Summer Vacation

It's hard to believe it's already fall and another summer has come and gone. Here is upstate NY the summers are so short and sweet. I love summer more than any other season and just wish it would last a little longer.

 The second week of August we took a vacation to the Outer Banks, North Carolina. We rented a house with a friend and her family. I met this friend through the local moms of multiples group and she has twin boys that are a few months older than Stella. We rented a three bedroom house in Kitty Hawk and had a fantastic week. Our friends had an awesome setup for the beach complete with a large tent and blow up kiddie pool. The house had a hot tub and in ground small pool we also enjoyed. It was a week full of tons of beach time, fun with friends, and delicious food. The girls did great on the car ride down and we had a rough hour or so on the way home. Not bad for 10 hours or so each way. On the trip down we stopped in Virginia Beach and then spent the following day at the aquarium before driving to the beach house. The trip included many firsts like smores, kite flying, shaved ice, and mini golfing. Lucy even started jumping in the pool without her float. It really was so great! 

Our friends were great and we got along with them despite only meeting the husband once before. To be honest, I know a lot of my friends husbands aren't super helpful with their kids, but it was tough to sit back and watch. It was fine for us, but I'm just glad I'm raising children with the person I am. I know different dynamics work for different people, but I know I wouldn't be happy if I were doing 90% of the work 100% of the time. It's nice to know that when W is home, everything is split at least 50/50. 

It was so nice to go somewhere different as we went to the beach in Maine the past two years. I hope we can go back another time as I have memories as a child going to the outer banks. It was so much fun and the weather was beautiful. I'm so grateful for these memories I got to make with my family. 

Microblog Mondays: My Wedding Ring

Not sure what #MicroblogMondays is? Read the inaugural post which explains the idea and how you can participate too.

When W and I talked about getting engaged, he mentioned his grandmother had something for him to use. He didn't really specify, but just let my mind wander. I noticed she wore a ring that was pretty amazing. When I asked about it I found out it wasn't her wedding ring. It also wasn't what she had for W. She had a brooch from her grandmother with a bunch of stones. He would be able to pick one of those stones to use for a ring. 

When we visited her in NJ on one trip he asked he about it and she said he needed a "yes"before she would give him a stone. Something like six months later he proposed and I, of course, said yes. We took another trip and he picked the biggest of the stones since he was the first grandson to get engaged. The stone was a .94 carat cushion cut mined diamond. We took it to a few jewelry stores and I found a setting I loved the stone in. At the same time, we also bought the wedding band as it was a set. 

I loved my ring. At one point the center stone fell out but I found it and had it reset. It wasn't ideal to have a cushion cut on a four prong setting, but I just loved the way it looked together so much. For our five year wedding anniversary W got me another band to match our wedding band, but with diamonds and sapphires alternating. Sapphires are Lucy and Clara's birthstones. Around Christmastime I had the rings all soldered together in an effort to get them to stay together and look nicer. I wasn't thrilled with the way the sapphire band lined up and I took it to the jewelry store to talk to them. They didn't have any great suggestions, but I knew I didn't want to separate the rings again. 

Sharing my rings with W's grandma Wink on our wedding day

Between the months of February to August I lost quite a bit of weight and the ring became big on my finger. I could shake my hand and it would come off. Even though I said I was going to lose it a few times, I never took it to be sized. 

The three bands together. I think this is the only photo I have of all three. The sapphire band was the five year anniversary band with sapphires for Lucy and Clara. 

The second week of August we went on vacation to the outer banks, North Carolina. On the Tuesday of our week-long trip I was rinsing off in the ocean with my friend Krista when I felt my ring slip off of my finger. I was in waist-high water and the waves were big. I just knew there was no finding it. 

When I felt it slide off and realized what happened, my heart sank and I thought to myself, that's the worst thing that could ever happen. Then I looked up and saw my three girls and husband, all safe and happy on the beach, oblivious to what had happened. I knew then it was just stuff and I had the most important things, still safe and fine. 

My friend ran and told W what happened so he ran down to me in the water. Mostly in vain, he attempted to look with me for it. Some other people on the beach came by and also helped for a bit, but I knew it was gone. I told the girls what had happened so they weren't confused or upset by the way we were all acting. I mostly held it together even though I was super sad and disappointed. 

That evening I went back at low tide to look for my ring, but didn't see any sign of it. I called that afternoon and found out we did have insurance coverage under our homeowners policy.

