tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715325316350692882024-03-13T17:39:52.736-04:00Eggrolls and Chopsticksdawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10929152764990722808noreply@blogger.comBlogger1516125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771532531635069288.post-30831546552728869482015-03-25T16:21:00.000-04:002018-08-25T16:25:49.798-04:00SWFWith this new chapter unfolding I am re-emerging into a new life a totally different person. Now I am a strong woman. It sounds really stupid saying those words out loud but it is true. For years and years I wanted out of my marriage, I knew it was wrong, I knew it was bad but I just didn't have the nerve to do it, to walk away. He had asked me many times over the years for a divorce but I had always asked him to stay. He had. I find it odd when I asked for it that he went so nuts and fought tooth and nail. I think it was more of his controlling personality and since he wasn't controlling it, then GOD DAMMIT, it wasn't happening.<br />
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Here's a little about me. I''m not an easy person to live AT ALL. I have an awful lot of energy. I can run many kids ragged in a short amount of time. I am just naturally high energy. I don't sit still. If I sit, I fiddle, with something, anything. I have to move. Always. I don't like going to movies cos that involves sitting. It drove my mother INSANE.<br />
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I also have quirks. I cannot deal with mess. Everything has a place, find it, use it. I can't deal with dirt, at all, ever. If I am stressed, I clean, always. I get stressed easily. I am a classic type A personality. I am a minimalist if given a choice, with kids this can't be but I would love to pick up this house and toss the freaking lot. More crap gets me more quirky, more quirky gets me more stressed. it's a circle.<br />
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I am highly strung. I wear my heart on my sleeve. I am low maintenance and not at all fru fru but love the option. Compared to my sister I am all girl. I am kind and trust worthy. I love to give.<br />
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If you hurt me I am done with you forever. Once the door is closed by me it is closed forever, I do not care who you are.<br />
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He wasn't a bad person. Really he wasn't. He just wasn't the right person for me. Before the girls it didn't matter and I picked up all the slack without realising it but after 2 kids, the example I was setting to them was messed up. But I covered, all the time, it's what I do, I make things right.<br />
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Perhaps I shouldn't write this. Perhaps I should write it for the cathartic value and maybe someone who reads it will gain something from it.<br />
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This is going to be raw, unplugged and cover a lot of years. Most of it nobody knows except me. It's not bad, really. He was never a wife beater or anything terrible but I honestly believe he never ever loved me. We were great friends, the best of friends but when you give up your family and your country for one man you tend to cling to that one person and find all the good you can in them. I think he stayed in love with the girlfriend before me and on occasion I would find messages to her that he would write on Facebook. He would absent mindedly leave his page open, or perhaps it wasn't so absent mindedly. Of course he denied it. I wasn't jealous. I know that sounds so strange but I wasn't. I figured she was married now and he had married me and we had decades together I just didn't "get" why he wouldn't let it go. She had let it go and I learnt recently that she blocked him on all social media.<br />
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I won't go all the way back to the beginning as that would be nearly 30 years ago, THIRTY years, oh my. That's a long time. I can't tell you how many times, when I have told people that I am getting divorced, that they have said but after so many years why not just stay. If I had a dollar for every time I've heard it, I'd have a lot of dollars. But suffice to say with age comes experience and wisdom. I have always been a very stubborn person and as I always say about Lily, who shares this trait, one day it will serve her well, it's serving me well now. I have forged forward. My personality has emerged and I am strong. We were raised to be strong and independent yet we always knew if we needed anything, anything at all, our family was there, right there.<br />
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I was a kid when I met him and a kid when I married him. I lived at home and was a good kid, I came over here and worked as a nanny, met him and we got married pretty quick. I never lived alone, ever. Oh wait I did for a 10 months in London but I hated it and went home every chance I got. I think, as we all do, that I was pretty mature when I got married and started this life but looking back how could I have been? I had just turned 23 and had lived with him for 18 months prior. We got married in the UK and as soon as we got back he got me a job doing something I hated but I learnt to love it and stuck at it for 10 years. I went to college and studied something I wasn't very excited about and changed majors twice before finally saying STOP, I am doing what I want, not what you and your mother want and I became an LMT. That's when it all started to change. I enrolled in college.<br />
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He had had a good job a stable job for years but had walked out of it one day, just like that, while I was in school. Decided he needed a change. For a long time he didn't work and our savings dwindled. I worked a couple of days a week while going to school full time. He looked for work but nothing. He chose a career that was based solely on commission. There was never one commission cheque. We put our house up for sale. I put on a brave face, graduated school pretended it was for the best. We rented an apartment, things turned around again.<br />
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My career took off with a mind off it's own. I realised very quickly that I was very good at what I did, my client list was filled with all the professional athletes that live here. I worked morning, noon and night. I had a waiting list of people wanting to be in my care. We decided to start a family. It didn't happen so we made an appointment to see a fertility doctor. Off I went with 100% certainty that I was to blame for this. I was very skinny, not good, I had been bulimic for many years, not good (maybe I will touch on this again) I smiled, not good so we both knew, It was my fault. The tests started, things looked good something came up that was fixable, it was fixed. Then and only then was it his turn. hah, it wasn't my fault. I shouldn't have been blamed from the start. He wanted out, told me he wanted a divorce AGAIN. I was crushed. All my dreams went down the drain. I suggested we adopt but he wouldn't even discuss it. Finally we moved through this too with the assumption to all, that it was my problem, the reason we couldn't conceive. I was OK with it, what did it matter anyway.<br />
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After we bought home Lily our social circle opened WAY the heck up. I am a very social person and I loved it. We met couples and did things with them. Many times I did things with them as his work schedule is whacky. I started blogging and met more people. happy couples and I started to notice something. They were a team. Couples are a team.<br />
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Oh believe me I tried hard not to notice, really I did. I tried not to compare. One day a friend was complaining about the size of her bum and said but Mark, ( fake name) loves me just the way I am he thinks I'm beautiful. I realised at that very second that my own husband had never said that to me. It's ok don't get all upset. He had once told me I was fat, at 112lbs but had never said I was pretty or beautiful. I called him on it and he denied but wouldn't say it. Hmmm. It happened a lot. A friend would be ill and the spouse would support them. It didn't matter what it was. When he found out I was bulimic he went ballistic. I'm not proud of it, I'm not. It is in my past. My family doesn't even know, well they do now. Ask me anything and I will tell you. I am not anymore. I PROMISE. He threatened to leave. Told me it was a self mutilating behaviour and to get my shit together. Yeah, people that love one another do not do this. When we heard his Mother had died I turned to him and said something comforting and he told me to F*ck off.<br />
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Yet I stayed.<br />
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Don't stay. It doesn't have to be abusive. but that doesn't make it right.<br />
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You can be best friends, have fun together but it doesn't make you man and wife.<br />
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I chose to focus on the good stuff. The fun stuff.<br />
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I believe he is a good person but emotionally crippled.<br />
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This next part is really hard to admit.<br />
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Right before we bought Rosie home, She already had a name and a face I spoke up and said I couldn't do this again. I couldn't bring another child into this scam. he said he would work on it. We were a family, what about Lily. He was right. Kids need to parents.<br />
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I was right. I couldn't do it. I couldn't set this example to my girls.<br />
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I searched to the very depth of my soul and finally told him I wanted out. We agreed to take the girls to counselling. To get them comfortable with what was about to happen. But one night he got mad as hell at Lily over her pet fish and just screamed at her that Mummy is breaking up our happy home. Her little face still haunts me. She was gutted and terrified. I looked at him with a venom that sadly has not yet gone away and in that instant everything changed and I hated him. I went to grab Lily and she recoiled.<br />
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That part was resolved. I called a therapist the next day and He and I went to see her and then Lily went to see her. It's all been worked out. Lily doesn't have much in common with him and I am working hard on that. I love my father dearly and cannot imagine her not loving hers. But love cannot be forced. I've spent 27+ years proving this theory.<br />
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So here I am, a single mother of two.<br />
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It's pretty damned scary.<br />
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I chose it.<br />
I will embrace it.<br />
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I will do anything and everything for my girls.<br />
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Oh and don't even ask me if I will do it again cos I will throw a bucket of water at you.<br />
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<br />dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10929152764990722808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771532531635069288.post-82286867097123040012014-02-20T16:13:00.000-05:002018-08-25T16:16:16.362-04:00This is not the post full of surprises, this takes precendence<br />
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♥
Six years ago today I became Rosies Mummy. It seems forever ago to me, yet at the same time I hate to think that she is 7 already. That is typical of my mental agility, all over the place!<br />
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She was such a tiny little thing and so scared and upside down. I truly believe she thought her life was over. She grieved so hard for all that she had lost but so quickly became attached to me. I was looking back at the albums earlier and was shocked to see how she found so much comfort in me so fast. I was her go to person, even if I wasn't the right go to person, I made do. That hasn't changed one bit except now I am the right go to person.<br />
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I distinctly remember thinking because of her skinny little frame and lack of tone that she would be at least 18 months before she started walking. She proved me wrong very fast on that one as she raced to catch up. She took a little longer than some but she did it. It took much longer for her walls to come down and for her demons to be put to rest but she did that too.
Now when I look at her I am so proud of all that she has overcome. She even went off to play with a friend the other day and his mum. She didn't even try to talk herself out of it. I was invited too but I knew for her she needed to go alone.<br />
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Rosie, you are amazing and I love you with all my heart. You are such a sweet and kind little soul who thinks of other people all the time. You will race down the stairs or across a park just for a kiss and then dash off again. You just cannot fathom why anybody would ever do or say anything hurtful ever and you get your feelings hurt so easily.
In your eyes, life is just perfect as long as I am not far away...well guess what kiddo? I feel the same way about you.
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gotcha day. Holding my 2 children for the first time</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sisters</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adoption day. I love how she is touching my face</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">red couch photos at the White Swan</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ExxjEbiuhRg/UwQjTsYfVDI/AAAAAAAAPt4/yLzuhx7kkLY/s1600/IMG_1240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ExxjEbiuhRg/UwQjTsYfVDI/AAAAAAAAPt4/yLzuhx7kkLY/s320/IMG_1240.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I detested thumb suckers until I met Rosie, now they melt my heart.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Funniest little grin EVAH</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hah!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What your shirt says!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PVYa6Gr77xU/UwQjfI1wlqI/AAAAAAAAPuU/7nRdgIiAnKs/s1600/IMG_1189.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PVYa6Gr77xU/UwQjfI1wlqI/AAAAAAAAPuU/7nRdgIiAnKs/s320/IMG_1189.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just a little crazy!<br />
♥♥♥♥</td></tr>
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Happy family day Rosie.
dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10929152764990722808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771532531635069288.post-78606971890091932522013-08-19T18:29:00.003-04:002013-08-19T18:29:53.789-04:00they did it anywayThey did it anyway, start school again, that is. Every single year at this time I try to stop it but my efforts are futile and they head off anyway.<br />
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This year was different. One of my <strike>babies</strike> children headed off to middle school, middle school do you hear me? How? My other <strike>baby</strike> child became a first grader. crap. They are getting really big.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She looks so confident but will it last?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh yeah, Lily is ready</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dlcQcUPPwTY/UhJMyxNzOdI/AAAAAAAAPDE/yz6mIqDeOLM/s1600/DSCN1162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dlcQcUPPwTY/UhJMyxNzOdI/AAAAAAAAPDE/yz6mIqDeOLM/s640/DSCN1162.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good grief, thems some big feet kidlet.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GatEmzwUoKU/UhJM0gA36lI/AAAAAAAAPDM/YZdXssL2-g0/s1600/DSCN1164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GatEmzwUoKU/UhJM0gA36lI/AAAAAAAAPDM/YZdXssL2-g0/s640/DSCN1164.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rosie is sticking to her sister like glue</td></tr>
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I really think my days as a blogger are done. sigh.<br />
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<br />dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10929152764990722808noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771532531635069288.post-14602083724503013902013-08-13T22:14:00.000-04:002013-08-13T22:14:19.155-04:00Laughing out loudWhen I was driving home from work today I was sent a text from Rosie, "Mummy, wen are you cummings home?"<br />When I got stopped at a red light I replied, "be there in 5 minutes, meet me at the door".<div>
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As I was getting out of the car the front door flew open and out popped Rosie closely followed by Lily, at least I think it was Rosie and Lily. </div>
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I took one look at them and laughed out loud.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CSt7pKYgMow/UgrmowbDGGI/AAAAAAAAPCc/JoHt0dBqG3s/s1600/IMAG0757.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CSt7pKYgMow/UgrmowbDGGI/AAAAAAAAPCc/JoHt0dBqG3s/s640/IMAG0757.jpg" width="382" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swimming goggles, really? </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Speechless</td></tr>
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We had to go to register Lily for school this morning and I dared her to wear her wig...when will I learn?
dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10929152764990722808noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771532531635069288.post-72840915542853336942013-08-02T09:07:00.001-04:002013-08-02T09:07:22.631-04:00Strange animals at the zooWe went to the zoo the other day and just after we had walked in we bumped into some very very special friends of ours. WE had headed there to meet up with some other friends and the friends we bumped into were doing the same thing. Yeah aha you guessed it, we never did meet up with our original friends. It was 8000 degrees that day and apparently Groupon had been running one of its specials as the place was a mob scene. I couldn't find Kelly and although Amy did find Daniel but they went their own way but that might have been due to the gab fest Ame and I were on.<br />
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The two of us have been friends for years. Nicolas and Lily were friends when they were very tiny. It's fair to say that Nick was Lily's first friend and they have always had a great bond. Even though we don't see them often because our paths have changed, 2 boys versus 2 girls, baseball every single night, swimming every single night, when those 2 got back together time had stood still and it was classic Lily/Nick escapades.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ycXhPxeAm9I/Ufulhc7IPsI/AAAAAAAAO_g/YpuimogeOpw/s1600/sc0038e044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="570" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ycXhPxeAm9I/Ufulhc7IPsI/AAAAAAAAO_g/YpuimogeOpw/s640/sc0038e044.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nicolas and Lily 2003</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hm-0btiXPBY/Ufulqs6-QLI/AAAAAAAAO_o/DEXJaaYG0Jw/s1600/DSCN0465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hm-0btiXPBY/Ufulqs6-QLI/AAAAAAAAO_o/DEXJaaYG0Jw/s640/DSCN0465.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nicolas. Rosie and Lily 2013 </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1nbOxY1ImvU/UfumIGTrnsI/AAAAAAAAO_w/hvqIuP8-Iog/s1600/DSCN0484.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1nbOxY1ImvU/UfumIGTrnsI/AAAAAAAAO_w/hvqIuP8-Iog/s640/DSCN0484.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hmmm, this is very funny when your are 9. 11 or 12 </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7j1n2R1Tr34/UfumvLalknI/AAAAAAAAO_8/-oUTAc5dKtM/s1600/DSCN0472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7j1n2R1Tr34/UfumvLalknI/AAAAAAAAO_8/-oUTAc5dKtM/s640/DSCN0472.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cooling off with ice</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4NEjNTwHoqg/Ufum0wqS6VI/AAAAAAAAPAE/t9p8IBxW2-o/s1600/DSCN0476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4NEjNTwHoqg/Ufum0wqS6VI/AAAAAAAAPAE/t9p8IBxW2-o/s640/DSCN0476.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and then an ice fight broke out</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tIhsK7Niys8/Ufum80Ouh2I/AAAAAAAAPAM/FVGWI8uFEnQ/s1600/DSCN0475.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tIhsK7Niys8/Ufum80Ouh2I/AAAAAAAAPAM/FVGWI8uFEnQ/s640/DSCN0475.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">they all stuffed ice down each others shirts<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I handed over my camera again and it proved to be such a silly thing to do. I should have known when the above noted sign caused such a disturbance that the photos would also be off kilter. What can I say....youth!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YCwHzxIO61E/UfunvWXdRoI/AAAAAAAAPA0/8twacmp6zkY/s1600/DSCN0501.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YCwHzxIO61E/UfunvWXdRoI/AAAAAAAAPA0/8twacmp6zkY/s640/DSCN0501.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">only the rear</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wrh73BQNgQE/UfurLqbkjfI/AAAAAAAAPBU/rfPmKZ9pDVo/s640/DSCN0481.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">three in a row...must be a record</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wrh73BQNgQE/UfurLqbkjfI/AAAAAAAAPBU/rfPmKZ9pDVo/s1600/DSCN0481.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wrh73BQNgQE/UfurLqbkjfI/AAAAAAAAPBU/rfPmKZ9pDVo/s1600/DSCN0481.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QMF4QLwMnQc/UfurOljmTYI/AAAAAAAAPBc/wzJn5Pb3qbk/s1600/DSCN0503.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QMF4QLwMnQc/UfurOljmTYI/AAAAAAAAPBc/wzJn5Pb3qbk/s640/DSCN0503.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">more</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ryIfdubuLig/UfurSvF9LsI/AAAAAAAAPBk/W6_yLrVA4lM/s1600/DSCN0499.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ryIfdubuLig/UfurSvF9LsI/AAAAAAAAPBk/W6_yLrVA4lM/s640/DSCN0499.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">bottoms up</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m9CRDIhbIAQ/UfurWdxjaNI/AAAAAAAAPBs/H7ld-Dyn0vY/s1600/DSCN0500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m9CRDIhbIAQ/UfurWdxjaNI/AAAAAAAAPBs/H7ld-Dyn0vY/s640/DSCN0500.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">bloody cheek</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qmadBMZJzTU/Ufura-2b0rI/AAAAAAAAPB0/uozq21s_81M/s1600/DSCN0504.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qmadBMZJzTU/Ufura-2b0rI/AAAAAAAAPB0/uozq21s_81M/s640/DSCN0504.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">icee time</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5uFgzaxq-E0/UfuresGDY3I/AAAAAAAAPB8/-o48EteKdzc/s1600/DSCN0505.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5uFgzaxq-E0/UfuresGDY3I/AAAAAAAAPB8/-o48EteKdzc/s640/DSCN0505.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">intent on cooling off</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FotB-o2V7KY/UfurhE0_EUI/AAAAAAAAPCE/EmHqVNTDswg/s1600/DSCN0506.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FotB-o2V7KY/UfurhE0_EUI/AAAAAAAAPCE/EmHqVNTDswg/s640/DSCN0506.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">so hot</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IT12p2Ukjy0/UfurmPrFwlI/AAAAAAAAPCM/86W0SKvh-QQ/s1600/DSCN0486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IT12p2Ukjy0/UfurmPrFwlI/AAAAAAAAPCM/86W0SKvh-QQ/s640/DSCN0486.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I believe that this very innocent looking child is the one who took many of these photos...bwa ha ha.</td></tr>
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For an accidental encounter it was the best time but I think they always are. As for the friends we tried to meet we met them the next weekend.
I also need to add to this, meeting up with Amy has led to me giving up all sugar and processed foods. You all know what a chocolate junkie I am and how I love my deserts. yes well they have all gone and my diet is almost as pure as driven snow. I feel fabulous. I went 3 days before the massive headache hit, I knew it would happen and I was nervous as all can be. I t was not as bad as I thought it would. Last night we celebrated a friends birthday and I didn't even have a piece of ooey gooey covered in fudge chocolate cake, I really didn't want it. Oh my god what has hapened to me???? Any is a nutritionalist and just a casual conversation about something as we were walking inthat 8000 degree heat hit me and bam, job done.
Oh and I think I am so over blogging. did I am manage to slip that sentence in without you noticing.
Oh and don't you just melt at that photo of Lily all pudgey and cute. Not many photos of her on here when she was so little.dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10929152764990722808noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771532531635069288.post-92219331105125733242013-07-27T07:11:00.000-04:002013-07-27T07:11:40.813-04:00Deering Estate.The rotten thing about vacations is that they end and then you are stuck with reality! Yesterday whilst waiting in line at Barnes and Noble Rosie pipes up, out of nowhere, "I wish I could have room service again". Don't we all deary, don't we all.<br />
<br />
I'm so behind in blogging. We have had such a lovely week meeting up with friends and doing all sorts of fun things. Last Saturday a friend asked us to meet her at the <a href="http://www.deeringestate.com/">Deering Estate</a>. I have never been so I jumped at the chance. Both of the girls were less than lack lustre with their enthusiasm so I gave both of them a camera and told them to snap their way through the estate. They had a fabulous time, even in the mind melting temperatures. Turns out our friend couldn't join us so we went alone. Summer time brings many many storms and she has dogs so she had to stay home and keep them calm.
