This afternoon while the kids were eating a snack after school, Rebecca told us it had started snowing. We all gathered around the window, looking at the few snowflakes falling. There weren't many of them. But it was beautiful. The snow picked up a little, and then after little more than half an hour, it stopped. None of the snow stuck, but it was still the first snow fall of the season.
I love watching the snow. It is so peaceful to watch the flakes drift and wander down from the sky. It makes me think of coziness, of wrapping up in a blanket, reading a good book and drinking hot chocolate. It makes me think of being safe and secure. I keep thinking of "comfort food"-- could there be comfort weather?
Now, if I have to go out in the cold, I'm not so happy. I have no interest in skiing or any other winter sport. I don't like to be cold. But watching the snow is wonderful.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Night Life
While we were in Florida, we decided to get dressed up and go to the Melting Pot. I was so excited to go. I know there is one less than half an hour from our home, but it still was a fabulous part of our trip. Since this was our anniversary trip, the restaurant had a nice card on the table wishing us a happy anniversary. We loved the food, especially the chocolate fondue. We also enjoyed just relaxing and visiting over a long dinner with no need to rush home to a babysitter.
The next evening, we went out to the Pirate's Dinner Theater. It was a fun, cheesy performance. We might have enjoyed it more if we were younger or drunk. They seemed to talk about drinking a lot, which isn't as humorous if you don't drink.
During the pre-dinner appetizers, they did a men's beauty contest. Jack was brave enough to volunteer, so he got to be a part of the show.
Here they are doing the cha-cha. Yes, there is a woman there. She was insistent on being a part of it.
The acrobatics were impressive.
The next evening, we went out to the Pirate's Dinner Theater. It was a fun, cheesy performance. We might have enjoyed it more if we were younger or drunk. They seemed to talk about drinking a lot, which isn't as humorous if you don't drink. During the pre-dinner appetizers, they did a men's beauty contest. Jack was brave enough to volunteer, so he got to be a part of the show.
Here they are doing the cha-cha. Yes, there is a woman there. She was insistent on being a part of it. 
The acrobatics were impressive. 
The Search is Over
I'm not sure when we discovered it. Maybe we experienced the pure pleasure while we were living in Kansas. But I know that while we were living with Jack's parents while our house was being built, we often went on dates to Applebee's. We don't drink, nor do we enjoy the bar atmosphere that comes out at night there. But they had something that we couldn't pass up.
They had the best brownie sundae we had ever had. It was fabulous. It was two wedges of brownie, with two small scoops of vanilla ice cream in between. Then it was drizzled with chocolate sauce. Maybe there were more scrumptious goodies that I have forgotten over time. It was wonderful. The kind of dessert that melts in your mouth and makes you want for more.
We went there at least a couple times a month while we were living in Loveland. (Having a built-in babysitter helped...) After we were in our home, we didn't make it to Applebee's as often. Then one night we had a babysitter. It was for the adult session of Stake Conference, as I recall. There is an Applebee's on the way home from the Stake Center, so we decided to stop in for a little indulgence. You would not believe our disappointment when, after searching the dessert menu, the server informed us that they were now doing dessert "shots" and no longer served the brownies. What?!? Why do you think we came here! You will be pleased to know that I did not make a scene. I politely ordered some mediocre dessert, and hid my shock and dismay.
Thus ensued the search. For the past several years, whenever we tried a new restaurant and felt like dessert, we would try the brownie. There has never been one that has come close to the scrumptious goodness of that lost brownie sundae. Until now.
Friday, our last full day in Florida, we were looking for somewhere to eat lunch. All the local eateries seemed to be geared toward seafood, so we decided to grab a quick lunch at TGI Friday's. We hadn't eaten there in a while, and it was safe. While we were looking at the menu, the server gestured to a dessert display on the table and told us to save room for the Brownie Obsession. That was excellent advice.
The Brownie Obsession is a square of brownie, warmed, topped with vanilla ice cream, along with chocolate and caramel sauces and pecans. The brownie literally melts in your mouth. It is amazing. By the time you get to the last few bites, it is more like brownie sundae soup, with the caramel, chocolate, and ice cream sauces mixing in with the decadent brownie. It was heavenly.
We went back for another at dinner. Good thing we don't have to go all the way to Florida to indulge. Our real anniversary is coming up...
They had the best brownie sundae we had ever had. It was fabulous. It was two wedges of brownie, with two small scoops of vanilla ice cream in between. Then it was drizzled with chocolate sauce. Maybe there were more scrumptious goodies that I have forgotten over time. It was wonderful. The kind of dessert that melts in your mouth and makes you want for more.
We went there at least a couple times a month while we were living in Loveland. (Having a built-in babysitter helped...) After we were in our home, we didn't make it to Applebee's as often. Then one night we had a babysitter. It was for the adult session of Stake Conference, as I recall. There is an Applebee's on the way home from the Stake Center, so we decided to stop in for a little indulgence. You would not believe our disappointment when, after searching the dessert menu, the server informed us that they were now doing dessert "shots" and no longer served the brownies. What?!? Why do you think we came here! You will be pleased to know that I did not make a scene. I politely ordered some mediocre dessert, and hid my shock and dismay.
