I know, I know...

My blog posts have become SO infrequent that it is a miracle if anyone is actually still reading! Life is just happening...FAST...right now. I can't say I haven't had TIME to blog, but by the time I think "Hmmm...I should blog." I am exhausted and don't have the stamina to get it done. Sooo...I promised pics from Spring Break Part II--which seems like an eternity ago. I've decided to go ahead and get them up here for this reason...

I was searching some blog archives not long ago where I promised to give an update or a part two or a follow-up post to something I wrote. I never did. And now I have no idea what the update was! So I decided to try and avoid that in the future cause it drove me crazy for a bit!

Spring Break Part II:

Wednesday of Spring Break, LG, DS 4, his friend B, and I headed out to the beach. I have to say that I "like" the beach, but I don't "love" the beach. And it was CHILLY for FL on this day, so it really wasn't high priority for me. Still I thought "I'll take my book out there and read and relax." After all I needed it!

LG and I set up on the beach. Where I figured out rather quickly that I FORGOT MY BOOK!

Sooo....I sat. And sat. And sat. And occasionally helped LG try and find shark's teeth in the water. And then I'd relax some more. For nine hours! It was wonderful doing absolutely nothing! While LG and I enjoyed playing and relaxing on the beach, DS 4 and his friend fished on the pier.
On Thursday, LG and I went to a local park and walked around. This park is gorgeous and filled with amazing foliage. But the highlight for her was "finally" getting to walk through a revolving door! She said, "I've seen one of those on the movie Elf, but I've never been in one!" Sooo...I told her to go through a few more times and I'd take her picture!


Then, it was on to another first for her...pedicures! The salon we chose even had "little girl" chairs. So fun!

The end of the week brought Easter preparations. We had a great block party at church on Saturday before Easter. Then, we celebrated Easter with the family and had a blast! I will try and post more pictures of those two events later on. For now, I'm confident that I've at least provided part two of the Spring Break week. :-) Hope all's well in the blogging world. I'll post again when I can.

Spring Break Reflections

We have officially finished Spring Break. For me it was like the players sliding around the bases during a great run at a baseball game. It had it's moments of pure joy and moments of weariness. But all in all it was a GREAT time!

Instead of picking one destination and going there to spend a few days, we decided to take several day trips. Or maybe I decided to take several day trips and they just humored me.

This adventure started with me taking LG to the fair on the first Saturday--She had a BALL! She rode everything...and I DO mean EVERYTHING! The faster the ride went, the better!
On Monday, DS 3 and LG and I headed out to our local science museum for a little hands-on fun! We followed that up with a trip to the Ringling Museum of Art where they have the work of Norman Rockwell on display. It was a beautiful day and a fun time! My favorite picture from the science museum is this one:


From there we went to the art museum where LG and I took time to pose near the Banyan trees:

And DS 3 took time to make fun of appreciate the art.


Then it was on to bowling where DS 4 showed us how it's done:



I don't think LG "got it"...


On Tuesday, we went to the Florida Air Museum, a Children's Museum, and to feed the swans in Lakeland. DS 3 says this photo, taken at the air museum, looks like a band photo...what do you think?

I thought this was a good "teachable moment"--although I'm not sure DS 4 really "got it":



We went to the Children's Museum for some more fun followed by a visit to Lake Morton in Lakeland. This is only a stone's throw from where DH and I went to college. We used to go out to this lake to feed the ducks/swans back then. It was fun to see the kids enjoy it as much as we used to!

We rounded out this day trip with a visit to a "Roaring 20's Pizza Parlor" near us. This was a throw back to a place we used to visit when I was a kid called "J Burns Pizza". When we walked in, they noticed it was filled with a lot of senior citizens. But, I enjoyed the trip down memory lane and the kids had a great time listening to the giant pipe organ and eating pizza.

This is how we finished Tuesday. I'll give an update on the second half of our break tomorrow.

Mall Blitz Part 2 and Spring Break

The Mall Blitz that I blogged about below did not end on Sunday. My DH called the mall manager yesterday and explained to her what we were trying to do with our kindness outreach. She thought it was so cool. She did explain to DH that they do not allow solicitation from store to store, but that what we were doing was fine.

So, tonight, three of us headed to the mall to deliver the other 151 bags. It was even neater than the initial day. Store managers were blown away that we even made the attempt to come back and finish what we started. The head of security (who we did NOT meet on Sunday) came and met me. He even said, "Make sure you deliver the biggest bag to Leon" (his name). So, guess who's getting bags TOMORROW??? Yep, you guessed it! Security!!

This is our Spring Break, so I'm enjoying some free time this week. We went to Chris Tomlin's concert last Friday. My colleagues and I enjoyed a brunch with a person who used to teach at my school on Monday. DS 2 and DS 3 played a "bowling game" on the radio station today and will be bowling with the guys from Jars of Clay on Thursday. There may be a Disney Day in here.

