The last thing I bought myself was a Kindle book.

Baby Boy (c)Simply Scraps; Chalk Garden (c)Kristin Aagard; Courant d'air (c)Imagine by Fran

"How to Cook a Dragon" by Linda Furiya, to be exact. Now I just have to finish it. Normally I read the e-books while we are traveling. I have Kindle on my phone so it is something I will be carrying anyway, doesn't take up any extra room. But I'm trying to convince Pan to get me a Kindle Fire. Why? I don't know. Less expensive then a tablet for sure.

Don't you just love this scrapbooking page? It is a great party game for a baby shower. They melted different kinds of candy bars in diapers and you had to guess which candy bar was in them. Hard to believe that this took place over 8 years ago. Where has the time gone?

Today I am so happy

Baby Boy (c)Simply Scraps; Chalk Garden (c)Kristin Aagard; Courant d'air (c)Imagine by Fran

But I don't know why. Maybe because it is Friday, maybe because I am close to finishing Batman Legos 2, maybe, just because it is getting closer to when we get Indy back. Whatever the reason, I am just going to go with the flow.

Pan checked the mail.. but I didn't get any

Baby Boy (c)Simply Scraps; Chalk Garden (c)Kristin Aagard; Courant d'air (c)Imagine by Fran

And that is probably a good thing. I just get bills anyway. Except for next week. I finally finished The Princess' baby book and it should arrive by next Monday. Yippee. I'm really excited to see it in print. Now I have to force myself to finish with Indy's, so that the next time Shutterfly has a special, I will have it finished and ready to go.

I'm so smart... I got out of bed

Baby Boy (c)Simply Scraps; Chalk Garden (c)Kristin Aagard; Courant d'air (c)Imagine by Fran

But it was a long time in the going. I don't think I have ever slept so long. It was long enough for me to be achy all over. But I have an excuse. The Princess had been over the last couple of days and she wants to learn out to cook. Excuse me, she wants to learn how to "bake". Cookies, cakes, that sort of thing, so she wasn't to thrilled when I had her make dinner. Of course, it was only spaghetti, but you do need to know how to brown hamburger, right?

After dinner we made double chocolate cupcakes. A recipe I found in an old Cooking Light magazine. As she was chopping up the unsweet chocolate bar, she decided to pop a chunk in her mouth. After she finished spitting, gargling and drinking everything in sight, I asked her what part of "unsweet" did she not understand. Fortunately for her, she took my word on it that the cocoa was also unsweet. The cupcakes turned out great and we each had one. The rest she took with her when she left for her dad's. Now I have to get up the energy to clean up the mess. That is the next lesson on the agenda. :)

Vacation - June 14 The End

All good things come to an end and so does our vacation. As much fun as we had, I believe the kids were ready to come home. One last breakfast at the Islands Restaurant and one last look out the window of our room before the arrival of bellhop David, was one of melancholy and relief. As we get on the road, Indy borrows my DS Lite to play his pokemon game. In a little more than two hours we well be transferring him to his other grandparents where he will spend a month. Then we will get him back for a week or so.

One last note: After the transfer, and once we got on I-10, we noticed a pretty bad vibration in the truck. Hoping we could make it to the next exit was a false one. The tread completely sheared off the tire. It was bizarre. But I was amazed at how inconsiderate and rude people were, especially the drivers of 18-wheelers. I had always thought better of them. Not one car moved over to the left hand lane while Pan was trying to replace the tire with the spare. NOT ONE. That is until a state trooper stopped and even then there was one woman who just sped on by. Hats off to our state troopers and an especially big thank you to the one who stopped for us.

Vacation - June 13 Part 3

Upon returning to the room and changing clothes, Indy laid on the bed to catch some TV but ended up catching a little shut-eye. After dinner at Jake's, we headed out to Universal Studios, grabbing a picture of the kids with the Universal globe. Surprisingly, when we got in there was a special showing of the new Despicable Me encounter. Pan and Indy really enjoyed it, The Princess and I... not so much.

