Christmas 2007

We had a fantastic Christmas. It was hard to be away from family, but we had a wonderful time together.

On Christmas Eve we went to the Hansen's for a crab feast. Christina and I have talked about doing this for a long time, and I'm glad we finally did it. Lincoln and Wyatt went to pick up the crabs, and then swung by to pick up Natalia and I. The car smelled so strongly of Old Bay for a few days afterwards. It was funny! Old Bay is totally a Maryland thing! I hadn't heard about it until my Brother served his mission in this area. It is a spice combination that they use to COVER the crabs in after they steam them. It is a little spicy, and so addicting. Daniel (my Brother) told me some die-hards even feed the seasoning to crabs. They even have "crab chips" in the grocery store, which is just a potato chip covered in Old Bay-Wyatt loves these. They picked up two dozen crabs, and Lincoln thinks Wyatt ate the most crab of the entire group!

I also brought a huge pasta salad, a roasted chicken, and a grilled chicken! I was worried about the non-crab eaters, but it ended being way too much food. It was such a nice evening to eat and talk with friends. Before we left, Christina took a minute and read a few books to my whining kids. It was so sweet, and I am so thankful for her. Who knew that a ward family, could be so much like a real family? We are so blessed to live in a ward where we are totally accepted and loved by so many. It is an overwhelming feeling, and I am so grateful for my friends.

On to Christmas Day! Our kids slept until 7:00 am, so it was nice not to wake up too early. The kids were so excited when they saw the presents. Soon they were all open, and we were picking up bits of paper and bows! I don't know how that happens so quickly?

When Wyatt was 3 he requested "green marshmallows" from Santa right before bedtime. Who has green marshmallows?!!! Two years ago when Lincoln's Mom was staying with us, and she snipped large marshmallows with scissors, and dipped them in green sprinkles. It worked perfectly, and Santa has to bring them every year! =)

Wyatt's main gift was a Star Wars collection. Really, some poor man sold his Star Wars collection on ebay, and now my five year old has the privilege of destroying this mint collection. In an email Lincoln put this man's mind at ease by saying, "My son has been collecting Star Wars for years. There are many pieces that will make a nice addition to his collection." So---YEARS means TWO years right? The unknowing man responded that he was glad they were going to a nice home! What he doesn't know won't hurt him! =) Wyatt loved seeing all those characters spread out across they floor. He has over 80 action figures, 3 ships, the AT-AT (the gift he asked for), and many other large "things".

The "please leave us alone so we can play" shot.


Wyatt in his new jammas from Grandma James, building a creature.

Lincoln got me a new 100mm macro lens. Oh, this is such a toy for me! I can't wait to go buy some flowers, and photograph them!

Here is my Christmas self portrait. See my new lens! Oh, and my new robe. I think this robe was made in HEAVEN, it is so soft. =)

We have a tradition of seeing a movie on Christmas day. It started in 1996 on our first Christmas together. We took the kids to see Alvin and the Chipmunks. Natalia fell asleep half way through, and so...did I. *sigh* Only for a few minutes though. I feel so dumb paying for nap, but that is what happens when you hold a warm snuggly girl. Wyatt loved the movie, and laughed right out loud. There is a scene where Alvin is in the dishwasher, and Dave calls him "sudsy". Wyatt could hardly contain himself. He loudly quoted, "SUDSY," and laughed until he was red in the face.

We are grateful for all the blessings we share as a family. We are glad to be members of the church, and love to serve. We have learned many lessons, and made it through some difficult times together. We have also had many times to celebrate. We know we are lucky to have each other. We thank our Father in Heaven for our friends and family. We are looking forward to 2008, and wish everyone a Happy New Year!

Just a weekly report, and some recipes.

We had a good week. Honestly I am glad it's over. Wyatt got in some trouble at school, and it was such a fiasco. He was so brokenhearted about it. It ended up not being a big deal.

