Burn baby burn....

Day 35-

Its Saturday in FL and here I sit sipping my ice coffee on the porch having a chat with my visitor.  Nay comes almost every morning.  Today I scolded her for practicing unsafe sexual behavior on the wall with a yucky brown lizard.  He was just not attractive...you are so much better off with the bright green ones Nay, seriously. 

Morning Nay

You dirty birdies!  Get a room!

I only see Kacy (snail) when it rains...and Heather (duck) comes late evening.   
Ahhhh Saturday...that means relax and share the pool with friends, of course! In the morning I picked Linda up from having her oil changed.  We drove to the base for pirate necessities,  rum, gas for my car, and rolls for their hotdogs.  I took her back to her car and drove the girls, Krysten and her friend Megan, back to the house to get ready for a swim.  The pool was packed today, still fun, but definitely packed.  I don't understand why some parents were letting their children throw rocks in the pool, or let them come take our things without asking.  One little boy even said NO when we asked him to give back the pool noodle!  I was voicing this to Josh and he said, " honey some people are parents...and some people just have children".  I can't stand people like that.  On a side note...working out is paying off big time for Linda and I.

She got her first bikini in 13 years!  And I am rocking mine as well! 

We had a great day, Bay ran into one heck of a time out, banishment from the pool for the rest of the day, when she kicked her sister into the pool causing Payton a nasty scrape on her foot.  Looks cleaned up here, but it was bleeding pretty good.

Linda went home about 5 and we relaxed around the house doign our nightly routine of dinner, bath, movie, bed.  Jasper is getting so big and his smiles are more frequent and the giggles are becoming more regular.  Gone are the days of screaming for no reason.  I love the little person he is becoming!
He is 8 weeks this past Friday.  He will be getting his shots on Tuesday after my training with Kelly subbing services. 

The house was quiet with three sleeping children by 730 pm.  We invited Linda to come back for a night swim with her older daughter Kayla!  It sounds irresponsible but you have to understand, our patio is literally 15 steps from the pool.  The pool is no further away than if you owned one and had to walk out your back door to go in.  So we lock the front door and take the baby monitor with us.  The girls know how to talk into it if they need help, but they were all passed out and typically don't wake again until 6 am.
We swam until about 11!  So late for me...makes the morning even rougher when the kids are up by 6. I am paying for it this morning, we need smaller poolside cups, or a lighter pour on that rum!  Holy cow!   I am enjoying life, and I do promise to have more fun and exciting pics...I get that the pool may get old to look at over and over again.  Hearing about it gets boring too.  We are thinking of driving to St. Augustine tomorrow.  It is reallllllly hot so its our "January" now.  People up north tend to be limited in the winter months and we are limited in July and August.  More exciting things will start taking place I am sure in the coming weeks!

Friday FUNDAY!

Day 34-
Super exciting day, ( well for us anyway). Started with a phenomenal workout, its called "The Barbara"  5 rounds of 20 dips 30 pushups 40 situps and 50 squats.  Followed by an 8 am dip in the pool with all the kids.  So fun.  I completed all as prescribed and I sit here Saturday morning wincing in pain at the slightest leg movement!  Pain is good, this kind anyway!   Then I got to do a BJ''s run for Linda....nothing better than BJS! But While there, I got a text from Josh that he was headed home!  At 10 am!  Mind you he had been at work since 5, but they kept him late the previous day....so to make it up to him they sent him home!  It was great to have him playing with the kids in the pool, I need to work on my back tan and that is hard to do when watching kids in the pool after all!  Joking aside it was a great treat to spend some time with him.  And he really enjoyed throwing his girls, ( Krysten included) in the water.

Friday usually ends with a "red cup" poolside and the grill going.  This Friday was no different...but we ran out of red cups so we utilized my favorite acrylic high ball glasses that I got on clearance in RI at BJs.  They are very colorful...and very Florida.

On a side note...while getting these out two bags fell from the cupboard of soft squishy things....do you think I have a problem?  I am not a horder I swear.  Can you really ever have too many of these?....

 Hmm....I don't know if I will ever host a party that will require them all but seems like a waste to get rid of them....I think I have another bag somewhere.

