Magic Kingdom for Grandma

We met Grandma, Karen, Krystal, Carolyn and Bay at Magic Kingdom today to celebrate Grandma's birthday.

The kids were so excited, and I think the parents were too! We got a lot done, and it was REALLY hot at times, but overall, we all had a bunch of fun.

We ate lunch at Crystal Palace which was perfect because it is a buffet and the kids could eat ALL that they wanted.
Kerstyn and Aislinn
Aislinn wasn't so excited about eating there UNTIL she saw the characters inside. This is what she did until they let us in. It was SO cute!
Lauklan sporting the ears.
Is that Brennan smiling? Impressive.
Greyson was having fun watching the show.
Krystal, Karen and Bay
Chris giving the cheesy smile.
Chris and I in the Crystal Palace
Everyone, minus me. See all the smiling faces?
Kerstyn and Brennan

Crazy, but fun!

Chris and I left Mount Dora about 5:30 tonight to head to Lakeland to watch Angels and Demons with Ricky and Mom.

We made it in record time! Go Melody!

Chris made phone calls the whole time, so I just drove like a mad-woman!

We both really enjoyed the movie and had an added good surprise that Karen was there to watch too.

We didn't get back to Mount Dora until after midnight, then I had to take Nashua and Nellie home so I didn't get to the house to go to sleep until a little after 1 a.m.

I'm going to be tired for Magic Kingdom in the morning, but it was a nice evening.

We're getting rain

It has rained the last few afternoons. Sure is nice, even though it has messed up the kids swimming plans.

I took pool water to Pinch A Penny today for them to test it since I saw some algae in the deep end. Come to find out, there was NO chlorine in the pool. They told me that our salt system cell must not be working. Not good! So, I came home with a bunch of chemicals, dumped them in and hope that everything works out.

I cycled again tonight. It sure does feel good!

Did you know I really enjoy reality television?

A year apart (well, close enough)

April 2009

June 2008

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Saturday, April 19, 2008

Notice anything different? I sure hope so!

3 places at once!

Kerstyn had an Orff performance today. Lauklan had scouts. Cycle was at 5:30. I must get all done! So, what do I do? I get help!

Whew!

I made it to the gym. Kerstyn made it to her performance, which was great! Lauklan made it to scouts.

I'm tired!

Here are some shots from her performance.

Kerstyn is playing the bells.

Group shot

Up at the top playing the recorder.

Kerstyn playing some stick thing.

It was a great performance!

Monday, Monday

Have I mentioned how my life revolves around cycle class?

LOVE IT!

6:30, here I come.

The kids did some swimming and fun stuff today.

I finished the dining room chairs for Chris and I was SO proud of myself.
See! All pretty and I did it! I even surprise myself sometimes.

The air conditioning had stopped working really well, so they came today to fix it. Come to find out it needed a new part. Now it feels cold inside. I am thankful that it happened in May and not August! That would be miserable!

Happy Mother's Day!

I got to enjoy my Mother's Day with my mom again this year. We all went to church together and that was really nice.
The girls got some coloring in before church. What a mess!
See how excited Brennan and Chris are to be eating their breakfast?
Greyson and Lauklan are excited though!

Dad got home around 3:30 and the kids were beyond excited!
See all the excitement?
Mom and I on Mother's Day.
Chris and I.

It was a really nice day with family. A long, but nice day. We didn't arrive home until around 9, but I am really glad that we went.

Over to Mom and Dad's

We headed to Mom and Dad's this afternoon and got there about 4 p.m. After Chris did several "honey-do" list items.

Chris fixed the closet doors in the boys room. I have been wanting that done for months. One of them was sliding and wouldn't stay on the track. That made me happy.

He also went to Jo-Ann Fabrics and bought new fabric to cover the dining room chairs. To be honest, it doesn't bother me as much as it bothers him, but it always looks nice when it is done. Our staple gun wouldn't work though, so it didn't get finished.
I went to Publix and got Mom some flowers for Mother's Day. If they make me smile, they should make her smile too. Right?

