Life on the Hill: July 2010

Last Friday was our 15th wedding anniversary, so I surprised Joe with a trip to one of our favorite places....Big Cedar Lodge. We have always loved going there since the first time we went probably 12 years ago. It takes about 2 hours to get there, so its an easy weekend trip. On the way, Joe surprised ME with this really pretty necklace!

I had no idea he had gotten me anything. Earlier in the week he sent me 15 red roses, so I never thought I'd get something else.

Our first stop...ALWAYS...on the way to Branson, is in Boxley to see the elk. As many times as we have seen them, it still amazes me how beautiful these animals are in the wild.

This was our cabin

On the inside

This cake, along with 2 wine glasses (engraved Big Cedar 2010) were waiting for us when we arrived.

When we first got unpacked I could tell Joe was really tired, so I told him I was going for a walk and left him to take a little nap. I enjoyed just walking around the property snapping pictures.

Great Sunday Brunch at The Worman House

Small place for coffee and baked items

On Saturday, Gran and Papa came up and we spend the day shopping and eating, eating and shopping!! It was a really good weekend...

Bye for now.....

So, I have heard through the grapevine, that everyone is tired of pulling up my blog and seeing that darn eagle over and over again...so I am FINALLY going to update my blog...just for you!!

It has been a jam-packed summer so far. Even though Jake didn't play baseball this year, it seems like we have been as busy as ever. Anna had cheerleading camp already and it went really good. She is not as excited to be cheering this year, but I'm sure that will change when August gets here and the football games start!

We are having Vacation Bible School this week and it is going really well. Anna is helping with 1st grade and I am helping in the kitchen. Jake is attending and I think he is really liking it....he has 2 really great guys teaching his class.

Last week we went to Disneyworld and had a ball!! We have been about 7 times, but now that the kids are getting older, it is so much more fun. For the first time, Jake was able to ride all of the rides. I think both of the kids really enjoyed Universal and Islands of Adventure more than Disney. The rides are better suited for their age and not quite as childish. Here are a few pictures.....

This was Anna's favorite ride the entire trip! I have to admit, it WAS a lot of fun! You lie flat on your back at first and that is what really scared me the most. The coaster was fast with lots of twists and turns.

Joe met Marilyn....that is a mischievous smile on his face I think!! Not so sure I like it...

This is in the Lost Continent section of Universal Studios

The Harry Potter section of Universal opened the day we got to Orlando. Thank goodness our kids are not huge Harry fans, so they weren't too excited about the hoopla, but there were LOTS of fans there when we got to the park on Monday. The line was all the way to the front of the park and the Harry Potter section is at the very back!! One girl said she waited for 7 hours and never even made it into that part of the park! On Monday night, around 8 o'clock we walked by the entrance to HP and they were letting people in, so we got to walk in without standing in line! It was amazing to see all the work that went into building all of the structures. It was really neat to see, even for this non-HP fan!

Jake and Pooh at the Crystal Palace

Anna on Splash Mountain

Anna and I didn't want to ride The Tower or Terror...she kept looking at me while we were waiting in line and saying, "Mom, I really don't want to do this." I was scared too.....I don't mind going upside down or going really fast, but sudden drops KILL ME! Well, that is all this ride is.....continuous sudden drops and fast lifts!! Finally, we got on and got strapped in and Anna raised her hand to the lady strapping us down and said she wanted off!!! That left me ALL ALONE!! The nerve of that girl!!