My New "Office"

Or perhaps I should title this, "Rosie's New Cottage." :)



Last night, Scott put together my computer armoire and I am so excited about it. Trivial though it may seem, the computer armoire (and the increase in storage that it affords) is bringing such happiness to me right now. :)

We have been using a computer desk that we inherited several years ago. While I was very thankful for it...that desk was free, after all :) ...it wasn't the best "looker" and had very little storage. Plus, it didn't hide anything. Our desk is plopped right in plain sight on our first floor. With the limited space in this house, functional storage is absolutely essential.

This photo of our old desk is very deceiving as it was snapped after I had cleared out almost all of the junk. :) So it didn't look this clean on a daily basis.

But now I have this... (pardon the dollie stroller)...

I don't have everything set up yet, just the way I want it, but it holds all of my stuff. And hopefully I will keep the doors CLOSED and keep myself off of the computer more often. One can dream and rationalize, anyway. :)

Wait! What is that peeking out of the keyboard tray? How did THAT get in there?

It's a conspiracy. I have no choice but to succumb once a day. :)

Don't Forget...

...to sign your child(ren) up for Book It! for next school year. The postcard that I received said that the deadline to enroll is June 13, 2008 (although I enrolled much later than that last year). Enroll here.

I can't believe I am going to have TWO Book It! enrollees this year. Yikes!

Lily finished up her Book It! goals for this year. It's the "fulfilling" of the certificates that we are behind on. Scott loves problems like that. :)

Lost in the 5th Dimension

That's where my van's registration card is.

We found a new (and close!) mechanic to inspect our van. (I've come to detest the whole registration/inspection/emissions aspect of owning a vehicle.) We were supposed to drop the van off last night and have it back following inspection today. I (foolishly, I might add) thought that this might just be the most painless inspection that we have partaken in, given the fact that the new guy is a mere 3 blocks away. (Carseats and three children complicate the drop-off/pick-up procedure.)

Silly me.

We came home from church late last night, following teaching Jr Church and practicing for special music. And we couldn't find the registration card that JUST came in the mail. We both signed it. But somehow the crazy thing got lost in between the pen and the glovebox. The house was literally turned upside down. (Losing things is one of my pet peeves, you may recall.) We finally gave it up for gone after midnight...the kitchen, in particular was in shambles. But at least we spent some time going through Scott's books and paperwork and cleaning that area out. Good did come out of it. :)

Turns out...a new registration card was to be had. After loading the kids up and heading into town (again...we just ran into that section of town yesterday to the science center), a cool $18.50 later, and a brand-new (again) registration card was in hand. The van was at the shop by 11:00am and we had a refreshing walk home.

Ahh. The joys of car-ownership.

To-Die-For Cake

I made this cake for my dad for his birthday, and was reminded of how absolutely wonderful it was, so I thought I would share the recipe. I got the recipe from my aunt a few years ago, and it has become a favorite since then. Plus, there is no mixer involved, so it's basically a quick and easy recipe. And I am already HUN-GRY just reading the ingredients. :)


Here is a photo, albeit not a good one. I quickly snapped this picture while my sister and I were trying (unsuccessfully) to serve the cake before the natives got too restless. :)





Crunchy Top Cocoa Cake

3 C flour
2 C sugar
1/2 C cocoa - I used extra dark cocoa :)
2 t baking soda
1 t salt
2 C water
3/4 C oil
2 T white vinegar
2 t vanilla

Topping:
1/2 C butter, melted
1 C light brown sugar
1 C coarsely chopped nuts (I use pecans or walnuts)
1 C coconut
1/2 C light cream or evaporated milk

Heat oven to 350. Grease a 9x13 pan. Stir together flour, sugar, cocoa, soda, and salt. Add water, oil, vinegar, and vanilla. Beat with a spoon or whisk until batter is smooth and well-blended. Pour into pan. Bake 35-40 minutes until pick in center comes out clean. Prepare topping by mixing ingredients together, while cake is baking. Spread on warm cake. Broil about 4 inches from heat for 3 minutes or until bubbly and golden brown. It is very important that you do NOT step away from the oven during this time and forget the cake. Learn from my mistakes. :)

Enjoy! (and save a piece for me)