I still feel like I am on vacation.  I would rather be making money at this point yes but for now I feel like I live in a resort. On a side note...while grilling last night I was visited by one of my best friends.  I have found Heather's wild kingdom representation.  I know I called this thing ugly and funny looking at one point, but I find her visits comforting now and her strangely beautiful.  She visits very regularly so I introduce you to...Heather.  She didn't bring her "Mark" with her this time.

 Have a happy Saturday everyone!

Helluvah Crossfit Workout!

Day 33-

So when most people tell you..."oh yeah I'll be at your house 7 am so we can work out..." you may shake your head in agreement.  However, you really assume that you will get a text or call at 630 that is somewhere along the lines of..."can't make it...kids sick...I'm throwin up...I can't do it."  Nope....not Linda.  So at 730 am when she knocked on my door I had a delish paleo breakfast ready to go to fuel her first crossfit workout!  I decided to start her easy since Cait was so kind to me in the beginning.  Nothing too big.  3 rounds for time of 12 sumo dead lift high pulls at 65# - push ups and sit ups then 9 then 6 of each.  You do that 3 times.  Linda was a true champ!  In total that means 81 dead lifts, sit ups and push ups.  Not bad for a first timer right!   After Linda left for work I took the kids to the base pool again.  They can't get enough!  Jasper still a tad young for me to take all three to the beach alone...or even with Krysten.  He can't have sunscreen and my options are limited on outdoor activity with this heat.  Guarantee you though we will be unstoppable from Sept to May!
Heard from the recruiter today and unfortunately I WOULD have to go to "bootcamp"  Basic training is 8.5 weeks in Texas and I just don't know if I could do it.  Physically I would love what it would do to my body.  But mentally....that's a long time from my children.  Still thinking on it.  Daddy came home late and the kids were super silly....took some interesting photos, bay kept asking me to snap pics of her...

my monkey

giggle....

true cheeser

hmmm...

then Payton asked for a dreamy shot of herself ;)

I am still loving FL....miss and love my family and friends.  But I do love it here...

Swimmin swimming in the swimming pool...

Day 32-
Well, today is really just another day poolside.  Krysten came over and helped me get some necessities from Walmart.  But then as promised, they were going to the pool again.  Since its not an overly bright and sunny day we didn't go to the base.  We will do that tomorrow.  So for today, its just pictures!

Goofing around!

Such a tolerant 11 year old!

Please....no close ups.

ok...I am ready for my tan....

 

Giggles....

 Day 31?!  really!??
I awoke to the sound of giggles this morning from my little man!  It was so nice to hear something other than fussing, grunting, moaning, screaming, or crying!  GIGGLES! 

So awesome.  Today started my "babysitting" adventure of watching an 11 year old on the clock.  I love my time with her, it is prepping me for the future and also in ways assisting me in understanding today's youth ( did I really say that) for any teaching jobs or subbing jobs I may get.  We went to the mall and walked around...quite large and nice.  Definitely clean.  The girls played in the kiddie play area while we looked on from the couches. 

her hair has grown 2 inches in 30 days....

Then came back for a quick dip in the pool, it was cloudy and not too warm ( only 78 degrees!) so I was able to bring Jasper out for a swim too. 

Krys and Pip playing

 He quickly tired of the swimming and went down for another nap...he does that alot still!

We investigated the base further for information on the bowling alley, trips to Disney and Universal Studios.  I want to make sure I am keeping the kids active adn not just living life poolside....although that is so nicccce.

Really that's all for now.  I did call an Air Guard recruiter today to see some options for the future...apparently a bachelors can put you in as an officer.  Hmmm.... trying to think outside the box...make my world a bit larger and more pliable.  If I want a job and to go anywhere I can't just think mindlessly about things...  You can tell when I am thinking out loud.... these guys start showing up....  aka ellipses.

Hello? Christen are you there? This is opportunity knocking...

Day 30-
So on day 30 I had an appointment to have a fill on my nails done.  Mind you its 6 dollars LESS to do it here than in RI....crazy.  The appointment was not until 230 when the hubby gets home from work so the kids and I spent the morning swimming and just cleaning house etc.

