Smile, Carigan... Smile Carigan... Smile Carigan... SMILE Carigan!
A Quick Summer Wrap Up
4 weeks ago
Tuesday, June 23, 2020
Summer Sunflowers
Sunflowers are in again (I remember when sunflowers were all the rage in the mid 90s), and Anna Kate loves them. Whether it's jewelry, a swimsuit or a bell for her bicycle, she's always searching for sunflowers. Last month I posted on Facebook asking if anyone knew of a local farm where we could see sunflowers. Brooksville and Bradenton both have large farms where you can see sunflowers, but those are both over an hour away. Our sweet friend Heather Berganza messaged me last week letting me know sunflowers were in
bloom on her mom's farm off Olinger Farm Road in north Lakeland. She met us there this evening, and it was so fun to see how much her kids have grown in quarantine, and
to give hugs from afar. We're thankful for any opportunity to safely
get out of the house! Thank you for your kindness, Heather!
Smile, Carigan... Smile Carigan... Smile Carigan... SMILE Carigan!
Smile, Carigan... Smile Carigan... Smile Carigan... SMILE Carigan!
Monday, June 22, 2020
Back to Quarantine
It's a harsh return to 2020 reality coming home to skyrocketing COVID-19 cases. We had hoped to return to church after our trip - They started meeting again two weeks before we left, but we decided to sit out the "guinea pig" phase, and I'm glad we did. Thanks to Lakeland's "phased" reopening last month, new cases are daily hitting a new record high. It's so much worse now than it ever was in March or April. We are hunkered down tight now with fingers and toes crossed that the kids get to go to camp next month!
Michael's birthday present arrived the day after we got home from Hilton Head. I ordered him a large framed print of a vintage Florida citrus grove postcard for his office. We're thankful we have some friends that have been locked down tight so they're safe to be around. The Coopers have been a quarantine lifesaver! They have Carigan over pretty often and let us use their pool. Plus, Heather is keeping me well stocked with pellet ice, which has proved essential to surviving quarantine.
LCS did a great job of holding very safe and carefully distanced auditions for the fall musical. Music Camp was cancelled this year (which is super sad, because it was the last year Anna Kate could go), so they held auditions for Annie from June 15 to June 17. Each child had to sign up for a time slot, parents couldn't get out of the car, and they took each child's temperature before giving the thumbs up to leave. They only had a few in a group, spaced well more than 6 feet apart, and the teachers all wore masks. We signed up for the last day of auditions. Carigan's audition was in the morning, so I dropped her off and she went home with Kerrigan. Then I dropped off Wesley and Anna Kate at 1:00, and Kathie met me in the parking lot. She and Jackson hopped in the car with me and Tate & we went to lunch at MoJo Federal (which until Father's Day, was doing a really good job of distancing). Tate and Jackson had never met before, and Wesley and Grace have both repeatedly said they're similar. I told Tate he was going to meet a new friend, and as soon as I opened the car door, Tate craned his neck and said, "Hi Jackson!" They were pretty much the cutest thing ever all through lunch. Kathie and I got to talk without interruption except when Tate had to go potty. They just had their own fascinating conversation going on. Anna Kate went home with Emma Green after auditions, so Kathie and I just had to return for Wesley and Grace. We picked them up and took them to Pelican's SnoBalls, where we took our shaved ice outside. There were three little tables for two lined down the sidewalk, so Tate and Jackson got to continue their adorable chatting, and Kathie and I scored yet another 30+ minutes of uninterrupted conversation. Win-Win!
Wes and Grace were both so nervous coming out of auditions, but we should have known better than to worry! They decided they didn't even need to hold callbacks, so it felt like an excruciating long wait until the cast list was released on Friday. Honestly I was the most nervous for Kerrigan Cooper... she has tried out the last two years and didn't make it, but kept a smile on her face watching all her friends perform. I cannot tell you how proud I am she was willing to try again. As soon as Wesley texted me the list was in, I texted Heather before I even opened it. I opened the file and the first thing I saw at the very top of the list is that Annie is Grace Pagliaro!! Scanning quickly I saw Anna Kate was cast as an orphan, Wesley is President Roosevelt, and scanning the elementary ensemble, I saw not only Carigan's name, but Kerrigan's!!! I immediately called Heather. She didn't pick up (she always picks up) so I called again. I gave up and called Kathie. I could hear squealing and celebrating in the background. Michael beeped in because he had just received the list. Then Heather called me back. She had been on the phone with her stepmom and suddenly her phone started blowing up with texts and calls. She finally interrupted her and said, "Something's going on, I have to go." Kerrigan was at golf, so Heather promised to record her reaction. Since she had to pick Kerrigan up in Grasslands, she told Victoria (who was also trying to reach her) that she would stop by so Anna could tell her. She recorded while Anna opened the door and said, "I have some news... WE BOTH MADE THE PLAY!" Kerrigan turned around to her mom (thus, the camera) in shock, with her mouth wide open, and then burst into tears. It was SO sweet. We are so excited!!! Covid,Covid, pleasepleasepleasepleasepleaseplease go away!!! Praying nothing interferes with the performances this fall!
