My Life #54687513654 in photos!

December in a nutshell Stephanie & Van got married! Christmas projects: gingerbread tree & Gingerbread House Decorating our tree Sacred Dancing on Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas!!

Tis the season for fun and memories! This December has been quite the active one - as most Decembers! Our memories seem to blur during the holidays - and we access our preferred memories more often than actual - family dinners relaxed and enjoying the time together - forgetting the sweating and swearing that happened moments before as we dropped the turkey leg on the floor and the dog grabbed it or as we held onto resentments silently as we rushed around the kitchen cooking and cleaning at the same time while our loved ones remained in the living room watching TV. I think it is a survival mechanism - we would just give it all up if we nursed ALL our memories as often as the ‘good’ ones! Being a woman and a mother - I am the Director of the holiday extravaganza that we call Christmas. A one word title - for almost one million tiny pieces that need to come together seamlessly to manifest this fantasy that I have of the Perfect Holiday. The process begins with gifts - this is the most enjoyable part for me - the quest for the perfect gift for everyone. Yes - it can be stressful - but I usually start early enough so it is just a challenge - not impossible! It is not ok in my Christmas to get a gift just to get a gift. It is pondered, discussed and planned with minute detail THEN purchased. The wrapping paper is chosen carefully and ribbons and bows applied with great care. As the Director - it all must be done before the 24th - since we make Christmas cookies for Santa (and last minute gift giving) on Christmas Eve day - Usually I have our dinner that afternoon too- since Christmas day is spent driving all over town - THIS year we stayed home so it was pizza and then church. It is difficult - but I am trying to be flexible and have some fun myself for the holidays! Christmas eve service is the best - when everyone from the tiny children to the shakiest elder ALL CARRY FIRE - candles and try to sing all four verses of Silent Night in the dark sanctuary. Everyone is excited for both the secular and the holy to happen this night! The only day more exciting is the resurrection - but that is another story. Our family has a nail that we hide on the tree - to remind us that this happy holiday tree foretells the wood of the cross and the truly greatest gift ever given! Christmas Day IS all fun - even for the director. This year my kids got up at 5:00am full of it and raring to go. Ken wanted them to go back to bed BUT I said - Get the Stockings - Let’s go to it! (I am a kid at heart and wanted to open my presents too - you know!) I grabbed some coffee (with baileys - come on it is Christmas and after all my machinations I deserve it!) And the main event begins - I do enjoy seeing everyone open up a gift that they had wanted - sometimes not even realizing they had wanted it in the first place. Ken got me an external hard drive for our computer AND a new Ipod! The kids got computer and game boy games as well as gloves which I was surprised how much they seemed to like them! Kenny got his favorite pants (cargo) , a Harry Potter game and Civilization IV - which he LOVES! Afterwards I took a nap - come on Five am is early! When I got up I began cooking dinner while Ken napped. The children played their games. We even got Sparky a bone that is almost bigger than she is - and she wandered around with it - trying to get in the very middle of every activity. Long story short - I hope everyone had as great a holiday as I did! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! PEACE. JESS

More and more fun....

Hello! It has been a while since I’ve updated my blog – and it has been busy and fun times! We finished out our summer by relaxing at the beach and pool. I did wish to get to the beach more than I did – our summers are so short and sweet! We had our family christmas this August. It is the fourth annual and it was fun as usual. All the family camps at the same time and we just hang out - AND have christmas - next year we plan on having a christmas tree again - this years tree was a dissappointment! School began uneventfully in September! Both kids are in the Junior High now – it is more convenient logistically to have them in the same school – but I just can’t believe my baby is in JR High! YIKES! Ben likes his teacher and Grace has really enjoyed moving from class to class and teacher to teacher! There is a bit more homework but so far nothing that is unreasonable. (see photos) Halloween was fun. Grace went as a cat and Ben dressed up as an elf. At work we had a huge pot luck party and about 35 people dressed up. One year it was just Lori and I – we went as Clark Kent and Superman. The next party about five people dressed up and this year was a total blast – Lori and I went as Thing 1 and Thing 2 from the Cat in the Hat! We won third place!! (see photos) Thanksgiving - what a beautiful holiday! A day off to eat and be grateful. I don't really need to say more.... Well, that’s all for now. Really I will try to keep this updated. Just so that Rob will know what is going on. PEACE. JESS