My Little Seamstress-in-Training

Lily is learning to sew and LOVING every second of it! Of course, it has been my mom (not me, bad mommy!) who has been doing most of these projects with her. Here is a little felt purse she made while at my parents' house last week. She was so proud of it and carried it on Easter morning! My baby is becoming so grown-up. :)

Easter Sunday

Whirlwind Week

This week has been packed full of activities. We no sooner finished celebrating St. Patrick (the Baptist!) on Monday with our little shamrocks that illustrate the Godhead and making some Irish food, but then our anniversary snuck up on us as well as the first day of spring, and now Easter! Lily helped me make several little loaves of Irish Soda Bread on Monday and on Tuesday morning before we left for Storytime at the library, she said, "Why don't we take a loaf to Miss Barb? We could give her a tract too!" Our kids are such good, little witnesses! And they keep ME on my toes.



Today I went shoe shopping (for my girls...not me, boo-hoo!) Don't you wish you wore a toddler size 5?






Even though I was the only girl in the house to NOT get a new pair of shoes, I did get a cheerful, new doormat for my mudroom ($5.70...Kohl's was have GREAT sales!) ...





...and another one for in front of my sink.




We are using our Resurrection Eggs again this year to remind our children of Christ's resurrection. We bought them last year (from the world's best bookstore, of course!) and they were so much fun, that I bought this corresponding book, Benjamin's Box, to read along with them this year. (I love a good literature-based activity! It looks like there is a newer version of the book now.) Using things like this are not necessary in addition to the Scriptural account, but the kids really like them and I think they remember the different aspects of the story better.


Scott painted eggs with Lily yesterday and they are back at it again right now, this time with Joey. Isn't he a great Daddy?!



(There's my new kitchen clock. Kohl's Early Shopper sale strikes again. Oops!)




And maybe, just maybe, if I am as good of a mom as my hubs is a dad, tonight we will make the Easter cookies that I have been planning to make with them every year for the last few, and haven't. :)


I LOVE Easter, and I'm so excited for tomorrow! Easter is one of my favorite holidays because as a Christian, it is the most triumphant! I think Job's words in Job 19:25 are my favorite "Easter verse" where he said, "For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:" (And the corresponding hymn has been running through my head since we sang it at the Lord's Supper earlier this week!) What an amazing promise! My Redeemer lives! Many religious "leaders" are in a grave somewhere, but Jesus is alive! And the other awesome truth nestled in that verse is that He is MY Redeemer, personally. He knows me, loves me, and only does what is good for me. And one day, I am going to see Him again. Hallelujah! Happy Easter to you and yours!!

Happy Spring and Happy Anniversary to us!

Yesterday, my darling and I celebrated nine years of wedded bliss! This is where he would tease me with the joke his mom told every year on their anniversary, "It's been seven wonderful years! Nine years altogether, but seven wonderful years." :) So we remember her by it every year. :)

We had a great day together. My moms watched our kids (we are so blessed to have them nearby) and we saw Daniel at Sight & Sound Theatres. And then we did a little outlet shopping afterwards. Or rather, I did some outlet shopping. Scott mainly sat in the van, chauffered me from place-to-place, read his Bible, and napped. So as you can see, we both did some of our favorite things on our anniversary! We finished the day off with dinner and a stop at my favorite "homeschool" store on the way home. It was a lovely, sunny, blustery day! And accordingly, it was the first day of spring. Happy Spring!

By Popular Demand- Sheet Folding Instructions

I am SO glad to know that I am not the only one who has had crumpled wads of linens in their closets all these years. :) You girls are the best!

Here are the instructions to fitted-sheet-bliss (or something like that):

1. Start with the sheet inside out. Put one hand in each of two adjacent corners running the width off the sheet, with hands palm up and the seams running along the length of your hand.



2. Bring your right palm over your left (like you are clapping your right hand to your upturned left hand) and fold the right-hand corner over the left, carefully lining up the seams of the sheet. The right-hand corner should now be right side out. Next, reach down, and grap the corner that is adjacent to the one that was in your right hand, and fold it over the other two(clapping together), again lining up the seams. (This is the part where you think, "This is NOT working!") This third corner will be inside out. Bring the last corner up, and fold it over the others so it is right side out, lining up the seams.