Talia was sick most of the week with a fever, and croup. She still sounds awful, but is really doing much better. I had to say that, because if you are in my ward, and heard that REALLY loud cough during the opening prayer.....that was Natalia. Isn't that the most horrible sounding cough? That is was she normally sounds like, so you should have heard her with croup.

My belly is getting bigger, and the baby is starting to kick like mad! Lincoln and Wyatt have both felt her kick, and Talia says she has- but is lying! =) We put all the girls names we like into a spreadsheet. There are too many! I like to make the kids say them, so I know IF they can say a certain name. I will say, "Talia say ______," and she will say, "NO!" Last night I tricked them into saying many names by throwing a beany baby cat back and forth, if you had the cat you had to say a name for the baby. Some of the names that came of of the kids mouths were HILARIOUS. Talia suggested "Africa" and "Bones".(...Talia has only seen the ultrasound picture, and she does look like a BONES.) Wyatt likes "Autumn" and "Sophie" and all the girls names from his class. I love the name Autumn, and I don't know where he heard Sophie, but he is sold on it. =) I will not share anymore of our names!! We have to have something be a surprise right?

I got to do sharing time again today. I actually really enjoyed it! Nothing monumental, but it was a fun day. Our home teachers came by, and one of them brought their 5 yr old. The little boy recognized me, and was so happy about it. That totally made my night! We were in the process of making bread pudding, and my kitchen looked like it had exploded. Lincoln and I were both embarrassed, but I said, "At least their expectations are set really low for next time!" (They were new home teachers.)

The bread pudding we made is the same bread pudding we had on our vacation. I found the recipe online, and had to try it. The recipe is really vague, so I think the next time I make it it will turn out a little better.


Raglan Road: Ger’s Bread & Butter Pudding Including the Butterscotch & Custard Sauce Recipes!

Note: This recipe comes straight from RR’s Head Chef’s cookbook.

2 oz. raisins
2 ½ Tbsp. Irish Mist (I used apple juice)
¾ stick butter, at room temp
12 slices medium-sliced white bread, crust removed
1 1/3 cups cream
1 1/3 cups milk
4 egg yolks
1/3 cup caster sugar (a very fine white sugar, I didn't use it.)
2 eggs (these are 2 mystery eggs...I don't know where you use them, I added them with the yolks above.)

Soak raisins in Irish Mist overnight. Drain off excess.
Preheat oven to 350. Generously butter an ovenproof dish. Using the remaining butter, butter both sides of bread slices & cut each into fourths. (The dish I used was too small, resulting in too much custard. I will use the same dish, but not all the custard next time.)
Arrange a single layer of bread slices in the dish, slightly overlapping. Scatter with some raisins. Repeat with one more layer of bread then raisins. Press down gently.
Heat the cream & milk until just to a boil. Remove from heat. Meanwhile, whisk together the egg yolks & sugar in a heatproof bowl over simmering water until thickened. Remove from heat and beat in the cream mixture.
Pour two-thirds of the custard mixture over the bread and let stand for 30 minutes.
Pour remaining custard over soaked bread in dish and arrange the rest of the bread on top. Press down firmly so the custard comes halfway up the bread. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until golden brown.

BUTTERSCOTCH SAUCE
½ stick unsalted butter
4 Tbsp. light muscovado sugar (I found this at giant, it is a type of brown sugar.)
2 ½ Tbsp. clear honey
2 ½ Tbsp. double cream

Place butter sugar, and honey in a small pan. Bring to a boil over moderate heat, stirring until sugar has dissolved. Reduce heat. Add cream and simmer 2 to 3 minutes until thickened. (Yummy!)

EGG CUSTARD
2 ¾ cups milk
6 egg yolks
3 ¾ Tbsp. caster sugar
a few drops of pure vanilla extract

Bring milk to scalding point in a nonstick pan. Meanwhile, place the egg yolks in a bowl with the sugar & vanilla stirring to combine. Slowly, whisk the hot milk into the egg mixture. Wipe out the pan and pour in the egg mixture and cook, stirring constantly, for about 10 minutes until thickened. Do not let boil! (Lincoln and I both thought this sauce was time consuming, and not worth making again.)