My life #5789215648231568732

Speed and Spotty Navigation: It has been awhile – a friend of mine calls it ‘blogstagnation’! I have so many things to write but so little time. I’ll start today with our trip to Gettysburg and Hershey park. 8:00 am and we (My close friend and her two children, me and my children) got into the car and headed off! Kenny had long ago decided that work would be less work than this trip! Less than two hours into it – the kids were already ready for a break – we pulled into a rest stop and told the children to run fast to that trash can – well- a police officer had watched us pull up and watched the kids run like the wind away – so he pulled up close- to keep an eye on us we think- why would four kids break-out and run away that fast?! W3ell, we were glad they had their eyes open! Ben said that no one would run away from a van filled with Duncan donuts Soon after – Lori, my ‘mindless navigator” and I ended up on our first adventure – driving northbound instead of the correct southbound direction. We had a good laugh about that and decided we were glad we started a bit earlier. We drove on interstates (mostly) and it was easy driving except for all the signs warning us about crazy deer! We saw three dead deer on the sides of the road and two live deer (for now) just standing and eating. I wonder what they put in the water to make the deer so active in the summer. Gettysburg was great. We were there during the anniversary of the battles and we saw a few re-enactors walking around which was cool. We only went to the left flank – Devils Den, Big & Little Round top – the kids loved the hiking on big and little round tops and the caves in Devils den! Hershey park was good – we got rained on (it always rains on us)! We had brought ponchos and just put them on and kept going (no lines) until a security person told Lori that there had been a funnel cloud and we had to take shelter – we had heard some announcements but they were grumbles – like the teacher on Charlie Brown – so that did dampen things for a bit. Afterwards we watched the fireworks and then exhausted – went back to the hotel. The second day at Hershey was rainy and much less busy – the kids all picked the one ride they really wanted to go on (I’ll tell the story of Grace and the swings at a later time) and it rained more and we left for Eric’s house in the booneys of Pennsytucky! Of course we got lost and it was forever before we got there. Then I had too much red wine and was terribly sick the next morning/day! We got home very late and I have never been happier to see my bed, pillows and a snoring Ken in a long time! All in all we did have a lot of fun, a whole lot of laughs and a lot of fast food – I will not be wanting any more Mc Lunches for months! Thanks very much to Eric and Robin and Emil & Nancy for the hospitality! Both families opened their homes to us for a night and we were very grateful and glad to get to spend the extra time with them as well. PEACE. JESS

Oh My Word Its JUNE

Its June already. When did time start going so fast? When I was in elementary school - the summers seemed to last a long long time - and as I got older - the school year got longer and summers got shorter and shorter until now I get a long week end here and there and the last week of August! Its June already. Remember counting down the days left in school? Wishing NOW that there hadn't been so many snow days! And the field trips that are happening now- are they crazy. The kids are full of spit and vinegar and they pack'em up and take them into the public! Its June already. Its time for chorus and band concerts, school plays and grand shows! June is the month of term papers and Final exams, proms & pomp and circumstance – for endings and beginnings. Its time for choosing classes and summer camps. Its June already. Time to put up the pool, order the water, get the chemicals and have a party! YEE HAW! Its SUMMER! PEACE. JESS

My History in Photos

My Life #578941565461

What a month April in Maine has been! We started out with a blizzard and got over 8” here on the coast – and then the very next week we got a nor’easter with over 5" of rain - with trees down, power issues and school and work cancelled. More like February than April. I traveled most of April. The second week I spent three days in Iowa meeting a buyer for two of my stores – I had planned on only being there one night but storms in Chicago forced an additional day. The visit went well even if the driving was a bit nerve wracking since I had a car I was not familiar with on roads that I was not used to as well. The following week I went to Northern California again – Eureka – in the redwood forest area to help set a new store. I was excited since a friend was going with me but she backed out last minute – luckily the store needed me all three days (I have not worked physically that hard since my waitressing days – putting up shelves THEN stocking them – but with music, laughing and dancing we had a great time!) Yes Rob – I danced without the assistance of the Lemon-Drop! On my way home I stopped in Toledo for a trade show – This trip was quite the traveling nightmare. I got bumped on the way out – they changed from a BIG plane to a smaller one – but got a voucher and free night stay – and on the way back both flights were cancelled – my flight out of Toledo and my flight from Chicago to Portland. I got moved to a Boston flight but didn’t get home until 3.30am – YIKES. My luggage however did somehow make a flight to Portland so I still had to go up there for all my jeans and curling iron. Boy was I glad to be home. Then I got invited to Minneapolis – to help my co-worker Tara who always helps me with the Toledo trade show – so I am off to St Paul this weekend! This will be fun too since I’m meeting Tara there! The kids are doing well. Grace was in the Junior High drama “The Secret Garden” as a Dreamer Chorus and Statue Chorus – she had a great time and may do it again next year depending on the play chosen. She found out one of her closest girlfriends is moving to Pennsylvania – and is, of course, upset. School is going well in all other ways – and her wrist is healing – her cast has been off for over two weeks!! Ben is excited about his upcoming solo in the elementary school production. He will be singing a song from Shenandoah called “why am I me?” Is this really my Ben? He was disappointed to have to give up the solo as the tin man but wanted this other part since it is larger. Ken is fine. He bought a new dump truck while I was in California – a big red 4 wheel drive with a plow dump truck. Finally. This month has been a car repair nightmare as well. My care had around 300.00 of belts, oil, tire etc issues, Kens had almost 200.00 and we have not got a total on the ‘new’ dump truck yet. Cross your fingers…. Please be kind auto guy…. Otherwise- all is well- PEACE. JESS

