feel that way. The entire time that the girls were home due to the Covid-19 virus has felt more like a limbo between actual school and summer. Both girls have had limited school work each day and no contact with friends aside from FaceTime calls and texts. The girls have enjoyed sleeping in each morning, eating breakfast and then doing their school work for the day which normally took them about 1-2 hours total! After they were done with their school work, they could watch something on their iPad/computer, play MineCraft together and/or write their next novel. They spent their time on the trampoline and/or swimming. They also loved spending time making slides of Warrior cats and stories that go along with each character. Olivia had a final WebEx with Mrs. Smith and her classmates on Thursday morning and Sofia had received emails from most of her teachers the week before. Olivia was really blue that the WebEx was the end. It still felt weird that school was just "over" without any real feeling of a finish. Both girls were more than happy to continue sleeping in and NOT do any school work. School was certainly strange, but summer promises to be relaxing and different, as well. We'll see how it goes.

After the final WebEx, the girls "celebrated" with their final day of school and posed for a few photos for me. After the photo session, CK and I drove down to the Sowell BMW dealer to buy a brand new X5! My sweet Mercedes-Benz GL 450 had finally reached the end of our relationship together. I loved that 10 year old car, but I'd promised CK the next big mechanical fix would mean the end of us owning it. Unfortunately, it started deciding when it should start and not and that fix turned out to be a pretty expensive undertaking, so we decided to trade it in for a new car. We'd loved at the BMW X-series a few months ago and I loved the size and feel of the X5. It's smaller than the GL 450 but zippy and fun. We picked out a blue X5 and it couldn't be more perfect! We signed all the paperwork and then our salesman, Xander, took us to a room, opened the door and there was the blue X5 with a big bow on it! It was SO cool! We took a few photos and then I drove it off the lot! So exciting!!

That afternoon, the girls swam and both wanted to celebrate the end of the school year with a cake, which they picked out from Market Street earlier that day. So, after a fun time swimming and dinner, the girls enjoyed some delicious cake and were more than happy with the end of the school year. We hope that the upcoming school year starts normally and continues without a huge disruption in their learning and friendships, but time will tell.

Olivia's final 3rd grade WebEx with Mrs. Smith and her classmates. She was really sad to say goodbye and not get a chance to actually see her friends.

And that's a wrap! The FINAL day of 3rd and 7th grade for these two! So excited!

I tried to get a picture of the girls jumping with joy....this is as good as it got.

Little cute Skipper!

Is there any food?

Skipper and me. Figure he will soon be too big to hold.

Our new X5! SO excited!!

The old and the new....

Goodbye sweet car!

Skipper after a swim in the pool.

Celebrating with a little cake! Congratulations to Olivia and Sofia!

Sweet girls will soon be in 4th and 8th grades! Yikes!

A little flashback to the first day of the school year!

Heading Home with Skipper!

We originally planned on leaving Tuesday morning but the weather was going to be pretty unpleasant on Tuesday and it was going to be beautiful on Monday, so CK decided we that we should leave on Monday after lunch. We were a little nervous how Skipper would react in the plane, since it would be over 5 hours before we'd be back in Texas. CK did plan a stop about 2.5 hours into our trip to break up the flight, let the dogs out and to stretch our legs.

We spent the morning packing up and then enjoyed a delicious chicken enchilada recipe from Connie that the girls loved, so I was sure to get the recipe from her. We loaded up the plane, gave out lots of hugs and thanks for such a great weekend together, and headed for Texas. Skipper, who seems to be uncertain or even fearful of most everything, didn't even seem to notice that we were in an airplane that moved or made a lot of noise! He curled up in between the girls and completely fell asleep. He was great! Meanwhile Buddy sat on my lap in the front seat. He really doesn't sit completely comfortably but he was fine and was more than happy to sleep throughout the flight too.

We stopped in Mississippi to get Skipper to go potty and for all of us to stretch out legs. He actually peed right away and both dogs drank a lot of water. There was a sweet family with two little girls and they had a great time playing and petting Skipper. He was actually quite good and was so happy to be with the little girls. We hung out at the airport for awhile and then we loaded back up and continued on our way to Texas. We made it hope and he continued to sleep like a pro for the entire trip. He was great! We got to the house and unpacked all the puppy things - the crate and Sofia set up the playpen that Casey lent to us. The girls really wanted the puppy to sleep with them, alternating every other night. They both agreed to wake up at 7am to take the puppy out to go potty and since he's so good at cuddling and sleeping with them already, we will see how it goes. We might be crazy for getting a puppy, but the girls excitement and happiness makes it worth it. Let's hope that their enthusiasm continues!!

