8th Grade Trip - FL with Abby

 About a year ago Erin and I started brainstorming how to make 8th grade graduation special for Abby and she suggested that we plan a trip, just the three of us, and let Abby pick where we'd go and what we'd do.  It would be a trip made by her, for her...a few days to just focus on being together us girls.  Around Christmas sometime we told Abby about the surprise and she said she wanted to go to the beach!

She didn't have more specifics beyond that so Erin suggested Sarasota and we were off to the races with a plan!  Erin lived in Sarasota for about 6 months when she was still doing shows and she'd been wanting to go back to visit for a long.  She'd talked about Owen's Fish Camp (the only "must do" item on the trip list from Erin) that I had also been dying to check it out.

We started making a plan, booking tickets and an AirBnB and planning the details.  It was fun to plan with Abby.  She loved looking at the houses and doing research about what to do in the area.  We flew out Wednesday - EARLY morning...we had a 7am flight.  I'm tired just typing it...lol!  And we returned home on Sunday afternoon.  It was the perfect amount of time and we had the perfect trip!  It was a little rainy when we arrived on Wednesday but we skirted it all with our plans and then it rained Thursday so we used that day to explore and shop.  

Friday we dedicated to "beaching" (I still have a pretty distinct sunburn line down my left arm - the only part of me that was outside of the umbrella)...and Saturday we did a combo of shopping, visiting a Big Cat Rescue and a little more time at the beach and then Sunday we packed up, headed back north to Tampa and back home.

It was very different to travel just us 3 girls.  We lived at a different pace than we do when we're a big family group (and a much slower pace then when Ryan is involved)!  We ate girl dinner (ie: whatever the heck we wanted) around 5:30 most night (you know I love a 5:30 dinner!) and we watched 90's romcoms to get Abby in the know about all the cinematic gems she's been missing out on (I mean...13 going on 30...how could we not?!?!)

While our AirBnB left more than a handful of things to be desired (I was less than pleased with it), it did have a great location, just a short walk to the public access.  We managed to catch the golden hour sunsets every night we were there (except Wednesday).  I feel like we successfully landed "beach" for Abby.

Oh gosh!  How could I forget the two wildlife things Abby picked to do on the trip!?  First, when we arrived on Wednesday, we drove north of Tampa about an hour to a wildlife rescue park, in Homosassa Springs, that also had manatees on site.  Manatees are my most favorite animal (as a child I even donated part of my allowance each year to adopting a manatee) and I've never seen one in real life.  Erin said that when she was living down there there were Manatees everywhere so I was excited to try and see them.  Turns out in the winter months they move closer inland to the warmer, shallower waters and in June they live much further out to sea.  We did get to see two of them in a rehab tank of sorts but it wasn't quite what I had envisioned.  That's ok!  I guess we'll just have to go back in the winter months some time...maybe as a whole family.  Aw shucks!

The second wildlife thing we did was the Big Cat Rescue Abby found about 40 minutes north of Sarasota.  Erin and I joked that it might have been owned by Carol Baskin's sister (of Tiger King fame) but we have no idea.  There were lots of big cats to see - we'll give them that!  I bet they had 40 big cats ranging from tigers to lions and even a Ligar (which admittedly was WILD to see so close in real life.  He was HUGE!).  They had other animals too.  Bears and monkeys and reptiles and all sorts of things.  It was cool, but we felt like cages and pens were pretty small and the animals were doing a lot of pacing making you think they were uncomfortable.  If someone is thinking of visiting I'd say it's good for little kids (not much older than Abby) and only good for 2-3 hours max.  The park itself is was pretty small and we were all ready to head out after about 2 hours.

My favorite part of the trip?  That moment right there.  Sitting side by side with Erin and Abby reading our books and just soaking it all in.  All that being said, I sure did miss Hazel and Ryan.  It just wasn't the same without them.  I think spending time apart making memories makes for fun stories to share, but more fun than that is actually sharing the memories together.  Franny - I know you felt a little left out when we went on this trip without you, but you're up in just 3 short years honey!  I can't wait to see where you pick to visit.

