A Season of Giving

Yesterday I was so frustrated with my boys and their selfish attitudes that I told them they both were required to think of something we could do for OTHERS this holiday season. Pop Up immediately said he'd like to take some food to a food bank. This makes perfect sense for him, as he is definitely a "foodie" - and the more exotic, the better as far as he's concerned. His favorite tv channel? The Food Network.

So last night we made a Costco run and this afternoon dropped it off at a food donation center. Both boys exclaimed numerous times as we browsed up and down the aisles that it was their favorite trip ever to Costco!

This is his donation -- 150 pounds worth of food. The donation center weighed it. He said "it sure doesn't look like that much, it looks more like 1/3 of that." (some of it is covered in the photo)

This is what was at the center, waiting to be sorted. I told him we'd go back and help do that one day soon.

Meanwhile, Travel Trailer is still pondering what his gift to society will be. Thinking outside the box doesn't come naturally to him, so he's still trying to come up with something. I suggested that since toys are near & dear to his heart (much the same as food is with his brother) that perhaps Toys for Tots would be right up his alley. Dad suggested something with an animal shelter, as dogs rate nearly as high as toys (maybe moreso) in his book. I'll call them this afternoon and see what needs they have at the shelter.

On the way home from dropping off the food, Pop Up said "I don't often feel proud of the things I do, but when I do, I get a lump in my throat. I have a lump now." And that made me get one, too.

Best. Vacation. Ever!! (cont'd) ... Merry Christmas! ... part 11

Before our cruise (in early November) I had the boys photos taken for our Christmas cards. I guess the Girl Scouts taught me well - be prepared! Now, there's just one small problem. I like these more!! Oh, stink!!! What to do??

Well, you might just have to receive 2 photos in your Christmas card ... if I can't resist the urge to print these, as well. These were taken in the beautiful foyer of the Disney Magic. The tree and other Christmas decorations on the ship were simply gorgeous!

Merry Christmas!

Best. Vacation. Ever!! (cont'd) ... Castaway Cay ... part 10

Disney's Private Island ~ Castaway Cay

I think most everyone would agree that this was one of their favorite days. A perfect day at Castaway Cay, Disney's private island! In fact, I think it was one of the selling-features that got EVERYONE to re-book our next Disney Cruise while still onboard the ship!

There was tons to do - or not do!

My guys & Randolph, Dale & Lori went snorkeling. RV was a bit apprehensive, due to a previously somewhat undesirable snorkeling adventure ...... but this one was absolutely perfect! Calm, glassy seas and TONS of fish & coral.

Then we went for a 1-hour bike ride around the island, while Ted & Theresa went parasailing.

My guys played on the beach and in the open-air game room, while I visited the more serene, adults-only beach.

All the food was free on the island, as Disney takes it off the ship and in to an open-air buffet.

I'll just have to re-live it here for a few minutes, as while I'm typing this, I'm watching & listening to freezing rain tap on my window. A far cry from 10 days ago in paradise. Sigh.

Best. Vacation. Ever!! (cont'd) ... Hawaiian Shirts ... part 9

You know you are loved when you can get 20 people to cheerfully wear matching shirts!

These Hawaiian shirts have Disney characters & postcards all over them!

This picture was taken 10 minutes before dinner, so some of us had already changed into dinner clothes ... but they did oblige by wearing the shirts the rest of the day ;-)

Best. Vacation. Ever!! (cont'd) ... Christmas Stockings ... part 8

This was also a highlight of the cruise for me -- I just have so very many highlights, don't I????

My boys took a sewing class last year (which they LOVED) and because I can barely sew a button back on, I hired them to make 9 Disney Christmas stockings for us (hence, the Pictionary team name: The Stocking Stuffers).

The boys and I spent 1.5 years shopping at Joanne Fabrics, searching for just the right Disney fabric for each family, I hired someone to embroider them with the Disney font, then we hung the stockings with care, by each stateroom door. Each stocking had different fabric: Ted/Theresa = Pooh toille; Rob/Leslie & boys = Cars theme; Craig/Judy = various Disney icons; Dale/Lori = another Disney fabric with green/yellow/pink swirly Mickey heads; Doris = Tinkerbell; Peggy = Nemo themed fabric, Randolph = blue ocean Mickey theme; us = Mickey, Donald & Goofy with surfboards.

