Orlando, Disney World here we come... 2009

After Clearwater Beach we ventured back over to Orlando where we met Cory's Mom, Dad & brother Jordan for the remaining week. We had a blast. WOW, Florida is so incredibly BIG. Everything is built around the tourist industry and I think you could spend a month there and still not run out of things to do. There is something to do everywhere you go. Put-put, arcades, amusement parks, water parks, shopping malls. Everything is huge! I would love to go back but it would be in February not the prime of April spring break. I had thought we were in a recession. The word on the street was that no one was traveling, but I think everyone that was going out of town for spring break must of headed to Orlando. LONG lines & HUGE crowds were everywhere. We had planned to spend 5 days at the Disney Parks, that should be plenty of time right? NOT!!! Do you realize Disney World is the largest recreational resort in the world, containing four theme parks; two water parks and so much more. It is roughly the size of San Francisco. Just figuring out how to get around can be a challenge. This is our second Disney vacation with Cory's parents and we enjoy it so much. We are able to break off for some grown up time (we had the most fabulous dinner out at a Brazilian restaurant one night) and the kids are able to get some great one on one time with grampa & grandma.

Orlando was a blast. I think we rode enough rides to last us a very long time. Avery was a trooper and was continuously impressing her brother by going on rides like Space Mountain all by herself (after standing on her tippy-toes with a very high pony tail of course!). Avery also got to get made into a very real princess at the Bippity Boppity Boutique in Cinderella's castle, so sweet. While me & the boys went to Busch Gardens in Tampa, Grandma Sue took Avery for the to Disney World for the whole day and let her call the shots. They had SO much fun and Avery came back with tons of memories, she was particularly excited about Mickey's Philharmonic Orchestra. She was so stinking cute talking about her exciting day with Grandma!

Caleb got to ride all the huge roller coasters over at Busch Gardens (that's where the real hard core roller coasters were). Busch Gardens was packed, but it really is an awesome park. He also got to sit on a live alligator at Gatorland (it's amazing how quick they can get those kids on and off there for $5). He was also able to spend the majority of a day over at Epcot with Grampa & Grandma Rigtrup. He had a great time and was happy not to have to do some of the little kid stuff with Avery.

One of our favorite things of the whole trip was our day at Discovery Cove. This place is so incredible. They limit the number of guests to 1000 a day and everything is all inclusive. We were able to swim and meet with dolphins (amazing) and manta rays. There were also huge Aviary's & tropical lagoons as well as a huge lazy river to float down. This was another highlight of the trip. This is a trip we will remember for a long time and I am so glad the some of the Rigtrups were able to enjoy it with us. So much happened on this very week and I wish I could post it all. Memories that we'll have for our lifetime!

Clearwater Beach 2009

So this is a VERY delayed post. Last April we were able to snatch up some very cheap tickets round trip to Florida. This was a particularly happy moment because from January to April Seattle weather was awful. Having grown up in the Pacific Northwest I do not usually mind the rain, but this year it just wouldn't stop. Yippee, Yippee, Yay -- sunshine here we come! We spent 9 days on the sunny East Coast (farther then any of us has ever been). We ventured over to the gulf coast for a couple days to a lovely little island called Clearwater Beach. I heard that if you go to Clearwater Beach super at sunrise the water is so clear you can see right through to the bottom. Awesome! This place fit our meaning of "vacation". We got to hang out on the soft sand and play at the beach for hours on end in the hot sun. We got to be lazy and have nice dinners out (our favorite by far was "Frenchys" an outdoor beach restaurant with great live music) and walk along the shore lazily at night. Caleb even climbed up a coconut tree and picked his very own coconut, something the person he sat on the plane ride over told him to try. We stayed at the Marriott Suites right on the water, this was a treat!

Happy St. Patty's Day to You!

                Have I mentioned our family loves holidays?  Any sort really, we love to have a good reason to mix it up.  Well, late last night my hubby reminded me about St Patrick's Day  & at 11pm I made a last minute run for Corned Beef, Carrots, Potatoes & Cabbage to make for a festive dinner.  Any excuse to cook potatoes with dinner is good for Cory.  I actually remember many years ago my husband sharing with me about the Irish's huge reliance on the potato crop, who knew?   Anyway...