I tear up watching my kids perform no matter what the musical is, but I'm extra emotional about this one due to my (not quite) starring role in Burlington Elementary's 1985 blockbuster tap dance adaption of the classic:
All this excitement calls for a nap and a bubble bath! While the kids were auditioning for Annie, my sweet hubby was driving all the way to Boca Raton and back to pick up a gorgeous antique hutch for our new dining room. It pays to drive where the rich people live... the hutch is easily a $2,000-$3,000 piece of furniture, and the man paid $450 to have it completely restored not too long ago. I bought it on eBay (pick up only) for $300! Which means we can officially retire this pretty but flimsy plywood hutch I bought at a store called Big Deals in Lexington with wedding money. I think I paid less than $200 for it. I took one last picture of how I've had my wedding china displayed in it for the past 17 years before I emptied it out:
Evelyn had Briana, Carigan and Kerrigan over to spend the night on Friday. We found out they had ALL made the cast for Annie less than an hour before arriving, so there was much dancing and celebration!
Wesley missed Solomon's birthday party the day we were driving home from Hilton Head. He might have dodged a bullet, because Caden broke his leg playing basketball at the party. He broke a piece of bone off his tibia, just below the knee. He had to have surgery because of growth plates. We all put together a basket of gift cards, candy and other treats and Cindy took the boys to deliver it to Caden on Friday. It's the first time Wesley has seen any of his friends at all this summer! So happy he got to spend some time with Sean, Hyatt, Caden and Solomon.
Father's Day was another weird day in COVID-land. It felt wrong not being able to go out, not able to worship in a building in our Sunday best, and I fear the kids have even gotten too smart for our traditional Father’s Day Quiz. Morning snuggles, homemade cards and church with our little congregation of 6 is the best we could do for our favorite guy in the whole wide world. Every single thing he does is for me and for his children. He puts us above himself in every way, and always has. Truly one of the most selfless men you’ll ever meet. We are so lucky you are ours, Michael!
Also thankful for my selfless Daddy, who is truly the person that led me to the Lord. All of my favorite things about myself come from him. I think it *may* have had something to do with the fact she really really really wanted Mojo herself, but Anna Kate insisted we pick up dinner for Michael for Father's Day. So I called to place an order for pick up, like I've done at least five other times during quarantine. Never had a problem. They usually bring it out to the car. Someone was in the pickup spot when Anna Kate and I drove to get it, so I went inside with my mask. First of all, the place was packed. Every booth, people sitting back to back. And no one was wearing a mask, except for the hostess and waitresses, all wearing them around their chins like some sort of chin decoration. Then they had only entered one Mojo salad instead of four, so they had to start my order over (even though I'd waited 30 minutes to come like they said). They had a million GrubHub orders for Father's Day and were totally backed up and after about 25 minutes the kitchen came out to clarify because they were STILL confused about my order and hadn't even started. I had retrieved Anna Kate from the car but had her wait outside. Nearly an hour after I placed my original order, they offered me a pity drink. So I brought a sweet tea out to Anna Kate. Girlfriend knew it was her idea to pick up Mojo and that I was seriously annoyed, so you've never seen anyone be SO verbally appreciative of a take out meal in your life. She turned up the enthusiasm and let me know it was GREAT.
Somehow we made it home with something that somewhat resembled my original order, and we sat down for family Father's Day dinner. The kids all made their own cards. You can see both our old and our new dining room hutch in these pics. We've been accumulating furniture for the addition, and there's no place to put everything until it's finished. It's like playing a fun quarantine game of The floor is lava 'round here.
Tate's cards are the absolute best. Kid cracks me up. His reads:
Happy Father's Day (my best dralling of a thyffia). He then labeled a Grub, gall and a thyffia.
Anna Kate said: You'r better than toilet paper. I put that there so you could still (laugh?)
