The Floridas on Friday

Caden was eating dinner last night.He looked at his cup and pointed at Ursula.
"She's on The Florida's mom"
"Yes she is buddy, thats Ursula from the Little Mermaid, we saw her in Florida"
"She big and mean, she come out. In another day and another day Gayles gonna take me to see Ursula on the Floridas!!!!"
Well the boy has big dreams. Apparently Gayle is taking him back to Florida on Friday. I hope he's not too disappointed when she doesn't show up!

Chi-Town

What a great time!!!!!

We saw the sites (Via feet and a bus tour)


We had Chicago Dogs by Soldier Field


We ordered some Chicago Style Pizza and stuffed ourselves


We partied like it was 1999


And then we had to say goodbye :-(


Loved Chicago, Love My Girls and can't wait to love on them again!

never enough time....

We usually spend a good chunk of our summer in Crosslake. I've been spending about 1/3 of my summers there for the past 24 years. Its my home.
Summer is not right until I spend a day on Vicky's boat (or in recent years Greggs pontoon) enjoying the sun and the lake.

This year, instead of our usual 3-4 weeks up north, we only got one!
Very sad. But we enjoyed it while we could....and are counting down until next year!

Isn't it GRAND!

I'm just now realizing that I forgot to share pictures from the splendor that is the Grand Canyon!!!

Things to Remember....

When heading out to the mounains, be sure to take your rescue pack....JUST IN CASE!

Break down in tears for no apparent reason, when someone asks whats wrong just tell them
"Icecream would make me feel better"
Moms may roll their eyes, Grandma's however will make an immediate turn into the nearest icecream store.


"Fresh" Water never tastes just the same....
And really when it comes from Navajo, we shoulda known. After all, the Navajo we know is a "stud" and we tend to not drink anything he gives us!


No matter how many times you try it, the natural springs will still taste like arse, this one however was at least cold!


Really, when you see where a spring comes from, you understand just a little better why it tastes like arse.


At least a "Soda Spring" is carbonated by the carbonate acid and while still tasting arse-ish, is a step towards improvement.....


When headed up Pikes Peak, you may be thinking THIS should be your worst fear, but really you have NO IDEA.....


The reservoirs are beautiful pristine waters. I wanted to strip and go nakee for a swim. However, with a temperature of 50 the water was a TAD frigid! Still beautiful....


When negotiating with a terrorist, er I mean two year old, remember that candy is a good bribe to get them to look at the camera.....


On the way up, this made my knees weak, on the way down, I would have took the picture while hanging over the edge, and still had stronger knees then I did at the top!


By the time we reached the summit, I was sooo cold and weak, and worried over my mom lacking oxygen, that I couldnt bear to walk to the sign for a family picture. This nice family will do just fine!

Notes regarding the summit: Don't assume that at 21 degrees there will be snow or ice to walk on. Nope, be prepared to step in a giant FREEZING cold puddle of water. And to walk through mud? I've never seen such cold mud.

Don't assume you'll be able to look out over the edge. You may be sooo weak from the drives on the roads that are lacking gaurdrails and room for double lanes that you can't even leave the car.

If your with someone who is deathly afraid of heights, on the way up they may start to look green stop in the middle of the road and ask you to drive. They may be soooo freaken scared they wont get out of the car for your "chinese firedrill" but instead, make you do so while they crawl over the counsel. Then lay thier seat back and hide under the blanket until they are safely at ground level again. Or at least not alpine level!

Do be sure to breathe before you get there, because once your there, the oxygen is gone.

The ride down was pretty enjoyable even if you do get pulled over after the brake check. In case you didnt know "hot breaks fail", use low gears.

No matter how scary something was on the way up, its MUCH better on the way down.

And just because WE happend to see two rescue vehicles and accidents, does not mean its a daily occurance (or so they say). Turns out the woman working the gate has only seen one other trip this year, lucky us for witnessing two!

We were very happy to leave! Very very happy!


Mom didnt get the point of the picture was to show the ginormous rock.


Remember, zoom out is good too!

Thankful List

For my family







For old friends*.....








and new......









And for BFFs

For people who make a difference

For camping...and crosslake.....

For Beaches....and cruises...and family vacations.....





For cocktails.....





Chipotle

Tim McGraw

Boneless Buffalo Wings

Tickles (the blankies)

Sunshine

Halloween

and much much more




*please note, you know even if your not pictured you mean the world to me....and if your pictures not up here its cause I dont see you enough you phucin ho!!! LOL

I <3 Cruising......

2 more weeks!

Only two weeks left until cruising! And guess what, I met my goal 2 weeks early! I've lost 22lbs and feel CONFIDENT in my bikini! Wooooot! I've decided to extend my goal to lose another 10-15 by summer. The best part of that is I'm currently in my smallest clothes, and if I lose any more, I get to go SHOPPING!!!!!

Kevin claims he has a new wife all the time, mostly due to my changing hair color. But this time its a combination!

Back to brunette, down 20+lbs, and not pasty white! LOVIN IT!

Pictures from Nashville!

Before Momma left

Jess and I

All 16 of us!

Mir, Cec and KB

At Grahms

Jess hittin on Stephanie

Most of us at the mall

Cec and KB

Group photo in the room