A Zoo-riffic Adventure

I can't stress to y'all how much family time has meant to us lately. These past few weeks have literally flown by, because we've been so focused on working and each other; little else included. My husband and I have made it a point to spend these days together, ones that are few and far between, because life (as we've recently learned) has no intention of slowing down; whether or not we want it to. Don't get me wrong, working hard and making a stable life is important. We know that. But what's more important is ensuring that we, and our daughter, live life to the fullest and love with every square inch of our hearts. Laughing is as essential to life as water or food is. For it is nourishment for our souls. This is why we have chosen to make Wednesday our Family Day. Every Wednesday, every week, a new place to visit, new restaurant to try, new memories to make. Life is too short to spend it unhappy or inexperienced.

This week we chose to make the 64 mile trek to the Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens, since neither Papa nor Kiri had ever been to one. And I must say, it was a big hit! Brayden came over to play, so we took him with us! We saw giraffes, monkeys, kangaroos and even stingrays! Kiri even came home with a black plush gorilla that she named 'Willow'. Willow and Ninny are brother and sister, reunited at last. They now go everywhere with her. TOO CUTE, I say. Here are a few photographs of our day!

Lucky Numbers

1, 2, 9…..

And for good reason to! See, I believe in things like numerology. I feel that numbers, like fate, can draw people and things together. For example, my parents had four children, all of which aged apart by 18 months, 2 years and 5 years (1989, 1990, 1992, 1997). Robert’s parents had four children, all of which aged apart by 18 months, 2 years and 5 years. (1982, 1983, 1985, 1990). 

Still don’t think it’s weird? Here’s a bit more. Robert and I became an (official) couple on November 3^rd 2006, (11/03/06). Then, on Valentine’s Day 2007, I texted him a message (at 06:30pm) saying: “I’m gonna marry you one day!”  (Two years later, on a whim, Robert and I got married….on June 30^th, 2009--06/30.). Robert’s father, Richard, was born January 29^th, 01/29---also my sister’s birthday!) at 11:11am. The 1 in his birthday is the common number in Kiri’s birth date, the 2 is the common number in mine and the 9 is the common number in Robert’s. He was also born at 11:11 am which is Kiri’s birth date. He also died on Valentine's Day 2008, the day he was supposed to tell his father about the fact that he was supposed to propose to me, a week before my 19th birthday (1-9). I was born at 9 o’clock, Robert was born at 11 o’clock. Kiri, was also born at 11:03:06 am signifying the morning of November 3^rd, 2006, when Robert asked me to be his girlfriend. Kiri’s birthday is also Veteran’s Day, which is cool because HER FATHER is in the military, as well as my grandfather, father, brother and uncle and Robert’s father and many of his male (and some female) relatives.

Just something to get ya thinking, you know?

Smiles For Miles

I'm so unbelievably grateful that Robert and I have wonderful jobs and bosses that are awesome enough to give us the same days off in a week, so that our little family of three can spend time together. For them to take into account that we both do schooling part time, work full time and nurse a monthly impromptu drill session 300 miles away and actually go out of our way to accomodate us is so fantastic! I was horribly afraid once I moved here and started working, that with Papa's rigorous schedule, that we'd never see each other. BUT! It's been the complete opposite. As a matter of fact, since he moved here three and a half weeks ago, we've had the exact same, (if not closely resembled) schedules. If I could show my extreme gratitude, I'd be thanking them all until I'm fifty! Nevertheless, I'll settle for some pretty snazzy DIY Christmas gifts!

In the meantime, I enjoy our family dates. So far, we've canvased Target 100 times, gone to about a dozen parks, power shopped two name-brand outlet malls, walked countless miles during our family-walks and even enjoyed many hours of Papa's famous Mama-Papa one on one workout nights. I love it so much that we're able to do little things like that.

Oh, and did I mention that both our bosses gave us Halloween night off, so that we could take our monkey (yes, Punky's a monkey!) trick-or-treating?! Told ya they were awesome. SCHWING.