Thankful... or I'm Trying Anyway

My girl is off to college. Flagler College in St. Augustine, FL. Its been a whirlwind. She didn't even know she was going until the second week of August. Take about fast action.

 This place is gorgeous. What a beautiful campus and city and this is Anika's dorm.

 The beach is only about 3-5 miles away. Anika bought a bike so she can get around... but will she use it, I wonder. She made me ride it back to campus from Walmart because she was out of practice and nervous to ride it on the highway (there was a bike path).

I received a few rainbows, one while I was there in Florida and one on my way home from the airport in NY. I'm taking them as a sign from the Lord that she is in the right place and its going to be a very good experience.

I am very thankful that she is there. (We have had a few run-ins since I've been home, but I am going to call them the adjustment period and try not to let it annoy me too much! ...ungrateful).

Meanwhile, that little episode with my car and the deer... well I finally arranged to bring the car in for an estimate and the insurance will cover all but $500 of it. So I'm grateful... FIVE FREAKIN HUNDRED MORE DOLLARS????? But I was given a pretty darn good rental to drive around for the next week and a half. Woot woot. I've been digging the rental cars lately. In Florida it was a dodge Avenger--sweet ride. And now its a Lincoln something or another. Very nice AND WITH SATELLITE RADIO!!!!! Very thankful!!

Also, we were given a refrigerator about a year ago that we choose to make our primary frig in the kitchen because it has an ice and water dispenser on the front. So our wonderful Maytag went into the garage and is still very very much in use. But now, this kenmoor or whatever it is, is not keeping cold in the frig side and everything is slowly going bad. I am so thankful that we have the other frig in the garage to rescue our perishables. A repairman is coming tomorrow to see what the problem is. Its not my favorite frig I must admit and I would LOVE to get the dream frig (such materialistic problems) but really... I'm thankful. Appliances just don't last forever.

Anyway, I barely have a chance to blog anymore. Caleigh is constantly at my side trying to get me to do something to entertain her. I am certainly looking forward to next Wednesday when they start school again. I'm not sure I can last another week.

LIzzy's Photography Shoots since 2010

Caleigh is Very Bored

I've been giving her piano lessons, flute lessons, cooking/baking lessons, photography, we've gone out to lunch and been shopping. She's attended two week-long church camps in the evenings. We've gone to the beach to hang and also in the evenings for BBQs or just to take pictures. She's gone to the carnival a couple of times and seen fireworks twice. And there are lots of other things I haven't even mentioned.

HOW IS THIS GIRL STILL BORED???

Its all because her grandparents took her dog away--back to Florida. (To be fair, the dog belongs to them--hahah). Grace was my "saving grace" with Caleigh. They loved each other and played incessantly, all day long. There's a big gap now and Caleigh seems to think I should be filling it. I'm not in a very good mood. I had a lack of sleep due to someone's LOUD snoring. I've even gotten use to wearing ear plugs, but whereas it was working a few weeks ago, now the snoring is louder and the earplugs are failing. Also, I've got bug bites all over my back and arms that itch terribly. GAAAHHH! I'm feeling really irritated by weeds, and rodents, and bugs and stupid drivers and fatalities on the road, and politicians, and humidity, and the good ole spare tire, and gray hair, and a messy house. It'll be good when this day is over.

Here are some of Caleigh's photos:

This is Noah. He's not very entertaining!

He likes to sleep all day

Caleigh likes eyes. This one is her own, taken by herself

We made donuts

I had to use olive oil which was a little weird

She gave some toy a bath--random

Dressed up her bear

Took more pics of Noah

He's awake sometimes

Our Cruise to Bermuda

 Checking out our staterooms. Especially the bathroom!

 We can all fit, no problem

Sohailah is breaking the rules early on.

This is Steve and Sohailah's stateroom window. Gotta love Cowboy's expression.

Thanks babe for getting us here.

Just like the scene from the Titanic.

Peekaboo

This was our very serious lifeboat drill!!

We passed right by Lady Liberty

The best couple

The craziest!! (Raul is assisting Steve in keeping his eyes from blinking for the picture).

Thank you BJ for bringing us on this trip (something we heard every single day from Raul).

Good times with friends

So expressive

Always flirting and laughing and making us laugh

We aren't short! Where'd you get that idea?

Checking out the historical St. George while waiting for our scooters to be ready for us.

St. George

Turtle Bay Beach

Gorgeous in every way.

The scooters. I picked the video by mistake. Not sure if you can view it either.

Towel art hanging in our room.

Someone must have left their bike behind at the bar the night before so the guy on the scooter was going to bring it home.

It was Cup Match week which meant everyone was on holiday and at Horseshoe bay for a festival. That's where we went too.

Here is the end of the trip, getting a lift back to pier 90.

Once we got to the bus stop, Raul received a call that he left behind his garment bag and had to go retrieve it. Waaaaah!

He forgot his razor so this is his 8am shadow.

When we got home we headed to the beach after dinner for some pictures.

It was my parents final evening of their visit. They were troopers to stay an extra week and watch the kids.

Our little beauty

Terry's little girl

And two more of his little girls.

Goofball girls everywhere.

So that's the recap of the cruise. We had a great time. Now we are home. Anika received an invitation to attend Flagler College in St. Augustine, FL last minute. She was wait-listed early on and thought maybe she would wait for a better or different opportunity as this was the college she really wanted to attend initially. So God opened the door for her and she's going to attend. We have 2 weeks to get things together. Its quite the mental gymnastics, but we are all excited. Hope everyone's is having a great summer, or winter depending on what hemisphere you reside in.