Puerto Rico!!!

As you know, Russ went to Puerto Rico this past November with the Air Force. It's a tough job, but someone has to do it...And for my birthday, I was able to join him for a few days!! (Best birthday...EVER!!)

For my birthday party, we took a nighttime sea kayaking trip to Bio-luminescent Bay. Because it was at night, and in the water, we didn't get any pictures, but it was the most AMAZING adventure! (See some pics here http://www.biobay.com/ ) First, we had to paddle togther--a challenge. Although we did get the hang of it, I still caused some problems. Anyway, the point being, we made it to the Bay. I LOVED it! I would go back again and again if we could! Watching the water light up, and sparkle on my hand...WOW!

Then we went to Old San Juan and toured one of the forts. There are two forts on the island and one took 300 years to build, the other took 170 years. (It wouldn't have taken so long, but every time Puerto Rico was invaded, the marauders made changes to the fort.) We spent quite a bit of time there. Then we went shopping and to lunch. I like plantains. They were delicious!

Finally, we played at the beach. The beach was just out the back of the hotel, and it was a lovely, sandy beach. (One thing we discovered, kissing in the waves isn't as romantic as it looks in the movies. In reality, you get salt water up your nose and your feet washed out from under you.)

The best part of the trip? Hmmm...sea kayaking? Shopping? Probably realizing that I do like to spend time with Russ. So often it is a rush as we pass each other on the way out the door, and it is always noisy, that it is easy to forget that I really do like this man that I married.

Enjoy the pictures!

(We decided this can be our new beach house. Sure it is supposed to be a hotel, but that only means it is big enough to have visitors! Oh, and plenty of parking--a must.)

Holidays

They are jumbled up, but here are a few pics. Zoey's Thanksgiving program is at the end of the Christmas pics...(and yes, they all got new PJ's and socks and underwear on Christmas Eve...it's tradition! LOL!)

Halloween!!!

Just a quick post, mostly pictures today. Halloween was fun! We went to about three neighborhoods trick or treating. Zoey kept saying, "Three more houses and then one more." (That is how we get her to eat sometimes, "Four more bites, then one more." It works.)

We really try to make sure the kids all say Thank You to each person who gives them a treat. At one house, the kids were running down the driveway and I asked if they had said thank you. The boys said they did, but Zoey had forgotten. The woman was still at her door and Zoey wanted to go back and thank her. Before we got to the door, she went inside and Z was so upset. We rang the doorbell again and Z said thank you, but the woman was confused. I explained what had happened, and the woman thought it was so sweet, she gave Z another treat! See, good things will always come from doing the right thing!

Kyler was really excited when people knew he was Bobba Fette from Star Wars! He also had a great time and was really fun to be with. He is fun to tease sometimes because he gets giggly and silly.

Jake was very reluctant to go, but I didn't want to leave him alone with strangers coming to the house. He went as a "zombie" that hadn't fully changed yet. The mummy costume wasn't terribly successful last time and took longer than anticipated to get him ready for. But in the end, he had a good time also.

Now the pics...

Ready to go!

This year I thought it would be easier to paint our pumpkins...alas, I was wrong. It takes alot of white paint to cover the orange of a pumpkin. Jake carved his though, and did it faster than we did with painting...Kyler's is an alien, Zoey's is a kitty, and mine is a spider (but the legs keep falling off).

For Kyler and Zoey's teachers...

Kyler and Z both had two teachers they wanted to take something for, but I didn't have time to make 4 shoes, so they each took a shoe and a cauldron for teachers, and their classmates each received a skull with treats inside. I really like how everything turned out.

As soon as the camera came out, Zoey was ready with a pose. They are are awesome and I love them to pieces!

Good thing they brought the sled!!

When Russ and the kids moved here and we were unpacking the moving truck, I asked why in the world they brought the sled with them? Well, today I know why.

And in addition to that question, I asked Russ why he had to get a 4-wheeler for Kyler when he was so little. We have more than gotten our money out of it, and we still have a long way to go with it!

Zoey getting on for a ride. (Kyler was stopped, so she wasn't trying to jump on a moving target. We all know poor, little Zoey inherited her mom's coordination.)

Kyler rolled Jake off when they went down the hill.

(Digital cameras aren't great when you want an action shot.)

Waiting her turn...not patiently though...

My little bobble head.

The 4-wheeler doesn't really have enough power for all three of the kids to "ride" and go very fast, but they still had alot of fun.

Zoey said...

Zoey found a small cut on her thumb. She was quite distraught for a bit about it, mostly because she didn't know how it got there. As we were in the car headed somewhere, she was still contemplating the nick, when all of a sudden she realized what had happened!

"Oh, I know!" said Zoey. "My skin is breaking apart because I am growing big and big and big and it is falling off!"

Well, of course, why didn't we realize that?! Silly mommy and daddy!

Hugs and kisses!!!

roblox

I play ROBLOX and my account name is towleboy in the cool game ROBLOX

Still getting used to the South...

I really like it here in Alabama, but there are some things that take getting used to still. Registering for school, for one. I didn't know you have to dis-enroll your students before you can enroll them somewhere else. Previously, we have just enrolled them and the schools have taken care of the paperwork. After alot, and I do mean ALOT, of hassle, everyone is enrolled in school. Jake picked up his schedule and toured the school yesterday--he thinks he is going to like his new school.

Zoey has her open house today at her new school. She can't wait to start school again!

Kyler has his open house the day before class starts, on Aug. 10.

And Russ starts classes on Aug. 15.

Alot to keep up with...

The heat and humidity has also been a change to get used to. Some days I can take it better than others. It helps when I work, because I have to be outside and it helps tolerate the heat better (at least I think so).

And finally, things at the grocery store are different. Mostly, we don't have too much trouble finding what we usually use. Occasionally though, we find some gems we would never have thought to look for before, such as...

A WHOLE HOG'S HEAD! Yes, folks, this can be yours for less than $8! You get the eyes, the ears, the tongue, the snout, everything for one low price! (I declined to purchase it at the time because I just didn't know any good recipes for hogs head at the moment. You understand, right?)

Gotta love it!!!