Let's see - what happened on Wednesday? You see, when you are on such a blissful vacation, you lose track of what day it is and what happened on which day. You should try it sometime.
Yes, it started with Jfer having volunteered to get up with the kids so that RJ and I could sleep in. Very nice and we took her up on the offer. RJ slept in, but I had to work on my online training. I finished one 2-week training and another started on Tuesday. I'm doing my best to get my minimum requirements complete first thing in the morning so that I can enjoy the rest of the day.
Jfer made the kids cinnamon rolls and hung out with them. They "found me" on the upstairs deck - where I was working, but she kept them busy so I could get my work done. After breakfast, everyone got sun-screamed and suited up and we headed to the beach. LJ had a terrific time playing in the surf and PJ had a great time being held in the surf. LJ hung out with a boy and girl who were also playing in the surf...RJ talked to the parents as they all hung out close enough to yank a child out of the water. Jfer, RJ and I took turns with the boogie boards and then we headed home...my back was starting to feel a bit scorched.
Everyone showered and ate lunch and then Jfer offered to nap with the kids while RJ and I hung out at the beach. RJ and I took a long walk up the beach, found some great shells, and tried to perfect our boogie boarding. The last run of our stay, RJ yanked my board as I was catching a wave...that gave me just that much more momentum and I rode that wave all the way in...it was F.U.N.
We came home and everyone was still asleep, so we hung out on the deck and tried to dry off. My feet are a bit red as are the tops of my shoulders...
After everyone woke up, we headed out for ice cream and to look around for a different house to rent next year. We want to try to be on the beach - we figure we are more likely to "go" to the beach anytime if we don't have to walk a block to get there. Plus, this house has a ton of dog hair and that is not cool. So, we are scoping some places out.
We ate leftover shrimp, new potatoes, and corn for dinner and then watched HGTV while Jfer did a lot on her computer.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Tuesday, May 26th
Somewhere in the middle of the night - PJ woke up and as RJ went to help him find his pacifier and blanket, he started screaming "Noooooooo...Nooooo Daddy....Nooooo" which is what he screams when we ask him to do anything he doesn't care to do. It is quite annoying as these are blood curdling screams. Then, a bit later...LJ came in to tell us that he is scared of the noises. It was 3:45 - I looked this time. So, I got up and went into his room to lay down with him. I asked him, "what noises?" and he said, "the noises that scare me." Fair enough. We determined that one noise is the AC turning off...a small thud. This is followed by another noise - water dripping into a bucket because the inside AC unit apparently leaks. I explained these noises to LJ and then there was another...a grumbling sound, which LJ informed me was his stomach. Eventually, we fell asleep and everyone stayed quiet until 7:30.
We ate breakfast and decided we would go to Money Bayou and do some crabbing. We recalled that last year, there was a sign posted that informed us that you need a permit to drive on the beach...and this is what we need to do to get to Money Bayou. Last year, we threw cautioned to the wind and decided that, since it was Memorial Day, the Gulf County Court House would be closed and that would be the excuse we would offer up if anyone took exception to our driving on the beach. This year, we decided we'd make it legal, so we figured out where the court house is and headed into town. Turns out - a permit to drive on the beach costs $15.00 per year for Gulf County property owners and $150.00 per year for non-property owners. There is no day permit or week permit...only year-long permits. Message received - Gulf County does not want visitors to drive on the beach. What.Ever. We bought shrimp and crab meat on the way home.
Once home, we swim-suited up and put on "sun scream" and headed to the beach. The boys are both enjoying the water and LJ is doing an exceptional job of enjoying the waves. PJ likes to be held - which gets tiring, but he is placated by using the forms we have to make turtles, starfish, and crabs in the sand. I make them, he destroys them.
We had lunch of leftover hotdogs and hamburgers and then all settled in for our afternoon naps. Around 5:00, we went back to the beach and did the whole thing all over again. We got home, took showers, and made pizza rolls, cheese sticks and mojitos. The kids ate PB&J and then the adults had a shrimp, new potato, and corn boil...it was gooood.
After dinner, the kids went to bed and the adults watched tv until we couldn't hold our eyes open anymore...about 9:30ish.