We headed over to the Disaster encounter afterwards, where with a little encouragement and The Princess shoving my arm up when they were looking for a grandmother, I got the part. Pan said Indy and The Princess howled with laughter watching me. Then when the feature was put together and I got struck by lightning, they came unglued. HaHaHa. They better watch for next time.

There was some disappointment that it was too late after finishing at Universal Studios to make it back to Islands of Adventure. For me as well as for them.

Red Green House - A prized possession

Spaced Out - Kristin Aagard

Have I mentioned that my sister, ddpuppies, gave me some tomato plants in flower pots? Big ones, mind you. She did... and my darling Pan with Indy's help built me a green house which they painted red. Indy picked out the color. Well it's not red, red; but more of a brick red. 4' depth x 8' wide x 6' high. I love it. But since going in the red green house, the tomato plants have taken off. Pan has suggested that we put hooks in the wood panels running along the top to help secure them as some of the plants are nearly 6' tall now. So excited..... Below is a picture of it right after Pan finished.

Vacation - June 13 Part 2

At Toon Lagoon we all rode the Bilge-Rat water ride. Afterwards, Indy and Pan rode it again, while The Princess and I took off for Ripsaw Falls. Lunch at Blondie's provided Indy with a chance to show off is special effects skills. On the way out The Princess pointed out the Hulk which she so bravely rode the day before, while Indy finally allowed me to get some pictures of him. Little did we realize that as we left the park that afternoon, we would not be coming back to the Islands of Adventure before our journey home.

Tink, that's my name. What's it to you?

All I Want for Christmas (c)Connie Prince

It is odd how things work out. It never occurred to me that when The Princess started calling me Tink that it would be a name that would stick. Not just for the grandkids but friends and acquaintances as well. I am probably just as well known by Tink as by my real name. Not going to complain.

Vacation - June 13 Part 1

This morning finds us, once again, headed to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, but this time to wait in line at Ollivanders. Neither got picked, but they enjoyed the show. Afterwards, The Princess and I headed for the Forbidden Journey while Pan and Indy were just going to walk around. Turns out that Indy talked Pan into riding the Flight of the Hippogriff 3 times before we joined up. Then he talked The Princess and I into riding it once more.

On our way to Toon Lagoon, Indy hammed it up with the dinosaur, then we stopped at the Discovery Center since The Princess had not been there yet.

On the way to finishing a baby book

All I Want for Christmas (c)Connie Prince

Hard to believe that I nearly have this baby book done and will shortly be starting on one for Indy. Just hope that I can find enough pictures to make his about the same size as The Princess'. Surely I can..... Just to be sure though, this is a call out to my family for pictures you may have of him between May and December 2004.

Vacation - June 12 Part 4

After lunch we met The Princess' aunt (her father's sister), at the NBA restaurant. And back to Islands of Adventure. While Auntie, her beau, The Princess and Pan rode the Hulk, Indy and I took a stroll around Marvel Super Hero Island. As we headed back to the entrance to the Hulk, he decided to see if he would fit in the seats. No, no, no, no.... I was not going to ride the Hulk. Neither was he, he just wanted to know if he would fit. While Auntie, Beau and The Princess went off to try the Dragon Challenge roller coaster, Pan, Indy and I went the Spider-Man ride. Indy swears it is his favorite ride. Now it is heading onto 3 o'clock and we are suppose to meet up with The Princess at the NBA restaurant for dinner, we decided to spend the rest of the time at the Discovery Center in Jurassic Park. Boy, time passes quickly. And now it gets hairy. We promised to buy Indy a gun he saw at the Discovery Center store and I was sure that they had it at the Trading Post. WRONG. I was in so much trouble. Pan took his back to Jurassic Park while I headed to the NBA. I get there first and text everyone. Shortly Auntie, Beau and The Princess show up. Auntie and Beau decide not to join us for dinner as they want to hit more of the rides. And just as they are preparing to leave, the rain hits. As I look out, here come Pan and Indy, running like there's no tomorrow. hahahahahaha.... First dinner, then shopping. The Princess likes shopping and since she could not find a Laker's jersey, she settles for a Laker's t-shirt. We are all exhausted and ready for a dip in the pool and a good night's sleep.

