Wekiva River Basin State Park

Wednesday Jeremey and I spent my "spring break" his "day off" at the beautiful Wekiva River Park in Apopka. It was even more that I thought it would be!
We arrived at the park about 8 am and wondered around for a while waiting for the canoe rental to open. It was about 20 degrees, or at least it felt like it. Later on, during the hike, the temperature got up to about 80 or so and then I was really missing the cold shade. But I can report minimal sunburning. (It is nice when you come prepared)
We spent the whole day at that park we went up the river a few miles (at a rate of 1 mph) then went on a brisk 4+ mile hike.
On the canoe it took me about an hour to calm my nerves of the fear of what may be lurking near by. Poor Jeremey was just itching to adventure out of the boat and onto dry land but I was just scared. Needless to say I eventually "grew some" and we got to explore a tiny island. We will definitely be returning to see the other half of the park. Yes, all day and we really didn't even touch the tip of the iceberg of the activities Wekiva has to offer!
So here are a few of the pictures I most enjoyed, those there are tons more!

Wekiva River 9am

There were a hundred or so canoe's (So glad we go there early, when we first set out it was so peaceful like we were the only people in that world. On our way up stream, heading back, we ran into 20 or so people on their boats!) The early bird get the calm waters...

The river is just littered with these beautiful Lilly buds.

This river was so clear you could see everything around you. (11am)

Trees and foliage were untouched and breathtaking.

Then there was the hike. Being that we were at a basin the hike was at times up hill and dry, other times it was down hill and lush. There was sand, dirt, roots, mud, leaves and wood laying at our feet. Needless to say this was quite a workout.

There were a lot of trees that have fallen to the earth. This one looked burnt.

I thought this was a cool looking root.

This is a funny story. We attempted to get a good picture of ourselves on our long adventure, there were a few mishaps.... sweat in the eyes, people driving by and a bee that seem to become our "adventure buddy" buzzing around our heads. So here is the best picture we could capture. You should see the other ones, there pretty funny looking.

The hike was to a destination to called Sandlake. So here it is. Very serene.

Possum head. Ha Ha!

The effects of global warming.

A boy and his bridge.

Just Half of Me

There are so many meanings for the phrase... "I Only half work". And about half hold true for me.

Remember when...Girl Scouts

It is really sad how fast times goes. Hailie is in Girl Scouts and will be 9 this year. Thank you for the cookies, I love you Hay!

Happy 3rd Birthday Breauna!

I went to little Breauna (Hollie's daughter) birthday party this weekend. I thought that I would be best in use if I just took pictures (with my new camera) so I have 40+ pictures. Theses are a few I think turned out pretty good.

Breauna got a brand new "Big Girl Bike"

Hailie and Destiny playing on the seesaw.

The girls aunt was blowing bubbles for all the kid, they really enjoyed chasing them.

Happy Birthday Laura!

Today is Laura's 29th Birthday! (regardless of what the cake says)

I hope you had a great birthday!

Cooper sure did!

Kiersten Cheyenne

Welcome Baby Girl

Kiersten
born: February 19, 2009 at 7:38 pm
weighing in at: 6 lb 10 oz
Born to: Lesleigh and Leif (and grandma Zsa Zsa)

Congratulations! She is a beautiful, happy and healthy angel.

Momma and baby

Very Proud Grandma Zsa Zsa (Susan)

We got new phone's!

Last night we said good by to AT&T and hello to Verizon. This is going to be so good for everyone. Now Jeremey and I can talk to all our family and friends without using any minutes. Not to mention we got some snazzy phones.

This is the Env2. It is a texting phone but it came with all the same features as our old one and some extras. I think we are really going to enjoy these phones as well as the new provider. Verizon... please don't screw us.

What a Week!

My poor Jeremey got his wisdom teeth removed Monday morning, all four of them.... without anesthesia. Luckily the doctor gave him a strap to hold the ice to each side of his head, that became our best friend for a few days. He pulled through like one hell of a trooper and is doing great now!