As I approached the building for the appointment I noticed a humongous storm approaching behind it!  The wind was picking up and whipping people around.  Everyone was running into the surrounding stores, so I followed suit and picked up the pace running into LE Nails.

  So while having my nails done the woman sitting next to me struck up a conversation talking about the storms and how beautiful they are etc.  We got to chatting and turns out she was full of some very useful information both on the area, and on jobs!  Well her first dig on my teaching in Duval county came in the form of a statement, " better plug 911 in that phone of yours honey!"  Apparently my house in the border of Duval and Clay.  I was mistaken when I thought Duval was the better county.  No fear, I have my application in at Clay County and St. John's county, both excellent school districts.  This woman was very affluent and a wonderful conversationalist.    We discussed everything from military type things, kids behavior, how much she loves clay county...etc.  She commented that her daughter just joined the Air National Guard.  SCORE!  We were looking for someone with information in the area on just that!  I picked her brain a bit since Josh needs to transfer down here and she whipped out her phone and gave me a number of the local Sergeant!  How fitting.  Then she revealed that her husband is also a government employee, like Josh, and that he does border patrol making loads of money for Immigration.  Josh has said several times how he would love to do that.  She told me where the job posting was on USAJobs.gov and I called Josh immediately to reveal all my good information.  She told me I should also apply for it because if you have a bachelors you qualify to come in as a GS-5 or 6 which is a better salary than a teacher with a masters makes down here.  I figure why?  I don't qualify, not worth my time.  She said, " let THEM tell you no...don't short change yourself or your abilities before you even try for them."  She was a lovely woman, and we exchanged numbers with the promise to see each other on August 25th at the testing site!  Even though she is working for the IRS, she decided she would like to apply for it too.   She had informed me that her husband ( current immigration employee) claims they love to hire people with education backgrounds because they are personable and savvy.  They don't always like hiring police or security type figures.  They also like to have women in some of these positions.  So upon my return home I immediately went to the website, took the initial test. Passed it, and registered for the written test August 25th.  I have to pass with a certain score and then they will allow me to apply for an interview.  The job entails investigating and interrogating immigrants about there living status and marital situations.  Josh would be doing more border patrol out of Mayport ( half hour drive) if he got the position.  The only downside is a 6 week training in Texas....but for that kind of money, I am willing to go.  Plus I would be getting paid for the training and they put you up in a hotel.  Not to shabby?  And like she said, why not take a chance, let them tell you no.   I am assuming we are looking at almost November before any type of actual work would start.  Fingers crossed...we shall see.
My evening ended with a late night swim.  Hubby and kids were asleep and there was a girl in the pool I had met the previous day, her husband was with her.  She is Navy and her hubby a coffee technician ( fancy name for it huh?) They are really sweet people.... and normal.... when in bathing suits.  I say that because yesterday when she came over to the pool to give me her number after we previously swam and chatted, she looked like she stepped out of a goth show!  I had no idea her style choice just based on her bikini!  She had on black leather knee high boots, a taffeta black skirt, skin tight black revealing tank and a black choker with a bat on it!  She is NAVY!  It was amusing, but she is super sweet, adores my kids and is talkative.  It is just really funny to hear a southern drawl come out of the mouth of a gothic chick!  Anyway...tomorrow a new day!  I have Krysten all day! YAY!

Sunday Window Shoppin' more Wild Kingdom and Drive By Gifting!

Day 29-

So as promised to myself and my hubby, we did a whole lot of nothing.  Well for us it was nothing.  We drove across the bridge ( about 2.5-3 times as long as Newport but built like Jamestown bridge) to go over to what they call "mandarin"  very upscale community.  Jacksonville is huge, so its kind of separated out into islands.  People are from different "areas"  we are considered the "west side", middle class.  Mandarin is upper middle class....and there are many mores sections we are still learning about.  The stores on the Mandarin side of town are really beautiful and plentiful.  There is no shortage of shopping to be had in Jax.  We puttered around our favorites, Tuesday Morning, TjMaxx and my new love and obsession Bealls.  During our adventures out a small green anole jumped on Bay's foot causing an eruption of giggles and pleas of " can I keep it?  Where's its mom and dad!"  I immediately though of one of my best friends back home, Shannon, who has a love for these creatures and decided she was watching over Bay today because no lizard has ever come right up to us.  I have been missing her tons and it was nice to have this short delusion of her somehow being here :)  Do they get rabies? ( I know my google queen will tell me).

