Thursday, October 28, 2010

Bahamas!

This past weekend, I joined Lyndon on one of his work trips!  We took a four day cruise to the Bahamas with some of his co-workers and customers.  It took a little coaxing to convince me to go only because I am not a fan of boats, sharks or large bodies of water, but I decided that four days would be a good amount of time, and I knew we would dock at least two of those days and be on land.  So, I sucked it up and got on the boat.  It was actually a really great experience except for sleeping.  I did not sleep the first two nights at all.  I kept hearing this really loud noise that sounded like a chain being drug under the ship, and of course the rocking took a bit to get used to.  I got out of bed several times to look out and make sure we were not under water and to make sure I knew where the life jackets were.  Luckily, we were right over the life boats, so that was reassuring!  Depsite the anxiety about sinking, I was really impressed with all of the stuff to do on the ship.  There was constant entertainment and the food was just insane.  I do not think I have ever eaten as much in a month as I did on this cruise in four days.  Every meal was at least 4 courses, and then, they offered buffets on other decks.  At least they had a full workout facility and spa to ease your mind about how much you ate, and there was a lot of walking for being on a boat!  I was also really impressed with all of the shows.  They had comedy shows, dancing and singing, severl rounds of quiz shows, a Love an Marriage show, "Scaryokie," in which everyone who had a couple of adult beverages thought they could sing (they couldn't, by the way), themed dance parties every night, basketball and a rock climbing wall!  Plenty to do on top of the fact that we docked at two different islands during the day.  Overall, it was a great experience.  Maybe next time, I will go for a week long cruise!






On the very top of the ship.  The wind was harsh!

The 70's Dance party!

Different levels of the boat.

View from our room!

We anchored off the island of Coco Cay and took a smaller boat over!  The wind was crazy all four days!

The life boat under our room! 

The water was amazing!

I talked Lyndon into doing Yoga the first day!  This was some pre-yoga stretching!

Coco Cay


I could not believe the children's program on the ship!  Our boys would have loved it.  This is pre-show entertainment with the kiddos.  This night was Pirate Night, and they sang a song and marched all over the ship with their bandanas and eye patches.  Very cute! The little boy on the right stole the show.  He was determined to stay on stage and sing the entire song despite the fact that he really had to go pee!  Several times, the children's director offered to take him.  He refused, and instead, held himself with both fists!  We are guessing he was taken to the restroom after exiting the theater! 

Our towel monkey hanging from the ceiling in our room!

More incredible water!

One of the many buffets!


80's Dance Party by the pool.  The ship was rocking so badly this night that they kept having to mop up water from the pool that was coming over the side!

The Bahamas!





The biggest outdoor market I have ever seen.  If you wanted to buy it, they had it!

One of the many beautiful churches on the island.  We wanted to go in, but it was Sunday, and they were having service.

We loved the beautiful colored buildings all over the island.  It was very clean and well kept, and the islanders were very friendly! This was on the side of the pirate museum we tried to tour, but it was closed by the time we got there. 

One of the anchors.  It is difficult to see how big it is from this picture, but it was huge.  I am still in awe that something that big and heavy floats!

Monday, October 18, 2010

Birthday Party!!!


This saturday was the boys birthday party!  This year, we also included a sweet friend of the boys to have a joint party as they all have birthdays around the same time.  The party was halloween themed hence the decortations and costumes!  We really wanted to take advantage of the incredible weather and our great backyard, so we had apple bobbing, a pinata, crafts, BBQ, hot dogs and, of course, CAKE! 

     
                                      
Beethoven was pumped about his costume this year!
Our own Headless Horseman...minus the horse!
Our pinata.  This was the toughest pinata I have ever seen.  It took the kids several tries to break it open!
The spooky cemetery!
We turned out shed into the craft room.  They got to decorate pumpkins and make halloween finger puppets!
Bean Bag Toss!
Lyndon showing them how it is done!!!
This is a very sanitary party activity!!!
He totally cheated!
This party goer was very determined!!!
Still trying!
Our party girl has an arm on her!  Notice Lyndon trying to get out of the way!
Collecting candy!
Some of the wild and crazy party people!
Let me just say that our friend's 12-year-old son made all three cakes.  He is amazing!  He made three different cakes from scratch.  They were very cute and tasted great! Luke had Spider Man...
...Logan had Diego...
...and the party girl had dinosaurs! 
And still working!
Some of the kids' crafty pumpkins!
Patiently waiting to cut the cake!
One of our precious party-goers!  She was the cutest pirate I have ever seen!

Friday, October 8, 2010

Dental Visits!

This was the week of checkups!  Luke had his 3-year check up and all went well.  He is growing like a weed, and the doctor comfirmed that he, too, will be tall like his brother.  He is 95% for his hight and 75% for his weight! I can't wait to hear what they have to say about Logan in a few weeks.  I just bought my not-yet-5-year-old size 2 1/2 shoes that he will outgrow before Christmas! He is already 4 foot tall. So I imagine that by the time he is in school, he will be able to look me in the eye!  Not to mention that I am already having a difficult time getting him full!  I think I may be in trouble...


A very happy boy!  He got a wonderful report from the dentist! I was a little sad as he volunteered to go back without me so I could stay with Luke.  Such a long way from his first visit when he was two and insisted he sit on my lap! He is getting so big. This pic is post checkup when he got to pick his prize!

Surprisingly, Luke did excellent!  Anyone who knows this child knows that being still and letting someone mess with his teeth is not on his list of favorites.  I will always worry about his teeth a bit more only because he is such a bear when it comes to brushing!  But, he also got a great report, so I took a sigh of relief!


Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Pumpkin Bread: A fall staple!

Here is one of my favorite fall treats!  Nothing makes the house smell better than fresh-baked pumkin bread!


Brown Sugar buddies!




Saturday, October 2, 2010

Happy Six Years!

Six years in review!

Approximately 9,862 diapers
Approximately 2190 days of ARMY t-shirt wearings
5 cars (including the rockin' minivan)
4 homes
3 states
2 beautiful kids
2 cats
1 dog
1 chipmunk
1 fractured ankle
1 busted chin
1 Lasik surgery, 2 surgically removed wisdom teeth, 1 emergency appendectomy
1 Deviated septum, 1 snore plasty (which saved you from having your own room)

Things I don't care to think about counting:
The amount of times we have been peed, pooped or puked on
The amount of time we have cleaned up pee, poop or puke
The amount of time or money we have spent at the grocery store
The amount of laundry we have done
The amount of doctors visits
The amount of illnesses
The amount of gray hairs I have to cover
The amount of gray hairs you would have if you had hair

What a wild ride it has been.  I am beginning to think this is the pace we will go for the rest of our lives, and I would not have it any other way!  Thank you for all that you do for me and the boys including providing a wonderful home and great opportunities for us all. Thank you for your integrity at work and at home.  Thank you for your kind and giving heart.  Thank you for your energy. Thank you for being so very supportive of all of my crazy ideas. Thank you for turning off the TV to listen to me.  Thank you for not even having to think about helping me clean or helping out with the boys.  Thank you for changing light bulbs the minute they go out. Thank you for not whining too much about the grocery bill. Thank you for opening the car door for me every time we are together.  Thank you for still holding my hand even when we are sitting in the car. Thank you for knowing how to make my coffee.  Thank you for appreciating who I really am eventhough that means dealing with the sporadic thoughts, unfinished sentences, my inability to think of simple vocabulary words, and my desire to change things up constantly!  Thank you for your constant respect and encouragement for what I do.  And, thank you for your respect for me in general.  You are simply a good man!  I love you endlessly, and here is to many more years!!!