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!
After all my hints and complaining my wonderful husband got me a new camera!!!! It is awesome and it matches the video camera he got me for Christmas. So here is a sample of what this new camera can do. Much, much better hah?

(Bailey is just beautiful)

February 11, 2009

Today we celebrated Darrell's commitment to the United States Military. On February 11, 2009 he will be leaving for his Army training in Oklahoma. I just want to say thank you, we are so proud of you and we will miss you. And don't worry Lauren will be in good hands while you are away.

So here are some pictures of the festivities.

Here is a little game called "CORN HOLE". Sounds great huh? It's throw the bing bag in the hole.

Lauren you are a strong woman to let your new husband leave your side. I love you both!

Pee Pee in the Potty!

I am so proud of you Cooper Ryan!

Weather you know the importance of what you did or not doesn't change the fact that you did it! Way to go kiddo!

Zipper Issue

My whole day was spent revolving around a zipper. That's right! You may ask why a zipper? Well my wonderful Bailey decided she was to be destructive. The day before we all got sick Bailey ate her bed. The bed I previously posted about and raved how much she loves. To be more specific she chewed up the zipper to the cover of the bed. So today I drove all over Brevard county looking for a 35 inch zipper. Those damn little buggers are difficult to find. But after several hours many strange looks from the working teens I found one! And I am so lucky and grateful that Laura (my step-mother) is willing to and capable of removing the broken one and sewing the new zipper on. Thank you so much Laura, I would have been totally lost! My last attempt of sewing involved super glue and no needle.

Stuff White People Like

Here is an entry that I quite enjoyed. ....

# 106 Facebook

July 31, 2008

Social Networking sites have been embraced by white people since their inception. Because these sites use profile pages, white people can more efficiently judge friends and future friends on their taste in film, books, music, and inspirational quotes. Advanced level white people, fearful of being judged on their tastes from last week, will often only list one or two ironic things as their favorites. For example under music they would simply list “P.M. Dawn” or under films they would choose only Armageddon. In both cases these ironic answers serve as protective shields from the harsh gaze of other white people.

However, it is important to remember that the “where” is often as important as the “who” when it comes to social networking. As noted in earlier posts, white people are obsessed with being in the right neighborhood and the Internet is no exception.

In the early days, white people joined a social networking service called Friendster where they could connect with old friends and make new ones. Eventually, white people started to notice more and more of their friends on MySpace, so they closed their Friendster accounts and migrated to the new service. It was like living in a neighborhood that was pretty good but kind of far away, so you might have to miss out on a few parties. Needless to say, this was unacceptable.

For a brief period of time, MySpace was the site where everyone kept their profile and managed their friendships. But soon, the service began to attract fake profiles, the wrong kind of white people, and struggling musicians. In real world terms, these three developments would be equivalent to a check cashing store, a TGIFridays, and a housing project. All which strike fear in the hearts of white people.

White people were nervous but had nowhere else to go. Then Facebook came along and offered advanced privacy settings, closed networks, and a clean interface. In respective real world terms, these features are analogous to an apartment or house with a security system/doorman, an alumni dinner, and a homeowners association that protects the aesthetics of the neighborhood. In spite of these advances, some white people still clung to their old MySpace accounts. That was until they learned that Facebook started, like so many things beloved by white people, at Harvard.

Within a matter of months, MySpace had gone from a virtual utopia to Digital Detroit, where only minorities and indie bands remain.

If you plan on befriending white people, it is essential that you join them in the digital suburbs and open a Facebook account immediately. It’s also a good idea to make up a story about how someone from high school sent you a friend request and after accepting you discovered that they were fat and unsuccessful. White people love these stories.

Shhh...Don't tell anybody

I have really enjoyed the past few days. It is very rare that I get to spend this much time with Jeremey. Let's see.... It all started when he got sick..... the 17th until he went back to work...23..then off work for the weekend..... and then working days all this week so all together..... 11 days so far!
It has been a long time since I was able to see him that many consecutive days. It almost seems like a regular schedule for a couple.
Jeremey, I know that I am not always the easiest person to live with but I will always chew for you.

