Today was my last day.

Today was my official last day as a stay-at-home mom. After almost 9 years of being home with my kids, I start back in the working world tomorrow. I am excited, nervous...ok, maybe scared to death, and a bit sad as well.

Steve is changing careers and starting his own business in addition to managing our tax stores. I know he is so excited and really looking forward to it all but we are both realistic and know it will take some time to get it going...so I am heading out into the world to try and bring in a little money for a while. He is also going to be taking over quite a bit with the kids as well. I am hoping it will not be too overwhelming for him. I am used to being around whenever my kids need me and I feel like I am going to be missing out. Maybe I am not ready for this?!

I guess I don't really have much choice, I have to be ready, right? Well, I

Happy Anniv"ARRRRR"sary!

My parents just celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary in true pirate style! Not only are my parents huge Tampa Bay Buccaneer fans but their very first date was to a Buccaneer game...so how fitting that they should renew their vows at the Buccaneer's Raymond James Stadium!

The party was in The Press Box which was just awesome and what a view of the field! After the ceremony the immmediate family got to go down to the infamous Buccaneers Pirate Ship and take pics and even play around a little. My mom kept us all to the pirate theme and bought us all costumes...although she did make her dress! Afterwards we headed down to the locker room and to see Gruden's gameday office.

We had a great time and while I can't share ALL the pics we took, here are just a few!

Fabulous FlaminGals LIVE!

Cruise to Cozumel!

Steve and I went on our first cruise last week...Feb 7-11, to Cozumel Mexico. We went with another couple, Jim and Janelle -- it was in honor of Jim's 40th birthday. We were on the Carnival ship The Inspiration.

The interior of the ship, in parts, reminded me a bit of vegas and the 80's, and they did do some of those cheezy things like hairy chest contests (BLECK!), conga lines and such...but we still had a great time...and learned when and where to avoid the afore mentioned cheese factors! ;) The weather was really nice, although windy at times and our favorite part was the stop in Cozumel, Mexico. We took a mini jeep excursion with snorkeling...I ended up not being able to do the snorkeling but Steve said it was awesome and the water so clear...he saw so many fish and even a couple of sea turtles. We climbed to the top of a lighthouse while we were out too...

MEEEEE Time!

This past Tuesday and Wednesday I got to spend some time with a friend of mine from Seattle in Orlando -- some me time away on my own. Things didn't start out so well when right after I picked Sindea up from the airport I get a call from Steve telling me he "had a little accident!" Ummm...what?! It seems he took the kids for a walk around the lake near our house and they wanted to try and swing from a vine. When he pulled on it to see if it was strong enough to hold them it came loose...and also brought a tree limb with it! Stevie yelled out to him and he had just enough time to shield his head with his hand before it hit him....right on top of the head.hand and knocked him down! THANK GOD the kids did not get hit and he wasn't knocked out or more seriously hurt. I thought I was going to be heading right back home but Steve was pretty sure his hand wasn't broken although it was swolled pretty bad. By the time I got home Wednesday night it was pretty nasty looking and still ugly swollen -- but he said it looked better!

Steve insisted I stay and so even though I was worried about him, Sindea and I had such a great time! We strolled around Downtown Disney Tuesday night and then headed to the Magic Kingdom Wednesday and, can I just tell you, it was one of the most relaxing times I have had at Disney. I must admit it was a little weird to be there without Stevie and Alyson...especially when we were standing in line to see some of the characters...but oh, I just loved how easy going the whole day was!


Speaking of characters, I was so excited to get up close and personal with some I have never seen before...Jiminey Cricket and Maleficient were my favs on the day...never before have I seen them out while I was there! And Maleficient was absolutely just the COOLEST! I was actually a little tongue-tied and just down right giddy! Seeing Stromboli was a first too!






I had a lot of fun just playing with my camera too and taking pics of the park that I wouldn't normally be able to do...actually got some pics of the castle with no one around! I got really "crazy" and pulled my camera out while we were on Big Thunder Mountain...can't wait to do that again! Got some fun shots!

