Lauklan's Baptism Day!

Beautiful!

We've been waiting for this...

Parents with the big boy.

Grandma actually got this picture above, and I love it. I just love how Chris is looking at Lauklan and how they are both so happy.

I took this picture before we started and the room even filled up some more. I couldn't believe it!

Perfect! (Not us, that is FOR SURE, but the reason.)

I am so thankful that so many people could and did come to Lauklan's baptism. What a great thing to celebrate!

Bermuda, Day 3

I think this was our sunning day. Gail and I went to the pool while Mom and Carole were supposed to be getting ready. It took them FOREVER! Gail and I had a great time sunning and she really got some sun!

Late that afternoon we called a taxi and went to the Paraquet restaurant. Yes, I spelled it right, but you pronounce it Parakeet. It was pretty tasty and the waiter really liked Gail! :)

We ventured back to the room and relaxed the remainder of the day. Tomorrow, it's to the airport and the New York City! Wahoo!

Bermuda, Day 2

Mom and I at the hotel.

Our experience in Bermuda was really quite interesting. We stayed in a two and a half star hotel there. It looked like it was new in the twenties or thirties, but it was clean and needless to say, not busy...

Anyway, the view was BEAUTIFUL! We could see the ocean from our room and it was very quiet.

One negative there though was that there was absolutely no food available there. So, if we wanted to eat, we had to take a taxi "to town". While there, we only ate once a day. (Not good for my diet.)

Anyway, after eating at this really neat diner in Hamilton, I went to get us a taxi to see if he would drive us around. He was not interested in "driving us around", but said he would take us to a specific location. Someone had told us to go see Elbow Beach so I asked hit to take us there.
Elbow Beach

The taxi driver ended up taking quite a liking to us and drove us around for a few hours, touring the island, letting us stop to use the restroom and all that good stuff.
Pink sand at one of the beaches. I wish the picture did it justice.

The last stop was to the grocery store so that we could get some food.

When Carole got to the taxi, there was Mom and Kenny, the taxi driver, sitting in the back seat with his arm around Mom. Quite funny...
Our goodies from the grocery store stop. Isn't that quite interesting?

Anyway, Gail and I headed out to the lobby area of the hotel that evening and sat and talked while the sun set. It ended up being something that we did every night we were there.

Bermuda, Day 1

These pictures were taken in downtown Hamilton after we ate lunch/dinner at a restaurant downtown. As you can see it is really hilly and quite pretty.

I have never seen water so beautiful! Everywhere on the island has a view it seems and the people are really nice. What a relaxing place.

Vegas to JFK to sleep

We flew from Vegas to JFK today and slept in a hotel near JFK because tomorrow we have an early flight to Bermuda.

When we were leaving the Bellagio, I had all I could take of Carole and Gail being total opposites and I just fell to the ground. We had heard each day several times of things that Gail liked and of course, Carole hated it.

While pulling our suitcases through the lobby, we were all in a straight line, Gail, Carole, Mom, me. I could see that they were all talking and I asked Mom what they were talking about. I was told that Gail was talking about how she loved the carpet in our room and Carole just turned to Mom and said, "I hate carpet!"

It was all I could handle, and I just had to sit on the floor laughing. One of the employees came to see if I was okay and I told him that I was sorry, but that the ladies I was with were making me laugh too hard and I just needed a break.

The flight was uneventful and getting to the hotel was quite interesting, but when we finally got there, we ordered pizza which took an hour to get there and tasted barely warm, but it was food!

Tomorrow, Bermuda!

Las Vegas, Day 4

We traveled over to the Venetian Hotel today to see all the neat things that the Venetian had to offer. They give gondola rides there and were were going to do that but did not have the time to wait. But seeing it and hearing them sing was fun just to watch. While walking around the mall there, we saw Sigfreid which was really quite neat.

Mom in the Venetian

Man giving a gondola ride. Really neat since this is inside a hotel...
Caroline and June showed up at the end so we could take them to the airport to fly back to California.

Mom, Carole, me, Gail, June

That afternoon Gail and I laid out by the pool for a while. I could not believe how it was around 112 degrees there but the heat index was only 94 or so. It is the revers of Florida so it actually felt cooler there to me. Weird!

We had dinner at Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville. It was a lot of fun, especially since I am a big Jimmy fan!

The view from our room in the Bellagio.

That evening, Mom, Gail and I went to see Donnie and Marie at the Flamingo while Carole gambled in the casino there. The show was really good and I was amazed at what great entertainers they are.

After the show, we stopped at the Cafe Bellagio again for some oatmeal for me, and Mocachinos for Mom and Carole. We giggled and had a great time.

Las Vegas, Day 3

Gail did Carole's make up this morning which was quite an event to watch. I don't think Carole liked it too much, but I sure liked watching it!

Following our morning routine, we headed to the Forum shops just to look at how neat the mall is. Quite a show within itself with the paintings and design.

We met up with some extended family late that afternoon at the Cafe Bellagio for dinner and visiting.

I had Mom take this picture of me with the ladybug because Aislinn really likes ladybugs. The lobbies in the hotels were all beyond gorgeous.

Mom and I with the Ferris wheel.

Following dinner, I headed to the Spa in the Bellagio for a massage and facial. Wonderful!!

Las Vegas, Day 2

By the time we finally drug ourselves out of bed this morning, it was almost lunch!

We went over to the Wynn and had breakfast. After breakfast we toured the Wynn and the Encore.

I decided that I needed to 'warm up' so we walked outside from the Wynn to the Encore (about a block). It was nice.

