The Sun has Set on Another Great Vacation

We arrived home from Florida yesterday morning. We made our best driving time ever (about 18.5 hours) from south of Fort Myers. This same trip normally takes about 20 and has taken upwards of 24 hours depending upon traffic, construction, accidents, rest room stops, etc. So to make it in under 19 was amazing.

We had a wonderful vacation. We started out with 3 days at Disney, which is always fun.

It was the first visit to Disney for our youngest P. Our daughters (M & C) had been there before, but were only 5 and 2 at the time and didn't remember much. The parks were not particularly crowded - especially for spring break time. We made great use of the Fast Pass system, and never waited more than 30 minutes for any ride (our longest wait was for Dumbo - which no one really wanted to go on, but no trip to Disney is complete without!).

Day one was at Epcot - which was our least favorite park. But we managed to find plenty to keep us busy and had lots of fun.

We stayed at All-Star Music in one of their family suites which was just perfect. The kids enjoyed the pool, and the activities in the evening (dance party, Mario WII and movies on the big screen all around the pool.

Day 2 was at Magic Kingdom, complete with fireworks and the lighted parade. This was by far our favorite park.

Day 3 was at Disney Hollywood Studios which we also loved. The conclusion to the Disney portion of our trip was Dave being picked to be an extra in the Indiana Jones Stunt show! You can watch the videos of it here on YouTube. They are quite funny, especially if you know Dave. His nieces will get a big kick out of the "audition" where he put into good use his famous "butt dance" he is asked to do each time his family gets together!

The rest of our wonderful 10 day Florida vacation was spent with my parents at a condo they rent in Estero. We had lots of fun at the pool and the beach. Wave jumping, fishing, para sailing, etc... The weather was perfect! We could not have asked for a better time! Thanks mom and dad for the accommodations and all the great food and company!

A Weekend Away

My DH and I spent the weekend with his high school (yes, I said high school) buddies. This small group of guys has remained friends for all these years.


We got together at the "farm". One of his friends married into this "farm" that consists of 23 acres, skeet shooting range, a pond, trails, pens for live birds (for hunting), woods, etc... There are actually crops (soy beans and feed corn) that are grown on the property, but that part is leased out to a real farmer.

It was a couples only weekend, and we had lots of fun reminiscing,

playing games,

laughing,

eating,

shooting,

and drinking.

A good time was had by all. We already have the date for next year's get-together planned...

Great Weekend!

What a great weekend!

Friday, my husband and I had a special "date" night with our youngest (son - 7) and took him to the movies to see Pink Panther 2. Movie was ok, but just spending the evening with my 2 favorite guys made it great. Watching my son laugh at all the corny jokes and stunts made me laugh just as hard!

Saturday, we went to Indianapolis to the book launch of my cousins new children's book.

(Lori is front right, the author Anne is back right, our middle daughter C is front left, followed by me, oldest daughter M and hubby Dave)

As I mentioned in Friday's post, she illustrated her first kids book and we are so excited for her! We spent the night at their house and laughed and talked till late! She gave us a special signed and numbered copy and I bought several to give as gifts and donate to the kids libraries at school!

(here is the "house" of the author where the launch party was held!!)

Sunday before heading back home, Lori and I went to a few resale and antique stores in her hometown of Carmel. We always have so much fun when we do this...

This was my favorite booth - I love how all the kitchen stuff is grouped together by color!

Malaysia

Yes, I arrived safely in Malaysia.

After a very long flight. Actually 4 flights - FW to Detroit, Detroit to Tokyo, Tokyo to Singapore, Singapore to Penang. Total travel time was about 34 hours!!

Penang is an island off the western coast of Malaysia.

There is a 12 hour time difference from here to home, so contacting family has been quite a challenge.

I have been very tied up with the work I was sent here to do and had not had a chance to see much of my surroundings until today. Here are some pictures I took today...

I could have just stayed at the beach all day!

Only for my 7 year old son would I hold a large python and malaysian pit vipers!!!

The butterfly garden was amazing!

Some interesting creatures we saw throughout the day!


Being in a "jungle" the flowers were beautiful!


I will be here another 2 weeks, so if I get a chance to see some other sites, I will share them with you.

Bon Voyage

Things have been very crazy in the last 24 hours. I got a call yesterday afternoon from my boss asking if I could go to Malysia (yes, as in the country Malysia in southeast Asia) to do some work for a client!

To make a long story short... I am going to Malysia, and will be leaving this coming Sunday. I will be gone for 3 weeks! It is a worldwind of activity here trying to get everything in place to leave that quickly for that long a period of time. I have never been away from home for this long before, and am a little nervous. But I am also excited! I love a new adventure.

Travel time takes about 36 hours! So when I leave on Sunday I will not arrive at my destination until Tuesday morning (there is also a 12 hour time change to deal with)!!!

So I will be away for a while. I will try to blog some while I am gone, and show you pics of where I am, but I doubt there will be any "craftyness" going on for the next few weeks.

All that being said, my giveaway/contest is on hold. I will repost it again when I return. Please keep leaving me your suggestions - I will eventually clean up my workspace, it just won't be in the timeframe I had originally hoped! If you have already left messages, you are already entered, but there will be no drawing until I get back.

On the Road Again

In addition to being a stay at home mom, and avid crafter, I also have a part-time job as an Industrial Hygienist. “What the heck is an Industrial Hygienist?” you ask. Well it is a fancy way to say employee health and safety specialist. I work as an IH consultant for one of my best friends from college who started her own consulting firm about 15 years ago. My part-time is different from what most consider a part-time job. When I work, I typically have to travel, and may be gone for 1, 2, maybe even 5 days at a time. But then, I may not work again for another month or two. I spent the first part of this week working in Pittsburgh, PA. I’ve been doing training for employees at a chemical factory.

I am actually writing from Panara Bread in Mansfield, OH on my way home - a girl's got to eat!

I know, it seems contradictory that I would be working at a chemical factory in steel toed work boots, a hard hat and safety glasses when what I really love is crafting, sewing, quilting, etc… But it pays the bills, supports my sewing habit, allows my kids to go to Catholic School, etc… And as much as I love being a stay at home mom it is nice to get away every once in a while even if it is work. It’s good to be with adults, keep my mind active, stay in a nice hotel at night with no one to wake me up, eat at a restaurant and not be in a rush or have someone wanting to eat off my plate, see new areas, shop in the evening unrushed, etc... Also, being away for a couple days really makes my family appreciate all that I do for them. Two to three nights away is the perfect amount of time for me. It is long enough that I come home feeling refreshed by the change of pace and ready to get back to my family, kids, home, and all the things I love.

I’m excited to get home and start on the scrap challenge that I signed up for on JC Handmade’s blog site. This will be my first on-line challenge I’ve participated in. I’m trying to think of what fabric to send in – I have so many that I love, and so many “scraps” that the decision will not be easy!

Well, I'd better get back on the road and finish the last half of my 6 hour car trip! Yuck!