Castaway Cay

Port Adventure #1.  After 2 full days on the boat, we were all excited for our first excursion.  We got in our beach fix at Disney's private island - Castaway Cay.  There was no mistaken that Disney owned the island - signs of Mickey and friends everywhere.
A few good (or bad) memories happened when my parents forgot their bike rental tickets.  My dad decided to go back to the ship and get them before coming back.  He went barefoot across the hot concrete.  I guess the idea of putting his shoes and socks on seemed to be to much effort at the time.  He  would regret this later when he had huge blisters on each foot.  This is when his wise advice for future Disney cruisers came in to play - " I would recommend that someone coming on a Disney Cruise pack flip flops for the beach."  We thought when you were going to the beach that was a given but it gave us some good laughs.  Sadly Disney World was the next day - which is a whole lot of walking.  He double socked it and was great.
It really was a great day, perfectly relaxing.  The food on the island was also my favorite lunch of the trip.  It was a good ole cookout and delicious!! They even had this fruit stand where you were served fresh fruit that the nice worker peeled and prepared for you.  Heaven.
-and we're off the boat......

 Family Picture

 Mason + Beach = Love

 Outlook tower.  Mason and me missed the memo about removing our safety helmets.

 Bike riding on the island.

 Speaking of safety helmets, the girls helmets don't look like they'd do them much good if they were to crash.  Luckily nobody did.

 Big guy on a little bike.

 My super husband/super tourist headed back to the boat.  We were literally the last people to board.  It was a little too close for our comfort.  We were the last ones on.  When the last one of us swiped our card, the crew said that everyone was accounted for and closed the door behind us.  However, Castaway Cay wouldn't have been a terrible place to be stranded.

Here a Jam There a Jam

One sad day we ran out of frozen jam.  Then we tried store bought, then our jam eating was reduced to almost nothing.  Then I was at Costco and loaded up on berries.  Before they would go bad I would have to squeeze in jam making time.  Rozlyn was my helper and photographer.  We did it all in a 1.5hours of work while Charlotte was at Young Womens.

We made 14 containers, not quite enough to last a year so there will be another round of jam making when the raspberries go on sale.  (Maybe when the raspberries go on sale I'll have my Vitamix so that max 1 cup capacity machine can be retired.)

p.s. this collage also is a nice documentation of my freakishly large arm veins - which doesn't warrant it's own post.........but now my posterity knows.

Mother's Day Early

Look what I finally put in my cart.  I've been dreaming of this day for years - literally.  Every time I've gone to Costco and seem the demo this little box has stared at me, teasing me and sending me home sad that I left it in the store.   Not any more.  It was a quick text to Chris with the picture - don't' worry about Mother's Day this year.  I've got you covered. 

It's sitting in the top of my closet until it's big reveal May 12, 2013.  I have serious amounts of self discipline.  Here's to an open invitation of smoothies at my house and hoping that it lives up to my expectations.

Camp Roz

Do you know what makes a birthday extra fun for a 10 year old??  A field trip on the same day!  I got to chaperone Rozzie's grade to their ASI field trip.  Of course the birthday headband came out.  It's gotten a lot of use since it was created.  I think it now says Happy  B A or something like that after some wear and tear.  

 Birthday lunch at the school. Rozlyn's request - Wendy's kids meal with a bacon cheeseburger.

 The 10 year old party.  Come on and come all to Camp Rozlyn.
 More signage.

 Some fish and twigs and flames for the camping ambiance.

 Party favors.  Rozlyn and Charlotte made these with me.  I love having helpful girls.  I forgot to pass them out.  Luckily one of Roz's sweet friends that was leaving empty handed said "Weren't there any party favors?"  Her mom was embarrassed.  This mom was thankful!

 Camp counselor Chris showing the ways of getting the perfect dog.

 Campfire games.

 This was a makeshift tent.  Chris and I must be good scouts because it turned out pretty good with the perfect view of the TV to watch the Parent Trap of course.

 Campfire Cake.  The easiest b-day cake yet.  Everyone should have a camp party just so they can work this cake in.

 Roz and her twin Ashlynn who gave her a matching shirt and matching glasses.

 The sign in table.  Peace*Love*Camp

Island Park

The High School Gang and I met up for a girls weekend.  I hadn't spend quality time with these gals for 16 years since graduating.  After getting married, kids, moving far away it makes it tricky for a get together longer then lunch or dinner.  We headed for a weekend of relaxation and reuniting at Brooke's family Cabin.  Here I am in the very foreign experience of snow, in April:-)

 We were wilderness survivors.  We had shopped the night before and forgot the food the IF.  We did have cookie dough and artichoke dip to sustain life and Brooke whipped up some Swedish pancakes.  Everyone needs a good friend like Brooke that will cook while the rest of the lazy crew sits around.  I owe her a meal.  We also endured a night of no heat - because a pilot light had burned out.  See, no food plus no heat (remember the freezing temps) = wilderness survivors.

 Girls trip essential - matching polish.

 Who needs makeup when you're trapped in a cabin with bff's?

