Florida X 2

We just can't stay away from Florida.  Of course it will always feel like home and where we became a family, but Pete has work there often and we take full advantage of the kids not being in school to cruise down there whenever the chance presents itself.  We also take full advantage of Gra-Gra and head down there solo for things like weddings.  Most recently a friend's Jewish wedding in Ft. Lauderdale. This was my first time in a Temple and Pete's first time donning a yamaka.

Umm...yes

We are sneaking down next week solo to Naples where Pete has a little business to tend to and I have a mass amount of beachgoers to confuse with my mid-pregnancy belly.  Their faces will twist in confusion, "That girl must really like to slam back some Busch Light! Or is their possibly a human growing in there?"  Just too early to tell, folks.  And if you ask, I will likely go with the former just to throw you.

We also spent some time back in Bay Hill a couple weeks ago missing the one chance we had at seeing any snow in Georgia after enduring all this f&*$@*! cold escaping the snow and enjoying old babysitters and nights out with friends.  The kiddos always fall right back into life at the Hill.  And if you ask Palmer he has us booked for a 10 day visit in March.  Which he then quickly changes to only 3 or 4 days because he decides he would miss Georgia too much.  And there you have one of the cyclical role playing games my afternoons are made of.  "Momma, get on the airplane, I'm about to fly us to Bay Hill!  Okay, you wait here while I go get the vacation car.  Okay, we are here!! Time to take a nap so we can do lots of play!  Okay, time to go back to Georgia."  Repeat 5-10 times until you fake having to go to the bathroom and hope he gets distracted by a light saber or a box of cookies.

Who needs beach toys when your house comes with pots and pans.

The only competition with the greens is this dock

Tripp doens't have quite the respect for the game as Palmer

The dueling choochies

Our first go at bowling was a success.  Don't mind the battle wound on the side of P's nose.
That was not bowling related, rather the result of an unexpected screwdriver duel brought on by Tripp Martin.

Country club to country roads at Poppa's house.
Palmer would be as happy as skeeter in a cow field if he spent his days tending to the animals on the farm.

Lastly, Snapchat.  I am really digging it lately.  You should start snapping so I have more snaps to watch.  I am unsure why we need another social media app to post to, but I sure do love posting totally pointless moments of my days to share with others. I think my snapchat name is heatherrae83. Or maybe Heather Rae Doyle.  I never claimed to be an expert.

What's Next?

I'm starting to get an itch.  A boredom itch.  It's not that the endless playing of the "lion game" where Palmer challenges me to roaring contests isn't absolutely stimulating. Or the 2,487,156 snacks I make a day aren't truly honing my culinary skills.  But there is something else.  Something else aside from cleaning boogers off my wall to get my creative juices flowing.  I'm pondering a book club, being a contributing writer at a local magazine, putting more effort into making the blog into something marketable (food, clothes, travel, travel with kids, baby making or just general momm-ing?), but it all seems so meh.  And if I'm shooting you straight I really struggle with taking pictures.  I feel like it hinders my participation which kills the experience for all.  

At night I read a devotional by Oswald Chambers called "My Utmost for His Highest" and every now and again it lights a little fire.  Whether that's to not be a whiny housewife or to stop being so judgmental or to catch up on my DVR (just kidding, the Lord doesn't care about the Bachelor or Downton Abbey, but late nights sure seem right with those two shows.)   Recently I read a nice little diddy about interpreting God's words and tenants into how we should be of service to Him.  The gist was everyone has a skill set and we should put to use our best talents.  Sounds like a million and one Sunday school lessons I've heard throughout the days, but it made me start racking my brain and thinking, "Miss Heather, just what is it you are called to do?" Become a better cocktail party hostess?  Conquer world travel with toddlers?  Or maybe something a bit more meaningful?  Then I remembered...

I'm 4 months pregnant

These thoughts of boredom must have hit months ago and led to this.  Come July 4 we shall have three babes 3 and under.  Doesn't sound so boring anymore, does it?

Georgia Winter + Toddlers = Jesus Take the Wheel

Florida may have hot summers, but at least the sun is shining which equals vitamin D which equals no seasonal moodiness.  This is technically our second Winter in Georgia, but the first was endured with a newborn and a toddler so no matter our location we were destined to be crazy.  Georgia requires much more ingenuity in terms of parenting than I am accustomed to.  The volume of rain this state endures is unbelievable.  And a 3 year old requires much more creativity than I have ever mustered.  There's role playing, preschool skills, where not to wipe your boogers and when not to touch your penis (which I wish I could say was never appropriate, but those with boys know 'tis better to have "penis touching safe-zones" than to try and ban this behavior altogether.)

We recently discovered a winner of a joint called Stars and Strikes.  Basically a better-than-your-average strip center bowling alley with a full arcade.  In 3 years this place will be gold to us.  Give the kids some cash and send them off for some pop a shot and air hockey while Pete and I chug beers over fried cheese thingys and a competitive game of bowling. For this past weekend it served as a place to escape the wet, cold winter days.   

Skee Ball always a winner.  Unless you happen to be standing in the lane next to us. Then always mind your head.

For several of the highly illuminated contraptions you needn't even put in any tokens to entertain our children. 

We did pay this beast.  And it was worth it.

Back at the ranch this afternoon we took full advantage of the only lightly misting, overcast, 50 degree afternoon to go on some important missions.

Like wielding sharp pointy screwdrivers around logs and rocks where one might trip and poke an eye out.

Discovering additional terminology for deer poop - aka "scat" and illuminating it with your batman flashlight

And of course casting magical spells using our newest favorite phrase, "Abra-cadabra, Ala-kazam"
I think basically he is trying to turn me into a fire breathing dragon so I will chase him around endlessly.
Keep trying kid.