Green Anole

The storm clouds looked ominous around 2 so we headed to the base for groceries and then home so the kids could take a quick dip in the pool.  While on the porch another member of the wild kingdom was slithering down Bay and Pip's window.  From the outside of course. I couldn't help but think about another best friend Kacy.  She has a liking for snails, they are her favorite creature.  I had just been thinking of Kacy on our excursion.  Every year I try to buy her somehting from Alice In Wonderland from TjMaxx or Tuesday Morning.  I saw a teapot today and became very nostalgic.  I am so glad my friends decided to show up in their animal forms!





During the snail sighting my friend Linda swung by and did a sort of "drive by gifting".  She got me the cooooolest sticker EVAH for my car.  Love it.  I will have to upload a pic once its been applied to the car because its not a solid sticker its one of those clearish ones....here is an online image I found.

I am more than thrilled and anxious to go put this on right now!  Thank you LINDA!!!  That is all for today....dinner on the grill of course and a movie before bed.  Josh has the work week ahead....and we are counting the days until the Babs returns!

The Thundah Rolls....And the Adventures of Pancake and Flapjack!

Day 27-
Here it is Friday...thank GOD!  I am so excited to have the weekend and my husband not be in bed by 645 pm because he has to wake at 4!  WOHOOO!  Krys is joining me again today and is helping me run some errands while  we wait ever so patiently for this pool to open.  I have to say she is very level headed and patient...even if she is silently tormented at that blue "POOL CLOSED" sign.  We were told at 9 am that it would open at 1....we were told at 12 it would be 2 and at 230 we were told 5.  She sat peeking out our blinds every 15 second....watching....and waiting.  The skies grew ominous but we al agreed we would totally be swimmin' in the rain!  But then the thunder rolled....and at 458 when then sign came down, lightning struck in the courtyard right beyond the pool.  So, the sign is down, and now we are tormented by the weather.  It is Florida after all and the storm will pass quickly, and it did.  By 6 pm we all were swimming in the pool with blue skies in the distance.  By 630 my girls eyes were burning with the chlorine and we had to go in.  The levels were very high due to the pool being stagnant and no pump for a week they wanted to make sure it stayed clear.  It should level out in a few days but for now they need to learn to close those eyes!  THEY ARE FISH!

Day 28- 

Krysten happy to be swimming!

Today is a beautiful day!!   Sunny and not a cloud in the sky!  I love Saturday!  Today we vowed to own that pool, to be poolside all day.  To live breath and die by chlorine!  We packed up some bags even though we are literally 100 feet from the pool, and we moved in!  Linda and Krys showed up at 1130 but we had already been swimming since 10.  Payton and Bay both swim on their own which impresses many parents whose kids are inundated with floaties, a swim ring life jacket and a noodle.  Thats not swimming...

Linda soaking up life in the pool!

What a goof! Baleigh mastering the art of snorkeling

I have met few women who take the art of tanning seriously.  Heather does, yes.  And we got to be very good at it on the beaches of Bonnet Shores.  And now Linda, my tanning buddy ( and friend) here in Jax, sat there with her watch, timing the flips.  I said I felt like a pancake.  "Flip me!"  Which is how and why we have deemed ourselves, pancake and flapjack!  I was sweating in all the wrong places, and dying to get back in that water when I was told, " you can do it!  We only have 30 seconds left!"  really?  Did she just "coach" me to lay out longer?  Serious business this tanning stuff.  If I could get paid to do it... I would.   And as I sit looking at the gorgeous tan I am acquiring I guess I owe her a "thank you" for flipping me on time....I am not burnt.  I am jussst right, and our portague skin is thanking us for getting its color back!  Oh and yes....I used SPF. :)  I like GOLDEN brown, not leather and not cancer!

