Day 1-10
The Nanny is on vacation this week, so I was the substitute & super happy to be here! Love, love, love my time with the girls! We had a blast!
Their lives have definitely changed in the past month…the flood from hurricane Ian forced them to evacuate by boat & move from their home, losing so many of their belongings & relocating in a temporary house a few blocks away. Part of everyday conversations is “it survived the flood’ or “that was lost in the flood’ or “we can’t find that & don’t know what happened to it”. The girls seem to be adjusting pretty good with the changes, while Sara & Kevin have a hundred more decisions to make about their home where the entire first floor was damaged & has to be rebuilt, two cars were totaled, many of their belongings drowned & destroyed. Sara & her family will probably be out of their home for at least a year. We’re all very grateful that they are healthy & fine, but what a tragic life event. One that no one ever wants. But Sara & Kevin are two people that don’t panic, work well under stress & in chaos & that’s a good thing, because that’s where this flood put them. Their entire street & wonderful neighbors also had to move & have losses that are similar. I’m grateful they are all a close group & are staying in touch & cheering each other on to get through this nightmare. And so, you do what you do when life gives you lemons…you go on, persevere, try to get back to a ‘normal’ life & make lemonade.
Corn Maze fun times with all their friends the first evening I was there.
Sara & Emma in the maze.
Round & round & round!
Make your own flavor of icee’s….& I think they mixed in about every flavor.
S’mores!
Turns out I can’t photograph little girls on mechanical bulls! #veryblurry But they loved it!
Taking the girls out for breakfast…such a treat for me.
Baking Halloween cupcakes! (The aprons survived the flood!)
Emma assured me this is what her Mommy lets her do!
Since the flood wrecked their home, they’ve moved temporarily a few blocks away to another nice neighborhood. These three super cool sisters live close by & gave the girls some items they can’t use anymore…books, bike helmets, & roller skates. Then they all stuck around to give Claire her first skating lesson. But I love this photo, with my littles chatting with these older sweet girls…grateful for awesome new neighbors & these girls are outside exploring, climbing, blading, playing all the time. Wonderful influences for Emma & Claire!
Emma ran a fever for a couple of days & stayed home from school. We made her this little book nook inside her new closet.
Claire learning to stitch & sew. She told me before I came down, that a fox I’d made her a few years ago didn’t survive the flood. So, I’d cut out & brought the pieces to make a new one, only we decided she’d help me make it & learn to sew a bit. I loved working with her on something I enjoy doing. I hope she likes this hobby too someday.
We made the weed growing on their porch into a Halloween tree.
A lunch picnic by the lake in the neighborhood.
We love our trips to Kelly’s…the best ice cream & in the neighborhood too!
What a cutie in her sparkles & a bit of dirt on her nose & face!
Claire breaking open the Geode I’d brought her (couldn’t find her safety goggles —not sure they survived the flood—so we improvised & she looks safe & cool at the same time)!
Sisters & best friends…these two love to play together & I love watching them!
Focused on the ride & all dressed up…precious!
Loves her funny headbands & faces too.
Such a joyful little girl!
Took a painting project with me for the girls to do…super messy but they created some good stuff!
Just another fun selfie.
The four of us got to go to a new place (for me) to eat one night. The girls were building things & chilling in the kids space.
Kevin, his nephew Andrew & the girls & I spent part of the day at Disney’s waterpark called Typhoon Lagoon. It was fun! These are the only two photos I got…didn’t pack my waterproof phone case, so had to leave the phone in my backpack most of the day.
It’s Halloween & they’re ready for school this morning!
Emma loves loves loves balloons…she decorated this one with a sharpie (which she loves to use to decorate many things!)
Emma’s pumpkin she decorated at pre-school.
Ruth Rose & Bluey before the trick or treating began. So love that Claire chose this random character from a book series she reads. She’s not a princess, but a smart, bold, solution-finding girl…I thought that was a great choice!
A quick selfie with Bluey (before she discarded the hat) before the trick or treating began.
Emma, keeping up with the big kids & sweet, sweet Claire, watching out for her the whole time.
This picture was taken in front of the house they use to live in when Claire was born. It’s only a few blocks from their home now (well, the home that was flooded & someday they’ll be back in), but what one of the best decorated homes we visited. The candy came out of the mouth of a big snake!
All done trick or treating & back home, now they’re trading candy …what a night!
Tonight was my night to say good bye…I fly out super early in the morning & will be boarded on the plane before they even get up tomorrow & their Nanny returns. They’re growing so fast, & I always feel like I’m missing so much. But we pack in as much together time as we can.
I so treasure these moments with them & my time with Sara too. I was so grateful for the conversations Sara & were able to have during this visit. I had been so worried about them all during the flood & was glad to see how they’re doing with so much disaster behind them & so much uncertainty in front of them. But, life goes on & Sara & Kevin are working hard to make sure that Emma & Claire’s lives are altered as little as possible. They are such a busy family & rebuilding a home with so many decisions & more time required of them is a huge stress.
Not sure when I’ll get to see the girls next, but I hope it’s sooner than later & that Danny can join me. But for now, I’m just grateful for the time & fun I had with them & the new memories we made.