Fun in Florida

Last post I mentioned our historic driving trip to Florida during the Christmas Holiday. It was historic because my husband does not enjoy driving long distances. He's an airplane kind of man. He knows the ins and the outs of the airport, where to park for which gate, which line to get in. The man can zip thru an airport in no time to get to his plane in just the nick of time. Stick him in a car for a 2100 mile trip with me and my bladder and two kids. Not his idea of a holiday. But we made it. I looked back at Leah riding in the car and laughed. She looked like a hostage. She felt like one too. The child takes after her daddy.







But once we made to Florida there was lots of fun to be had at both grandparent's houses. We even learned about a game called Ladderball from Uncle Dave. Some call it Hillbilly Golf. It's a big hit in the RV Parks from what I understand. Shuffleboard is so old school. Ladderball rules now. We went straight to Wallyworld and bought our own.

Paige, Leah and cousin Mickey at my parents.

Paige brought along a gingerbread tree decorating kit. So the cousins got busy putting it together. It made a nice centerpiece while we were there.

You should have heard the singing. Mr. Scotty has a karaoke machine.

We had a wonderful Christmas with our family.

There are so many pictures I could download.

The other highlight of the trip was meeting up with one of my favorite bloggers Tracy P. Tracy lives in Minnesota and I live in Texas, but we managed to meet at a park in central Florida. Can you believe it. She and her family were there visiting her dad.

We decided to get the families together and the best place would be a park. Thanks to Google one was located. The kids and the husbands could keep busy while we chatted.

Here are Paige, Leah & Mickey playing at the park. It was great place to meet.





The wind really picked up and the kids and husbands had played basketball and were thirsty so we moved the party to a local restaurant. It was nice to just sit across the table from Tracy and hear her voice and get to know her better. Tracy and I both pray with Moms in Touch groups. There was so much I wanted to talk about, but didn't want to bore the husbands with an all blogging and MITI conversation. She is as wonderful in person as she is on her blog.

Here we are: Windblown but happy to get together:

Here are the kiddos: Tracy's two and my two plus my nephew. The kids had their own table at the restaurant. (Learned that trick a few years ago. ha)

It was a long trip, but totally worth it in my book. I even got a smile out of Buster.

Yah Mon

Our time in Jamaica was great. There were lots of opportunity to relax.
Here are some pictures taken around the resort.

Hammocks are all over the grounds.

I decided to get in one of those hammocks. I read My Sister's Keeper while I was down there and Jane Austen Ruined My Life. Both were great books.

I had to get out of hammock and go upstairs to read the last chapter of My Sister's Keeper. I didn't want to ball my eyes out in front of everyone out there.

I also played golf twice with Keith, Ann and Scotty.

This is a picture from our room on the 4th floor. The vegetation there is so lush and beautiful.

A view of the oceanside of the building we were in. We stayed on the garden side.

This is the Sandals Resort in Ocho Rios. Keith and I were surrounded by lots of newlyweds. We were feeling quite "seasoned" around all those young couples. It was fun talking to different couples and finding out where they were from.

Keith and I had a great week together. It was so nice to get away and spend time doing a whole lot of nothing. It was a wonderful way to celebrate our 21 years together.


We flew back to Orlando on Sunday and there was a long line at the airport in Montego Bay. Keith and I checked in at the Air Jamaica desk, but when my mother-in-law, her husband and his son and wife (directly behind us) went to check in they were told the flight was full. We've had our tickets since February mind you. Long story short. I flew back to Orlando with Keith. Keith caught his connecting flight to Houston and I had to stay in Orlando until Ann and Scotty flew in the next morning. Air Jamaica put me up in a hotel. When Ann and Scotty finally flew in the next day I drove back to Tampa with them where my girls were staying with my parents.

While I was in Orlando I hung out with some of the locals:

Her make-up looks a little better than mine. It was an early departure that day and a little stressful when the rest of our party was left behind.

They really do say "mon" a lot in Jamaica. They also say m'lady when addressing women. I thought that was sweet.

I'll leave you with a Jamaican sunset. I probably won't ever go back there, but it was a nice place to visit and do some relaxing and hear some really nice people say

"No Problem Mon"

An Ozark Getaway

Fourteen years ago these two amazing friends entered my life. Tina and Diane. We met when we all lived in Salt Lake City, Utah. (All transplants to the area due to husband's careers or attending the University there.) Diane and her husband as well Buster and I went on to leave SLC, but Tina and her family are still there. We have always kept up with each other. About a month ago we arranged to meet in north Arkansas (where Diane now lives) and drive to Branson, Missouri to spend a girl's weekend together. I have never been to the Ozarks or Branson so it was a treat for me to see the beautiful rolling hills and some of the trees in bloom. The weather was beautiful.

This is the view out of hotel room window. It's kind of blurred because of the glass. sorry



We did a lot of shopping and found some great bargains at the outlet malls. If you plan to go to Branson...e-mail me. I'll tell you about a store that has incredible savings. I still can't believe the deals I got in that store. Women's clothing that retailed for $165.00-$350.00 you could purchase for $10.00 each. The retail tags are still on them. I promise. It's true! It's worth the trip there just for that one store.

See I told you. I just want to wear them with the tags on so I can show people how much $$$$ I saved. I would never pay those prices for clothes. Anyway, back to the trip.

We also went to the Titanic Museum. We spent nearly three hours going thru this amazing museum. It is a must - see if you go to Branson.

After lots of talking, shopping, talking, eating, talking, touring, talking, relaxing, talking....our time together came to an end and I had to pack up and get back to Texas.

It was a great weekend. Thanks Diane and Tina...LYLAS.

What Do These Things Have in Common?

I guess the last picture may give it away. It's Dallas....the new home of Former President and Laura Bush and the temporary home of the King Tut Exhibit. Also hopefully a place with lots of fun things to do for Spring Break. Yes, it's that time of year and we'll be gone this week. We're staying pretty close to home this year.

I thought I would post some Spring pictures of what is blooming in my yard right now. It has been cold and rainy here this week. But next week promises to be drier and warmer.

I love this time of year except for this:::::

I wrote this on the tabletop on my back porch.

Someone should clean this place up.

Libby, don't look so dejected. I know you want to go with us, but you have to stay.

I'll catch up with you when we get back. Have a great Spring Break.

The Picture

I know this picture doesn't look like a suburb. The picture above was taken in Sedona, Arizona. The one to the left at The Grand Canyon. Our family went to Arizona for Spring Break 2008. I loved every minute of this trip.
The landscape in Arizona is amazing. Every picture we took looks like a postcard. Paige took the one at the top. I love it because the moon is in it too.

From Phoenix to the Grand Canyon, Flagstaff and Sedona - I was mesmorized with the beauty of each of these places. They all looked different. I just thought Wow God! Thanks for giving us this beautiful place to see!