Spring Break 2015

We spent last week in Florida! Raphael had a business conference in Orlando at the exact time the girls were out of school, so we were able to go along and have some fun. It was the first time since Rachel has started school that we have gone anywhere for spring break and it was good to get out of town for a few days.  *****lots of pictures to follow******

Our first day, we stayed at the hotel and went swimming and explored all around the hotel. It is huge and there was a lot to walk around and see.

There was an area just for kids with a nice pool and waterpark with slides and fountains. The girls were waiting for the big bucket to fill up and spill water everywhere.

Lunchtime at the pool. I love eating outside and the weather was perfectly sunny. We swam till late afternoon, showered and then walked the hotel. This is a view from inside an elevator.

Room service!! The girls loved it.

Next morning we were up early to take the shuttle to Disney World!

Ready in her Minnie Mouse shirt.

The castle.

We walked through it and Rebecca thought it was so beautiful.

Our very first ride was The Haunted Mansion. Rebecca was scared, poor thing.

After that we ate-- it felt like we were always eating. So many good little snacks to

 try at Disney World.

Rebecca and I trying a pineapple Dole Whip. It is like a pineapple

flavored ice cream and it was good.

 

We turned a corner and ran into these ladies. So we chatted with them for

a minute. Rebecca was nervous and excited. Rachel told me she is getting too

 big to have her picture with the characters.

We had a  good day at the Magic Kingdom!

 

The next day we visited the Animal Kingdom and Epcot.

The tree of life in Animal Kingdom.

The very first ride we took was a roller coaster with dinosaurs. It was the first time for

Rebecca and I. Rachel had ridden it before with Raphael.

It was scary, but we loved it.

Then we left DinoLand and went to Africa. I really wanted to go on the

safari ride and it was one of my favorite rides. Love all the animals.

We took the train to an explorer station and met Rafiki and Chip and Dale.

Us at the Animal Kingdom.

I could have spent the day there. So much to see, but we need to move

onto Epcot.

Epcot was hosting a flower and garden show. Throughout Epcot there

were beautiful topiaries of different Disney characters.

Rebecca in Paris!

The Eiffel Tower in the background.

I explained to the girls that Epcot is arranged into countries and

Rebecca couldn't wait to get to see France.

China or maybe Japan?? I can't remember, but so pretty.

An exhibit with replicas of the Warrior Statues from China.

We were walking through England and Alice was in the tea garden

Rebecca loved talking with her.

 

Friday was our last day in Florida and Raphael's conference was over, so we

all went to SeaWorld. But first we went to breakfast in the most perfect little

town ever--- Celebration.

Celebration is a town created and planned by Disney and it is postcard

perfect. The street signs, cute shops, nice people, no litter, good food......

I could live there :)

I just love the street signs! Adorable!! We ate dinner in Celebration our first

night in Florida and couldn't stay away.

The town was hosting a car show, so very fancy and expensive

cars were lining the streets. Many of the cars on display were worth

more than our house!

 

Ok---- now to SeaWorld!

Raphael and Rachel went on the rollercoasters. Rebecca and I went to

look at the stingrays.

We went on a ride that ended in the penguin exhibit. The penguins were

so fun to watch and they are such fast swimmers.

There were animals exhibits through out . The flamingos were gorgeous.

Our only picture together the whole trip :)

And of course, we went to see Shamu and his friends.

We all enjoyed the show. So amazing to watch those whales jump and dive.

 

And that was spring break 2015.

Rebecca already asked me where we are going for next year's

spring break ?!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Six

Yesterday was Rebecca's sixth birthday!!

 

We celebrated with her friends on Saturday and she was super excited for her

birthday party. This year we went to the Painted Penguin Pottery Place.

Each of the girls got to pick out a little statue and then spend time painting it.

Rebecca chose a heart shaped box to keep her "treasures" in.

Brianna, Sienna and Rebecca

They are all in the same kindergarten class and Rebecca was thrilled to

have them there. We had ten girls total, but I never took a group picture.