I also spent 1.5 years shopping for Disney stocking stuffers. I knew I had married the perfect man when he didn't even bat an eye about having to buy a big, new suitcase - dedicated solely to bringing our stocking stuffers on board.

Every morning the boys eagerly helped me stuff the stockings with: Disney pens & pencils, Disney notebooks & whiteboards, paint-by-number Disney Christmas art, Disney playing cards, Disney lip gloss & nail polish, Disney post-it-notes, Disney dominoes ....... and MORE (believe it or not!).

I had someone design a "Look Who's Cruising the Disney Magic" 8x11 magnet listing all of our names and the dates of the cruise. Rob/Leslie also had a personalized magnet with Cinderella, their wedding date and "Celebrating 15 years of magic" .... likewise, Dale/Lori had one on their stateroom door with "Celebrating 5 years of magic", that I had someone design for me.

Finding our block of rooms in an otherwise white, blah hallway of at least 100 other staterooms was a cinch! I didn't quite realize just how much it added to the whole feel of things, until the last night when we had to remove them. Blah!

We had several passerbys comment on how fabulous the stockings were and they couldn't believe it when I told them my 9 & 11 year old boys made them. I even had one person say that she'd pay them to make one for her family (she gave me her email addy to contact when we get home).

Fun, fun, fun stuff!!!!!!!!!!

Best. Vacation. Ever!! (cont'd) ... Palo's Brunch ... part 7

This might have been one of my most favorite parts of the cruise. An adult-only brunch at Palo's!

Incredible, amazing, unbelievable .... doesn't even begin to describe it. These photos just show a small sampling of the buffet ~ I don't have any photos of the specialty pizzas and made-to-order hot meals (chicken parmesean, seafood linguini, beef, etc).

You have to make separate reservations to eat in this restaurant on the ship .... we booked this brunch first thing upon embarkation without realizing it was right after our breakfast with the characters event. There were supposed to be 12 of us, but 4 opted out (since we had just had a breakfast event).

We, on the other hand, took the kids to eat with characters and used it as a photo op, while reserving our appetites for this magnificent brunch at Palo's.

It was a highlight of the cruise. The food was beyond compare .... and we had our own private, beautiful dining room with an ocean view! Talk about feeling pampered!

Best. Vacation. Ever!! (cont'd) ... Cozumel ... part 6

Mayan Ruins in Cozumel, Mexico:

Beach in Cozumel:

Pop Up in his new hat, purchased in Key West. I've never seen anyone who loves hats more than that boy -- he must have bought 5 of them on the trip .... including a genuine Mexican sombrero. Si!

Best. Vacation. Ever!! (cont'd) ... Pictionary ... part 5

This was supposed to be our day at Grand Cayman, but the seas were too rough to tender in (take a smaller boat from the ship to shore). Fortunately, we didn't feel the waves on the ship but they were big enough to prevent the smaller boat from being able to dock on shore. The Port Authority closed all ports that day, which was surely a bust for Grand Cayman tourism. There were 3 huge cruise ships just waiting to go ashore and spend their $ on excursions, souvenirs, etc. Oh well - next time!

So the cruise staff kicked it into high gear (and cancelled all staff's day off) by adding extra activities on the "surprise added day at sea". They added extra bingo games, movies, and other ship-wide activities, including Pictionary.

I couldn't begin to tell you how many countless hours of Pictionary we have played with these folks over the years - on ski retreats, beach trips, game nights, etc.

It all came flooding back - just like riding a bike. Yes, that's right -- you are looking at the Disney Magic's Pictionary Champs! We competed against about 20 other teams and won! Prizes included Disney DVD games & other misc. goodies.

Our team name was the "Stocking Stuffers" ..... more on that in a later post.

Best. Vacation. Ever!! (cont'd) ... Pirate Night ... part 4

Randolph, Travel Trailer & Pop Up

Craig, Judy & Kaitlyn

Ted & Theresa

Dale & Lori

Rob & Leslie

Judy & Leslie

Best. Vacation. Ever!! (cont'd) ... Formal Night ... part 3

Pop Up & his new Yahtzee buddy, Mr. Randolph ... they were also co-collaborators on the Gingerbread House decorating competition. Wa-hoo-wah!

