I guess I've fallen a bit behind in my writing. Our Internet has been going in and out the past week and when it is working I'm not always in the "mood" to write. I've been determined this year to write more about our life rather than just putting up pictures with a brief description. I told Steve I would love to print out all the posts and put them together so that we can look back on our "story" years from now.

We successfully made it through Steve's first week of school with the students. It actually went very well. Steve is enjoying his classes a lot. He is so passionate about his job. There is always a lot of evening work during the school year and that is the hardest adjustment coming back from summertime. It's another reason why we love Titus' early bedtime...it allows for a quiet evening for Steve to read and study.

Our weekend was the perfect mix of relaxation and socializing. And topped off by an amazing service on Sunday morning. Here is a link to view it...

http://www.calvaryftl.org/AWMedia/MediaDesk.cfm?fn=G5465

Now it's September (in a few hours). Steve's birthday is Saturday. We're looking forward to the 3 day Labor Day weekend. We'll probably take a drive down to Miami...along the coast. It's a beautiful drive that we made once before, on our anniversary. Pictures to come...

Promises

We had a brief rain on Saturday while the sun was brightly shinning...this appeared out our front door.

What a Week!

Beyond exhausted is how I would describe myself right now. It was a long week. The relief that I was hoping to get from the weekend...didn't quite come. Steve had in service all this week. I didn't realize how long his days would be...I don't think he did either. He left the house each day before Titus or I got out of bed. He was usually out the door around 6:45am. Titus would start his (and my) day around 7:00. My days weren't terribly full last week. We had a play date with two ladies and their little boys. Titus did well and loved playing at a new house with new toys. On Wednesday morning, I was in our bathroom brushing my teeth and washing my face when out of the corner of my eye...I saw a little critter. Sure enough it was a lizard. The Saturday before when we were heading out the door for the beach, a lizard scampered in the door and went under the floor. Steve put tape over the crack and we thought we had him trapped. I guess we didn't. He must've found a way out from under the floor and into the house. After I saw him in the bathroom, I got him trapped in our bedroom. He stayed there all day until Steve came home and trapped him under a cup...and that was the end of the lizard. Steve didn't get home before 5:00 any day last week. We all sat down to dinner each evening then it was bath time and bedtime for Titus. On Friday I went in to the school for the Anticipation Celebration. The students could come to school with their parents and meet their teachers and get locker combinations and other information that would make their 1st day go more smoothly. It was nice to see Steve in his classroom interacting with his students and their parents. Saturday morning we took Titus to the park...he loved it! He hadn't been there since he started walking. It was so hot at 9am that we didn't stay too long. After lunch we put him down for a nap and when we woke up 3 1/2 hours later, he had a fever. I knew he had to be sick because he never sleeps more than 2 hours. He got up and played but was back in bed at 5:30pm. He slept all night through and woke up today without a fever. For lunch today we went to a restaurant on the beach called Aruba. It was such a cute place. We sat inside but were literally inches from the sand. We sat by a wall of huge windows that separated us from the beach. After our lunch we walked out onto a pier and watched the fisherman. It was a beautiful day. Titus loved it so much he decided to skip his nap today. Sleeping only 10 minutes in the car on the way home. By 4:00 we were all tired and cranky. Now, the house is quiet...the school lunches are packed for the week...Steve is looking over his schedule...and we are getting ready for a new week- the first week of school!


This is the restaurant from the pier. We sat inside the big windows and felt like we could step right out onto the sand.

Back on the Beach

These are the pictures from last week (Wednesday) when Titus and I went to the beach...

Back Home.

We've been back now for about five days. I've been meaning to write and post pictures for a few days now, but am just now getting to it. Our drive back went well...but is just so long! We didn't have any problems with the weather, the car, or much traffic. That was a blessing! It is difficult enough for Titus to last the entire 18 hour drive, I can't imagine if it had been made longer due to traffic or dealing with a flat tire. We did stop overnight at a hotel in South Carolina. We stayed at a Hampton Inn...it was wonderful. I don't know if we were just so happy to be out of the car, or if the hotel was really that nice...either way, we loved our one night stay! Steve did tell the lady at the desk, "I need to write a review for this hotel-it is so great!" We arrived at our condo around 8:00pm. It was so great to see Titus walking around the house! He was still crawling when we left. I don't think he remembered the house. He and I both were excited to see his toys that we had left here...we both had forgotten what he had. He has been adjusting well to being back. He has switched to a one-nap-a-day schedule that has been working really well for us all. It's nice to know each day that he has a routine and I can plan our day around it. We've been having some issues with behavior, which though the pediatrician said is normal, still has us a bit concerned. Titus is a very strong-willed child and I think that is going to be something we have to work long and hard with him on. At his one year check-up he weighed 23 pounds 13 ounces and measured 30 1/2 inches. He is tall for his age and average weight. He is walking everywhere now and loves the pool. We took him today for the first time since being back. He seems to prefer swimming with us over being in his floaty now. He also loves the beach! I took him on my own early in the week while Steve was at the school and then we took a family trip yesterday. I think our family time at the beach will last longer than it did last year when we would go home after only an hour. Titus seems so content there on the beach, playing in the sand, splashing in the water, and picking up seaweed. Overall, we are all happy to be back. Steve is getting his classroom ready and is looking forward to in-service days this week and then students returning next Monday.

We're Home

Just wanted to let you all know we made it back to Florida safely. We're now trying to get the house back in order and get rested up from the long trip. We are hoping to get to the beach tonight or tomorrow...so I'll wait to write more and post pictures then. Thanks for your prayers! We love you all and miss you already!

South of the Border

We left Pennsylvania this morning at 8:45. We are now in Manning , SC. The drive went well. We arrived here around 7pm. Titus did pretty good...only a few rough moments. He slept for about 45 minutes in the morning, then we stopped for lunch and to let him walk some. We got back on the road and he took another mini nap (maybe 20 minutes). Then we stopped at South of the Border. We've passed this place so many times and always talk about stopping...this time we did! About 75 miles before getting to South of the Border, the signs start. As you continue to drive closer to it, you see more and more...and more signs! So, our curiosity got the best of us. It wasn't quite what we expected. Although it was a nice break from all the driving and Titus enjoyed looking at everything.

a little groggy after all the driving...

in World of Hats...

glad to be out of the car!

Titus and Pedro...

at the hotel after a long day...

Keep us in your prayers as we finish our journey tomorrow!

The Pond

Across the road from my parents house, and down the dirt lane behind our old house, is a pond. It's known around the neighborhood as "Mel's Pond." I've even heard that some people call it "Mel's Beach." Some summer days it does look like a beach...full of people on their blankets and chairs. It's a nicer pond than you might picture. The owner drains it at the beginning of each summer and cleans it. It is actually the pond where I was baptized. On Monday, I met my mom and sister and the kids there for lunch and some swimming. The weather was perfect for it...hot and sticky! Titus loved the water. He sat at the edge and splashed and splashed. It was great to see the kids enjoying the water and each other.