May 10, 2008 Ship of Thieves! Stealing the Magic..AGAIN!!! Panama Canal FL to CA!!! Part 9

[LisaG520]

Bored, bored, bored......so I decided a beer was in order!

Guess I'll go clean the bathroom now. Get that over with before my mom comes tomorrow.

I should totally be cleaning but instead I'm here! Fudge is calling to me though!

 

[EllaEnchanted]

Sorry Marilyn, we went through a lot of pics but we can't find the one of gandalf coming into the house covered in it. But I shared a few others instead. That's how much snow we used to get when we first moved in here. Not anymore. We haven't had snow like that for years. Now it's more ice storms.

 

[HollyTyler]

I should totally be cleaning but instead I'm here! Fudge is calling to me though!

Yummy! I wish you could pass some through the computer to mine. I don't even try to make goodies anymore because nothing ever turns out. I think it's because I'm too scatter-brained or something. So I'll stuff myself all day Christmas day at my dad's house for that family gathering. My stepmom and my sister are incredible bakers. I'll bring a bunch home for Tyler too.

 

[EllaEnchanted]

OK.....wait a minute! After looking closer, is that mound straight ahead in the pic actually a buried car?!

YES it is!!!

 

[HollyTyler]

YES it is!!!

WOW! I'll try to remember to show Tyler tomorrow. Well, probably not tomorrow. But soon. He won't believe it!

 

[LisaG520]

Yummy! I wish you could pass some through the computer to mine. I don't even try to make goodies anymore because nothing ever turns out. I think it's because I'm too scatter-brained or something. So I'll stuff myself all day Christmas day at my dad's house for that family gathering. My stepmom and my sister are incredible bakers. I'll bring a bunch home for Tyler too.

I usually make a bunch of cookies and stuff but since it's just us I really cut back this year - we don't need to eat all that by ourselves.

I mostly made the fudge as gifts - 2 pans have already been given away and most of the remaining pan of fudge is going to the girl's at my scrapbook store tomorrow.

I was thinking your beer sounds really good - been a few years since I last had one.

 

[EllaEnchanted]

Karen's 9ers won.....just for her birthday.....and I'm sure she's very happy!

Lisa's Redskins 9 Vikings 0....nine more minutes to the half. She'll be happy if they keep it up!!!

 

[EllaEnchanted]

LisaG....PA doesn't look like that anymore. It's been years. Now we get ice or nothing. Not pretty like the snow.

 

[HollyTyler]

We have "The Santa Clause" movie, but I haven't seen #2 and 3. Watching #2 now on TV and it's so cute so far! I wish I had thought to tape it for Tyler to watch tomorrow. He's bummed that the Grinch movie (the Jim Carey version) was coming on tonight past his bedtime. I'm sure it will be on sometime tomorrow though. We could try to rent it, but all the Christmas movies are probably all gone. Suppose it wouldn't hurt to go see what's available anyway. Probably after unwrapping presents.

 

[EllaEnchanted]

WOW! I'll try to remember to show Tyler tomorrow. Well, probably not tomorrow. But soon. He won't believe it!

Tell Tyler.....with that much snow, Tyler could make a fort that he could stand up in. Cool!!!

 

[EllaEnchanted]

We have "The Santa Clause" movie, but I haven't seen #2 and 3. Watching #2 now on TV and it's so cute so far! I wish I had thought to tape it for Tyler to watch tomorrow. He's bummed that the Grinch movie (the Jim Carey version) was coming on tonight past his bedtime. I'm sure it will be on sometime tomorrow though. We could try to rent it, but all the Christmas movies are probably all gone. Suppose it wouldn't hurt to go see what's available anyway. Probably after unwrapping presents.

So what are you doing Christmas eve and day Holly? I know you open presents a little at a time over the course of a couple of days. That's probably the best way to do it.

 

[HollyTyler]

I usually make a bunch of cookies and stuff but since it's just us I really cut back this year - we don't need to eat all that by ourselves.

I mostly made the fudge as gifts - 2 pans have already been given away and most of the remaining pan of fudge is going to the girl's at my scrapbook store tomorrow.

I was thinking your beer sounds really good - been a few years since I last had one.