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It is beautiful and so easy to picture yourself living their in quieter, less complicated times.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O2boWvPnlbI/UfOnlySm9hI/AAAAAAAAO9o/WrrUk-BIVAM/s1600/DSCN0416.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O2boWvPnlbI/UfOnlySm9hI/AAAAAAAAO9o/WrrUk-BIVAM/s640/DSCN0416.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was HOT and they weren't happy to smile</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D9_OoFv4gfY/UfOnpbI-l_I/AAAAAAAAO9w/SAzcv7hEpWE/s1600/DSCN0421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D9_OoFv4gfY/UfOnpbI-l_I/AAAAAAAAO9w/SAzcv7hEpWE/s640/DSCN0421.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Searching for crabs until......</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XLxBRF9O7Pg/UfOnu7jVYHI/AAAAAAAAO94/-puxd9GAakk/s1600/DSCN0423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XLxBRF9O7Pg/UfOnu7jVYHI/AAAAAAAAO94/-puxd9GAakk/s640/DSCN0423.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">they saw this. Then they made lots of noise and ran away.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5T_Z2Aw_GTk/UfOnylb-ekI/AAAAAAAAO-A/G8jwCecK5IE/s1600/DSCN0427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5T_Z2Aw_GTk/UfOnylb-ekI/AAAAAAAAO-A/G8jwCecK5IE/s640/DSCN0427.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">looking unrealistically angelic</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pz9RW7qAwqU/UfOn08G1AqI/AAAAAAAAO-I/gWFen_5ypIw/s1600/DSCN0428.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pz9RW7qAwqU/UfOn08G1AqI/AAAAAAAAO-I/gWFen_5ypIw/s640/DSCN0428.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cement house</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6Gg-mcgThQM/UfOn3OuC9-I/AAAAAAAAO-Q/VFdMPZo2Jqk/s1600/DSCN0461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6Gg-mcgThQM/UfOn3OuC9-I/AAAAAAAAO-Q/VFdMPZo2Jqk/s640/DSCN0461.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cement mixer that as used. Photo cred. Rosie</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r10UtRJ4nAg/UfOn6AEsXDI/AAAAAAAAO-Y/is58zSdwQc4/s1600/DSCN0434.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r10UtRJ4nAg/UfOn6AEsXDI/AAAAAAAAO-Y/is58zSdwQc4/s640/DSCN0434.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I want this ceiling</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wg6ZJf_JxpI/UfOoI0PkFoI/AAAAAAAAO-g/g6arPRHukxg/s1600/DSCN0460.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wg6ZJf_JxpI/UfOoI0PkFoI/AAAAAAAAO-g/g6arPRHukxg/s640/DSCN0460.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The garage</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s3bkPirjDPs/UfOoMv9XAWI/AAAAAAAAO-o/kc39Ts91HSE/s1600/DSCN0454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s3bkPirjDPs/UfOoMv9XAWI/AAAAAAAAO-o/kc39Ts91HSE/s640/DSCN0454.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love this house.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KulR3bLRmAg/UfOoQkBR7HI/AAAAAAAAO-w/djMs_9ryq1I/s1600/DSCN0447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KulR3bLRmAg/UfOoQkBR7HI/AAAAAAAAO-w/djMs_9ryq1I/s640/DSCN0447.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back at the house from the bay (rose)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nLozf_bGIec/UfOoeFeDFOI/AAAAAAAAO-4/2mpTd7IdZoI/s1600/DSCN0463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nLozf_bGIec/UfOoeFeDFOI/AAAAAAAAO-4/2mpTd7IdZoI/s640/DSCN0463.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hah! I bet it seemed so expensive!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UsonCSIkbhQ/UfOoo3B6OtI/AAAAAAAAO_A/tb-gpVG_HqE/s1600/DSCN0450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UsonCSIkbhQ/UfOoo3B6OtI/AAAAAAAAO_A/tb-gpVG_HqE/s640/DSCN0450.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo cred, Ro. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wk5__F7Aino/UfOow_LxQAI/AAAAAAAAO_I/iEsKvS-IQoM/s1600/DSCN0448.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wk5__F7Aino/UfOow_LxQAI/AAAAAAAAO_I/iEsKvS-IQoM/s640/DSCN0448.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo cred, Lily</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EtnLNfAWsuM/UfOoyxe0QII/AAAAAAAAO_Q/A4ZWpD08wtM/s1600/DSCN0452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EtnLNfAWsuM/UfOoyxe0QII/AAAAAAAAO_Q/A4ZWpD08wtM/s640/DSCN0452.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lily</td></tr>
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And so I learnt something. If I want the girls to go and look at something, really look at it and learn, I just hand them both a camera and then they take in everything at every conceivable angle. Genius!
dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10929152764990722808noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771532531635069288.post-16893649928891728772013-07-24T22:37:00.001-04:002013-07-25T07:49:46.983-04:00I'm not sure I am the cruising typeWe had a great time, honestly we did. In fact it was absolutely brilliant but I have to make a confession: I don't think I like cruises, I don't think I'm the cruising type. As I mentioned before the reason why we went with Carnival Cruise Lines was purely for the kidlets enjoyment. There is no debating that they cater to the kiddies. If it had been a cruise for me I would have chosen NCL or RCL or maybe even Princess. Carnival offers a lot and I can't find fault with anything. <br />
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The dining rooms didn't offer a very great vegetarian selection or many salads but seriously I am possibly the only person who goes on a cruise and wants to eat a salad. The ships are known for their food. I am not a foodie. The day they offered the Chocolate Extravaganza lunch I might have eaten my body weight but other than that I was pretty much take it or leave it. Just because it is there does not mean I will eat it.<br />
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I realised something about myself on this trip and that is that I am NOT a people person. There are a <strike>kazillion</strike> lot of people on a ship that size and I don't like crowds, AT ALL. Not that at any point were we all squished together in one place but I just knew they were all there. Sometimes walking past the pool I would see it so full of people it looked like some sort of cold exotic people soup just waiting to be ladled out. Blech. We had any time dining so the dining rooms were never packed and never ever felt cramped, there were so many shows going on at one time the venues never seemed over crowded but I just felt them. I also have that anti germ thing happening and well, no never mind...lets just leave that one right there. A picture might just scar you for life.<br />
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The ship was clean, really clean, you barely even saw empty glasses and cups on tables. Our room steward was like a magician. He knew what needed to be done before I did...he must be a mummy. LOL<br />
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I loved being waited on hand and foot, who doesn't. I loved going to bed in Key West and waking up in Mexico. All of that I loved, being on the ship....not so much. But at the same time I loved being on the ship.<br />
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Yes I am fully aware that I am making no sense at all. Let me try it this way. I don't think if you asked me now if I wanted to get on another cruise next week I would say yes.<br />
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Allow me state for the record, cruising is not my first choice when it comes to holidays. (but this one was fabulous)<br />
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Oh and for the record my weirdness isn't only on cruise ships you should see how freaky I can get in a hotel room. Egads, my kids don't dare get near the carpet and forget about touching the bathroom floor. People....gag, wretch, heave! They don't stand a chance of growing up unscathed.dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10929152764990722808noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771532531635069288.post-37168538046616097592013-07-24T22:18:00.000-04:002013-07-24T22:18:32.978-04:00Everything was ship shapeThursday we spent a whole day at sea...a whole day. I was a bit worried that I just might end up launching my own lifeboat just to be able to get away but thankfully the day was filled with entertainment and at no point did I feel the overwhelming urge to walk the plank.
The girlies were back on the golf course and and the water slides and we even participated in a huge scavenger hunt that was really rather good fun. It was very very funny.<br />
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After lunch things slowed down enormously and we hung by the pool. At one point I could tell Lily was getting a little stir crazy so she just kicked back in her deck chair and admired the view while Rosie whizzed down the slides for the eleventy billionth time.
Just being able to kick back with no interruptions was fabulous. No phones and no computers was so refreshing. I could have had both but chose not too. I loved not being interrupted. If I have them I have to use them, I have to respond to people it is just the way I am wired so leaving them behind was the best decision I could have made.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DFmCtGqRYig/UfCH72LBDQI/AAAAAAAAO8Y/dl6o_2iwwbY/s1600/DSCN0372.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DFmCtGqRYig/UfCH72LBDQI/AAAAAAAAO8Y/dl6o_2iwwbY/s640/DSCN0372.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If there is water that is where you will find her</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D6n0JYBb8W8/UfCICOLU94I/AAAAAAAAO8g/hL3eOGcgrdQ/s1600/DSCN0373.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D6n0JYBb8W8/UfCICOLU94I/AAAAAAAAO8g/hL3eOGcgrdQ/s640/DSCN0373.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fish</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_Y5ix8HWiy8/UfCIGPqb33I/AAAAAAAAO8o/5PXpuTFw-bg/s1600/DSCN0374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_Y5ix8HWiy8/UfCIGPqb33I/AAAAAAAAO8o/5PXpuTFw-bg/s640/DSCN0374.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">chlling...that big old bag went everywhere with her.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kyOzkeUYCv8/UfCILC4d8dI/AAAAAAAAO8w/H5-QDPqj7AM/s1600/DSCN0377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="576" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kyOzkeUYCv8/UfCILC4d8dI/AAAAAAAAO8w/H5-QDPqj7AM/s640/DSCN0377.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's called a fun ship for a reason!<br />
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We went to back to back shows on Thursday evening and squeezed every last second out of the fun. We had to be up and at 'em quite early on Friday as the boat docked at 8am and we would receive our marching orders. I decided to have our bags carried off the ship allowing us a slower disembarkment. We went to breakfast and then waited for our eviction papers to be served.
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TKhkOmnImVQ/UfCJlzFPtGI/AAAAAAAAO9A/zUXk51s7bQ0/s1600/DSCN0380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TKhkOmnImVQ/UfCJlzFPtGI/AAAAAAAAO9A/zUXk51s7bQ0/s1600/DSCN0380.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">waiting</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q8rOp0eHkoU/UfCJvB4GB-I/AAAAAAAAO9I/XPq_AhWaERU/s1600/DSCN0410.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q8rOp0eHkoU/UfCJvB4GB-I/AAAAAAAAO9I/XPq_AhWaERU/s640/DSCN0410.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't want to leave</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KBG4hNMVD8s/UfCKDSDWwHI/AAAAAAAAO9Q/I6TWoHt-Y9A/s1600/DSCN0387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="588" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KBG4hNMVD8s/UfCKDSDWwHI/AAAAAAAAO9Q/I6TWoHt-Y9A/s640/DSCN0387.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">enough photos Mum!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Si-wRmvxj6E/UfCKH51eJpI/AAAAAAAAO9Y/JQ8ZmrQZa_w/s1600/DSCN0390.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Si-wRmvxj6E/UfCKH51eJpI/AAAAAAAAO9Y/JQ8ZmrQZa_w/s640/DSCN0390.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Never enough photos for this Diva.</td></tr>
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and so we have been home for nearly a week and it isn't fair. Once you get back it is like you never left at all. dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10929152764990722808noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771532531635069288.post-58042716001679700232013-07-23T16:15:00.001-04:002013-07-23T16:15:32.711-04:00CozumelWednesday morning we docked in Cozumel. I had been asked by a friend to take a laptop to to her friend who lives there so once we got off the ship we were searching the crowds for Suzanna. We found her and her hubby Alan immediately and they were rather disappointed that we didn't want to spend our time there touring with them. I felt a little guilty but this was our one day in Mexico and we wanted to do OUR thing. I politely declined their offer and we made a beeline for the taxi's. I was already to use my best Spanish and get us to a nice beach but that was a complete waste of time as every single person that we met spoke perfect English.<br />
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After looking at a map we decided the closest beach looked a little too touristy for us so we asked to leave Cozumel and head to Paradise Beach. Sometimes you just get really lucky. I had no idea where we were or where we were going but it ended up being a perfect location for the 3 of us. The girls were able to snorkel in crystal clear water amongst some fabulous fish. I joined them for a while or sat in the shade watching them. The resort offered a fabulous pool that the girls also enjoyed. The whole day was spectacular and couldn't have been any better if we had planned every detail. A storm blew in and hung out over the ocean but only offered cloud cover and cooler temps which was a blessing as that day the weather was meant to be 106 degrees and rainy. It ended up being in the 80's with cloud cover. We didn't see one drop of rain.<br />
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Once we were ready we headed back into the Puerta Maya and I told the girls I would let them spend their money. They thought this was a great idea until all the vendors pounced on them and wouldn't leave them alone. Lily bartered with the first guy and then got completely overwhelmed and a little scared so I just took over and firmly told them to all get lost, but much more politely than that and we left. I took them back to the port where they could shop safely without being hassled to much.<br />
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Once they had spent their $5 ( bargains abound in Cozumel) their tummies started to growl and we could see the ship so we headed back to the boat. Considering how little I wanted to visit Mexico I am so glad I did. It was without a shadow of a doubt my favourite day and is absolutely gorgeous. The people that we met were all so nice...with the exception of the street vendors. I highly recommend it and want to go back but for much longer.