Working 4-10's  my days are long, but tonight I came home to a great little dinner party.  Two very excited kids & a husband that did a fabulous job at organizing our St. Patty's Feast.  It included The Corn Beef mentioned above, green poppy seed muffins (made by Avery & Cory) on our green platter, green peppercorns, green punch & of course Guinness Stout (even if I only took a sip!).  Avery & Caleb made sure everyone had their touch of green on.  4 is the greatest age because they are really getting a huge understanding of the holidays and what they are about.  And it was just a fun little excuse to have a party!

Mt. Ranier or Bust!

Caleb has decided he wants to climb Mt. Ranier. I love it! He actually just researched what he needs to do to climb it & proceeded to put on his sweats and go out to the treadmill to run (he said he needs to run 45 minutes every day). How cool is that to decide you want to do something and go do it.

Now, we'll see what really happens with the Mt. Ranier thing. Training is a long process and it definitely is something that takes perserverance and a huge devotion of time. He told me August would be the best time to climb and he needs to research how old you should be to do it (he thinks 16/he's 12). Another great thing about being a kid is you can change your mind at the drop of a hat, no big deal \"/

What's in a name?

Nelson? Nelson-Rigtrup? Rigtrup? I hate it. When I got married I felt I had little choice. Having had Caleb when I was young and single I of course gave him my own last name (and I would not change that). I remember talking about it with friends when he was little, how to solve the problem of who I would be when I got married. Well, when Cory & I married we knew I would be a Nelson-Rigtrup. Social Security, drivers license, mortgage and other major loans - that's who I am. But, what about the other 99% of life?

I am constantly trying to figure out who the heck I am. I pretty much went by Nelson until Avery came into the mix. Then I tried to move to my hyphenated name so I could have the same name as my children, but I still go with Nelson most of the time (my work doesn't even really know the second half of my name). Whats a girl to do? I might not know my last name when companies ask, quite often I have to try a couple options to get to the right one for that account.

Another problem with a multi-name household is that damn sign by the door "The So & So's". Well, I still haven't solved that problem -- it would be "The Nelson-Rigtrup's" or "Rigtrup-Nelson's" & that just doesn't look as nice. I have to get the Nelson in there, because Caleb is just a Nelson. Hence, no welcome to the Smiths house sign at our door.

I tried to talk Cory into changing our name to the Rigson's to simplify, but he just wouldn't go for it. And one would think after being married for 5 years I'd of figured it out, but I haven't. And if you ever ask me my last name and I have to think about it, this is why.

It started like this...

Well, here I go. I remember years ago I used to write (journal). All the time, just because it helped me get my thoughts in order and I could let things go. I rarely write anymore. I try to write letters to the kids for them to read in later life, but those are very infrequent. I have been reading some old friends blogs and really admire all that they are doing in their lives, and what a spectacular job they are doing as parents & conscious human beings (Theresa, Tamis, April…I’m talking about you). Can you imagine if our parents would have been nearly as involved with us as we are with our kids, wow! Today I was walking in the mall after work and saw a woman walking with her maybe 25ish daughter and they had they’re arms around each other, how sweet! I don’t think I’ve ever felt that physically or mentally open and close to my mother but I sure the heck hope that I am like that with my kids someday.

So anyway...here we go. I thought I'd start a blog. Being someone who’s memory has gone to crap (I am really going to have young onset Alzheimer’s disease some day!) I figure I can try this. Quite often my life feels uneventful in many ways, but then I look at everything we do and I know its not. For several years we have been focusing on our kids, our home (and the one we sold), and our work. Between work & life, rotating shifts (DAMN GRAVEYARD!) and mid-week days off for my hubby to coincide with my regular weekends off, I think I have gotten sidetracked from myself. There really is little time for me to venture out. Maybe will get me back in touch with myself and those around me.

Thanks for the inspiration girls, I really admire you!