We also made gingerbread men on Thursday. The kids had so much fun! The recipe I used turned out so well. I was worried about my kids loving the idea of gingerbread cookies, but not really liking them. This recipe was the perfect thing, it tasted like a gingerbread cookie, just MUCH milder.

Gingerbread Men

Prep Time: 25 Minutes Cook Time: 12 Minutes

Ready In: 1 Hour 37 Minutes Yields: 30 servings

"Doesn't need molasses!!!!"

INGREDIENTS:

1 (3.5 ounce) package cook and serve butterscotch pudding mix 1/2 cup butter 1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1 egg 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

DIRECTIONS:

1.	In a medium bowl, cream together the dry butterscotch pudding mix, butter, and brown sugar until smooth. Stir in the egg. Combine the flour, baking soda, ginger, and cinnamon; stir into the pudding mixture. Cover, and chill dough until firm, about 1 hour.
2.	Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease baking sheets. On a floured board, roll dough out to about 1/8 inch thickness, and cut into man shapes using a cookie cutter. Place cookies 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
3.	Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven, until cookies are golden at the edges. Cool on wire racks.

Eventful night.

Last night at about 1:30 Talia came in to our room, and she was making a terrible noise. She was wheezing and couldn't speak. She would try to talk, but she couldn't make a breath of air last long enough to get all the words out. Given her breathing history, we couldn't decide weather or not to take her to the emergency room. Lincoln tried to get her to speak to us, and she just stared blankly at him. Like any good Dad, he tickled her. The cough that came from her then was unlike any cough I have heard. Lincoln jumped up and got dressed. He hurried out the door with no coat for Talia, and forgot to turn off the alarm. I stood at the door with her coat, and insurance card. It was nerve wracking waiting for them, but I kept my phone on my chest and Lincoln called me several times. The triage nurse said it was croup, which I have no experience with. The trip out in the cold night air may have been enough to curb it, because she was fine at the ER. After waiting two more hours to speak to a doctor, Lincoln left. She seems better today, but still sounds awful. Wyatt and I will be going to church together. I have to teach sharing time for the Sr. primary only today.


We had a good weekend. We had a good week too, but Lincoln was gone all week. We did alright without him, but I am so glad to have him home. Last night was the ward Christmas party, and it was so fun. My kids ran around too much, and I got tired to telling them to come back. If I saw them doing something crazy, I would just tell Lincoln and he would go get them. (See, so glad he is home!) We warmed up a ham for the party, and I made a "cricket-eye" pie and a cherry version of the same thing. It is really just a no bake cheesecake kind of pie, but I haven't had cricket-eye pie in so long (oh, it just blueberry, but my Dad called it that) that I had to make it. The kids helped me in the morning with the crusts. I used little cookie cutters for the edge of the pie crust, and the tinies loved helping me with that part. I had a session in the morning, and it was a fun one. A family of FOUR boys, and I actually left feeling optimistic about what I had captured.

After the session I took Talia to the Nutcracker, while Lincoln drove the Honda to the airport to its new owner. All our cars fit in the drive way now!!!! Anyway...the Nutcracker was fun. Talia loved seeing the nutcracker, and was disappointed when he turned into a human. She was even more upset when Clara and the nutcracker left the stage. We both loved the second half, and she kept asking where the Rat King was. I would tell her a simple "he's gone". To which she would reply, "NO, he's dead!". I could tell she was paying attention, because she would clap after a difficult move. Her little clap would echo trough our section, and would tell her just wait until they finish. Oh did I mention our seats were on the very last row? It was still fine, because it was not a very big theater.

For me, it was a fine nutcracker, and good for a non-professional company. There were many flaws, but it was easy to over look them with Talia in my lap. It was so sweet to hear the music, and see the costumes. It made my feet tingle, and my heart a little sad to watch. How I miss dancing. I want to photograph dancers, and I think my style of photography would mesh really well in the dance world. That is a big goal of mine, but I think it will have to wait until my children are a little older. I am thankful that I have a skill that makes me so happy, and that I can combine with my first love.....dancing.