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WHnjJQz4khw/Ue7g6VFq5QI/AAAAAAAAO6w/KVg4HOvOuXw/s1600/DSCN0345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WHnjJQz4khw/Ue7g6VFq5QI/AAAAAAAAO6w/KVg4HOvOuXw/s640/DSCN0345.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2 steps off of the ship and Rosie spotted this fun little sign</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2-9l5xtNoLg/Ue7hCvwlL3I/AAAAAAAAO64/j0Ia9zAlEGw/s1600/DSCN0347.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2-9l5xtNoLg/Ue7hCvwlL3I/AAAAAAAAO64/j0Ia9zAlEGw/s640/DSCN0347.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not as funny as he signs in China but good none the less</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PaK3HYxszN0/Ue7hbFPsomI/AAAAAAAAO7A/Dc9TkII7kqM/s1600/DSCN0348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PaK3HYxszN0/Ue7hbFPsomI/AAAAAAAAO7A/Dc9TkII7kqM/s640/DSCN0348.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paradise Beach</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6fK_43QkyWc/Ue7h_ICFacI/AAAAAAAAO7Q/ZYMeRj-5Bms/s1600/DSCN0350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="562" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6fK_43QkyWc/Ue7h_ICFacI/AAAAAAAAO7Q/ZYMeRj-5Bms/s640/DSCN0350.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I loved that it wasn't crowded</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U_H9bMFS_Ew/Ue7iFEJdkqI/AAAAAAAAO7Y/_ccEZYQG024/s1600/DSCN0354.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U_H9bMFS_Ew/Ue7iFEJdkqI/AAAAAAAAO7Y/_ccEZYQG024/s640/DSCN0354.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snorkelling fun....so glad we took them with us</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3Zbt60M_F00/Ue7iP9rec-I/AAAAAAAAO7o/Z0Cn9owibnM/s1600/DSCN0363.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3Zbt60M_F00/Ue7iP9rec-I/AAAAAAAAO7o/Z0Cn9owibnM/s640/DSCN0363.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pool at the beach</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bg8Q-YNgAQc/Ue7iUgK4xrI/AAAAAAAAO7w/it89WFkYtwA/s1600/DSCN0365.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bg8Q-YNgAQc/Ue7iUgK4xrI/AAAAAAAAO7w/it89WFkYtwA/s640/DSCN0365.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">view of the beach from the pool</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KFgWVmdjuQw/Ue7iaRgUJfI/AAAAAAAAO74/uHQ0cXU0bqU/s1600/DSCN0362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KFgWVmdjuQw/Ue7iaRgUJfI/AAAAAAAAO74/uHQ0cXU0bqU/s640/DSCN0362.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">it just isn't possible to get them both with their eyes open!!!!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-96SByKymRz0/Ue7ietrSBuI/AAAAAAAAO8A/QKgNtFV2E0c/s1600/DSCN0367.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-96SByKymRz0/Ue7ietrSBuI/AAAAAAAAO8A/QKgNtFV2E0c/s640/DSCN0367.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back at the Port</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fhfSfISi690/Ue7ii9jnjhI/AAAAAAAAO8I/2SpqTl7YAwc/s1600/DSCN0368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fhfSfISi690/Ue7ii9jnjhI/AAAAAAAAO8I/2SpqTl7YAwc/s640/DSCN0368.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lily helping the Mexican economy (safely in the port)</td></tr>
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dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10929152764990722808noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771532531635069288.post-22892252601412187072013-07-22T07:38:00.002-04:002013-07-23T15:42:58.538-04:00Captains DinnerAs you know I have one daughter who adores being dressed up and another who would live the rest of her life in a pair of shorts and never put on a dress again. When I told the girls we could have dinner with the Captian if they wanted to, one wanted too and the other not so much.<br />
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On the night of the dinner were slightly rushed as we had been to a show and ended up rushing to get ready on time. Lily mentioned having a headache whilst getting dressed but she only said it once and didn't mention it again. I decided if she said anything again I would give her something for it. I didn't take photos in the cabin either due to time constaints and better photo ops around the ship.<br />
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We zoomed up to the dining room in the lift and just as we arrived Lily groaned, I took one look at her and her face was nowhere near as pretty as her dress. It was back to the cabin for us, no Captain, no dinner<br />
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The night of the captains dinner looked like this for us.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PZ1gngF8zuk/Ue0W0fLCjMI/AAAAAAAAO6I/F2fCWotoC-0/s1600/DSCN0334.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PZ1gngF8zuk/Ue0W0fLCjMI/AAAAAAAAO6I/F2fCWotoC-0/s640/DSCN0334.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fast asleep</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZQmg3UP9oJ8/Ue0YOjLFa8I/AAAAAAAAO6Y/1i7r01jh24k/s1600/DSCN0333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZQmg3UP9oJ8/Ue0YOjLFa8I/AAAAAAAAO6Y/1i7r01jh24k/s640/DSCN0333.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Only photo of Rosie dressed up...sigh</td></tr>
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Rosie and I ordered room service. She thought this was the best thing ever but didn't like the actual food just the concept and asked for it for every single meal thereafter.
Thankfully Lily woke up about 2 hours later feeling fine and we ventured out to feed her.
So that was our fancy evening. Lily was more than a little crushed that her night to shine was dimmed.
dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10929152764990722808noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771532531635069288.post-31471121173051203372013-07-21T09:03:00.001-04:002013-07-21T09:04:35.346-04:00Washed awayDay 2 of our cruise found us in Key West, just a hop skip and a jump from our home. Since we are quite familiar with the town I didn't book any shore excursions as I knew all the things we could do. Our time there was limited and I was surprised to find out we were not going to be there for the Sunset which is truly a beautiful sight to behold from Mallory Square.<br />
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The girls and I made our way just a few feet through the streets when the rain started and I don't mean just a little sprinkley shower I mean a torrential downpour. Key West has lots to offer and much of it we have seen before but one place Lily always begs to go to whenever she sees one is Ripleys Believe It or Not, so that is where we dove for cover. Once we came it it was still hammering rain. We had to swim through the streets to get back to the trolley that took us back to our ship. The streets were so flooded the water came up to Rosies knees. It really was quite amazing to see that much water fall so fast and living here we see lots of torrential rain storms but that was messy.<br />
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We are just so thankful that we live close to KW and don't feel as if we lost out but for all the people that came from miles away and it was a one time deal it must have been so disappointing.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vGzGdfHD9Gw/UevW8GeODUI/AAAAAAAAO3A/GtuXqlFcNsw/s1600/DSCN0283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vGzGdfHD9Gw/UevW8GeODUI/AAAAAAAAO3A/GtuXqlFcNsw/s640/DSCN0283.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This fellow was marching around very proudly at Mallory Square.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LuPIicmACus/UevXCgz5OnI/AAAAAAAAO3I/3qt0pLbj3Ec/s1600/DSCN0284.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LuPIicmACus/UevXCgz5OnI/AAAAAAAAO3I/3qt0pLbj3Ec/s640/DSCN0284.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lily loves all these little shops</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jP0AWQxbAVc/UevXNDhzltI/AAAAAAAAO3Y/T4XHl4lD2hI/s1600/DSCN0288.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jP0AWQxbAVc/UevXNDhzltI/AAAAAAAAO3Y/T4XHl4lD2hI/s640/DSCN0288.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside the shipwreck museum</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-swZ_7wzrAjA/UevXV4mQovI/AAAAAAAAO3g/RD0sjFNUpag/s1600/DSCN0289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-swZ_7wzrAjA/UevXV4mQovI/AAAAAAAAO3g/RD0sjFNUpag/s640/DSCN0289.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lily found someone to look up to</td></tr>
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Wouldn't you know it not 20 minutes after we were back on the ship the sun came out but we had to set sail to grander places anyway. After lunch Lily participated in a Mini golf tournament and Rosie and I ran the track....Rosie ran I wasn't about to participate in such nonsense.
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iUQ74AZpVjE/UevYW6K2EVI/AAAAAAAAO3w/VEIFYtD_4jA/s1600/DSCN0292.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iUQ74AZpVjE/UevYW6K2EVI/AAAAAAAAO3w/VEIFYtD_4jA/s640/DSCN0292.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fun? she said it was.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gNVNtQbsrPM/UevYhBcC0EI/AAAAAAAAO34/hPPgej1XxSs/s1600/DSCN0302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gNVNtQbsrPM/UevYhBcC0EI/AAAAAAAAO34/hPPgej1XxSs/s640/DSCN0302.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Odd locale for a mimi golf course</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-74SXo6zHXEo/UevYpZ4niXI/AAAAAAAAO4A/WjZK552RrIM/s1600/DSCN0303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-74SXo6zHXEo/UevYpZ4niXI/AAAAAAAAO4A/WjZK552RrIM/s640/DSCN0303.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now she is having fun</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uX6t_rX41Tc/UevY1vsn30I/AAAAAAAAO4I/ED1vuq0mWas/s1600/DSCN0295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uX6t_rX41Tc/UevY1vsn30I/AAAAAAAAO4I/ED1vuq0mWas/s640/DSCN0295.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crazy runner kept going round and round</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I1stm85bNZE/UevY8lVhTNI/AAAAAAAAO4Q/zUlxFHFGtoc/s1600/DSCN0298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I1stm85bNZE/UevY8lVhTNI/AAAAAAAAO4Q/zUlxFHFGtoc/s640/DSCN0298.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Key West lighthouse</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dDqHg3o5Qzc/UevZBPrkD2I/AAAAAAAAO4Y/VAnro0uLHtg/s1600/DSCN0301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="406" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dDqHg3o5Qzc/UevZBPrkD2I/AAAAAAAAO4Y/VAnro0uLHtg/s640/DSCN0301.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">KW has a huge Naval base and coast guard station. The navy Seals are currently being trained there.</td></tr>
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The girls spent the rest of the afternoon in the water.
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PNzGCh6NCxI/Ueva6DL_JDI/AAAAAAAAO4o/uDk2SlEYUaU/s1600/DSCN0330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PNzGCh6NCxI/Ueva6DL_JDI/AAAAAAAAO4o/uDk2SlEYUaU/s640/DSCN0330.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uZwu_nlcPrg/Ueva_vCGLRI/AAAAAAAAO4w/7AApeGWauDU/s1600/DSCN0311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uZwu_nlcPrg/Ueva_vCGLRI/AAAAAAAAO4w/7AApeGWauDU/s640/DSCN0311.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s6WqXfakoOM/UevbFycngvI/AAAAAAAAO44/bpPKsYNc2Zc/s1600/DSCN0316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="600" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s6WqXfakoOM/UevbFycngvI/AAAAAAAAO44/bpPKsYNc2Zc/s640/DSCN0316.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Asnipxx6PjQ/UevbKZ3SIYI/AAAAAAAAO5A/04I7JsvkXmQ/s1600/DSCN0328.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Asnipxx6PjQ/UevbKZ3SIYI/AAAAAAAAO5A/04I7JsvkXmQ/s640/DSCN0328.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and whilst they played I admired the view.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qPjHnwQvyE0/UevbPar3eeI/AAAAAAAAO5I/T5lVi7OFe90/s1600/DSCN0327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qPjHnwQvyE0/UevbPar3eeI/AAAAAAAAO5I/T5lVi7OFe90/s640/DSCN0327.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lily loved to sit and watch the kids playing (even with her eyes closed)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QAML_4bVkJA/UevbX9fnpAI/AAAAAAAAO5Q/XJmNd5AgU34/s1600/DSCN0331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QAML_4bVkJA/UevbX9fnpAI/AAAAAAAAO5Q/XJmNd5AgU34/s640/DSCN0331.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The crazy one never stayed still </td></tr>
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That night was the Captains dinner and since Lily loves, LOVES, to get dressed up she could hardly wait........
dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10929152764990722808noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771532531635069288.post-76159911679491110202013-07-20T09:30:00.000-04:002013-07-20T09:30:03.858-04:00That was funThe girlies and I have just got back from a cruise. It was something I had been thinking about for a while and after talking about it with a friend who cruises all the time I just went ahead and booked it. I put the needs of the girls first because I wanted them to have a blast. If I had been thinking about a cruise for me I would have chosen a different cruise line. We have only cruised once before and it was for 3 days so this time I wanted something a little longer and wanted to actually go somewhere. I had hoped to go to Cayman and Jamaica but the only one that went there was this week and I have seminars so instead we went to Key West and Mexico.<br />
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We only live a hop skip and a jump from Key West so that was a bit disappointing and Mexico?? I wasn't really sure how that would be. But we packed our bags and our usual amounts of enthusiasm and hopped on board on Monday morning for what would be a fantastic few days of FUN. The kids were grinning like Cheshire cats from the second they got on board until the second it docked back in port yesterday.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carnival Imagination<br />
This shot was actually taken in Cozumel</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting in Miami to depart</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">still waiting</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b8l6NDA1ZL4/UeqLc8Sx4qI/AAAAAAAAO14/UWGDy7dye0Y/s1600/DSCN0275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b8l6NDA1ZL4/UeqLc8Sx4qI/AAAAAAAAO14/UWGDy7dye0Y/s640/DSCN0275.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Once we set sail it became very windy, very windy indeed</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holding on.</td></tr>
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The kids then headed to the water park and I hit the deck chair...a win win situation.