3. The hard part is over. Lay the sheet out, and straighten up the edges.



4. Fold the elastic edges in first, as shown in the photo above. You want to keep the elastic hidden for a neater stack.



5. Fold the sheet until you have a small rectangle.

I had seen a video of it being done somewhere a long time ago, so I had that in the back of my head. But I don't think you want a video of me demonstrating the sheet mastery. :)



Let me know if you try it! I hope these instructions aren't too confusing. It really does work, honest. You can do it!




(Photo taken from Southern Living Storage & Organizing mag)

A Laundry Accomplishment

Perhaps you are going to laugh at what I am about to say, but please bear with me. I just learned to fold a fitted sheet properly! I have spent years doing the best I can with fitted sheets, but somehow I never could get it right. Awhile ago, I saw someone fold a fitted sheet the proper way, and a few days later, I tried it, but forgot a critical step or two, and it didn't work quite right. I was too busy to figure out the proper way, so I just continued folding them the way I always had.

However last week, I came across an article entitled, "Unravel the Mystery of the Fitted Sheet" with step-by-step instructions and I hopped out of bed immediately (Scott thought I was crazy), grabbed a fitted sheet and voila! Mastery!




If your folded sheets sets have been looking this lovely for years, please don't laugh. :) Mine haven't. But I am so happy to have figured it out that I almost long for extra bed linens in the laundry just so that I can fold them. Almost.

A Mighty Fortress is Our God

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side,
The Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.


One thing I will miss about this town when we move away one day is the bells. The bells...my bells... peal a hymn several times a day and you would be amazed at the truths that "ring out" over our little hamlet each and every day! I know I have mentioned them before, but I really do love the bells. In an age (and town) that seems at times very unfriendly to the things of God, the bells are a refreshing reminder of life the way that God intended. A community-wide message or admonition at times to all who are under their sound. Sometimes I wonder if I am the only one in the area who pays attention to the bells and knows the words to the age-old hymns of the faith that are broadcasted from the belltower?

Today as I was loading my kiddies into the minivan at the library (the "home" in which the library is housed is the source of the bells), the clock struck twelve and the words to the above hymn began running through my mind. What an encouragement mid-day, at an often frustrating time of herding children, keeping track of precious art projects from story time, hanging onto little hands in the parking lot, carrying our heavy library bag, and trying to get them home, fed, schooled, napped... that God is my Fortress, never-failing, from age to age the same! How encouraging to be reminded of those truths by my old-friends, the bells.

Taking Tea

Everything about our tea luncheon was elegant and beautiful! I thought I would share some photos of our food for inspiration! It was almost too gorgeous to eat!

Our French Caramel Crème Brulee Tea is steeping underneath it's cozy...



The princess tea cup and saucer...

There were little "Easter" touches everywhere. A pink sugar bunny was a sweet surprise when we opened the sugarbowl!

The "Teddy Bear Tea" was a fun little lunch for any child! We were surprised that the children's plates were "color-coordinated" for the girls and boy. There are a lot of ideas here that would be very easy and inexpensive to reproduce at a tea party at home.

Even the salad dressing looked pretty! I want to try to find a similar recipe to their Creamy Poppyseed Dressing...it was so good!

I had the Artichoke Baked Chicken Casserole last year and it was so good that I came home and searched for some similar recipes to try to copy it. The recipe I tried was fabulous, but not quite the same. So this time, I plied our waitress for the ingredients. She basically knew what went into it, so I think I can mimic it better next time. If it turns out great, maybe I will post the recipe.

Here is my son, just like Cousin Peter from Little House in the Big Woods who crassly bit into his pancake man that Ma made for him on Christmas morning. Joey took no thought for his teddybear but just started chomping into it. I love his maleness. :) He's thinking, like any man, "What Mommy? It's food. It's supposed to be eaten."

The tiny desserts were so yummy and also exquisite!

Since we visited the tea room on Granddaddy's birthday, he got the Victorian Cake for One for dessert.

These petite chocolate cups filled with chocolate mousse have left a lasting impression. :)

For some reason the sight of cake and my son's face in the same photo makes me smile!

My two princesses waiting in the gift shop...

Let's Go Fly a Kite

Now I have that song from Mary Poppins in my head. I think I know all of the words to every verse. Oh dear. What have I done. :)

Anyhow. We flew kites while on vacation. On the beach, at a park, in the evening, in the afternoon...the weather was perfect for it. Come to think of it, the weather was perfect, period. :)

The Hello Kitty kite is featured in every picture. We purchased a few boyish kites, but they didn't fare well. Apparently, even Kitty kites have nine lives. :) She survived being dropped, tangled with other kites, collisions with large poles, entanglement in trees, and being smashed in a suitcase on a plane ride home!

