Ducks on Parade

I mentioned before that we have never done a family vacation, and that hubby had one planned for this summer, and then we will take the kiddos to Disneyland in January, in addition to a weekend get-a-way for just the two of us. 

Well we are home from our first family vacation! 

We covered a lot of territory, and by a lot I mean we drove 3319.24 miles with 3 kids, 2 parents, 1 minivan and NO DVD PLAYER!!!  We have one, but we didn’t want our kids to be entertained the entire time we were gone.   Hubs really wanted them to entertain themselves and learn something.  Each of the girls got a coloring book with crayons, an etcha sketch, a doodle pro, and a book or two to look at and read.  If none of those suited your fancy, then you had to play a game with your parents.  Claire got really good with north, south, east, and west.  She learned to identify if an upcoming exit would have a clean facility in case anyone needed to use it.  Together we talked about the sights, smells, and anything else.  Avery is our animal lover and spotted every single horse, cow, pig, goat, dog, whatever animal we passed along the way.

Was it a complete cakewalk?  Nope, but we dealt.  Our hardest times were when we drove for 18+ hours, which were the final days of our journey.  Even when the babies were screaming and Claire was fussing that her legs were asleep, we were grateful that the previous 11 days had been great.  We were blessed that no on those days no one screamed for more than 45 minutes!!

I promise not to post all 735 (exact count) pictures I took while we were gone, but I will touch on the highlights!

The first leg of our trip we drove to The Peabody.  If you live anywhere near The Peabody in Memphis or Little Rock, or Orlando and you are able to go for a visit.  Hubs and Claire are already planning us to return for another nights stay.

When Claire was a baby hubs had a job interview in California so we obviously slept in a hotel, but we have not stayed in one since then.  Leading up to our trip she was counting the days to her first hotel stay, the day we left she was bouncing off the wall in excitment. 

We arrived at The Peabody and the Bellhop brought his cart over to start loading our things, and the vallet attendent took the keys to our van, and Claire was through the moon.  I made it a point to tell the bellman that this was her first hotel stay (that she could remember) so he was extra sweet to her and made chit-chat with her.  She felt very special, and you could see her light up.

The bellman had told us on our way to our room that the famous duck parade would take place at 11:00 am.  We were a bit disappointed to hear that since our plan was to leave early, but luckily our children slept until 8:30, and at that point we didn’t see any harm in staying a little bit longer.

Checking out the view of the city

The ducks have their own special “hotel” where they stay when they are not floating around in the lobby, so we went to visit them.

Floor of the Elevator

The Ducks hotel

While we were viewing the ducks we got to meet a wonderful employee who gave us the history on the Peabody as well as the duck lineage.  One interesting fact is that The Peabody can legally only keep the ducks for six months, after that it is considered cruel and animal abuse.

This is the cab they ride in to get to the elevator.  Once they reach the elevator they walk on their own.

We meandered downstairs around 10:30 and there was already a pretty good size crowd gathering. 

These ducks get the royal treatment.  Literally!  The hotel closes one elevator just for them, and yes, they roll out the red carpet for the ducks!

duck master

Before the parade begins, the duckmaster comes out and gives you a quick run-down on why there were once ducks in the hotel lobby.  He picks two honorary duck-masters from the audience and presents them with certificates and then the three of them get on the elevator to go retrieve the ducks from their duck cab.  Once they get back to the lobby they open the elevator doors, and the ducks go on parade.

Darling, just darling!

Go if you can!!

Favorite Ingredient Friday

I have mentioned before that our family is trying to eat less meat, so I thought I would share a vegetarian recipe.

Rigatoni with Cauliflower and Tomato Sauce (Meals in Minutes Cookbook by the American Heart Association)

1 pound dried rigatoni (I use whole wheat)

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

20- ounce bag frozen no-salt-added caulifower florets (4 cups)

1 large sweet onion, coarsely chopped (about 3/4 cups)

1 cup coarsely snipped fresh parsley (Italian, or flat-leaf)

1/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh basil

2 to 3 tablespoons bottled minced garlic or 12 to 18 medium cloves garlic, finely chopped

1/4 cup dry red wine (regular or nonalcoholic)

2 cups water

32 ounces marinara sauce (I use Newmans Own)

1/8 teaspoon cayenne

freshly ground black pepper

3 tablespoons shredded or grated Parmesan cheese

Cook pasta using package directions, omitting salt and oil; drain and set aside.