We ate breakfast and decided we would go to Money Bayou and do some crabbing. We recalled that last year, there was a sign posted that informed us that you need a permit to drive on the beach...and this is what we need to do to get to Money Bayou. Last year, we threw cautioned to the wind and decided that, since it was Memorial Day, the Gulf County Court House would be closed and that would be the excuse we would offer up if anyone took exception to our driving on the beach. This year, we decided we'd make it legal, so we figured out where the court house is and headed into town. Turns out - a permit to drive on the beach costs $15.00 per year for Gulf County property owners and $150.00 per year for non-property owners. There is no day permit or week permit...only year-long permits. Message received - Gulf County does not want visitors to drive on the beach. What.Ever. We bought shrimp and crab meat on the way home.
Once home, we swim-suited up and put on "sun scream" and headed to the beach. The boys are both enjoying the water and LJ is doing an exceptional job of enjoying the waves. PJ likes to be held - which gets tiring, but he is placated by using the forms we have to make turtles, starfish, and crabs in the sand. I make them, he destroys them.
We had lunch of leftover hotdogs and hamburgers and then all settled in for our afternoon naps. Around 5:00, we went back to the beach and did the whole thing all over again. We got home, took showers, and made pizza rolls, cheese sticks and mojitos. The kids ate PB&J and then the adults had a shrimp, new potato, and corn boil...it was gooood.
After dinner, the kids went to bed and the adults watched tv until we couldn't hold our eyes open anymore...about 9:30ish.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Monday, May 25th
The day started early as PJ woke up at 5:!5 - central time, so 6:15 here. I gave him his busy bag and that kept him happy in his crib for about 30 minutes. Then, we all got up, got dressed and went into town to eat breakfast and shop for groceries. Breakfast was at McDonald's and grocery shopping was at Piggly Wiggly. Jfer and I did the shopping and RJ took the kids to a park. This was terrific because everything would have taken much longer with the kids. The store is unfamiliar and the list was long - we have to buy everything down to salt and pepper. It took 2 carts, but these carts were rather small. Then we stopped at the dollar store because Jfer forgot to pack beach shoes, shorts or a brush....and then, it was discovered that she forgot to pack money. Very smart of her as this allowed her to get her dollar store items for free...!
We got home, unloaded the groceries, got dressed and headed for the beach. PJ wants to be in the water all.the.time. And he'll charge right out there, so we have to be vigilant. LJ likes the water too, but he is, and always has been, more cautious. The water is more brown than last year...because of all the rain they have been getting. But, the beach restoration project is finished and the beach is still nice, white, beautiful sand. We played for about an hour and then came home and showered off and ate lunch. The kids had PB&J and the adults had sandwiches...except Jfer who collected the tiniest of little mussels and boiled them open and took out the tiniest morsel of meat. She decided it was not worth it to collect those again.
The boys and Jfer took naps and I laid out on the deck for about 20 minutes and then came back in. LJ was not napping, so I laid down with him until he fell asleep (and took about a 1/2 hour nap in the process) and then went back on the deck for another 20 minutes. RJ watched tv shows and surfed the internet. PJ took a very long nap.
After naps, we went to rent our boogie boards and then headed back to the beach....around 5:00 eastern time. We spent about an hour and a half playing with the boogie boards and building sand castles. Then, we came home for showers and dinner - which was hamburgers and hot dogs...the kids ate a pizza shaped like Mickey Mouse's head. The kids then went to bed and Jfer, RJ, and I watched one episode of season 1 of Monk - which we brought with us. The DVD player does not have a remote, so we aren't' sure how we'll watch the 2nd episode since we're sure we'll have to put a DVD in for the kids at some point on Tuesday.
We got home, unloaded the groceries, got dressed and headed for the beach. PJ wants to be in the water all.the.time. And he'll charge right out there, so we have to be vigilant. LJ likes the water too, but he is, and always has been, more cautious. The water is more brown than last year...because of all the rain they have been getting. But, the beach restoration project is finished and the beach is still nice, white, beautiful sand. We played for about an hour and then came home and showered off and ate lunch. The kids had PB&J and the adults had sandwiches...except Jfer who collected the tiniest of little mussels and boiled them open and took out the tiniest morsel of meat. She decided it was not worth it to collect those again.