Got MILK

Thursday after school - Grace decided to play a quick game of indoor intramural soccer before drama practice. During the game - she was knocked over and a fellow student fell on her. Grace pulled her arm out from under her and hurt her wrist. When Ken got to the school at 4.30 (one half hour later than we were supposed to since Grace had told us 4.30) her wrist was swollen. His intuition suggested a visit to the urgent care center where she had an X-Ray and was diagnosed with a wrist fracture. Ken called me at work as soon as the Doc returned with the X-Ray. Her hospital paperwork suggested that broken bones will heal best if put back together in their normal position. (ya think?) So they placed her left wrist in the correct position and they put on a fiberglass cast - one that can be taken off and on - along with an arm sling. I've already called her primary care doc and will call the orthopedist (bone doc) tomorrow. Grace is staying home from school - she doesn't want everyone looking at her and I think that after this kind of trauma she should lay low anyway! I also want to get her into Dr Lampert's~ if he as a spare minute- or the other doctor! Research ALSO suggests that smoking slows fracture healing - so no Camels for Gracie for the next few weeks! We've heard the gum will be a great help! I do understand that wrist fractures can lead to chronic pain and arthritis so we are taking this injury seriously! Grace is very worried about not being able to be in the play (I think she will be able to- her cast is white and the costumes are white but we will see -) And she is worried about playing the Saxiphone. They just got some music she really likes and she has a concert in mid May - That I am not so sure about....Her band teacher is GREAT and in his 30+ years of Jr High band I am sure he has had many one handed students and I am hoping he will come up with somethin... But we cautioned her about thinking about too much to soon. (Sorry - I use the wrong to/too) She is asleep now- thank goodness! She needs the mental rest. She was fine until I spoke to her on the phone at the urgent care center. Then she got a bit weepy and said she was very confused. A positive note about Benny - The Elementary fourth grade does a show each spring called Starz 4 broadway - Ben's class chose the Wizard of OZ and Ben is going to be the Tin Man - he even has a speaking part. It will be 7.00pm June 13 / 14. I almost fell out of my chair! VERY IMPORTANT TOO: T-HO from work has recently won the GOLD STAR for BLOG reading - and got his 50 cents! He has placed his award on his refrigerator for all to see! You go Tom! PEACE OUT. J

BLOGS vs FORUMS- HOGWASH

What is a blog? I found the following definition on another BLOG and I think it fits my BLOG perfectly. A frequent, chronological publication of personal thoughts and Web links. What else is it really. I did get into a discussion with someone recently regarding the uselessness of BLOGs - and no - this time it was not Rob. This person was more interested in ‘sharing his ideas in forums’ REALLY - now in my many years of experience - no one is really interested in anyone else’s experiences except in ways that they relate to themselves. Think about most conversation. You talk - then you wait for your turn to talk again - most of the time thinking up your thoughts and responses - FORUM - HOGWASH - that is really just a platform of pretentiousness - you actually think someone really cares what you think about. The BLOG is true - you write for yourself - not for someone else at all and in this way is a much truer form of communication. Anyway - had a great trip to @^%$^*^ and made it back really really late!! We had a good time. I really wish the booth had been busier. It appeared to have an invisible fence that people had to run thru risking shock - most did not. I did get a few #!&&# yellers about mom and pop businesses - but it was just very slow for the most part. A bit scary. I think we desperately need a new product- we have not had one for a couple of years - new items that will not cannibalize our current sets would really rock!! More later - Check back for more photos of me and my latest famous buddies! PEACE OUT! J