Meanwhile, heat a 4-6 quart pot or a Dutch oven over medium heat.  Add oil and swirl to coat bottom of pot.  Cook cauliflower, onion, parsley, basil and garlic, covered, for 10 minutes, or until vegetables release some of their liquids, stirring occasionally.

Stir in remaining sauce ingredients.  Cover and increase heat to a medium-high; bright to a boil.  Cook, covered, at a medium boil for 12 to 15 minutes, or until caluiflower is tender, stirring occasionally.

Turn cooked pasta into a large serving bowl.  Spoon half the sauce over pasta; using two spoons, toss to coat.  Spoon remaiming sauce over pasta.  Sprinkle with Parmesan.

**I thought it was even better the next day when I re-heated it for lunch.**

For other delicious recipes go to Overwhelmed with Joy!

New Arrival

Our neighbors welcomed Trinity Grace weighing 5 pounds 4 ounces and 18 inches long into the world on the 7th. 

They are home from the hospital and asked us to come for a quick visit. 

I’m heading that way and I can’t wait to hold her, smell her, and welcome her into this world.

I just love the fressness that a new baby brings!

Congrats mom and dad

Sad state of affairs

I realize I am the only person in America who is not sitting on my couch with a box of tissues and crying for Michael Jackson. 

He is only a person.

Regardless of what any judge has said, I believe he is a pedophile. 

He lived a very sad and disturbed life.

Most importantly I highly doubt he had a relationship with Christ.  THAT is very sad to me.

Regardless, the day he died the house was able to pass a vote on an energy bill that is likely to double your electric bill (despite what some are saying).  The energy bill went under the radar because people were idoloizing someone who did not need to be treated that way.  Secretely I think the government was thrilled that they were able to get it passed without public outcry.

On a rare occasion I watch the morning news, today I turned on the tv and the first 20 minutes of the Today Show was about a human being. 

I thought for sure we were tailing a North Korean ship, I thought we had soilders in two different countries fighting two different wars, I thought Honduras has unrest, I thought China was in unrest?

Turns out I was wrong. 

A human being died, and a city who is bankrupt is forking out hundreds of thousands of dollars for a human being.

I ask myself what is happening, and then I read the Bible and take comfort that God has a plan and I can rely on him.

Today, while the rest of the world is mourning the loss of a human being who did nothing for me or my country. 

I will pray for this soilders family, and I will pray for the other soilders who have lost their lives for me.  I will mourn for them.

The Penton Family – Stories About Adoption

One of the many websites that has been referred to us with our agency is Adopt Us.  We look at each and every face of those precious children and we remember why we are adopting, and why we are adopting from HERE.  With each face my husband and I look at them and wonder “are these the children God has in mind for us?”

Recently they featured an article on The Penton Family, a beautiful family of 12.  If you have the time please read their story. 

We enjoyed reading their story.

Grilling Goodness

1) When you were growing up dreaming of having children…dreaming of what their names would be…did you stick with those names?  No, Faith, Hope and Charity were my names.

2) Are you affected by the death of Michael Jackson?  In the sense that I feel there is one less petiphial

 left on this earth.

3) Do you use your dishwasher and your fireplace? I run my dishwasher at least once a day and sometimes, twice.  Fireplace – if I had one I would use it.

4) Have you ever been on a mission trip?  Yes

5) Will your kids participate in a Vacation Bible school this summer?  Yes, we are going to my mother in laws.

6) What about the economy is affecting you the best?  Gas it’s nice to see them down for a while.

7) Do your kids do chores? Yes

Do you use energy efficient bulbs?  YES!

Number Relief

I have mentioned before that my goal was to loose my baby weight from Hunter in three months. 

Once I got the go ahead from my doctor I have been actively working hard at losing this weight.  I knew it would be a tough road but for almost four months I have seen no results.  Last week I got  down emotionally down from it. 

