Funroecation 16/17

We just returned from a great trip with lots of family!

Here are some random thoughts from our trip to Orlando

If you go to Disney and or Universal please make a plan.  It broke my heart to see frazzled parents and children at 1230 every single day trying to decide what they wanted to eat and by then the places were all so packed.

Pack snacks.  Alicia and Marisa and Kaitlin did this so well.  Your children and you will be hungry so throw in some cereal and peanut butter crackers etc.  William and Alicia had big carabiners on their stroller to hang snack cups on plus other necessities.

If you can read the newspaper through your stretch pants, don't wear them to Disney.  I was in a wheelchair and I saw lots of folks and I am so sorry I can't unsee some of those things.

There is a dragon on top of Gingotts in Harry Potter World and when he goes off and roars and the fire comes out, you will jump.  I jumped so high I scared the folks standing near me.

The child swap at Universal is usually a room to wait in which is nice.  At Disney it is a fast pass given which is a different kind of nice.

We were there the same weekend as the Disney marathon.  There is a 5K, 10K, a half and whole marathon.  The folks that wore their medals after the 5 and 10K cracked me up.  I got the feeling from them that they felt like they had beaten Usain Bolt at the Olympics.  Seriously.

Mr W loved watching the monorail.  We had no need to ride it.  Fairest had us ride it from EPCOT to MK one night so he could ride it. Heaven.  He was in heaven.

We rode the bus back to our motel one night with a group of runners from New Hampshire.  When the canned bus music played Sweet Caroline and they all sang with gusto, Carl and I joined in with them.  Thanks to Andrew we knew how the Bosox fans sing it!

We have lots more pictures!  Just ask if you want to see them.

Below is our Florida trip crew.  Several folks wondered how John could be in two places in one picture- John in the front and William is in the back.  William is John's cousin and they are often mistaken for each other.  They decided that for our next trip they will dress more alike to really mess with your mind!


Our first stop was to Atlanta to see Mr Precious and his parents.  Fairest enjoyed all the time she had playing with him.  The boy loves his vehicles!  We had a great time.  Lots of laughing and visiting and reading to Mr P.

My brothers came over with their wives and we celebrated Christmas.

We met up William and Alicia and ARose and Pandi and John and Marisa and Mr Wonderful and Miss Adorable at Universal.  We all loved the Butter Beer.

Some folks loved embracing their Slytheriness!  We bought wands and owls but no house robes.  Some of those folks take things real serious.

The Hogwarts ride was amazing.  You are sitting on a bench and Hermione casts a spell on it and you go for a ride.  Going through Dumbledore's office was too cool.  I closed my eyes lots so ask Kaitlin about the spiders and the dementors.

You get a marauders map with your wand purchase.  Here is Miss A checking it out.

We rode lots of roller coasters a Universal and ate lots of fun food then we headed to Animal Kingdom.  I took this pic as we were on the Safari ride and yes those guys are running right at us.  Our guide stopped our vehicle and they decided to go on the curved path----whew!  We all loved this ride.

My friend, Kathy Sawyer, made all the amazing Disney dresses for all the little girls and next time she may be making us all princess dresses.  If you need some sewing done contact me and I'll give you her info!

Anna and Elsa were due on the same day born two weeks apart two and 1/2 years ago.  It is fun to see their  cousin friendship grow.

The sheer joy that Mr W is feeling was so catching that I cried.  He loves Goofy and couldn't wait to have his picture made and to talk to him!

Our Fairest of them all got to meet another Fairest of them all.  Miss A loved her magic band which is your Disney room key, ticket into the parks and your fast pass.  In the picture below she is showing it to Snow White.  She showed it to everyone!

This was taken on our last day and it was very chilly and rainy.  Please notice my fashion statement of the socks and sandals.  My feet were so cold.  It was in the high 60's to start the day and after the rain it dropped to the 40's.  Marisa is holding Pandi in the carrier to keep them both warm.  That is the Beast's castle behind us.

French fries and hot dogs- yum!

 

 

Wasn't it just yesterday????

36 years of marriage

7 moves

4 states 

4 counties 

1 parish

3 houses

3 apartments

1 double- what the locals call a duplex in New Orleans

32 days in a bed and breakfast

3 children - who were 1, 4, and 7 when we lived in the bed and breakfast for 32 days 

6 additional children that God gave us

3 wonderful, adorable, and precious grandchildren

And immeasurable fun and love and blessings. 

Here's to at least 36 more!!!!

To Dallas and Chamblee and beyond!

My brother, John and his wife, Elaine, had the biggest CHRISTMAS tree this year. I loved seeing all their ornaments especially the ones from our tree when we were growing up.

Mr Wonderful missed us so we facetimed!

Elaine loves Mindy's art! Mindy is the artist that Kaitlin works for. Mindy and Elaine share a love of all things Disney!

Carl and I went to church with John and Elaine.

A selfie sitting on a bench at Perimeter Mall.

We had a fun supper with both my brothers and Andrew and Taylor. Here is our group. We had Christmas with them at Andrew and Taylor's.

A&T have a neat basement with a great area to exercise.  They exercised every morning.  I was impressed!

This is their backyard.  I just loved it.  I think Mr Precious will have a glorious time out there running.  I enjoyed watching all the birds.

Christmas 2014 Part II

What you do in a motel when you didn't have a long nap and your grandparents are in charge!  Mr Wonderful wanted me to get on the cart. It was a fun ride up the hallway.

My nephew, William, with his beautiful daughter. Isn't she the cutest CHRISTMAS present ever!?!

Miss Adorable had some wonderful babysitters.

She loves her cousins!

I love the calm that is Great-Grandmother with all the seeming confusion behind her.

Tatum and her new doll rode with us to breakfast the following morning. We went to Dawn's Diner.

This is Tatum's plate. She got fried bologna with a biscuit and chocolate gravy! I got scrambled eggs, bacon and biscuit with chocolate gravy!! Yum yum.

Can you have dessert for breakfast ??? We did! This is a fried biscuit smothered in butter and honey. It was wonderful. After this yummy breakfast we headed to Atlanta. Thank you Ted and Tina for hosting this get together!!

Christmas in Arab

cousins and aunts and a sweet niece

 A few days before Christmas we got a text asking us to join lots of family in Arab, Alabama on December 26.  It took us about 2 minutes to formulate a plan of opening our presents early so we could leave on the 25.  We all enjoyed our mid day meal on the 25 at the Huddle House in Corinth, MS- that was the only place open and let me say they were doing a booming business and they were happy to serve us!

We made it to Ted and Tina's about 11am on the 26 after a fun night in a motel.  There were 31 of us for lunch.  We all brought sides or desserts and Ted and Tina had the rest.

I am blest with some great sisters in law.  I feel like I have been to a wonderful conference when we are together.  We talk about a millions subjects and never finish our discussion but I am always ready to continue the next time we are together.

Mrs. Monroe and Mrs Monroe and Mrs Monroe and Mrs Monroe

 Here are some of the menfolk sharing a laugh.

 This picture is one of the things I love about a big family- all the love.  Carl is holding his great niece, Miss Darling and Tina is holding her great niece, Miss Adorable.  These girls are two weeks apart in age.  I am hoping they will be best buds one day.

 Lots of visiting

 The whole group minus Mr Wonderful who was asleep

 5 of the 6 siblings were here.

 We got grandma in this picture.

I tried to get lots of family groups.

 This group looks up to no good

 This group really looks up to no good.

 Three of my favorite boys!  Mr Wonderful woke up and we got him in a few pictures.

We had a great time.  We are blest with a wonderful family.  I am looking forward to our next time together.