Grandma with her girls and Skipper!

I can NOT believe how big Sofia is compared to her Grandma! We were just visiting in March and she wasn't taller than her Grandma then!

Buddy is ready for the flight home.

Skipper awake briefly before his long sleep to Texas.

Let the snoozing begin!

Skipper and Olivia.

More sleeping....

and sleeping....

and sleeping!

Skipper's first look at Texas! At the airport ready to drive home.

First night sleeping with Olivia. Went great!

He's just SO cute!!

Mother's Day!

Mother's Day arrived and thankfully the promise of all-day rain didn't materialize. It sprinkled a little in the morning, but was otherwise clear and turned out to be a decent day. We checked in on Olivia and Skipper who were still snoozing in the garage. Olivia said he's slept well and there were no accidents, but she hadn't slept that great. I can't imagine sleeping in the garage would be too comfortable, but I'm so proud of her for wanting to comfort her puppy. We ended up just having coffee and enjoying our morning in our pajamas which was great. I felt like I really needed to take a break from eating! We walked the puppies to the end of the runway again and Skipper didn't seem that interested in walking. He would stop, sit down and watch us until he finally decided to run ahead and join us. He's so uncertain and everything is so new to him, but he seems smart and willing to learn new things. He sure loves his girls and wants to be with them.

We relaxed on the patio until our amazing Mother's Day lunch! CK Sr. grilled steaks, and Connie made baked potatoes, steamed broccoli and salad. It was SO amazing and such a great meal and celebration. Before eating, the girls helped Grandma set the table. Connie is always so amazing at setting a gorgeous table and very creative with how she decorates. She makes each meal feel very special and I think the food tastes better when it is set on a beautiful setting. The table was especially beautiful for Mother's Day and I took a picture of Connie and the girls, since they made it happen. Lunch was so good and the best part was after: sliced strawberries and vanilla ice cream on vanilla pound cake. The girls have actually never had it before and they absolutely LOVED it. I don't think I've had it in years and couldn't believe how delicious it was! Such a great ending to an amazing meal.

Connie and CK Sr. gave me a beautiful variegated pink tulip plant and a thoughtful card and the girls gave me a box of Godiva, a bag of Dove dark chocolates and two of the sweetest homemade Mother's Day cards. They had made them before we left for Florida and were very careful about hiding them so I didn't see them beforehand. They were very thoughtful and sweet and the homemade cards are always the most thoughtful.

The rest of the day we hung out, rode around on the Gator and CK took Olivia up in the Cub. We also loaded up in the Gator and drove over to see the brand new baby colt at Charlie's house across the road. He was SO adorable and his momma was completely amazed at what exactly Buddy might be. She came over to us because she wanted to sniff and figure out Buddy! The colt jumped around and tried to kick up his heels but would nearly fall over. He was so adorable!

We returned to the farm and played with the puppy, relaxed and read and enjoyed a lazy Mother's Day. For dinner we ate the leftovers from Sunny's which was just as delicious as the night before. For bed, Sofia agreed to sleep in the garage with the puppy. Lucky puppy!

One of my favorite pictures of my Mom and me. I miss her so much today and every day.

Grandma and her girls behind the beautiful table setting for Mother's Day!

Sweet girls with Grandma!

Olivia's sweet homemade Mother's Day card! So sweet!

I love her drawing at the bottom.

She wanted to quit piano a few weeks ago and I convinced her to stick it out and we also spent the past Saturday buying and planting flowers.

Sofia's beautiful card! She really worked hard on this card and I love it!

I really love the flowers and bees Sofia drew!

Sofia and her sweet sentiments! Love that girl and am so lucky I'm her Mom!

Skipper hit the lottery with these girls!!

The colt and his Mama!

Mother's Day picture. The girls and dogs and me!

The girls and me!

First family photo!

Cute pup!

Sofia driving like a maniac on the Gator! Love this picture!

Skipper and CK.

Hanging out with one of his girls while she reads.

Time for a snooze.

Olivia and her Papa going for a Cub ride.

Buddy and Skipper...the only time they have ever actually been near each other.