I took this last year....or two years ago. It was taken at 9:00 at night under florescent lights, but I still love it.

Nutcracker

I forgot about the funniest thing, and was reminded tonight. After dinner Natalia asked if we could go to our "Show and Tell." That is what she called our hotel the whole time on our trip. We kept trying to correct her, but she just couldn't get it. Love her.

I went to the Christmas Tree Shop in Lancaster with Christie. She invited a ton of people, but we were the only ones that made the trip. Well, you all missed out! It was a fun day. I spent an unmentionable amount, but got so many wonderful things! I am so excited about some of them. Natalia held a small nutcracker ornament the whole time we shopped. I didn't buy it for her, and I ditched it at check out. It said "Jason" on it, why would I buy that? She bawled when we got home without it, she was seriously so sad. She really loves nutcrackers, and notices them in stores. I have watched the Nutcracker ballet a million times, and never understood why Clara loved that ugly nutcracker. Well, I think I need to find a Ballet company and take my nutcracker loving daughter to go see it. She will also be getting one for Christmas! =)

First

Well, I taught sharing time today. It made me so nervous. I have taught so many sharing times, I don't know why I was such a wreck. I think I did well with the Jr. primary. They listened really well, and were excited to participate. The Sr. primary are just so much harder for me. I told a group of friends I thought I bombed it, but the chorister assured me I didn't. (thanks Cami!)

I had three gifts; LOVE, HAPPINESS, and PEACE and scriptures for each word in photo boxes with red ribbion. The jr primary had to throw a "snowball" (a wad of paper) into a bucket to earn a letter clue that would help us learn what was inside the presents. The Sr. had to answer a painfully easy question (can you say, stalling) in order to earn a snowball toss.

I didn't think anything I was teaching was actually sinking in. It was a very simple concept, and I had hoped they weren't already taught it in the beginning of the month. I forgot to check on that! For the first sharing time I just wanted them to have a good time anyway. Well, during dinner this evening Wyatt asked me, "Mom, the first present was peace, and the second was love, will you tell me what the third present was?". I guess it was sinking in. (We didn't have time to finish, I am still getting used to the time thing.) Wyatt usually remembers a select few things about what he learned at church (don't we all), and I am glad my sharing time was still in his head.

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On Saturday we went to a Christmas tree farm to cut down a tree. It was a really sunny day, but the ground was a bit muddy. It was so fun to hold a hot apple cider in one hand, Natalia's hand in the other, and march threw the hills with my family. We kept pointing out the craziest trees and saying "Oh, this one!", and we would all laugh. We found our tree and Lincoln began sawing away, the kids cheered him on. Then Lincoln and Wyatt carried the trunk, I carried the top, and Natalia held my hand and carried the empty cups. Happy times! Our tree was only $30.
This is where we went.

In the evening we went my friend Kortney's annual Christmas party. It was so much fun this year. She is the best cook! Her husband, Mark, told us that they have been having testing out different appetizers for THREE weeks. They had really good ones, so it paid off. They also had a chocolate fountain. Yum! It is a really dressy party, and I didn't really have a great outfit. Just kidding...I looked so cute!

They always have a white elephant exchange. We have always brought the funniest gifts. The first year was some "How to speak Chinese" tapes, the second was a Harley Davidson clock, this year we brought a four pack of hot sauces from Walmart. Not funny. I guess the funny parts of our past gifts was the wrapping. Lincoln wrapped the tapes with chopsticks on the top, and the clock had a can of WD40 on the top. They play the game so you steal the unwrapped gifts, and then open them at the same time at the end. In past years our gifts were stolen the most! This year we didn't have time to get fancy with the wrapping, so my poor friend Kortney ended up with our hot sauces! The funny thing is, I saw some one holding some "How to speak Chinese" tapes after all the presents were unwrapped!

