This afternoon, Kendrick and I are flying to Florida with my parents (first vacation with the ‘rents…eek) to visit our dear family friends, Sharon and Eddie. Eddie and my dad go way, way, back, and he and Sharon are absolutely one of the coolest couples on the planet – you’ll see what I mean in the days to come. Their house – a converted fishermen’s lodge on the edge of a lake near Orlando – utterly defies explanation. We’re talking carnival fortune-telling machines in the living room, canoes in the guest house, and rainbow string lights attached to every available surface. Oh, and whenever we visit we go to a restaurant that serves enormous portions of garlic butter-drenched shrimp in plastic containers (you peel them yourself). Cannot wait. 

Since we rarely travel at the same time as my parents, there’s always someone to watch Lucy when we go out of town. This time, however, I was a little nervous as to who was going to watch my darling…until Megan very graciously volunteered to care for her (I think she’s missing Lilly already). I dressed Lucy in her warmest outfit (which just happens to be her ridiculously adorable Christmas Elf attire) and packed up some food, a raincoat in case the weather is bad while I’m gone, and her favorite blue bunny. I’m having a bit of trouble with the separation, but Megan truly loves Lucy (and Lilly), and I feel totally safe leaving Lucy in her hands.