Bubbles, bubbles everywhere

I finally found time to use my jacuzzi bath tub tonight!! For about 30 seconds :(
It is cloudy and windy outside (so I pretended it was cold not a humid 80 degrees), Andrew was occupied on the computer and Brent was playing games with Nathan so I thought it the perfect time to test out the bath tub. Of course a bath is not the same without bubbles, so I grabbed a bottle we saved from staying on the Disney property hotel and added it to the water. Usually when the kids take a bath we use the entire bottle of bubbles and it barely makes any so I figured, I should use the whole bottle too. What I did not know was that when you start the jets, the bubbles multiply by the thousands!!! I had to turn off the jets so I did not overflow the bathroom and then it was just not the same and I thought the kids would get a kick out of the bubbles so I reluctantly got out and called them in. They had a blast!

Caught in the rain storm

Well, it finally happened. So far when we have visited the Disney parks we have managed to either miss the thunder storms or be inside when they went by...not so much last Saturday evening.
Brent had one more coupon (of course) to use at the restaurants so off we headed at about 2:30 to the Magic Kingdom. The whole day had been nice and sunny, but as we approached the parks we drove into a very large and dark sky. Usually (key word), these pass through and the sun comes out again so we did not think much about it. We arrived just in time to stay dry in the train station when the heavens poured down. We thought it quite funny as the 3:00 parade was just starting and the people lining the parade path were getting drenched as well as the parade cast members. We were surprised to see the parade actually go on, but they did only send out 3 of 7 floats and the last 2 just made the circle at main street instead of going back to the castle. Once the rain stopped we walked (the trains were still closed due to the lighting) to Splash Mountain...our original destination.

Side Note: It is finally so nice to be able to ride something other than Dumbo and the Carousel!!

It had also closed so we were pretty close to the front of the line, however, as time went by the fast pass people started to pile up and we still had to wait 30 minutes in line. This ride goes inside and outside and I knew we were in trouble the first time we came outside and the sky was completely black-purple. The next time we came outside it was pouring and we got soaked. Personally, I was not thinking this was very funny anymore since I was the one getting soaked. That teaches me to laugh at others misfortunes. Once off the ride we waited the storm out, but it never really stopped. Because Nathan was in my lap and I bent over him only my back was soaked, but it was still extremely uncomfortable especially since the sun never came back out and it kept raining, there was never a chance to dry off. We rode a couple more inside rides (note that these are highly air conditioned and when you are soaking that means you freeze) and I was ready to eat...no way was Brent getting out of buying dinner even if I felt and looked like a drowned rat. Everyone else looked just the same and they all seemed perfectly happy, so I finally stopped begging for a new shirt and we ate dinner. Plans were to stay for the fireworks, but the kids were showing signs of being tired and it was only 7 so we headed home. Here we are at dinner....

The Kerr's and the Presidential Candidate

Seems we have somewhat of a celebrity in the family. Barack Obama worshiped at a church in Eau Claire, WI this past Sunday and it so happens that Brent's Uncle John is an interim paster there. Here is the proof, Brent says if you google John Kerr and Obama you will find more pictures. Uncle John is the one with the cleric's collar, not the very obvious Secret Service man who looks like he is reaching for his weapon.

Here is another shot before the service. Uncle John chose to preach about humility that morning...hmmm.

Rain, Rain Go Away...

School is closed again for tomorrow...we have had the strongest winds today along with the most rain so far. Hopefully this slow moving storm called Fay creeps away over tomorrow, the kids are asking where we can move that does not have rain! Orlando is getting the brunt of the swirl off the storm. We definitely have not had as much rain as the coast, but it is still hard to be stuck at home with both kids when they are so excited to get back to school. Maybe a movie tomorrow if I think the roads are ok. Usually I like to bake when it is raining, however, on Tuesday when the kids were home I tried to make a Cheerio/marshmallow/chocolate dessert (like Rice Krispy Treats), but I burned myself with the marshmallow...don't even ask how, but I have a blister on my fingers and a burn mark on my face...yes, my face, right by my eye. Suffice it to say the kids are not real interested in baking after seeing me scream and run to the sink for cold water.

1st Day of School....Last Day of School

1st Day of School: Today was the first day of school and we were all excited. Andrew started 1st grade and Nathan has moved onto Pre-Kindergarten. He will attend his current school until January and then he changes to the elementary school where the state offers a free pre-kindergarten program. Andrew loved his first day and Nathan made it seem like he did not even have a break.