It's a...............

GIRL!!!

We took the kids to the ultrasound with us. They were very well behaved, but it was a long ultrasound. 45 minutes. It made me a little worried, but everything looks good. Look at her little legs...so cute!

The technican said, "It looks like your having a little girl."

Immediately Wyatt said, "She said "looks like" so it still could be a boy."

I am at the halfway point, 20 weeks. This pregnancy has been such a breeze, except for the worrying. I am so grateful.

Another bit of news.....I was called to be the first counselor in the Primary presidency. I am so excited for this calling! I was in the primary presidency in Oregon, and loved working with the children. What a blessing to be able to do it again. I have to do a sharing time this Sunday, and it feels so strange. Hmm.....time to start researching fun Christmas ideas.

It snowed yesterday. We have about four or five inches. Wyatt is so excited! He has been asking when it would snow since MAY! He played outside for a long time after school. He knocked on the door and asked me, "Which window are you watching me out of, the first, the second, or the third?" I went and knocked on the window, after he went back outside. His face lit up and he told me to stay there. He walked around the bushes so he was directly in front of the window, but took time to make a snowball before he got there. He drew his arm back and threw the snowball at the window (my face level), then with a big smile he shouted, "I LOVE YOU!". I just laughed, what a sweet way to show someone you love them! =)

He came inside and we shared a bowl of kettle corn. (I was out of hot chocolate.) He asked "Is it snowing in Florida?". I told him it doesn't snow in Florida, to which he answered, "BORING!" I do not love snow, so it nice to share a house with someone who adores it.

Lincoln decorated a the outside of the house the night before last. He was determined to do it this year, and we went to buy wreaths, garlands, and lights. I peeked out the front door and saw him leaning against the Impala with his arms crossed over his chest. He had just finished, and was admiring his handy work. I loved seeing him like that, it made me so happy that both of us can find joy in the simplest of things. We are such a good match, and I am grateful for his sweet silliness. Anyway- the decorations look so pretty with snow on them.

We have the world largest list of baby girl names. Seriously, it is a bit out of hand. The criteria for this name is it has to unique and uncommon. Last night we were discussing names in bed, and we were suggesting some that we would really never use.

I said "Would you like a baby girl named Echo?".

Lincoln said "what?".

I said "Would you like a baby girl named Echo?".

We both started laughing so hard. I said it in the exact same tone both times. I guess you had to be there...but it was so funny. I danced with an Echo, and she was so gorgeous, and talented.

We also talked about the times in our marriage when we have been the happiest. I was thinking like a year or the time living in a certain house. Lincoln said "That time in Oregon when we went to the park and picked blackberries." I started laughing, wow, such a specific answer. I think we have been happiest this year. Yes, the beginning of the year was tough, but we have been so blessed.

Our vacation journal

We are home. It feels strange to be back. I have had to sit at my computer all day to catch up on photography stuff.
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We had the most amazing vacation. It was such a happy time for the four of us, and I am so glad we went.

Day one: Lincoln received his new company car, so we drove that. We put the kids seats on top of towels to protect the back seat. We left at 3 in the morning and drove to Myrtle Beach, SC. We knew nothing about Myrtle Beach, so we went to go explore the beach. Well, after about 10 minutes on the sand my kids where in the water. Natalia was in a cute little brown skirt and top from the gap, and Wyatt was dressed in some brand new clothes. (I thought we were going out to eat!) They had such a ball in those cold waves. I loved watching them. I soaked it all in, because I didn't have my camera. The sun was setting and Wyatt was picking up shells, and running through the water. Natalia kept falling each time a big wave would come, and she would get up laughing. I really enjoyed that day.