Ted & Theresa

Rob & Leslie .... celebrating their 15th wedding anniversary!

Dale & Lori ... celebrating their 5th wedding anniversary!

Best. Vacation. Ever!! (cont'd) ... Days 1 & 2 ... part 2

This was inside the terminal before boarding the ship ..... getting checked in, etc. Captain Mickey, err, Pop Up, at your service.

Looking like the tourists that we are ..... with Minnie!

Beautiful ship!

This is Day 2 ~ at Key West, FL. We didn't do a whole lot that day - wandered around on our own walking tour of the city and found some Key Lime Pie (just happens to be one of my very favorite desserts) !

In this picture are: RV, Randolph, my Aunt Doris, Travel Trailer, Dale & Lori and Pop Up. And isn't the water beautiful? This photo really doesn't do it justice.

They were much more cooperative than RV's family (and for that, I am very grateful!). ... LOL - I was just reading this to RV and he said "and for that I will gladly vacation with them again soon!" His family fusses and squawks each and every time I ask for a group photo ~ you'd think I was asking them to saw off a limb. Then later, they say it's their very favorite photo (let me tell ya, that photo was no easy feat, with 29 family members on our first group trip to Disney in 2004).

Best. Vacation. Ever!! ... part 1

Very (very!!) rarely, does something as highly anticipated as our Reunion Cruise, live up to the expectations. I am so happy to report that it did NOT disappoint! Let me re-iterate .... expectations were sky HIGH!

I think quite possibly it was one of the BEST weeks of my entire life. No kidding. It was, dare I say, perfect!

The best part was being reunited with friends who have been part of our life for 23 years, through thick and through thin. We don't really have friends like that anymore (not to detract from our current friends in any way). We grew up with these people (see post below) and it was just like coming home. Even though we hadn't seen some of them in 10 years or more, we picked up like it was yesterday. Our current friends now are more centered around kids, etc .... but these older friends know US (the real us) - pre kids.

It truly was a little bit of heaven on earth.

There were 20 of us who sailed the Disney Magic ....... every day was jam-packed. Either with activities on the boat ---- Bingo, Pictionary, after-dinner-broadway-type shows, tea party with Alice & Mad Hatter, building a gingerbread house, comedy & magic shows, movies, brunch at Palo's, sitting poolside, just vegging out on deck 4, playing Yahtzee or cards ---- or days when we left the boat to explore a new land. 7 days just wasn't enough!

We set sail to the Western Caribbean -- with port calls in Key West and Cozumel, where we toured some Mayan ruins, although I thought the Mayan ruins in Belize on a prior cruise were more impressive. We were supposed to dock in Grand Cayman but the seas were too rough that day and the port authorities closed the port, since we would have had to tender in (take a smaller boat from the big ship to the land). We'll just have to hit it next time.

In fact, we all had such a tremendous vacation -- even those without kids! -- that we ALL re-booked for another rendezvous in 2010! 700-ish days to go. I can hardly wait!

I'll write more later but for now, need to go pick up the Pup Tent from his vacation at the kennel. We just got back in town this morning at 3:30 am.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Things are busy here and I'm not sure if I'll be blogging much in the next few days, but I did want to wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving! We all have so much to be thankful for!!!

We are headed on a Disney "reunion cruise" with some of our best friends in the world. There are about 20 of us going. We were all friends in the Singles Ministry (where RV and I met in 1985) and they're really more like family, than anything. Some of us haven't seen each other in 10+ years, now that we're spread out literally from coast-to-coast.

I don't know when I've ever been this excited ..... we booked the trip 494 days ago, but who's counting? (ok - I admit it - I was!) We 'grew up' with these folks and they just don't make friends like that anymore. Although I hate it when Martha Hadley says "sharing life together" because, well, she's living there in the radio and not "sharing life" with the listener ..... we really did with these people. We went on retreats together back in the day when I was the Queen of Pictionary, went to more movies & dinners than I could count (Kregg, is that a small Coke I smell??), embarassed ourselves on ski trips (trying to learn to ski), vacationed at the beach together, attended dozens of concerts & seminars, were in each others weddings, there for each other during the pain of miscarriages and rejoiced in the birth of children, and so much more. I have high expectations that this trip will be just a little taste of heaven.