The beer is good, but nowhere near as good as fudge. We were actually planning on making cookies today. Tyler had the cookie cutters out a week ago and had his heart set on using the gingerbread man shaped one to make for Santa. Unfortunately, he was too tired. Hmmmm.....maybe we'll do it tomorrow before my mom comes, before I take him to his dad's, and he can still make the ones he wanted for Santa and just take them with him to his dad's to leave for Santa.

 

[HollyTyler]

Tell Tyler.....with that much snow, Tyler could make a fort that he could stand up in. Cool!!!

VERY COOL!

 

[birkner]

Most all of my family is down either in the swimming pool or in the hot tub so I thought I would post an update.

Where we last left off, I had gone to bed on Friday night about 1:00 AM. I set the alarm for 9:00 so I could get a good night sleep before having to move hotels and pick everyone up.

Once I was up and showered, I had a nice light breakfast in my room and finished packing. Talked to my DH and DD Samantha who were up and getting ready to go to the airport. I reminded my DH to get to the airport at least 2 hours early. Famous last words!!

DD Jen and her family arrived at the airport 2 1/2 hours early, sailed through baggage checkin in 35 minutes and breezed through security in 10 minutes and were at the gate.

Here is where everything went wrong for DH. DD had dropped him off only one hour early for the flight and by that point the baggage line was over 2 hours long. I was glabbergasted at his noncholance in thinking he was going to make the flight. He was still in the baggage line as were 20 others on his flight when the flight took off for Orlando!!

Needless to say, I called Southwest and even the flight he could have gone stand by on had left. DD Samantha was at SFO with the house keys and the burglar alarm in the house was one. I made a split second decision to get him on the next flight from ANY nearby airport. One seat was left on the next day from SFO at 11:10, so I grabbed the seat.

I next called the Marriott at the SFO airport and got him a room. DH checked with Information and was told that at 2:30 he could take the Monterrey airporter to SFO and then he could catch the shuttle to Marriott.

By this point, DH was realizing I was beyond upset that all he had to do is go to the airport and he had messed up big time!! He had our DVD players with us so the kids were not able to watch movies on the flight.

DD Samantha sailed through security and baggage, however her flight that was scheduled for 1:14PM did not take off until 3:59 PM so she just sat around the airport talking on her phone and typing on her computer.

As for me, I checked out at about 1:00 PM so I could do some shopping for groceries for my DD and her family to put in the condo. Luckily, I was able to check into the Dolphin by 3:00PM though I didn't unpack, just dropped off the bags.

Next, I headed back to International Drive and my DD's condo. I was able to check into her condo, get her keys and unload the groceries I had bought for breakfast etc. I also dropped off the $10 tree for them to assemble. Afterward, I made myself some taboleuh for dinner and watched tv until time to head toward the airport at 11:00 since both flights were running late and were not schedule to arrive until 11:30 PM.

DH calls from the shuttle and when he arrives at the hotel. He is very contrite. Maybe next time he will listen to me and not have selective hearing!! He hits happy hour and decides he is going to bed early so he can get to the airport on time!! Better happen or else!!

I go to airport and sat waiting for about 10 minutes in the cell lot until I got my first call from Samantha at 11:40 PM. I only had to circle twice for her as her bags came pretty quickly.

Now here comes the next debacle. I get a call about 11:44 PM from DD Jen and crew that they are at baggage claim and to come get them. Of course, another terminal from DD Samantha and this one has a really, really long line to get in. We finally get up to gate 14 where everyone has their bags except SIL Pete. His bag which has ALL of his clothes is missing. We wait about another 15 minutes and no luck. Pete goes to the baggage counter and they discover that the bag was taken off at first stop Burbank. Right BUR looks just MCO. You wouldn't believe how many bags on the carousel were destined for other airports!! Southwest promises to deliver bag to the condo by 3:00 PM.

At this point, it is about 1:00 AM, everyone is starving!! No meal service on Southwest as you all probably know, so the goal is fast food. My DD Jen makes the funniest comment so far, "Oh, there is a 24 hour drive through, I wonder if it is open?" We all laugh hysterically and I pull into Mickey D's. DD Jen orders and of course everything is wrong when we get it but we take it anyway.

