Day 434: Friday, May 21
Covid numbers are still falling! Great News!
But, you know, Covid banners remain on emails and apps and everything. Don't even get me started on how many times you have to agree to assume the risk of Covid when you book things for Disney.
We are enjoying the last few days of the empty pools at the lodge before summer vacation hits. I REALLY missed the pool last summer. We've had a picnic down there a couple of times too.
Another thing I've missed: All You Can Swirl. This is the first time I've been in to do the self-serve fro-yo since the Pandemic began. And it was glorious. And still just $2.49 a cup!
We've been playing some more strategy based board games: up today was Tammany Hall.
And Asa made us all Five Guys for dinner.
A cozy poops.
And a gator on our walk.
Plus, our favorite neighborhood cat, Tom. Or at least most of our favorites- he was not pleased to see Ellie the other day and chased her as she was walking by. Poor Ellie just Turtle shelled herself hoping for him to go away.
Evening walks are still pleasant enough. But, even those days are numbered.
I also got myself all set for our Saturday activity: Hobbit Day!
So, Hobbit Day replaced Father's Day at our house years ago. It's where we eat like hobbits and watch the Lord of the Rings. However, in the years since it first began we moved from structured eating (such as First Breakfast, Second Breakfast, ect) to having a Hobbit Day Open Bar, with Hobbit inspired dishes. Here is the day before Hobbit Day, and Hayden checking out this years menu.
Side #1
And Side #2
Day 435: Saturday, May 22
Again, good news! Although to be fair, we didn't do anything the last couple days of our anniversary week last June because cases were "too high" ha! If we only knew. Fast forward to this June, and we're like 'heck yea, we're doing it all!' (except, not really it ALL. But you know, more than usual at least).
Here in Florida we have our good days, and our ok days. But, we're a fry cry from the 10,000 cases bad days we used to have.
And, more importantly, hospitals aren't overrun!
Meanwhile, I was the winner of this week's Workweek Hustle.
And now, back to Hobbit Day. Yes, I know it's way early for Father's Day. But, Father's Day usually falls right around our anniversary. So, that makes it tough. And, we'll be house sitting- where we'll have pool access- here in a few days, and we can't *gasp* double-up on fun things to do. Not when there is so much time to spread it around. So, Hobbit Day happened late May this year, and we're all ok with that. Asa (and Etta)- and Hayden- sat down early to get a jump on the day.
Because while I got the food ready...
...they started in on their marathon of every Lord of the Rings, extended edition (SO MUCH walking!!) Peyton and Calib came and went (that's Peyton there making use of his time and doubling up by studying his Politics course- which he's totally going to kill, but is still a little hesitant about it. He got exemplary in his pre-assessment days ago!)
Now, at the open bar, payment may be made by posing for a picture with your food. I'll spare you all the photos I took, and just share some. But they ate A LOT. Everyone gets real full by the end of the day. And it keeps me very busy all day. I got in lots of steps working the kitchen.
All the orders at the end of the day... I'd say Asa had a nice Hobbit Day.
And a cute Ellie and Etta picture for you, even if Etta is squinting.
Day 436: Sunday, May 23
More good news!
For lunch, I made a board of Hobbit Day leftovers.
But it was one of those whiney days. I was grumpy, and bored. At least I had Etta to keep me company.
And, I finally caved and played Munchkin. It is not my favorite game. Partly because I think we played it too much when the boys were young and I had to facilitate everyone's turn. But, it went ok. (Asa won!)
Day 437: Monday, May 24
In today's edition of good news...
But, man, has the country been through it.
We headed down to the pool, and once again had it all to ourselves.
We also noticed there are going to be a ton of food trucks down at the lodge in the next few weeks, we're excited to try a few! (There will be a bunch here on our anniversary weekend, so we won't be here- but the boys will, so they can wander down if they're interested).
Hayden and I worked on the latest curbside craft from the library..
We made cute little strawberry bookmarks!
Day 438: Tuesday, May 25
Now, not only is Pfizer good to go for Hayden's age group, but Moderna isn't far behind. Shout out to my niece who was part of this trial, paving the way for kids like Hayden to get the vaccine in a timely manner. Truly a miracle of science.
Vaccinations have slowed though. The FEMA site where the four of us got our vaccines closed for good on Tuesday.
For us, we went down to the tennis courts and played some Tennis Tuesday.
And hit the pool. Asa was able to join us, because if you haven't heard, we're getting up at the crack of dawn lately.
Why, you ask? See, Calib has refused all my offers for something awesome for his 21st birthday. Instead, he wants something that costs nothing: 24 hours of birthday! As in, he wants to stay up for ALL. TWENTY-FOUR HOURS of his birthday. And he wants us to join him. So, in an effort to prepare, he's getting up later and later everyday. But, Asa, Hayden and I are taking the opposite approach, and getting up earlier and earlier. It's been rough, let me tell you.
But that makes evening walks earlier, and warmer. Bad news: they're sweaty and uncomfortable. Good news: we almost always see some baby gators!
Day 439: Wednesday, May 26
Today's numbers...
Last day of school for Pasco county, means the last day the pool is this empty!
It was also Phenom's 14th birthday (sort of), we don't know exactly when it is, but we always celebrate it sometime the end of the May. I made him some puppy cupcakes to celebrate.
It's hard to believe he's 14, but that's because he hasn't changed one bit in 14 years. He's always been a mix of crazy puppy energy and a grumpy old man vibe. It's harder for him to jump up on the couch these days, but that's about it.
And, I'm caught up!
Just for the record, we're sitting 22 days out from a return to normalcy here, and just over a week until Hayden's second shot (nobody tell him, but I ordered him a Hamilton 'I'm not throwing away my shot' shirt to wear, because I know he's not thrilled about having to get two shots when the rest of us got one.)