BUT the biggest part of the week for me is happening on Friday/Saturday. I am going to be meeting up with my three BEST friends and roommates from college. We were all in each other's weddings. We were absolutely best of friends in college. We have seen each other sporadically over the years...but we have not, the four of us, been together in the same room for more than 18 years! I am SO EXCITED!!

Stay posted. It may be a couple of days, but there's more to come!

Wordless Wednesday--Water Fun

Nature Guilt

I admit it, I am guilty. It's Spring Break. DS 4 begged me to go to the beach the other day. Actually, this wasn't the first day in recent history that he asked to go. I put him off a couple of other times in the last three weeks or so. I promised him we'd go over Spring Break. And, Wednesday, I had to keep my promise. I confess as I drove down there, I was gritting my teeth. You see, I dislike the sand. I really don't like the feel of salt water on my body. Other than that, I "love" the beach.

We stayed for almost 2 hours. I read my book and watched DS 4 play in the cold water. He was having a ball. I loved watching him. And as I did, I asked God to help me to appreciate the wonder of this "paradise" in which we live(without exaggeration, many many people DO consider my area a "paradise"). I asked Him to renew my outlook on nature and His creation that surrounds me.

The impetus for my prayers started much earlier in the week as I read Danielle's Blog. She writes of how much she appreciates the Nature Coast (which is just a bit north of me). Again and again she finds such beauty in nature. And she displays the world as she sees it through her photos on her blog. I admit, I was thinking, "How could she love her surroundings so much when she's seen other parts of the country?"

I also found myself at Beckie's this week marveling at how she captures nature in HER photos. She finds beauty in HER world...the place that God has planted her.

And then, there was this morning when I went to the Friday's Feast. It was as if the last question, the DESSERT of all things, hit me right in the face: Where is a place you consider to be very tranquil?

I couldn't lie--especially over the "sweet stuff". I find tranquility in the Mountains. I always have. I dream of living on one someday. It's peaceful to me. I could sit outside ALL DAY on a mountain! It's much different for me, than the beach. I was struck a couple of years ago when my cousin and I were in Gatlinburg and I shared this with her. She said they (the mountains) really didn't do that much for her. I think that's when I realized that we DO all have our own preferences. And, as much as I want everyone to love the moutains with the same passion that I do, it's OK if they don't.

I posted my Friday Feast answer and began surfing blogs. It wasn't long until Hootin'Anni visited MY blog. I went to hers in return (as all good bloggers do) and found that HER most tranquil place is the beach! And she actually mentions that SAND and SALTY air in her post...I can almost picture her smile as she typed it. I found many others who agreed with her.

Then I found myself at Daisy's place where she talks about living in the country in Virginia. And I have to admit, I was a bit GREEN with envy. I hopped from there down to Georgia where Jane admitted that she loved her front porch. And my green eyes grew a bit bigger because she, too, lives in the country in one of my favorite places.

Then, I gingerly clicked over to Melli's place (knowing that she, too, lives in a beautiful place) and HER dessert just about "did me in"...she said, "Tranquility is not a place. Tranquility is a state of mind. And I can find it ANYwhere! But in MOST cases tranquility and solitude go hand in hand! And I am MOST tranquil when I am alone with God." And I almost audibly said, "OUCH!"

So, this afternoon, I took two of my boys, and my camera, to our local state park. I was convinced that I was going to find tranquility...peace...right in my own "backyard". And I was going to document it.

And, while I still find great peace in the mountains, I really DO believe that we live in a beautiful place. I also know that God's fingerprint is all around me. I just have to OPEN MY EYES and SEE it! Just look at some of the beauty we found in our travels:

Here are two gators resting on the shore of the river.

Here is DS 2 at the top of the "Canopy Walk". It's 75 feet in the air...and it was simply nature as far as the eye could see.
Here's DS 3 at the top of the Canopy. He didn't want his photo taken, but I got it anyway. This was taken right after I scolded two teenage girls up there for spitting on the railings (and people) below. That "might" explain the smirk on his face.
Here's a picture once we were back on the ground again.

I admit, I WAS at peace out there as I snapped photo after photo. They aren't the beautiful quality of some of my fellow blogging friends...but they are mine. And, I found myself whispering a prayer as I drove out of the State Park: "Thank you, God, for the beauty that surrounds me each and every day. Help me to recognize that it's YOUR handiwork! And, yes Lord, it's BEAUTIFUL and I felt tranquil there!"

So Many Directions....