How does that saying go -- "Friends are the family you choose for yourself". Or something like that.

I pray that you & your family, whether they be biological or hand-picked, have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving!!

God Is In Control

Let not your hearts be troubled ....... God is in control. I admit, today I have been troubled. A dear friend, Karen, just shared this with me.

Check out these videos by Louie Giglio and his "God Is In Control" tour. They will leave you speechless and in awe.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3 INCREDIBLE ~ we are fearfully & wonderfully made!

Part 4 LAMININ ~ grab the tissues!

Part 5

The God who created the universe is still seated on the throne and holding us in the palm of His very capable hands!

Thank you, Jesus!

Wow. Just wow.

Click here: On a Whim, Woman Buys Foreclosed Home and Gives It Back to Owner

Awesome story.

I told you there was a friendly competition

I had to LOL when RV's mother called yesterday to inform him that she:

1. Had her Christmas wreath on the front door
2. Put her Christmas table cloth & napkins out on the dining room table

Wow. That's even a bit early for us.

But I'm betting she had an alterior motive .... her daughter that now lives with her won't let her put out any Halloween decorations (SIL is very anti-Halloween) so MIL probably said "fine, I know this will bug you almost as much." haha! She's spunky like that.

MIL was just beside herself with glee, wondering what the TV repair man will think tomorrow when he knocks on the door. I didn't even know any TV repair men still existed in this world. Only in FL, I guess ;-)

RV and I chuckled as we envisioned him driving around in his little truck full of tubes (shoot - now that doesn't look like the right word ... what word am I thinking of?? You know, the things they used to replace on TV's .... before we just started throwing them away).

100 Days till Christmas !!

Imagine how thrilled I was when my friend Holly sent this little banner to my Facebook account!

I can't figure out how to load it on Facebook ..... and I tried putting it on the sidebar here but it was too big. So, I'll have to put it here for now, until I figure the other stuff out.

I guess I wasn't jumping the gun TOO badly when I bought Christmas wrapping paper at Costco a week or so ago. LOL! I resisted the urge to buy other Christmas things (mainly because there wasn't THAT much to choose from yet!). But it's there ... as was duelly (will have to check on the spelling of that) noted by the man we passed in the Costco Christmas aisle who muttered under his breath "they skipped Halloween!" Hey, that's fine by me ~ we don't really do Halloween ;-)

I even started my Christmas shopping today at Target. Now THAT'S a first for me!

Did I mention our Christmas tree goes up around the 1st week of November??? I definitely married into a Christmas-loving family. Actually, RV's mom is a huge Christmas freak, so he likes to get the decorations up and then rub her nose in it. It's a little mother/son competition thing they have going on.

We always go away for 1-2 weeks after Thanksgiving .... and found we were way too rushed trying to get the Christmas decor up in mid-December. So, we start a little early around here.

How are the swirls?

How do the magenta sidebar swirls compare to the teenie-weenie dots??

They seem to be easier on my eyes .... but I want to make sure your eyes are ok, too!

;-)

Teaching Textbooks, I love you!!!!

I LOVE TEACHING TEXTBOOKS. Yes, I'm yelling - shouting from the rooftops, even!

Today we started using Teaching Textbooks Math CD's. We would have started a week or two ago, but there were computer issues to overcome.

Both boys joyfully did 3 lessons each. They love it and can't wait until tomorrow. New things don't always come easily to one of my boys and he is often, too easily frustrated. Yet today he sat there with a huge smile on his face - it looked like he was playing a video game, he was SO HAPPY!!!! My face? It was the one with tears trickling down it. I watched as the lightbulb went off in his head and could see that things were starting to click for him - right before my very eyes.

I know there will be times of frustration again - as he learns new concepts, there will likely be 3 steps forward & 2 steps back ... but at least we're making forward progress again.

