Margot’s preschool class reads Have You Filled a Bucket Today? It’s all about the ‘feeling buckets’ every living creature possesses and the choices we all make everyday — do we dip from buckets or give to buckets? How do others interact with us? What feels best and right? How do we take responsibility for our own buckets? At bedtime, what is your day’s resumé; how does your bucket feel?
The last bit of our adventure happened in Naples where we visited our friends the Hamptons. I’ve known Kelle since I was a wee baby blogger. Well, I knew her then but I actually met her several years later, in 2010 when she and her two daughters flew from Florida to Montana to stay with my family for five days. We both later admitted there was a little bit of terror about the whole ordeal but what is great that doesn’t have a little bit or terror? It was fabulous. Better than I imagined, actually.
When my brother announced he was getting married in Florida we immediately decided we’d try to visit the Hamptons. Like true Montanans, where an in-state day’s drive is literally a day, it seemed small potatoes to steer from north to south in the great state of Florida. And it was easy enough, especially with a little *magic* stop along the way, even easier.
Kelle’s dad owns several vacation rentals in the area and generously gave our motley crew a place to stay. We enthusiastically expected a cozy condo where we’d all crash for a few days. Rather we rolled up to a beautiful, well equipped home with a pool, hot tub and close beach access. When Kelle was on the phone with her dad, I grabbed it to hear his voice for the first time (after many years of online chatter) and thank him (poppa Rik!). He said Oh good! Please make yourselves at home. Have fun with your sister.
Sister, she is. Bucket filler. The kind of woman I want my daughters around. Thanks, internet.
As Andy took this photo he said, “OK what is THAT?”
We were there for four nights, five days. Seemed like so much time but it came and went like the beach sand in our bathing suit bottoms.
I was pitting-out-excited while driving into Naples to see her. Her heart, her latitude. Only the second time we’d ever locked eyeballs in real life.
I really loved meeting Heidi, Kelle’s good friend. Heidi and I have texted and talked for the last few years, beginning mostly at Nella’s birth. I had wanted to get Kelle a bottle of this one wine we like so I asked Heidi to fetch and deliver. She did and I think she bought flowers too. And wouldn’t let me pay her.
She sounds like I thought she’d sound and acts like I thought she’s act. Bucket filler. For example, homegirl had us over for a spontaneous dinner which was epic and hostessly and then she sent us home with a bag of snacks “because I know what it’s like to be traveling to a new place and return to an empty fridge!”
There was the beach, which our Cline clan cannot get enough of.
Ruby treasured a piece of punctured, smooth shell that she excitedly declared to be “probably a piece of the moon! Or maybe super hard cheese!” We brought it home and it reclines on our kitchen table,
On this leg of our journey, Andy began sculpting mermaid tails around the girls’ bodies. He never grew tired, even when every other kid on the beach lined up.
Speaking of Andy, it was really, really fantastic to be with him all day every day for two weeks. I like him so much.
There’s also a pretty rad connection between my kids and Kelle’s kids. They know each other through photos, text messages, email cards and Skype. A different world from our youth. And, like their mamas, this foundation brings it. Bucket fillers.
Margot learned to swim. She’s been close and on this trip, Andy and I admitted guilt to each other over not having proper swim lessons in the last year. One day, she hopped in the pool, announced she wanted to swim and tried and tried until she could. And then she swam right across the entire length many times.
Our last night we met the Hampton village on the beach for sunset.
Kelle is an award winning, New York Times bestselling author. She Skypes with bookclubs, which I always thought must be a big ordeal to arrange. But, on this night, she just excused herself for 45 minutes and found a quiet spot right there next to us. Amazing mama.
There were a few sleep overs, several late nights where we settled kids and rallied for the exquisite connection that comes with no distractions. Kelle and I talked about life and love and social media, the engines that brought us together. Of course, it is changing for each of us — our goals and wants. It’s an endlessly fascinating and unknown journey we are on. It’s all so new. Almost every blogging/instagram/facebook conversation ended with a toast to keep on keeping true. Keep on high-fivin’. Keep on doing that which makes us feel alive. Keep on loving. Keep on filling buckets.
part 1: nola love
part 2: our best in Destin
part 3: magic kingdom
30 Comments
Gorgeous post! So much love and light! Beautiful times to treasure.
I’m new to your blog, found you though Instagram. Enjoying your space very much x
That’s a perfect post. I am sure that many of us readers wish we were your friend like Kelle is and Kelle’s friend like you are xx
You both inspire me!
I love the way you weave your words. I love your family. I love your company on this journey. I love filling buckets with you. Xo
Love that book! My kids are 10 and 12 and I still remind them to “be a bucket filler, not a bucket dipper”! Once when my son was relentlessly teasing my daughter about something she told him he was being a “bucket spiller”! Glad you had such a wonderful vacation. Your pictures are woth a thousand words!
“Keep on high-fivin’. Keep on doing that which makes us feel alive. Keep on loving. Keep on filling buckets….”
My bucket runneth over….Love you so much!
xo, Mom
The photo of you and Andy, particularly the comment about how much you like him, made me smile. Looks like a lovely visit with a bunch of lovely friends. It’s incredible the power we now have to connect with people so far away. Some of my best friends in “real” life are women I met on the internet – one now lives just a few miles away, making it all the sweeter!
