MY VIEW...

This is my view from my sunroof in my car.

I took this shot this morning with my iphone before heading to the beach with my Mom again for the day. It was too perfect of an angle to pass up. I looked up, breathed in the fresh sea salt warm Florida air and thought..."I must be dreaming. I can't believe I live here now." Mom and I hit the beach for the 2nd day in a row after the kids were all tidied in at school. I laughed when typing my facebook status this morning. I commented on how these daily beach trips with my Mom have the potential to become a very bad habit. God help my domestic duties at home. I'm in trouble! :) Mom and I sat there taking in the sites on the beach and just can't get over the shock of this being our home now. I was at Kenidi's school earlier and went to itch a spot on my arm only to suddenly realize how absolutely fried I was. (sun burned) I giggled to myself when I realized that this time I don't have to worry about my tan fading because my vacation will eventually end. Now we can just hit the beach or the backyard lanai and touch up the tan when need be. Oh yes...life is good sista's! Life is good. I know you guys must be getting so sick of seeing palm trees and hearing of Florida stuff and I apologize for that. This is our life now though and I'm not sure that the shock and awe of it all will ever wear off. Again, I apologize for that up front. :) Hopefully you can bare with me as I adjust to the sheer joy that living here brings me as well as the emotional side of it when I reflect on how much I miss my parents and friends back home in Indy. With this move comes a two way street. Lots of emotions that stem from opposite ends of the spectrum. Thank God for the individual who invented SKYPE. I love knowing my Dad and Cathy are only a computer screen away when I want to see their faces.

As for the kiddo's, they had another great day at school today. Kenidi's teacher and aides have informed me that our child is quite the dancer. The aide told me again today that "this child can dance." We laugh because we know. She can put Shakira's hip shaking to shame. Ha ha! Tomorrow (Thursday) will be a big day for me. Kenidi will start riding the bus to and from school so I'm a bit nervous about that. I've been taking her and picking her up thus far. Please pray that she'll do well on the bus and that it will be an easy transition for her from the bus into the school and vice-versa. Sometimes going from point A to point B with Kenidi is trying - especially for those not familiar with her. I know I am already loving her teacher though. I've learned so much from her in the past 48 hours regarding how to deal with certain behavior issues Kenidi has. (running for doors, dropping to the ground seeking attention, etc.) The stuff she has helped me with thus far has been amazing. Things I would've never thought of but yet they make so much sense now that they've been explained to me. And the door issue - her escape tactics - this teacher already has her "stopping" at the door and not opening it as she normally would have. I'm blown away. The teacher also told me that when we return from Christmas break she will help me tackle the potty training issue with Kenidi. I'm so eager to start that process. I know Kenidi can do it - she was almost there last May but then got spooked and reversed. She just needs someone who can help her communicate it and I feel like this teacher is already breaking those barriers for her on the 2nd day in class. I'm hopeful and confident that this change - this move to Florida - was yet again just another stepping stone toward what is best for Kenidi and Brennen's future. I know God has his hand in every direction we go in life. This move South was no different even though we had moved just a year and a half earlier in Indy. It's all in God's timing - his stepping stones - block by block - path by path - house to house - school to school. Each exit or diversion has a reason. I'm confident in that. And on a funny note...normally when I take Kenidi's shoes off back home after a long day of school, a bunch of mulch from the school playgrounds would sometimes fall out. In the past two days when I take off her shoes following her day here at school, a bunch of white sand falls out from her playtime at recess. Some would find that annoying. I find it absolutely "MARVVVVAAAALOUS!" :) Oh yes...life is good sista's - life is good!

Until tomorrow...Angie

MY VIEW THIS MORNING

Last night was our first night in the new house. Brennen says he slept like a baby. :) So glad! I awoke this morning to the bright sunshine pelting thru the cracks on the sides of the blinds in our master bedroom. That is a switch...this time of year in Indy doesn't leave too much early morning light - let alone sunlight. I considered it a welcoming touch here in Naples, Florida. When I flipped the blinds, this was my view. Another HUGE difference from our dark wooded backyard lot in Indy.

The house is slowly but surely starting to come together. I am finally able to walk down the hall without tripping over boxes. I can see light at the end of the tunnel now. Kenidi has calmed down substantially and that is a great sign. It means that she is feeling at ease - more relaxed here now. I took Mom down 5th avenue last night and showed her all of the condos and apartments that are an option for her when she is ready to move into her own place. It was great to see the ambiance seeping from the streets of 3rd and 5th. That ambiance and atmosphere is what Naples is so known for. As I drove carefully down some of the brick pavered streets, I told Mom that THIS is why Naples has always been calling my name. It's the window shopping up and down what I consider a mini "rodeo drive." It's the dining. The white sand gulf beaches steps from the boutiques and restaurants. It's the cozy and quaint beach cottages that are so unique and eclectic - so outrageous - so Naples - so "dream worthy." Everything about Southwest Florida makes my heart skip a beat but it is Naples that officially takes my breath away. I feel very blessed to be waking up to this scenery full time now.

And yes...this morning was the first time I have picked my camera up in over a week. Big Papa has definitely been feeling a bit left out since arriving here in Florida. I finally have him out and ready to snap away. I've been going thru convulsions without him. I'm sooooooo ready to begin sharing the sites and sounds of Naples with each of you on a regular basis. In the meantime, I hope to be back to regular blogging in the coming days. I apologize for the lack of posts this past week. As you can imagine, blog updates have been the farthest thing from my mind during this move. Now that things are beginning to settle and fall into place though, we'll be back to our regular scheduled programming very soon - just coming to you from a new location. Wink wink! :)

xoxo, Angie