On saying goodbye

Rod McKuen Writes: "Goodbye. I love you and I'll go on loving. I will change as you will change. I wish you Christmas every time your eyes close. I pray that you will run with deer and soar with eagles, touching only on the ground long enough to find that man who will love you every bit as much as I do. And one you'll feel the same toward." His website is: http://www.mckuen.com/flights/flight.htm

Let it snow let it snow let it snow

IT snowed here in southern maine again today. School was cancelled and work was called off by 10.00am! It was a nasty mix of snow, ice, rain and wind. Fortunately we have not lost power here- yet! Got the woodstove on just in case - plus - the basement is warm for the kids to play in even though temps got almost up to 38*. Heading out to Anaheim next week - I hope the weather cooperates. I watched three movies today - Failure to Launch, This is Spinal Tap and The Break-Up. It was a good day. I think I'll head back to bed and relax - I'll clean the house tomorrow! PEACE. JESS

Rob's Posting on My Blog - NOW THAT'S FUNNY

Monday, April 17th Wow, I can’t believe it! I just created my online blog and I’ve already had 16 hits! There sure are a lot of people out there interested in my life. I spent the entire day telling everyone I knew about my blog and telling them to check it out. Most people I saw I told six or seven times. I was getting some strange looks, but I don’t want them to miss anything. Tuesday, April 18th. 18 hits and counting! I checked around and went back to all the people I spoke to yesterday. I reminded them to check it out. I mean, they don’t want to miss anything right? Even though I’ve already told them everything in person, they really need to read it online. Plus then they get the benefit of reading about it from my avatar. Don’t know what an avatar is? Well, I just found out a couple days ago, but if you’re not cool enough to know, I’m not telling you. Here’s a hint, my avatar is completely self centered and full of herself. Wednesday, April 19th. I think I figured out why more people aren’t checking it out – too much crap about Grace and Ben in there. Who wants to hear about them? It’s about me people, me! Check it out! I’ve started printing out my web pages and leaving them on people’s chairs. That counts as a hit, right? Of course it does. 453 hits and counting! Sunday, May 6th . I made an announcement in church today about my blog. I don’t think any of think any of those sanctimonious jerks are going to visit the site, but I’m counting the entire congregation as hits. 842 hits! Tuesday, May 16th . I’ve discovered a whole new target market for my blog – homeless people! I offer them a couple of quarters, lead them to the nearest public library, and pay them after they’ve checked it out. One guy tried to tell me he’d check it out later. Yeah right, buddy. No spare change for you! 962 hits, whoopee! Friday, May 26th. I’ve taped my blog to the windows of my car, and am now counting every person I drive past as a hit. 15,252 hits! It’s unbelievable how many people want to learn about what I’ve got going on! Ken tried to tell me I was wasting gas, the cheap b@st@rd. He just doesn’t understand what it means to have an adoring public. My fans are counting on me, and I’ll do what it takes to please them! …WHERE WILL IT END? JUST SAY NO TO THE BLOG OF JESS - BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE….

Me and My Buddy Pierce

Question of the Day

If you made a love potion that tasted horrible, how would you drink it? I'd drink mine quickly with vodka! (Suprise suprise) Let me know what YOU would do!

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!!

EVERYONE- MY FAVORITE BROTHER SCOTT IS 40 TODAY AND - My good friend Erik's birthday is today as well!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO BOTH OR YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My Life #758654654

Hello to all! Life is going pretty good. I am so grateful for all the good things in my life. My husband, kids, family, friends, job, home and county! This winter has kicked our family's ass illness wise - poor Ben has had strep throat, Grace and I had a 24 hour bug earlier this month and Grace has had a flu since Wednesday! Poor little bugger! The kids had doctor appintments on Tuesday (while I was in NYC for a work meeting)> They are growing fine - BOTH are only 10 inches shorter than me! YIKES - I better eat my wheaties. Its still cold here - suprise suprise! 19.4*F Poor Sparky! We should have named her Dixie - she is from Tennessee - and ehe HATES the cold. Outside for her business only and then directly back inside by the woodstove. Sometimes I think she is going to climb into the fire she gets so close... School vacation was good. The kids didn't want to do anything but veg out - they really are my children. They did go to Jokers with the Rec department and hung out at their Grammy's a day or two and got spoiled - so that had a good time I went to NYC - WOW. Haven't been there since 1988 - Park Ave, Time Square, Theater District - We had work meetings at Colgate, went to the Letterman Show (2/19/07) and had dinner at Carmine's - Also went to ground zero - and although its still a construction site - I cannot expainn - I just silently cried. The photographs are amazing and moving. I really can't say more. Its similar to the Alfred R Morrow building in Oklahoma City, OK I went there alone and had to sit down to cry- and if you have not been there - Go - we grow our own you know.... Well, gotta go - have a great week. PEACE. JESS

I like this one better...