So glad you guys have each other in this wild brave new world of internet friendships and opportunities. Coming south next, right?
Rachel! I want to so bad. It’ll happen. Maybe we meet half way?!
hearts in my eyes. happy to be following along, witnessing and being inspired to fill my own bucket!!
big love!!!
oooh, i missed this post. man, i love you. loved this post and all the memories it holds. x
Love this Nici! So glad you had a great vacation! I was at the bloom party where Kelle skyped in and it was more awesome than we could have imagined. The laughter and tears she shared and sweet Nella on her lap was perfect. I’ve always felt warmth and honesty and genuine peopleness through both yours and Kelle’s wondrous words. As we spoke with her that night, I felt sad about all the criticism and negativity that social media opens up (along with all the good too!) You are brave girls! Cheers to both of you and your little families as you navigate this ever changing newness. 🙂 🙂
I want to be honest, and not censored hopefully, but did you meet Brett? Isn’t he ill? You seem like such a cool, down to earth person. I just don’t get you aligning yourself with such a narcissist. It’s not going to do you or your brand any good. I love your blog, your story, how you live off the land. I’ve learned from you, Nici. I just scratch my head at any association you have with Kelle Hampton. The picture of her naked DS daughter on IG sent me through the roof.
I did meet Brett and, yes, he is in recovery so we didn’t get to hang with him as we’d hoped! Thankfully, he is on the mend.
Also, thankfully, the only thing I want my brand to be is 100% authentic to me. Scratching our heads is a good thing, I believe. Wouldn’t it be boring if we were all predictable? I don’t think I’d create anything worth reading if you all knew and understood me completely (or if I thought I knew and understood everything!). Life is continually unfolding and its lessons are abundant.
Thanks for writing, thanks for reading.
With love,
Nici
Thank you for the reply. Love your blog! It inspires me to want to do gardening, I just don’t have enough room. I did plant herbs though! Do you have any plans to write a book?
I do have those plans! 🙂
I love this post & the filling buckets… You are an inspiring writer & liver. Reading your blog this first year as a mama has turned my outlook upside-down & I like it! Love to both of you blog-queen-sistas. xo
Loved this. I so enjoy following you two for the past 3 or 4 years and can relate so much to you both. The consecutive photos of Andy building mermaid tails made me giggle, what a guy 🙂
I love reading about your visit with Kelle , I have been following her blog since Nella was about five months old . Then I started reading your blog after she visited with you. You both are inspiring . My husband and I are actually going to be moving to Missoula are in July. He’s transferring with his job . we are excited. So thankful to have positive things to read about. thank you.
Yeah! I think you will love Missoula! 🙂
YES, we love the Bucket Filling Book. It was given to my son too in school a few years ago. Great learning tool for compassion filled kids (and adults). Great post, looks like an awesome trip for sure…
Hey Nici! I was following your visit and smiling at every picture and post. What a wonderful warm trip on sugary white sand. I love our moody pebbly beaches but what I wouldn’t give to be in that turquoise water, sharing a beer with you ladies.
xo
Lina
And I look forward to stepping on that moody pebbly shore with you sister! Let’s start planning that, eh?
You girls. I love this. I just love it so much for you, love that you had the chance, you know?
And do you understand how much you have filled MY bucket over the years? You’re a seasoned pro at bucket filling, it’s true.
I know it didn’t work for us to connect, but it didn’t stop me from thinking of us both on that same sandy stretch of land.
The beach looks good on you.
Also, red lips.
I totally looked out at the gulf with you on that Thursday night! It was fun to be in the same state, even if we couldn’t meet. I have so loved your online space for the last few years. You push me so good. xo
ps Everyone! If you are reading this, check out Shannan’s inspiring blog. 🙂
On gosh I swoon (prob not the best choice of words) at andy with the little mermaids. My dad was just such a daddy and I hope my man will be too. Loved your holiday series, just beautiful pics and words.
I have met so many wonderful connections through the cyber world.
Love you sharing your experience and your world and friends.
My beaches are not as blue. But I cherish the ocean and that at this moment my
hands are sticky from the salt in the air. Thanks.
PS I read all parts commented on the last one 🙂
If the adventure was cake, this portion would be the thick, decorative ending to a sweet vacation. And let me clarify, this cake is thick with frosting. Thick. The two week adventure is one that could fill your heart and your buckets for a lifetime. Loving…
1) those mermaid tails. Ugh! You’re a great man Andy.
2) friendship. Nothing like it.
3) granulated sugar beaches. Sandy toes and bums.
Our son’s entire school is based around the idea of “filling buckets,” taken from that book. I’ll admit that it took me a while to warm up to the idea as anything other than what my husband and I call “American cheerliderliness” (we’re dark Eastern Europeans), but it’s been a good thing for our kid: we can see everyone at the school more or less embracing the idea, and it is a beautiful thing, indeed.
I hear ya on the cheerleaderliness that can be a part of herding large groups of people into the same space (physical or mental). I too love the book for what it offers kids (grown ups too!): a fun way to understand our actions and choices. Just the other day a neighbor said something hurtful to Margot and she came home and said she decided to leave the situation because her friend was “dipping from her bucket” and she wanted to make a choice that felt better to her heart.
Always love hearing from you Ellie! xo