Flashback Friday: First Father’s Day Celebration
Brina and Karlie laying in their on a sheet in the shape of a heart. Happy Father’s Day Dad!
Today we are flashing back to about 10 years ago for Jake’s first Father’s Day with the girls. It was wonderful to celebrate this special day with Jake and the girls. He is an awesome Dad to the girls. They love their Daddy very much. He took great care of me throughout the rough pregnancy,12 weeks of bedrest, followed by NICU, and sleepless nights helping with the kids.
Thankful for this amazing man to live life and raise our kids with. He is loving, kind, patient, generous, and so much more. Jake has always taken good care of us. He knows how to keep life exciting. Jake is always ready to give a hug, encouragement, or smile.
Brina gift. She wasn’t sure about the blue tissue paper stuffed into her pjs.
Brina in a gift bag with tissue paper. One of Daddy’s greatest gifts!
Karlie is a little concerned about being in a bag with tissue paper. Another one of Daddy’s sweet gifts!
Jake playing and talking with Brina.
Happy Father’s Day Daddy! We LOVE YOU!!!
Such a fun day everyone needed a little nap! Jake and his sweet little girls!
Travel & Vacation: Homewood Suites & Paddington Movie (Atlanta, GA)
Swimming at the pool
On a recent trip to Atlanta, Georgia we stayed at the Homewood Suites. The girls were begging to go swimming so on the first day we were there we wrapped up early and headed back to the hotel so they could swim. It was in the high 70’s that day, however, they had just filled the pool a couple days before we arrived so the water was freezing cold. Both kids got into the pool, but Brina was done after a few minutes. Karlie stayed in a little longer, although it wasn’t much fun swimming by herself. The entire time we were at the hotel we didn’t see one other person in the pool….I wonder why?!
Since we scrapped our pool time activity we decided to look for some other activities that we could do together that night. We headed back to the room to re-group and figure out what we wanted to do that evening. While the girls got dressed Jake and I made dinner in the hotel room. It was nice having one with a fridge, sink, dishwasher, microwave, and oven so we could eat at the hotel!
Jake found a movie theater nearby where you can get movie tickets for $3 each and they were showing some good kids movies so we decided to check it out. It was only a few miles away inside a open shopping mall and market. We chose to watch the movie Paddington with the girls at the Venture Theater.
It was a cute movie. I seriously cannot remember the last time our family went to the movie theater so this was a special treat for the kids. Usually it is so expensive just to go to the movies so we usually wait until it comes out on video. It was a nice activity for the four of us and only cost $12! The kids enjoyed the movie. Jake and I had a couple good laughs too. Thankful for a fun evening with the family. Sometimes even the best of plans don’t go as expected so it’s always a good idea to have a Plan B.
Ready for the movie to start
Karlie is focused
Our kids typically don’t sleep in very late so one morning after breakfast we spent some time playing games until the place we were going to that day opened. During the evenings after dinner if we had time and everyone wasn’t too tired we would play some card games too. It’s always a good idea to bring card games because you never know when you’ll have a few minutes of down time to relax and have fun.
Karlie relaxing on the couch at the hotel.
Brina setting up the game
It didn’t take them long to crash after a fun filled day in Atlanta!
The “Travel and Vacation” series is an insight into our trips together as a family and ways we relax. Life is short and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to build memories with family and explore of of the most amazing places during our time away. Explore with a good attitude, look for fun, and it will be an awesome trip jammed packed with positive memories. It is refreshing having some time away from the regular routine. Make it a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet new people and learn. You just might see or try something new that takes your breath away!
Flashback Friday: Exhausting Day
Must have been an exhausting day!
Our Flashback Friday goes back to April 2005 when the girls were almost 2 months old. Jake and the girls were playing while I was making dinner. When I came back to check on them this is what I discovered. Everyone was napping peacefully. Must have been a busy day for the crew. Maybe it is all those middle of the night feedings interrupting our sleep.
Thankful for my family and the blessings in my life. They look so peaceful when they are sleeping. Those first few months were especially tiring for Jake and I. I am not sure how he did everything. He got up every night to help me with feeding the girls and then go work a full day. There weren’t a lot of parties and late night fun activities other than taking care of babies during this season of our life.
Vacation: Swimming with the Turtles in Barbados
Swimming with the turtles was an incredible experience! This guy was so close several times I could have reached out and touched him! On our sixth day of the cruise we had the opportunity to visit Bridgetown, Barbados. Today was one of my favorites because we were able to relax together as a family and we were able to experience some amazing new adventures for the first time. Like many of the other Caribbean Islands we had visited on our trip Barbados was a plantation culture, cultivating primarily tobacco, cotton, and sugar cane. The English settled Barbados after the Arawaks were gone with the primary agriculture crop being sugar cane. They built an amazing defense system of 26 forts along the coast of Barbados. Barbados gained their independence from Britian in 1966, however, the British influence remains evident. There are a lot of great activities to enjoy while on the island of Barbados from touring the wildlife reserve to seeing the home of the Green Monkey to snorkeling with turtles, sting rays and more in one of the great locations around the island to shopping or relaxing at the beach. Barbados had beautiful turquoise blue Caribbean Island water that you could look down and see to the bottom of the ocean floor. It was a great place to swim, snorkel, and see all kinds of neat sea life.
