Hello and welcome back to my blog! It’s been a while since I’ve written blog posts, and I’ve missed it! It’s been on my heart for a while now to get back into it, so here we go!
Before I get going on regular posting, I wanted to take a minute and catch you up with everything going on with our family. So much has changed since I started this blog 11 years ago. I know it was 11 years ago because my twin girls are about to turn 11 this week, and it was a couple months before they were born that I started “Mommy’s Me Time.” Time is a THIEF!
Here’s a little walk down memory lane, what life was like back then and what it looks like today!
When the girls were born, Baylen was only 17 months old.
We spent a lot of time walking our neighborhood in Minnesota in that trusty triple stroller! This was the BEST gift ever from my parents. Baylen loved his little “Joey Seat” out front. It was perfect – so many great memories from this season of life! Gosh, isn’t it sentimental as a mom thinking back to things like that?
When the girls were about eight months old, we found out we were pregnant again! We always wanted four kids, but we blame a postpartum trip to Mexico with a little too much tequila on the quick timing of baby brother making his appearance. 🤣
When I look back at photos like this, I’m reminded how little they all were at the same time! Like how did we survive?!
It’s been a wild and sweet ride, and so fun to look back and their little personalities through the years!
In 2018 we made the big move from Minnesota to Florida! My online fitness business had grown more than we ever expected, and since I work online, it gave us the option to move wherever we wanted! After visiting so many places in Florida, we landed in Naples. There were so many reasons, but the biggest one being that we were so impressed with the Christian School we found for the kids. It was clear God was leading us here! Jake stepped down from his job in medical device sales, and pursued luxury real estate full time instead! To this day, he still works with buyers and sellers in Minnesota and in Florida! He would love to help you with any real estate needs you have in either states – or both! He often helps people sell in Minnesota and buy in Florida, or vice versa! Here’s where you can find him on IG: Jake Kuiper
As for me, I’m still working my online fitness business – thank you to all of you who have been part of that over the years. It’s truly a blessing to be part of your journey!
This was their first day of school in Florida! Baylen was in first grade, Emersyn and Mckinley were in Kindergarten, and Case was in pre-k 3. So little!
Raising our kids in Florida for the last five and a half years has been a dream come true. We absolutely love it here.
We’ve also been on a couple international vacations! A couple years ago when we realized just how busy life is and how fast it goes, we thought it would be fun to start a tradition to take a family vacation together each year after school gets out in May. Our first trip was to Greece, which absolutely blew our minds. Jake’s cousin got married there which is why we picked that location, and we have the BEST memories. At some point I will write a blog post about it. It was DREAMY and so family friendly.
Last year after school got out, we went to Italy! We flew into Rome, then spent the rest of our trip on the Amalfi Coast. We LOVED every minute of that trip too. A blog post is on my list for that trip too! This photo was taken on the top of the island of Capri where we had lunch!
Baylen also graduated from elementary school last year, so this year we have a middle schooler in the family!
It’s also been fun to explore the state of Florida since we’ve moved here. There is so much to do within a few hours of Naples, and I feel like we’ve just scratched the surface. More posts to come about Florida trips as well!
I’ll end with a photo of us today! Baylen is in 6th grade, Emersyn and Mckinley are in 5th grade, and Case is in 3rd! We are BUSY BUSY BUSY with sports and activities and most of the time I live in my car lol! They are such a JOY and also a lot of work haha! But overall God is so good and we are so blessed!
As I dive back into blog posting, some topics I plan to write about in addition to our family travel adventures, are reflections on faith based motherhood, easy and healthy recipes I’m making for the family, simple everyday mom fashion, house projects (we bought another fixer upper last year that we are currently remodeling), fitness tips, house organization and gadgets I’m loving, and whatever else God puts on my heart! If you have specific things you’d like me to post about, please do hesitate to reach out! My email is amber@mommysmetime.com and I’d love to hear from you!
xo,
Amber
P.S. I share daily life on Instagram Stories – feel free to follow along here as well: Amber on Instagram