And the Jungle Cruise...we had the best captain EVER! He was awesome...he was jumping all around, hanging off the boat, he made even the same jokes I have heard a million times funny! LOL! Sindea got a picture of me with him but I have to wait for her to get back home to Seattle and share...can't wait to see! We were sitting right up front next to him so I got some oh so fabulous shots on this ride too!

We had so much fun...I dropped her off at her hotel for her photography conference and then headed back home to leave on my cruise the next day! Yep, that will be the next post!

We have a Rock Star on our hands!

Alyson is quite the little fan of The Naked Brothers Band (NO, they are not actually naked -- thank goodness!) She is especially fond of the drummer, Alex, who is 10. She tells me all the time that she loves him. (God, help me!) She got a drum set for Christmas...along with a Barbie guitar and microphone, so she and her friends are always putting on shows for us. I couldn't help but get some video of her rocking out! She is a natural! LOL! We even put her up on YouTube and she has gotten quite a few hits---I think big brother is a little jealous and is trying to come up with his own thing so he can get a video on YouTube. LOL!

I know some of you have already seen her debut on YouTube but I figured I would add her videos to my blog as well...my favs are I'm Out! and Fishin' For Love...she is quite the little character!

Photo A Week: Week #2 - WHITE

The "theme" for this week's photo was WHITE. Now, ordinarily, in January, your first thought would probably be snow -- not gonna happen in FL. I actually had a little trouble with this one initially but then last night I was looking at my desk and then snapped this pic.

I have a job in the new year. I am kind of excited. I get to work from home so it is perfect and I will be doing what I am good at -- being an admin assistant. I am looking forward to it. So, anyway, the pic is of the manual for the new software program I will be working with...it's in a WHITE folder and printed on WHITE paper! LOL!

3 more for the Christmas Journal

Okay, so I may still be finishing this in June but I *WILL* get it completed! ;) I have gotten 3 more entries done for my Christmas Journal...Dec 10th, 13th and 14th. I think you can probably click on the pic of each LO to actually read the journaling...

Photo A Week: Week #1 - NEW

I am participating in a Photo A Week for 2008 (at http://www.houseofpaper.com/) and this week's "theme" is NEW. I took a picture of this NEW game I picked up today called "Dinner Games". Stevie saw it in the toy store and wanted it for the family. It will be a NEW thing for us to go together each night at dinner...and since I just picked it up today, I took the picture while it was still NEW in the wrapper! ;)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Steve and I had a GREAT New Year's Eve! I can not remember the last time we actually went out for New Years but this year the kids spent the night with Nana and Grandpa and we went out with our friends Donna and Keith! We had SUCH a great time.

We started out with dinner at this fabulous brazilian steak house and then a latte from Starbucks! After that we were off to Side Splitters - a local comedy club. We rang in 2008 laughing our butts off with Rob Little

This guy was HILARIOUS! He reminds me a bit of Chris Farley! SO funny! We even had a champagne toast, balloons, hats - the whole shabang! It was awesome!

Journal Your Christmas - Day 7

Day 7 was about making your "To Do" list...I had about 3 lying around so I just consolidated the lists into 1 basic one! (Just don't ask me if I got it all done!) ;)

Journal Your Christmas - Day 24

Okay, so I have gotten a little behind in my Christmas Journal but eventually I will get them all completed and posted. I finally got Dec 24th's entry completed the other night and so I thought I would share.


Journaling reads:
Christmas Eve is kind of like the official start of Christmas for me. The last few years we have spent Christmas Eve with Steve's brother Scott and his wife and kids, as well as Steve's mom. We have a nice dinner together and exchange gifts. The kids are always so excited to have their cousins come over. All day long they ask how much longer it will be before they get here! Once they head home to get ready for Santa, we sprinkle the magic reindeer food outside and put out the milk and cookies for Santa. I love seeing how giddy with excitement they are when they go to bed. And it is the one day of the year when they go right to bed, no questions asked! It is so much fun for me since I can remember feeling that same way when I was a little girl and even now I share their joy and anticipation. I love the peaceful feeling I get once Santa has put out all the gifts and filled the stockings. Sometimes I even have trouble sleeping thinking about how excited the kids will be in the morning!

