A Night to Remember…

On Saturday 4/25/09, Dave and I celebrated our 17th wedding anniversary.  We decided about 2 years ago, we would start taking turns planning the celebrations every year.  This year, was his turn.  We mutually decided not to go away anywhere this year, with so many vacations planned this year, that was enough.  So the planning began….

I can’t keep a secret from him about what I am doing, but when it’s HIS turn, he doesn’t tell me anything!  It kills me.  I mean, I like surprises, but I like them when I don’t know they’re coming

The morning was taken up by soccer games and swimming lessons, but once we got home, he arranged for his parents to arrive and so begun our afternoon.

He took me for a tour around Orlando…only difference is, it was in the air!  We took a helicopter tour that was so incredible…I will remember it for the rest of my life.  I only wished it was longer.

Then off for some shopping for a while – can’t knock that…until our dinner reservations.  He took me to a place called Roy’s in Metro West.  It was the single most amazing meal (with another one with a friend as a close second) I have had in my life!!!  If you ever get the chance to go there, GO!  We are NOT fancy people (contrary to what my friend Julie thinks) and having someone put a napkin in my lap and go down almost the entire menu and how they cooked each thing (half of which we didn’t understand) was foreign to us.

Anyhow, when I opened my menu, there was a note that said “Happy Anniversary” and a poem.  Employees from the restaurant kept stopping by our table to wish us a H.A…and treated us like royalty.  The best part…the dessert…The Hot Chocolate Soufle.  A chocolate cake/brownie type thing with oozing thick dark chocolate on the inside, on top of a serving of raspberry sauce, and served with a scoop of  vanilla ice cream.  The plate had beautiful flowers decorating it, and in raspberry sauce, they wrote Happy Anniversary in Hawaiian (sp). http://www.roysrestaurant.com/roysclassics.asp

It was a night we will remember forever, and will cherish.  It also opened up a whole new world for me, because had it not been for Dave’s eye disease, I would have NEVER agreed to go up in that helicopter…Now, I am planning our trip to do it over the Grand Canyon!   Maybe Sky Diving will be next…there’s no tellin’!

St. Augustine…

The old jail. They actually kept prisoners in this "bird cage"

Recently, we decided to take a trip to St. Augustine, FL…for a little learning and then a little R&R.

Austin has been learning about the history of FL (and I should say so have I since I learn so much teaching him), so we thought a field trip to FL’s oldest town would be a great place to learn.   We took a trolley tour around the city (man, that got expensive since the first time we visited!…if you ever do this, I suggest finding deals before going)

Austin already knew most of the stories they were telling from reading the books we borrowed from the library, but of course, they make it sound so much more interesting.  The day was followed by dinner at our favorite restaurant (besides for the Spanish bakery) Saltwalter Cowboys.  We spent most of the next day at the beach and just let the kids let loose.    Where Dave had a very nostalgic moment (see Dave’s blog).

I love going to St. Augustine, and never tire of it!  Places to go when you’re there:

The Spanish Bakery, Saltwater Cowboys, Trolley Tour, Horse and Carriage Ride, the Lightner Museum, Costillo de san Marcos (fort), and if you’re really feeling freaky, the ghost tour (w/o kids) is really fun, even if you don’t believe in that sort of thing.  The beach to go to is the Anastasia Island State Park.  Don’t waste your time on: The Fountain of Youth…it’s not worth it!   Wanna look young, go to Walgreens and get some Oil of Olay,  don’t smoke and get too much sun   That advice is free…

Now if someone can tell me how to get skinny w/o eating healthy and excercising!

Am I a Redneck Part II

 

 

 

Last year, I blogged about the experiences I have had since moving to “the country” posing the questions “Am I a redneck?”  Well, I have added to my “redneck wardrobe” – and loving it!  I sport my cow”girl” boots even to church on an occasional Sunday night.  But now…I officially have the hat!  I love it!  What’s next?  Chaps? HA, no, I don’t think I will go that far!

A long time prayer is answered.

You know, I have said it before, it’s very rare you find friends like you had when you were young.  I am still friends with my childhood best friend to this day, but unfortunately we live 100’s of miles apart, so spending time together, really just doesn’t get to happen.

So for many years, I have been praying that God would just send me one great friend.  One who was a Christian, one I could totally be myself around and make me laugh, and one that well, just loved me for who I really am!  Well, he answerd that prayer, not once, but twice over!

Julie and Julia (yes, that is one with an e and one with an a)  are awesome!   We have the best times when we’re together!  They both attend the church that we do, however, we had never really spoken to one another until Dave was diagnosed with his eye condition.  That prompted Julie to call me out of the blue to offer help….and the rest is history.

That is just one of the things I meant in my previous post about Dave’s disease being “a gift”.  It brought me two of the best people I know, and NEEDED in my life!   And it has also brought Dave some much needed friendships.

I wouldn’t choose to have had them brought to us this way, but God knows what He’s doing…and who are we to question Him?

Should he stay or should he go?

My favorite neighbor aka Harley guy…wants to take Dave to Atlanta this year to see a Redskins game.  Nice huh?  Yeah, I think so too, however I don’t like the idea one bit! 