As we are driving away, she realizes that she didn't order any drinks so we stop at a Chevron mini mart for sodas and beer!! Finally, we arrive at the condo, unload and then Pete rides with me to the Dolphin as they are keeping the car.

Once in my room, I can't sleep so I unpack until about 3:00 AM, take a shower and fall asleep. More tomorrow.

 

[HollyTyler]

So what are you doing Christmas eve and day Holly? I know you open presents a little at a time over the course of a couple of days. That's probably the best way to do it.

Tyler goes to his dad's just before bedtime Christmas eve this year (we alternate), so Santa comes tonight to our house. Santa knows Tyler's arrangement and always comes to each house when he's at each house. But this will probably be the last year for that because Tyler's too smart for me to keep that up. He told me tonight, "If Santa's bringing presents to everybody else tomorrow night, he'll have a really small bag when he comes here tonight." So I told him, "No, not really because there are tons of other kids who have the same arrangement that you do, so his sleigh is probably pretty full tonight." And then I told him that maybe I'll talk to Santa next year and ask if he can just start delivering to both homes on the same night, then when Tyler gets home from whatever house he's at on Christmas morning, he'll see all the presents Santa left at the other house and get to do it ALL OVER AGAIN on the same day! He liked that idea, so that's what we'll probably do next time.

My mom and maybe my aunt are coming tomorrow, but my mom now has to work until 4 (if not later), so the earliest she'll get here is 5:30. My aunt might have to work until 5:30, but she won't know for sure until tomorrow afternoon, so if she's not able to leave when my mom does, it will be just my mom. So Tyler and I will have plenty of time to make cookies during the day.

Christmas day I have to drive out of town about an hour and a half) to my dad's with him, my stepmom, stepsister & husband and 2 boys, stepbrother & wife and daughter. Then I drive back home and pick Tyler up maybe around 4 or 5.

 

[HollyTyler]

Noel, what a fiasco! I sure hope your husband makes his flight tomorrow and that once you're all together you can finally start having fun.

 

[EllaEnchanted]

Most all of my family is down either in the swimming pool or in the hot tub so I thought I would post an update.

Where we last left off, I had gone to bed on Friday night about 1:00 AM. I set the alarm for 9:00 so I could get a good night sleep before having to move hotels and pick everyone up.

Once I was up and showered, I had a nice light breakfast in my room and finished packing. Talked to my DH and DD Samantha who were up and getting ready to go to the airport. I reminded my DH to get to the airport at least 2 hours early. Famous last words!!

DD Jen and her family arrived at the airport 2 1/2 hours early, sailed through baggage checkin in 35 minutes and breezed through security in 10 minutes and were at the gate.

Here is where everything went wrong for DH. DD had dropped him off only one hour early for the flight and by that point the baggage line was over 2 hours long. I was glabbergasted at his noncholance in thinking he was going to make the flight. He was still in the baggage line as were 20 others on his flight when the flight took off for Orlando!!

Needless to say, I called Southwest and even the flight he could have gone stand by on had left. DD Samantha was at SFO with the house keys and the burglar alarm in the house was one. I made a split second decision to get him on the next flight from ANY nearby airport. One seat was left on the next day from SFO at 11:10, so I grabbed the seat.

I next called the Marriott at the SFO airport and got him a room. DH checked with Information and was told that at 2:30 he could take the Monterrey airporter to SFO and then he could catch the shuttle to Marriott.

By this point, DH was realizing I was beyond upset that all he had to do is go to the airport and he had messed up big time!! He had our DVD players with us so the kids were not able to watch movies on the flight.

DD Samantha sailed through security and baggage, however her flight that was scheduled for 1:14PM did not take off until 3:59 PM so she just sat around the airport talking on her phone and typing on her computer.

As for me, I checked out at about 1:00 PM so I could do some shopping for groceries for my DD and her family to put in the condo. Luckily, I was able to check into the Dolphin by 3:00PM though I didn't unpack, just dropped off the bags.

Next, I headed back to International Drive and my DD's condo. I was able to check into her condo, get her keys and unload the groceries I had bought for breakfast etc. I also dropped off the $10 tree for them to assemble. Afterward, I made myself some taboleuh for dinner and watched tv until time to head toward the airport at 11:00 since both flights were running late and were not schedule to arrive until 11:30 PM.