 .........and then one sad morning it was time for it to end and we decide it would be best if we showered and put on makeup.

 Photo remake #1

 Photo remake #2

 Somehow over the years my eyes have gotten really squinty - or maybe it was the sun.

 Big as yo face pancakes and burritos on the way home at this hole in the wall in Driggs.

 Why do I live so far away from this girl?

 Me and Shanan - my first friend.  Literally.  She moved to IF in 3rd grade and our friendship was instant.  Better yet - lasting.

 There are so many things I love about us.  There is so much to talk about and catch up on with 5 girls.  The weekend was the best kind of therapy in so many ways.  I'm so lucky that through husbands and kids and different states and careers we still  connect so well and have so much in common.  Love. Love. Love.

Sister's Night Out

Since my awesome sister always journeys to the great state of TX, I made a quick stop in Jackson Hole and met up with her out west.  It was full of fun and food and crafts and laughs.  Plus, no kids!

I got an awesome price on a ticket - and now I know why.  Jackson Hole shuts down for about a month each year, between ski season and summer.  That's when I happened to be there.  So all the research of all the best things to do was for not.  Everything was closed.  We still managed to find some secret good eats.  For example, the pizza below.

 Our very cute cabin beds.  The even do a tuck down service at night and put on some relaxing music.  Improved service from what I get around I'd say.

 Wild Wild West.

 We stayed at the Wort Hotel, it's on the Historic Hotels registry or something fancy like that.  We got some table side smore's one night.  Delish!

 and I dined with sweet buffalo looking over me.

One night was not nearly enough, but it's a hold over until our schedules give us more time.  I'm so happy to have a sister to hang out with that I love to be with.  Every girl needs a sister.  Especially the kind that still like you even though you were a pain in the rear growing up.

April Fools Day

I love a good April Fool's Day.  I woke up Monday morning fresh off my trip to Salt Lake with Charlotte.  After breakfast and getting the kids on their way, they looked at me and said "Mom, you didn't do any April Fool jokes to us."  They were disappointed and so was I - how could I be so off my game??  I had the school day to come up with a plan that would redeem myself.  Then the lightbulb went off!!!!
-I had to drop off my minivan to get repaired.  The kids didn't know about this.  I'd be picking them up from school in a rental, the kids didn't know about this!  I rounded up some medical accessories and the plan was born, I got in an accident and was hurt. This would mean pampering for me, more help cleaning, happy agreeable kids who felt sorry for me, the possibilities were endless at least for one day.
The kids fell for it - even though they kept on asking if this was an April Fool's Day joke - I somehow could manage to avoid answering their question.  The joke was over - I bolted out in some fancy moves of jumping and spinning, which was really difficult in the boot.  Mason started to cry and was so upset -  He told me that he was excited that I broke my leg because of the attention we were going to get.  He wasn't April Fooling either.  Who's son is happy when their mom is hurt and disappointed when they aren't?  Mine.
This joke stretched far and wide.  When my friend asked who was in for basketball the following day I just replied with this picture.  I also sent it to some family and my parents.  The joke couldn't last long because if you know my parents you'd know that they would instantly book tickets to fly out and help.

 For one more joke we had the missionaries over that night and had some "brown - E's" for dessert.  Even missionaries need a good joke.  The real things quickly followed.

Stand Ye in Holy Places

.....and with one of your favorite people = double happiness.
A tradition is born.  Chris and I decided we're going to take our kids on a 12 year old trip to Salt Lake City.  It follows the pattern of the tradition I grew up with, an 8 year old trip to SLC, we just missed the boat by a few years.

 My traveling companion and I.  She didn't cry, pout, need to be carried or spill her drink so it was perfect. I even read my own book on the plane.  Whoa.

 First stop was to the Lyon and Healy Harp store.  We were excited to see all the Harps and pick out some fun music to take home with us.  There's only two Lyon and Healy's, one in Chicago and one in SLC.  Sadly for us, this sign was taped to the door, rude!  They just decided to close shop for a random spring break day.  Scratch that awesome plan.

 We did all the temple square stuff which was great.  We toured the Beehive House, and watched the Joesph Smith movie which was amazing!!  Here is Char at the Lion House where the YW organization was created.

 We ate at our favorite place and did not count any calories.  We love the Lion House Pantry.  If I had food that good every day, I'd be huge.  I don't think I could resist.

Here we are at the Conference Center.  It was both of our first times there.  I had to wait 23 years longer then Charlotte did to be in the presence of the prophet of our church.  The reverence and spirit were so strong.  An experience I won't forget and look forward to doing again.

 Celebrating all things YW - even the decorations.

 The YW and their moms have taken over downtown SLC.  This heavy flow of traffic lasted a good 20 minutes.

 Stand Ye In Holy Places.  I'm framing this picture below - even in all of it's iPhone graininess because I love it so much.

I'm so thankful for the inspired Young Women's program built into the church that Charlotte now gets to experience each and every Sunday and Wednesday.  It's plain goodness through and through!!!