Keeping busy would be a matter of great importance

Fancy Pants by She's Full of Scrap

Woooo Whooo, it's Friday. And do you know what that means? Absolutely nothing. Just another Friday in a long list of Friday's. But I do plan on keeping myself busy and entertained today. And when Pan gets home we can continue our Dark Shadows marathon.

Vacation - June 12 Part 3

Okay, I admit it. I did not take nearly as many pictures as I wanted. This was a FUN vacation and time to spend with the grands. After Harry Potter, we spent the rest of the morning at Universal Studios visiting Shrek 4-D, Revenge of the Mummy, Men in Black (I scored 260725 points so we passed when they were all totalled up), Simpson's, E.T. Adventure and the Terminator 2 3-D. Lunch Time.

Bento Box in the Heartland is a good read

Fancy Pants by She's Full of Scrap

I still need to buy the book for The Princess. Although she is only half Asian, she can relate to what Linda Furiya says in her book. Reminder: Buy it this weekend for The Princess. It's funny, but I think most teenage girls can probably relate to what is in the book, whether they are Asian or not.

Vacation - June 12 Part 2

OMG, Indy asks to have his picture taken so he can point to the cobras on the arch over his head as we head over to Hogsmead. Once there, we got into line for the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride. Indy really liked seeing the pensive while The Princess was not to sure about all the spiders about. Both kids liked the ride, which is good since it is one of my favorites. Afterwards we took a spin on the Flight of the Hippogriff roller coaster. Then it is time to head over to Universal Studios.

I can't think beyond much other than how tired I seem

Baby Boo (c)Gotta Pixel collab

Is it old age or is it something more? I believe it is just a matter of getting old. But boy, did I enjoy the ride here. So if being tired is the price, I think I don't mind paying it.

Vacation - June 12 Part 1

I don't know how we made it to the Islands Restaurant so early, but this is the most alert the kids will be for the next couple of mornings. After a hearty breakfast buffet for me and the kids and bacon for Pan, we rode the boat over to Islands of Adventure. Since we were staying at a park hotel, we were able to get into The Wizarding World of Harry Potter an hour early. Still it was crowded.

You're the best

Baby Boo (c)Gotta Pixel collab

Pan and I have been married over 20+ years now. Guess one could say the honeymoon is over, but we are happy. One thing we have always told one another is "You're the best!" There is no set time for it or a reason. It just seems to happen when we are connected somehow. The response is always "That's because I'm married to the best!" It's nice to have something that has been a part of your marriage since the beginning.

Vacation - June 11 Part 3

Once we got back to the room and changed, we headed down to Jake's American Bar & Grill for dinner. Indy with his milkshake in hand and The Princess texting once again. I think she had been going through withdrawal pains of not having it available all afternoon. We are all tuckered out and ready to sit back and relax.

There is no such thing as too much Indy

Welcome to Paradise (c)Jennifer Barrette

It is surprising how quiet a house gets without Indy. When the Princess is here, you wouldn't know it, but you definitely do when the boy is. Been a quiet morning. I think I will spend the day playing video games. Mew is up to level 100 so I'm going to take a break from B/W. Tomorrow the new Lego video games comes out and Pan has pre-ordered it. Yeah. I just have to get it completed before Indy gets back so I can help him out.

Vacation - June 11 Part 2

After getting settled in and tickets for the kids purchased, it was time to head over to the park. First stop, of course, Hogsmead and hopefully, lunch at the Three Broomsticks. No such luck though. Next stop was back to the Lost Continent and a pager for the Mythos restaurant. While waiting for the seating, the kids had to have a smoothie. After lunch it was over to Jurassic Park and the River Adventure water ride. We started something here so next up was Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges. And did we ever get soaked. Being as we were now so wet, it was only logical to try out Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls. Now it is time to head back to the hotel and a change of clothes.