Monday, June 29, 2009

Weekly Update

After a week at the beach with the Trueloves, we're all back home and real life has returned. Actually, it's returned for most of us, but there are some changes in store for Walt. This morning we've started a little potty training. I read Mckmamas potty training tips this morning and she suggested not putting any bottoms on them at all but considering I have 4 other kids here I can't watch him close enough to make sure he doesn't go on the floor in his room and I never know. For that reason, he's wearing training underwear so I'll know if he's gone. So far nothing. We'll see how things go. I feel like this might be the very beginning of a long process.


*Update: While I was typing this I heard the girls screaming and went in to find he went in the toy room. I have the timer set for 20 minutes at which time we'll sit on the potty again. Oh what a day this is going to be.

In other news, I'm a litte too young to be a die hard Michael Jackson fan but I love celeb gossip so I've been stuck on TMZ all week. Mom and I were talking yesterday about how our society hurts celebrities by putting them in a fish bowl (and I'm guilty of playing into every bit of it.) MJ started so young and was famous his whole life to the point that he couldn't have been normal if he had wanted to. It's a shame that being a person of noticed talent can result in such a sad and tragic life and even sadder that there are three kids left behind.

I can't believe that July 4 is this weekend. Our family from Abilene is coming in and we're having a gathering at my uncles house. I'm looking forward to a laid back weekend with them. I would love to go to the fireworks in Shreveport. The traffic is crazy I'm sure so I don't know if we'll attempt it but I think it would be tons of fun.

Last but not least, can you believe whos birthday was on Friday?
Happy Birthday Kristen! I thought of you out on the beach. I love you! Have a great year!






Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Summer Lovin

I'm an awful blogger. It's been over a week now and I haven't finished talking about Jamaica and haven't blogged about anything else either. In case you can't tell, I'm not worried. I did post all of the Jamaica pics on facebook yesterday and you can go see them here if you wish.

Work is in full swing and we're getting our summer routine down. We're able to get a lot more time in at the pool this year because Walt is so much more independent. Last year we didn't take him at all and could only go when there was someone else to watch him. The girls have had some friends join the country club this year so they almost always have somebody to play with.

Bible school is this week and is going really well. I'm teaching second grade and all together there's about 20 kids that we split up into two groups so I've had around 10 all three nights. The theme is Boomerang Express, this Australian train thing. I was a little skeptical about it at first because it is definitely different from any of the themes we've had before but it's turned out pretty cute. I've been praying all week that the Lord would help me as I get worn down and unmotivated and every night when we the kids get there and we get started I'm always glad I'm there.

I'm starting to get as excited as the kids about going to the beach Saturday. A few months ago the Trueloves asked me if I would want to go on their family (Kurt's family, parents, brother and his family) beach trip. I don't turn down a trip to the beach even if there is some babysitting involved. I would be babysitting at home so why not babysit at the beach? Seven whole days of sun. Gotta love it. I know my dermatologist will in about 10 years.

Have a great rest of the week!

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Jamaica Post #1

It's a quiet morning around here so I thought I would do a quick Jamaica post.

We got there on Monday afternoon and didn't do much but ride to the resort, ate a lot because we were starving and then went to the beach.

On the way to the resort

The views from the balcony of our room

The pool at sunset


Tuesday we stayed by the pool except for when we walked down to the local craft market right down the beach from the resort. We expected everything to be really cheap but even after you talked them down it wasn't much different than the upscale shopping we did later in the week. Not to mention the pressure they put on you to look at their goods. It was ok to visit once but we had no desire to go back. I didn't take any pictures down there. You're not missing out on much.

Later that afternoon we went snorkeling on this boat.
It was the three of us and two boys about Lydia's age plus the guide. We got to see the coral and a lot of cool fish. It was all fine and pretty until Lydia and I got sick. The water was way rough and did not mix with our motion sickness issues. I wasn't feeling so great but didn't say anything because Lydia tends to make fun of me when little things make me sick. It was only a few minutes later she looked up at me and said "I think I'm going to be sick." At that point I looked up and realized we were a long way from the boat and still had one more reef to stop at before swimming back. Lydia ended up throwing up over the side of the boat when we got back to it and I just felt nasty for a while. After we took a nap we ordered some room service we felt much better. The guide took Mom's underwater camera while we were out there and took a lot of pictures. I'll be excited to see how they turned out because it was beautiful on the reef.

We had late dinner reservations that night at the little steak house on the resort. I ordered the pork chop and it was delish! Mom and Lydia both had steak which looked good too. We spent the rest of the evening reading in bed and watching tv.

I'll post more later but at least this got me started. Wednesday we went to Dolphin Cove and Dunns River Falls and that is a big post in itself so I'll get to that soon.

I'm watching the Roth kids this morning while Marcy is at an appointment and I think a trip to the pool is in order for this afternoon when she gets home. I also need to go by the real estate agent office and attempt to try to find my roomies and I a house. My hope was that they would find something while I was out of town last week and I would come home to a done deal. No such luck. Now it's my turn to work on it for a while. I know we'll find something, the looking is just so much work. I am excited to see what we come up with. Anyway, have a great day!

Sunday, June 7, 2009

We're Home!

After a great relaxing week, we got home to Elysian Fields last night at about 11:00. We had a wonderful time! We swam with dolphins and sting rays, climbed Dunns River Falls, snorkeled, saw some pretty scenery and relaxed by the pool a lot. I'm so glad we were able to go! We had a wonderful time!

I'm uploading pics as I write this and will be posting them in the coming days. I would love to sit here for the rest of the day and relive our trip for you but a family event at the church where my grandpa grew up and Miss Caroline's 9 year old birthday party are on the agenda for the day and I want to do the pictures and stories justice when I do post them all. Here's a quick preview to get you excited to see the rest.