Well, friends. We did it. We moved to Florida. We hugged the necks of the Texas friends we’ve come to love; the ones who unloaded the few possessions we arrived in Austin with, the ones who babies mine have grown with for the last two years, the ones who pondered and prayed with us about some big questions, the ones who fed us, clothed us (I got nothin but love for my TOMS people), celebrated with us, threw us surprise parties, sat the heck out of our babies (does anyone get what I just said?), helped us buy The Swagger Wagon, the ones who welcomed us with arms more open than we could have ever dreamed, the ones whose lives we were made a part of. Yes. We said goodbye to those amazing folks. Some we’ll see again. Others, maybe never. For all, though, we are forever grateful and honored to know you!

I. will. nottttttt. cryyyyyyyyyy.

Where was I? Oh yes, we’re in Florida. For the last two weeks we’ve reunited with dear family and friends who’ve supported and loved us from afar for the past two years. A special shout out to my family and Gerald Teano, who moved us into our new place…like multiple BOSSES. Seriously, we even have things hanging on our walls! New Cox Family record. We are inhaling deeply the scent of the Atlantic; taking in the once again familiar sights of palm trees, people walking around in their socially-accepted underwear; returning to our beloved Ocean City Church. I’m watching everyone outside of the glow of my Scotch-Irish halo be kissed by the sun a bit more everyday. I’m not bitter. (although, Kylie mistaking a Snow White sticker for me the other day may have been pushing it).

We’re here, we have no idea what’s going on…and loving it. Our lives are intersecting with old and new friends. We’re finally meeting the spouses and babies that popped onto the scene in our absence. Things are good! It’s still a bit surreal. I’m having to learn road names again, where the best health food and thrift stores are now, and how to uncreepily invite our fellow gated community neighbors to a stranger’s house for a potluck. #firstworldslashwhitegirlproblems So, ya, we’re good.

Gabriel, Cox Family Head, brings us our Quote of the Week: “Even the dumpsters smell good”. If you were starting to feel sorry for us as we just left the “Live Music Capital of the World”, fret not. Now we live in a land where even the giant containers of rotting trash can make you feel like a kid on summer vacation. Beat that, Anywhere Else!

And to wrap this puppy up, here’s some mental chewing gum for you (this one’s for all the Mammas and the Pappas out there). See you around!

3 Mistakes We Make Leading Kids @ Growing Leaders

When You Feel Trapped by Motherhood @ Mothering

Being an Awesome Parent Even if You Don’t Have a Yard…or “Play Silks” @ Clean.

One Thing You’re Daughter Doesn’t Need You to Say @ Chatting at the Sky

Friendship (and the Glorious Mess That Goes With It) @ A Small Snippet

And this, just because.

The 33 Most Beautiful Abandoned Places In the World

This has been a public service announcement 

To clarify, the phone was in my back pocket, I’d treated myself to about five glasses of water the hour before, and there are some things you just can’t stop in time.

And to update, the phone never missed a beat and will probably smell like rubbing alcohol for the rest of its life. Yay rice!

Listening

• Miranda Dodson (got to share the stage with this lady yesterday…holy moly, what a voice!)
• Ella Fitzgerald

Reading

• The Big Book of Potluck. We like people…and feeding them.

Learning

• Adult things, like How to Not Break Your Car

Cooking

• Healthy Oat Bars with Nutella Frosting with
• 3 Ingredient Homemade Nutella
  

Creating

• (On my Pinterest board at least) I’m gathering ideas for our new place…you know, for when we find one of those place-to-live things…before May 2nd.

Doing

• “Building” a tray bird feeder. Not so much building as just painting and hanging an old Melissa & Doug wooden box (thanks for the idea, Katie Fox!) Hoping this will attract the birds and their copious droppings to the back yard vs. every. single. square. inch. of our van.

Enjoying

Can We Bring the Holidays Down a Notch? by Kristen Howerton @ Huffington Post

Listening

• Cat Power
• All Sons and Daughters

Reading

• Green Market Baking Book: 100 Delicious Recipes for Naturally Sweet & Savory Treats by Laura Martin

Learning

• Trying to keep up with our curious 3 year old! “After the ABCs: the next steps to reading”

Cooking

• Sweet & Salty Roasted Chickpeas

Creating

• I might be able to whip out a couple of these diy paper baskets for Sunday afternoon. If all else fails, we’ve got some nice grocery bags with our girls’ names on them!

Doing

• Giving an old chair a new seat

Enjoying

• Call the Midwife!!! I missed it when it was on air before, but it was just added to the Netflix instant queue. The new season starts on Sunday! I’m one happy doula in (very slow) training

And, please, if you haven’t seen Nina Conti yet, click that little gem of a link and treat yo’self!

“No! Mine!”, wailed the 18 month old who actually saw my taking of the beans as a punishment. Just to clarify, we’re talking plain brown chickpeas, here, folks.

Who are we?! What kind of mom takes beans away from her kid?! Furthermore, what kind of kid actually likes plain beans?!

In the words of Russell ‘Russ’ Thompson Sr., “Weird family”. So, ya, that’s what today looks like here.

How’s your Friday treating you?

Week Six in our Move to Florida Countdown. I feel like Michael ’Squints’ Palledorous at the pool (Sandlot…if you didn’t get the reference, please go watch it so that we can still be friends). This move is Wendy Peffercorn, taunting me with her “oil and lotion” (seriously, go watch the movie). I’m not quite ready to jump awkwardly off the diving board yet, but I’m wiping off my foggy glasses and making my way to the ladder. It’s coming. The Thing we’ve been talking about for months is inching closer to reality. 

A bit dramatic for a moving analogy? Perhaps. But, you get what you get here. 

Where was I? Oh, yes, it’s a new week and this is what’s happening.

Listening

• The Lone Bellow
• Passion: Let the Future Begin

Reading

• Montessori: Letter Work by Bobby George (practicing with the preschooler)

Learning

• Just learned how to fix a jammed garbage disposal

Cooking

• I’m on repeat mode right now. Check out previous posts for some yummy ideas, though!

Creating

• It involves burlap and cork

Doing

• Letting most of the housework slide until The Big Clean in a few weeks. Aaah. *pours a glass of lemonade* *not really*

Enjoying

• The sliding of said housework and the enjoying of family, friends and our sweet time in Austin!