My mom and I went out to see what we could see—I love that our street is basically a Dark Sky park! It was my first attempt ever at seeing if there are northern lights… I changed my phone’s camera settings, and maaaaybe I see a little bit?
Tom took the kids to the army base gym to work out!
Stopping at Tasty Treat in Lake City…
The view from the deck…before finishing packing and heading to the airport.
We were up early to start the day at Weeki Wachee State Park — we were planning on hitting the waterpark and the live mermaid show (which they are famous for). But unfortunately, Linda and I BOTH read the information completely wrong in the exact same way…so the actual waterpark (slides, lazy river, etc.) wasn’t open. There were some birds wandering around but other than that it was pretty dead.
We did stay for the mermaid show and though it was neat it wasn’t super exciting. I guess it’s a cool “Hey we did that” time!
So then Lin wanted to head to another park—Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park. We stopped for lunch at a random pizza place I found on Yelp and had to laugh when it was right next to a Marine Corps recruiting office!
I can honestly say I’ve never seen this sign before:
Then we stopped for ice cream on our way home…because how could you NOT stop at this huge ice cream cone?!
And then it was time to go home…which the kids were excited about because Grannie said we could go to the pool and promised Owen he could drive!
It was pretty dead when we got there around 6. I actually went in the pool and underwater with Katie! She was impressed I could do a front and back somersault — and she finally did a back one on her own. When Owen and Grannie came back about an hour later, the pool was empty except for my two.
Sidenote: The yacht-rock-esque station is playing Soldier of Love by Donny Osmond. It’s from 1989. GET OFF MY LAWN.
Then Katie and I sat on the back of the golf cart for our final ride…and had some fun as we rode over some bumps and Owen took some corners a little crazy.
Linda surprised us and told us she wanted to take us swimming with the manatees! So, being in a wetsuit was a first for me and the kids!
Unfortunately, this time of year is the end of the season — most manatees have already begun the trek to warmer waters — so we actually had to hunt for them a bit. We eventually found this mom and baby and followed them, hoping they’d go into calmer waters…which they did, but they didn’t really go to a place we could easily get to them.
We did eventually get into the water but it was hard to see much since the water was so cloudy. That said, at one point, a manatee swam directly under me! Like inches below me!
The guide was taking photos for us so that was nice not to have to worry about…but the manatees weren’t very calm today so we didn’t get pics of us with them underwater. This is about the best we got of us in the same photo:
The kids loved the guide’s description of them as “2000 pound sea potatoes!”
Back home, we completed the beach glass puzzle with one day to spare!
Owen was serenading us with his snoring.
Today we went out to eat a late lunch with Linda’s Aunt Carol (who lives about 30 minutes away) and then went back to swim in her community pool! The kids loved the indoor pool!
Once again, Grannie and the kids went to the village square to listen to the live music while I stayed home and worked!
We started the day with a delicious breakfast at The Flying Biscuit and then did some souvenir shopping.
On the way home we stopped at a farmer’s market to get some Honey Bell oranges (omggggggg they were super juicy and delicious) and couldn’t resist taking a pic of this gigantic carrot!
Then we went home and went to the pool again for a bit.
It was nicer outside than in so I did my reading thang on the porch (yes, with sunglasses and reading glasses).
Grannie and the kids went to the village square to listen to the live music while I stayed home and worked!
Grannie surprised the kids with a longer golf cart drive…for Johnny Rockets for brunch — somewhere we ate on the cruise! They loved it! Grannie and I enjoyed adult shakes.
Then we walked around a little, Katie named two turtles in the bay, we got some souvenirs, and then went to another pool.
I had this exchange with the waitress:
Waitress: So that's a strawberry daiquiri.
Me: Margarita.
Waitress: Yes, daiquiri.
Me: Not daiquiri, margarita.
Waitress: Yes I know what you mean.
Aaaand it tasted like a daiquiri to me! (Not bad but…not a margarita!)
Back to the pool after dinner…
Unfortunately someone got a little too much sun…
Soooo happy to be able to wash my face tonight!
Welcome to creepy crawlies!