I know it's just "stuff", but I'm still really sad about losing my rings. Since they were all soldered together, I unfortunately lost them all. I'm also sad I lost W's family stone and that it can't be replaced. 

The insurance ended up covering the full cost of the rings minus a $1000 deductible. My initial thought was I would just get the same ring, but then I realized it would never be the same. The reason I loved and picked that ring was because of the stone we had. Without that stone it just wouldn't be the same. 

Once I decided I wouldn't get the same thing I felt overwhelmed by the choices. I found a few things I liked, but nothing I loved. Well, last week I finally found something I loved. I ordered it and am waiting for it to come it. I once again ordered a matching band and hope I love it as much as I loved my old one. 

I didn't try to replace all three rings and told W he should start saving for a ten year band ;)

The thing I love about my new ring is it reminds me of that ring that W's grandmother wore and I always admired. The ring that for a short moment I fantasized was going to be the ring W would propose to me with. 

I haven't seen that actual ring in years and heard it was taken apart after she passed away, but I'm glad a part of her will still live on in my ring since she's the one who gave us the center stone and bulk of the cost of the initial set. 

The new ring I picked. 

The new ring. Not my size so not centered. I picked the top band to go with it. 

There have been so many emotions with this experience. Extreme sadness and disappointment I lost my rings. Blaming myself for not getting them sized when I knew they were too big. Excitement at the thought of picking a new one. Overwhelmed by all of the choices.

 I'm still feeling conflicted because while I found something I love it doesn't symbolize the same things. I feel slightly better that he didn't propose with the engagement ring so there's that. But, the wedding band is what we said our vows with. It symbolized a lot and I don't feel like just buying a new one does it.

Putting the ring on my finger and saying his vows

After our vows the priest wrapped our hands and said a prayer and blessed our marriage. 

 Anyone have any good suggestions to make it as meaningful??

2016 Spring Vacation

The past few years we've gone to vacation in Mexico sometime in March or April. With my mom having seizures last year, adding another child to our family, and customs being so difficult we decided to not go back this year. It was a sad fact that we also couldn't afford it now that we needed to pay for seats for L & C on the plane.

Last summer my step-dad's mother Mary passed away. All of the time I knew her she lived in Naples, Florida and we visited her almost every Christmas. We loved going in the winter and escaping the grey of central NY to experience beautiful beaches and sunshine. When Mary passed away my mom and step dad decided to use the money they inherited from her towards a condo in Florida. They spent a few weeks last summer looking at places and ultimately purchased a condo in Sarasota.

Since we had access to the condo and the offer for my mom to spend the week with us there, we decided to go for it. We purchased the tickets, rented a van for the week, and spent the first week of April in Sarasota.

We were supposed to leave on Monday morning at 5:45 am. Somehow we missed our first flight out of Syracuse. The security was so inefficient that it took over 45 mintutes to get through. It rarely takes more than 10. Not to mention, it was super early in the morning. Well, when we finally arrived at our gate we found out we had missed our flight. They were able to bump us to another flight, but it meant adding an extra flight and taking three flights instead of two. The girls were pretty good on the planes. We could tell Lucy wasn't feeling great and felt warm to the touch, but she handled it all so well. The only exception was when we were getting off our second flight and both girls were melting down. W was trying to run through the airport with Clara in his arms throwing a tantrum. I finally made him stop, hoisted her into my ring sling, and she calmed right down. W ran ahead with the stroller as we only had about 40 minutes to change terminals and make our flight. In that moment I so wished we were at our destination then rather than having to take another flight. Apart from that, the traveling went really well.

My favorite pic from the trip. 

When we arrived in Sarastoa, a few hours later than anticipated, Lucy was running a 103.5 fever. We gave her some meds while we waited for the rental car stuff. An airport employee who was super nice helped us with our bags on a cart and then took them to the rental car and entertained the baby while we installed carseats. Since the address my mom gave me was a little confusing we did some extra driving, but it wasn't a huge deal. We arrived in the early afternoon and went to the pool for a swim at the condo before ordering some takeout for dinner. We had a great dinner on the lanai. My mom and I ran to the supermarket that evening to stock up on some stuff after the girls went down.  

The spot we set up in the airport.  

We got the glider board for our stroller so everyone could use it comfortably. It was great!