Thus ensued the search. For the past several years, whenever we tried a new restaurant and felt like dessert, we would try the brownie. There has never been one that has come close to the scrumptious goodness of that lost brownie sundae. Until now.
Friday, our last full day in Florida, we were looking for somewhere to eat lunch. All the local eateries seemed to be geared toward seafood, so we decided to grab a quick lunch at TGI Friday's. We hadn't eaten there in a while, and it was safe. While we were looking at the menu, the server gestured to a dessert display on the table and told us to save room for the Brownie Obsession. That was excellent advice.
The Brownie Obsession is a square of brownie, warmed, topped with vanilla ice cream, along with chocolate and caramel sauces and pecans. The brownie literally melts in your mouth. It is amazing. By the time you get to the last few bites, it is more like brownie sundae soup, with the caramel, chocolate, and ice cream sauces mixing in with the decadent brownie. It was heavenly.
We went back for another at dinner. Good thing we don't have to go all the way to Florida to indulge. Our real anniversary is coming up...
International Drive
International Drive in Orlando is the tourist strip. All the major theme parks are right on this street, so it has also drawn many other tourist attractions. Jack and I spent the better part of Friday visiting some tourist spots on International Drive.
First, we went to Ripley's Believe it or Not. The building is really neat-looking-- it is made to look like it has been part of an upheaval and half the building is uprooted from the ground. The exhibits were a mix-- some of them were corny, others were interesting, and some were disgusting (think headhunters or head shrinking).
This car was pretty neat. It is a Model T Ford life-sized replica made completely of match sticks.
Jack and I were fascinated by this. You can't read the sign, but basically it says that since medical knowledge didn't used to be as advanced as it is now, occasionally people were buried alive. To enable the person to get out of the grave, there was a bell attached to the top of the burial spot with a string inside the casket, so if you woke up, you could ring the bell and get out... Makes me grateful for living today!
This is the Throne of Love. You are supposed to put quarters in and it will tell you what category you fall into. We just took pictures.
This was an optical illusion that felt like you were spinning while you were in the tunnel. Not fun.
Here are some black lights. Kinda cool.
Our next stop was Wonder Works. It was similar to Ripley's in some ways-- same spinning hallway and odd facts. But it was much better, with lots of interactive educational displays.
We both got on the bed of nails. I realized this is probably less painful for someone with more body fat than me.
This was a really cool game. So you strap on a brain wave monitor and then try to be calm and clear your mind. This will decrease your brain activity. The ball on the table will go away from the person with the lowest brain activity. Jack won, but we both had very low brain activity. We took the longest out of all the people we watched to finish the game. I am laughing as I write this-- does this say something about us?
A little space walk...
Of course, Jack found the flight simulator game. He landed the space shuttle successfully after crashing it only once! I crashed it once and gave up.
We also went to the Titanic Museum. When you enter the museum, you are given a boarding pass with the name of one of the passengers on it. The tour is guided by two different members of the Titanic crew, accents and all. I was quite impressed with this museum. They did a great job of making the experience realistic. Then at the end of the tour, there were displays with the names of those on board and you got to see if you survived or not.
First, we went to Ripley's Believe it or Not. The building is really neat-looking-- it is made to look like it has been part of an upheaval and half the building is uprooted from the ground. The exhibits were a mix-- some of them were corny, others were interesting, and some were disgusting (think headhunters or head shrinking).
This car was pretty neat. It is a Model T Ford life-sized replica made completely of match sticks.
Jack and I were fascinated by this. You can't read the sign, but basically it says that since medical knowledge didn't used to be as advanced as it is now, occasionally people were buried alive. To enable the person to get out of the grave, there was a bell attached to the top of the burial spot with a string inside the casket, so if you woke up, you could ring the bell and get out... Makes me grateful for living today!
This is the Throne of Love. You are supposed to put quarters in and it will tell you what category you fall into. We just took pictures.
This was an optical illusion that felt like you were spinning while you were in the tunnel. Not fun.
Here are some black lights. Kinda cool.
Our next stop was Wonder Works. It was similar to Ripley's in some ways-- same spinning hallway and odd facts. But it was much better, with lots of interactive educational displays. 
We both got on the bed of nails. I realized this is probably less painful for someone with more body fat than me. 
This was a really cool game. So you strap on a brain wave monitor and then try to be calm and clear your mind. This will decrease your brain activity. The ball on the table will go away from the person with the lowest brain activity. Jack won, but we both had very low brain activity. We took the longest out of all the people we watched to finish the game. I am laughing as I write this-- does this say something about us?
A little space walk...
Of course, Jack found the flight simulator game. He landed the space shuttle successfully after crashing it only once! I crashed it once and gave up.
We also went to the Titanic Museum. When you enter the museum, you are given a boarding pass with the name of one of the passengers on it. The tour is guided by two different members of the Titanic crew, accents and all. I was quite impressed with this museum. They did a great job of making the experience realistic. Then at the end of the tour, there were displays with the names of those on board and you got to see if you survived or not.The grand staircase.