Last Day of School: Now that we have started school, it has been canceled for tomorrow (maybe Wednesday) due to the hurricane that is headed our way! The clouds and rain has already started and they are currently (this changes frequently) predicting that it will be over central Florida about mid day on Tuesday. I will try to update as we have more information and take pictures if anything really cool happens, I think it will be lot's of rain and wind.

Summary of Summer 08

Wow, I can't believe we made it! Summer is winding down and the kids are looking forward to starting school on Monday. Tomorrow is "meet the teacher" day for both kids. It seems like school let out a long time ago...We started the summer with a short visit from my parents and then we were off on our first east coast vacation to Myrtle Beach, that was a fun trip driving up through Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. Once back Brent's mom joined us for a week while his dad was overseas. We had a great time with vacation bible school, a trip to Tampa, the Space Center and of course Epcot! Then there were two weeks of swim lessons at the YMCA while they continued at Southwest Aquatics. Andrew ended his lessons by joining the swim team and has since participated in two swim meets. He has accumulated 5 ribbons: 1st, 2nd, 3rdx2 and 4th. First place was in freestyle, he has really improved on that stroke. We then spent two weeks in California visiting my parents and various friends, that was a great time and we were happy to get back to the "familiar". Since we have been home I have been getting ready for school, buying supplies and trying to get Andrew back to his pre-vacation reading level. Andrew has continued with swim team practice and has one more meet on August 23.

Back to Florida

I would say "home again" but I have not lived here long enough to feel like I was coming home. Rather, I felt like I was coming back to where my husband and possessions are located. The two flights went well, they showed Kung Foo Panda on the first flight and I thought "Great! The kids will watch!", ha, jokes on me, they had no interest in the movie so I had to keep them entertained for that flight. Andrew kept up his multiple trips to the bathroom, which was fine since that would keep him occupied for 5-10 minutes each time. He went no less than 6 times for the first flight and about the same on the second.

We are now back into our pre-vacation mode of going to the gym in the morning and doing various activities in the afternoon. One more week and school starts on the 18th!!

I realized that since I took all the pictures on vacation it did not look like I was there, so we finally took one on our last day.

The last full day on the mountain

Uncle Jason came up this afternoon to see us one more time before we fly home. He is very busy so we were happy he was able to find time to drive up. The kids wanted him to have a treasure hunt on the island so mom bought him a new toaster oven for his new apartment and we hid it for him. Andrew drew pictures of clues and off we went. Nathan seems to be trying to catch up on his sleep. I put him down for a nap at 3:30, he woke at 4:30 came in to my room where I was reading, asked where Andrew was and fell back to sleep until 5:30. We had dinner at my parents friends home down the street and a very nice neighbor girl, 13 I think, watched the kids for a little while, that was really nice of her. The kids are going to the country club for another camp tomorrow afternoon and then we are off to San Diego for the night since our plane leave Wednesday.

The Wine Cellar, The Park and The Golf Course

Big Sunday in CA today. After church my dad headed back to the desert to pick up some things my mom forgot and we took the kids home for lunch. After rest time the kids wanted to play in the wine cellar, they served us lunch and dinner. I thought we needed some time outside so we took the golf cart to the park that is across from the UCLA Conference Center. The kids played in the water and at the park. We met dad at home and decided to take the kids out on the "big" golf course to see how Grandma and Papa play. I think Andrew enjoyed cleaning the balls as much as putting on the green. Pictures of all events below. It is now 8pm and the kids have not eaten since 11:30am and the pizza just went in the oven....you can guess their moods at this time.




Follow up...Nathan did not even make it through dinner, he wanted to go to bed.

A Pirate Adventure and S'more's

Today we traveled back up the mountain and out of the heat! On the way home we stopped at the outlet stores for back to school shopping. Since we had the cat with us, Dad sat in the air conditioned hallway outside Starbucks and waited for us...such patience. Later, we took the boys to the island in the lake and told them that there were treasures hidden and gave directions to find them, they really liked the adventure.

Last Saturday we boated over to the Lake Arrowhead lodge for a campfire, but the boys were too sick to take part in the s'more making, they asked to go again tonight, but there were not doing it today so we make our own here at home, not quite the same with out the campfire, but they liked it anyway.

Anniversary

Today Brent and I celebrate our 16 year wedding anniversary and even though we are across the United States from eachother, email and cell phones keep us in touch. It was a low key day here in the desert. Swimming this morning when it is only 100F then off to the Childrens Museum.
Where the kids enjoyed the following: