This is the last time........

...that we have to watch her leave us. Five days
from tomorrow we will be waiving at the people
on the jetty instead of us waiving at them!!!

Lance is praying that this week will fly!!

Here she comes!!!!

Everyone is so excited!!!!

There she goes for the LAST time without us!!!

My little photographer......

We found a little lady bug for him to try to shoot.

He took about 15 pictures and decided little bugs
are very difficult to photograph.

These were the best ones.

One week from today......

Frank and Jesse will be at the airport picking
up our "crowd" so we can cruise again!!!!

I'm so excited!!!!

It is ALL Michael's fault...........

........that I have a new addiction!

The REAL Housewives of NYC. The show you love to hate!

From left to right... Ramona, Jill, LuAnn, Bethenney & Alex

I have a brief description of each of the women on the show

below in burgandy with my opinion in black.

Alex McCord
An up-and-comer in New York society, Alex McCord is a high-powered career woman juggling two children, a husband, and a thriving life. She and her husband do not belong on this show. They don't "fit" some how. She reminds me of the ditsy girl from the original Airplane movie.

Bethenny Frankel
Bethenny Frankel is a single Manhattan woman in her 30s with a burgeoning career as a natural foods chef, a Wall Street boyfriend with three children, and is a staple on the New York social scene. She is another one that doesn't really "fit" because she is not even a houswife!!!


Jill Zarin
Jill Zarin is the quintessential New York woman. She is a regular on the Manhattan social circuit, as well as an accomplished businesswoman and a talented photographer. This one is my favorite but her daughter makes me a little crazy because she is very stand-offish to her step-dad who just pours money on her.


LuAnn de Lesseps
LuAnn de Lesseps is a real-life Countess. Her husband, Alexandre Count de Lesseps, is a French aristocrat (of the Suez Canal dynasty). I love her!! She is "real"!! She is down to earth and very sweet.

Ramona Singer
Ramona Singer is a busy entrepreneur. She owns her own business, R.M.S. Fashions, a jewelry line, truefaithjewelry.com, a clothing line, "True Faith," and is developing a skin care line as well. O.K. There is a word for this one, but I don't think that I can put it on my blog. I can't stand her!!!! (I don't think anyone on the show can either).

Always preparing for the cruise......

Lance was not very pleased when I asked
him to take a short break from his party so
Rhonda could pin his pants to be hemmed
for the cruise.

While he stood on the counter he headed up a
game of Simon says & kept the kids occupied.

Thank you Rhonda for all of your help!!!!!

Happy birthday Lance......

Saturday, March 22nd was Lance's 12th birthday.
We celebrated with several of his friends. He had a great time!!

Some of the "adults" hung out also.

Lance made out like a bandit! He got lots of great gifts,
gift certificates for all of his favorite stores & a lot of
spending money for the cruise!!

Jean got him a really neat giraffe & zebra made
out of leather for when we re-do his room in
a jungle theme.

I let him order his own cake this year. I think he
made a great choice.

The kids had a great time throwing all of the streamers
into the fans....I had a great time trying to get it
all out of the fans!!

Happy birthday Lance!! I can't believe that next
year you will be a teenager!!!!

My little photographer......

....strikes again.

This time it was a huge tree frog that
had his attention.


Great pictures Lance!!!

In a 12 year span.......

....not much has changed.



He's just a little bigger.



It's hard to believe that Lance is going to be 12
years old this Saturday. (especially since I'm not
getting any older)

Bike Week....out for the evening..........

After an hour at the van to eat & get cleaned
up, it's time to head back out on the town.

It wasn't nearly as busy as past years

but as you can see, the sidewalks were

still pretty crowded.

There were some really cool bikes!!

This one had brass knuckles on the brake

handle & a grenade on the stick.

Are these me or what?????

I don't care how "hot" you think you

are...when it's cold, COVER UP!!!!

She had goose bumps on her butt!!

Shot girl was smiling because she was

working inside.

This girl had goose bumps on her

goose bumps.....she deserved it!!

Frank kept saying "Arlette...I have dollars".

You can see how that went over!

Bike Week Virgin........

Going to Daytona for Bike Week is always a
great time but it is even more fun when you
bring someone who has never experienced it
before.

One year we brought Patty. She had a great
time but once was enough for her.

This year we brought Eric. Sometimes it is hard
to tell if he is having a good time or not. The answer
came the following morning when we asked him
what he thought.....his reply was "Well, I'm coming
again next year"!!

Here are some shots from that weekend.



Our virgin....he doesn't really smoke
but is always up for a laugh & is good
for the "shock factor" .



Frank's beer goggles were a big hit....again.



Jeff, looking like he is up to no-good!!!

All of the "ladies" wanted their picture

taken with "beer goggle man".

Intermission back at the van is always

good for a few laughs.

It was pretty cold in the evening & we had

to layer up. Jean was glad that I had brought

the extra hat.

Goofing around........

An explosion........

One night last week I sent Lance in to take a shower. Frank and I were in the kitchen talking to Connie when all of a sudden we hear what sounded like an explosion coming from my bathroom.
Frank and I took off running for my bathroom and found Lance, in the shower, legs shaking badly from fright with himself and the entire shower, walls, glass, and towels all covered in shaving cream!!!!

The bottom of my can had blown off and covered EVERYTHING. It took me several minutes to calm Lance down before he could actually laugh about it.

Crazy, huh???

My little photographer............

Lance has always loved the way that animals and
bugs have been photographed so he thought he
would give it a try himself.

He found this beetle on the way home from school
and had it pose for a couple of pictures.



I think he did a great job!!!!

Reality slap!!!!!!!

O.K. This morning I got the go ahead for everyone to print their
boarding passes, luggage tags and whatever other documents we
need.
Now that I have them all printed and in my hot little hand, the
cruise that we booked so long ago feels like it is FINALLY here!!!!!!!