I'm the captain! Maybe that was the problem...
I'm the captain! Maybe that was the problem...
Kennedy Space Center
After we left Cocoa Beach, we headed over to Kennedy Space Center. It was very interesting to look at all the displays and memorabilia from different space flights, as well as see the working launch sites and equipment. We even caught a glimpse of one of the shuttles in the hangar being worked on. Jack is fascinated by flying (he wishes he were a pilot), so this was a must-do stop on our trip.
A launch site.
Waiting for entry into a movie about the Apollo missions.
Five engines to get the shuttle up. They were huge.
Jack by another set of engines.
During a video presentation, they had a visual of the space walk.
I think this was the Apollo 13 capsule-- definitely one of the actual capsules that was in space.
I am outside a section of the International Space Station.
Jack and Space Man.
Rockets as you can see them from the entrance to the Space Center. 
A launch site.
Waiting for entry into a movie about the Apollo missions.
Five engines to get the shuttle up. They were huge.
Jack by another set of engines.
During a video presentation, they had a visual of the space walk. 
I think this was the Apollo 13 capsule-- definitely one of the actual capsules that was in space.
I am outside a section of the International Space Station.
Jack and Space Man.
Rockets as you can see them from the entrance to the Space Center.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Cocoa Beach
Wednesday morning we went to Cocoa beach. It was beautiful. The beach was very peaceful. There weren't very many people there yet, and the sound of the surf was amazingly relaxing. We enjoyed walking up and down the coastline, collecting seashells for the kids. I was surprised at how white and fine the sand was.
I don't think I have ever seen a starfish before. There were so many seashells everywhere. I was a little afraid I would step on something alive!
This picture illustrates the reason you should bring a beach bag. Jack walked down the beach with his shoes across his shoulders seashells in one hand, camera case in one hand, and camera around his neck! Thanks for carrying everything, Jack!
I have only been to a beach one other time in my life. When I was 8 or 9, my dad was living in California and I went to visit him one summer. We went to the beach one day while we were there. So when we talked about going to the beach, I didn't think we would want to stay very long. What is there to do? We don't surf or anything like it, and we don't sunbathe. Wouldn't lying there on the beach under an umbrella get old pretty quickly? Now that I have been there, I would love to go to the beach again and stay all day. It was so relaxing. The kids could spend all day looking for seashells, playing in the sand and chasing waves. 
An older couple took this picture of us. They asked if we were on our honeymoon. Jack told them it was our 10 year anniversary--like a honeymoon but with more experience.Florida, Here We Come!
Tuesday, September 29, I took the girls to school like any other morning. When I got back, Jack's mom was here to take over the house and children until Jack and I returned from our much-anticipated trip to Orlando for our 10 year anniversary.
The flight was uneventful. I figured out that the 3+ hour flight was the longest I have ever been on. There was even an in-flight movie (a dumb one, but that's the first time I've been on a flight with a movie). When we got off the airplane, you could feel the heat and humidity through the walkway. We could tell we weren't in Colorado anymore!
At the car rental, we rented a 2010 Mustang with only 5 miles on it. This was like a symbol of being child-free for the vacation. It was fun to drive around in a sports car and accelerate really fast to get around someone, but we decided we would never actually buy one.
We went to Cocoa Beach for our first night in Florida. The drive was beautiful. Everything was lush and green. There were palm trees all over. We drove over two rivers to get to the little strip of land that makes up the coast of Florida. We thought that gave this area a high chance of disappearing when the water level rises from global warming... 
The flight was uneventful. I figured out that the 3+ hour flight was the longest I have ever been on. There was even an in-flight movie (a dumb one, but that's the first time I've been on a flight with a movie). When we got off the airplane, you could feel the heat and humidity through the walkway. We could tell we weren't in Colorado anymore!
At the car rental, we rented a 2010 Mustang with only 5 miles on it. This was like a symbol of being child-free for the vacation. It was fun to drive around in a sports car and accelerate really fast to get around someone, but we decided we would never actually buy one.
We went to Cocoa Beach for our first night in Florida. The drive was beautiful. Everything was lush and green. There were palm trees all over. We drove over two rivers to get to the little strip of land that makes up the coast of Florida. We thought that gave this area a high chance of disappearing when the water level rises from global warming...As we drove we saw about a thousand signs (okay, not quite that many, but a lot) for Ron Jon's Surf Shop. Now this was quite amusing to us, because my friend Darby-- who is from Orlando-- told us we had to go to Ron Jon's. Seeing how neither of us surf or anything close to it, we didn't really see the need. But with all these signs, we figured we should at least stop in. We were planning on going to the beach as well, but there was a torrential downpour just as we were leaving our hotel for dinner, so we decided to just see what all the fuss was about Ron Jon's.
It is a huge surf shop, open 24 hours (although the beach isn't). There were tons of t-shirts, sandals, souvenirs, and anything else you can think of beach-related. One of the salespeople seemed to only be there to try to sell the tourists time-shares at the Ron Jon Resort. We had fun looking around and got the kids a few things.
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