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On your marks....</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yNlJc6Fmfx0/UeqMmkMMsZI/AAAAAAAAO2Y/_kLbngQCI6A/s1600/DSCN0262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yNlJc6Fmfx0/UeqMmkMMsZI/AAAAAAAAO2Y/_kLbngQCI6A/s640/DSCN0262.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pure glee</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hayWp_uc0ws/UeqMoLatFWI/AAAAAAAAO2g/SRR0dhBW2eo/s1600/DSCN0264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hayWp_uc0ws/UeqMoLatFWI/AAAAAAAAO2g/SRR0dhBW2eo/s640/DSCN0264.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How could they not have fun with this on board?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Table tennis...they stunk at this but we laughed so much!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3HTM2Hqkyb4/UeqMxixz7xI/AAAAAAAAO2w/_SNpB349-0k/s1600/DSCN0272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3HTM2Hqkyb4/UeqMxixz7xI/AAAAAAAAO2w/_SNpB349-0k/s640/DSCN0272.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cheers!<br />
A tradtion every night at dinner.<br />
We said cheers to Nanny and Grandpa. (I have no idea why, Rosie started it but I liked it)</td></tr>
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The first night ended with the room steward somehow taking Rosies blanket??? When we finally got back to our stateroom Rosie asked if I had seen it. He had placed a towel animal the chocolates and all their lovies together on the beds but her blankie wasn't there. I looked but couldn't find it. We tore the place apart and in the end I phoned him and asked if he remembered seeing one in our cabin....long shot for sure, he replied, I am so glad you rang, somehow I picked it up, I have it here I will bring it right down!<br />
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Oh thank goodness, crisis diverted!<br />
<br />
We crawled into bed at some very late hour after staring out to sea and the girls couldn't fall asleep as they were so excited and couldn't imagine waking up in Key Weat the next day.<br />
<br />
Coincidentally, although I didn't mention here that we were going I did mention to this<a href="http://travelingbugwiththreeboys-kelleyn.blogspot.com/"> blog friend </a>that we were going as she had just returned from a cruise, the one that we had wanted to go on and she had lots of tips for us as they got redirected to our ports due to a tropical storm. Thank you so much <a href="http://travelingbugwiththreeboys-kelleyn.blogspot.com/">Kelleyn</a><br />
<br />
I'll write more tomorrow about our very rainy day in Key West....we swam in the streets.dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10929152764990722808noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771532531635069288.post-61661035081995228842013-07-14T12:21:00.001-04:002013-07-14T21:33:25.003-04:00Ice cream in my bed.....ewwwwwI was going to title this post day 6 of a migraine but really who would have read it so instead I called it that because that was the result of day 6 of my migraine.<br />
<br />
I have had a bit of a banner week this week, what with a freaking root canal on Tuesday and a few other such "celebrations" along the way all of which compounded this marathon migraine from hell. I would medicate myself into oblivion only to have it it come back 10 fold. Yesterday I HAD to get a bunch of things done so I medicated and ran at top speed whilst feeling good only to come home and crash really really hard at 6pm. The kids were great and very helpful. At 9pm I put them and me to bed in my bed. My final slurred sentence to them was, you haven't had dessert. My speech was slurred from the pain. I can't medicate but once a day and it is only imitrex so don't get all panicky.<br />
<br />
They apparently took that to mean they could eat dessert in bed! This morning I found chocolate chip mint ice cream tattooing my comforter, not the sheets, oh no, they would be a breeze to wash. I really don't mind. they were awesome yesterday, they really were. Lily elbowed every single pressure point from my shoulder blade to my temple and back down. She massaged me like a pro.<br />
<br />
Rosie just remained so quiet.<br />
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As for the head from hell...I hate to jinx things but I think I have turned the corner.<br />
<br />
I'm taking a little break from the blog and all things social media. I'll be back very soon.<br />
<br />dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10929152764990722808noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771532531635069288.post-83919020657316231442013-07-11T21:32:00.002-04:002013-07-11T21:32:40.900-04:00Mum, my bed's too small.Rosie, all 5 ounces of her, has been complaining of late that her bed is too small. She slept in her sisters full size bed recently and loved the fact that she had so much room. The following night when I tucked her in she complained she was squashed in her tiny bed. I pointed out that if she evicted some of the squatters she would have plenty of room.<br />
<br />
The child has so many animals in her bed that it drives me too distraction and she won't give up one, not one. She perches herself on the edge of the bed whilst these stuffed "things" take up 75% of the surface area. I finally decided that we needed to make over her room and get her a bigger bed. Since orange is her favourite colour we would paint the room and replace her bed all at the same time. She was quite giddy.<br />
<br />
Quite giddy until she realised she would be giving up her bed. Kidlet thought she could keep her bed, along with the trundle and still manage to fit a full size bed in her teeny tiny room. Ohh, not happenening child, unless you are planning on sleeping suspended from the seiling. That put an end to all talk about a bigger bed.<br />
<br />
<br />
Yesterday Lily convinced Rosie to use her trundle bed for all of her animals and sleep alone in her bed. I really don't like this idea as her room doesn't need 2 beds in it all the time but she thought it was a fabulous idea and before I could say a word Lily said she had an even better idea. Oh deary me.<br />
<br />
Lily and her spent hours in her room yesterday just organising and being very busy and this was the final outcome. I will probably twitch nervously for days at the aesthetics of it all but the general idea is brilliant. Rosie has a bed for her and a bed for her friends.<br />
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<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vBG_3GF5Du0/Ud9cKNnV__I/AAAAAAAAO0U/81_MkRE_u_U/s1600/DSCN0252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vBG_3GF5Du0/Ud9cKNnV__I/AAAAAAAAO0U/81_MkRE_u_U/s640/DSCN0252.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Almost alone</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oXNpoUh4Klk/Ud9cMrXmxGI/AAAAAAAAO0c/tNFOQIsp4CY/s1600/DSCN0253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oXNpoUh4Klk/Ud9cMrXmxGI/AAAAAAAAO0c/tNFOQIsp4CY/s640/DSCN0253.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Why yes all these things did used to reside IN her bed with her. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So for now it works. At least she has room to actually lay flat on her back, before she could only lie on her side. dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10929152764990722808noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771532531635069288.post-30621840492836091312013-07-09T22:19:00.001-04:002013-07-10T07:48:47.085-04:00Hello Sock Bunny.Lily finished making her Sock Monkey the day after she started him, not really a surprise, she isn't one to lallygag. There is just one little thing, it isn't a monkey, it's a bunny. she made a sock BUNNY.<br />
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Here he is. I think he is very very sweet.<br />
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RtF6mnXFbCc/UdzDETLkA6I/AAAAAAAAOzc/06LNf7AA1XU/s1600/DSCN0247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RtF6mnXFbCc/UdzDETLkA6I/AAAAAAAAOzc/06LNf7AA1XU/s640/DSCN0247.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">hello Sock Bunny</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WUUWIPqiT7c/UdzDGoTTuzI/AAAAAAAAOzk/VdrsuYva45U/s1600/DSCN0244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WUUWIPqiT7c/UdzDGoTTuzI/AAAAAAAAOzk/VdrsuYva45U/s640/DSCN0244.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QL35hxTCcoM/UdzDJVF6CVI/AAAAAAAAOzs/Dxmw4F-ZW3s/s1600/DSCN0243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QL35hxTCcoM/UdzDJVF6CVI/AAAAAAAAOzs/Dxmw4F-ZW3s/s640/DSCN0243.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">His whiskers make me smile</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CYlyx266ZVE/UdzDLYcwAhI/AAAAAAAAOz0/HCTyFkwjD3U/s1600/DSCN0246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CYlyx266ZVE/UdzDLYcwAhI/AAAAAAAAOz0/HCTyFkwjD3U/s640/DSCN0246.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He even has a little bunny tail</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iQvs3cf-AZ4/UdzDNW78z-I/AAAAAAAAOz8/QvlImmPjlR8/s1600/DSCN0250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iQvs3cf-AZ4/UdzDNW78z-I/AAAAAAAAOz8/QvlImmPjlR8/s640/DSCN0250.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now he gets to join the gang</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ts7tV0BaBi4/UdzDPE-v0gI/AAAAAAAAO0E/obT1rwDJDiA/s1600/DSCN0251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ts7tV0BaBi4/UdzDPE-v0gI/AAAAAAAAO0E/obT1rwDJDiA/s640/DSCN0251.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I've suggested a new and much bigger shelf but that idea is being met with resistance.<br />
So I've suggested using 2 shelves for them.....read above regarding resistance.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
she has a matching pair of orange socks.......perhaps those will push her into considering a bigger shelf.
dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10929152764990722808noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771532531635069288.post-70436111004288260452013-07-07T14:09:00.001-04:002013-07-07T17:02:51.163-04:00The competitive childDay two of the swim meet was a bust in the eyes of the competitive child. No one else saw it this way. She beat all her previous times, beat some of her team mates that are older than her and have been swimming longer than her but she didn't make finals and didn't get a J.O. cut so as far as she was concerned, it was a bust. Yeah, makes me want to bang my head against a wall...hers too for that matter.<br />
<br />
Photography was problematic again at best today due to the glare of the ever present and oppressive Miami sun. Taking pictures during her heats was something I gave up on after her first one when I realised that once she came off the block I had taken pictures of the wrong kid during the actual race. Nice huh. She is swimming long course and with the glare on the water and the distance I really couldn't see anything so I zoomed in on what I thought was the right lane but once I looked at the photos I saw a blue suit. LOL<br />
<br />
I decided to focus on the kids having fun between heats instead and show the more relaxed aspect of the meets. At the last meet Boss Man AKA head Coach told Rosie to take a swim in the cool down lanes or the cool down pool because it was so hot but she didn't want to. Today the heat got to her and she took him up on his offer as did many of the siblings. They even put a lifeguard on duty. Rosie took her team suit just in case it was off limits that way she would fit right in.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ep5hJ7SSJ_0/UdmrWlGGSbI/AAAAAAAAOxw/lwJGtgr147Q/s1600/DSCN0097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ep5hJ7SSJ_0/UdmrWlGGSbI/AAAAAAAAOxw/lwJGtgr147Q/s640/DSCN0097.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 3 amigos</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ka8u9wkNFZs/UdmrYtbOWGI/AAAAAAAAOx4/jTr4lcYUx9w/s1600/DSCN0098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ka8u9wkNFZs/UdmrYtbOWGI/AAAAAAAAOx4/jTr4lcYUx9w/s640/DSCN0098.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's just a good thing they don't go to the same school cos they would be in constant trouble. These are the same two girls that came to her birthday sleepover.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nDsbryK1mBs/Udmre8ZhtXI/AAAAAAAAOyA/ppvD7DqzYLI/s1600/DSCN0100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nDsbryK1mBs/Udmre8ZhtXI/AAAAAAAAOyA/ppvD7DqzYLI/s640/DSCN0100.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Always a nice touch when meets open with the National Anthem</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kYzgAZAhFx8/Udmrhr6EacI/AAAAAAAAOyI/ntt2__SL5WM/s1600/DSCN0102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kYzgAZAhFx8/Udmrhr6EacI/AAAAAAAAOyI/ntt2__SL5WM/s640/DSCN0102.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The National Anthem played at 8.30am and it was already this hot and sunny</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qs2Qg6sx28s/UdmroG3Fz4I/AAAAAAAAOyQ/2TvGULWutII/s1600/DSCN0139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qs2Qg6sx28s/UdmroG3Fz4I/AAAAAAAAOyQ/2TvGULWutII/s640/DSCN0139.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Once the formalities were over Ro was right back in the cool down pool doing laps</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-07V7jwD0KAg/UdmrqW_9R-I/AAAAAAAAOyY/9A8ttJdLbSU/s1600/DSCN0162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-07V7jwD0KAg/UdmrqW_9R-I/AAAAAAAAOyY/9A8ttJdLbSU/s640/DSCN0162.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">on and on she went</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d6ON13aw-V0/Udmrrb0jaOI/AAAAAAAAOyg/l_78OUq9bjI/s1600/DSCN0165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d6ON13aw-V0/Udmrrb0jaOI/AAAAAAAAOyg/l_78OUq9bjI/s640/DSCN0165.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Team mates, chilling</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-40GRPQt0KjE/UdmrtVzYqcI/AAAAAAAAOyo/e0G-JQfOL6w/s1600/DSCN0166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-40GRPQt0KjE/UdmrtVzYqcI/AAAAAAAAOyo/e0G-JQfOL6w/s640/DSCN0166.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All strokes, event numbers, heat numbers, lane numbers and J.O.times. Always written in sharpie. One of the massage gels that i use removes sharpie with just a gentle wipe.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XpntxTGxGJc/UdmrwSd6u_I/AAAAAAAAOyw/UGkGxymweBg/s1600/DSCN0190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XpntxTGxGJc/UdmrwSd6u_I/AAAAAAAAOyw/UGkGxymweBg/s640/DSCN0190.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Practising backstroke while looking at her friends</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qa-sz-N7QQU/Udmrx0PRa1I/AAAAAAAAOy4/mxqEQZig5yc/s1600/DSCN0196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qa-sz-N7QQU/Udmrx0PRa1I/AAAAAAAAOy4/mxqEQZig5yc/s640/DSCN0196.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just being themselves</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-49kKea8wrEk/Udmr2X2RiXI/AAAAAAAAOzA/rpEqFzNfXcE/s1600/DSCN0198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-49kKea8wrEk/Udmr2X2RiXI/AAAAAAAAOzA/rpEqFzNfXcE/s640/DSCN0198.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Telling her it's time to roll</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-925boYQrOaw/Udmr8hB9DSI/AAAAAAAAOzI/kSUD4_QSG4s/s1600/DSCN0200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-925boYQrOaw/Udmr8hB9DSI/AAAAAAAAOzI/kSUD4_QSG4s/s640/DSCN0200.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lily always, ALWAYS stands with her hands flat on the blocks like this while she is waiting to be told to get ready. And from this second everything changes for her and it is GAME ON.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So now she waits for next year to try out for Junior Olympics. If she wants it she'll get it. No more long course meets it's back to short course which she likes better. I like watching them swim long but that's cos I don't have to do it.dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10929152764990722808noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771532531635069288.post-83532673822779518502013-07-06T14:21:00.002-04:002013-07-06T16:23:22.730-04:00Summer swim meets...shoot me nowThis weekend is the FGC Invitational. To you and I all that means is it's a swim meet. For me it means gather a whole lot of towels, sunscreen, goggles, extra team cap, cooler, Gatorade chews, water, snacks, etc etc and set the alarm clock for 5.30am and drive north.<br />
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It was Lilys last long course meet of the season and her first meet as an 11 yr old. A big deal. She was used to swimming at the top of her group ( 10 and under) now she was at the bottom (11 and 12). She is also coming off of the injured list from her broken arm so she was <i>PUMPED</i>.<br />
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This was an invitational meet which means it had prelims and finals. She missed finals by 1 place, not sure how many seconds. These sports where 100ths of a second count really make me itch, my brain nearly explodes. She beat all of her old times and was happy with the results and tomorrow we get to go back and do it again. Yippee. And who knows, maybe she will make finals tomorrow. oy.<br />
<br />
I can hardly wait to go and stand in the 90 degree sun on a pool deck, melting for hours and hours again. But I will and I'll do it mock cheerfully to cheer on my girl and I'll hope, just like I did today that I get splashed, a lot. The sun was so bright this morning at 10 am that when she was swimming 100m fly I thought I was taking a photo of her but I couldn't actually see anything and this is what I took a picture of, some random womans boob...oopsie.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yuoQcDFugtc/UdhfxFY9-0I/AAAAAAAAOxg/gcSlO47oJsc/s1600/DSCN0047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yuoQcDFugtc/UdhfxFY9-0I/AAAAAAAAOxg/gcSlO47oJsc/s640/DSCN0047.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you look to the top of the photo you can see a blob in the water, I believe that might be Lil. Thankfully her swimming skills surpass my photography ones. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2B1uy5yy-JQ/UdhdF8qHJ8I/AAAAAAAAOww/YzhHyackffw/s1600/DSCN0060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="570" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2B1uy5yy-JQ/UdhdF8qHJ8I/AAAAAAAAOww/YzhHyackffw/s640/DSCN0060.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love starting block photos, she is so focused</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5eTZ9-mFOQE/UdhdHjMTj1I/AAAAAAAAOw4/cnJLaAW3B-c/s1600/DSCN0070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="494" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5eTZ9-mFOQE/UdhdHjMTj1I/AAAAAAAAOw4/cnJLaAW3B-c/s640/DSCN0070.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and she is off</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p4gUuGlYyTk/UdhdI_EWi3I/AAAAAAAAOxA/BRaDkhzLaNc/s1600/DSCN0072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p4gUuGlYyTk/UdhdI_EWi3I/AAAAAAAAOxA/BRaDkhzLaNc/s640/DSCN0072.JPG" width="454" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hmmm, crossed legs, how novel. Good thing Coach missed those!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aj5Nl3QWOPw/UdhdMpNXumI/AAAAAAAAOxI/e5h1vBcFTAY/s1600/DSCN0087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aj5Nl3QWOPw/UdhdMpNXumI/AAAAAAAAOxI/e5h1vBcFTAY/s640/DSCN0087.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think she is praying</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pwqv5dNnjHI/UdhdSh53hRI/AAAAAAAAOxQ/lzE_41Bxo14/s1600/DSCN0095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pwqv5dNnjHI/UdhdSh53hRI/AAAAAAAAOxQ/lzE_41Bxo14/s640/DSCN0095.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">answered prayers she won that heat.</td></tr>
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I'm so glad both kids love to swim. Lily always makes me laugh because she toddles through practice 5 days a week but put her in a meet and it's Game On. Everything changes. Her Coach has finally figured her out and puts her where he thinks she should be in a meet not where she measures up to in practice and it never fails she pulls it off every single time. <br />
<br />
Have fun tomorrow Fish, if you want it, go get it.dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10929152764990722808noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771532531635069288.post-56415089706071175522013-07-05T09:40:00.000-04:002013-07-05T10:35:43.814-04:00Fun on the fourth with a side of near disasterWe are lucky to have on our doorstep the beautiful <a href="http://www.biltmorehotel.com/">Biltmore Hotel.</a> For years the City of Coral Gables and the Biltmore put on a fantastic fireworks display for the 4th but then the Biltmore closed down it's golf course to renovate it and last year when it reopened the 4th was a ticketed affair, and I mean affair. I am not sure what made me call them yesterday afternoon at 2-ish to see what the dealio was this year but it was once again open to the public. Woo hoo we were going. They did say that I needed to check the City's webpage for parking details. Fat chance peeps I have a client that lives one street over so a quick call in to him and oingo boingo, primo parking.<br />
<br />
The events started at 5, we left our house at 5.30 and by the time we arrived things were getting started. The stage was set with the Miami Dade symphony and lots of stands were set up selling refreshments. I had packed a few bits for the kidlets so we unloaded our chairs and blankets in the shade and we played Frisbee for a little while. Have you ever noticed that things catch your eye but you don't really pay attention to them but later if you need that information it is there, i.e.: there were a few City of CG paramedics driving around in golf carts.<br />
<br />
We were having a pleasant time.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bugP_aNyi6w/UdbDsX8vQHI/AAAAAAAAOvE/uvEJYWjdhQ0/s1600/DSCN9708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bugP_aNyi6w/UdbDsX8vQHI/AAAAAAAAOvE/uvEJYWjdhQ0/s640/DSCN9708.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The historic Biltmore</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DD5FGcsWqpI/UdbDuzl1YeI/AAAAAAAAOvM/k2J2HNVzj1E/s1600/DSCN9706.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DD5FGcsWqpI/UdbDuzl1YeI/AAAAAAAAOvM/k2J2HNVzj1E/s640/DSCN9706.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The orchestra</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T19QbDEB2f0/UdbDwndyqTI/AAAAAAAAOvU/MLElXblvYxw/s1600/DSCN9700.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T19QbDEB2f0/UdbDwndyqTI/AAAAAAAAOvU/MLElXblvYxw/s640/DSCN9700.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Someone looking very grown up. (notice her new glasses)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VHZsD8GpxLE/UdbDzuZZSjI/AAAAAAAAOvc/Tzvgu4PR9IM/s1600/DSCN9701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VHZsD8GpxLE/UdbDzuZZSjI/AAAAAAAAOvc/Tzvgu4PR9IM/s640/DSCN9701.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Will she ever be a lady? (ROFL)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pv5Q_s8mIuw/UdbD2ODP2gI/AAAAAAAAOvk/klDpVwCsKdY/s1600/DSCN9702.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pv5Q_s8mIuw/UdbD2ODP2gI/AAAAAAAAOvk/klDpVwCsKdY/s640/DSCN9702.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">new specs</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YWnvo8CbfbU/UdbD4bTip4I/AAAAAAAAOvs/kUwkSqmguD8/s1600/DSCN9697.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YWnvo8CbfbU/UdbD4bTip4I/AAAAAAAAOvs/kUwkSqmguD8/s640/DSCN9697.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Miss Red White and Blue</td></tr>
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The girls continued to frolic, sometimes I joined in and sometimes not. It was HOT but there was a lovely breeze. I was watching them prepare to climb a tree so I said to myself, oh this isn't going to end well and I reached for my camera but before I could turn it on I heard Lily shouting, <b>ants ants ants RED ANTS ON MY FEET.</b> Things became a blur at that second as I picked ants off of her, Rosie was also leaping about with ants on her.<br />
<br />
Lily only had a few and I sat her down very quickly and spoke to her very very calmly. I told her she had to look at me and stop freaking out, she did. I asked her if she had been bitten, she had. She was terrified. I was NOT. I had her pen with me but chose to wait it out for a little bit. I watched her closely the bites turned into hives immediately. She started to itch. I got ice for her and iced them down. One bite on her leg was massive but the hives were not spreading. We stayed still. I was keeping an eye out for those paramedics I had seen to ask them for benedryll. After 20 minutes it became obvious that she was not going off the deep end. I was so happy. Kidlet got bitten by ants and didn't go from 0-60 in 7 seconds. This is massive. The paramedics came over and took her vitals, her blood pressure was elevated, (ya think) her big bite freaked the older man out cos of its size, it thrilled me cos of its size, it is all in your perspective! Her eyes were red but she was fine albeit shaken and we stayed to watch the fireworks. As for my littlest Peanut, she had far more ants than Lily and didn't get bitten once...go figure.<br />
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I have a big gap in the evenings events as far as photos cos a big part was the ant drama. So we went from chilling out when we first arrived to these.
