Grand Cayman Island, stop 1

After a super fun day at sea, laying in the sun, playing in the pool, making new friends, eating tons of ice cream, and playing bingo we arrived in the Cayman Islands. Today is a day that we have wanted for a long time. When we went on our first cruise 5 years ago the Caymans were a port of call.However, due to high waves and wind we were unable to get off the boat. We decided not to book an excursion, instead we took a cab from cruise terminal to Hell and then to Cemetery Beach. Cemetery beach was amazing. The water was calm, blue, and warm. There were few other people on the beach. We were able to snorkel right off the shore and saw some amazing fish. Aryn and Kevin even saw a moray eel!


It was fun to drink a coconut right out of the shell, but we decided we prefer it frozen with a little rum(well at least i do!)
Trying a Cayman Brew!

pretty fish!
Kids snorkeling, lots of fish!

Aryn making a new friend. She loved snorkeling!
Even the fish smile in the Caymans, can you blame them?:D

reach out and touch a fish or two or three or a hundred!
chilling out!
checking out the water!
Andrew snorkeling !
So this is what Hell would look like !
Andrew in Hell, living it up... i guess i should be worried!
This is one of my favorite photos of the day, Andrew chilling out on the beach!
Alyssa, she doesnt like being in the water with all the fish. She went out a few times but prefers to be in the sand!

Bon Voyage

Today we are boarding the Carnival Valor for a 7 day cruise to the Caymen Island, Isla Roatan Honduras, Belize, and Cozumel. Since we are a family of 5 that often presents some rooming challenges. Kevin , Alyssa and Andrew are in an oceanview mid ship. Aryn and i are in an ocean view aft(which means back )

Here are a few shots of the boat and Miami.
The Rosie Dining room


Us in the Lincoln Dining room. We had our own table. Miami panoramic. Using my new camera!
Miami, view of bay and highway leading into Miami Beach and South beach.

Miami Bound

We spent the first day of vacation on South Beach. We saw Dash (the store owned by the Kardashian sisters), walked the beach and the art deco area. Had a fabulous sidewalk lunch at Larios while watching the annual Gay Pride parade. We loved being surrounded by all of the Miami culture!
Funny Comment of the day by Alyssa "Wow, that lady has pretty hair" to which Kevin replied" thats a dude! look at his adams apple" Alyssa then chimed in " Whatever they have nice hair!" lol!




near the beach


life gaurd stand
parade

Strawberry Vanilla Bean Jam recipe

It's the start of Strawberry season in North Carolina. When I was a kids i used to make homemade jam with my mom, my grandmother and for 4-H projects. I have not made jam in about 20 years. I was really looking forward to making it. My hubby and kids think i am Martha Stewarts twin sister. They are really impressed, I have caught the canning bug. I am looking forward to blueberry season.Oh, and dont be surpised if i send you a jar in your christmas stocking. :D




To make this jam you will need 8 pounds of strawberries ( halved and hulled). 1 quart of berries is about 2 pounds. 2 3/4 cups sugar, and 15 ( yes 15) vanilla beans(sliced in half lengthwise). I used Madagascar Beans from Penzeys.



Half your berries, add the sugar and the vanilla beans. Toss together and allow to sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes. This would be a great time to sterilize your canning jars.

Place berry mixture into large pot. Bring to slow boil over medium heat.Stirring as needed. Cook at this slow boil for 40 minutes. The strawberries will get soft. Use a potato masher to break down the berries. Taste and add sugar if needed. If you do add more sugar make sure you cook it long enough for the sugar to disolve. Remove and discard vanilla beans. Ladle into sterilized jars. Leave 1/4 inch at top of jar.Close with sterilized lid and process in boiling water for 10 minutes. Let set in hot water for about 5 minutes removed. Let cool to room temperature.
This recipe made 12 jars. I am sure you can 1/2 it. Also you can adjust the ammount of vanilla beans you use. The beans do not effect the texture of the jam, just the flavor. Share a jar or two with your friends and family.

Recital Pictures

Recital time is right around the corner! Alyssa is so excited about performing her solo , her musical theater number and her clogging routine with her new studio.




Music theater,performing "Hard Knock Life" from Annie.


Alyssa's solo. She is doing a clogging number to "Girl Thing" By Anna Margaret



Clogging class was cool as ice. This year they are dancing to "Ice, Ice, Baby" I love this costume. No hootchy stuff and so attractive!
Recital is May 1st at the Johnston Community College Theater.Tickets are on sale now through the schools website.

So you may wonder

why I dont keep up with the blog. Well there are many reasons. I will name a few

1- I started this blog as a way for our family in Chicago and otherwise to keep up with the things that are happening in our family and the kids. I know that many of them don't read it.

