Siesta Key

"Siesta Key is my favorite beach," said an older, seasoned traveler, and beach-loving friend. She described the beautiful white-powder sand and clear water. I wanted to go too.

I think the most difficult thing in this phase of life--the phase where we are parenting young children, trying to be "good" and pay off student debt early, getting the career off the ground, etc.--has been suppressing my travel dreams. When I think of far-off places, I often find myself suppressing the thought of it, knowing that it would be practically impossible to do that any time soon. "Maybe next year, or maybe next decade," is often my thought. The idea of Siesta Key stayed in my mind. I did some research, because we had talked about getting a beach house sometime next year, and I filed it away, as a possibility, trying not to get my hopes up too much.

When my friend mentioned Siesta Key, I could have never imagined that I would actually get to go there less than five weeks later. At the end of October, the managing partner at Kevin's law firm asked him if he wanted to go to a legal skills conference for litigation attorneys in Saint Petersburg, Florida, in two weeks. Kevin looked at information about the conference and said yes. Then his boss said, "If you take your wife, you can take an extra day off. But if not, you'd better get your hide back in this office the next day." Ha!

It didn't take me long to figure out that Saint Petersburg is an hour's drive north of Siesta Key. I couldn't believe how quickly the details fell into place for childcare. A friend gladly offered to take the school-aged kids and Kevin's parents took Sophia. We decided to take Carson along with us for this little adventure.

Dreams, even little dreams like getting to see Siesta Key, do come unexpectedly true sometimes.

Staying in a historic, pre-depression era hotel in Saint Petersburg, was one of the highlights.   

This is a view of the bay, out of our room's window.


Waiting for the elevator ... the hotel had some fun architectural features, like lots of arches.

Carson and I painted the town while Kevin was in his sessions. I took this pictures of a lady riding her bike with her doggie in a basket.  I took it because I thought it would humor my girls.  I found that, when I finally got a few days to go explore without my kids, all I did was think about them and think about how much they would love seeing the sights I saw.  Most all the pictures I took were for Meredith, Clara, and Sophia. 

Carson and I had breakfast at this amazing Italian bakery.  

This is truly the best, most flaky, most moist, most flavorful croissant I have ever had.  And the dark, rich coffee wasn't bad either.  Nor the view. 

Carson and I got in the rental car and went to explore some nearby beaches. 

I can't say that taking an 11-month-old to the beach is a relaxing experience but it sure was scenic and we had our own little adventure. On the way back, we drove through some historic neighborhoods and enjoyed the archtecture.  

Our hotel had a Chihuly chandelier.  We took this picture for our kids, and because we love Chihuly. The Indianapolis Children's Museum has a large Chihuly glass sculpture and also a hands on exhibit that our kids enjoy.

 

Here is a sign proving that Siesta Key beach is #1. Ha! I enjoy California beaches a lot and have been to 5-6 east coast beaches and the gulf of Texas, but never a Florida beach. It was fun to see the differences.

 

We stumbled upon a super fun sand sculpture contest. We paid our $3 admission and had so much fun. The artists are incredibly talented!

 

 

 

 

 

We laughed hysterically watching Carson speed crawl along the sand and chase all the sea gulls furiously. He yelled animatedly and was so funny to watch. No matter how fast he crawled, he could never catch them, but he enjoyed the thrill of the hunt. So many people stopped and said, "Look at that little guy!" He was adorable that day. (And all days, but that day is a special memory.)

 

 

This is what it is REALLY like bringing an 11-month-old to the beach. But the sand mess is always worth it. We three had a great time.

 

For a few hours on Saturday, probably about the time we sat on a bench at the beach and watched a volley ball competition, with absoutely no pressures, no where we "had" to be, nothing we "had" to do, a feeling of relaxation started sweeping over me. It's been years--maybe even five years--since I have felt that relaxed and refreshed. Thank you God. Thank you Kevin's law firm. Thank you Swan family and Grandma and Grandpa Koons. I'm so glad I got to experience Siesta Key. I needed that.

 

Ballerina

Every Thursday I get to take this little ballerina to her class. This is her dream come true. She had to wait a long time for these classes. Did you know that life begins when you're three? I didn't until I had a precocious third-born who had to watch her sisters do all this fun stuff for months and months, until she was finally old enough to do something too. She picked ballet. And now, in her free time, she walks around the house, with her toes pointed, saying "Passe, passe ..."

 

The class is fun enough, but the lollipop at the end makes it even better.

 

Super Daddy

Bad nighttime iPhone pictures could never adequately capture a moment, but these will have to do.