Oh -- I made them get back on the fish-oil (lemon flavored!) bandwagon at lunch. Brain food, ya know. He wasn't very happy about it, but this afternoon when he got a 95 on one spelling test and 100 on the other .... he said "hey, this fish oil really works!". Well, not yet - but hopefully, if we're diligent with it we'll see some improvements in a few months. I could use some more brain power too, so I guess I'll have to join them - maybe we'll make a toast. "To better school days!" Here, here!

Yep, seems I've cried a couple of times in the schoolroom already this year -- at least today they were tears of joy!

Disney ........ 2009 ........ only about 500 more days

Oh, I'm a HAPPY CAMPER!! Haha ... I crack myself up.

Today I made reservations for Disney's Fort Wilderness Campground .... for the end of 2009.

You gotta plan ahead, baby!

It always makes me happy to have at least 1 Disney trip in the works.

And whoa .... I just had Darcy add the purple side bars (with polka dots) .... but I have a new (wide) monitor and, whew - that's alotta purple! Is it too hard on the eyes?? On my other monitors, NONE of it shows up.

Man Camp 2008

No more listening to the quiet little pitter patter of raindrops. They're home!

Here are the friends who were in our cabin:

Click on a picture to enlarge:

A wonderful time was had by all!

They got soaked in the canoe (it was raining), made a bullseye in archery, played a new game "ga ga" (new to us, anyway), played ping pong, shot an air rifle, rode the zip line, baked apples over an open fire (and of course, s'mores!!) and made crafts.

In addition to all that, they learned about relationships, had praise & worship, came home exhausted and can't wait until next year! Me, too! ;-)

FREE collage/picture software at http://www.picasa.com/

All I hear is the sound of rain ~ and it's music to my ears!

This rainy weekend, my 3 guys are at the VERY much anticipated (by all of us! haha), annual trek to

Man Camp!!!!

They have been SO looking forward to it ever since they first experienced it last year. They are especially thrilled to be there again with some of their best buds and their dads (about 15 close friends). All in all, I think over 100 fathers/sons attend.

It's a camp for fathers/sons to bond and teach the boys about becoming godly men. They do fun "men" stuff:


Fishing
Canoeing
Basketball, softball & tennis
Swimming
Archery
Air riflery
Roller hockey
Skateboarding
Mountain boarding
Team building
Zip line
Bonfires

and more ......

not to mention eating "men" food -- pizza, nachos, etc.

This year's special guest speaker is from FamilyLife Ministries -- and the topic is "relationships".

The wind and rains here at home are absolutely torrential .... we're supposed to get 4-6" (one report said up to 10") of rain today. BUT ..... I just talked to RV and while it rained overnight there (they're sleeping in bunkhouses, not tents - woo hoo!) ...... he said the rain has tapered off and the sun is trying to come out!!!

I'll post pictures as soon as they're home. But for now, I suppose I should turn off the tv and either do some work in RV's office or break out some school stuff and figure out exactly what we need to be doing with our new curriculum in a few subjects. But a rainy day nap sounds oh, so much better!

If only I could get the dog to go out ......... every time I offer, he sees the downpour, turns back around and looks at me like I'm crazy! He is very smart, you know.

Smile and say cheese!

Today was a big day around here. The braces came off!!! This was just "phase 1" of his braces - it remains to be seen if/when there will be a "phase 2". But for how, he's thrilled! He was only in "phase 1" for 11 months.


Below: This was his shocked reaction to how FAST they came off. Literally less than 10 seconds from start to finish!! click, click, click, click - done! It was amazing!!!!!
Removing some remaining glue:
Ta da!

He was really a trooper through the whole experience .... gave up sodas overnight (they were few and far between, anyway) and his only complaint was that he was not able to have popcorn. Guess I better go pop up a huuuuuuge batch of it! If only there were a decent movie at the theaters - we'd go there to celebrate and get him a big tub of his own! I'm sure he won't mind a raincheck. And he's already told us that the next trip to Disney, he wants his very own bucket that he doesn't have to share.

Last days of summer

Ahhhh, the last days of summer. Look what fun you can have with a hose, a traffic cone (they made an 8' geiser out of it) & a few empty juice & milk jugs. This has been keeping them busy for hours ;-)




They might as well enjoy it now .... 'cuz tomorrow, ready or not .... here comes school.