Bathroom Update & other news...

I'm so excited! Today we are finally getting our frameless glass shower installed!

The bathroom renovation took merely a week, but my inability to choose paint colors and a shower enclosure has kept the project going for over a month now. It was really hard for me to "bite the bullet" and spend the money on a frameless shower, but in the end, it just made more sense to fully update the shower along with the rest of the room.

Once the glass is in, I promise to post some before & after photos. Sadly I didn't take any real "before" photos, but I think my contractor did so I'll have to get copies from him. The best before shot that I have is this...

...which is clearly after they had demoed the shower. Oh well, at least you'll be able to see a difference.

On a totally different topic, last weekend we took the kids to Congo River Golf and had the best time. The weather was perfect - kind of overcast and breezy - so it wasn't miserably hot.

Brian, Payton and I kept score during the game (Brian slayed us), but Parker just enjoyed the mechanics of each hole trying to figure out where the ball should go and where it would come out on the other end if it had a drop section on the hole. He was a sweaty mess by the end of it from running all over the place chasing golf balls.

After mini golf, the boys did gemstone mining. And even though it's just a bag of sand and colored rocks, they absolutely love it!

On our way out, we always visit the gator and turtle pond. I don't know why, but it amazes me that the gators don't eat the turtles. They are like one big happy family.

Turtle yoga

And last but not least, today we celebrate our 14 year wedding anniversary. 

If I really sit and think about the fact that we started dating when we were such immature, wild college students, it amazes me that we knew we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together. Totally a "God thing."

I could not have ever imagined how much Brian would impact my life and influence me to become a better person. He's the most encouraging, genuine, loving person I know. And to know in the depths of my heart that he is a God-fearing, spiritually encouraging, family-devoted, loving husband on top of that... it makes me want to cry.

But don't get me wrong, his crazy quirks drive me nut-so too! ;)

Seriously though, I feel incredibly blessed to be excited about the next 14 years together, and the next, and the next. Happy anniversary Brian. I love you.

Labor Day Weekend

Well, it was a fun, and exhausting weekend, and I'm kinda looking forward to things getting back on schedule tomorrow. I do love a holiday weekend, but this girl is into her routine and too many days out of it her routine and she starts to get cranky.

All of that being said, we had an amazing Labor Day weekend. Fortunately for me, it also includes our wedding anniversary every year, so I always have a long weekend to celebrate "us." It all started off Friday evening when Brian came home with my favorite local Italian restaurant carry-out for dinner and this amazing bouquet of flowers:

Saturday morning, Brian took the boys on a long bike ride while I got sleep in and get up at my leisure. It was SO nice! The boys came home for a little bit and then Brian took both kids up to Parker's gym class. Again, quiet time to myself, which was lovely. I took advantage of an empty house and took down all the summer decor and got down all the fall decoration from the attic (pics to follow in the next post). I felt so accomplished by the time they got home an hour later! Parker then took a LONG nap and Brian fully enjoyed watching uninterrupted Game Day on ESPN while I read the paper and Payton played on the computer.

Saturday night we went out for our anniversary to the best little local Italian restaurant. We had incredible food, enjoyed delicious wine and relaxed while we talked for hours. It was the perfect anniversary dinner!

The rest of the weekend was full of other anniversary celebrations, two different BBQ's at very good friends' houses and some nice family time at the beach.

The boys played so nicely together at the beach (minus a few sandcastle destructions by Parker). They both love it there. They love to get dirty in the sand, run into the ocean, explore shells and seaweed that they find on the beach. It's like a huge, free playground for them! And we are fortunate enough to live only 25 minutes from one of the most gorgeous beaches in Tampa.

The boys played together forever in the sand.

 Brian took both boys out for a swim in the ocean. They sure to love going in the water. Their Mom, not so much.

 They rode cars across imaginary sand raceways:

 And Parker found a new favorite "hang out" spot!

We bring this huge painters bucket and fill it up with water. The boys use it to wash off their hands, fill up their buckets with water, or whatever else they need water for. This time, Parker decided to make it into a mini jacuzzi.

 

Overall, it was a wonderful weekend and we made lots of memories that I will treasure for years to come! Happy Anniversary honey. Thanks for making it so very special for me. And Happy Labor Day everyone! Now... let's all get our "Fall" on! You know what I mean... fall decorations, pumpkin-scented candles, cooler temps, baking, scarves, jeans... bring it on!!!