Thank you for your kind words, everyone. We're doing okay here - the animals are a little confused, and I keep thinking, "I just can't believe she's gone." I am grateful that her suffering was not prolonged, and as long as I keep busy, I am okay. It's a girl thing. This morning, one of my kids came in the classroom lugging a huge stuffed dog with a card around it's neck. He says to me, "Mrs. Wolfe, you can borrow my dog until you're not sad anymore."

I love my kids.

I'd like to finish posting picture from our Keys trip after this, and possibly update my food blog, someday. We'll see :)

Rest in Peace, Sophie

Last night we had Sophie put to sleep. When we came home from work it was obvious that it was time. We are grateful that her suffering was not drawn-out and that we were able to say good-bye. We were there with her. She is Home. Sleep tight, Saint Sophie.

Day 2: Sunday, April 12th

We broke camp early on Sunday morning and headed for Key West, but not without stopping at ROBERT IS HERE!! Ever since I first entered the blogging world several years ago, I have been reading about this place and wanting to go there. The allure of the place for me is that it truly is "Pure Florida" - it has a funky name with a story behind it, it sells locally grown and exotic produce, and there are random animals running around. I've come within a few hours of Robert is Here before, but this time I actually made it! It's in Homestead, which you really have no reason to go to unless you're driving to the Keys (or you want to see the everlasting effects of Hurricane Andrew, a decade later).

I must have been missing my kitties, because this is the first thing I spotted!!

He was not too impressed by my attempts at bonding :)

I got to taste a famous Robert is Here smoothie!

What the heck is that thing?!? Anyone? Anyone?



Heirloom tomaotes, grown by Robert himself. You don't see those in Publix**!!

A honey tasting station - I had way too much fun! It was so cool to taste the undertones from the different flowers presented to the bees. I tried mulberry, orange, amaretto, ginger.....wow! I got some of the ginger honey, and I totally plan on making some Asian Honey Chicken!

This is how shopping should be. Beautiful.

The boys were finally able to drag me away, and we arrived in Key West two hours later. We set up our tent and headed out for a little sightseeing. First stop: the southern-most point in the continental U.S., a must-see tourist attraction.

It's big and ugly, but every tourist has to get their picture taken next to it!

The end (or beginning) or U.S. Highway 1. And a huge tree. And me.

Awwwwwwwwwwww...............

The first of many beautiful sunsets in the Keys!

**by the way, I just had to share one of my first grader's versions of the Pledge of Allegiance, which I heard this morning: "...and to the RePublix, for which it stands, one nation..." I completely lost it! This has nothing to do with the Keys, I know, but it was so darn funny!

Day 1: Saturday, April 12th

On our first day of our vacation, we left Leesburg and stopped in Clearwater to see Mike's sister. Then we drove straight to Collier-Seminole State Park in Naples and spent the night. It was a nice park, but it was very crowded. Some parks are spaced out enough to where even if they're full, you don't feel crowded. This was not one of those places! We set up camp, and I played with my new camera lenses, which were an early birthday present from Mike:

The next morning we broke camp and headed for Key West!

Back From the Keys...

We spent Spring Break in the Florida Keys and had a great time. Pictures to come, but for now, the most important lesson I learned over the past week:

Never use spray-on sunscreen in windy weather!

Eye Candy Friday: Good Golly Miss Mollie!

(first one to name the artist of that song gets....nothing!)

Hugs for daddy.

Lapdog? Check!

Cuddles? Check!

Watch that tongue!!

Still bald on the behind!!

Divorce isn't common in my family, we just put up with each other.

I can't remember which of my cousins first coined that term, but it's the perfect caption for this picture: That would be me doing who-knows-what with my hand on my face. And that would be my brother, David, who is striking the lovely nyah-nyah pose. His birthday is today!

What you don't see is the death grip he has on the back of my dress to keep me from running off. Thanks, big brother.

What a good brother-putting on a sad face so I wouldn't be the only pouter in this picture! :)

(do not notice the beer bottle on the floor next to the preacher man. He's just lucky I didn't post the one of him pouring vodka!!)

Happy Birthday, Big Brother. I love you.

Nils in Motion

Nils is playing club soccer now. There are less players, so he gets more playing time; plus, the whole thing is taken a lot less seriously - less screaming parents!!

I captured a classic facial expression! Definitely click on this one! :)