Ally and Brett's Wedding

 

I was so bound and determined to get a few nice photos of us at Ally and Brett's wedding that I made everyone stop to take them just as we walked onto the property before the ceremony even happened.  I'm glad I did, because these are the only photos I took of the entire evening!  I didn't even get to snag one of Ally and Brett and most annoying, I didn't get a nice group shot.  That being said, I'm pretty happy to have these!!

Ally and Brett (Tim and Lynda's daughter) got married the weekend after Memorial Day weekend.  These early summer weeks are always packed with events.  Add in a wedding, 8th grade graduation and a trip to FL plus one of the busiest work weeks of the year for me...and I knew this was the very beginning of a very busy summer!

8th Grade Graduation - Abby

The last few weeks of school are always a little bit like living through a tornado, but with all of the 8th grade graduation things it made for an extra special version of chaos.  That being said, this is one week I'll be wishing I could relive over and over again.  My heart is full for this little girl and we're some pretty lucky parents to call her ours.

The last day of school at Riley they have a tradition where the graduate "pick your ride" and they organize all sorts of creative ways to get to school.  I've seen groups on horses, I've seen tractors, I've been golf carts and go cards and about everything in between.  This year one of the twin boy's families (there are three sets of twins in Abby's class) offered to host the kids that morning so they could all ride their bikes in one big group.

We were pretty thankful because the roads between our house and the school are pretty dangerous and there is no sidewalks.  Maybe most fun of all is that the kids had a police escort to get them safely between the house and the school.  I didn't stick around to see the parade of bikes take off (work was calling...) but Abby said it was very fun "and the school was closer than I thought it would be".  

Let's not forget the moment I almost made all of these bikes fall down like playing cards all stacked up.  I moved Abby's bike into the line and knocked the one closest.  We took out about 3 bikes but thankfully one of the girls saw it happening and stopped the domino effect.  (I'm sure Abby would have LOVED that!)

A few weeks before graduation I got a text from Mrs. Campanelli (the kids gym teacher, but also their 3rd grade teacher from a few years back.  Anyways, she texted to tell me (in secret) that Abby had been nominated for 5 out of 8 awards that would be given out during the 8th grade assembly.  She was so kind about how she talked about Abby and how we should be so proud of her.  She said "I hope she sweeps them all..." (LOVE!).

Abby won three awards at the assembly.  She was awarded Academic Excellence, the Presidential Education Award (given to all student who score above a certain GPA) and a band ward for her leadership in the band.  Her little heart was full, but mine might have been fuller.  It was so fun to sit in the audience and to hear her name called over and over again. 

 

Fast forward to later that night at the graduation ceremony where they gave out three additional awards that were not already given out earlier in the day and you'll never believe it, but Abby won two of the three there too!  She won one given out by the American Legion (given to one boy and one girl in her class) and probably the most distinguished award of the entire day - the Humanitarian award, given to only one person in the school.  I'd made a joke when we sat down with our programs "When Abby sweeps these two awards do you think I should stand up to receive them on her behalf?"  I was totally joking of course, but then she actually did win them both!!

The Humanitarian Award was very special.  As Mr. Vicari described the intent of the award and what it was meant to highlight along with the story of the child who would win it, I know every single parent (or even every attendee...) was sitting there hoping he was describing "their" child.  The sweet 8th grader they were there to celebrate and my heart swelled (and my eyes teared to the brim) when he announced Abby's name.  He told the best story about how when Mr. Grey (the new superintendent who started 3 years ago) was walking the school his first week he pointed out Abby to Mr. Vicari and asked "who is that kid because she's going somewhere, she's going to be someone important some day".  Come on...........!!  It makes me tear up even just writing it.

If I'm being honest I wasn't putting much weight in 8th Grade Graduation.  I didn't want to plan a whole big party, I wanted to make it special for Abby, of course, but it is only 8th grade...it feels like a made up new holiday just to get you to buy things.  But, for me it ended up being so much more than that.  It was a validation I didn't know I needed.  I know it's her day, not mine.  But the validation through the awards told me "You're doing a good job with her...keep going Momma!".  I didn't know I needed it...but I did.