Meredith has been studying astronomy this year and has to memorize the 15 brightest stars, the constellations, and the zodiacs. Science became a lot more fun when Kevin took our kids, and some friends, outdoors to find these theoretical 15 brightest stars. We saw some of them at night, and some we saw before sunrise. "Oh my goodness, so THAT is Capella." And, "Arcturus does look reddish, doesn't it?" were things that could be overheard. Everyone thought it was pretty awesome!

 

 

 

And Clara loved it when her dad subbed in for her Upward Soccer team.  Go Clara!

 

"If you think my hands are full, you should see my heart." 

"Right now I'm just super in general, but maybe someday I will be a super dad, too!"  

(Yeah, I couldn't help but post this picture of Carson, in his superhero shirt.  He gets lots of compliments.)

Bird Lady

When we were at the Indianapolis Zoo this summer and saw the interactive bird exhibit, we just knew we had to bring Granny there. Granny loves her bird feeders and has provided nourishment to many birds over the years, as well as lots of entertainment for all who chance to see the beautiful birds that come to take their meals in her backyard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What a beautiful fall day at the zoo!

 

Parenting: Mending Hands and Hearts

As I tried to chop an onion for dinner, I was interrupted again by the text message alert on my phone. Kevin and I were debating back and forth whether or not to take a child to the ER. Her piercing screams of intensity had not died down since a hand injury, more than 30 minutes beforehand. The text read something like this: "I don't know. Parenting can be so hard."

Hard got harder a few seconds later, when I opened an email from another child’s teacher stating that there was an incident of looking over at a friend’s paper and copying answers (i.e., cheating) and it was a second offense. We never knew about the first offense, so we had never addressed it.

Time stood still--except for the screams and onion smells swirling around me--as I thought about what punishment would fit the crime and how we could reach the heart of this child so she would truly understand the seriousness of what she had done. Part of the problem was my pride, because I couldn't believe my daughter had done this. She should have known better. I don't really want to be known as the mom with the kid who cheats. I find it really difficult to separate my pride and inconvenience from the equation, and just focus on reaching the child's heart with the correct form of discipline.

So often, parenting stretches me to the near-breaking point. If I were working for just a paycheck, I would have quit a long time ago. But this job is for keeps, and there are souls at stake, adorable souls whom you love, and so you steel yourself against the winds of opposition, try to swallow your pride, and keep marching onward.

The injured child was examined more closely and started calming down once her dad got home. Thank you, Lord, because, although it’s never a good day to go to the ER, we would really appreciate not having to go today.

The child in the moral quagmire was removed for private discussions. Where to begin? Cheating is lying and stealing. How do we make this child realize the gravity of this offense? Is she even listening? Are we getting through to her? I’m so glad I have an astute spouse to team-parent with or this all would be entirely too overwhelming. Kevin spent an hour or more sitting down with her and going over bible verses pertaining the offense. He also told her--and I thought this was so wise--that he loved her no matter what she did. Not that cheating is ever right, but it's important for a child to know they are loved unconditionally. After all, that's how our heavenly Father deals with us, when we sin.

As a parent, you give your life, not by dying, but by doing something that is arguably more difficult: denying yourself; living each day sacrificially.

These things are not fun. I don't enjoy them, really. But, I think to myself, "Should I SURVIVE, they are meaningful, constructive, and ultimately rewarding." They are necessary. They teach us humility. They teach us the meaning of grace. They are sanctifying.

Fall Frolick

Apple picking day means that we drive our mini-van up and down the hilly orchard alleys, looking for the most loaded Jonagold trees we can find, until we settle on the perfect spot.

 

 

Sampling the sweet, crunch fruit is definitely part of the experience.

 

What a fun day, made even better because there were cousins to share it with!

 

Baby Lillian seemed to enjoy the day too! ;-)

 

I love my crazy, adventure-loving girls.

 

 

Apple slushies and fighting off the wasps are part of the experience too!

 

The younger kids and I made it to the pumpkin patch twice this year. Here we are at a preschool program, with my mom's group. What's not to love about a hayride? (Oh, maybe itchy hay finding its way into your socks and other unmentionable places?)

 

And then the whole crew went last Saturday for our annual Pumpkin Day celebration.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And Clara's favorite part is the kettle corn. We all enjoy it, but she is CRAZY about kettle corn. I must say that sharing this treat, while listening to the live music and taking in all the visual beauty of the pumpkin patch with the people I love, makes for a great time. We often feel so busy. It's important to take these times as a family, to just relax and enjoy being together.