Day Two: We got up early (4:00) and drove to Orlando. We stayed at a HUMONGOUS Marriott...for FREE! Lincoln used his points to pay for all of our hotels. It was such a nice spot. We swam in the pool after enjoying a hamburger (kids shared) and tuna stackers (we shared) and four drinks that cost $50. Lincoln said "That's what fifty bucks looks like at the Marriott," as we walked away. I thought he was kidding. Then we went to Downtown Disney for Thanksgiving Dinner. We were not the only ones with this idea. We ate at Disney's Rain Forest Cafe, and had a great time. We walked in and out of a few shops, and the kids spent the Disney dollars they had earned. Yup...all of them.

Day Three: Walt Disney World! We had such a wonderful day. The kids loved the jungle cruise the most, and Natalia really thinks those animal were real! She loved the characters, and would ask to hug them as we walked by. There was always a huge line, so we never stopped. I knew there would be characters on the cruise to hug. We didn't have to wait in too many long lines, and discovered the fast passes really quickly. Those things are fabulous. Lincoln's favorite ride was the Buzz Lightyear ride, where you have a gun and targets to shoot. I got a score of 13,000, and Lincoln's score was 250,000. I was really trying too! My favorite was the Pirates of the Caribbean....you know that little waterfall that make you go down....they don't warn you anymore...and they make you go down in the DARK! Natalia grabbed on to me to tightly, she pinched my skin under my jeans! I smiled. =) Oh it was such a good day!


All these pictures were taken with our point and shoot. I didn't take my camera, and sometimes I would be so sad that I didn't have it. Overall I am glad I didn't take it, because I never had to worry about it getting lost or stolen.


Day Four: We went to Sea World. I love Sea World! They have finally changed the Dolphin Show, and it was so amazing. It was like watching Circ De Soiel with Dolphins. They had a show with pets, mainly dogs and cats, and the funnest part of that show was watching Natalia! She would clap with all her heart after every trick, and then ask if she could pet them. She got to pet a sweet old dog at the end of the show. He kissed her face and she giggled happily. We got to feed and pet sting rays and dolphins. I loved petting the dolphins....but that may be because I have longer arms than the kids. For dinner we went back to Downtown Disney to eat the "best bread pudding on the planet", that Lincoln had tasted on a business trip. It was at as Irish restaurant, and it was the MOST delicious bread pudding on the planet! Yum, (I don't normally like bread pudding.)

Day Five:We drove to the Ship! The first time we spotted out cruise ship we were all a little shocked. It was so huge! We got on and found our state room. It seemed so small, but I emptied our suitcases into the drawers and closets - and it was just the perfect size. We only slept in there anyway. We found a buffet, sat on by the pool , and drank Bahama Mama's. Lincoln had to submit (finish it too) a paper, so the kids and I went up to the party on the top deck. As we sailed off, we waved to all working fishermen below us, and they waved back! Then we went to a fun magic show. That is when I started to feel the ship really moving. The curtains would sway on the stage, and Lincoln and I would just look at each other with raised eyebrows. We were so worried about Wyatt getting sea sick. He is always getting car sick, so we thought the cruise would be a similar puke fest. He actually only complained once the WHOLE time, and never got sick. THANK GOODNESS! This was the most I felt the ship moving, so we must have had rough seas that night.
On the cruise you get three waiters that serve you every night. Our waiters were Levi, Marco, and Nino. They were so fabulous, I wanted to sneak them in my suitcase. They cut the kids food, they would make mickey mouse ketchup for Talia, they did magic tricks for us, and they were just sweet as can be. We had a wonderful dinner, but we were unfortunate with our dinner time. We missed out on the good dinner times. Ours was at 8:00 pm. That is what time I put my kids to bed, and we usually eat dinner at 5:00. It took some creative snack times to get them used to this schedule, but Natalia still fell asleep at the table twice.