My sister has too much time on her hands!

I am sure by now most of you have seen the "Elf Yourself" website...well, my sister found it too and had a little fun! I almost spit my coffee out when I saw it - she couldn't have chosen a better, more accurate picture!

My mother and father had 4 wonderful children. Check us out for yourselves.....

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1372965358

It might take a while to pull up but it is worth it!!!

Merry Christmas!

Journal Your Christmas - Day 5

The prompt for Day 5 was all about how we countdown to Christmas...

I actually used part of the kids' advent calendars across the bottom.

Journaling reads:

When I was a kid I never had an advent calendar. I am pretty sure the only way I had to countdown until the big day was to constantly ask my mom (and ask her often, you know, just in case anything changed!?) Ever since Alyson’s first Christmas (2001) we have had an advent calendar. The first one I bought was a really cute one I found at Michaels with Santa at the top and rows of little pockets to move the stuffed Christmas tree every day. The kids would be so excited to move that little tree each morning. We still have this one but for the last couple of years the kids have enjoyed getting the simple (and cheap, I might add!) chocolate countdown calendars. They search for the right day and then poke the “door” to get their little chocolate reward. They love them! And I love that they don’t have to ask me over and over how much longer until Santa comes! What could possibly be better than that?!

Journal Your Christmas - Day 4

The prompt for Day 4 was to talk about your perfect Christmas...

Journaling reads:

Christmas Dreams...When I think of a perfect Christmas, I think of family. And then I think of the family that is no longer with us. I miss my Nana and Grandpa Fishburn. I miss my Nana Cragle and Grams. I miss my Uncle George. I even miss my father, despite the fact that we had not spoken for 10 years before he passed. I know that Steve misses his Grams and his Aunt Vickie. It makes me sad that Stevie and Alyson will only ever know them all through pictures and stories. An ideal Christmas would have them all here with us. Stevie and Alyson would be able to know them and love them. It wouldn’t matter to me whether it was hot or cold outside or what we had to eat. Just to have our WHOLE family together for even one Christmas would be absolutely PERFECT for me. -- The Ultimate gift.

Journal Your Christmas - Day 3

Day 3's entry is all about Christmas cards...one of my personal favorite things about the holidays.

Journaling reads:

I love Christmas cards. I love sending them and I love receiving them. My favorites are the ones that have family pictures because I love to see how everyone changes from year to year, especially friends and family that we do not get to see very often. We have sent Christmas cards every year since we have gotten married and every year we include a family picture. Sometimes I will make the cards by hand and other years I will just do a photo card. Sometimes I will include a “newsletter” of sorts and other times I will just write a small note to each person. I try not to do the same thing every year; I guess it really just depends on my mood and how crazy life is at that particular time that really determines what I will do. Since my wrist is still in recovery mode from my accident back in September we took the simple approach this year with a fun photo card and a small note jotted down. I may jump into my stash of handmade cards though for a select few :)

The annual christmas card photo shoot

We went out yesterday with my sister and her boyfriend to attempt to get at least one decent pic to use for our Christmas cards this year...despite the fact that I ended up with a pretty nasty blister and was actually ready to call the whole thing off before we even got started, I think we got a few decent shots and even managed to have a good time! I have narrowed it down to these...

I was kind of thinking this one would be fun but Steve didn't think so! ;)

And here is my sister Rachelle and her boyfriend Dan...aren't they just too cute?

My sister snapped some of just Steve and I and this is my favorite out of those.

My sister also took a pic of Steve kissing me (which I am not posting!) and Alyson decided she wanted to kiss me too...this is my favorite pic of the day...