Blowing out the candles on her cookie cake :)

Afterwards, we went to out to dinner to celebrate some more.

 Yesterday I went to school and ate lunch with her and then we passed out cookies

to her classmates to celebrate.

Rachel took this picture of us after school. Can't believe she is six!

Time for cake and ice cream!!

We are thankful for our sweet Rebecca and pray her sixth year will

be a blessed one.

 

 

 

 

 

Life Lately

We haven't been up to anything too exciting around here, just the normal everyday kind of stuff.
The girls have been keeping busy with their activities. Last Sunday, Rebecca's church choir group had their spring show...Kids Under Construction.

 

 

Rachel's fifth grade year is starting to come to an end. This week all the fifth graders spent a day at

the middle school. Rachel was excited and nervous. She thought the middle school was overwhelming, but I told her that she will figure it all out.

 

And Rachel was chosen to be part of the "safety patrol" at school.

Not exactly sure what that all entails, but she thinks it is great. She doesn't want

me coming to school to take her picture, so I snapped this one early before school.

I have been waking up early to work out at the gym. And I guess, it is too early

because the other morning I wore two different shoes to the gym.

Work continues on our basement! This week they are installing trim and doors.

And our bathroom is getting closer to being finished.

All the trees are in full bloom around here.

I have been participating in March Madness, and watching a lot of college basketball.

 A college from Atlanta made it into the playoffs,so I was cheering for them. I love watching college basketball.

 

That's about it for around here. The next few weeks and months are busy with Spring break and end of school /church events. And Rebecca's birthday is coming up too. Looking forward to a fun and busy weekend.

 

Photos from My Phone Friday

It's been forever since I have posted pictures from my phone. A bit of what we have been up to........

                                         The girls had a fun run to raise money for their school.

Rebecca started back to soccer.

My friend, Heidi McCahan had her second book published. I had a

chance to read it and thought it was a good book.

At the allergy doctor.

 Rachel is still getting shots for her allergies, but now we only have to go once a month !!

Dressed up for Western night at AWANA.

 

 

I saw @Skinnyrunnersr posted this on Instagram and it made

me laugh.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Albany Half

Way back in November, a couple of my friends and I decided to run a half marathon in Albany,GA.
My friend Mary and I drove together and we decided to make a weekend of it, so we went Friday and came home on Sunday. Mary's friend from high school drove up from Florida and ran with us.

Mary,me, Melissa

 

Our before the race picture. The weather was perfect-- a little cold to start, but a

beautiful sunny day.

I finished with my second best half marathon time --2 hours and 8 minutes.

I was happy with the time, because I didn't train too hard for this race.

 

I ran back and found Mary when she was around mile 12 and snapped a few pictures.

Then we waited a few minutes and Melissa crossed the finish line too.

Mary

Melissa

 

The Albany race is a full and half marathon and it a qualifier for The Boston Marathon.

We were able to watch many full marathon runners cross the line and qualify in time to

run Boston Marathon next year-- amazing to see.

Done!!!

The finish was next to a river and pretty area to relax and stretch. We went for

quick massage/stretch in a recovery area and then went back to the hotel for

showers and naps :)

It was Mary's birthday!!

I brought along cupcakes and candle so we could sing to her.

After our naps, we went for dinner to celebrate and wandered around

downtown at a festival that was going on.

 

A fun weekend away!!

 

 

 

Forty Two

Yesterday was my 42nd birthday :)

 

Raphael organized dinner and a few of our friends came over to  celebrate with us.

Daniella, me, Rachel and Patria

Naomi came with her daughters. And all the girls put on an entertaining

"show" for us.

I got two sets of beautiful flowers.

Thankful to my parents and mother-in-law for birthday gifts.

It was a good day!

And it started snowing again! So school was cancelled for today and

I am betting on tomorrow too. Hopefully it will snow enough so we can go

outside to sled and play for awhile.