Taking the Plunge

So almost a year since my last true visit to Florida. With the help from my Besties, we are heading back. I can't help but think "Last year at this time we were..." Happy. Together. Whole.

We have a little business to handle, but we're going to have a whole lot of fun, too!

We just ate breakfast at Chili's and we are waiting to board the plane. I am about to give Lil Dude a dose of Benadryl for my nerves. By 11am we will be out of the cold and into a new chapter.

Firing up the Blog

Yeah, Baby!  We're back by popular demand!  Word is out that the C Man and I are hitting the road again and nearly everyone asked if we're blogging this trip.  Several people even said that we *should* blog again.   Being the people pleaser that I am (HA!),  I thought it over and fired up the blog.

So here's the deal:  we leave on Tuesday night, November 17.  We return to Michigan on December 18.  For some reason I wanted a "White Christmas" this year, so we're coming home to deck the halls before the 25th.

A few things are changing this trip.  First of all, we're flying instead of driving.  Allegiant Air has low-cost, direct service from Grand Rapids to Ft. Lauderdale, so it's not worth the price of gas to drive.  Second of all, we have no outside trips planned - we'll be in Pompano the entire time.

We still have a few adventures planned though.  In addition to a family-style Thanksgiving, we've got a birthday to celebrate, a wedding to attend, friends coming to visit, some fun kid-friendly outings planned and lots of beach time (of course).  Charlie will be in pre-school while we're there, I'll be working, and blogging along the way. 

Follow along if you want or keep in touch other ways.  Know that we're having a blast and enjoying our time away from the cold & impending winter weather.

Big Love!

Cris

The Final Entry

So we're home. It's Saturday morning, and I am working to recreate a sense of order in my life. I got home after being road ravaged for 36+ hours, exhausted, hungry and fatigued. It was truly a reality check - the furnace was out, the fridge was stinky (I forgot to clean it before we left), my bed was broken, I had to unpack the truck all alone, and Charlie was a wild man. It dawned on me that I was...and am all alone. No more cushy Florida existence - this was the hard, cold reality of Michigan winter. In the past two days I have gotten re-acclimated to driving in the snow, and remembered how to layer clothes and button up before going outside.

I plan to spend this weekend putting away our things and cleaning up. I didn't realize how much junk I have around here! There are books, clothes, magazines and other stuff that we can do without. I also want to print some pictures and get my digital photo frame loaded up with vacation pictures! Work on Monday - and I need to take a little piece of happiness with me.

In looking through pictures this morning, I came across this little gem. This is the early morning view of the beach - right outside our door at the condo. How gorgeous is that? I took early morning walks, collected shells and dipped my feet in the ocean almost daily while we were away. Know what the view out my front door looks like now? Yeah. Quite a difference, I must say. And yes, it is snowing.

I go back to work on Monday, and I plan to take a bunch of Florida sunshine (in the form of pictures, souvenirs and shells) with me to keep me happy.

My chores for the rest of the weekend are to clean up the condo, unpack my stuff, reconnect electronics, fix the bed, streamline my life (i.e., throw away a bunch of junk) and get ready for work on Monday. It's been about six weeks since I've had that type of responsibility, you know. Party's over!

Thanks to everyone we encountered during our trip - all of my friends in Atlanta, Manny, Theresa and Mike, Daddy and Aunt Peggy, our neighbors and friends in the condo, Kamal and family, Big Daddy Smoov and Tristan and even Walter, the countless people we encountered on the beach and the various other people we met along the way. Charlie and I had an amazing time on our vacation. Absolutely amazing! I'm working on an online photo album of "the best" of our vaca.

Big Love!

Cris and Charlie

Destination in Sight!

Less than 2 hrs to go!

Thru Ft. Wayne

Charlie is so cute watching his movies!

We're 150 miles from home.

Amen!

C.