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Most Noble and Honourable Jessica the Pusillanimous of Withering by the Wold Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

My Life #548975654895

Well- Lori and Nancy have been away from work since Feb 1 AND I MISS THEM!! The office feels empty and not much laughter and fun have been happening. I look forward to seeing them on Monday! I am looking into taking a class in computers and help desk - I think that may be a direction I am interested in persuing at work. I want the data bases and expo planning - that may be enough to keep me interested. I love my buyers but the goals are old and boring now. I have no problem reaching them. I just know I really need to be learning something right now. Ken thinks it could be me finally missing a church life - maybe - I plan on church shopping soon. I'd like to start with the congregational church - the kids (and ME) are used to more traditional services - although I'd love to start dancing again. We are going out to dinner with our new neighbors the Falzone's tonight. OVI - I am looking forward to it. Cyber see you soon. PEACE. JESS

Family Vacation #4845625462

We had a great time in Florida!! We left last Friday and spent the night at the Sheraton in Manchester - Currently they are undergoing some renovations - but they promise to be a great improvement! The hotel has a shuttle to the airport - and you can leave your car there too! We all got free breakfast since our room didn't have any heat - luckily it was on the third floor only Kenny was cold. I slept through the employee coming in to check on it - it was well worth free breakfast. There was a white-out type storm that morning - so we were really glad to have someone else drive us on the unfamiliar roads. We got to the airport in plenty of time but forgot that we had Grace's hand cream in our carry-on so I had to go thru security twice... no problem! We had a layover of about 2 hours in Dulles - we went from one side (A) to the other (C&D) and then walked from C1 to D29 - it is a nice airport - not too big but big enough to have choices for lunch. In Orlando we got a cab to Vistana Villages. Since there is a reason we could get the Sheraton "HotRate" for empolyees- (it is WINTER there and they do much of the needed updating and remodeling - the HUGE pool was down but the pool in our complex was heated and GREAT. There was a hot tub and a 1" kiddie pool too. The kids really enjoyed the game room next to the pool too! The first two days were very warm 80* - one day we relaxed by the pool and the second day (Monday) we went to Disney Worlds - Magic Kingdom. We got there around 10.00ish and took the train around the park to get oriented. We started in Tomorrow land where we took the Tomorrowland Transit Authority Ride to get aquainted. Then I went on Space Mountian.NO WAIT. We all went on the Indie Speedway which was our first line - about 20 minutes- not bad at all. On Main Street - our next visit - we got cookies and milk and sat down at a table to plan our strategy. We hit a gift shop or two and Ben found a baseball he just had to have. We said wait until the end we will be back - but WE couldn't find it! Poor Ben. It was our parental quest to find this baseball which we finally did at downtown disney! In Adventure land we went to the swiss family robinson tree house (wouldn't go again), the pirates of the caribbean (no wait) and the jungle cruise where we had our only Adventureland wait of about 20 minutes. In Frontierland we had already done the Railroad so we went to Tom Sawyers Island and we all tried the "Big Thunder Mountain Railroad" roller coaster. Both Grace and Ben did well - I was glad that they pushed a personal comfort zone- of course we did not make them go on - Ben even said he would go on again - NEXT time in Disney. Grace said she liked the ride better now that it was over! We waited for the parade of a million dreams where Ben got 'birdie dirtied' for the second time! Those birds have great aim! Luckily it was just his hand and washed off eaisly. We did all the rides in Liberty Square - Hall of Presidents, Riverboat & Haunted Mansion - no waits for any ride! By the time we got to Fantasyland we were all a bit tired. Disney closed at 7.00 that night and it was close to 5ish. Since we had no waits for any ride - we chose Cinderellas Carrousel, Snow White's scary adventure (wouldnt go again no big deal) and at Lori's strong urging Mickey's PhilharMagic 3D movie - that was very enjoyable (and we sat down which was a real selling point at the end of the day!! After that we found a lost little girl who we stayed with in the street while Ken went to get a cast member. They walked her down the street and we got to see the family reunited. I don't think her mother will ever let her go- We think Marissa just started following the wrong set of legs - because when we found