I had no idea that the hotels there are like their own little cities. Really neat!

Eating brunch at The Wynn hotel.

Mom and me

Gail, Carole and Mom. I forget why they are all sitting there like that, but it is cute.

The four of us in the Wynn lobby.

Gail and Carole in our room in the Bellagio.

That evening, we went downstairs and watched "O". It was really neat. We have LaNouba here in Orlando and Chris and I saw it for my 30th birthday so I was prepared for it to be really interesting. However, with "O", they use water and still do those crazy things so it was really neat! We had great seats and a great time!

Las Vegas, Day 1

Mom and I waiting to board the plane to Vegas.

Apparently the only picture I took on our first day was in the Tampa Airport with Mom waiting to board the plane to Vegas.

The flight took a little over 5 hours and we were glad to get there. Carole arrived from Nashville about 30 minutes before we did so she waited for us at baggage pickup and we headed to the Bellagio together.

They said the temperature was 112 degrees there and I was pleasantly surprised to find that it didn't feel as hot as here. Dry heat is WAY better than damp heat. For sure!

Tonight after Gail arrived, we headed across the street to the Eiffel Tower replica and watched the water and light show in the Bellagio fountain from there. It was beautiful! However, we were VERY tired because by the time we got back to our hotel room that night, it was 2 in the morning in Florida and we were of course, still running on Florida time. I slept well, to say the least.

Lauklan's 8th Birthday

I can't believe it, but he is 8! Happy Birthday Lauklan!

The kids and I went to the Magic Kingdom today to celebrate Lauklan's birthday. Holly, Dane, Devin, Jarom and Grandma met us there.

We ate lunch at the Crystal Palace and had quite a bit of fun and good food. It also rained while we were in there, so it was nice to miss the rain and go out to a cooler, yet quite muggy outside.

Lauklan blowing out the candle on his cupcake.

Lauklan and I waiting to board the monorail.

Aislinn's favorite ride, the tram.

We had a great time!

Family fun day

We had a bunch of Chris' family over today. We played, swam, ate and visited. It was great. So great in fact, that I only took this one picture of Holly with Jarom. Oops...

Animal Kingdom

The kids and I headed out this morning to meet Grandma, Holly and her family for a day of fun at Animal Kingdom.

Getting ready to head in.

All of the kids were looking at some animal in there. I just thought it was cute to see all of their backs like that.

We splurged and ate lunch at The Rainforest Cafe, which of course, is always quite tasty.

My buddy...

Updating

Okay everyone, I have made so many posts today that you will have to go all the way back to Friday, June 26 to see all the new ones. That requires you to click on Older Posts down at the bottom of the page.

I hope you enjoy all of this. We have been busy, but having a great time!

I'll try to get caught up real soon, but tomorrow, the kids and I are off to Animal Kingdom. YIPEE!!

Pedicures, lunch and Kohl's

Holly, Mom (Nancy) and I went to get pedicures this morning. It was quite fun and I believe that Mom grinned the WHOLE time!

Following our pedicures, we headed to Panera Bread for some lunch.

Once our bellies were full, it was time to shop!

I got a new outfit for work and church along with shoes to show off my freshly pedicured feet!

We had a really nice time together and the rest of the day just enjoyed being together.

Happy Fourth of July!

Cypress Gardens

It is hard to believe living in Florida all of my life, and Central Florida for all but 10 years of my life, that I have never been to Cypress Gardens. But, it is true.

Today was a first for me. We went to the water park that is there and all of us had a good time. Well, maybe Holly didn't, but I think everyone else did. :)

Chris, Carolyn and some of the kids

Chris and me

Chris and his sister Carolyn

Greyson being silly

We ate at Olive Garden on the way home and that was fun too. Good food and good company is always nice!

Bronko Baltich

Bronko with Lauklan, Kerstyn and Aislinn in March at Hollywood Studios

Today was Bronko's funeral. We got babysitters for all of the children and we left the house at 8:15 this morning to head to the church. The viewing was from 9 - 10. In the last 10 minutes or so of the viewing, the family had all visitors leave, and they did a special family prayer. Bronko's children and grandchildren had purchased official softballs to write messages on and then we placed them with Bronko. It was very special and moving. He lived a great life and was wonderful to Nancy to which we are extremely grateful.

When we told the children of Bronko's death, down in Ft. Myers on the Sunday he passed away, apparently Aislinn was not in the room. A few minutes later while Chris was getting ready to leave, she questioned his leaving to which he replied that he needed to go be with Grandma because Grandpa Bronko passed away. To say that Aislinn cried would be an understatement! She was deeply concerned and saddened. That night and the following several days, she would ask us to pray for Grandpa Bronko, and we did. I know now how much it meant to her to visit with him and to spend time being rolled around in the wheelchair sitting on his lap at Disney.

We'll miss you Grandpa Bronko!

Last day at the beach house

We played on the beach this morning for hours. I was really surprised at how long and well they played. I even called Holly at one point and told her that I had a rough life, having to lay here on the beach and work on my tan while the kids played.

Brennan and Ryan

Brennan, Ryan and Greyson

Lauklan and Aislinn

Bay

Lauklan pouting. I wanted to take his picture and he wouldn't let me, so I took this one.

Around 4:30 this afternoon, I loaded up all the kids, their stuff and myself and we headed towards Lakeland.

We had a full van, as you see. It rained the entire time and I stopped at Cracker Barrel to feed them dinner. I believe we arrived at Grandma's house around 8:30. All in one piece! Whew!