DH calls from the shuttle and when he arrives at the hotel. He is very contrite. Maybe next time he will listen to me and not have selective hearing!! He hits happy hour and decides he is going to bed early so he can get to the airport on time!! Better happen or else!!

I go to airport and sat waiting for about 10 minutes in the cell lot until I got my first call from Samantha at 11:40 PM. I only had to circle twice for her as her bags came pretty quickly.

Now here comes the next debacle. I get a call about 11:44 PM from DD Jen and crew that they are at baggage claim and to come get them. Of course, another terminal from DD Samantha and this one has a really, really long line to get in. We finally get up to gate 14 where everyone has their bags except SIL Pete. His bag which has ALL of his clothes is missing. We wait about another 15 minutes and no luck. Pete goes to the baggage counter and they discover that the bag was taken off at first stop Burbank. Right BUR looks just MCO. You wouldn't believe how many bags on the carousel were destined for other airports!! Southwest promises to deliver bag to the condo by 3:00 PM.

At this point, it is about 1:00 AM, everyone is starving!! No meal service on Southwest as you all probably know, so the goal is fast food. My DD Jen makes the funniest comment so far, "Oh, there is a 24 hour drive through, I wonder if it is open?" We all laugh hysterically and I pull into Mickey D's. DD Jen orders and of course everything is wrong when we get it but we take it anyway.

As we are driving away, she realizes that she didn't order any drinks so we stop at a Chevron mini mart for sodas and beer!! Finally, we arrive at the condo, unload and then Pete rides with me to the Dolphin as they are keeping the car.

Once in my room, I can't sleep so I unpack until about 3:00 AM, take a shower and fall asleep. More tomorrow.

What a fiasco for the family Noel, especially DH.....btw, didn't you know that it was a requirement for all DH's to have selective hearing. HA.

Can't wait for the saga to continue tomorrow. Thanks for sharing.

 

[EllaEnchanted]

Lisa's Skins 22 Viks 0....top of the 3rd quarter. Lisa is happy. GO SKINS!!!

 

[Ginamarie]

Ella is going after Mickey (turtle) right now. Mickey is going after Minnie (turtle) right now. Ella is standing on top of the tank with her two front paws nose to nose with them. Mickey and Minnie just jumpted off their sunning spot back into the water. Ella loves when they come out of the water and move around.

Yes, Deborah, it's a crazy animal house around here and yes, Holly, I never get bored. Somebody is always doing something, probably something they shouldn't be doing.

Aww, so fun Deb. I loved all your pictures!

Poor Tyler! He woke me up at 5am today because he was sure Santa came early! Did we leave cookies & milk out the night before? No! Did we leave magic oatmeal for the reindeer? No! Then why on earth would he have come early?! Tyler said, "I don't know....I'm just checking!" So since he dragged me out of bed so early, I figured we might as well get a start on our day. We were shopping like crazy all over town when I saw that things are 1/2 off almost everywhere! Tyler was wanting to go to bed at 5pm because of getting up so darned early and told me he was too tired to make cookies, so we just left Santa some that my aunt had sent us. He was in bed, bedtime book read, songs sung, SOUND ASLEEP by 6:45!!!!! So he'll probably wake me at 4am looking for Santa's gifts!



Yes! They were driving me nuts!

I love how excited the kids get for Christmas

Brrrrr!!! The weather guy said it was up to 50 degrees earlier today (so of course, all our snow is long gone), but we have a wind advisory warning with gusts up to 57mph through morning and the temp has dropped to 30. I was just outside lugging stuff into my garage, which is back behind the house, so it's not attached. Needed to make room to build the Flying Dutchman because I'm sure that will be my first big job of the day. Then I had to lug all the presents inside from the trunk of my car. Well, there aren't a ton, only like six I think, but that wind about blew me over! Brrrrrr! I can hear it roaring outside and it's pretty creepy.

Really windy here as well! We lost power for awhile, but it's been up and running again for the last hour. It was POURING, but above freezing, so just all rain.

Most all of my family is down either in the swimming pool or in the hot tub so I thought I would post an update.

