Day 72

"It does not matter how expensive your kitchen is if you are a bad cook." ~Loesje (Dutch Fictional Character-"Active and International Girl")

Just a quick shot of the kitchen in the condo that we are staying in. Every time we come down here, it always strikes me as odd that our vacation timeshare is nicer (and bigger) than the first apartment that Rob and I shared. The kitchen is still nicer than the one in my house...perhaps some day, we'll redo it. (It might just seem nicer, because it looks NEW...no dishes in the sink, the stove isn't all scratched up, etc.)

Day 71

"I will only truly have left this school when none here are loyal to me...help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it." ~Albus Dumbledore

Abby and I went to Universal Islands of Adventure, for the express purpose of visiting The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. (or, Harry Potter World-as we've been calling it) The people who designed it did a fabulous job...for any fan, it was like being transported to another time and another place. Abby and I are both HUGE Harry Potter fans, so this was like a trip to Mecca for us. It was really very cool...to be standing in line, and be able to strike up a conversation about Harry Potter. Abby was in her GLORY...she had such a great time seeing the places that are talked about in the series that she loves so much.

Day 70

"The waiting is the hardest part" ~Tom Petty

As everyone knows, waiting in line is sort of a given when someone is at Disney. The weather looked pretty ominous for a while, so we went into the area in Toon Town where the Princesses hang out. The options for character meet and greet were the Princesses and Tinkerbell and her Fairy Friends. The girls were ALL over Tinkerbell. They've met the Princesses several times, and they've NEVER met more than just Tinkerbell. (of course, unfortunately, they are aware that it's pretend...but it doesn't make them less excited about it) The wait time was 45 minutes. The girls were happy to do the waiting. We weren't out in the rain, or the humidity...so I was happy. One thing that Disney does well, they don't rush you through the meet and greets. They are aware that you've waited for almost an hour, and you really don't want to just get a picture and be shoved out. We had about 10 minutes with the Fairies before they moved us along.

Day 69

"I only hope that we don't lose sight of one thing - that it was all started by a mouse." ~Walt Disney

I think this is my favorite view in the whole world. Walking up "Main Street, USA" and seeing the Castle for the first time each trip is just total magic to me. I'm so glad my girls love going to Disney as much as I do.

Day 68

"I can't drive 55" ~Sammy Hagar

Apparently, I also can't even drive 45, which is the speed limit on the road I was driving on. I get extremely annoyed when people don't go the speed limit. I'll admit that I have quite a heavy foot. In NH, where I learned to drive, the speed limit is merely a suggestion...even the State Troopers travel at about 10 miles over the limit. However, I don't get TOO impatient when people go the speed limit...but 15 miles per hour UNDER the speed limit, on a bright, shiny, not a cloud in the sky day? Ridiculous!

Day 66

"I'm not saying my wife's a bad cook, but she uses a smoke alarm as a timer." ~Bob Monkhouse

My friend Missi cooked dinner, and after she checked the pork in the over, she tossed the oven mitt onto the stove. She had completely forgotten that the burner was still hot, though it was off. We smelled the smoke starting, and thought the meat was burning...it's a good think we figured it out, or we risked burning down the house.

Day 64

"An injury is much sooner forgotten than an insult" ~Lord Chesterfield

I have crap knees. I've had crap knees for as long as I can remember. I had the left on "fixed" when I was 16. It would have been great, if the surgery had worked. It didn't, so I had a traumatic surgery, a TON of pain, and lovely scar...and the same problem. Today, however, it's my RIGHT knee acting up. It's going to rain (which I just realized, when the local weatherman asked me what I did to my knee, I told him, "well, it's going to rain." Which he answered, "oh, REALLY?") I also must have twisted or stepped funny this morning. All I know is that it started to hurt during "circle" at work this morning, and by "snack" I was fighting tears with every step. I had to buy a new brace, since all the ones I had were purchased when I weighed 70lbs more, and they were all sleeve style...so they didn't stay ON, let alone support anything. Let's just hope this resolves itself before we leave for Disney. Disney with knee pain would be NO FUN!

Day 63

"There is no place more delightful than one's own fireplace." ~Marcus Tullius Cicero

We had an impromptu party last night. With the girls out of town, it's a bit easier to have people over at night. The nature of Rob's job means that many of his co-workers don't even finish up work until midnight. Unfortunately, though it was a ton of fun to have everyone over, I still had to get up for work this morning. I stayed up FAR too late for the 7:30AM wake up call.

Day 62

"I was ecstatic they re-named "French Fries" as "Freedom Fries. Grown men and women, in positions of power in the US Government, showing themselves as idiots" ~Johnny Depp

Rob and I headed to "Five Guy's Burgers and Fries" for lunch. A SMALL fry is almost too big for the TWO of us to share. They fill a cup with fries, and then, drop at least the same amount into the bag of food. The burgers are divine as well. It's probably more fat and calories than I need to eat for a week...but it was SO good. As long as we don't do it every day...everything in moderation, and all that jazz.