All of this fun can be yours for the low, low price of $1 at your local wallyworld!

Well, the kites can be yours for $1. The blues skies, gorgeous temps, billowy clouds, crashing surf, and precious family memories... those are priceless.

Happy Birthday Pop-pop!

We love you a WHOLE bunch!!

:)

The Beach

Aaaaah, the beach. I could end this post right here with just this one photo, and I would be happy! What a gorgeous sight. :)

The Lord blessed our afternoon at the beach. Lily prayed for a close parking space, and Daddy prayed for an empty beach, and the Lord blessed with both!

We found a coconut on the beach (Quick! Turn it into a homeschool science "lesson"!)...

...and we did our fair share of digging in the sand...

One could say that Grace might have been a little excited about the waves crashing on her feet...

Maybe she was grinning from ear-to-ear the entire time...

...and she may or may not have shrieked and squealed as each wave approached her little piggies. :)

Here is my man-child, mid-jump...

And here is my handsome Man silhouetted by the choppy surf...

Originally we were just going to "put our feet in." But you can see how long that lasted.

"Come'on waves! Right here...we're waiting for you!"

Lily was a little more refined and dainty and chose not to get entirely wet. But not my little princess...

She got coated in sand and salt water! As the Lord would have it, Granddaddy had a migraine and opted to stay home during the beach excursion and was planning to come down to the beach to meet us for dinner. So we were able to call him to bring some dry clothing. Praise the Lord for the littlest details. And praise the Lord for His beautiful creation that we are able to enjoy!

Bygone Headware

One of Lily's and my favorite Florida activities was having lunch at this sweet tea parlor! We discovered it last February (here and here), and Lily has been talking about it all year long. So Granddaddy said that we must go back.



I plan to post some of my other photos from the tea room at a later time, but this post is dedicated to the element that puts the crowning touch on the luncheon...the hats!

So happy to be in "little girl heaven." :)

Gracie was not into playing dress-up this year. Though she does look darling in this Mary Poppins number.

There was a selection of men's hats this year (!), and here is my little chap wearing a top heat and pretending not to enjoy the attention. :)

Is that Dick Tracy?? No wait! It's Granddaddy! (He was such a ham.)

Granddaddy twisted Scott's arm to try on a driver. And here he is looking handsome in it, though rather reluctant. :)

You've already seen me wearing a big, pink hat...

Here is my little jockey being silly! (I purposely dressed him in camo shirt for this decidedly girlie event.)

"Would you just take the picture!"

Posing more with the doll, than with the hat.

Berry Love

Did you know that strawberries are already in-season in Florida and were being sold in the grocery store for $3.74 for a two (TWO!) lb package?! We inhaled them while we were there and this particular evening, Lily got to make a "berry salad" all by herself, which we had with some ice cream. It was heavenly!

And by-and-by, we will enjoy such delights here in Pennsylvania, too. :)

The Vacation List (or Play-by-Play)

This blog has become a journal for me and I am going to jot down my vacation highlights here. I am warning you...this is going to get long! So please, please feel free to click onto shorter and far more interesting sites, if you don't have the time or interest! These details are for my benefit as a record of my daily reflections. :)

Saturday-
We were blessed to have a direct flight this year...so much nicer than getting back on another flight of equal length! Gracie, who had completely missed her nap by the time we boarded, had a purple-faced, no breathing, full-passing-out episode mid-flight. And Lily, who was just recovering from a bad cold and has very sensitive sinuses just like her Daddy, had trouble with her ears during landing. But other than those moments, we had a great travel day!

Sunday-
We attended the "Florida church" as our kids call it...it's becoming like our second homechurch...we know so many people there! I noticed a tickle in my throat during church, and started popping some mints during the sermon. Afterwards, we got take-out from this awesome Italian place near the house (that we dream about all year long), and by the time we were finishing our lunch, I started to feel badly and laid down for a nap. We got up and got dressed again for church, but I felt so terribly, that Scott talked me into staying home. I think I picked up the same cold that Lily had a few days earlier.