The boys and Jfer took naps and I laid out on the deck for about 20 minutes and then came back in. LJ was not napping, so I laid down with him until he fell asleep (and took about a 1/2 hour nap in the process) and then went back on the deck for another 20 minutes. RJ watched tv shows and surfed the internet. PJ took a very long nap.
After naps, we went to rent our boogie boards and then headed back to the beach....around 5:00 eastern time. We spent about an hour and a half playing with the boogie boards and building sand castles. Then, we came home for showers and dinner - which was hamburgers and hot dogs...the kids ate a pizza shaped like Mickey Mouse's head. The kids then went to bed and Jfer, RJ, and I watched one episode of season 1 of Monk - which we brought with us. The DVD player does not have a remote, so we aren't' sure how we'll watch the 2nd episode since we're sure we'll have to put a DVD in for the kids at some point on Tuesday.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Vacation!
Vacation! Finally! This past week was busy with the conference and I was exhausted. It is over and was a success. Yesterday, I woke up, posted my 3 substantive posts and we left home by 9:00 am...picked up Jfer on the way out of town. The kids got their morning busy bags (snacks and a small toy or book) around Houston. We ate lunch at...wait for it...Cracker Barrel and the kids napped for a while. Upon waking, the kids got their afternoon busy bag and we got to the hotel around 5:00 pm. The hotel has this great 1 foot deep kids' pool with lots of fountains in it, so we all put on our suits and got some energy out.
We ate dinner at Sicily's Italian Buffet...which was actually pretty good. After dinner, the kids went to bed and then I worked on my University of Phoenix class, Jfer registered to win a free house and DH watched I Am Legend on tv. We all ended up watching I Am Legend and Jfer had to sing God is Bigger Than the Boogy Man so that she could fall asleep!
This morning, we got up, ate the wonderful breakfast at the hotel and were on the road by 9:15. We stopped in Pensacola for lunch at...Cracker Barrel and then PJ took a nap, but LJ did not. We stopped a few more times than we did yesterday, but made it to Port St. Joe by 5:15 (6:15 Eastern Time). We ate dinner at Joe Momma's Pizza...where they do not have cups with lids nor do they have straws??? ...the pizza was good though! A stop at McDonald's for milk chubs for the morning and we were on our way to the Cape. We got to our house and got the car unpacked, figured out the tv and then headed to the beach as the sun was setting. PJ fell down and busted his knee, we got bit by mosquitoes, BUT - we can't wait to play in the gulf tomorrow.
We've made our grocery list, know where to rent our boogy boards and plan to go to the grocery store and then play, play, play tomorrow!
We ate dinner at Sicily's Italian Buffet...which was actually pretty good. After dinner, the kids went to bed and then I worked on my University of Phoenix class, Jfer registered to win a free house and DH watched I Am Legend on tv. We all ended up watching I Am Legend and Jfer had to sing God is Bigger Than the Boogy Man so that she could fall asleep!
This morning, we got up, ate the wonderful breakfast at the hotel and were on the road by 9:15. We stopped in Pensacola for lunch at...Cracker Barrel and then PJ took a nap, but LJ did not. We stopped a few more times than we did yesterday, but made it to Port St. Joe by 5:15 (6:15 Eastern Time). We ate dinner at Joe Momma's Pizza...where they do not have cups with lids nor do they have straws??? ...the pizza was good though! A stop at McDonald's for milk chubs for the morning and we were on our way to the Cape. We got to our house and got the car unpacked, figured out the tv and then headed to the beach as the sun was setting. PJ fell down and busted his knee, we got bit by mosquitoes, BUT - we can't wait to play in the gulf tomorrow.
We've made our grocery list, know where to rent our boogy boards and plan to go to the grocery store and then play, play, play tomorrow!
Thursday, May 14, 2009
A Flat Car and More...