My family is a busy bunch! Sometimes it seems we are like spokes of a wheel...we all have a center (our home) but we're all facing somewhere else. I think it's due to the kind of the stage that each of my kids are...and DH's and my life stage. It's our Spring Break and they are all extra busy this week. I haven't updated on each of them in a while, so I want to do that now:

DH is traveling this week. His big long stint is over (where he was out every week for the first three months of the year). Now, it's a week to ten days at a time with time in between. Of course, as he picks up more and more coaching contracts, this could change. By the end of this week, we have committed to set aside time this summer for all of us to get away as well as another block of time for just the two of us. I am so proud of him. He works hard for his family and to help improve the church universal. It's beautiful to watch.

DS 1 has joined a different band. They are recording and have several "gigs" booked. The lead singer (and primary person under contract) is a friend of DS 1's who played with him in our last church extensively. DS 1 continues to grow as a musician and it's fun to see. Today he showed me pictures from their "album photo shoot" and I must say, I was blown away at just how professional the pics were. I'll try and post one here later. The music that's inside of him is pretty amazing...he's starting to pick up piano in addition to his guitar.

DS 2 is busy being a beach bum this week. He has helped me get DS 4 to soccer camp for the first two days while I was away. He is also participating in Spring Break activities at church. He continues to play in the Youth Band there and loves it. His latest "toy" is a "Beat Box". He was excited to get it and take it down there with him.

DS 3 is probably experiencing one of the "coolest" things of all of them. He has started flight lessons with DH. Yes, you read that right. DS 3 has decided that he wants to be a pilot. He and DH started officially last week and both LOVED their time in the sky. Now, as the Mother (and not so great a flier), I am a nervous wreck...but you know, I realized that "my" fears should never stop my boys from stretching and trying new things (within reason). It is also neat that he and DH are doing it together. To see DS 3 get passionate about something is exciting. I can't wait to see where this leads.

DS 4 has been participating in soccer camp all week. He goes from 9:00 - 1:00 and is enjoying it. He spent his first two days at Grandma's and now is back home with us. He'll leave on Thursday afternoon to go fishing with my Dad. He is SO EXCITED to go fishing at "The River". If you've read my blog for any length of time, then you know that this is my "one with nature" child.

I am back from my trip. I had a wonderful time just going and doing what we wanted when we wanted. I am refreshed...and ready now for the rest of our Spring Break.

That's all from my neck of the woods!

My Weekend Window

KTover at KT's Bunch had this idea last week to share her weekend on Mondays. Then when I emptied out ds 4's backpack this morning, I noticed they do an activity called: My Weekend Window. So I am merging the two ideas and will be sharing a Weekend Window thanks to KT AND DS 4!

We went to Disney World this weekend. Friday was just DSs 3 and 4 and me at Epcot. It was fun. The only problem is DS 3 is ready for adventurous rides and DS 4 is not. So that left ME stuck in the middle. I could not go on the things I wanted and leave DS 4 alone to wait...SO I waited with him.

We left around 5:00 and met my cousin Lynn and her family at the resort. It was a really nice place to stay and the kids had great fun swimming in the pools. Friday night was when we met Fabio (see yesterday's post).

Saturday we went to the Magic Kingdom. Now no one does Disney like Lynn's DH! He has it all figured out. He has timed the fast pass lines, the most popular rides and their location in the park and goes turbo to get through them all. In fact, he commented to me that he can be pretty much "done" by 11:30 when the crowds are the worst. And he's right. So, we sent the adventure crew: my DS 3 and Lynn's DD1 and DS off with her DH to conquer the Kingdom.

Lynn and I set out with my DS 4 and her DD 2. They are very close in age and very similar in their likes (and dislikes) in the ride world.

I must confess here that my FAVORITE ride (currently) at Disney is Buzz Lightyear. I suppose it is my competitive nature...but I find it really fun. So, I was thrilled when our two charges announced they'd like to start in Tomorrowland...the home of Buzz Lightyear.

I was certain they would say they wanted to start there too. But, NOOOO, they BOTH decided they wanted to start with the Wedway People Mover. I realize that some of you may not know what it is...suffice it to say it is like taking a slow-moving tram ride through Tomorrow land. It is my favorite thing to do when my feet are tired and I just want to relax a few minutes....it is NOT my favorite thing to do at 9:00am when everyone is racing to be first on the best rides.

Being the mature mother that I am (ahem), I suggested that we do BUZZ and THEN do the People Mover because that way we could walk right on Buzz. My DS and Lynn's DD would hear nothing of it...they WANTED to do the People Mover and THEN Buzz. I could almost feel the crowds closing in behind us....In my plan, we could have gone on Buzz TWO TIMES before the crowds arrived....Knowing that this trip was for the kids, I reluctantly put our tickets into the Fast Pass line for Buzz Lightyear and proceeded to the ramp for the People Mover. I think I even muttered something about the two "thrillseekers" in our midst. There was NO ONE else on this ride. We were it. I am sure the ride operators had a good little chuckle over the two young kids and their mothers who skipped the other rides to go on THAT! ;-)

And so it was, the two 7-year-olds...pretty much handled the rest of the day in the Magic Kingdom in much the same fashion. As we walked with them, listened to them navigate, and helped them check off the items on their agendas, I had two thoughts....