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-54GDz9ITLWU/UdbJzi6MKGI/AAAAAAAAOv8/vkETLzOGe50/s1600/DSCN9730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-54GDz9ITLWU/UdbJzi6MKGI/AAAAAAAAOv8/vkETLzOGe50/s640/DSCN9730.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As the patriotic music played the most spectacular fireworks were displayed</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6GBVuoEsLqg/UdbJ3cQZyTI/AAAAAAAAOwE/2aP3QzT3fss/s1600/DSCN9754.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6GBVuoEsLqg/UdbJ3cQZyTI/AAAAAAAAOwE/2aP3QzT3fss/s640/DSCN9754.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-avqpBAxgT6Y/UdbJ8sXOoNI/AAAAAAAAOwM/lvQ_-bspQAA/s1600/DSCN9839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-avqpBAxgT6Y/UdbJ8sXOoNI/AAAAAAAAOwM/lvQ_-bspQAA/s640/DSCN9839.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RCmCzV-ssow/UdbKC-zRPrI/AAAAAAAAOwU/MWA8AW46vCk/s1600/DSCN9918.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RCmCzV-ssow/UdbKC-zRPrI/AAAAAAAAOwU/MWA8AW46vCk/s640/DSCN9918.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The girls ohhed and ahhed and said they are NEVER going anywhere else to see fireworks</td></tr>
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Just as things were getting going it started raining so we sat in the chairs and made a little house out of the blankets and stayed dry. Many people left but not us, rain can't scare us away. It only rained for a few minutes but as we were walking back to the car along with 52 million of our closest freinds the heavens really opened and we got drowned. If you have been to Florida you know the kind of rain I mean, if not just think fire hose. We laughed so very very hard, Rosie lost a flip flop so I was trying to turn around in a surging crowd of 52 million in the pouring rain to retrieve her shoe which was being trodden on. Excuse me, coming through, didn't work so I just shoved my way to it, laughing like a fool the whole time. By the time we got to the car we were dripping.<br />
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What was the first thing the kidlets said?... that was awesome!<br />
<br />
Yes girlies, it was.
dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10929152764990722808noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771532531635069288.post-41684460255208752502013-07-04T23:56:00.001-04:002013-07-05T00:01:29.795-04:00You did what to your birthday present?My Father claims he doesn't like any fuss made over him at all, he doesn't like us to spend money on him and that includes buying gifts. Doesn't need anything at all. For Fathers day he made it perfectly clear I WAS NOT to buy him a Fathers day gift, so I didn't. I bought him a gift that was delivered a week later with a card that said, Happy NOT Fathers Day. Bwa ha ha. Really does he think his stubborn streak ended with him?<br />
<br />
So today is his birthday and it is one of those milestone birthdays but honestly when you have a Daddy as wonderful as mine all birthdays are milestones and need to be celebrated. The man receives tonnes of cards for his birthday because he is just a really really lovely person. I told his wife to expect cards but his gift wouldn't arrive until the day before. She said she would be on the look out for it and would squirrel it away for me.<br />
<br />
Yesterday she sent an email; Just to let you know the card is here but no gift as yet. Hmm, oh well I felt sure it would show up today. I rang him this morning, his early afternoon and asked if it had arrived, no it hadn't. Then he said, Ohhh, there was a phonecall for you, something about a delivery. Something was out of stock but they could send something else instead. I knew it must be for me so I told the chap, Ive told her not to waste her money on me, don't worry about it. Don't send it.<br />
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Oh yes he did.<br />
<br />
Eleventy billion long distance phone calls later and it is being delivered. I haven't laughed so hard in a really long time.<br />
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It is so ironic that he actually answered the phone. I actually rang him back tonight just to tell his wife that the reason his present hadn't arrived is because he had intervened. She laughed too, a lot.<br />
<br />
Happy birthday Daddy. and thanks for the laugh.
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-49XClhDM6N0/UdZEzAnbp7I/AAAAAAAAOu0/wkaQhXKv06k/s640/_SAM2007.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-49XClhDM6N0/UdZEzAnbp7I/AAAAAAAAOu0/wkaQhXKv06k/s640/_SAM2007.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of his wife, Jeanne.<br />Official birthday portrait. </td></tr>
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dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10929152764990722808noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771532531635069288.post-90507731516424634372013-07-03T22:40:00.000-04:002013-07-03T22:40:15.756-04:00I opened up a sweat shop<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X-C-B7yatjE/UdTcMiJRNUI/AAAAAAAAOt0/16tVp06yrzk/s1024/DSCN9684.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X-C-B7yatjE/UdTcMiJRNUI/AAAAAAAAOt0/16tVp06yrzk/s640/DSCN9684.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rosie slogging away</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZFxixz4Yffk/UdTcQOkDVvI/AAAAAAAAOt8/YBZt75TIn3o/s1024/DSCN9682.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZFxixz4Yffk/UdTcQOkDVvI/AAAAAAAAOt8/YBZt75TIn3o/s640/DSCN9682.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">her feet don't reach the floor so I had to improvise</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CMPa6_tdz_s/UdTcSLP7O4I/AAAAAAAAOuE/PeazN-T1VcM/s1024/DSCN9679.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CMPa6_tdz_s/UdTcSLP7O4I/AAAAAAAAOuE/PeazN-T1VcM/s640/DSCN9679.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lily hard at work</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8RJu8wbqOOo/UdTcT5v7o2I/AAAAAAAAOuM/GvWv-nY2DHk/s1024/DSCN9685.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8RJu8wbqOOo/UdTcT5v7o2I/AAAAAAAAOuM/GvWv-nY2DHk/s640/DSCN9685.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aha, i spy a sock monkey</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nhPLCWjVdqA/UdTcWnmZ_jI/AAAAAAAAOuU/MPbrs1i-z0Y/s1024/DSCN9687.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nhPLCWjVdqA/UdTcWnmZ_jI/AAAAAAAAOuU/MPbrs1i-z0Y/s640/DSCN9687.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It took all day and into the night </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7ezurRgbMHc/UdTcYN8ZEYI/AAAAAAAAOuc/PBwLrwJQaF8/s1024/DSCN9688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7ezurRgbMHc/UdTcYN8ZEYI/AAAAAAAAOuc/PBwLrwJQaF8/s640/DSCN9688.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bunny helped</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ixf6R9GbzOo/UdTcaN3RfjI/AAAAAAAAOuk/LZyvcBOETIs/s1024/DSCN9689.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ixf6R9GbzOo/UdTcaN3RfjI/AAAAAAAAOuk/LZyvcBOETIs/s640/DSCN9689.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rosie quit helping and watched telly.<br />
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My crafty girl decided she wanted to make a sock monkey. She knows how to sew so I let her "have at it". After watching her sew for an eternity I asked her if she would rather use the sewing machine and she declined. Little Miss Perfectionist must have had a reason so I let it go. After an another eternity, I asked again because that is how I roll. I do things quickly, very quickly and I can't imagine why anyone would do things slowly. Once I pointed out that it was really easy to use she showed some interest.
<br />
<br />
I didn't say anything I just put the machine on the table and set it up. I said you do this this and this and bam, you sew. She was amazed and sat down and s-l-o-w-l-y, oh so very painfully slowly. depressed the foot pedal. I left her to it. When I came back she was hand sewing because the machine was broken. The tension had gone awry and things got messy. I fixed it for her and off she went again, quite fast I need to add.<br />
<br />
We went out this afternoon to see Despicable Me 2 and didn't get back until late. (fabulous movie BTW) Her sewing project was put on hold. I very very rarely have to work from the house and tonight was one of those nights so the girls made themselves invisible and quiet as church mice and as soon as my client had left I ran upstairs to see what they were doing. Lily was sewing in bed but Rosie was watching telly.<br />
<br />
When Rosie saw Lily sewing with the machine this morning she wanted a turn so I found some old scraps of fabric and taught her how. She loved it and keeps asking if she can sew some more. I finally told she could when she decided what she was going to make.<br />
<br />
Sock monkey isn't quite finished yet but I promise, when he is, I will post a photo.<br />
<br />
<br />dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10929152764990722808noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771532531635069288.post-91607094267659018772013-06-29T21:51:00.002-04:002013-06-29T21:51:54.614-04:00Seeing Clearly Having lost all of my vision in my left eye for months at a time on numerous occasions I do not take seeing clearly for granted. I started wearing glasses a year ago and noticed a couple of months ago that all was not well as I couldn't see squat.....yet again.<br />
<br />
Lily was also squinting to see anything further than arms length all of a sudden so I made appointments for everyone to see their favourite eye man.<br />
<br />
Rosie; to quote the DR., has dodged a bullet for another year. Her congenital birth defect has also affected her eyes so it is just a matter of time before the opaque film in her eyes makes glasses a necessity for her. He is really hoping she will make it to about 12 before this happens and perhaps it never will but he says don't hold your breath.<br />
<br />
Lily; well if you have a read for a while you know she is as blind as a bat without glasses. Her vision has deteriorated again but not by an alarming rate. She is at an age where changes like this are normal and he isn't even the slightest bit concerned and expects it to level off a little now...gawd I hope so. Kidlet truly cannot see.<br />
<br />
Me; something about my age was mentioned but I am sure that was just a misunderstanding. Nothing was mentioned about mine levelling off? Must be the different end of the age spectrum. LOL.<br />
<br />
So in the last 2 weeks I've been handed 2 prescriptions for glasses. I chose my frames, nothing fancy and very reasonably priced and then we started with the lenses. All of a sudden I thought I was single handedly paying off the national debt. What the hell is with eye glass lenses people? Holy cow! It's not enough that I have to have glasses but I also have to have very dark sunglasses because my left pupil no longer moves very well or very fast and living here in Fl the sunlight just sears right into my brain causing a very sharp pain. So I got the pleasure of not one but 2 pairs of specs...yay me.<br />
<br />
Moving along to yesterday. Lily is getting to big for kiddies frames so we moved to the next section. She chose her frames, a little pricey but in all fairness to her she has never even scratched her glasses let alone broken or lost a pair in 3 years. I can only think of one occasion when she couldn't find them before school and she called me and they were in my bag, with me, at work. (ooppps) She was torn between to pairs but they were buy one get one 50% off so I told her to get both. She has to wear them ALL the time. It wasn't just the lenses but the whole dealio for that price. Of course her lenses also cost the same as it costs to feed a small country for a year because her vision sucks and her lenses are crazy but that folks is not her fault!<br />
<br />
The doc suggested contacts for Lily but she has no interest at all yet. When she does we will attempt them. He thinks she is at an age where she can start wearing them. This kid loves her glasses though so I don't see it happening. She also pointed out to the doc that it would be a pain in the neck for swimming.....I don't know why she thinks it will be. Andie, you swim in yours don't you?<br />
<br />
So now we are all seeing clearly and I can see very clearly why we won't be taking any extravagant vaca's this summer........<br />
<br />
Sorry, that was just a little rant and normal programming will resume tomorrow.
