9/28/2009

Too true not to post...

This morning I was awoken by my alarm clock powered by socialist electricity generated by the public power monopoly regulated by the US Department of Energy. I then took a shower in the socialist clean water provided by the municipal water utility. After that, I turned on the socialist radio to one of the FCC regulated channels to hear what the socialist National Weather Service of the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration determined the weather was going to be like using socialist satellites designed, built, and launched by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. I watched this while eating my breakfast of socialist US Department of Agriculture inspected food and taking the socialist drugs which have been determined as safe by the Food and Drug Administration.

At the appropriate time as kept accurate by the socialist National Institute of Standards and Technology and the US Naval Observatory, I get into my socialist National Highway Traffic Safety Administration approved automobile and set out to work on the socialist roads build by the socialist local, state, and federal departments of transportation, possibly stopping to purchase additional fuel of a quality level determined by the socialist Environmental Protection Agency, using socialist legal tender issued by the Federal Reserve Bank. On the way out the door I deposit any mail I have to be sent out via the socialist US Postal Service and drop the kids off at the socialist public school. If I get lost, I can use my socialist GPS navigation technology developed by the United States Department of Defense and made available to the public in 1996 by President Bill Clinton who issued a policy directive declaring socialist GPS to be a dual-use military/civilian system to be managed as a national socialist asset.

After spending another day not being maimed or killed at work thanks to the socialist workplace regulations imposed by the Department of Labor and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, enjoying another two meals which again do not kill me because of the socialist USDA, I drive my socialist NHTSA car back home on the socialist DOT roads, to my house which has not burned down in my absence because of the socialist state and local building codes and socialist fire marshal's inspection, and which has not been plundered of all it's valuables thanks to the socialist local police department.

I then get on my computer and use the socialist Internet which was developed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Administration and browse the socialist World Wide Web using my graphical web browser, both made possible by Al Gore's socialist High Performance Computing and Communication Act of 1991. I then post on freerepublic.com and fox news forums about how SOCIALISM in medicine is BAD because the government can't do anything right.

9/25/2009

Last Day of the cruise - Seattle

This last day we arrived in Seattle early morning. We were in no rush to leave as our flight to San Diego didn't leave until late afternoon. So we took our time, had breakfast, walked around and when we left the ship we decided to rent a car and use it to drive around Seattle and see the sights for the day. We went to Pike Place Market and then to the Space Needle. We didn't go up in the needle as we were all kind of "toured out" but they were having a fair near the grounds so we walked around there a bit and got the kids some ice cream. Soon it was time to head to the airport for our flight home. We were both sad and happy...sad to leave beautiful Alaska behind (and the freedom of the ship - no dishes to clean or beds to make...) but happy to be going home to our new house.


Pulling into Seattle
Space Needle

On the grounds of the Space Needle...boys found a climbing structure


Laura



Ivy

Finishing up Alaska - Day 7

This last full day on the cruise was a "Sea Day" - heading down thru the inside passage, the weather was cool and windy. But that didn't stop the boys from begging to go to the pool. Honestly, we hadn't yet gone so this was our last chance. Laura and I opted to not go into the pool because it really was "that" cold. The hot tubs were a logical choice but they were all full to capacity. So we just sat and enjoyed watching the boys have a great time...and the ENTIRE pool to themselves.
Logan and Seth waiting to go swimming
Foster has his shoes off...
Up the winding staircase...

And down the slide (Logan)!
Foster running to the slide
Seth on the slide
We saw pods of whales from our balcony...very cool
Whale fin

9/16/2009

9/08/2009

First Day of School - 2009

All 3 ready for their big day
Walking into the school

Front of the school


Logan's classroom - he's at "10:00" with the mohawk (the only way to get him to NOT wear a ballcap is to put his hair in a mohawk)

Seth's class, he's sitting with his arm over the back of the bench

School library - cool!

Foster's classroom is the one with the birdhouses hanging from the roof

Foster's class' backpacks

Taken through the window of Foster's class, got it!

9/02/2009

Now Day 6

Day 6 was fun! The actress Sharon Gless was on-board to promote her new movie "Hannah Free", feel free to check it out. She had a packed audience to view the movie which was by the way, excellent!!! Laura and I came across Sharon in the casino right before her movie-showing nervously smoking and pacing. She was very, very nice in person!

Laura and I took some time to walk around the ship while the kids were in camp. We enjoyed a coffee and some time alone. The thing about cruises is that there is ALWAYS something to do, so if you don't actually force yourself to take a break and relax you can easily get over-stimulated. Anyway, that was fun...I also enjoyed "people-watching".