I mean, he’s a nice guy, I love chatting/joking with him, but seriously, don’t think I want Dave traveling with him on any kind of excursion!  I mean, the guy just had a brush with death on his motorcycle…(yes, his fault) and I’m letting Dave in a truck with him for an 8 hour drive?  HA  Let’s not mention the constant talking about hot women he does.  It’s enough pressure getting him to look at me as it is!

I can see it now…Dave coming back with a bandana around his head, trying to figure out how to tell me what they REALLY did there.  I trust my man, it’s the “other man” I don’t trust….not as far as I can throw him.

I guess I will let Dave make his own decision…but we all know the influence I have…hee hee…Sorry, Gary, don’t think it’s gonna happen.   Love ya!

Queen of the castle…

The Queen

Last week, Makenzie got some awful bug.  We THOUGHT it was only a 24 hour thing…but actaully she still has a nasty cough as of today.  When the kids are sick in our home..they get the royal treatment.  They get to sleep and hang out in one of the big chairs/beds in our sitting room in our bedroom.  They love it there, because they can watch TV all day (most days they don’t watch any TV) and they get served all day long in bed.   Makenzie actually tried to convince me the other day she still needed to sleep there since she was still technically sick.  She said “see…I’m still sick (insert cough here)”  I don’t blame her…I would love this royal treatment too

I’ve got a new attitude!

Lately, I have been feeling a bit more grateful than I normally do.  Those of you who know what I’ve been thru in my life, and what I am going thu now, might know why I wasn’t so grateful before.  But I recently heard a quote that would change my whole way of thinking.  it was “The best gifts sometimes come in the ugliest packages“.  I was like “a gift?”  Yeah…look at this whole experience as a “gift”…and it took me hearing this to really get it! 

Be grateful for what you have now…for tomorrow it could be all gone!  Take things that are thrown into your life as something you will grow from and learn from.  I know Dave and I have really learned a lot this year, and only have more to learn, but we are both better for it, and I think that is why we should consider this whole experience “a gift”.

A weekend of firsts III…

Every year I make the call to the strawberry patch in Plant City, to see when they are going to open up their fields for U-Pick.  We found a great place, that allows you to pick all you want, and only charges you $.25 a quart!  But the problem is, their answering machine NEVER tells you when they’re open!  So last year, we thought we had it timed just right..got Suzy and Jerry to meet us up there, and Nope…we’d just missed the season.  This year…no way that was going to happen.  So again, we packed all our finest Tupperware bowls and met the Comellas family out there, and the sign said it was opening for U-Pick in 2 more days…too early!  Man, I just can’t get it right.

So we decided to go and find the local stands that make the homemade strawberry shortcakes everyone but me loves so much…but on the way…Suzy saw a sign and decided to turn the car around and investigate.  We’re so glad she did!  There was a place open for U-pick, AND it was a Hydroponic farm, AND it was organic…BONUS!  We know how I love to get most everything organic!   No early boobies for Makenzie with those pesky pesticides they put in the food now-a-days  

No bending, no dirt…just fun.  We picked 47lbs. of beautiful red berries!  I made LOTS of homemade jam and have lots extra for smoothies which are my normal breakfast with all the fresh fruit I always pick

Here are some pics of our fun day with the Comellas family….oh, and we still had some time for an ice cream cone afterwards

Parke Hydro Farms, Plant City, FL

Kenzi trying to pick just the right one

The gang

pictures…

I don’t know why my pictures come out so stinkin’ huge!  When I post them on here, they cut off some of my shots…sorry, I will try to figure this out soon!   In the mean time, I am not as bad of a photographer as it looks

A weekend of firsts…Part II

After the previous nights outing, I was pretty tired, but needed to be up early.  Today was my first official photo shoot, in a sense.  My friend and her family are heavily involved in horse shows.  Knowing I wanted to take my love for photography to another level, she asked me to come shoot some shots of her pre-teen. 

I was very excited.  I made sure I had all my lenses cleaned and in my camera bag, the batteries fully charged and asked Dave to clear off my CF cards so I can have plenty of room for pictures.  I overslept, but quickly got myself and Makenzie ready to go!  We made it there before the show started (don’t ask me how) and I took out my camera to start shooting away…oh oh…the camera said “No CF card”…Dave forgot to clear them and give them to me!  (it’s NEVER my fault) I had to rush home and grab them and come back.  I was bummed I had missed some things, but still was able to get some good shots.  One of the trainers I know saw me taking pictures and told me to shoot ALL the girls she trains, and if I do this at all the shows, I would be their hired photographer!  I was so excited.  Get paid for what I LOVE to do?  This can’t be real!

I didn’t realize horse shows lasted all day, and had made plans for later with some friends in Tampa, so I didn’t get as many good shots as I had wanted, but I will be ready for the next show in a few weeks!  Here are some of the shots I took.  I hope to improve as I learn all that my camera can offer and Dave finally installs my software so I can mess with colors and stuff…and maybe I can get a better position next time…they had a lot blocked off at this show.