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dmO6I6UdY2k/Uc-PAm99CVI/AAAAAAAAOtk/0ABB8Rk3SKQ/s600/get_image.php.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dmO6I6UdY2k/Uc-PAm99CVI/AAAAAAAAOtk/0ABB8Rk3SKQ/s600/get_image.php.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the colour of one of Lily's choices.</td></tr>
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dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10929152764990722808noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771532531635069288.post-8924834601209328552013-06-27T22:45:00.000-04:002013-06-27T22:45:10.185-04:00She said, WHAT?Lily approached me earlier looking rather sheepish and coy. She was grinning from ear to ear and said that she needed to tell me something. Since I know that particular face, oh so well, I could hardly wait for her to impart her little gem.<br />
<br />
"Mama, Rosie was so funny earlier, she said Daddy looks old but he is old but Mummy isn't old but she looks old. She has curly skin".<br />
<br />
My gut reaction was to say, WTF? But of course I didn't. I said, Curly skin, what on earth is curly skin? which was a stupid thing to say to a child. Lily had asked her sister the same question just in case their definition of curly skin differed, it didn't.<br />
<br />
<br />
WRINKLES Mama, your wrinkles. You have them here and she pointed to my eyes. Rosie also said you have a lot of nipples and they make you look old too.<br />
<br />
Now before you choke on your tea and spit it all over your keyboard I don't have an affliction that has made me sprout nipples all willy nilly, Rosie calls moles and freckles, nipples.<br />
<br />
This is how my children see me .............................<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YaSk2Qv_gkI/Ucz3pMPZTLI/AAAAAAAAOtM/sEs539AqwJQ/s1200/5372301-very-old-woman-face-covere-with-wrinkles-closeup-photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="427" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YaSk2Qv_gkI/Ucz3pMPZTLI/AAAAAAAAOtM/sEs539AqwJQ/s640/5372301-very-old-woman-face-covere-with-wrinkles-closeup-photo.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at that curly skin<br /><br /></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iBio6Q2aB1I/Ucz3uU7oRVI/AAAAAAAAOtU/b3IifPWQoWg/s800/0.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iBio6Q2aB1I/Ucz3uU7oRVI/AAAAAAAAOtU/b3IifPWQoWg/s640/0.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hmmm, lots of nipples but I don't see that many curls! Maybe tomorrow I'll try my straigtening iron on my face too.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Next time I see Lily with that coy little face I shall run for cover!
dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10929152764990722808noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771532531635069288.post-27306792495183442092013-06-23T17:48:00.000-04:002013-06-23T17:48:29.219-04:00As I thoughtI thought that once Lily got wind that I had been behind the scenes at the Britto gallery she would be green with envy and I was right. She begged me to take her back down to Lincoln Road today so that she could see his new work that is on display. She said she didn't care if she didn't get "the tour" she just wanted to see his new style of painting.<br />
<br />
I was fine with that. Lincoln Road is a lot of fun and the people watching there is bar none. Where else can you teach your kids about transgender, movie stars, pimped up geriatrics, body builders and young love all in one place? We strolled around for a little while and then made our way to the gallery. Lily was in awe, as she always is. Anthony sadly wasn't working today and the crew that was in today lacked the sparkle that he had. As the girls were chatting about which pieces they have another man overheard them and came and chatted. I told them our story and he took them upstairs. It wasn't the grand tour that we received yesterday but they got to see the studio. They saw most of what I saw yesterday and Lily took in every single inch of it. She floated on air from piece to piece. They both loved the giant panda.<br />
<br />
Once back downstairs they both purchased something with their own money. From there we left and headed to the art gallery next door which is a shared space of many starving artists using umpteen different medias and quite fun.<br />
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By this time it was eleventy billion degrees so the girls needed some ice cream.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9PFlDUSn1FY/UcdRq9-XsqI/AAAAAAAAOsk/RehzyjSdcqQ/s1600/DSCN9628.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9PFlDUSn1FY/UcdRq9-XsqI/AAAAAAAAOsk/RehzyjSdcqQ/s640/DSCN9628.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hot and happy girlies</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wn5gAboR4bE/UcdRs2P7wrI/AAAAAAAAOss/M2ZL9SQvmis/s1600/DSCN9638.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wn5gAboR4bE/UcdRs2P7wrI/AAAAAAAAOss/M2ZL9SQvmis/s640/DSCN9638.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kilwins, our favourite ice cream</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2S7bcUkjTS8/UcdRujdiR-I/AAAAAAAAOs0/hOjgVon_CvE/s1600/DSCN9639.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2S7bcUkjTS8/UcdRujdiR-I/AAAAAAAAOs0/hOjgVon_CvE/s640/DSCN9639.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">speaks for itself</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uFiokG-geT0/UcdRxhEqRuI/AAAAAAAAOs8/O-XNK2gkSTU/s1600/DSCN9636.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uFiokG-geT0/UcdRxhEqRuI/AAAAAAAAOs8/O-XNK2gkSTU/s640/DSCN9636.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Lily took this and I actually don't hate it. Wrinkly old prune.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
An absolutely great day spent with my kiddies whom I missed a lot, a very very lot.
dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10929152764990722808noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771532531635069288.post-33541208020951698102013-06-22T23:07:00.001-04:002013-06-23T17:44:55.779-04:00What do you get when....What do you get when you have 3 crazy women and a bright orange pair of sandals?<br />
<br />
Give up?<br />
<br />
A tour of Romero Britto's private art gallery.<br />
<br />
Uh huh, yes you do.<br />
<br />
Months back Lori, Stress is the new Black, and Grace, Love Letters to China and I decided we would get our kids together today for a trip to the zoo. Fast forward a few months and oh deary me, my kids are away so instead of rescheduling the play date we made it a mama's play date. The 3 of us see each other very infrequently but when we do it is always super fun. I suggested that we meet up on Lincoln Rd and take it from there.<br />
<br />
We had lunch at a fabulous little Tapas place and then trotted 15 steps into Brittos gallery as it was, excuse my French, hotter than balls, outside. There were many other places to go to cool off but we all love Brittos artwork so it was the perfect cool down spot.<br />
<br />
Not 2 seconds after we walked in a very "flamboyant" and fabulous chap called Anthony came up to me and commented/drooled about my sandals, shirt and orange watch. He <i><b>loved</b> </i>my outfit. We all introduced ourselves and he told us if we needed anything to let him know. Lori, Grace and I were having fun today so before long Anthony was back with us answering questions and just being kind. At one point Lori mentioned that she in fact had "that" exact piece in her home and with that magic doors were opened.<br />
<br />
Anthony disappeared and came back seconds later and asked if we would care to see the private gallery upstairs. Off we trotted with Anthony up the stairs to what used to be Brittos studio until he moved recently to Wynwood. It is now his office and private studio. The place where he keeps his art and displays his personal artifacts. I love his art, I wish it wasn't quite as commercial as it has become but I love it for it's happy for it's cheerful, for it's fun and for many other reasons too. Seeing his new work with the glitter, the zigzaggy lines as opposed to his signature straight lines, his new black and white work blew my socks off. We hit Anthony with rapid fire questions and he answered every one. I mentioned Lily's love of Romero and how she has tried so hard to meet him and even entered art contests to try that way. He stopped and said, give me your contact information, we can arrange it, Romero loves kids. Oh my gosh, Lily will be thrilled, not in the oh wow a famous artist kind of way but in the oh wow I love your work and you are so talented, kind of way.<br />
<br />
We were allowed to take photos...yes we were, in his offices, of his work. It was crazy, so we all snapped away but not too many. We had a fabulous time and then we went back downstairs with the ordinary peeps and some of us did some shopping, for dats, that's what we call dogs that are really cats! I am waiting until I go back with Lily as apparently he will sign something for her so that will be when I do my shopping.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1aaGdTq9WzM/UcZgqmzqlEI/AAAAAAAAOrs/FLBgj0dXt0c/s1600/DSCN9620.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1aaGdTq9WzM/UcZgqmzqlEI/AAAAAAAAOrs/FLBgj0dXt0c/s640/DSCN9620.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">His personal gallery showing his photos. (even one with HRH Prince charles)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mypVAHCvNBA/UcZgtDTJ9VI/AAAAAAAAOr0/3eoQNUOjHsE/s1600/DSCN9621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mypVAHCvNBA/UcZgtDTJ9VI/AAAAAAAAOr0/3eoQNUOjHsE/s640/DSCN9621.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He never ever makes a fuss when he attends all these functions. New photos just appear and the staff say, You just met WHO?</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PweoFsHqQmM/UcZgvkEmykI/AAAAAAAAOr8/BhuAfT9Iz8o/s1600/DSCN9625.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PweoFsHqQmM/UcZgvkEmykI/AAAAAAAAOr8/BhuAfT9Iz8o/s640/DSCN9625.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rosie is a pig in the Chinese zodiac.....I had to photograph this one</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L1IOTtOZV2Q/UcZibLd8SII/AAAAAAAAOsM/NhkjVDHskLw/s1600/DSCN9624.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L1IOTtOZV2Q/UcZibLd8SII/AAAAAAAAOsM/NhkjVDHskLw/s640/DSCN9624.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We all took photos of this. This is a new piece with glitter but you can't see the glitter, it is in the leaves.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oWT1eqLCeFo/UcZifhC2jAI/AAAAAAAAOsU/OM7kS0bxPcc/s1600/DSCN9627.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oWT1eqLCeFo/UcZifhC2jAI/AAAAAAAAOsU/OM7kS0bxPcc/s640/DSCN9627.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And these...well they speak for themselves!<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So much fun. Why don't I have a photo of the 3 of us? Too busy talking!
We even arranged to get together again, with and without the girls.
Talking of girls I get them all to myself tomorrow. I can't wait.
dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10929152764990722808noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-771532531635069288.post-42177355341114055302013-06-20T07:21:00.001-04:002013-06-20T07:21:31.475-04:00down timeThe girls are away this week so it is just me. It is very very strange and I am not used to it at all. Rosie woke up crying on Monday morning and the idea of being away from me for 6 days was more than she could bare but I made it sound so fabulous that even I believed it. My girlies check in frequently and Lily is bubbly for the most part with an occasional grumble but Rosies little voice is very quiet on the phone. Silly little pickle, she really is a mama's girl.<br />
<br />
I have filled my time with work and DIY projects around the house. I attempted one project that proved too big, involved electricity and required me calling for back up. No one was hurt and my house is still standing and not even charred. It is amazing to me how easy DIY really is and I swear I think I might need a career change. Darn I wish my sister lived here or I lived there because we would be an awesome team.<br />
<br />
My friends are fabulous and I have seen alot of them too.<br />
<br />
Anyhoo, I have a little hole in a wall that requires some plaster, long story so I need to get back to work.<br />
<br />
Blog posts will be few and far between for a few more days but I'll be back at it once my kidlets are home I am sure. Photos of holes in the wall and wires sticking out of junction boxes are only interesting to a few people.<br />
<br />
TTFN<br />
<br />
<br />dawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10929152764990722808noreply@blogger.com4