Tonight, we went to see the new Star Trek movie at the movie theater in Port Richey. The same one that I went to as a child. I really enjoyed the movie, but Chris said it was just "okay". It was a late night though, since the movie didn't even start until 9:55. Way past my bedtime!

Pre-School's Mother's Tea and Women's Meeting

You all know that I now purchase flowers for myself. So here they are. This week's purchase. Aren't they pretty?
Greyson and Aislinn's pre-school had a Mother's Day Tea today. They came in and sang songs and then had a little gift for me. It was really cute. Aislinn is very excited, you see. :)
Greyson was excited. What a cutie!

Tonight I went with Debbie Clayton tonight to a meeting that was broadcast in the Orlando South building.

Sister Beck said great stuff. The thing I remember most is that she said that this life is not going to be perfect. It is not a fairy tale. We knew that in the pre-existence, and we accepted it. This life is to be an experience. We are to exercise our faith.

I really enjoyed the meeting AND the time I got to spend with my friend.

Will he ever?

Will my husband ever come home at a decent time again?

Of course, he comes home at a decent time when I am out of town, because he has to.

But really, this is a good question.

Will he ever, ever, ever come home at a decent time again?

I would like to visit with him.

Look into his eyes.

Hold his hand.

Talk.

I miss that.

It is HOT!

In total contrast to my visit and time in Kentucky, where I was FREEZING, it was really hot today.

The water is no longer "cool" in the pool. It is warm.

The kids are all swimming like crazy and I am so glad, since that is why we got the thing.

Watch out, here comes summer!

Sweat, cycle, laugh

I had a pretty uneventful, full day today.

I worked, picked up kids and then headed to the gym.

I sat in the sauna for an hour. While I sweated like crazy, I read.

Following the sauna, I went to cycle class. Those new shoes that I got for cycling really seem to make a difference. I am sore, for sure.

After exercising, I took the kids home and Kerstyn, Greyson and Aislinn went swimming while Lauklan was at scouts and Brennan read.

Chris came home with Lauklan and I headed to book club.

No, I didn't read the book. But I committed to read the one this month.

Oh no! Pressure!!!

I wanted to eat Mexican food today for Cinco de Mayo, but I didn't. Oh well.

Well...

I was released as the Eustis Ward Primary President yesterday, Sunday, May 3, 2009. I was called to that position on August 8, 2004.

Yes, that is right, 4 years and almost 9 months ago.

I have cried.

A lot!

I have never loved a calling like I loved being the children's primary president.

I love each and every one of those children.

I have watched them grow physically and more importantly spiritually.

I had the opportunity to serve each one of my own children as their primary president.

I think that I only had one Sunday, out of all of them, that I could say, "I had a bad day".

Each and every Sunday, the spirit was present. Each and every Sunday, I learned something from those children. Each and every Sunday, I left knowing that the church is true.

Each and every one!

So, I ask myself the question, repeatedly. "Have I done any good in the world today?"

I pray so. I truly do.

Fishing Camp on Saturday

Chris took all the children to a Fishing Clinic that Lauklan's Tiger Cub group was going to. I think he was quite brave to do it without me, but they all did great and had a great time too! All but Brennan, of course. Here are the kids with their catches! Lauklan caught one too, but it got off the hook before he could get it totally out of the water.

While Mommy is gone...

Thursday night, Greyson and Aislinn had a Spring Concert at school. Chris took them and bought a new camera so I could see pictures when I got home. Here are a few of them.

They are so cute!

Greyson was an alligator that had to eat all the little monkeys.

Greyson and Aislinn. Aislinn was a ladybug but she got a little shy about it.

Greyson and Lauklan

Kerstyn, Greyson, Lauklan, Aislinn and Brennan

Coming home

All it did, I'm not kidding, is rain.

It was wet and COLD!

Oh my!

No wonder I have a sore throat.

Mom and I were so glad to get off the plane in Tampa and feel the warm, dry, yet humid air.