On Tuesday we headed to Siesta Key beach after breakfast at the condo. We packed some lunches and drove the 20 or so minutes to the beach. When we got there we decided to leave the stroller and carry our stuff. We used my mom's umbrella on the beach but forgot chairs. This made nursing the baby a little more difficult and uncomfortable. The beach was so huge and such a far walk to the water that we didn't go all the way. We found a good spot and set up our stuff. When it came to lunch time it was a bit of a struggle since the sand blew into the lunch boxes we brought for the girls. Everything was so incredibly sandy so we abandoned ship and found a restaurant nearby selling food with picnic tables. We left around 12:30 and headed back to the condo for naps. When the girls woke up from their naps we headed to the pool for some afternoon swimming. That night we had some amazing take out fish tacos.

Siesta Key beach from the restaurant area. 

Stella and her blue eyes. 

First time checking out the ocean. 

With my mom, Grandma Dukes.  

Wednesday morning we headed to a playground near a big cat sanctuary since it didn't open until noon. It had some really nice equipment and we had our picnic lunch there on a blanket. The girls had a great time playing and Stella loved watching them on the swings. Lucy was again feeling hot so we gave her some Tylenol and that seemed to bring the fever down. Around noon we headed to see the big cats. Since Barnum and Bailey started in Sarasota, they have some of the animal there were once in the circus. There were bears, lions, monkeys, tigers, and lots of other animals. The girls had a great time watching the animals and they were very impressed by a parrot doing gymnatsics. We again went home for naps and then headed to the pool after. That evening we had takeout from a latin restaurant that was amazing. Lucy loved the empanadas and everything was delicious. We realized that evening that the Starbucks we went to earlier near the playground gave me change for a 10 rather than the $50 I paid with. Once the girls were down W, Stella and I drove to get our change and then went to Target for some things.

Ready to go!

Stella loved watching her sisters on the swings at the playground. 

Grandma Dukes and Clara. 

Checking out a bear. 

Thursday was the only predicted day of rain so after breakfast we headed to the aquarium. It was really busy and didn't start off the greatest. As soon as we finally got in the girls both melted down. I think the noise, darkness, business, and their hunger got to them. After the first room they were fine. My mom wore Stella all day and she was just so happy. She didn't complain once and just loved looking at everything. We saw sharks, stingrays, jellyfish, sea otters, manatees, and sea turtles. The girls seemed to really like looking at the animals and both picked a little gift from the gift shop. After the aquarium we went back to the condo for naps before an afternoon swim at the pool. That night W and I went out for a nice dinner. We brought Stella with us and splurged on some amazing seafood. Our waitress wasn't the greatest and the other diners seemed to glare at us for bringing Stella, but the food was delicious. Stella was so well behaved the whole time, but you'd think she was awful by the way the other diners looked at us. At one point I was holding her and smiled and the lady at the table next to us. In return she glared back. Geeze!

Lucy and a Shark

My mom wore Stella the whole time. We got a new carrier so she could face out more comfortably. 

Friday was our last full day of vacation so we went back to the beach. Since this was our second trip to Siesta Key beach, we had things more figured out. We knew this time we could wheel the stroller so brought that. We also had chairs and a better system for eating our packed lunches. We stayed at the beach for a really long time and left around nap time. It was such a great trip. The girls loved playing in the sand and building things and Stella took a nice nap on the beach in her carseat. The only exception to the fun was all of the potty breaks. It seemed as soon as we got settled all the way out on the beach someone had to go potty. I got a lot of exercise that day walking back and forth to the bathrooms. I so wished our travel potty made the cut when we were packing that day. After naps we went swimming at the pool by the condo. That evening we again got take out and enjoyed our dinner at together on the Lanai. We ended the evening with packing and another trip to Target to get some last minute things.

Ready to go to the beach.

Beach days are exhausting.

The flights home went much better than the trip there with the flights, but of course it couldn't be too easy. When we arrived home in Syracuse we found out that our suitcases made it but not our carseats. Since the rental companies wouldn't let us rent carseats without a car we ended up having to rent a car to get everyone home. They actually gave us a van for the same price as a car so W took L & C home in the van and I brought Stella in my car and picked up Thai on the way home.

The lanai looking out towards the pool. 

L & C sleeping on Daddy's lap. 

In the airport. 

The trip was so much fun. We went to the beach, spent lots of time by the pool, went to an aquarium and saw a big cat sanctuary, and W and I had some nice time by ourselves or just with Stella at the pool and out for dinner. My mom was (mostly) helpful and the girls had so much fun doing new or different things every day. I'm so glad we went and I can't wait to return.