Day Six: Day two of the cruise....We got to the port in Nassau at 9:00 am. Before we left the ship we visited with Belle, Cinderella, and Snow White. The princesses loved Natalia, she would hug them, and then have a conversation practically nose to nose with them. Cute!
Anyway. We had prepaid for a shore excursion called Black Beard's Cove & String Ray Encounter. We got off the ship and walked to a boat. It took us to a little island, where there were a few huts and buildings, and many lounge chairs on the beach. We got to go in with the stingrays first. Part of the beach isolated, and they kept the stingrays in an enclosed area. It was so fun. The stingrays would swim right up to you. I was surprised because these stingrays had poky bumps down their spines, and more texture to their skin than they rays we met at sea world. The females were much much larger than the males. Lincoln and Wyatt swam with them, and Lincoln tried to teach Wyatt how to snorkel - but the waves were much too strong. The waves were a very bad part of the day. They kept knocking Natalia over, and her legs got so scratched. Wyatt's did too, the sand was so coarse, there was a lot of coral being washed ashore also. Then they had us line up women and children on one side, and the men on the other side facing us. The stingrays immediately began swimming down the center. They knew what was coming....SQUID! They came and dumped a big pile of squid in my hand. A sweet lady next to me held up Talia, and I held Wyatt. We all fed the stingrays and laughed as they sucked the squid from our fingers.

The excursion included a lunch....this was not provided by Disney. =( The island was so "breezy" that day they couldn't even get their grill to heat a precooked hamburger. The first windy day in the Bahamas? My goodness. There were so many disappointed quests, but my kids didn't care. They just chased birds. We went back to the empty beach, and played in the water and dug in the sand. There were shells every where, but Wyatt collected rocks. We bought Wyatt a necklace with a sharks' tooth, and Talia one with pink and blue shells.

That evening we went to the Hercules show, and to a terrific dinner. The kids both had colds so we went to bed.

Day seven: Day three on the cruise....We went to Castaway Cay, Disney's private island. We loved it! There were two characters on the walk to the beach and they loved Natalia. Donald Duck picked her up and swung her around. Even when there was a long line of people waiting, Pluto took her by the hand and played ball with her. So cute again! There were TONS of people on the island. I didn't let that bother me, we still had a fantastic day. Lincoln went snorkeling, and the kids and I played in the water. Then we had a BBQ lunch that was delicious, and back to the beach for a NAP. Yup! Natalia fell asleep on the beach with me under and umbrella. Pure heaven! Lincoln and Wyatt went snorkeling, Wyatt laid with his face smashed up against a clear intertube, so he could see straight to the bottom of the ocean. Lincoln just pulled him around, until Wyatt actually fell asleep too! Then we laid in hammocks under some palm trees, and laughed when Lincoln did a flip out of his...not on purpose! It was a good day.










That evening we went to see the Golden Mickeys show on the ship, without the kids. We felt so guilty because they would have loved it. It was one of my favorite shows on the cruise. There was a pirate party on the ship that night. We bought hooks, earrings, and two toy daggers- and they gave us four bandannas covered with skulls. We looked great, but Talia fell asleep at the table. =) We were all tired anyway.

Day eight: Day four on the cruise - a day a sea. We went to see the new movie Enchanted, and swam in the Mickey Pool. We had a great seafood buffet for lunch, and we saw the Disney Dreams show. We ate our last delicious dinner. It was a totally enjoyable day.

Day nine: We had to get off the ship!!!!! Boo hoo.. I didn't want to leave. We drove to South Carolina, and Wyatt got carsick. It is a funny story. I was driving, Lincoln was sleeping, and Wyatt told me he was going to be sick. I bumped Lincoln to wake him, and the news must of really startled him....because he grabbed a cup half full of sunflower seed shells, reached back to the back seat, and then he jumped. The jump caused all the shells to FLY all over the car. Somehow Lincoln was able to still save the back seat from vomit. I pulled over and Lincoln got out of the car with a limp in his walk. "I pulled my groin," he said. (HOW??) I had Wyatt get out of the car to get some fresh air. He paced around with his mouth wide open, breathing in and out. I was laughing so hard. End of funny puke story. We stayed at another Marriott that night. We walked around a mall before dinner, and Natalia sat on a SOUTHERN Santa's lap. It was funny to hear Santa with a southern drawl.

Day ten: Is not worth writing about, we got home. Back to reality. Cyrus was so happy to see us though!