We had a more relaxing day planned in Barbados. It was our day to spend at the beach swimming, jet skiing, snorkeling, relaxing, and more. I didn’t learn as much history about Barbados since we basically took at taxi ride from the boat to Blue Monkey beach (which is not on the tourist map if you go to Barbados but I highly recommend the beach). Jake, Amber and I swam out a little further from the swimming area and had the opportunity to swim with turtles, sting rays and a variety of other fish. It was such a neat experience looking down or beside you and seeing a turtle or sting ray swimming right next to you. There were several times I could have reached out and touched the turtle. I am thankful for the water camera we had (thanks honey) with us so we could share these pictures with Brina and Karlie. We have had fresh water turtles at home before but to swim with one in the ocean was a memory that I will never forget. I do have to admit the swim out to see the turtles, sting rays and fish was easier then the swim back to the beach. If you decide to go to Blue Monkey Beach and swim out a little further to snorkel on your own I recommend you take at least one or two other people for additional fun and to have someone to swim with you.
It was nice spending time swimming and relaxing at the beach for several hours. Another activity we did while were were at the beach was ride on jet ski’s. We had three jet ski’s with Lee and Becky, Josh and Amber, and Dad and I riding on a jet ski. After being out for only a few minutes we looked over to see Amber hanging off the jet ski quickly followed by her and Josh crashing, it was an interesting to watch. We found out that flipping a jet ski in the ocean was not a simple task, but we managed to get it back upright. It took us a little bit to figure out how to steer with the waves and not crash but by the end I think everyone had a better handle on it. I think Lee and Becky were the only ones that didn’t crash their jet ski. Dad and I felt the jet ski tipping over one time and bailed off so we didn’t have to flip it back over in the water. We had fun racing each other. You can get the jet ski’s going pretty quick. Bouncing off the waves, feeling the wind in your hair, and the spray of the water hitting your face was a lot of fun. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed speeding across the ocean on a jet ski. Having an opportunity to experience the adventure with family made it even more memorable.
If you ever have a chance to go to Barbados check out Blue Monkey Beach and what it has to offer. The jet ski’s were a little more expensive but we only had to paid $5 to rent a snorkel mask to swim out to the turtles and sting rays. Here are a few facts about the beautiful island of Barbados:
- Capital: Bridgetown
- Population: 254,000
- Climate: Temperature 75F to 90F year round, typically 8+ hours of sunshine a day
- Geography: Caribbean Island – 21 miles x 14 miles. Barbados on the West & South have the calm Caribbean sea and beaches. On the East is rugged cliffs and the Atlantic Ocean
- Language: English (with a broad dialect)
- Currency: Barbados Dollar (US $1 = BDS $2)
- Time: GMT (no daylight savings time in Barbados)
A Vacation To Remember series is a reflection on our recent trip and ways we relaxed. Life is short and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to build memories with family and explore of of the most amazing places during our time away. Go with a good attitude and looking for fun and it will be an awesome trip jammed packed with positive memories. It is refreshing having some time away from the regular routine. Make it a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet new people and learn. You just might see or try something new that takes your breath away!
Fact information received from Barbados.org
Be My Valentine: “I Love You” Memory Jar
A gift I made for Jake many years ago! The rose is from one of our college dates! Are you looking for a unique Valentine’s gift this year packed full of love and memories? I have created jars (or containers) full of memories for various occasions in the past and they have always been a huge hit with both kids and adults. These little containers are easy to make and will be treasured by those who are on the receiving end. It gives your family something to remind them your love and appreciation for them. There are 5 super easy steps on how to make your own Jar of Memories:
- Step 1 – Find 1 jar or container with a lid per person you want to create this gift for. We have used anything from a cleaned out peanut butter jar to cute boxes on clearance from the Dollar Store. Make sure it is a reasonable size so you can easily fill it up.
Karlie's decorated "Memory Jar"! (Made out of a peanut butter container). - Step 2 – Decorate your container. You can decorate with about anything paint, stickers, markers, ribbons, a simple written message on the outside or any other creative decorations.
Papers for the girls "Memory Jars"! - Step 3 – Once you know the size of the container sit down for a few minutes and start writing a list (on paper or the computer) of positive attributes you appreciate in your spouse or child, great memories you’ve shared, phrases of love, and special times with the person your giving the jar to. Put each one on a separate line. I usually keep my list on the computer or with me so I can fill it out over several days as I think of new things to add to it. It is fun to have a good mix of attributes, memories, nicknames, events, etc…. be creative!
Filling up Brina's "Memory Jar"! - Step 4 – After creating a list that is long enough to fill the container you have chosen print the phrases on colorful paper. Cut out the phrases and fold them at least once then stick them into the container. It is a good idea to do this a couple days before in case you need to add more to fill the container. Fill up the container to the top. I like to have it so full it is almost spilling out because when they open the gift it gives them a small visual picture of my overflowing love for them.
Wrap your Memory Jar! - Step 5 – Wrap the container in tissue paper and tie it with a bow or give it to them as is. Take time when they open it to have them to pull out and read some of the great things you have written about them. It is fun to hear them read out loud some of the memories, laughs, and phrases you have included in their jar packed full of memories. Write a special note or favorite saying on the inside. It is sure to bring a smile!
It is important to reflect on the positive traits and memories you have with those you love. I have done this for Valentine’s Day in the past as well as for other special events in our lives. It is a great treasure chest full of positive memories for everyone to enjoy. My husband still has the one I gave him years ago and the girls have theirs on the dresser. Occasionally we will sit together and read through some of their memory notes. When a person knows that they are loved and treasured it allows them the freedom to share the joy with others.
“Be My Valentine” is a series of creative ways you can celebrate Valentine’s Day with those you love. You can make it a special Holiday without spending a lot. Spread a little extra cheer to those around you this Valentine’s Day! Surprise your loved ones with a fun and thoughtful gift from the heart. It is a great time to reflect on sweet memories as well as create new ones with whole family. May this Valentine’s season be bursting with love for you!
