Memorial Day family weekend!

We had a perfect Early family Memorial Day weekend! On Saturday morning Mike completed his third triathlon at Crystal River...(more pics and stuff on the running blog here!). Congratulations Mike!!!!

Afterwards, we headed over to the hotel and met lil' Gregory for the first time. I don't think I've ever seen a baby look as much like his father. In fact he looks more like Greg than Greg did as a baby!

We spent the afternoon relaxing by the pool. Here's Greg, Jen, Eyeball and Rita...

Mya, Lynda, Greg and Maddy in the pool :)...

Then we got ready and went for dinner. Dave and Matt were in rare form ;)

Liz and baby Declan...

Rich, Jen and Mya!

Maddy and Mya...

Lynda and Greg...

And us...

In the morning the hotel receptionist took a look at Mike and got all excited for a moment when she thought Anthony Bourdain was staying at the hotel. This isn't the first time and I don't really watch his show so I found a couple of pics online so that you can judge for yourself.

 

Just to clarify, Mike is the one on the left...Happy Memorial Day!!!

Summer evenings are here :)

I have a hard time laying out in the blazing hot Florida midday sun during Summer. For me, sitting by the pool in the evening, watching the sun set, reading a book while Mike and Maddy play in the water, now that's my idea of heaven ;)...

Maddy's Spring Concert

I volunteered to help Madison's music teacher with the final day preparations for her school's Spring concert this week. The theme of the show was 'Parents Favorites' so it was really funny to see the kids singing '80s tunes! And nothing makes an American parent shed a tear more than watching their children sing 'We are the World' :). I really enjoyed watching the kids sing all day but the real treat was watching Maddy's music teacher in action. Rehearsals started at noon and I don't think she so much as took a sip of a drink or a bite to eat right up until the performance at 7pm. I watched this amazing teacher work all day with the children at building their confidence in extraordinary ways. She stood beside them, danced with them, and kept the energy levels high all day. I don't think I fully appreciated the passion and dedication of some of Maddy's teachers before. Ms. McKormick - you are everything a teacher should be - it was great to watch you work for a day and the fantastic Spring Concert performance was a complete reflection of you - thank you for inspiring our children :)...

Maddy at rehearsals...

All dressed up for the big performance...

'This is why we sing'....

Check out Ms. McKormick rocking it out and building confidence with one of her students:)

'Holding Out For a Hero' here!

Oops...

Yeah...you're going to need olive oil, hot water and a sponge to get those stickers off...I'd make sure the water's really hot...

Maddy's Dance Recital

Maddy and Mya did such a fantastic job at their first dance recital at USF with the New Tampa Dance Theatre this weekend!

Cameras were strictly forbidden at the event but as you know I'm not exactly the 'rule-following' type so I managed to grab a couple of little videos of Maddy doing her 'thang'...

Now if you failed to recognize her, don't feel bad because nor did I  :(. Just when exactly did she grow into a beautiful young woman? Was I in the restroom or something? You may find the next clip less emotional. It's Mike showing us last night that 'he can do tap too.' Yeah right Mike...

40 and Inspired!

I had such an unbelievably amazing time at 'Inspired' - Donna Downey's 4-day Art Retreat in Charlotte, NC. It was a birthday gift for my 40th from Michael and a complete surprise. I have no idea how he knew that I really wanted to go and it actually made me cry when he told me I was going :). More pics and artsy-fartsy stuff on the Crafts blog here!

Weekend at the beach

It was great to see Scott and Karrie and spend some time in St. Pete at the beach...now I've got the taste for a summer vacation...

Maddy's Rabbit

Every day when I get Maddy from school I eat an apple on the way and throw the core in the bushes when we get home. Apparently a baby rabbit has discovered this new food source and has taken up home right by our front door. It's amazingly tame and Maddy adores him...