First, the "more":
I am about to gouge my eyes out with this online training portion of my interview to teach this online course. There are like 8 of us acting as students in this class and we have assignments to do...only one assignment worth getting excited about each week, but we have to respond to 2 discussion topic questions this week - one was on Wednesday and the other is due tomorrow...and then we all have to post at least 3 substantive posts a day for at least 5 of 7 days in a week. This is the part that is killing me. To be substantive, it has to further the discussion and people seem to have a favorite way of doing this...by asking a question. So we have 8 people asking questions to try to get their substantive post points and about 1/2 of them are getting answered - and then another question gets asked. It is the infernal questioning loop of hell. But, I've devised a plan:
I go to the gym at 5:30 for RPM on MWF and for Body Pump on TR. After class and shower/getting ready, I go someplace with free wi-fi and coffee. I spend 1/2 an hour working on assignments and 1/2 an hour writing my 3 substantive posts. I discovered that for years, I've been getting an e-mail newsletter about online classroom instruction (I have no idea why, but I think it might be connected to this teaching newsletter I get) - this thing is a gold mine...it has all kinds of researched stuff about online classrooms and how to make them great. It is indexed by topic, so I just read someones post, search my online newsletter for the topic and write a reply that is substantive because it brings outside research in or expands on the poster's topic. I get my 3 done and then, I've fulfilled requirements within 1 hour's time each day. Any other time I get on and any other posts I read for the training is "bonus". Before I came up with this routine...this training was taking me TONS of time. Reading every post is a beating.
I've also been working on this conference next week. AUGH. And, I'm exhausted from all the exercise. But, I'm feeling good that I'm organized.
And, it is good thing I am getting this job because RJ keeps finding "good deals". The latest acquisition. A car. He is like some kind of predator with cars that sit in people's driveways or at the side of their house. He can tell you where 10 such vehicles are at any given time. Well, there is one that he's had his eye on for like 2 years and it appeared that the people were packing up the house yesterday. So, he stopped by. 19 hours later, we own a 1995 Oldsmobile Aurora with leather interior and 39,000 miles on it. It was driven by the lady's mother. It really is in great shape and it looks rather modern for being 14 years old. It must have been the cat's meow in 1995 - leather, dual airbags, fully automatic, dual position memory seats, side mirror defrost, cd player, etc...The owner said it needs a new rack and pinion, which RJ is not convinced is true, but even if it is - the part costs $140 + labor and RJ's labor is free. So, we have a "flat car" as LJ says (not a truck or suv) for the price of $1200 - that's right...$1200. So, a great deal, but...we are 2 people - we don't need 3 vehicles. So, RJ and I decided we would only buy it if he will sell his truck and then we can sell this Oldsmobile and buy a truck that we can all fit in...his current truck has no back seat....but - I am happy to have an Oldsmobile in the family again. You know, they don't make them anymore and prior to the Tahoe, I'd only ever driven Oldsmobiles. This one has a V8 4L engine, so it'll be peppy...I want to drive it for a while :-)
I am about to gouge my eyes out with this online training portion of my interview to teach this online course. There are like 8 of us acting as students in this class and we have assignments to do...only one assignment worth getting excited about each week, but we have to respond to 2 discussion topic questions this week - one was on Wednesday and the other is due tomorrow...and then we all have to post at least 3 substantive posts a day for at least 5 of 7 days in a week. This is the part that is killing me. To be substantive, it has to further the discussion and people seem to have a favorite way of doing this...by asking a question. So we have 8 people asking questions to try to get their substantive post points and about 1/2 of them are getting answered - and then another question gets asked. It is the infernal questioning loop of hell. But, I've devised a plan:
I go to the gym at 5:30 for RPM on MWF and for Body Pump on TR. After class and shower/getting ready, I go someplace with free wi-fi and coffee. I spend 1/2 an hour working on assignments and 1/2 an hour writing my 3 substantive posts. I discovered that for years, I've been getting an e-mail newsletter about online classroom instruction (I have no idea why, but I think it might be connected to this teaching newsletter I get) - this thing is a gold mine...it has all kinds of researched stuff about online classrooms and how to make them great. It is indexed by topic, so I just read someones post, search my online newsletter for the topic and write a reply that is substantive because it brings outside research in or expands on the poster's topic. I get my 3 done and then, I've fulfilled requirements within 1 hour's time each day. Any other time I get on and any other posts I read for the training is "bonus". Before I came up with this routine...this training was taking me TONS of time. Reading every post is a beating.