2- I used to blog when i was feeling creative. Since i have returned to work the creative "mojo" has left my body. I have no creative projects to share. Makes me sad, but my priorties have changed. It happens. Not sure if it is phase or if i should offer my quickutz to the creative gods as an offering.

3- I am on facebook. Many of my friends and family are on facebook. If they want to know what is happening in our lives they can friend me and find out.

4- Kids are involved in a lot. Lets see Andrew volunteering for Johnston County Special Olympics, Golf team , Science Olympiad, church youth group,preparing for a mission trip and preparing to start drivers ed. Alyssa Dance, dance, dance (at least 2 nights a week sometimes 4), preparing for confirmation next year with classes 2 nights a week.Aryn volleyball(2 nights a week) and a social calendar that makes Paris Hilton look like a spinster.

5- I started working in November. We made it through grand opening and the holiday season short staffed. We were just about back to full staff and lost another employee. So my " part time" job has been full time. I enjoy my job, have enjoyed the money, but i am tired. Its not easy being on your feet 8 1/2 hours a day.

6- Last but not least. We have multiple computers in the house, but the laptop seems to be everyones favorite. So , i battle for my time. Which is usually limited and usually spent checking emails or on facebook.

So sorry i have neglected you , my dear blog. You have provided me with a chronical of the past few years of our lives. I enjoy reading my old entries and reliving those memories like they were yesterday.

Shaved for a good cause

Today Kevin shaved his head for St Baldricks When we arrived at Hibernian Pub we were all pleased at the ammount of support by the community. Such a great and humbeling cause! There were many Carolina Hurricanes players on hand , shaving as well. The night before the shave the Canes got beat by the Chicago Blackhawks.Notice Kevins shirt. Andrews was similar. Andrew got some odd stares from the Caniacs! :D You would have thought they would have learned a lesson from the Philladelphia incident! I guess not!



Half Way !




Shining and Smiling!

So proud of Daddy!

Alyssa First Dance Competition

Alyssa competed in her first solo dance competition this weekend. She did an amazing job. It takes a special kind of person to get up in front of a large crowd all by yourself and perform!I was more nervous than she was.We are looking forward to seeing her do this more often! She did amazing and we are so proud.

Embrace....

the checkbook... we have 2 kids in orthodontics! Alyssa got her braces put on by Dr Macon on 1/20/2011 isn't she beautiful!

Just ordered out Holiday cards :D

Holiday Window Christmas Card

Get custom photo Christmas cards online at Shutterfly.com.

View the entire collection of cards.

First Fun Run

Kevin and the kids participates in the OLD RELIABLE 1 mile Fun run yesterday. They had a great time .

Happy Saturday!

The temperature this week has dropped dramaticly. It would be a good weekend to stay in and cuddle by the fireplace. But not here, as always lots to do, lots to see. We are heading to see MegaMind, out for pizza at our happy place ( mellow mushroom) and off to find the "fast route to my new job! Wooohooo!



Jazz 2010
The stages of Aryns Halloween Pumpkin
Turkey was given to me by my friend Carrie , about 7 years ago. I came across him while picking up last week and gave him a home on this cute card. Thanks Carrie

Crop Chocolate Weekend Crop

Crop Chocolate is an online store/community that offers many diffrent scrapbook "steals and deals". This weekend they are hosting an online crop. Stop by and take part in some of the fun and inspiring challenges. Not to give any hints but you really want to stop by Sunday Night for the Recipe/Menu challenge.... hosted by ME :D

Two post in 1 day .... don't faint

I know it is hard to believe the holidays are right around the corner. Some great handmade or handmade looking ideas are on the Inspired Blog. Check out the Christmas Idea book. It is an online version. Some very creative ideas. I am thinking we will try the minature houses.


and now, more scrappy goodness from me:D I think i have gotten more pages and cards done this week then the past 4 months combined!


Take 5.... Aryns school picture day. I always try to take a few shots before they go, just in case the dont turn out. Can you see why? 5 shots to get 1 good 1 . At least she lets me take that many.
Thanksgiving card
My boys, setting up fantasy football. Ran like a business, not a game!
Look at the picture carefully. Alyssa in the background adding her displeasure to having her picture taken. Always gotta be 1 cuckoo in the nest. Just seems like our nest is overflowing ! LOl!


These pictures busted me up. We made a haunted halloween "gingerbread" house. It had black frosting, well i guess by looking at the photos who was licking their fingers!
2010 all 3 kids ready for some candy!
Thanksgiving Card
Title came from Justin Beiber song, we sing this song all the time. I think it was an appropriate to use it as a title
And lastly, Those of you that know Alyssa know she has a huge sweet tooth. She was in her "wonderland" with all this candy!