Where we last left off, I had gone to bed on Friday night about 1:00 AM. I set the alarm for 9:00 so I could get a good night sleep before having to move hotels and pick everyone up.

Once I was up and showered, I had a nice light breakfast in my room and finished packing. Talked to my DH and DD Samantha who were up and getting ready to go to the airport. I reminded my DH to get to the airport at least 2 hours early. Famous last words!!

DD Jen and her family arrived at the airport 2 1/2 hours early, sailed through baggage checkin in 35 minutes and breezed through security in 10 minutes and were at the gate.

Here is where everything went wrong for DH. DD had dropped him off only one hour early for the flight and by that point the baggage line was over 2 hours long. I was glabbergasted at his noncholance in thinking he was going to make the flight. He was still in the baggage line as were 20 others on his flight when the flight took off for Orlando!!

Needless to say, I called Southwest and even the flight he could have gone stand by on had left. DD Samantha was at SFO with the house keys and the burglar alarm in the house was one. I made a split second decision to get him on the next flight from ANY nearby airport. One seat was left on the next day from SFO at 11:10, so I grabbed the seat.

I next called the Marriott at the SFO airport and got him a room. DH checked with Information and was told that at 2:30 he could take the Monterrey airporter to SFO and then he could catch the shuttle to Marriott.

By this point, DH was realizing I was beyond upset that all he had to do is go to the airport and he had messed up big time!! He had our DVD players with us so the kids were not able to watch movies on the flight.

DD Samantha sailed through security and baggage, however her flight that was scheduled for 1:14PM did not take off until 3:59 PM so she just sat around the airport talking on her phone and typing on her computer.

As for me, I checked out at about 1:00 PM so I could do some shopping for groceries for my DD and her family to put in the condo. Luckily, I was able to check into the Dolphin by 3:00PM though I didn't unpack, just dropped off the bags.

Next, I headed back to International Drive and my DD's condo. I was able to check into her condo, get her keys and unload the groceries I had bought for breakfast etc. I also dropped off the $10 tree for them to assemble. Afterward, I made myself some taboleuh for dinner and watched tv until time to head toward the airport at 11:00 since both flights were running late and were not schedule to arrive until 11:30 PM.

DH calls from the shuttle and when he arrives at the hotel. He is very contrite. Maybe next time he will listen to me and not have selective hearing!! He hits happy hour and decides he is going to bed early so he can get to the airport on time!! Better happen or else!!

I go to airport and sat waiting for about 10 minutes in the cell lot until I got my first call from Samantha at 11:40 PM. I only had to circle twice for her as her bags came pretty quickly.

Now here comes the next debacle. I get a call about 11:44 PM from DD Jen and crew that they are at baggage claim and to come get them. Of course, another terminal from DD Samantha and this one has a really, really long line to get in. We finally get up to gate 14 where everyone has their bags except SIL Pete. His bag which has ALL of his clothes is missing. We wait about another 15 minutes and no luck. Pete goes to the baggage counter and they discover that the bag was taken off at first stop Burbank. Right BUR looks just MCO. You wouldn't believe how many bags on the carousel were destined for other airports!! Southwest promises to deliver bag to the condo by 3:00 PM.

At this point, it is about 1:00 AM, everyone is starving!! No meal service on Southwest as you all probably know, so the goal is fast food. My DD Jen makes the funniest comment so far, "Oh, there is a 24 hour drive through, I wonder if it is open?" We all laugh hysterically and I pull into Mickey D's. DD Jen orders and of course everything is wrong when we get it but we take it anyway.

As we are driving away, she realizes that she didn't order any drinks so we stop at a Chevron mini mart for sodas and beer!! Finally, we arrive at the condo, unload and then Pete rides with me to the Dolphin as they are keeping the car.

Once in my room, I can't sleep so I unpack until about 3:00 AM, take a shower and fall asleep. More tomorrow.

Oh no!! Glad everyone made it (albeit late and undernourished)!

 

[EllaEnchanted]

OOOOhhhhhh Celebrity Apprentice starting Jan 3rd....they're doing it for charity. I admit I'm a reality junkie. I watch most of them. I'll watch this.