Weight may only be a number to some people, but to me it is more than that.  I know what my husband married, is it realistic to say I will ever look like that again, possibly not but what does it hurt to try?  I also want to be healthy for my kids sake, which means I should probably lay off the butter as well.   Different problem for a different day.

 Back to going no where, I have been able to wear one size larger than I was pre-Avery, but I saw no weight loss.  It left me super bummed.

This week I had to go to the doctor and I got on their scale.  I weighed 26 pounds less than I did at home!

Turns out my scale at home is broken!  WHAT A RELIEF!

Hubs asked me what my goal was from here.

First off, I am going to Target to get a new scale.

I have about 10 more pounds to loose to be in the recommended (on the smaller side) weight for my height, this would put me at pre-Avery.  If I want to set a really high goal I could loose 20 pounds to be pre-Claire.  It’s hard to say that 20 pounds is realistic because my chest has grown with each pregnancy as well.  I am convinced they weigh that last 10 pounds, which is equally depressing. J

In a way I am glad the scale was broke, it made the accomplishment feel so much better. 

For now, I keep moving on!

How many days?

When I was 15, I was walking in the mall and this crazy blond haired lady with two awful children walked up and asked me if I babysat.  I thought she was hilariously out of her mind.  Since I loved to babysit and clearly this lady needed the guidance and wisdom that only a single, non-mother and was the ripe age of 15, I said yes.

Two days later she called me and asked me if I could come that Friday night.  I went and it was by far the WORST night of babysitting ever.  Remember that I started babysitting when I was like 13 and that family had 4 kids (went on to have 1 more) and about a month later her sister with 6 (went on to have 2 more) kids moved in . . .those 10 children had NOTHING on these two little stinkers.

Apparently their mom felt I had done a horrible job as well.  I didn’t know she didn’t like me at the time, but she jokes about how gracious she was to give me a second chance.

About 2 months later she called me desperate for a sitter, I told her for $15.00 an hour (I raised my rate $5.00 because they were so bad) I would be there.  That time it went great.  The kids and I meshed and they instantly got a piece of my heart.

Our relationship grew, I would watch the kids for weeks at a time, several times a year while they would travel the world.  I would have lunch with them at school, I was at every major event in their life, and they were at mine as well.  Their parents became like parents to me, they always joked that I was their honeymoon baby because I was born the same year they got married.  When I graduated from high school, I am still not sure who cried more, my mom or her.

When I got married, she took me to lunch, bought my wedding dress, gloves, and jewelry.  The kids were in my wedding and were absolutely darling. 

Fast forward a bit and they moved to the city we currently live in.  Shortly there after we moved here, it was golden but different.  The kids were older and starting to become independent, they still adored me, but I was wayyy to old for them now, especially since I had a kid! 

Fast forward to two years ago, we got a phone call that the son was caught making some pretty poor decisions.  He was being sent to boarding school in another state in hopes that he could turn his life around before it was to late.

He came home last fall after he got into trouble there.  This time they moved him to his grandparents house, he turned back to his old ways, but never drowned in them again, he just barely treaded water.

Fast forward a bit more.

The Friday before last he graduated from high school.

That is an accomplishment, but he sent me an email that said:

i have been enjoying my summer and stayin on track. i have been clean 104 days and have been doin really good.

THAT is a huge accomplishment.  I got that email on 14 June, so he has now been clean for 114 days!!!

He went on to tell me that he is entering a special program in the fall that will help him get his college degree AND help him stay clean. 

“really, i drifted away from my old friends, but i dragged myself down, nobody dragged me down. i pretty much changed my people, places, and things though.”

I wept. 

I wept because I know his age, and I know he has been thru more than most people my age.  I know he has seen and done things, that no one should experience.  I also wept because it appears he has grown up, has realized what he needs to do to change, and plans to stay that way. 

There were even tears of fear.

I continue to pray that God gives him the strength to fight temptation, and that God puts people in his path that will allow him to one day say “I have been clean for two years. . . ten years. . . 45 years, man that was a long time ago!”

Until then, each day that is added is another GREAT day.