It’s not possible to enter a brand new decade with out doing a bit of self-reflection and one factor that stored popping up in my thoughts again and again as I assumed concerning the previous 40 years of my life is how freaking fortunate I’ve been to have lived a life surrounded by a number of the easiest individuals. And I acquired to encompass myself with a number of the individuals who imply essentially the most to me this previous weekend which felt like all I might need for my birthday.
Friday
We made our strategy to Jacksonville Seaside, Florida on Thursday and spent all of Friday with my household.
Each morning of any Florida go to with our boys should start with a lizard stroll so naturally that’s how we kicked off our Friday. Chase gave Rhett some lizard-catching classes and Rhett completely beamed with pleasure when he caught 4 lizards in a row.
Ryder and Chase have been particularly excited to catch and launch a inexperienced anole as a result of, as Chase defined, they’re native to Florida whereas the brown anole lizards are an invasive species which are extra aggressive and aggressive than the inexperienced anoles for meals and territory. Creature Man Chase is without end educating us enjoyable animal details!
We spent the remainder of the morning at a neighborhood park (Sunshine Park our absolute favourite in Jax Seaside) and soaked up plenty of cousin time.
Friday afternoon was consumed by seaside time as a result of the tide swimming pools have been superb! The boys stuffed their mini catch-and-release aquarium again and again however essentially the most stunning catch of the day occurred proper earlier than we have been prepared to go to the pool. We caught three vibrant teal jellyfish and a fast Google search and a dialog with the native seaside lifeguard taught us they have been Portuguese man o’ conflict. We discovered they’re technically not jellyish however look identical to them with lengthy, skinny tentacles stuffed with extraordinarily painful venom.
What actually blew our minds was once we realized one of many Portuguese man o’ conflict the boys caught was nonetheless alive. The boys assumed they have been all useless however the residing Portuguese man o’ conflict shortly killed and ate the 4 tiny fish in addition they had of their aquarium (it appeared like they have been being electrocuted) and consumed the opposite two Portuguese man o’ conflict, too. It was WILD. Nature is completely fascinating.
Saturday
Saturday morning Ryan and I stated goodbye to our boys and my dad and mom and made our method 4.5 hours south to Boca Raton, Florida. It’s wild how a 4.5 hour drive with out children can nearly really feel like a date to us lately. We had such a good time blasting our favourite music and simply having fun with distraction-free time collectively. It’s been a very long time because the two of us have left the boys for various hours and whereas we completely love household time above every little thing else, couple time is the jam and one thing we stated we have to attempt to do extra usually if doable. Excellent news: My husband remains to be nice all on his personal. Ha!
We had plans to fulfill up with mates from school and joined them on the pool the place they stunned me with a birthday cake the day earlier than the massive 4-0.
All of us have plans to get collectively once more in early June to have fun two Fortieth birthdays in our group (mine and Laurel’s) however the goal of this weekend was to assist my pal Leah and her husband Ricky on the occasion they placed on yearly to assist increase cash for the Nationwide Pediatric Most cancers Basis.
I’ve shared about Leah and Ricky’s son Theo up to now through the years on Instagram, however he was essentially the most good little boy who handed away following a prognosis of rhabdomyosarcoma. The best way Theo has impacted my life and a whole bunch of lives is unbelievable. After I let you know Theo modified me without end, I imply it. He’s somebody I consider each single day and he altered my coronary heart and the way in which I strategy motherhood without end. I’ll always remember Leah saying she simply wished individuals to recollect her good son and on Saturday evening, the eating room on the Boca West Nation Membership was stuffed with individuals who love and keep in mind Theo.
Trend Funds the Treatment is a style and fundraising occasion for the Nationwide Pediatric Most cancers Basis that Leah and Ricky grew to become concerned with a number of years in the past. Following a cocktail reception and dinner, we cheered for essentially the most lovely youngsters battling most cancers who walked the runway in a deeply shifting style present.
I’ve attended this occasion a number of occasions up to now however each single yr I cry and really feel essentially the most intense feelings. Tears flowed as we watched these unbelievable, resilient youngsters stroll the runway with the most important smiles on their faces; the little lady who walked the runway who needs to develop as much as be a mommy, the 10-year-old in remission from the liver most cancers she had as a child and now makes listening to assist charms that appear like earrings for different youngsters battling most cancers, the dear little boy who needs to be a cowboy in the future. Thank God for the hope of organizations like NPCF, a vetted and worthy group that works tirelessly to boost cash that’s desperately wanted for pediatric most cancers analysis.
It was an honor to attend and contribute to the occasion, an honor to assist our mates, and an honor to recollect Theo. His dad and mom proceed to be one of the best mommy and daddy to their boy. If you need to assist Leah and NPCF, it’s possible you’ll donate right here. Please know your donations are extremely wanted and so very, very appreciated.
Sunday
Following the NPCF occasion, we have been up late catching up with our mates on Saturday evening till the lodge bar closed. Regardless of a late evening, our inner alarm clocks had us awake vibrant and early on Sunday. We grabbed lattes and breakfast after which Ryan and I hit the highway again to Jacksonville to spend my birthday with my household.
My dad and mom not solely helped watch our boys whereas we have been away on Saturday evening however in addition they stunned me with the sweetest Fortieth-birthday themed decorations and a few enjoyable blast-from-the-past pictures, memorabilia and tasks from my childhood that have been so enjoyable to see!
A couple of favorites:
My energizer bunny Halloween costume!
And all of my faculty yearbook pictures! The boys acquired an enormous kick out of seeing Mother at their present ages.
After a late lunch, we made our strategy to the seaside and pool the place we spent the remainder of the day till we concluded the birthday celebrations with sushi and ice cream cake, two of my favorites.
And now, I’d be remiss if I didn’t wrap up a Fortieth birthday weblog put up with out letting all of you understand how a lot you’ve impacted the previous decade and a half of my life. After I consider the most important blessings in my life, this weblog, the flexibility to attach with all of you, and the assist I’ve acquired from this group thorough my late 20s and all of my 30s is one thing I cherish greater than any of you’ll ever know. Thanks for being right here. Thanks for years of encouragement and assist. And thanks for giving me the present exhibiting up and permitting me to do one thing I like to do each single day.
40! Are you able to imagine it!?