Monday-
I started to feel a little better by mid-day, so we checked out the brand-spanking new Wal*mart that opened very close to Granddaddy's house, and then we had lunch at a little bagel cafe. Granddaddy bought home some of their homemade White Chocolate Macadamia cookies. Bad move. They were a constant temptation until they were gone. I may or may not have had them for breakfast two mornings. Ooops! I had to chant, "No cookies. No cookies. No cookies." every time I passed them. :) We rested the rest of the day and I was feeling much better by the following morning.

Tuesday-
The big excitement of this day (for me anyway!) was a trip to Whole Foods. Oh dear. I got lost in that place for a few hours! Everything was so beautiful and organic! We brought home some fresh and yummy things for dinner. Granddaddy always encourages me to relax and take a break from cooking while I'm on vacation. But I enjoy cooking at his house (well...at least occasionally!) because his kitchen is open to his family room and the main workspace/sink faces the TV. We don't have cable and I don't watch TV at home, so I think it's fun to cook there and catch a little Food Network for inspiration, with my family all around!

Wednesday-
Today we went to an "upscale" mall in Boca Raton just for fun. We had lunch there and did some window shopping. But there were no deals or bargains to be found. Especially not with menfolk and children in tow. :) And we went to the prayer meeting at Faith Baptist in the evening.

Thursday-
This day we went back to Wannado City. We have paid a visit to this place several years in a row, but the kids really like it, so we did it again. Granddaddy woke up with a migraine, or rather, didn't wake up :( so we went without him. I met another homeschooling family there, and it was interesting to talk to the mother about how homeschooling is different in Florida. The kids had fun in the park, and then we did a teensy bit of shopping in Sawgrass Mills, one of the world's largest outlet malls. :) At dinnertime, we ordered ribs from a place that we, strangely, always seem to get take-out from, but never dine-in. I guess we gravitate towards the relaxed enviroment of home more. :)

Friday-
We were very excited to be able to spend Granddaddy's birthday with him this year! I think this is the first time in our marriage that we have been with him on his birthday. We went to a tea room for lunch. Or should I say "luncheon?!" (photos to follow in a later post) After naps we headed to the beach...just to play and "put our feet in the water." (Ha!) And then we had dinner at an open-air restaurant right on the intercoastal. We went there on my first Florida vacation nine years ago, and their coconut shrimp is still wonderful! Joey was turned around, gawking at the boats parked right behind our booth, the entire time! Then we came home and had an ice cream cake for Granddaddy's birthday "party" (as the kids called it) and he opened his presents. This was an action-packed day, but so many memories were made!

Saturday-
Everyone slept in and we lazed around the house most of the morning. We did a little window shopping nearby after lunch and headed down the road to a community park. The weather was simply gorgeous! We flew some kites, climbed on the playground and ran around the fields. This day was wonderful and relaxed and the epitome of everything that a great family vacation should be! We threw some steaks and burgers on the grill for dinner and generally "hung out" some more. Or as Granddaddy calls it- "junk time."

Sunday-
We went to church and I started laundry and packing in the afternoon. Oh yes, and I also organized Granddaddy's hurricane supply closet. I couldn't help it. It's only a matter of time before I can't take it anymore and have to organize something. (I had his entire pantry organized within the first day or two.) Bachelors don't keep up with such things. Plus with his house being on the market, those closets have to be cleaned out for prospective home-buyers. :)

Monday-
We packed up and headed home this day. My tender-hearted Lily was the last one out of the van and was all teary as she said good-bye to Granddaddy. :( Our flight home was smooth and home, sweet, home was still a welcome sight, even if we did have to leave Granddaddy and the beautiful weather behind!

Some of the greatest vacation highlights, for the kids, were the most simple ones. Scott took them on a "hike" one morning and they saw different aspects of God's creation that we don't see in Pennsylvania. They came home telling me all about the White Egret (or "Snake-Eating-Bird") and Joey couldn't stop chattering about all of the lizards we saw at different times during the week.

They were especially enthralled by the automatic sliding van door on the rental. Just push a button and voila! the door closes...they all loved playing with that one!

And go figure, they loved the traditional washing machine! When we first got our front-loading washer and dryer, the kids were mesmerized by watching the water and clothes swirl around. And now two years later, they stood in front of a top-loader fascinated by the water and detergent swishing around with their favorite clothing items. :) Kids- always easy to entertain!