Happy FATHER'S DAY, ENTMOLIGEST. (snicker/lauhg). I LOVE YOU YOU LOVE ME. I love you. You'r the best (correcting his letters out of order) Dad ever! (And the best entimoigeist an entimoigeist could have). (snicker). I love you, best Father day ever (even thou (sort) there can be BETTER ONES). I love you Dad. Happy Fathers Day. I love you.
- From Tate
- to Dad (Michal Rogers.
Then on the back he drew another tiphia and wrote "again, again, thyffia"
Can that card ever be topped? I think not.
A house is being built right next to the Coopers, and Heather hates how the workers stop and look at them anytime they are outside. She's not comfortable sitting out there with Kerrigan, so I told her I'd come stare the workers down today. It's been HOT and workers or no workers, I had a great time swimming with this crew! We hit up HTeaO happy hour on the way home. It's the little things.
Michael's birthday present arrived the day after we got home from Hilton Head. I ordered him a large framed print of a vintage Florida citrus grove postcard for his office. We're thankful we have some friends that have been locked down tight so they're safe to be around. The Coopers have been a quarantine lifesaver! They have Carigan over pretty often and let us use their pool. Plus, Heather is keeping me well stocked with pellet ice, which has proved essential to surviving quarantine.
LCS did a great job of holding very safe and carefully distanced auditions for the fall musical. Music Camp was cancelled this year (which is super sad, because it was the last year Anna Kate could go), so they held auditions for Annie from June 15 to June 17. Each child had to sign up for a time slot, parents couldn't get out of the car, and they took each child's temperature before giving the thumbs up to leave. They only had a few in a group, spaced well more than 6 feet apart, and the teachers all wore masks. We signed up for the last day of auditions. Carigan's audition was in the morning, so I dropped her off and she went home with Kerrigan. Then I dropped off Wesley and Anna Kate at 1:00, and Kathie met me in the parking lot. She and Jackson hopped in the car with me and Tate & we went to lunch at MoJo Federal (which until Father's Day, was doing a really good job of distancing). Tate and Jackson had never met before, and Wesley and Grace have both repeatedly said they're similar. I told Tate he was going to meet a new friend, and as soon as I opened the car door, Tate craned his neck and said, "Hi Jackson!" They were pretty much the cutest thing ever all through lunch. Kathie and I got to talk without interruption except when Tate had to go potty. They just had their own fascinating conversation going on. Anna Kate went home with Emma Green after auditions, so Kathie and I just had to return for Wesley and Grace. We picked them up and took them to Pelican's SnoBalls, where we took our shaved ice outside. There were three little tables for two lined down the sidewalk, so Tate and Jackson got to continue their adorable chatting, and Kathie and I scored yet another 30+ minutes of uninterrupted conversation. Win-Win!
Wes and Grace were both so nervous coming out of auditions, but we should have known better than to worry! They decided they didn't even need to hold callbacks, so it felt like an excruciating long wait until the cast list was released on Friday. Honestly I was the most nervous for Kerrigan Cooper... she has tried out the last two years and didn't make it, but kept a smile on her face watching all her friends perform. I cannot tell you how proud I am she was willing to try again. As soon as Wesley texted me the list was in, I texted Heather before I even opened it. I opened the file and the first thing I saw at the very top of the list is that Annie is Grace Pagliaro!! Scanning quickly I saw Anna Kate was cast as an orphan, Wesley is President Roosevelt, and scanning the elementary ensemble, I saw not only Carigan's name, but Kerrigan's!!! I immediately called Heather. She didn't pick up (she always picks up) so I called again. I gave up and called Kathie. I could hear squealing and celebrating in the background. Michael beeped in because he had just received the list. Then Heather called me back. She had been on the phone with her stepmom and suddenly her phone started blowing up with texts and calls. She finally interrupted her and said, "Something's going on, I have to go." Kerrigan was at golf, so Heather promised to record her reaction. Since she had to pick Kerrigan up in Grasslands, she told Victoria (who was also trying to reach her) that she would stop by so Anna could tell her. She recorded while Anna opened the door and said, "I have some news... WE BOTH MADE THE PLAY!" Kerrigan turned around to her mom (thus, the camera) in shock, with her mouth wide open, and then burst into tears. It was SO sweet. We are so excited!!! Covid,Covid, pleasepleasepleasepleasepleaseplease go away!!! Praying nothing interferes with the performances this fall!