I've also been working on this conference next week. AUGH. And, I'm exhausted from all the exercise. But, I'm feeling good that I'm organized.
And, it is good thing I am getting this job because RJ keeps finding "good deals". The latest acquisition. A car. He is like some kind of predator with cars that sit in people's driveways or at the side of their house. He can tell you where 10 such vehicles are at any given time. Well, there is one that he's had his eye on for like 2 years and it appeared that the people were packing up the house yesterday. So, he stopped by. 19 hours later, we own a 1995 Oldsmobile Aurora with leather interior and 39,000 miles on it. It was driven by the lady's mother. It really is in great shape and it looks rather modern for being 14 years old. It must have been the cat's meow in 1995 - leather, dual airbags, fully automatic, dual position memory seats, side mirror defrost, cd player, etc...The owner said it needs a new rack and pinion, which RJ is not convinced is true, but even if it is - the part costs $140 + labor and RJ's labor is free. So, we have a "flat car" as LJ says (not a truck or suv) for the price of $1200 - that's right...$1200. So, a great deal, but...we are 2 people - we don't need 3 vehicles. So, RJ and I decided we would only buy it if he will sell his truck and then we can sell this Oldsmobile and buy a truck that we can all fit in...his current truck has no back seat....but - I am happy to have an Oldsmobile in the family again. You know, they don't make them anymore and prior to the Tahoe, I'd only ever driven Oldsmobiles. This one has a V8 4L engine, so it'll be peppy...I want to drive it for a while :-)
Saturday, May 09, 2009
Long Time No Post
I have fallen off the wagon with blogging. Actually, it seems like I have other things to do when I'm online and blogging has fallen to the bottom of the list. I'll try to get it back in gear. Of course, if you remember from last summer - you'll be getting daily reports from beautiful, sunny, Florida one day soon!
Kids:
LJ and PJ are both fine...growing like crazy. Would you believe PJ's foot is nearly as big as LJ's? It is actually a bit frightening. LJ is asking all kinds of inquisitive questions and has gotten much better at remembering where he last saw things. This helps us parents not to have to look for things ALL.THE.TIME. PJ is talking quite a bit and he is currently saying, "nope" instead of "no". So, if I ask him if he wants to read a book, his reply is, "ummm...NOPE". LJ, on the other hand, wants me to read him books all the time. I try to show him small words (he knows all his letters) and tell him what they are, but then he'll say something like, "why is hello spelled H-E-L-L-O?" and I don't really know what to say. The other day, he asked me why dinosaurs and people did not live at the same time. #1 - how does he know this, and #2 - I think the explanation is beyond what he can handle. I find myself doing a lot of thinking about what he's asking and what he can understand. Of course, I admit that there are times that I tire of the constant questions and I give him the big explanation with words I know he won't understand...and he usually goes on his way. LJ and PJ play pretty well together, but there is a A LOT of wrestling, screaming and crying. LJ will be playing with something, PJ will want it, LJ will say no and PJ will scream NOOOOOO at the top of his lungs...and all the possible combinations of that scenario. Some days are great, other days, I send each of them to their own rooms and tell them not to come out until I come get them.
RJ:
Work is work. The end of the semester means students are graduating and that always makes RJ a little sad. We have several leaders who have been with us for 2-3 years, so we will miss seeing them. We are hosting a conference week after this coming week and that means this next week will be very busy. Not only do we need to get all the conference components in place, but we each have to plan our own sessions and the workshop we will be co-facilitating. But, RJ's true love - his garage - is where he'd rather focus. He has 1/2 of the driveway left and then the concrete will be finished. He was hoping to get it finished this month, but we are not sure that will be possible. He found a lathe - after a major string of being in the right place at the right time and being persistent as well. He has had fun admiring it and fixing it up.