1. Their "favorite things" don't have to be MY favorite thing. (Oops, could I be losing a bit of that control freak in me?)

and

2. Although they bill it as a place for kids, I am changing my thinking on that. You see, I decided this weekend that I wanted to do DISNEY MY WAY someday...as a grown-up who is really a kid inside...maybe even ALONE! Thrill rides, fast passes, long lines and all....(OK so maybe the control freak didn't go anywhere.)

I realize though that true purpose of it all is to enjoy time with family and get away from the real world for a while. And since that is the primary purpose, in the words of Buzz Lightyear, I must say, "Mission accomplished!"

Who's FABIO??

My cousin, Lynn, and her family have been in Florida for Spring Break. DSs 3 and 4 and I went over to Orlando to join them for a little Disney fun. I have a couple of blogs about this, but HAD to start with this story:

On Friday night we went over to Downtown Disney. Lynn's oldest daughter wanted to eat at the Rainforest Cafe. Now I have eaten there several times (and tried to eat there MORE than I have actually gone in). You see, if you've never been there, the lines are horrific. They are often two or more hours wait....and people do it. So, Lynn's dh went to put our names in when we arrived at 7:00pm. In my head, I am thinking: "There's NO way we are going to get a seat before 9:30 or 10:00." And I told Lynn that we would eat somewhere else if that would reduce the wait-time.

SOOO....

Lynn's dh comes back and confirms what I thought...he told us that we could sit down around 9:35. It seemed like these words were no more out of his mouth when a man wearing a Rainforest Cafe uniform appeared in the darkness. He said, "How long did they tell you?" So we told him, 9:35. He said, "Oh, that's awful. How many of you in your party?" We said "eight". I think at one point we asked him if he could make the magic happen. He paused and said, "Wait right here, I am going to go see if I can get you a table. My name's Fabio." Quite frankly, I was wondering where the heck he came from and why us.

Well, Fabio came back and said, "I've got your table ready...go wait over by the TV inside. The only deal is, if you are asked how long you waited, you need to say a couple of hours." We dutifully rounded everyone up and went over by the TV.

I pictured the Rainforest Cafe workers staring at us through the TV where we were standing and saying, "Ha, ha we have some live ones here! They actually believe we are going to give them a table two hours BEFORE we told them and with all these other customers standing around."

That didn't happen. Fabio returned and escorted us to our table for eight. He took our two hour wait ticket and told us to enjoy our meal. I never saw him again.

I don't get it. We were wondering if he is paid to find people with young children and "squeeze" them in....

Whatever it was, it was a blessing. We were fed and out the door BEFORE 9:35!

Spring Break---HALF WAY

I can't believe that Spring Break is half over! So far, it's been VERY busy. My cousin Lynn and her family came in on Friday night and my brother Dan was in town. We went to Tampa (everyone except DS 1 who was on the red-eye flight back from LA) and visited there. DSs 2, 3, and 4 and I spent the night there so we could go to DS 2's soccer game on Saturday. I am always amazed at how my kids and my cousin's kids get along...it's as if they are neighbors and see each other all the time. They really do seem to enjoy spending time together.

The game was great. It is a tournament that has been going on for about four weeks, this was the second-to-the-last game...and they won 2 - 0. DS 2 had quite the fan base: His Proud Mother, 2 Grandma's, 2 Uncles, 2 First Cousins, 2 Brothers, 2 Second Cousins, and 3 Third Cousins (I guess you keep numbering them that way). It was fun.

On Sunday, DS 3 and I left for Georgia where I had two days of training for teachers. He was a great help at the workshops...although he may have been a bit bored at times. I think it gave him a glimpse of what his mother does when she is away training teachers. We stayed in Cherokee County and in Hall County...both north of Atlanta...and so close to the North Georgia Mountains...that we decided to go there last night. We went Gold MIning in a small quaint town called Dahlonega. It is a GREAT little place. We had a lot of fun just spending time together.

Today, Wednesday, we are going to go back to Florida...for the rest of our Spring Break...and I am ready. I miss my dh and my other dss.

The end of the week will be DISNEY! We are going to meet my cousin and her family and go over there for a few days. It should be fun.

Why is it that these weeks when we really don't have much in the way of responsibilities fly by? I think I am learning to savor and enjoy each moment...they are precious. I am grateful that I have the ability to do so much and especially that I have a great family with whom I can share all of it!

Happy SPRING everyone!!