What a Week!

I will only briefly mention the beginning of this awful week in fear if I say too much I just might relive it.

As I am sure many of you know that everyone in my house came down with food poisoning. Jack first to be admitted Saturday morning, then Jeremey Saturday night than myself Monday morning. I wish I would have taken the opportunity to have a "vacation" and be admitted to the hospital but I figured my energy would be best served taking care of the "boys". I spent one, restful, night at my grandmothers and the rest of the time was spent bedside. It is one thing to spend 4 days at the hospital but it is another when you work there too!

And on that note I want to mention my place of employment, Wuesthoff hospital. I now understand and believe that you live up to your name, worst-off. The emergency room was awful to my husband. He was quite obviously the sickest person there. Why would someone in his condition have to wait 4 hours to be seen! Why can't the wait be based on the severity and ability of payment?

On a better note we are all doing much better and very aware of what we eat.

It is still uncertain but Jeremey and I believe that we all got sick from a small local pizza place. No One Order From Cestas in Cocoa!!!

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Can I just through out there that I feel like I have totally missed my mothers birthday this year and I feel like shit for that. Not only will I make it up to you mom but also to myself. I love you Mommy!

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Amongst the hectic hospital outings I went to a baby shower! The pictures a pretty small but there was big fun! Decorating onies, gifts, cake, bingo and Alice Cooper!

Congratulations Lesleigh! And Grandma Zsa Zsa! (Due February 18)

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This weekend was fun as well. Jeremey has in service for work this whole next week which means that he is doing a regular schedule (M-F 8-4)! So he did not have to work this past weekend. What a perfect opportunity to visit Mom and Ashley in St. Pete. So Friday night/ Saturday morning we decided to go. Saturday afternoon we pack up the car with our bags and oh yes, the dog, and off we go. On our way there we witnessed a van blow up. Literally, windows gone, tons of smoke, fire, the works. We got most of it on video but technology being what it is the battery died.

We stayed the night at Jeremey's moms (Sorry Corky) where Jeremey made dinner for all of us, (curry chicken always delicious) and then went to Park Place with Ashley where I ran into a old friend, Jasmin. As usual on the way home we stop in Oldsmar to see Jeremy and Ryan, had a great lunch at some Greek place (we need some around here) and ran by Evan's work to pick up a CD. We missed Variety Workshop CD release party by just a few days and can not leave the area without a copy!

It was a great weekend but so nice to be home. After I got my obsessive cleaning out of my system and things put away Jeremey and I nestled into the couch and enjoyed our two new deliveries from Netflix (thank you!!)

School is in session

I am so glad that school has started again. I just feel like the next chapter in our life is just over the horizon and I want to get to it as quickly, and carefully, as possible. I have only 9 more months left of UCF to go. That is it! I just can't wait to for a new adventure that awaits me when I have graduated.

I know I sound like a broken record but I want to announce how totally proud I am of Jeremey. Today was the first day of school for him. I know that it couldn't be easy to go back to school after 8 years but I know he can do it, and do it with excellence. I am so lucky to have such a great guy like you. You just keep on striving for something more and new.
In addition, Jeremey has not had a cigarette for almost 2 weeks! Not only did we add years to our lives was also added years to our delightful marriage :)
Thank you Jeremey, there is no better gift than more time with you.

I am going to repeat myself but I do feel something new and different is coming and just the thought is so exciting. I don't know what it will be but we will accept what ever it may be.

If You Are Feeling Blue....

I found the best web site ever! Actually it is a blog but it is great for those days that just not feeling.

Try it out

http://www.cutethingsfallingasleep.org/

Some holiday pictures

Here are some random pictures from New Years. Bailey obviously helping me wash the vehicles. The others are of Hailie and Destiny playing with sparklers on the 31st.

Grandpa Amos

Happy Birthday Grandpa!
I love you and miss you so much!
Please keep a watchful eye over me, I still need you.