YMCA Splash Pad

Yesterday I told Charlie Banks if he was brave and no crying while I worked out that we would go to the splash pad afterwards. Of course after they came to get me for Haines losing it the splash pad was closed due to lightning in the vicinity. So, I made good on my promise today and you will see what I mean about the YMCA being so nice when you see the pictures!  We will definitely be spending a lot of time here!  Charlie Banks has adjusted fine to the nursery, but Haines lost it again today! It took him awhile to warmup to the splash pad because the poor little thing was so worked up from being in the nursery!  He did eventually love it though!  We did meet some fun moms at a "Moms of South Tampa" playgroup this morning. It certainly seems a tad strange showing up to someone's house when you do not know a soul there, but it was fun and they were welcoming!  Some pictures of the splash pad and a few others of our day...

Getting settled...

Whew we have been very busy getting settled and trying to find our way in our new home!  I really love our apartment and the area. The walkability is so nice and is keeping me more active than our former golf cart ability in Charleston. Ha!  We walk to the grocery store, Starbucks, endless food options, cvs, amazing park/splash pad and really so much more. That has been really fun. Everyone seems to be very friendly here, too!  We have stayed busy with swim lessons 5 days a week, school 2 days a week, visiting the YMCA that we joined most days and otherwise trying to explore a little bit!  The YMCA is sooo nice and I am in awe of it compared to the gym choices in Charleston. It has 3 pools, water slides, splash pad, playgrounds, childcare and obviously a gym. The boys, especially Haines, are having a little bit of a tough time being left in the child area. That being said, most of my workouts have only been about 15 minutes before they come to find me. Poor baby, but hopefully he will start to enjoy it the more we go. Charlie Banks was not too keen on it either, but I've been bribing him to be brave with the promise of a lollipop when I pick them up and that has helped. We are liking Charlie Banks' school, but will definitely be looking for something closer for next year if not before. We are on so many wait lists and I am waiting to hear back from one last church this week to see if they have a spot. I would feel bad moving him after he has gotten somewhat adjusted to his new school, but we will need to get on this side of town at some point. We took our first visit to the children's museum which has much more to offer than the museum we are used to in Charleston. I did make the mistake of going on the museums birthday aka free admission day aka busiest day of the year probably. I'm looking forward to going back on a normal day!  Jimmy has understandably been super busy with work 24/7 and that will not change for the foreseeable future.  We are certainly not complaining, because getting to see him for 20 min here and there or even a hi in the middle of the night is much better than months away in South Africa!  The boys and I are pretty much on our own and try to coordinate to see him if his schedule allows. He does seem to be enjoying it so far and has liked everyone he has met.

We haven't met too many people yet, but are planning to go to a playgroup tomorrow and have signed up for a 5 week baby & mom class with Haines (while CB is at school) that starts next week. Hopefully we can meet some fun people!

We of course miss Charleston, but are enjoying Tampa so far!

Irma

Other than loss of power in Tampa, we probably had it worse off in Charleston where we evacuated!  We had the highest tide/storm surge since Hugo and had a tornado go right through our yard!  Luckily, we got home about 30 minutes after the tornado came through.  It took Jimmy and his dad pretty much the entire next day to get all of the debris cleaned up. Charlie Banks was too cute helping pick up debris in his golf cart and taking it to the street. The tornado ripped a glass table off our neighbors porch which shattered on our driveway...so that in addition to trees/limbs, etc was a big mess!  We were very lucky and were thankful to see family and friends so soon after our move!