I tear up watching my kids perform no matter what the musical is, but I'm extra emotional about this one due to my (not quite) starring role in Burlington Elementary's 1985 blockbuster tap dance adaption of the classic:
All this excitement calls for a nap and a bubble bath! While the kids were auditioning for Annie, my sweet hubby was driving all the way to Boca Raton and back to pick up a gorgeous antique hutch for our new dining room. It pays to drive where the rich people live... the hutch is easily a $2,000-$3,000 piece of furniture, and the man paid $450 to have it completely restored not too long ago. I bought it on eBay (pick up only) for $300! Which means we can officially retire this pretty but flimsy plywood hutch I bought at a store called Big Deals in Lexington with wedding money. I think I paid less than $200 for it. I took one last picture of how I've had my wedding china displayed in it for the past 17 years before I emptied it out:
Evelyn had Briana, Carigan and Kerrigan over to spend the night on Friday. We found out they had ALL made the cast for Annie less than an hour before arriving, so there was much dancing and celebration!
Wesley missed Solomon's birthday party the day we were driving home from Hilton Head. He might have dodged a bullet, because Caden broke his leg playing basketball at the party. He broke a piece of bone off his tibia, just below the knee. He had to have surgery because of growth plates. We all put together a basket of gift cards, candy and other treats and Cindy took the boys to deliver it to Caden on Friday. It's the first time Wesley has seen any of his friends at all this summer! So happy he got to spend some time with Sean, Hyatt, Caden and Solomon.
Father's Day was another weird day in COVID-land. It felt wrong not being able to go out, not able to worship in a building in our Sunday best, and I fear the kids have even gotten too smart for our traditional Father’s Day Quiz. Morning snuggles, homemade cards and church with our little congregation of 6 is the best we could do for our favorite guy in the whole wide world. Every single thing he does is for me and for his children. He puts us above himself in every way, and always has. Truly one of the most selfless men you’ll ever meet. We are so lucky you are ours, Michael!
Also thankful for my selfless Daddy, who is truly the person that led me to the Lord. All of my favorite things about myself come from him. I think it *may* have had something to do with the fact she really really really wanted Mojo herself, but Anna Kate insisted we pick up dinner for Michael for Father's Day. So I called to place an order for pick up, like I've done at least five other times during quarantine. Never had a problem. They usually bring it out to the car. Someone was in the pickup spot when Anna Kate and I drove to get it, so I went inside with my mask. First of all, the place was packed. Every booth, people sitting back to back. And no one was wearing a mask, except for the hostess and waitresses, all wearing them around their chins like some sort of chin decoration. Then they had only entered one Mojo salad instead of four, so they had to start my order over (even though I'd waited 30 minutes to come like they said). They had a million GrubHub orders for Father's Day and were totally backed up and after about 25 minutes the kitchen came out to clarify because they were STILL confused about my order and hadn't even started. I had retrieved Anna Kate from the car but had her wait outside. Nearly an hour after I placed my original order, they offered me a pity drink. So I brought a sweet tea out to Anna Kate. Girlfriend knew it was her idea to pick up Mojo and that I was seriously annoyed, so you've never seen anyone be SO verbally appreciative of a take out meal in your life. She turned up the enthusiasm and let me know it was GREAT.
Somehow we made it home with something that somewhat resembled my original order, and we sat down for family Father's Day dinner. The kids all made their own cards. You can see both our old and our new dining room hutch in these pics. We've been accumulating furniture for the addition, and there's no place to put everything until it's finished. It's like playing a fun quarantine game of The floor is lava 'round here.
Tate's cards are the absolute best. Kid cracks me up. His reads:
Happy Father's Day (my best dralling of a thyffia). He then labeled a Grub, gall and a thyffia.
Anna Kate said: You'r better than toilet paper. I put that there so you could still (laugh?)
Happy FATHER'S DAY, ENTMOLIGEST. (snicker/lauhg). I LOVE YOU YOU LOVE ME. I love you. You'r the best (correcting his letters out of order) Dad ever! (And the best entimoigeist an entimoigeist could have). (snicker). I love you, best Father day ever (even thou (sort) there can be BETTER ONES). I love you Dad. Happy Fathers Day. I love you.
- From Tate
- to Dad (Michal Rogers.
Then on the back he drew another tiphia and wrote "again, again, thyffia"
Can that card ever be topped? I think not.
A house is being built right next to the Coopers, and Heather hates how the workers stop and look at them anytime they are outside. She's not comfortable sitting out there with Kerrigan, so I told her I'd come stare the workers down today. It's been HOT and workers or no workers, I had a great time swimming with this crew! We hit up HTeaO happy hour on the way home. It's the little things.
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