10 Year Anniversary

Ten Years....Wow!  Looking back over our marriage there are moments I can't believe it has really been ten years, and others I feel like the years have really flown by!  Ten years after saying "I do" we are settled in our forever home, we have three kids, two dogs, and a turtle, and for the first time in our marriage, I feel like life is settled.  There are no foreseeable major changes in our future....just time to enjoy the life we have created.  And I have to admit, I think Jon and I are both ready for this next stage...time to just cruise through to the next ten years.  And what better way to celebrate.....than by going on a cruise to the Bahamas!!!

We went on our first cruise earlier this summer with the kids and my parents, and now thanks to my parents keeping the kids for the next few days, we are headed off for a few fantastic days at sea by ourselves!

We have been so excited about this anniversary trip, until something very unexpected happened.  About two weeks ago Grant began rolling his eyes, all the time.  It happens while he is playing, eating, when someone greets him, 10+ times an hour.  At first I thought he was just being funny, but then that turned to fear that something is wrong.  After a few intense days of non-stop eye rolling I took him to see the pediatrician.  His eye rolling happened to be less frequent that day, but she was able to see him do it twice in the office plus I brought video I had shot during the week.  Of course my thoughts immediately sent me into a panic that he could have a brain tumor, but the pediatrician felt the more likely thing could be absence seizures.  This was still very scary, but at least not life threatening.  Of course all this began happening just days before leaving on our cruise!  I was so torn about what to do, read way too much on the internet, and cried many tears about the unknown.  Each hour I would go back and forth with what to do.  My parents wanted us to go enjoy the cruise knowing Grant was very cared for with them and they would get in touch with us if anything happened, Jon was leaving the entire decision up to me not wanted to say the wrong thing because I was so upset, and I felt like my heart was being torn in half.  The day of Grant's appointment with the pediatrician and the day after (which was the day before we would leave for the cruise), Grant's eye rolling had reduced to about once an hour.  Still very scary when it happened because it seemed like he would lose consciousness for a second each time, but it did seem was though he was getting better.   Just minutes before we left the house I was again in tears and not sure if I was making the right decision to go, but my parents prayed before we left and I had to just trust that Grant was going to be fine and he was healed.....not at easy to do!

*****

Despite the per minute cost, I of course called home from the boat each day and was so relieved to hear that Grant only rolled his eyes once per day!  Still not completely healed, but thankfully moving in the right direction.  We were still praying for complete healing or that he would stop if this was somehow voluntary.

*****

Back to our cruise....  Our first stop was in Nassau.  We didn't really care for the free beach here on our trip with the whole family, so we decided to instead spend the day shopping in the market (to buy toys for the kids of course!), then for a trip on a (very hot!) glass bottom boat, and finally for a drink at Señor Frogs!

I loved going to Señor Frogs when I went to Mexico a few times in high school, but wow did I feel old today!  :)  With everyone dancing around us, singing karaoke, and just having fun, Jon and I looked like a boring old couple in the wrong place!  Hahaha.  Next time we'll bring the kids though, they would have loved it!

Dinner Time!  I was looking forward to dinner on the cruise since it was not exactly easy juggling Grant in the dining room during our cruise in May.  What I wasn't prepared for though was being set at a table for ten!  Jon and I like people, but small talk with strangers every night was not exactly what I was hoping for.  :)  We did have a fun group though so I can't complain too much, but if we ever have the opportunity to go on a cruise without the kids again, I will request a table for two at booking.  :)

On our family cruise we spent one day in Nassau and the other in Freeport.  For this cruise however, it was one day in Nassau and one day on the private island, Half Moon Cay.  Wow....it was amazing here!!  All I could think about though was how much I wish the kids could have been on this island!  There was a playground, little water park area, beautiful beach, luau bbq....so perfect!  Next time we will make sure our cruise with the kids comes to this island!

Our view from the beach!  We took a small taxi boat from our cruise ship over to the dock at Half Moon Cay where we enjoyed lunch, some fun in the sun, and lots of beautiful fish!  Our anniversary cruise was perfect (with the exception of worrying about Grant) and in the end I was so glad that we made the choice to go away for a few days.  We don't know what the next few weeks has in store with Grant, but he is doing better every day and these last few days were a relaxing treat and we enjoyed every minute!

Ronald McDonald

I took the kids to the library this afternoon for a fun little show and to meet Ronald McDonald!

After meeting him each of the kids were given a coupon for a Happy Meal and an invitation to follow Ronald to the McDonalds across the street.....so of course we couldn't pass up this opportunity for more fun!  :)

I haven't mentioned anything yet about Grant's eyes, but here it goes.  For the past couple of days my sweet happy baby has disappeared and been replaced by a baby with blank stares and rolling eyes.  Day 1 was odd but he only rolled his eyes twice so I thought it was just a new "trick."  Day 2 it happened a little more frequently and I began to get a bit concerned.  By Day 3 it was happening throughout the day and he was becoming more distant...kind of like he looks in this picture.  To say I was scared would be an understatement......this was probably one of the most frightening weeks I can remember as a parent!  Everything from brain injury to brain tumor flooded my every thought.....