I got home late tonight. It was wonderful to sleep in my own bed and snuggle up to Chris again.

Visiting time

I actually went to a "Derby Breakfast" in Crofton this morning.

A bunch of places were having Derby Breakfast's this morning because of the Kentucky Derby running tonight.

Mom was glad to go with Randy, Becky and many others to Crofton to eat good food and see many people she hasn't seen since she was a child.

I wish that this was enhanced a little, but it is Carole, Caroline, Reese (Lori's daughter), Gail, me and mom.
Mom, Carolyn, Carole and Gail. Carolyn went to school with Gail for years and is still real close with Mom and Carole. Carolyn graciously let us use her home to get ready for the party.

After breakfast, we went and visited at Randy's and looked at how their new house is coming along.

Mom and I also went by the cemetery where her father is buried and another cemetery where many of her family members are.

For dinner, we met Carole, Gail and Caroline at a restaurant called Dot's. Here is a picture of us there before 'the incident'.
I had an amazing salad until I found a large, dead fly in it.

YUCK!

We went to bed early and head out to the airport to fly back in the morning.

Party Day!

Today was the party.

I worked harder here than I would have at home taking care of everyone and doing all my usual stuff.

I did have a great amount of fun though.

Gail, Mom and Carole
Rolled turkey, ham and chilled shrimp. I rolled the meat! Can you believe that? Me!!!
Gail and I took a quick second to snap a picture during our preparing for the party.
Cheese ball shaped in a "70!" I had to align almond slivers. Seriously.
Crackers, fruit, you name it. It is there. I even did the strawberry thing you see in the upper left corner. I never knew that I could be so 'artsy'. :)
Caroline, my cousin, brought me an apron so I would look cute while working.

No need to take Tylenol PM tonight, that is for sure!

Carole was really, really surprised. Mom and I had called her in the morning, acting as if we were in Florida and Gail, her sister, talked to her as if she was in Utah.

Needless, to say, we weren't in Florida and Utah, we were in Kentucky, preparing for her party. :)

On my way to Kentucky!

My mom and I flew out of Tampa this morning for Nashville, Tennessee!

My mom's family lives in Hopkinsville, Kentucky and the surrounding areas and we are going up there for a surprise birthday party for my mom's cousin, Carole.

All it did was rain.

Mam-Mom and Mom. Mam-Mom wanted Captain D's for lunch so Mom and I stopped there for her on our way in.
I took this, as you can tell, of Mam-Mom and me. The last time I saw her was April of 2006. It has been too long!
After a quick bite to eat, Mom and I headed over to help Gail get ready for the party tomorrow.
Gail and Mom

I went to Nashville twice today. Once when I flew in with Mom and then again with Gail, to pick up Caroline.

We stopped at Costco to get stuff for the party and then I remembered...Krispy Kreme!

We headed there and I ate 5, yes 5, hot and fresh now doughnuts!

Yummy!

Brennan's first temple trip

It's tonight! I am so excited for him and he is excited too!

I am sad that I am going to miss it. But, maybe he will do better there when he gets to focus on himself and what is going on and not worry about his mom or dad.

I won't be posting until next week. You'll see why then. :)

It is swimming time!

The weather is getting warmer every day. No rain in sight either. But, a good thing about that is that the pool is warming up very quickly! Greyson and Aislinn decided to take a dip before we pick up all the other kids today. They all swam yesterday too.
Aislinn is swimming for a toy.
Greyson in the spa fishing out all the toys he threw in there.
Cutie patootie! Isn't it nice when she smiles? In contrast to the pictures from Sunday when she was screaming.
This is Ooh-Rah thinking, "I wonder how I can get out there to chew up some new pool toys?"

Looks okay

I spoke with the nurse at the nephrologist's office today.

The ultrasound looked fine.

The urine the first time had 3 contaminants in it. I'm not too sure what that means except it is not good.

The urine the second time was clear. That is good.

So. What does that mean?

We wait and see. They could not find a 'cause' of the urinary tract infection.