First practice session driving the golf cart! Grannie is brave!!!
Driving all of us to the pool!
My view today from the shade of a cabana at one of the “executive” pools.
Katie: I haven’t put sunscreen on in a long time. This feels weird to be doing it in March.
The kids immediately disappeared in the pool. Grannie was in the sun. The music was great. I read my Kindle and hit the adults-only hot tub — then ordered a frozen margarita!
Of course I was 100% in my element—so the kids didn’t want to stay too long. (I thought we’d be there all day like we are when we go to our pool…but we were only there like 1.5 hours!)
It only took us about 15 minutes from Tom dropping us off to sitting at our gate!
I gave the kids mini lessons on how to navigate in an airport—checking boards for gate info, following signs, using the moving walkway, how to take your suitcase on an escalator, etc. Gave them my credit card and told them to go buy their own lunches.
This was the biggest gate I’ve ever been at—an entire room!—which makes sense because it was the biggest plane I’ve been on (3/4/3 seat configuration)!
Aaaaand I realized halfway to the airport that I forgot my cleanser! If you know me at all, you know I’m crazy about my skincare regimen!! So it was INSTANT panic! So I asked in one of my distributor chats if anyone happened to be close to where I was staying…thinking someone could mail something and I’d maybe get it next day. And a handful of ladies volunteered to ship something but someone was actually in the same area! And she’s dropping off some skincare samples for me tomorrow!
Until next year…
The kids wanted to go mini golfing and us ladies wanted to go shopping so we piled in the car and off we went—Katie actually sat in the waaaay back without a seat and she thought it was great fun!
It’s really strange being here at my dad and Lin’s house…and he’s not here. I keep expecting to see him shuffling in to say good morning, coming to the table for lunch, grabbing a Coke from the fridge, sitting in his rocker, sneaking some cookies, or giving him a kiss goodnight.
But at the same time — and of course something I feel immensely guilty about — is that it’s almost… easier? less stressful? a sense of relief? because there was so much involved in his daily care and dealing with his anxiety.
I’ve pretty much been avoiding any serious grieving before now because we only really saw him 2-3x a year so it was mostly “out of sight out of mind” (as crass as that may sound). But being here…and the memorial service is later this morning…well, I predict I will be a hot freaking mess. Just writing this is hard.
I don’t want to adult today.
The kids love this park—and it’s right down the road from the house—so we took them there tonight!
And the best of the bunch.
It’s time to pick up the kids from grandparent camp!
First, my traveling face. LOL
We had to drop Olive off at the sitter’s (we’ll take her next year once she’s more potty trained). She loves car rides!
Stopping for lunch at a gas station! They opened the side of the RV and we had a quick non-fast-food lunch!
The last 15 miles looks like this.
We’ve arrived!
And Lin had bought Thimbleberry margaritas so that happened first thing!
Unfortunately today was really just a travel day. Since I had to change my flight at the last minute, I had a crappy boarding time on the first flight so I got a middle seat so no cool pics.
Even though I still had crappy boarding times for the second flight, I managed to score a window seat!
Overall it was an amazing weekend… Even if I didn’t get home until 9:30 instead of 4:30. And Olive greeted me like a crazed banshee when I got in the car… And then rode home like this.
Today was just a day for relaxing and playing…so we obviously spent most of the day in the pool! And of course there were margaritas. And photos.
We were on our own for dinner and a few of us decided on sushi.
Then we took some Aspire Gloss photos—since Audrey (front and center) was the one who designed it!
And then it was off to axe throwing!
It was soooo much fun! My very first official throw I got a bullseye!
On the way home, I got a text that my flight was cancelled—and automatically rebooked for Monday morning!? Umm, no?! So there was some fast and furious research happening in the car to see what my options were. Unfortunately, the only other decent available option included a 2-hour layover in Dallas. Ughhhh—so glad I paid more for direct flights.
The evening ended back at the house with a bunch of us just chatting and telling stories and laughing a whole bunch.
Today’s schedule was pretty open all day with a short training around lunch. So we started by taking lots of lifestyle photos of and with each other.