Of course we enjoyed the pool daily. Sometimes during the day and sometimes in the calm just before bedtime.

I have some photos to share, but I wanted to jot down our daily highlights before I forget them. We had such a lovely time. I applaud you if you have made it through my long vacation anthology. :) I do hope I have not been the cause of unnecessary eyestrain from looking at the computer screen for so long!

Rest, Refocus, and Energy

Those are the words that characterize this vacation for me. It was so good to get away. On Sunday morning, we sang the song "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus." The last line says, "...and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace." I thought about how that was so true of the last ten days. Sometimes we have to come apart and rest for awhile in order to let the cares of the world melt away. And if we have our eyes turned to Him, we can hear His still, small voice speaking to us in a more powerful way, sometimes, than we do at home in the din of life.



I am blessed to have a godly husband who steers us towards spiritual things, even on vacation. He especially focused on using our more relaxed pace to look for Divine appointments to share the Gospel with others, and the Lord blessed with many open doors! As our vacation wound down, I felt refeshed and ready to return with a new focus, some specific goals, and renewed energy as we re-enter the "real world." (Good things do have to come to an end sometimes!)



I took a ton of photos while we were gone and I can't wait to share them here, as a chronicle or on-line scrapbook of sorts, of our vacation. But have no fear, I won't post ALL of them. :)

I'm home and I have a winner!

But first you are going to have to endure a run-down of my vacation highlights, more aptly entitled, "What I Did On My Winter Vacation" :)

Just kidding on that last part. (But I will be posting that, for my own sake, shortly.)

The winner of my giveaway is....



(drumroll please)




Ellen at Pearls, Curls and Little Girls!!!

Congratulations Ellen! I hope you like your prize! If you haven't visited Ellen's blog, you should scoot on over there when you have some time...it's very sweet and her little girls are adorable!



All of your favorite chocolate suggestions were enlightening. So much so that I decided to try some of them...and they were good! You girls have such great ideas. :)

But I decided to share the love. (So that they wouldn't "stick with me" in a way that would be not so good!) So Ellen's chocolate pot will call come filled with Lindt Dark Chocolate Truffles and Lindt Peanut Butter Truffles! I hope you like them. (Who says Moms can't sit around all day eating bon-bons?!)

Further I discovered a new chocolate "favorite" that I thought I would clue you into (if you haven't tried them already)... Ferrero Rondnoir Dark Chocolates! They are heavenly! Not my everyday staple, but a lovely treat. (Make sure you are in the company of a chocolate-loving friend when you purchase them!)

Anyhow, I had fun with my first giveaway (even though I became ill and then left the state in the middle of it). I wish I had enough prizes to send one to each of you. :) I hope you enjoyed it too, and I'm planning to do it again, so stay tuned!

Bovine-Detector Lights??

There is a motion detector light on the corner of my father-in-law's roof that overlooks the end of the jacuzzi. Tonight while we were in the jacuzzi the light went off and the kids asked me to turn that light back on. Over the noise of the jets I told them that "you have to MOVE in order for it to go back on."

Apparently those jets were a little too loud. I'm sure the neighbors were wondering why my kids were MOOOOO-ing loudly into the night sky!

Secondly, I wanted to say that I love this boy. :)

So much for "just putting our feet in the water"

Went to...

...a darling tea parlor today!








I have so many more photos to share later! Today is Granddaddy's birthday, and we are celebrating all day long. :)


Have a great Friday everyone!


Love,
Abbi (in sunny South Florida!)



PS...I am extending my giveaway until next Tuesday. (Sorry for leaving that hanging!) So go enter, enter, enter! There maybe another treat or two thrown in for added sweetness. :)

Someone is unhappy...

...about being underinflated.

This is a typical icon of our vacations. Scott spends a considerable amount of time blowing up new pool toys. :)

We're Here!

...and enjoying the sunshine! It's amazing how easy it is to "fall" into the Florida lifestyle so quickly. Everything is so easy here. :)

The girls have found their own little "house"...and Joey is busy building an airport in the living room.



I came down with another cold the day after we landed, but thankfully, I am feeling better. My immune system is miniscule, apparently. However, even a cold is more fun in paradise!

We are headed out to the pool now, but here is some evidence that family is in town. :)

Ta-ta!

(Don't forget to enter my giveaway!)