Busy

What a busy 3 weeks I have had. The three of us went to Michigan at the end of January for the inlaw's 40th anniversary, then home one day and off I went on a girls getaway cruise with my friend Sarah and her mom. Then my parents picked us up at the dock and I stayed there for another week. Sofie had a fun visit to Grandma and Grandpa Ackley's place here in Florida while I played and Ken worked. Then Sofie and I stayed there and now we are finally home. WOW! We also had a nice time hosting my mom and dad for the last 2 days. They drove Sofie and I home and stayed for a few nights just to get a break from Granny.

My Grandma used to be one of my favorite people in the world. As a child I only saw her through the rose tinted lense of a childs eyes. Even as I grew older and a little more jaded I still thought her and my gramps were the best people in the world. Then I became even older, got a job, was super busy and didn't spend as much time with them. I did not see the changes in my grandparents as they aged. I guess that was still a good thing. Until my beloved Gramps passed away 6 years ago. I have spent a large amount of time with my grandma since then, helping my mom and dad care for her. I am always amazed and what a bitter, sad, crazy alcoholic she has become. It makes me sad to know that the grandma of my youth no longer exists.

My mom and dad have the lion's share of care for her but I try to do what I can being that I only live 1 1/2 hours away here in Florida but she is the type of person that would drive even Mother Teresa to violence. It's difficult to watch her completely waste what little time she has left being a crabby, mean, nasty person that no one wants to be around. Good thing I have a great sense of humor about the whole situation. My family and I are able to laugh about the absurdity of it all on a regular basis. I mean if we didn't laugh I think one of us would end up with the death sentence from the state of Florida.

On to happier thoughts. While with my parents we were able to visit the Lowery Park Zoo in Tampa Florida. I highly recommend this zoo if you are ever in the area. It is incredible. Parent's magazine voted it the best zoo in America for families and I now know why. Kids can feed giraffes, stingrays, goats, ride camels and ponies. They also have a ski lift sort of ride that goes over the whole park and a flume ride that looks really fun but Sofie is too small to ride yet. They have great animal displays and a splash pad area too. I could go on and on but check it out on line if you are interested in more info http://www.loweryparkzoo.com/. Its awesome.

I do enjoy my adventures but it is always good to come home.