AND THEN OMG! I met Katie Enos and Summer Alvarez!! They are some of the top dogs in SeneGence and we got two hours of one-on-one training by them today! They are soooo super nice and down to earth!
Of course I think I look totally ridic in this pic but that’s because someone else took it—I would have done a closeup selfie!!
Katie’s Instagram & Summer’s Instagram
Then it was off to sit by the pool at the swim up bar.
I might have been a bad influence. (Or, really, they just wanted to taste it and didn’t have glasses!)
And then I just got toooo hot so had to go in the pool. With a margarita of course. But because it’s so extremely hot, the pool water isn’t really even refreshing. It’s definitely not cool. But it is better than the air so…
After dinner it was time for more lifestyle photos. I took a bunch but wasn’t feeling cute at all. (UGHHHHH. I’ve gained so much weight. I know no one there cares but the pics make me sick so A) I’m not posting them and B) it’s time to get back on Naturally Slim.) So this is my best photo—nothing different than I take at home:
But this is the kind of pics most were taking (I just felt super self-conscious so didn’t join in):
TODAY IS THE DAY! Today I get to leave for the Fab Squad Retreat in Scottsdale, Arizona, that I qualified for at 100%!
It was soooo hard getting up at 5 this morning but I made it to the airport easy peasy. Seeing the security line worried me a little bit because I no longer have TSA pre-check but it went very quickly and I had no problems…except I forgot my Apple watch in the basket. I did realize it before I got too far away and the agent was holding it when I got back so I’m gonna count that as a win.
And then… at the gate…they announced that the Phoenix airport had lost power so we couldn’t leave until their power was restored. Thankfully we only left a few minutes late—and then made up enough time in the air to arrive about 30 minutes early!
Friends picked me up and then it was off to Costco to get margaritas and snacks for the house!
And then they wanted to go to In & Out and I won’t turn down a burger and fries! It wasn’t very thrilling though. We did get hats though.
And then the thing I was most looking forward to… seeing my Jenna and giving her a huge hug! She’s the leader that’s adopted me and supports me even though she doesn’t earn any money from me! She’s literally one of the nicest people on the planet and I’m lucky to know her.
The house was huge—and this was our first view of the backyard and pool.
And my first margarita on the patio trying not to sweat in the heat.
We hung out around the pool until it was time for the PJ party (Jenna bought everyone matching pajamas!)—pizza dinner and ice breakers.
First Jenna wanted to know if we considered ourselves introverts or extroverts. I’d say more than half of our 20 said they were introverts! Then she asked what challenges you’ve faced in the last year and something you’re proud of—business or personal. I knew what I was proud of (my consistent and increasing sales, earning SeneSales every quarter) but had no idea about challenges. I was thinking I can’t seem to host parties, I have no willpower to lose weight… And then people were talking about all these SERIOUS THINGS (deaths, major illnesses, relationship issues, etc) and everyone was getting teary and I’m a total emotional sap so I was teary. And it was getting closer to me—I was like #17/20 and I still didn’t really even know what I was going to say. And then the girl before me said her mom died unexpectedly (which I knew) so I was like Oh okay I’ll tell them my dad died unexpectedly (because I’ve mostly been able to talk about it without getting super emotional) and then as the words were coming out of my mouth it was like it all hit me RIGHT THEN and I could barely even make it through. I know no one cared how I sounded because seriously half the women broke down while talking but I still felt ridiculous. So that was interesting. But we were also all laughing and crying and it was good overall.
I’m not gonna lie—I did feel lots of awkwardness and anxiety all day about hanging out with all these ladies I don’t know. I mean, I know who they are (and they know who I am) but we have never really hung out before and I’m a total introvert in those situations. And also because a lot of them do have real friends within the group so they REALLY know each other.
But I survived!
All photos and captions are from Gramma Jean!
The weather was perfect again so I spent the day in the chaise—in my PJs—and finished my second and third books!
Tom kept me from being parched with my new tumbler full of margaritas.
Got this photo update from Anna:
And then it was campfire and s’mores time!
