I'm Still Around

Well, I do still exist, but apparently just don't blog much anymore. I'll have to work on that. Now that tax season is over and Jason isn't working at night, I guess I'm hanging out with him and not spending as much time at the computer desk in the evenings!

Here's a little of what has been going on:

• We've been planning trips! Jason and I have a Family Life Marriage Conference coming up (Weekend to Remember). We are going out of town for that. Also, we received a gift certificate for a night at a local B&B so we will be spending a night there soon for our 15th wedding anniversary. In a few months we are planning a family vacation to the Creation Museum and lots of other attractions in the area. So nailing down details for all of that has been fun.
• Foster: He came to us with kennel cough so we have been dealing with that and just adjusting to a new pup in the house.
• Mother's Day! We only got to see Jason's mom very briefly but we had dinner with my mom and dad Saturday night. My sister and her family were there as well.
• School: About 3 more weeks to go. I am still very excited about our plans for next year.
• Betsie: potty training...good days and not so good days. Also, if you've read my blog for a while you know she was a climber and had a crib tent to keep her in. We took that off and lowered her crib rails so that it's sort of like a toddler bed. She is staying put so that is a good thing.

Not sure what else to tell you...we've been watching way too much TV for people who get no channels. Netflix is a good thing. Then there are the swimming lessons we have twice a week and the very cool lake with walking trails we found just a couple of miles from here. So we are enjoying the spring and being together. I am so thankful to have Jason around a little more at this time of year. I hope you are enjoying your spring time too.

Day One at the Beach

This is the view from our condo. It's high tide and as you can see...there is no beach. It has been eroded so if you want to see some sand, you have to go out at low tide. Beautiful view regardless.

After a little swimming, Mary Evelyn found three marsh crabs with the help of Rachel and Dear ole Dad.

Betsie counting seashells...two, two, two, two...

Rachel enjoying the view from the patio

On the Road Again

Yep, another vacation! We are so blessed. We are on our way to the beach as I type. I can't believe I can use the laptop in the car...amazing. We have had a mostly peaceful drive...unless you count the last 10 minutes. We have a book on CD going, little hands are busy with crayons, some other little hands are playing with a cup of ice. Little Betsie should be sleeping but that only lasted for about 20 minutes...you do what you have to do.

Mary Evelyn saw a lizard at the rest stop a few miles back and was a little sad that she couldn't catch him. That girl...I have never seen anyone so crazy about animals. She has big plans for this week!

This vacation was actually planned. I had more than 2 hours to prepare this time. We will be staying with my parents and also visiting some with my brother and his family. We are excited! I have lots of school stuff with me too to get some planning done. We have this week off and then five weeks before we take another break.

Unfortunately I don't think I have what I need to upload pictures from the camera with me. So probably no pictures the next few days. But I'll take plenty and add them when we get home!

A Little About Our Trip

We had a nice time in Pigeon Forge, TN. We arrived late Friday night and stayed until Monday morning. The girls all did great. Jason had reserved a nice cabin so it helped that we could all spread out. We had three bedrooms, just like at home. We spent most of our time at Dollywood. This was our first time there and it was a lot of fun. Betsie could not ride most things but there were water play areas that kept her happy until exhaustion hit her...then it was time to go!

When we weren't at Dollywood we were usually just hanging out in the cabin. Betsie would take a nap and the rest of us would enjoy the game room or the hot tub. I hate to admit it, but we also watched lots of Spongebob too. (We don't get any TV channels at our house so we count that as a vacation activity!)

I have been trying to play with making a slideshow of the vacation on our computer's software but haven't completed it yet. In the meantime, here are a few pictures from our weekend.

Spontaneous Vacation!

What do you do when your husband calls at 5:00 pm and says he wants to go on vacation...tonight? Here is what you do.

1. 1. Try do quiet the chaos that immediately starts in your mind as you think of the 101 things that need to be done before you can get out of the house. You also try to quickly get over the fact that your children will be up very late and the 2 year old will probably cry in the car as you are completely unprepared to keep her amused.


2. Say, "Sure!" And mean it.


3. Go tell the kids and enjoy watching them jump up and down like bouncy balls with sheer excitement.


4. Sit on 7 year old's bed and make your quick packing and to do list simultaneously guiding bigger kids in the packing of their own suitcases. Don't forget books on CD, leapsters, bathing suits, goggles, stuffed animals, and a million other things. Definitely get a few bug jars. Oh yeah, and some clothes.


5. As you are making your list, you remember you forgot to put the last load of clothes in the dryer. This is not good because you NEED some of those clothes.


6. Put a load of clothes in the dryer.


7. Call Mom and tell her you need to come by the house and get your pack-n-play for the 2 year old to sleep in. (Mom and Dad call back in a few minutes and graciously offer to meet us with the pack-n-play so we don't add an hour or more to our drive.)


8. Make arrangements for Rose, the dog. She will vacation at the other grandparents' house for the long weekend.


9. Grab some snacks and drinks and do the best you can with what you have. Which isn't much since grocery store day was going to be tomorrow.


10. Forget about your spaghetti dinner plans! (And think, hey, at least I don't have to cook tonight...we'll eat on the way!)


11. Pack your clothes and 2 year old's clothes. Don't forget Mr. Bear or you'll be in BIG trouble.


12. Stuff it all in the mini van.


13. Grab your cell phone, ipod, camera, Bible and journal, a book to read, some medicines (just in case) and pray you don't forget anything too important.


14. Get in car, get gas, some cash, some supper, and meet parents to get pack-n-play.


15. Drive for three hours to the mountains of Tennessee and thank God for the memories that will be made in the next three days. Pray that 7 year old doesn't find all the animals she hopes to find.


16. Have fun!

I'll post some pictures when we get back!