ARUBA....A Week In Sheer Paradise 

I love the vacations where you don't feel like you have any schedule, you don't feel like you have to get dressed up, put on makeup, don't have to blow dry your hair, no one telling you to hurry back etc.......just plain old relaxing and enjoying the moment. ARUBA is beautiful!





My favorite thing was walking out on the beach first thing in the morning barefoot in the soft white powder sand, faced with a spectacular view of the Caribbean brilliant clear blue water. AHHH there really is nothing like it, I had to soak in every minute.




We stayed in an Awesome Hotel that had a Beautiful Pool...which by the way we only stepped into it once to take pictures. Who can sit here when the beach is only steps away?




The Snorkeling was superb, we saw several turtles, squid, an eel, a star fish and all the typical tropical fish.






The Sun was really so intense. Every morning we would power up with 45 sunscreen...frequently reapplying throughout the day and still we were kissed by
the Sun :)



I love the Sun...this is bad I know {but really who cannot soak up this moment} We went to several different beaches enjoying all it had to offer. We rented a car and explored the entire Island. The Aruban kids put on quite a show for us one day{I had to quickly capture them} They were pretty cute!!



Of course we had to Shop. Mark is so good and always tries to encourage me to buy a nice piece of jewelry wherever we vacation.....sort of a momentum to take home. So needless to say I have some real fun pieces of jewelry that have a lot of meaning to them.




A lot of their buildings are painted in Bright colors. Even the houses are painted

very Bright colors!! This was the shopping tourist trap with a lot of good shopping..... across the street was the typical flee market shops.



I guess when you can spend every waking minute for a week with your husband of 32 years and still like each other that is a pretty good sign that we must still BE IN LOVE!!






Love those Arubian Sunsets




Thanks Mark for an Incredible Week of Sheer Bliss!! Love you

EASTER EGGS



I have always struggled with this part of Easter.  Our Eggs don't always turn out EGGactly as planned. I want master pieces, pretty Eggs, I'm tired of the dye, the crayons, stickers and so called paint that never sticks. This year I was going to create those Martha Stewart looking Eggs. I heard of a way using silk ties. YUP, I made Mark go through his ties and find a few good silk ones he was tired of and cut them up. Suposedly you are to boil them for so long and the pattern transfers onto the egg.
I was EGGstremely EGGcited to see the outcome! {Well Dang} I missed the picture of the final EGGS> But let me tell you this they {kinda} worked and they were {kinda}
cool.






The Little boys however pulled it off and made some fun EGGS





While in the midst of coloring EASTER EGGS we got to talking about leaving for ARUBA. Nate asked what time we left {OPPS} after looking at our schedule {because we had been so busy and just knew we left at 12:08} we didn't take into account the AM & PM factor. I was in somewhat of a panic when we realized we left Easter Sunday at 12:08 AM. I though I had Monday morning to finalize the packing. YIKES!!

EASTER EGG HUNT

Lush Green Grass, Easter Baskets, Landscaped yards, good weather.....we were lacking all this due to our construction so.......we did the next best thing when you have nothing but Boys A Huntin' The trophy room came in handy. They were finding their surprises in such odd places!! No frilly EASTER dresses running around in this bunch!!

EASTER DINNER

All my favorite little BUNNIES right here...



We had such FUN guests to dinner. Both the Grandparents and Winston's brother and Nate's Brother came. Our table was stretched to the limit. We had a great time.



As Tradition goes we play BINGO after dinner and have some fun prizes that we pass around everyone trying to end up with their favorite. We kind of gave up on the money hunt we use to do for the girls.



I am always so grateful for My Girls. They are SUZIE on the SPOT {not sure where that came from} when I need them. They fill my life with so much goodness. Each one is so different and unique in their own special way. Love you all!!



I hope everyone's EASTER was Fabulous.......It's over and I have EGGactly 3 hours left until I am on the plane flying into PARADISE
{I am EGGstremely EGGcited } *SMILE*

~DISNEYLAND~

The Happiest Place On Earth!!



Who says Disneyland is just for kids???

We spent 3 days standing in lines, enjoying the sun and having tons of fun!! Cute LITTLE Josh was bound and determined that he was going to go on all the big rides. Just one Problem...~He just was not tall enough~ Nicole and I had thought ahead and knowing that he would not measure up to 40" we tucked his cowboy boots in the stroller and strategically put them on him when we knew he needed a little extra boost. The man measuring would pull him down in his boots and just as he looked up Josh would stand on his tippy toes inside the boots. ~Yes, we were a little sneaky~
He was so proud of himself that he was tall enough to make the mark!! He laughed and said..."I tricked him" OOPS





Megan was chosen to move up to the Varsity Team and go compete with them at Nationals in California. Lucky for us it was the same time we were there. She had a lot of fun and then was able to be in Disneyland with all the Cheerleaders. They ended up taking 5th place!! ~Way to go SKYLINE~





I have to say Nicole's boy's are so much fun to be with they are such good sports and up for any new adventure!! They were so brave to hold up their hands going on the Run Away Mine Train!! "No Wimps allowed" is our motto!!



Speaking of WIMPS...The girls insisted that I go on the Malliboomer...Oh my gosh...you only do this once. It shoots you up VERY HIGH VERY FAST...if you don't like heights like me..... watch out!!









We spent one of the days at Newport Beach.
I could enjoy being a BEACH BUM!! Oh wait.....was I even there?







Megan was a little nervous about doing her Tuck in the routine and practiced on the beach!! Oh to be young and coordinated again :)



The Family That Plays Together...Stays Together!!
I sure love spending time with my Fam!!

SAN DIEGO 2009

I love this little get away.....we always have so much fun!! Thanks Kathy for another ~Fabulous Trip~

We made sure we were always back to tune into our favorite Reality Shows nightly!! We snuggled in with our jammies and treats for Idol!!

Every spare minute was occupied READING or QUILTING and of course SHOPPING!!








Taking Diet Coke breaks was always a must for some!!



Alice was on her phone or computer constantly giving Steve orders to hold down the fort and solving business problems. We were happy to have her along...she was our entertainment as you can imagine....she suffered a few bouts of ankelitis 

~DO-LA-DEE~ he he




The SILVER SISTERS are staying true...bet you can tell who bought which shoe...



One of our favorite stores is BETSY JOHNSON!! Who doesn't love her jewelry.....we all find our favorite piece to buy then in our hopes of staying young we try the adorable dresses on for size!! Megan and McCall I think we found your next prom dress at $500.00 ea. Any takers?? BETSY knows her stuff!!





As SISTERS we are often drawn to the same thing......They see us coming....especially the shoe salesmen that work on commission. The shoe boxes stack up!!







Well...........we may be getting OLDER.... but our step is still light



and our DESIRE (this is not to say its happenin') to stay in SHAPE and FASHIONABLE keeps us going! Our daughters are in TROUBLE...
Katie stands as a first hand witness to the gene she has inherited!! YIKES



Another wonderful San Diego Trip!! Thanks Kathy as always it was a BLAST!!

CHA-CHING!!