Day 61

"Horse sense is the thing a horse has which keeps it from betting on people."
~W C Fields

We spent the day at the Saratoga horse track. It's was a very nice day, very sunny and warm, but not too humid. We didn't really make any money...but I don't think we lost any, either. I pick horses by their names, not by their stats. Sometimes, it works well...others, not so much.

Day 60

"But remember, spa treatments are essential in today's fast paced lifestyle to keep your mother healthy and feeling great!"~Hannelore R. Leavy

The girls left for their adventure today, and by a happy coincidence, one of my friends was heading to the nail place to get her nails filled. I asked if she wanted some company, as I was planning on getting a pedicure while the girls were gone, anyway. The place we go does a lovely pedicure...not only do they give a great pedicure, they also give a hot rock massage to your feet and legs. I have happy feet now.

Day 59

"Those who say you can't take it with you never saw a car packed for a vacation trip" ~author unknown

The girls will be leaving in the morning for their annual vacation adventure with my parents. This year they will be visiting Virginia with a day trip into Washington, DC. Surprisingly, I packed them very lightly. My mom will have a washer and dryer in the condo, so I only packed 4 outfits. My belief is that as long as the meds and the machine is packed, anything that's forgotten can be purchased.

Day 58

"We are in the stickiest situation since Sticky the Stick Insect got caught on a sticky bun" ~Rowen Atkinson

I could have gone my whole life without seeing one of these things in person. However, I've seen two of them in the last week. They are actually quite amazing, and really DO look just like sticks. This one, that I saw this morning as I left for work, actually looked like it had been broken off of a branch...I think it was the head side, looked almost frayed, as if it had been twisted off of a larger branch.

Day 57

The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows. ~Sydney J. Harris

This is the entrance to the school I've been spending my mornings this week. I've been subbing in the "severe" room. There are 6 children, all with learning disabilities. Three of them are also basically non-verbal. It's been a really fun few days. I'm kind of sorry I'm not working on Thursday...I'm going to miss this group of kids.

Day 56

"Another belief of mine; that everyone else my age is an adult, whereas I am merely in disguise." ~Margaret Atwood

This is my friend Jacki. On Monday, she retired the pink "Hello Kitty" wallet she's been using for longer than my girls have been alive. She picked out a lovely purple GROWN UP wallet to use instead. Somehow, I doubt she'll be throwing the Hello Kitty one away.

Day 55

"Little works, little thoughts, little loves, little prayers for little Christians, and larger and larger as the years grow." ~Charles Henry Parkhurst

Forgive the poor quality, I've finally figured out how to access the pictures from my phone, and unfortunately,it doesn't take very good pictures. The girls were sitting in the front pew waiting for church to start this morning. Because I sing in the choir, the girls either sit with Rob, or their Sunday School teacher. Today, however, they wanted to sit on their own in the front. I don't think anyone has EVER sat in the front pew, when they weren't serving Communion or something. It was a little odd to see them there. I'm glad they are comfortable enough in church to sit there.

Day 54

"Into each life, some rain must fall." ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

As I went to bed last night, the local news station tweeted about scary gross air quality warnings. I woke up, and put the garbage out, and the humidity was stifling. In the afternoon, we had a blast of storm come through. Thunder, lightening, dark skies. I'm waiting to open the door, to see if the humidity has abated. The weather people weren't optimistic about THAT.

Day 53

"Sometimes I wish I could go back the the days when I was six and my biggest problem was what kind of dress to put on Barbie or whether or not I had enough Legos to build a fort" ~Unknown

It rained all day, so the girls were left to their own devices for entertainment. Without the option to go outside and play with chalk or on the swingset, they had to get creative. After they went to bed, I peeked into the playroom, and saw this. I'm not sure what they were playing, or if they were just looking for a little place to get away. Apparently, Cody thought it was pretty neat too.

Day 52

Han: "What's going on...Buddy?"

Lando: "You're being put into carbon-freeze."

Abby and Daddy went to see "Star Wars in Concert" ( http://www.starwarsinconcert.com/ ) tonight. Along with the show, there were movie props and costumed characters. Rob's been brainwashing, I mean...sharing Star Wars with Abby since about 4 days after she was born. (seriously, I have a picture of him with 4 day old Abby on his lap, watching Star Wars) It was neat that they were able to share this concert together.

Day 51

"I have set My Rainbow in the clouds,
and it will be the sign of the
covenant between Me and earth." - Genesis 9:13

We had a little storm come through this evening. Well before the rain ended, the sky was back to a beautiful blue. Abby was convinced we would see a rainbow. Turns out she was right. I immediately pulled over to the side of the road, and put on my hazard lights, so the girls could get a good look. THEN, I drove to a safer place to pull over, so I could get out and take pictures. I didn't want the girls to miss it while I was looking for a parking space. I was reminded of the first time Abby saw a rainbow, she wasn't yet 3. After we stopped to look at the rainbow, she said to me, "Momma, can we say a prayer to say thank you to God for such a beautiful rainbow." Now, whenever we see a rainbow in the sky, we always say a little prayer of thanks to God for such a thing of beauty.