This day was actually really a low-key day. Our port stop was Prince Rupert, British Columbia. We decided against taking any tours in this quaint, sleepy town and instead the boys remained on the ship with Bubbe and Laura and I walked into town. Not too much to see, some shops, some fishing boats, people. We walked around for a couple of hours and then it started raining so we went back on board where we prepared for the final evening of entertainment. The entertainment was excellent...it was a traveling troupe from China - acrobats, dancers, etc. The kids loved it and sat glued to their seats.

It was a fun, relaxing day.


Kelli O'donnell introducing Sharon Gless






Sharon Gless during the "Q & A" following the movie


Main area of the ship


Main area of the ship



R Family Vacations Welcomes YOU




Ivy enjoying some quiet time

Twins having fun in the cabin with balloons





Exiting at Prince Rupert Island


Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Evening entertainment

Docked at Prince Rupert


9/01/2009

Foster turns 8 tomorrow!

Hard to believe but my "baby" is turning 8 whole years old tomorrow.

We had a little party at home tonight as his Godmom Amy brought over some balloons (that he doesn't know are in his room until he wakes up tomorrow), decorations for his bedroom door, and a cake. Tomorrow we get to go to McDonald's for his choice of birthday dinner. Just have to remember that McDonald's is a proud supporter of Gay Rights...so there!

Anyway, a few quick shots from tonight.

And really, I promise to finish my Alaska trip.

Blowing out the candles

My sweet boy


A night-time swim was so much fun



8/26/2009

Day 6 - Coming Soon!

No fears, I shall continue! Just busy, busy.
Tomorrow we're going to enroll the boys in our new school district...now that I have ALL the forms. Taking the day off tomorrow with Laura and my mom to do that and to do a bit more "back to school/new house/get ready for housewarming party" shopping!

Oh, and I'm finally setting up my new aquarium! I have a gift card to Petco that I'll use tomorrow as well...have to decide on an aquarium theme...very fun! It's been soooo long since I had an aquarium (think COLLEGE) that I'm really looking forward to it. Hey, it's a nice introduction to the care of animals (okay, fishies) for the kids before we adopt our dog (maybe October - at a local "Adopt-A-Thon").

Big 'ole housewarming coming up Sept. 5th...lots to do. Foster turns 8 on Sept. 2nd...Laura and I will be taking him and his BFF to Soak City for the day...just the two of them - no twin brothers!

Work is going well...I love it still - it will be a year in October...hard to believe...until I get my memo to re-take my CPR class...ewwww.

Laura and I saw "Julie and Julia" - very good movie, I really enjoyed it. Next up "District 9"...and "Wicked" this Sunday night.

Guess that's about it for this mini-update. Oh, tonite, I went to lay down with Seth - he is my "cuddle boy" for sure...that kid loves to cuddle. Anyway, we lay down on his bed (thankfully the bottom bunk!) and I say "I love you" and he replies "I REALLY love you mommy". So sweet that kid (okay all of them are but this was especially sweet tonite).

8/19/2009

Day 5 - Skagway, Birthdays and ship shots

On this day we "landed" in Skagway, Alaska. What a quiet, sleepy, cool town. Loved it. I sense a theme here...needless to say, I really loved Alaska. On this day, Logan and Seth turned 5 years old. They were so proud of themselves to be able to cross off the "4" on their camp wristband and write a "5". Too cute! We had a party in the cabin with a cake and decorations that was ordered for them by their Godmom, Amy. We also did promise them a trip when we got home to Toys R Us to get Guitar Hero for the boys - and yes, they did eventually get it (and I admit, it's fun!).

Now the pictures!

Downtown Skagway
More of downtown...fun shopping!

Us in front of a totem pole, not sure why Seth is frowning...oh well. And I do love all my kids but good grief, that shot of Foster is just too perfect. Looks like he's modeling or something...he's a keeper (okay, they ALL are).
which was a 3-hour train trip for about 20 miles that actually went into Canada. Amazing opportunities for pictures.
Foster on the train.

Logan

Bubbe

Seth

Mommy Laura (I was there too, I just always forget to have a picture taken of me...)

Climbing some 3000 feet

Beautiful Alaska

Going into the tunnel (the boys favorite part)

At the international border

Various flags at the border

Happy Birthday Logan and Seth!

Before the cruise, rFamily sent out a request for ideas for "Theme Nights" - hundreds entered and my idea - "Dress as your Favorite Cereal Character" came in #2! I won! For my "efforts" we all won rFamily t-shirts...at the prices they charged for them, for all 6, we saved over $200 than if we purchased them ourselves!

Leaving Skagway

Deck 10...our home away from home for the week...we got lots of exercise walking up and down these hallways multiple times per day. The kids thought they were so much fun to RUN up and down...multiple times per day