We look pinkish because the camera was set to only pick up pink tones! LOL 

We were poolside from 10 am until 3 pm when I could no longer take the sun, I was done!  Plus there were wings to be made and potato salad ( for our non paleo guests), burgers to be pattied and dogs to be prepped.  Quite a successful day of playing.  Noodles, beach balls, kick boards, sling shot games...felt like a kid again!  But 5 o'clock has to come at some point....and I have to put away my inner child and get my pirate on.  Tough job, but somebody has got to do it!  The kids were worn out from the pool....Jasper included.  Poor little man got a burn on the right side of his face and his chest from being in the SHADE.  Full on covered shade and he burnt :(    When I say shade I do not mean a flimsy umbrella.  He was under the covered deck of the club house the entire time....not even near the pool.  Guess he will not be going poolside any more.  He loves to be outdoors, but I guess the reflection of the mid day sun was just too extreme.  We are fortunate to be just steps from the pool...no further than if you owned one and had to walk outside to your backyard to go in it.  And our baby monitor works great out there.  So we will have to time pool time with nap time.  Right now he naps about 10-2 so we are golden!
 Linda and her brood left about 6....Josh and I watched another beautiful storm pass through, but never really affected us.  Our porch faces North so these pics show the storm passing north.  To all my Rhode Islanders I am looking towards you!

I am hoping Sunday brings with it relaxation and a whole lot of doing NOTHING!

Pool Closed...and...YAY! Mother's Helper!

Day 25
Wednesday, hump day.  So with our pool still closed and non operational I have been finding ways to entertain the children indoors.  Nothing of course that I do competes with a pool though.  So mainly they sat here all Wednesday morning sulking, looking at that darn blue sign.  We chatted with the maintenance guy and it turns out once they fixed one problem, they discovered another!  So here we are waiting on another part!  And here I am taking pics of the kiddos...

They are adorable after all! 
We spent the afternoon at the water park since it was so hot out and we could meet daddy there.  He gets off daily at 2....such a blessing!  Hottest part of the day and I get help so I can bring all three to the park!  AWESOME.   I am researching local libraries and other indoor kid friendly places for days like this.  The realization that summer will be ending soon and school starting for both my kids and me, is making me a tad panicky.

Day 26
Thursday- yay for a mothers helper!!!  OK so my friend Linda has an amazing 11 year old daughter and she has the best name EVER, Krysten.  The girls love her, adore her and want every second spent to be meaningful, therefore, they harass the heck out of her.  So in exchange for pool time and getting to go on the water slide and get out of the house and being bored, I have her come over and help out with the girls at the water park and in the pool!  Its such a symbiotic relationship! Love it!  She is perfect age, not a teenage brat, and not helpless.  Could save my kid if they were drowning, but yet still innocent and sweet ( enough). :)  She came over at about 9 and we packed a picnic lunch.  We made a list of errands to get done before we go to the park which opens at 11.  We left the house at 1015...and did we get anything on that list done?  NO. WELLLLL, we bought stamps, so tecnhically one thing.  but I sit here on Friday (thank god) morning and sip a disgusting iced coffee.  Ya know why?  BECAUSE WE DIDN'T GET MY SPLENDA!....it was on the list.  Guess we were all super excited to get to the pool...

Bay was put in time out several times by the life guard.  I love this park.  She cuts the line and sneaks up the stairs...but he makes her wait with him through quite a few people until he lets her go!  I love this...

 

My handsome men!  Jasper LOVES the water....what a water baby!!!  We were lucky that the clouds rolled in so he could see without his hat and glasses!

Water baby!

So we spent almost 4 hours at the park!!!

Going down the slide just never gets old!  She went down over 50 times today....I lost count around 40 something.

Sunning himself in the shade!

"Now I can take off my life jacket mom"  says the 3 year old fish who sees daddy approaching in the distance.

One fish two fish red fish BROWN fish.  The tans these kids get even with SPF!  Here is Bay and Krys.

Had a great time today!  Hopefully our pool will be fixed for Friday....but if not, the base is 5 minutes away and I will have Krys with me all day!  Tata for now!