MJ:
Work is work. Classes are pretty much over - one more final to give and then grades to turn in. I'll be off the month of June, but will teach the month of July. My goal - to break no bones this summer. I've taken on a second very-part-time job - someone has to pay for all the concrete and garages and lathes. I am going to teach a communications course for an all-online school. The application progress is insanely long and complicated, but I am to the training portion - which starts this week. After 4 weeks of training, I'll be given 2 courses that I will teach with a mentor watching over me. Should I make it through that - then I'll have my own courses. I'll actually be facilitating the course as the school has the syllabus, course materials, assignments, rubrics to grade assignments, etc. all laid out - and I must use them...so, I'm just following directions. But, all from the convenience of my home for just a few hours of my time a week. I've been going to the gym 5-6 days a week (it is rare that I go 6 times, but since it has happened a few times, I'll say it) - As usual, if I were being more vigilant about my calorie consumption, I'd be seeing more dramatic results. But, I've been doing some strength training 2 times a week and that has resulted in some changes...for example, I have some muscles in my arms and back...that have surfaced. I'm trying to decide if I'll keep getting up at 5:00 am or, if I'll try to go later in the morning (and take the kids) during June.
Kids:
LJ and PJ are both fine...growing like crazy. Would you believe PJ's foot is nearly as big as LJ's? It is actually a bit frightening. LJ is asking all kinds of inquisitive questions and has gotten much better at remembering where he last saw things. This helps us parents not to have to look for things ALL.THE.TIME. PJ is talking quite a bit and he is currently saying, "nope" instead of "no". So, if I ask him if he wants to read a book, his reply is, "ummm...NOPE". LJ, on the other hand, wants me to read him books all the time. I try to show him small words (he knows all his letters) and tell him what they are, but then he'll say something like, "why is hello spelled H-E-L-L-O?" and I don't really know what to say. The other day, he asked me why dinosaurs and people did not live at the same time. #1 - how does he know this, and #2 - I think the explanation is beyond what he can handle. I find myself doing a lot of thinking about what he's asking and what he can understand. Of course, I admit that there are times that I tire of the constant questions and I give him the big explanation with words I know he won't understand...and he usually goes on his way. LJ and PJ play pretty well together, but there is a A LOT of wrestling, screaming and crying. LJ will be playing with something, PJ will want it, LJ will say no and PJ will scream NOOOOOO at the top of his lungs...and all the possible combinations of that scenario. Some days are great, other days, I send each of them to their own rooms and tell them not to come out until I come get them.
RJ:
Work is work. The end of the semester means students are graduating and that always makes RJ a little sad. We have several leaders who have been with us for 2-3 years, so we will miss seeing them. We are hosting a conference week after this coming week and that means this next week will be very busy. Not only do we need to get all the conference components in place, but we each have to plan our own sessions and the workshop we will be co-facilitating. But, RJ's true love - his garage - is where he'd rather focus. He has 1/2 of the driveway left and then the concrete will be finished. He was hoping to get it finished this month, but we are not sure that will be possible. He found a lathe - after a major string of being in the right place at the right time and being persistent as well. He has had fun admiring it and fixing it up.
MJ:
Work is work. Classes are pretty much over - one more final to give and then grades to turn in. I'll be off the month of June, but will teach the month of July. My goal - to break no bones this summer. I've taken on a second very-part-time job - someone has to pay for all the concrete and garages and lathes. I am going to teach a communications course for an all-online school. The application progress is insanely long and complicated, but I am to the training portion - which starts this week. After 4 weeks of training, I'll be given 2 courses that I will teach with a mentor watching over me. Should I make it through that - then I'll have my own courses. I'll actually be facilitating the course as the school has the syllabus, course materials, assignments, rubrics to grade assignments, etc. all laid out - and I must use them...so, I'm just following directions. But, all from the convenience of my home for just a few hours of my time a week. I've been going to the gym 5-6 days a week (it is rare that I go 6 times, but since it has happened a few times, I'll say it) - As usual, if I were being more vigilant about my calorie consumption, I'd be seeing more dramatic results. But, I've been doing some strength training 2 times a week and that has resulted in some changes...for example, I have some muscles in my arms and back...that have surfaced. I'm trying to decide if I'll keep getting up at 5:00 am or, if I'll try to go later in the morning (and take the kids) during June.
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