her she had grabbed someone and looked up and it was not Mom! The final LAND - Mickey's Toontown Fair we just walked thru - no appeal for us! The end of day fireworks and music show was fabulous! We found an empty sidewalk and relaxed. We saw Tinkerbell and one of the most beautiful fireworks displays ever! We then tried to get to Cinderalla's castle - bummer - it was closed for the show and Grace had really wanted to go there - we did get into one gift shop and I asked it we could walk thru but they said no. Bummer. It will be the first place we visit when we go again. Yes - I said when. We had a great time. The next visit can be more relaxed - we can skip the rides we were not thrilled with and check out ones we missed and hit the rides that were down (SplashMountain) and revist favorites. (Spacemountain for me!) We had an adventure going back to Vistana - it was raining the way it rains in Florida - and I missed an exit. We continued to circle the hotel for about an hour - never being more than a mile away. It was frustrating and a bit scary. We stopped for dinner and got directions from a local then went to Walgreens for a map. We were VERY close the entire time. It was good to get out of the car that night. We rented a PT Cruiser for the first two days! The next three days the weather turned cold (55*ish) and overcast. We relaxed by reading, visiting wih my parents, game room gaming and HOT TUB and heated pool! Thursday we moved to the Epot resort - The Dolphin. They have 5 heated pools and 4 heated hot tubs (different temps). VERY NICE. There were at least 7 on property restaurants. I tried Ahi Tuna with Asian coleslaw for dinner. Very good. Ken tried some and ended up going back to the room for benedryl - there must have been some other fish or shrimp juice - He had a cuban sandwhich was good too. (I like the one I had with Amy in Milwaulkee better!) We also found Downtown Disney and Pleasure Island. We went to the movies and saw 'Happy Feet" there then walked around in the drizzle. If we go back we would definately try Disney Quest - the Disney version of a Game Room- and the Rainforest cafe for dinner. Epcot was good too. We went there our last day - it was sunny and cool. A bit busier than monday too. We did Spaceship Earth, Ellen's Adventure (the kids loved that), Grace and I did Mission Space Green (and wanted to go back for orange but it was one of the few waits- 20 minutes or less) and Grace and I did test track. It also had about 10 minute wait- not bad at all! we did Turtle Talk and Finding Nemo with no waits- thank goodness because we thought they were lame! In the Land ~we took our suprise favorites - all of us went to living with the land - we got to see green houses and hydroponics. I want to go back and see the show "Behind the seeds" since this ride was so interesting. Grace and I went of Soarin - it was our longest wait- 30 minutes. She LOVED it. I enjoyed it but most likely wouldn't wait that long for it again. Ken & Ben went to the cirle of life show there while we waited for Soarin. They like it. We went to Figments journey into imagination (I was not impressed but I love Figment and bought one) and Honey I shrunk the Audience. We visited Innoventios East & West too. By the time we got to the world showcase - it was getting dark. 6.30ish We had refried beans, nachos&Cheese and a churros to begin. The ride was down in Mexico and Norway. In China we saw the 360* movie - neither child was impressed so we didn't do any more movies. We did a few 'KidKot masks and cardboard attachements for the mask - until Japan which was a great hit for the kids. They spent money of POKEMON toys - Grace said she will save money to get all the pokemon toys next time. The rest where just gift shops and restaurants. It was cold by this time and Ken had only a t-shirt. Benny and I kept him warm while we waited for the light show "Illuminations" It was beautiful. The way they set lights and fireworks to music is unbelieveable. We then headed back to the room via boat - to pack. When making the reservations it didn't sound too early - 7.30am flight - well - we got up at five- check out by 5.45 - got to the airport by 6.15- and it was PACKED. YIKES. Luckily I had printed out boarding passes in the lobby so we check our luggage with the skycab and went to a huge securtity line. Suprisingly - the one huge line was separated into 8+ lines and we got thru quickly. We got to the boarding area about 10 minutes before boarding. I fell asleep as soon as I sat down and they shut the doors. I woke up in DC. The shuttle was very fast and the car started up! My tires were very low so we added air and headed home. It is good to be home!!

My Life #34093893843759324793

Hey - I like this blog setting! I'll really try to keep up with this. Come back at the end of the month and I will have stories about my family vacation to visit 'the mouse'! PEACE. JESS