Of course, I can't forget about our friends and family who ALWAYS show up to make sure these days are special for the kids.  I'm so thankful for the time everyone takes (out of their very very busy lives) to show up and help us celebrate.  We had a big group in the audience to clap for Abby and make sure she felt loved and all of that made me feel loved too.  

My last few thoughts - here we are at the end of 8th grade.  13 years and while the days themselves feel long, the years have flown by.  I fully recognize that we are closer to being empty nesters than we are to having newborns...and that we only have 4 short years left with all four of us under one roof.  It makes me both incredibly excited for the days ahead...and a little sad about how quickly I know it'll fly by.

APM - you are going places!!  Mark my words!

1 Family x 12 (May)

 

This family photo is most likely the front of our blog book this year.  We're so proud!!  8th grade graudation in the book.

Memorial Day Weekend 2026

The official beginning of summer!  Summer holiday lake weekends are always a highlight of our calendars - mostly we love seeing everyone and hanging out.  

A few summers ago the boy started a men's golf outing and the girls are figuring out ways to do the same.  This year we opted for ladies happy hour on the gazebo.  No kids or boys allowed (if possible - lol!).

How could I resist a nice golden hour photoshoot with my honey - brought to you by Brittany, who of course knows the angles better than I do!  I love this photo!

Abby caught fish after fish, just as she manages to do each and every time we're there.  Somehow she has the best of luck - and really puts Ryan to shame because he's always said "there are no fish in the lake".  LOL!

Summer is here and now things get really wild with trips and plans and parties...if I know one thing for sure it's that I'll be posting Labor Day photos before I know it.  But, we work all year round and plan these fun weekends months in advance and now they are finally here and we get to enjoy them!

 

Spring Crafts

 

(March 26)

My Spring finishes are growing in numbers and it might be one of my most productive seasons but it's only because I had a lot of things about 90% done and I just needed to push past the finish line on them.  This quilt just needed binding and to find a home - it went to Ally and Brett for their wedding shower.  They are getting married in a just a few short weeks from now.  I'm kicking myself for not getting a picture of the fully finished quilt with the label on it though.  Somehow I just have this one from my work on the binding.  I posted this one as I was making it back in winter/spring 2025 so it's been waiting for a forever home for a little bit.

(March 20)

This pinwheel block quilt has been so fun to knit!  I've got two projects already bought and in the line up for knitting so I can't quite justify the yarn purchase for another one, but I might come back to this pattern again!  It's perfect for travel because you knit each block separately and then assemble it all in rows.  

(March 29)

(March 30)

It traveled with me to Nashville for work, and to FL for a fun weekend away with Ryan.  Its been back and forth to Freeport and of course it's spent a lot of time on the couch at Jamie's house.  I even got her to repurpose her mini-skeins from another project to make one of these for herself.  

(April 11)

(May 1)

(May 7)

You might remember this one from my massive quilt push this winter.  It's one of four baby blankets I made in different colorways.  I was caught off guard without a baby blanket to gift when Erin and Dave announced that they were having a baby back at Christmas time (due early May) so I decided I needed a few baby quilts ready to roll and made up four different versions of this quilt.  It's a quick sew, and a great size for a baby blanket/throw.  It uses a jelly roll so it comes together quickly.  I got these quilts back from Kristy (the long arm quilter) and I quickly bound this one for Erin and Dave.  It made it to their house just a day or two before their daughter, Josie was born.  We have another new baby cousin and I can't wait to meet her!

(May 15)

This is another of the baby quilts I've got nearly completed.  I told myself I couldn't start any new projects until everything I had on hand was fully finished.  

(May 16)

Baby quilt #3 - bound and ready for a label and a forever home!

(May 17)

Pinwheel blanket - just needs it's label and this one is ready to gift!  I think this year might be the year that all the Murph family Aunts get handmade blankets from me.  I gifted Aunt Terri a quilt a few years back but Aunt Laura, Corda and Jan have been on my list since then.  I think this year is the year!