Ava

 The kids certainly love that it's summer and they get to relax and just have fun.  But, they also really miss seeing their school friends all the time like they do during the school year.  I have tried to set up playdates, but we all get busy and coordinating schedules is never easy.  Today though we were excited to meet up with Gabe's sweet friend Ava at the park.  It's funny seeing the different relationships Gabe has with his different girl friends.  With Ava he is sweet and nurturing, with Riley it's like they are lifelong best friends who share secrets and lots of fun, then with Casyn he gets to be wild and crazy and there's always lots of laughter.  It's so cute to watch but he loves each one so much.  Gabe has such a sweet group of friends, both boys and girls.  I just wish they could all still go to school together in the fall.  :(

Grant was a little disappointed that Ava's baby sister Quinn stayed home with her daddy today.

Come play with us next time, please!!

Crashed.....

My sweet boy was eating lunch one minute and the next he fell over and was fast asleep in his chair.  :)

Osprey Luau

 My parents' neighborhood was hosting a luau by the pool so we decided to join them tonight.  The kids were excited to swim of course, but it was a bit of a challenge with Grant.  He too wanted to swim but none of us adults did....especially with pretty much only kids in the pool tonight!  It's tough being the baby...especially with a big brother and sister who get to have all the fun!

Grant's new "CHEEEEESE" face when it's time to take a picture.

I love it!!!  :)

Little Soldier

Invaders Beware!!!

Our home is protected by a pretty tough little soldier!

Happy Birthday America!!!

It's the 4th of July so what better way to start the morning than with our town's Independence Day Parade!!

Grant and I found a perfect spot to watch and then waited for our favorite float to pass by with a few of our favorite people inside!  :)  Kate and PawPaw waved from the other side of the van....

It was hot as usual, but the kids and I decided to walk around town to look at a few of the craft booths.  They both had saved up a little bit of money for today and it was burning a hole in their pockets!  Along the path one of the booths was set up as a photo shoot stand and they talked us into a picture.

If you're wondering why Grant wasn't in the picture....he was passed out in the stroller.

After spending their money (Kate bought a jellyfish necklace and Gabe bought a cheap toy) we were told that Gabe's buddy Jack Jack was running a lemonade stand down the street with his sister.  We went by their house on the way home and bought three ice cold Coca Colas from Jack!  They were out of lemonade by the time we got there but the cokes were perfect!  :)

Next stop:  lunch with Grandma & PawPaw

After arriving at their house Gabe was very excited to learn that he had a package waiting to be opened.  Inside was his brand new backpack for Kindergarten!!!  I can't believe how quickly his first day of school is approaching....

Gabe was so proud of his backpack and Kate wanted a special picture with her teddy too.  :)

Kate & Grant, cut from the very same mold!

These two make me laugh like no one else can and the next moment make me crazy and ready to pull out my hair.  I wouldn't change a thing about them!!!  These two little rascals definitely keep us on our toes!!

It's Crazy Time!!!

We went home to rest a bit and then it was time to head back down to the waterfront for fireworks.

Happy 4th of July from our family to yours!!  Ignore our crazy hair though, it was hot and windy!

Grandma & PawPaw met us downtown again too of course....

and what better place to pose for a family shot than centered around a city trash can!

After picking out our spot to spend the next couple of hours, Jon and I, along with Kate & Grant headed off to find some 4th of July junk food.  When we came back, we found out that Grandma let this stranger and his SNAKE traumatize Gabe!  Okay, maybe it didn't traumatize him, but that smirk on Gabe's face is his "If I give you a half smile and don't make eye contact hopefully you'll go away faster" face!  And can you blame him?!?  That snakes head is roaming freeing just inches from Gabe's backpack!  What was Grandma thinking??!  :)

Okay, back to the junk food!  It's our annual tradition to clog our arteries and gain a few extra pounds during the fireworks.  But for fried oreos, funnel cake, and shaved ice, it's totally worth it once a year!  Kate couldn't remember ever having tasted these oreos, but she loved them!

Grant was still trying to decide if he likes all this stuff, but he'll be a fan by next year.

Across the water we could see neighboring cities in Florida setting off their fireworks, and like every year, we kept waiting for ours to start....and we waited and we waited and we waited...

It's always annoying, especially with little kids, but this year we could see on the weather radar and in the fast approaching dark clouds that a huge storm was on the way!  Finally, the first beautiful display shoots into the sky....and then the rain comes.  We pulled out an umbrella only seconds before the bottom fell out.  We all went running to the car, fireworks continued shooting off in the distance, we were all soaked....not what I had planned!  Oh well, overall it was a good day....and there's always next year!

Happy Birthday America!!!

Our family is blessed to live where we do.  Our country may not be perfect and the problems here may be growing, but looking at other nations around the world I am so thankful to know that the USA is our home!

Swimming in the Rain

There's nothing like getting caught in a passing summer storm with this fun bunch!

Of course, the rain just made swimming all the more fun so we waited out the 15 minutes and just let them enjoy!