• The Movie Tavern (movie/restaurant all in one with theater seating)
• Prime outlets-great sales, I used restraint
• Busch Gardens-something for everyone, even the non rider
• Jamestown Settlement-hands on history lesson
• Mama Steve’s Pancake house-great breakfast
• The Cheese Shop-delicious! Even serve a PB & J for the kids. Yes!
• Our wonderful two bedroom & two bathroom hotel suite-great price and service

We still have

• Water country-tomorrow
• Busch Gardens to finish-severe thunderstorm shortened our day
• If weather cooperates- Yorktown Alliance (a schooner ride in the Chesapeake Bay)
• a Skate park

This vacation has been wonderful for our family. There’s been something for everyone and being together in the hotel room has been fun.  I am thankful that God provided us with this opportunity.

On Christmas Day, my husband presented me with the laptop of my “dreams” a Mac Book. After working and working with it, thinking I was an idiot, I called Apple Care. Confirmed, no idiot here just a defective macbook. After 5 phone calls my macbook was finally on her way and a new one was being sent to me.

Of course I was making a trip and had to take my 87 lb laptop and 42 lb dvd burner with all the cables and such. The new laptop came the day after I left.

In the last two weeks, I have really buckled down to learn the Mac commands and new way of doing things. I’ve searched the forums for short cuts and even put in my own xcode to run some video software I needed.

Last night, I went to open up Macy and the screen was black. There was an annoying beeping noise  and my husband could see my frustration rising. He gets out his PC laptop and googles the problem and tells me it’s SOS. GREAT!

I went through all the troubleshooting tips and none of them work. Call tech support and their closed. I call today and Macy is going back in the box again.

The only thing I can figure is my personality is so magnetic and Mac’s are so sensitive that I keep messing with their parts. That’s all I got.

This year I am reevaluating everything I do. Are there ways to stop doing  something or delegate so I can be more productive? I believe there are tasks I do that can be given to someone else. I don’t want to lose my effectiveness with being too busy.

In the last few months, I have observed myself not being a great communicator. I want to work on this so people know that I appreciate what they do, my husband, my children, volunteers and office staff.

I want to be a better friend and entertain more. I love spending time with others and having them in my home.

There are many other things I have on my list, but they are for my eyes only.

What will you do with this year?

Today my family went to see the Tale of Despereaux, a good movie with a good message, but different than the book. I had found $20 in movie gift certificates in a Christmas book (score). I became a member of a the Regal Crown Club ,when the movie theater changed ownership.

We purchased 3 adult tickets and 2 child tickets for $14. Then received a free ticket for another day, free small drink and $1 small popcorn. I upsized the drink and popcorn to large and the total was $2.50. So our family of 5 (3 adult tickets and 2 child tickets) went to the movies for $16.50.

Whenver I can, I join free clubs that offer money saving benefits. This free club has paid off.

Rebekah King asked me to post our Christmas card. I thought I would post the pic (thanks Millie Holloman Photography) I used so it would be easier to see. I just got the stamps today, so these won’t arrive before Christmas.

I have a few more holiday traditions to complete:
making gingerbread men (doing this Tuesday)
Riding with Santa while singing Christmas carols (maybe Sunday or Monday night)

Since we have cut back this year in our gift giving, I have less presents to wrap. The underneath of the tree looks kind of lonely. Only a few more presents to wrap though.

Bryan goes in for surgery v-e-r-y early in the morning. I should be asleep, but I am winding down.

Please pray for him tomorrow. This is extremely rare to get once and this is the second time he has had this.

On our way home, the boys were telling me about their day and what was going on. I was listening intently, and then all of a sudden this horrible odor sucked all the good air out of the car. Noah had sprayed Axe Body Spray and I was gasping to breathe.

I don’t know if you have ever smelled the stuff, but it envelopes everything it comes in contact with. My clothes wreaked of it and so did my car. The stuff should be outlawed!

Brutt and Polo were the aromas of choice for boys when I was in middle school. They would splash a little more on each time they went to their locker. I remember the smells well and they still make me nauseous.

I imagine middle schools all over the country are overrun with Axe wearers. My boys will have to find another choice! No Bom chicka wah wah at my house!

Today, my three amazing boys went back to school. It was already planned that my 7th grader would ride the bus. I had it in my head I would drive the 3rd and 5th grader to school. The 5th grader wanted to ride the bus, so he did. I drove the 3rd grader to school. Next year, I may have to bribe my last child in elementary school to let me drive him to school on the first day.

My boys are growing up and I am having to deal with my changing role. To the mothers with little ones enjoy the time you have with them and cherish every stage. It does seem like you blink and they are taller than you are.

Last night I tried a Lemon Pot Roast recipe. I marinated the roast in a ziploc bag over 24 hrs. Gabriel loved it and declared it the best roast ever. It was very tender and flavorful.

Here is the recipe for Lemon Pot Roast

2 1/2 lb chuck roast
1 1/2 c water
1/2 c lemon juice
1 onion, chopped
1 t salt
1 t celery seed
1 t onion powder
1/4 t black pepper
1 ea garlic cloves, crushed
3 slices lemon

Marinate for 4 to 24 hrs. ( I would recommend the 24 hrs.) Cover and Bake 325 1 1/2 to 2 hrs. You could also cook it in a crockpot.

Lisa, my awesome summer nanny, has gone above and beyond through all of this.  She has even become my chaffeur! What a blessing she is to me!

Today, I needed to go by the office to pick up a few things. There were errands and appointments that also needed to be taken care of and fortunately most were close together. Thank goodness gas prices are dropping!

Of course we made a stop at Starbucks!